#khmyh translates

[real-life-senshi]

PGSM Reinako things I want to yell about, in no particular order (9/∞)

"Mars Reiko"

I feel like this is another one of those Reinako moments/hints that I don't see people talk much about, but I absolutely have been thinking about it since I first watched PGSM. lol

I absolutely loved that PGSM had Minako be the only person to ever give Rei a nickname, and the specific nickname is just... to good to be true?????

I don't mean the "Mars" part of this, since it's so self-explanatory. But the "-ko" in "Reiko"???? Oh boy.....

Some context about the character "-ko" and its use in Japanese:

The "ko" sound in kanji is "子", which usually means "child". But depending on the context, the character could also reinforce a sense of "preciousness" or "endearment" when used on someone with familiarity, since y'know.... children are generally precious and endearing. (Says the OP who doesn't like children... lol)

It's a Japanese diminutive (a "cute" version of a word), more often used in female names (though less often in the present than it was a few decades ago). Case in point - "ko" in "美奈子" (Minako).

While not as commonly used, it does get used in making pet names/nicknames, usually for young kids or girls.

When someone uses "-ko", especially between romantic partners as a pet name, it usually denotes a sense of affection, endearment and possession (in the sense that this is "my chosen person", not as in "I own them" coz that'd be nasty), as if to say their partner is precious to them.

Now, as I said, "-ko" pet names are not the most common, BUT it does get used. And in the original canon (manga), which couple uses this pet name?????

USAMAMO!

Now, Reinako shippers, think about Minako calling Rei "Reiko."

Not to mention you can also see this as Minako choosing to slap a character of her own name into Rei's nickname.

When I think about this fact I just go... ADKADHOR#BJ#@!JFawtjI@J*#Y$#*@B 🤯🤭

Admittedly this is one of my sillier, surface-level posts in this Reinako series, but thinking about this still drives me crazy!

I would love to be able to ask writer Kobayashi-sensei just what exactly was going on in her galaxy brain when she decided on Rei's fake stage name? Like did she even realize this is another Usamamo parallel that she did? Especially coz Mamoru doesn't call Usagi "Usako" in the live-action, as if she just gave that right to Reinako. lol

#reinako #hino rei #aino minako #pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #sailor moon live action #pgsm reinako things i want to yell about #khmyh's gif #khmyh translates

[real-life-senshi]

SAILOR SENSHI 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI REUNION - FANSUBBED

EDIT on Jan 3rd: SORRY. I couldn't stand how many mistakes I see in my edit despite multiple checks I've done before Jan 1st... I ended up reuploading the videos instead. Can't guarantee it's perfect now, but it's much better (from the creator's perspective.) Anyone who reblogged before Jan 3rd will have the old link that's now broken.

This is the TV version, aired on CBC in Japan on December 25th, 2023.

Due to YouTube's upload length limit, the show has been split into 3 parts based on the provided commercial breaks. The videos are unlisted on YouTube, so cannot be searched, instead only accessed by the proper web link.

Some notes & disclaimer:

1. I’m not a fluent Japanese speaker, but I do know Hiragana, Katakana, basic Japanese grammar and kanji, and a few good tools to use for translation. All’s to say, all mistakes are mine. Sorry if there’s any!

2. I’m also not a professional translator. Due to the grammar differences between Japanese and English, some sentences will sound awkward in English for the conversation to make sense.

3. This really was a casual chat for the ladies, so they kept talking over each other. I tried to highlight all the chit-chats with colour-coded subtitles matching their Senshi colours. Because of this I tried different formatting and decided on the layout you see now, even if it's still a bit messy, and some subtitles are quite fast-paced. Sorry if it doesn't look good or is tough to read. :(

4. The character “会”(kai) in “戦士会” (senshi-kai) can be translated into: - “Club”, a noun for group; - “Meetup” or “reunion”, a noun and synonym for “event”. Depending on context, you will see “戦士会” (senshi-kai) translated into “Senshi Club” or “Senshi Reunion.”

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

Upcoming:

I will be working on a subtitled version of Miyuu's behind-the-scene video of this program. (JAN 7th EDIT: The subbed version is available here!)

A Director's Cut version will be made available in Japan on Jan 9, 2024. I'll keep an eye out if there's a copy floating around. If there's any difference in that version, I'll also make a subtitled version for sharing as well. If there are any translation mistakes I've made in this current round of subtitling, I'll also take the chance to rectify them in the new version.

PLEASE ENJOY, REBLOG AND SHARE! 🌙

#pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #sailor moon live action #kitagawa keiko #sawai miyuu #izumi rika #komatsu ayaka #azama mew #sailor senshi 20th anniversary alumni reunion #pgsm 20th anniversary #pgsm cast #pgsm cast reunion #senshi reunion #khmyh translates #khmyh's fansub & translations #Youtube

[real-life-senshi]

Re: CBC Sailor Senshi 20th Anniversary Alumni Reunion (セーラー戦士 20年目の同窓会)

Monday December 25th 11:10pm - 11:40pm JST

Here's the translated announcements from the Senshi cast:

Ayaka:

I have an announcement for you all 📢 Surprise!! The Sailor Senshi are coming together💚💙🩷❤️🧡 Monday, December 25 11:10 p.m. - 11:40 p.m. CBC 【Sailor Senshi 20th Anniversary Alumni Reunion】 It'll be Christmas night🎄 While we Senshi often come together in private, this we be the first time seeing us all coming together on TV in 20 years. ☝️✨ This is for all of you who have always supported us. This is a Christmas present to all of you 🥹🎁 Never thought this day would come… 🥹✨ So much has happened since I met them 20 years ago and every year I feel our bond getting stronger and stronger. The filming process with everyone was truly a happy and blissful time🥰 It is thanks to everyone who had have always supported us that we were able to have such a wonderful opportunity like this 20 years later 🙇‍♀️ And to everyone involved in the planning of this event. Thank you so much 🙇‍♀️ Maybe you can see what we are usually like on the show?! (lol) We hope you enjoy the broadcast We'd be happy to know you did ☺️ 💚💙🩷❤️🧡

Miyuu:

The Sailor Senshi are getting together on Christmas Eve 💚💙🩷❤️🧡 It was truly a blissful, dream-like time ✨ Please watch and support us🌙

Mew:

Sailor Senshi 20th Anniversary Alumni Reunion🌙 To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the live-action "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" a special program will be broadcast! CBC TV "Sailor Senshi 20th Anniversary Alumni Reunion". Monday, December 25, 23:10-23:40 Let's have fun with the Senshi on Xmas night🎄!

Keiko:

CBC's special program "Sailor Senshi 20th Anniversary Alumni Reunion" will air on the 25th of this month at 11:10pm JST✨ It's the first time the 5 of us have worked together since the show aired. It was so much fun ☺️ Please watch it!

THIS IS LIKE THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER TO OUR LIVE-ACTION FAN COMMUNITY!!!!!

#pretty guardian sailor moon #pgsm #sailor moon live action #kitagawa keiko #sawai miyuu #komatsu ayaka #izumi rika #azama mew #pgsm cast #pgsm cast reunion #khmyh translates #translated content #sailor senshi 20th anniversary alumni reunion #pgsm 20th anniversary #senshi reunion

[real-life-senshi]

SAILOR SENSHI 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI REUNION ~ BEHIND THE SCENES (FANSUBBED)

I decided to sub the whole video, including Miyuu's message before and after the behind-the-scene clips because of how heartfelt and candidly hilarious she is when speaking about their group dynamic.

Some notes & disclaimer:

1. I’m not a fluent Japanese speaker, but I do know Hiragana, Katakana, basic Japanese grammar and kanji, and a few good tools to use for translation. All’s to say, all mistakes are mine. Sorry if there’s any!

2. I’m also not a professional translator. Due to the grammar differences between Japanese and English, some sentences will sound awkward in English for the conversation to make sense.

3. Miyuu's message post-video seems unscripted, so her sentences were quite choppy and sometimes she changed trajectory mid-way. I tried to capture the essence of her words as best as possible, but it was easier to replicate the gist of her message instead of translating word-for-word. Because of this, some nuances may seem mistranslated or lost in translation. Sorry!

4. If you have a YouTube account, please give your Likes and Comments to Miyuu and subscribe to her channel, not this video or my channel! I have no wish to piggyback on Miyuu's hard work, I merely want more people to understand and appreciate what she shared!

---

As much as I enjoyed and laughed when I watched and subbed the TV program because of what they said, seeing the ladies goofing around in the behind-the-scene clip made me involuntarily smile with warmth in my heart. <3 And it's absolutely crazy how tough of a time they had trying to take a group selfie, despite the many photos they've taken already from their Senshi Reunions. lol

The video is again Unlisted, so can only be accessed via the proper link.

PLEASE ENJOY, REBLOG AND SHARE! 🌙

To watch the fansubbed version of the Alumni Reunion program itself, please see here.

#pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #sailor moon live action #sawai miyuu #kitagawa keiko #komatsu ayaka #izumi rika #azama mew #pgsm 20th anniversary #sailor senshi 20th anniversary alumni reunion #khmyh translates #khmyh's fansub & translations #Youtube

[real-life-senshi]

Komatsu Ayaka - our live action Aino Minako / Sailor Venus posted about PGSM's 20th Anniversary on Oct 5, 2023! :D

She posted the exact same message on her ameblo (blog) and also on Instagram:

昨日、実写版【美少女戦士セーラームーン】の放送開始から20年でした🌙

⁡この作品に出会わなければ確実に今の私は ないですし、大切な仲間にも出会えていません。

⁡改めて素敵な作品に関われたことを 幸せに感じる日でした…💖💙❤️💚🧡

沢山メッセージありがとうございました🥺❤️

Yesterday marked 20 years since the live-action of "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon began airing 🌙 Had I not been part of this work, I would certainly not be the person I am today, and I would not have met my precious friends. Yesterday was a day when I was once again filled with joy and a sense of blessing that I have been involved in such incredible work💖💙❤️💚🧡 Thank you everyone for all the messages 🥺❤️ (The rest of the message is about her upcoming work, including photoshoots and pop-up store info for her apparel brand 502EASY)

#komatsu ayaka #sailor venus #aino minako #pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #pgsm 20th anniversary #pgsm cast #khmyh translates

[real-life-senshi]

Sailor Moon was always by my side. Mitsuishi Kotono and Kitagawa Keiko's special conversation on Sailor Moon Cosmos

(OP: This was from July 15th, 2023. Somehow I missed this article when it was first released... Whoops. Here's the belated translation.)

In 2014, when the new anime Sailor Moon Crystal began, fans of the 90s anime were gushing. We get to see Sailor Moon again...! And now, with the movie version of Sailor Moon Cosmos (both the first and second parts are in theatres), the series has finally come to its conclusion. This time, exclusive to MOVIE WALKER PRESS, Mitsuishi Kotono, who plays Eternal Sailor Moon/Usagi Tsukino, and Kitagawa Keiko, who plays Sailor Cosmos, got their dream to share a conversation come true! They reminisced on their experience during production, how they portrayed their roles, and what the existence of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon mean for both of them.

「 What I worked hard for in the '90s has actually come to fruition… I really felt that. 」 (Mitsuishi)

― This movie is the culmination of the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal series that started in 2014. From the initial Crystal series to this movie, people who grew up watching the 90's anime became the chosen cast… How was it for you, Mitsuishi-san, to work with the viewers of those days?

Mitsuishi 「 That's true. At first, I was the only confirmed voice casting for the film, and then the other Sailor Senshi auditioned and one by one, we finally came together. 」

― It is just like at the very beginning of the work, isn't it? At first, Usagi was alone, but then Sailor Mercury's Ami Mizuno, then Sailor Mars' Rei Hino, and so on, gathered together.

Mitsuishi 「 In the beginning I felt very lonely recording on my own, so I was glad when one by one the Sailor Senshi gathered together. Many of the cast and staff had told me “I’ve watched it back then”! “What I worked hard for in the 90s has actually come to fruition”, “the children who would proclaim ‘I want to be like Sailor Moon’ have become such splendid adults, all of them really flourished as a lady and just like a Senshi” was the impression I received firsthand. Of course, the girls are all professionals, so they were able to put aside their feelings as a fan and tackled their voicing roles seriously, and I felt that they supported me more than I did for them. We also get together in private, and I sincerely feel that I have made it this far because I had their support. 」

― Kitagawa-san, who plays Sailor Cosmos, is also a member of the so-called "Sailor Moon generation," right?

Kitagawa 「 Mitsuishi-san is a goddess to me. When I was a child, the first manga I picked up was Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, which I followed the serialization in Nakayoshi, and was part of the generation that also participated in Sailor Moon’s ``Great Service For All Applicants''. 」

― You can send stamps to the Nakayoshi editorial office and get cute goodies.  So nostalgic!

Kitagawa 「 Yes, that's right. When I first worked with Mitsuishi-san on the JDrama Rikokatsu, the first thing we talked about was Sailor Moon. I also loved Evangelion, so I recall we talked about that as well (Editor's note: Mitsuishi played Katsuragi Misato in the series Neon Genesis Evangelion.). I think it is probably the same for everyone from my generation, that I grew up listening to Mitsuishi-san’s voice, so during Rikokatsu it felt natural and comfortable for me to co-portray the roles of mother and daughter with Mitsuishi-san. Though we hadn’t worked together since the drama, we kept in touch from time to time, so it didn't feel like it had actually been that long of a time. 」

Mitsuishi 「 For me, because I often see you on TV.  When watching TV, I’d go “Ah, it's Keiko-chan! She's so beautiful!” (lol). So I also didn't feel like it had been a long time since I last saw you. 」

― When thinking about Kitagawa-san in this context, we’d easily think of the image of Sailor Mars from the live-action drama, but this time you will be playing a different role, Sailor Cosmos.

Kitagawa 「 I was happy when I initially received the offer, but I was also puzzled. In the live-action, Sawai Miyuu-san, who played Sailor Moon, was truly the center of our group, being supported by the 4 Senshi, but this time Sailor Cosmos’s role gives the impression of being " the root of the Sailor Senshi". Instead of being on the “supporting side”, that this role was so close to Usagi-chan's position, it felt like a sanctuary in a sense... a place that I felt I couldn’t jump into. So while I was very happy to be offered the role, and I was very eager to be a part of this new production, simultaneously I’d wonder “Am I the right person for this role?”… causing me conflicting feelings. I ended up seeking consult with all the members of what is referred to as the “Senshi-kai” (戦士会, Senshi Reunion) nowadays, the Senshi cast members of the live-action series. But, "This is the last production of the Crystal series, I’m so happy you get to play such a role in that, I definitely want you to do it!” was what everyone told me, and so they gave me the push I needed to accept the offer.」

― How was it for you when actually voicing the role?

Kitagawa 「 Before I recorded my part, I was provided a [voice] sample called a guide, and this time Mitsuishi-san was the one who dubbed the guide for me. It was already the perfect Sailor Cosmos. When I read the script, it was difficult to grasp the nuances of Sailor Cosmos' and Guardian Cosmos’s character, but Mitsuishi-san helped me realize it would be fine if I did it like this.  “Mitsuishi-san is amazing...”, I thought again in that moment. I feel that Usagi-chan's voice has also become deeper and deeper with each successive series. 」

Mitsuishi 「 About that, it's because the days have piled up...! (lol) 」

Kitagawa 「 Not at all, to have overcome many hardships, to be able to feel the image of “Usagi-chan of the present” really moved me. On the day of recording, Mitsuishi-san come to visit, as well as Takeuchi Naoko-sensei, so I was very nervous. (lol) 」

― For Mitsuishi-san, what were some things you were specifically mindful of when portraying Usagi-chan in this work?

Mitsuishi 「 This time around, her friends and Mamo-chan that she love all disappeared right in front of her, and in the second part, her friends appear as her enemies. Even though the scenario where everyone had become an enemy had also happened earlier in the series, this time was the toughest of them. Even though I felt fine when I was reading the script, it still became really tough when I actually heard the voices. Even when battered and bruised, I am determined to get back the people who are important to me, with a power that does not spring from hatred, it's with these thoughts I portrayed the role with a positive and great sense of power. 」

「 Having taught me many things, Sailor Moon is a series that is impossible for me to separate myself from. 」 (Kitagawa)

― Once again, what kind of existence does the work "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" mean for the two of you?

Mitsuishi 「 The reason I have made it this far as a voice actress is large because of this series, so it's a work that's very important to me. Since working on the Crystal series, I feel as if I'm giving back the energy everyone has given me when I was working in the 90s. Even in my daily life, I have the feeling that Sailor Moon is just around the corner in my mind. For example, sometimes the crescent moon is right above the Sky Tree, and whenever I see a picture of it on social media, my first thought is it looks like a big Moon Stick (lol). "If we had such a big Moon Stick, we could cleanse the entire Earth and bring peace to the world!" I sometimes think of outlandish things like that. 」

― That's an idea that only Mitsuishi-san, who has been playing Sailor Moon for a long time, could come up with... as expected!

Kitagawa 「 It really is! It's wonderful… 」

― And Kitagawa-san, what kind of influence did Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon have on your life?

Kitagawa 「 No matter with the series or with Mitsuishi-san, I've felt a sense of a destined connection with them. It was Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon that led me to make my debut as an actress, and when I worked as a lead actress on a drama series, or when I try my hand at voice acting, Mitsuishi-san often become part of such key moments of my experience. Moreover, this year marks the 20th anniversary of both the live-action series, and my career in the entertainment industry, I feel that Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon had been part of many significant turning points in my life. This is a series that is impossible for me to separate myself from. 」

Mitsuishi 「 In all honesty, I had originally been worried if I should bring up an old tokusatsu work with you given you are a major actress in the industry. 」

Kitagawa 「 I'm someone who prefers to speak openly and face things with dignity. I've always loved Sailor Moon, so much so I was like, "I'm going to audition and receive a role in the live-action version of Sailor Moon and work in Tokyo!" From the filming experience, I was taught filming methods, how to behave on set, how to act, how to dance, etc., and I really learned a lot. 」

Mitsuishi 「 Tokusatsu is a very difficult field. I've always felt that any actors or actresses who had overcome working in Tokusatsu would have the strength and spirit to survive in any field of the acting industry. 」

Kitagawa 「 It's the type of workspace and shooting site where you are required to do any and every sort of thing. Especially for the Sailor Moon series, even after transformation it would still be us actresses who are in costume, so that made it even more challenging. 」

Mitsuishi 「 Behind you it goes BOOM! And you'd still have to walk cooly in front of the explosion. 」

Kitagawa 「 At first I was shocked by the explosions, but I gradually got used to them, even napalm (explosions commonly used in Tokusatsu) I ended up not thinking anything of it (lol). I think the reason I've been able to do this for 20 years without faltering is that I have developed a great bond with everyone I have performed with the drama series. All members of the “Senshi-kai” (戦士会, Senshi Reunion) haven't left the entertainment industry, and we are all working hard in the same world. Even now would go to see and support each other's works, I am sure they will see this film as well. It's because of each other's presence that we have been able to continuously move forward, it's a sentiment that I hold deeply and feel very encouraged by. 」

― Lastly, for the Sailor Moon fans who have all grown up now, what are some of the highlights you'd like to share about this movie?

Mitsuishi 「 I think that as we grow older, with all the talks about 'love' and 'justice' that Sailor Moon does, more and more often we may feel embarrassed thinking about it. But for those who have loved Sailor Moon since the '90s", Usagi-chan's 'love' and 'justice' taken root somewhere in their hearts. So, I hope that this film will help them remember those things that they may have forgotten, and empower them to move forward with their lives with positivity. 」

Kitagawa 「 It's as if I was given the strength of 'positivity' and 'dedication' from this film. As I got older, there was a part of me that became afraid of failure... Because I'm in my 30s now and have been doing this job for 20 years, more and more I began to think 'I mustn't make mistakes'. In this film, Usagi-chan has to face and admit her past mistakes and works to correct her course, the part where she stands back up again to face her challenges, I was touched by that part of the story. I thought to myself, rather than shutting myself away in fear of failure or making mistakes, "I want to live my life with dignity" and was inspired to face live my life with positivity. It gave me the courage to not hold myself back and to take things easier. I am certain many people of my generation are at that point in their lives, too, and I think through watching this film Sailor Moon would give them a push to face their challenges and reassure them "It's okay". 」

#sailor moon cosmos #sailor moon cosmos part 2 #kitagawa keiko #mitsuishi kotono #sailor cosmos #pretty guardian sailor moon #pgsm #sawai miyuu #komatsu ayaka #izumi rika #azama mew #pgsm cast #khmyh translates #khmyh's fansub & translations

[real-life-senshi]

Posted at different times on Jun 29 JST - our precious Senshi had a Senshi reunion!

Mew (Makoto/Jupiter), Ayaka (Minako/Venus), Keiko (Rei/Mars) and Rika (Ami/Mercury) posted the occasion on their Twitter, Instagram and ameba blog accounts. (Rika posted within the last 30minutes, and with past records, Miyuu will likely post something soon as well.)

Keiko and Rika's caption was the 5 hearts emoji 💚❤️💙💗🧡🌙 in their signature colour. (But Instagram won't let two of the emoji show up on my browser lmao)

Mew's post also had the heart emoji and wrote: "わちゃわちゃないと🌙" - which "わちゃわちゃ" (wacha wacha)is a Japanese expression that typically describes the act of being excited and chatting noisily, usually by girls. SO, Mew here writing "わちゃわちゃないと🌙" is to say "I need to wacha wacha", ie "I need to bask in my excitement with the ladie and chat through our gathering"

Ayaka is UNSURPRISINGLY the quickest with writing up something that makes our hearts soar! She basically wrote the same thing on Ameba blog and Intagram. The translations are:

久しぶりの戦士会💚❤️💙💗🧡🌙 A Senshi reunion at long last 💚❤️💙💗🧡🌙⁡ やっと全員集合できた🥹❤️ We finally managed to do a gathering as a full team⁡🥹❤️ 相変わらずの安心感と安定感☺️💕 What an unchanging sense of comfort and stability ☺️💕 この5人でいると話が尽きなくて We never run out of things to talk about when it's between the 5 of us. 本当に時間が足りない🤣🤣🤣 We seriously didn't have enough time 🤣🤣🤣 ⁡セーラームーンを通して出会えたこの仲間とももうすぐ20年...このタイミングで、景ちゃんが声優を務める劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos」の後編ももうすぐ公開🌙 ⁡It's been almost 20 years since we met through working on Sailor Moon… With this timing, Kei-chan's voice acting work on the second part of the movie "Sailor Moon Cosmos," will be released soon 🌙 なんと感慨深い...🥹❤️ I feel deeply moved…🥹❤️ [Or in westernized lingo, Ayaka's basically saying "I have so many feels about this" lol] I wanna be with you. My best friend...❤︎

THE LAST TWO LINE. AYAKA IS QUOTING THE LYRICS FROM THEIR PGSM SONG FRIEND. I'M GONNA SCREAM. The fact that she also tags #幸せ #絆 #戦友 #仲間 to her posts with the Senshi team makes my heart explode.

"幸せ" (shiawase) is the ultimate Asian expression of happiness, a cross between "happy", "lucky/fortune" and "blessing".

"絆" (kizuna) means "bond", typically indicating a deep bond. We hear this a lot in anime.

"戦友" (senyuu) means "comrades in arms", ie a trusted teammate

"仲間" (nakama) means "comrade" or "teammate". We hear this a lot in PGSM. lol

Will update if Miyuu makes a post. Keiko might also post on her blog. It's a bit hard to predict now that Keiko also has an official twitter account.

#pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #keiko kitagawa #komatsu ayaka #sawai miyuu #azama mew #izumi rika #senshi reunion #pgsm cast #pgsm cast reunion #khmyh translates #FRIEND

[real-life-senshi]

We have another Keiko Interview related to Sailor Moon, posted on June 30, 2023 JST!!! There's both a video of the interview and a partially transcribed interview article.

This time it's on Oricon News. Here's my attempt to translate the article.

Kitagawa Keiko, Encouragement to Her Rookie Era Self, Meeting Her Friends... Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is "Life Itself"

Actress Kitagawa Keiko (age 36) is voicing the key character Sailor Cosmos in movie Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos (Part 2) (released on June 30th), which is the final chapter to the new movie series of the popular anime Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. Kitagawa stated that to her Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is "life itself". In this interview, she looked back on her time as a rookie and talked about her strong feelings for this series, which she has a fateful connection to that can be described as a "miracle romance".

***OP Note: the direct quotes are quite long in this, so I highlight the quotes in Mars's colour to make it easier to read. 🔥

■ When working on her debut in the live-action, she was met with a series of setbacks. A word of advice she offered to her rookie self: "It's okay."

She met [Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon] when she was in kindergarten. She read the original work by Takeuchi Naoko that was serialized in the "Nakayoshi" (translation: Good Friends) magazine, and reminisced on her reaction that "the images are cute, the colours are beautiful, the costume and accessories, all of them are sparkling and shiny, I want to be like that! Those were the thoughts I had. [Sailor Moon] was like a slightly older and mature, cute older sister to me. When [Usagi] transforms, she's strong. She is so cool when she gathers her strength to face her enemy. My first encounter with [Sailor Moon] was so striking, it was like being struck by a bolt of lightning."

Later while in high school, she was scouted by an agency, and her first audition was for the live-action Tokusatsu drama Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (TBS) in 2003. "I felt like I was destined for it. That I joined the entertainment industry at the right time when the live-action was in the works. My favourite had always been Rei-chan, so I actually declared I wanted to play Rei-chan in the audition, but I didn't think I would actually be accepted for the role."

She received the role of Sailor Mars/Hino Rei, a role she had longed for. "At the time of the audition, I felt I love Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon more than anyone else, and I love Rei-chan, so I approached the audition with confidence. But when I arrived at the audition site, I realized there were so many other cute girls who also love Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, who are good at singing and dancing and full of many other talents. I immediately lost all my confidence, so I couldn't believe it when I was accepted for the role. I jumped into the production in a state of lacking confidence after realizing there are so many more talented girls out there." Despite what seemed like a smooth sailing start, she experienced many setbacks because it was her debut work.

"With no prior-career experience at all, and this being my first acting job, I cried every day. I didn't know what to do. Starting from a blank slate with nothing, every day was tough even though I was holding my dream in my hand. But because this is my favourite series, I gave my best, trying my hardest with a mindset of responsibility and obligation to this series to deliver good performance. I tried to boost my confidence by thinking 'I'm the only one who could play Rei-chan'. I could only imagine how many people were looking forward to the live-action version of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, so I worked hard with that in mind."

If she could say something to her old self now... "Back then, I was agitated and impatient with myself every day, thinking I can't keep staying like this, it was really tough. I felt I was holding the others back because of the experience gap I had among the Sailor Senshi team. But there was also no use in not believing in myself. That's why, I want to say 'Calm down, it's okay'"' to myself", she said with a warm and gentle gaze.

■ Taking on the challenge of voice acting with the "Sailor Senshi" team's support. Would she upload a group photo after viewing the final product? "I want to take a picture with everyone"

The live-action filming lasted 14 months. "We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner together, and became comrades-in-arms from overcoming hardships from the filming process. Knowing the fact that each of us is doing our best in our respective lives gives me courage." "The 5 Sailor Senshi" consists of Kitagawa, Sawai Miyuu, Izumi Rika, Amaza Mew, and Komatsu Ayaka, who co-starred in the series at that time, are still good friends and in frequent communication with each other. This time when she received the offer, as someone who played Sailor Mars/Hino Rei in the live-action series, she was shocked to be asked to voice Sailor Cosmos and wondered "Is it alright for me to take this on?"

"I voice the ultimate form of Sailor Moon from the distant future. In my mind, Sailor Moon was always either Mitsuishi Kotono-san or Sawai Miyuu-san from the live-action. That's why I was at a loss on what to do about [the offer]. However, everyone said 'you should definitely do it'. They were really excited by the prospect of having a member from our live-action Senshi team be involved with Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon again, especially on the year of 20th anniversary of the live-action airdate, and they were happy for me to be asked to do it. That was really the deciding factor for me [to accept the job]" These were the support she received.

On a side note, these "Senshi" members still get together on a regular basis, and their group photos are always a hot topic on social networking sites. "I think we're getting tired of the photos by now. lol 'What do we want to do? Photo? Since we made the effort to come together, we should take a photo, shouldn't we?' is how it always ends up being. lol I think everyone would probably go see the new movie even if I'm not in it, that they'd want to see it. I want to go see it with them. I want to take a photo with them in front of the theatre signboard", she said, explaining their unchanging friendship.

■ "If you play the role as you feel it, it will definitely produce good results," she expresses gratitude for Mitsuishi Kotono's advice

In this new film, a new enemy "Shadow Galatica" appears, and with her friends targetted one after another, Sailor Moon and her team are once again thrown into battle. In playing the role of Cosmos, she said "[Cosmos] has overcome and transcended after many happenings, she is neither mere human nor Senshi but instead shines like a goddess, and she has a gentleness and warmth that seem to embrace everything, but also a core of strength from overcoming pain and hardships. It's very difficult to try to express everything in voicing her. A holy maiden who embraces and supports the Senshi team, is the image I wanted to portray and thought of", she said.

Working on the dubbing "was nothing but difficulty. I was not used to working as a voice actor, and I had only voiced boys before, so this was my first time playing a woman. It was difficult to explore the pitch and volume of the voice. Like wondering how should I tone my voice and how loud should I raise my voice, etc... During the testing phase, I fine-tuned my voice with the direct, but even with that I wasn't used to the process of fine-tuning itself. I usually do most of my acting involving my whole body, so it was very difficult to be limited to voice only. I was also nervous to stand in front of the microphone," she shared about her struggles.

Meanwhile, "I received a voicing guide video for reference, and it was Mitsuishi-san voicing Cosmos in it. I had goosebumps when I listen to it. After that I contacted Mitsuishi-san, she said, 'this is only a guide, and if Keiko-chan plays the role as you feel it, you'll definitely produce something good, so have fun in the process.' To be made welcomed by Mitsuishi-san, who has been the lead of "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon for so long, gave me courage." she shared about the encouragement she received from Mitsuishi Kotono who has starred as the lead role of Sailor Moon/Tsukino Usagi for many years.

Speaking of Mitsuishi, she played the role of Kitagawa's mother in Rikokatsu, the drama series in which she starred in the April 2021 season. "I was happy to be able to co-star with Mitsuishi-san on Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, not only because I felt bonded with the series, but also because I feel a bond with Mitsuishi-san. The fact that every time I work on a production of personal significance, that I happen to also work with Mitsuishi-san, it's coming to an extent where I wonder if a bond was established between us in a past life. I never thought that two years after Rikotatsu we would be working together again. That time Mitsuishi-san jumped into a field she said she was not used to at a film site. This time it's me jumping into Mistuishi-san's field... I'm happy that this kind of exchange keeps happening," she said joyfully.

It was the starting point of her life as an actress, what led her to the irreplaceable bonds she formed, and now she is once again involved in voicing an important character in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. "To me Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is my life itself. The series has been with me and been my favourite since I was in kindergarten. I admired the characters and aspire to be as awesome as the girls, made my debut and play one of them. I am still connected to the friends I made through working on the series and they have supported me throughout my life. It has become such a big part of me, that's why I have the feeling that the series is as important to me as life itself. "

#kitagawa keiko #keiko kitagawa #sailor mars #hino rei #pretty guardian sailor moon #pgsm #sailor moon cosmos part 2 #sailor moon cosmos #sailor cosmos #sawai miyuu #izumi rika #azama mew #komatsu ayaka #senshi reunion #pgsm cast #mitsuishi kotono #Youtube #khmyh translates #pgsm 20th anniversary #khmyh's fansub & translations

[real-life-senshi]

Kitagawa Keiko (Sailor Mars) & Mitsuishi Kotono (Sailor Moon) (fan-subbed)

This is from a variety show where a special guest of high popularity/interest to the public gets invited to speak with a round table of other guests - this is a recording from when the guest of the show was Kitagawa Keiko!

In this segment, everyone watches recordings of the public from different age groups being interviewed on the streets to comment on their thoughts on Keiko and have them ask Keiko a question they are curious about. Additionally, a member of the entertainment industry close to the guest is also invited to then speak about their feelings for the guest and ask their own question, and representing someone from the 30-50 age group is Mitsuishi Kotono, VA of Tsukino Usagi/Sailor Moon in the anime.

With each question, the special guest then has 10 seconds to think and give their answer.

I went to get this subtitled nicely to celebrate Keiko's VA role as Sailor Cosmos!

Mitsuishi Kotono and Kitagawa Keiko got to work together in JDrama Rikokatsu (2021) and became close, otherwise, Kotono would not have been invited to participate in this variety show.

The fact they got to work together again in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos's second film, Keiko's tweet described their meeting as a "miracle romance". Kotono also tweeted saying working with Keiko in this is the "best miracle" to her and described Keiko to be “thoughtful” and “brave”.

All translation mistakes are sadly mine…

#kitagawa keiko #mitsuishi kotono #pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #sailor moon cosmos #sailor cosmos #sailor moon #tsukino usagi #hino rei #sailor mars #pgsm cast #khmyh translates #khmyh's fansub & translations

[real-life-senshi]

Even if I don’t usually celebrate character’s birthday, the fact that individual PGSM casts do means I ended remembering many of the birthdays anyway!

Ayaka’s recent Ameblo and Instagram post is one such example of this, Ayaka without fail always celebrates Minako’s birthday! She is so precious! 🥹

Translation:

今日は愛野美奈子ちゃんの誕生日です🎂🧡

⁡Today is Aino Minako’s birthday 🎂🧡

愛野美奈子として生きたことで

今の私はあります🥺🧡

Having had the chance to live as Aino Minako

I am who I am today 🥺🧡

仙台の七夕祭りで小さなセーラーヴィーナスを

見つけて嬉しくてパシャリ📷✨

At Sendai’s Tanabata festival I found a tiny Sailor Venus

I was so happy about it I snapped photos 📷✨

美奈子ちゃん

お誕生日おめでとう🎉

Minako-chan

Happy birthday 🎉

#komatsu ayaka #aino minako #sailor venus #pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #pgsm cast #khmyh translates

[real-life-senshi]

Keiko had an interview posted on Yahoo!JP News! - June 24 7am JST due to her voice casting in Sailor Moon Cosmos Part 2! With the help of some translation tools and contextual edits, here's the full interview translated to English!

Kitagawa Keiko, the live-action Sailor Senshi team who she has continued to interact with for 20 years, is her "comrades-in-arms" and "the only place where [she] can open [her] heart."

Surprised by the [anime film voice acting] offer, consults frankly with all the live-action Sailor Senshi

Keiko Kitagawa has been announced as the voice actress for "Sailor Cosmos" in the film version of "Sailor Moon Cosmos," the final chapter of the "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" series. For Kitagawa, who has played the lead and heroine in many dramas and movies, the "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" series is also the starting point of her acting career, as she played the role of Sailor Mars/Hino Rei in the live-action version of "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" (2003-2004). We asked her to talk about her thoughts on returning to such a starting point after 20 years, the role she played, her interactions with the Sailor Senshi, and what she cherished on the 20th anniversary of her debut. (*This article contains some spoilers about "Sailor Cosmos. Please be warned.)

--Keiko Kitagawa-san, you are returning to "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" for the first time in 20 years, and when you were offered the opportunity to voice the character in the anime movie version of "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos," what were your thoughts? What were your thoughts when you were offered the opportunity to voice the character in the movie version of "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos"?

Kitagawa: In the year of the 20th anniversary of my debut, and 20 years after the live-action version, I was very happy to be asked to be involved again in a work that I had a connection with. However, when I received the offer, I was very surprised and for a moment I couldn't understand what it meant, so I had to think about it for a while. It is because I also appeared in the live-action version of "Pretty Guardian Sailor" that I have a strong feeling that "Sailor Moon" for us Sailor Senshi has to be Sawai (Miyuu)-san. The character Sailor Cosmos that I will be playing this time is the ultimate form of Sailor Moon in the distant future, so I was really questioning myself "Am I the right person to play the role?". So I contacted all of the live-action Sailor Senshi (Sawai Miyuu, Izumi Rika, Azama Mew, and Komatsu Ayaka) and asked, "What do you guys think I should do?" "Does it feel weird/off for me to take this role?" I openly and honestly shared my thoughts and consulted them on this, and everyone basically responded saying ""Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" is very important to all of us, and would be very happy to see any one of our own live-action Sailor Senshi involved in the anime film. We definitely want you to take it!" Sawai-san said she is really looking forward to it, and with everyone's support, I decided to take on the challenge.

--What did you keep in mind when playing the role?

Kitagawa: Sailor Cosmos is a Sailor Moon from the distant future, and I think there were times when I berated myself, wondering if I had made the wrong choice taking on this role, and I had fought a very long and painful battle. This role is the culmination of all the Sailor Senshi who have fought so hard in past comics, animations, and musicals, including the live-action Sailor Senshi, so I was worried about what kind of voice I should use to make the audience feel this history. This time, I received guidance from Mitsuishi Kotono-san (Tsukino Usagi/Sailor Moon)'s voice acting as an example. I was able to go into the recording session thinking that I wanted to use a soft voice that would gently/warmly embrace everyone, rather than thinking too hard about "transcendent" or "far into the future".

--How did you feel when you saw the completed film?

Kitagawa: Aside from myself, it looks like a collection of eminent legendary voice casts, and I think it is a very exciting work for voice cast (seiyuu) lovers, and the animation technique is amazing and the visual is beautiful. Besides, the story also reminded me of the months that we, the live-action Sailor Senshi, spent together for 14 months.

One of the themes of this film is "I can do my best because of my friends." I have been able to continue this work for 20 years because all the other [live action] Sailor Senshi have been working hard in this (entertainment) world, in each of our own places. There have been times when things didn't go as planned, times when people around me thought things were going well but I wasn't convinced, etc., but even so, all five of us have remained in this industry without quitting. I have always been supported by the thought that since everyone else is giving their best in the entertainment industry, I should do my best as well.

--It's rare for people to stay in touch with their fellow debutantes for 20 years.

Kitagawa: We are all 35 to 37 years old now, and have spent more than half of our lives together, so we no longer feel like mere friends. During filming, we were rivals, and I didn't want to lose, wondering who would stand out, who would get the most main scenes, and so on. But I also felt that we were like comrades-in-arms who had devoted all our energy to the same goal of producing good work.

--What kind of relationship/dynamic do the five of you have?

Kitagawa: In our minds, Sailor Moon Sawai-san is in the center and the other four support her, and the feeling of "I'm going to support and protect this person" grew naturally during the 14 months of filming. The reason why I still call her "Sawai-san" (instead of her first name or nickname) is because of the imagery that we are all protecting and supporting Sawai-san and that she is the center of the team, and the relationship has not changed even today. We respect each other so much that there is almost nothing we don't know about each other, and I feel that this is the only place where I can be completely open and honest.

--No matter how busy you are, it is amazing that you remain always cherishing the work "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" and your relationship with the Sailor Senshi, isn't it?

Kitagawa: No, not at all. (OP clarification; Keiko is disagreeing in the sense she doesn't think this is exceptional.) For example, even if there are times when we don't see each other for 3 or 4 months, everyone is always there, very understanding, and getting along well as usual. They always call me at any gatherings. Everyone encounters good times and not-so-good times, and even if things seem to be going well, maybe the person doesn't feel the same or isn't up for a gathering. But we are still friends just as we were 20 years ago, and because we have each other, it's why I have been able to continue. The amazing thing is that everyone has remained friends with me all these years. Now that I have a child, they sometimes change the timing of our gatherings to lunch or come to my house because I can't go out much at night.

--Women, in particular, often reset their relationships every time they change stages of their lives. It seems that some things are even more so difficult for celebrities.

Kitagawa: That's true. Among my friends from elementary school, junior high school, high school, and university, I only have about one friend other than the Sailor Senshi who I keep in touch with regularly. With most people, we hardly get together anymore as our careers and marital status change and our interests and directions change. It's easy to pause and wonder "Who was it that was my best friend?" In that sense, the Senshi team is really special. They were really happy for me when I got married, everyone came to the wedding reception, and we all sang the song "Friend," which was only included in the (live-action) album.

--That was a truly wonderful event! What kind of existence does "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" mean for you, Kitagawa-san?

Kitagawa: It is my life itself. I've loved "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" since I was 3 or 4 years old, and I collected all the goods I could get my hands on. That my first audition was for "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon," I didn't only find friendships with my fellow Senshi, but also the producers would invite me to work with them again, and it's always so fun to bump into any staff from that time at a different job again. For me, the most fortunate thing in my life was that I was able to make my debut with "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon". It was the beginning of my career, and I don't think I would be where I am now if I hadn't debuted with "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon".

--What are the strengths that you have developed in the 20 years since your debut?

Kitagawa: I think my strength is the fact that I never change. I think it is because I am not that skilled, but it is easier for me to be myself all the time, rather than switching from one persona to another because of work or because of someone else. What I have valued for the past 20 years is the desire to stay true to myself. (OP note: I think Keiko's response is alluding to how in Japanese culture, the ability to switch persona like a chameleon is heralded as a skill of success given their more hierarchical and conservative culture. Also, this is such a badass Hino Rei response???? Keiko I adore you.)

I debuted at the age of 17, and all the while there are people of the same age who have already had 10 years' worth of career experience as child actors, so no matter how smart I pretend to be or how much I pretend to know, I am still a newcomer, and I can't do what I can't do. When I don't know something, it's much better for me to admit and say that I don't know it, and if I don't try to make myself look self-important, and just be myself, I would earn the trust of others. I believe that you cannot be an actor if you are not a proper human being first, so I think that being true to myself and always staying the same is a weapon I have developed over the past 20 years.

(Reporting and writing by 田幸和歌子; Photographs by 小川遼)

The two-part theatrical version of "Sailor Moon Cosmos," "Part 1" is now in theaters, and "Part 2" will be released on June 30.

#pretty guardian sailor moon #sailor mars #hino rei #sailor cosmos #sailor moon cosmos #kitagawa keiko #pgsm #sailor moon cosmos part 2 #khmyh translates #pgsm cast #sawai miyuu #azama mew #izumi rika #komatsu ayaka #senshi reunion #pgsm 20th anniversary #khmyh's fansub & translations

[real-life-senshi]

And the live-action Senshi sweetness never stops!

Ayaka and Miyuu posted on Boxing Day about Mew's birthday celebration they recently did. Mew's birthday is indeed Dec 26th!

Miyuu's Instagram Post

Happy birthday Mew! 💚

Among all the Senshi , only Mew and I can be the same age for a moment ☺️ I don't have anything special to say LOL But I'm kind of happy that the exchange is so routine 🥰

I gained another older sister again, but let's do it again next year ✨

I love you💚

As I said in the Sailor Senshi Alumni Reunion program, 5 times a year is the minimum for Senshi Reunions 🥹🌙 lol

Ayaka's Instagram Post

Today is the birthday of my favourite Azama🎂💚 The photo is from the celebration we did from the other day 🎉 (↑Just how many times have we met 🤣 lol) Azama is a very considerate person✨ And when it comes to meeting up She arrives before anyone else 🤣 lol And she looks better with a drink than any of the Senshi 🍷 lol I love Azama as she is💚 I miss the days when we all lived in the same neighbourhood 💚🧡🧡 lol Please come visit me in Sendai soon 💕☺️ Happy birthday! 🎉

#pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #sailor moon live action #azama mew #sawai miyuu #komatsu ayaka #kitagawa keiko #izumi rika #senshi reunion #pgsm cast reunion #pgsm cast #khmyh translates

[real-life-senshi]

WE HAVE PGSM 20TH ANNIVERSARY SENSHI REUNION!!!!!

Miyuu, Mew and Ayaka posted on Instagram! :DDDDD Ayaka made the same post on her ameblo too! I had a feeling it's going to happen because Ayaka mentioned she was travling into Tokyo for a day since she's moved to Sendai now, but she made it sounds like it was only for work, but I'm so glad my hunch was correct and the ladies arranged to meet up!!!!! I could cry reading their posts! 😭

SAWAI MIYUU

いろいろなお祝いの会💖 20年かぁ みんなが戦士で本当に幸せ あらためて 出逢ってくれてありがとう ずっと一緒にいてくれてありがとう これからもずっと、、 #美少女戦士セーラームーン #🌙 #セーラー戦士 #戦士会 #pgsm #仲間 #戦友 #かけがえのない存在 #小松彩夏 #🧡 #北川景子 #❤️ #安座間美優 #💚 #泉里香 #💙 #沢井美優 #💗

A celebration of various things 💖 20 years already. I feel so blessed we were all a Senshi Once again Thank you for being part of my life Thank you for always being by my side And for all the years to come ...

KOMATSU AYAKA

安座間の結婚のお祝いと今月誕生日の里香＆沢井のお誕生日のお祝いをしました🎂💕 ⁡ なんだかお祝いが続いていて嬉しい🥰 ⁡ 戦士のお祝い事があると私も色んな方からお祝いしてもらえるので、私まで幸せな気持ちになれるんです☺️❤️笑 ⁡ 昨日も、お話しましたが私たちが出会った作品でもある実写版【美少女戦士セーラームーン】の放送開始から20年🌙 ⁡ この作品に出会えたおかげで、かけがえのない大切な仲間に出会えました💖💙❤️💚🧡 ⁡ 20年経った今でもこうして大好きなみんなと集まれて、笑って過ごせることが本当に幸せです💕 ⁡ いつもバイバイしてからも話し足りなくて ずっと連絡を取り合う私たち😝 ⁡ 20年経ったけど『変わらないねうちら(笑)』なんて話しながら、変わらないで一緒に居てくれるみんなに『ありがとう♡』と思った私なのでした☺️🧡 ⁡ 景ちゃんデビュー20周年＆ 写真集発売おめでとう✨ ⁡ 安座間結婚おめでとう💐 ⁡ 里香、沢井、まだちょっと早いけど お誕生日おめでとう🎂 ⁡ I wanna be with you. My best friend♡ ⁡ #戦士 #戦友 #仲間 #戦士会 #安座間美優 #泉里香 #北川景子 #沢井美優 #小松彩夏 #誕生日 #誕生日会 #結婚 #お祝い#幸せ #絆 #美少女戦士セーラームーン #セーラームーン

We celebrated Azama's marriage and Rika's & Sawai's birthday this month 🎂💕 I'm happy that these celebrations keep continuing 🥰 Whenever there is a celebration for a Senshi, I also get many messages of congratulations from all kinds of people, so it doubly makes me happy too ☺️❤️ lol As I mentioned yesterday, it has been 20 years since the work where we all met, the live-action of "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" began airing 🌙 It is thanks to this work, I got to meet my irreplaceable and most precious friends 💖💙❤️💚🧡 Even though 20 years have passed, I'm really happy that I can still get together and laugh with everyone I love like this 💕 Every time after we say bye-bye we still feel we haven't talked enough with each other, so we keep in touch all the time I told everyone that even though it's been 20 years "we've not changed all all (lol)", and then I shared my deeply felt "thank you♡" to everyone for having been with me without change all these times ☺️🧡 Congratulations to Kei-chan's debut's 20th anniversary & the release of her new photo book✨ Congratulations to Azama on her marriage💐 Rika and Sawai, even though it's a bit early, Happy birthday 🎂 I wanna be with you. My best friend♡

AZAMA MEW

💗❤️💙🧡💚

昨日は、沢井と里香のお誕生日のお祝い＆私の結婚もお祝いしてくれました🥰

　 そしてなんといっても！10月4日は、 実写版「美少女戦士セーラームーン」放送開始 20周年でした🌙

その日がデビューの景子も20周年❤️ 　

ということで、いろいろおめでとうの日でした🥳 　

歳だけは立派に着実に重ねているけど、 中身と関係性は10代から変わらない大切な仲間です。

　 そして20年経っても私達を応援してくださっている方々が 本当に多くて…感謝です♡ 　

これからもよろしくお願い致します！ 　

#実写版美少女戦士セーラームーン#20周年#戦士#sailormoon

Yesterday, we celebrated Sawai and Rika's birthdays & my marriage🥰 　 And what a special day! October 4th, Was the broadcast of the live-action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon's 20th anniversary🌙 That day was also the 20th anniversary of Keiko's debut ❤️ 　 So it was a day of celebrations for many happy occasions 🥳 　 Though we are all steadily and admirably getting older, But through the connection inside us, we are still the same precious friends we have been since our teenage years. 　 And there are so many people who are still supporting us even after 20 years….I am so thankful for all of you ♡ 　 I thank you for your continued support moving forward!

#pretty guardian sailor moon #pgsm #pgsm 20th anniversary #kitagawa keiko #sawai miyuu #komatsu ayaka #azama mew #izumi rika #senshi reunion #pgsm cast #pgsm cast reunion #khmyh translates

[real-life-senshi]

You can find Keiko's intro and the Q&A part at the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos Part 2 stage meet/greet event here on Youtube!

I'll try to see if I can do a proper subtitled version of this video later, it'll definitely test my Japanese skills... But I want to highlight some of Keiko's responses at the event because it really warms my heart:

Interview translation:

2:54 - Keiko shared that when she first received the voice cast offer for Sailor Cosmos, she was nervous and concerned if she was good enough to work alongside other professional voice actresses for the film (she used the word "legend").

3:45 - Keiko also shared that the most important/significant Sailor Moon to her is Sawai Miyuu. When she received the voice cast offer, she actually consulted the rest of the live-action Senshi team about the offer and asked them how they all feel about it - if she should take the role or not. Everyone was very supportive and shared they wanted Keiko to take the role, saying they are excited to see the film, which led to Keiko's ultimate decision to take the offer.

She proceeded to talk about how she met the live-action Senshi team over 20 years ago, how they are still close and she is so grateful that all five of them continue to excel in the entertainment world, and how the Senshi team and the Sailor Moon series as a whole have been a significant part of her life.

She used the word "fight" to describe how the Senshi team all strives to work in the entertainment industry as a pun to Sailor Moon's theme of "fight" and "battle" for light and hope.

5:50 - Mitsuishi Kotono talks about playing Keiko's character's mother in JDrama Rikokatsu (2021), and Kotono talked about how Keiko had supported her in the acting process since Keiko's a professional actress and acting (not voice acting) is new to Kotono, to the point of calling Keiko her "恩人" - which means a benefactor, someone she thinks she owns a debt of gratitude to. Keiko was humbled and mortified. Keiko immediately responds saying she had always thought of Kotono as a "legend" and a "goddess".

6:22 - Keiko and Kotono talked about working together voicing the film, and how Keiko had approached Kotono for advice on how to voice act Sailor Cosmos.

The live-action Senshi team seriously is too precious. 🥹🥲

#kitagawa keiko #sailor moon cosmos #pgsm #pgsm cast #mitsuishi kotono #sailor cosmos #pretty guardian sailor moon #Youtube #komatsu ayaka #sawai miyuu #azama mew #izumi rika #khmyh translates #pgsm 20th anniversary #khmyh's fansub & translations

[real-life-senshi]

10 (Mostly) Spoiler-Free Reasons to Watch Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon 2003 Live Action

A countdown to the 20th anniversary of Act 1 air date!

Speaking of the casting of UsaMamo, let's actually talk about the live-action cast!

Reason 7: The cast!

If you become a fan of the series, despite the show approaching its 20th anniversary and sadly not being greenlit for more than one season, your joy DOES NOT end there.

The love the Senshi cast have for the show and for each other is ABSOLUTELY legendary. If one dabs into Japanese entertainment news even for just a little bit, then it's pretty impossible for them to forget this show existed because it gets brought up yearly, especially because Rei's actress Kitagawa Keiko' is 's career took flight and became insanely famous in Japan's acting industry a few years after the live-action.

Seriously, please see the following clip subbed by me and hear how Ayaka (Venus/Minako) talks about the live-action Senshi team. <3

Without further ado, please see some other examples of their lovely ongoing love for the series, the overall franchise, and each other.

Cast Reunions/Gatherings

Senshi Reunion "戦士会" A well-known term coined for the live-action 5 Senshi gathering. As Ayaka said, it includes birthday parties, Bonenkai and Shinenkai, engagement parties, and more!

My record of their gatherings dates as far back as 2006, and that's NOT counting the times when any of these ladies meet up in pairs or smaller pods and post about them on their social media and then practically. yell into the writing that they want all five of them to meet up soon. lol For a more "structured" Senshi reunion, usually they manage to get at least four of them together, if not all 5, due to work scheduling clashes.

At Keiko (Mars)'s wedding ceremony, the Senshi cast also all sang the show's insert song Friend together. :')

The girls have so much fun together, they are also known for taking blurry photos because they laugh themselves silly. (Adorable!)

PGSM 10th Anniversary Cast & Crew Celebration (2014) *Logistics of the event organization and individual's work schedule delayed them from actually celebrating in 2013 October.

2016 Super Moon Sighting (Cast & Crew Gathering)

The Senshi-exclusive reunion (2015) The gang claimed all the news of the Senshi reunion was making them jealous and feel left out, so they chose to have their own gathering without the Senshi. For a while that led to a hilarious back and forth between them and the Senshi on Twitter about making it a regular thing and maybe they'll invite a Senshi one at a time for further gatherings. lol

Here is hoping we get a 20th anniversary celebration cast and crew gathering. If the 10th anniversary celebration was anything to go by, the event might not necessarily happen right on the dot of the anniversary. Still, if not the day-of, this weekend, or this coming weekend will still be a key period for live-action fans to monitor the casts social media and blog accounts for any celebratory posts!

Supporting each other's work

The Senshi cast, Naoki (Shingo), Akira (Kunzite), and Jouji (Mamoru) show support for each other's stageplay appearances across the years.

Miyuu guest starred in Ayaka's live broadcast, and Ayaka promoted Miyuu's stageplay as part of the broadcast

Ayaka joining Miyuu on her Japanese shave ice eating and promo Youtube videos. (Twice!)

The cast members are always excited when they get to guest star in a JDrama Keiko (Mars) is a main cast of.

Ayaka in Buzzer Beat (2009)

Miyuu and Jouji in Iie ru Onna (2016)

The Senshi cast sending flowers and showing up in person to Ayaka's own unisex apparel brand - 502EASY's popup store!

Ongoing Mentions of Their Time in PGSM Lovingly

Last but certainly not least, there is no lack of ongoing mentions and positive reminiscing of their filming experience from this cast!

Keiko (Mars) fangirling over meeting Usagi's anime voice actress!

Video here! (Tumblr keeps giving me error when embedding...)

Usagi, Mamoru and Motoki reunited in Ryusoulger

Miyuu's PGSM Viewing Party

Sawai Miyuu (Usagi/Moon) does periodic live broadcasts on her Youtube channel, and has been hosting viewing parties of her rewatching the live-action. She's done Act 1 - Act 18 already!

Ayaka's talking about PGSM and Senshi team in multiple of her Youtube Q&A videos

Ayaka at Brazil ANIME FRIENDS CON 2019

Ayaka & Miyuu as Guest in Sailor Moon events

Director Suzumura's Glasses Night Talk - Ayaka (Venus), Jouji (Mamoru), Mew (Jupiter)

Director Suzumura’s Glass Night Take.017 (Feb 26, 2022) - Komatsu Ayaka (Summarized Translation here)

Director Suzumura’s Glass Night Take.034 (July 7, 2023) - Shibue Jouji (Summarized translation to come!)

Director Suzumura’s Glass Night Take.037 (Oct 17, 2023) - Azama Mew (UPCOMING SOON!!!!)

Kitagawa Keiko spoke about her relationship with Sailor Moon franchise and the Senshi Team when promoting her voice role as Sailor Cosmos

And you can also find multiple fan-translation of Keiko's interview articles here on my blog!

This post got really long, but it's not even near all of the mentions and references this amazing cast have made, speaking positively and endearingly of each other and the show!

You can watch the subbed versions of the series at:

Miss Dream Fansubs

Sea of Serenity Fansubs

The series is also on other online streaming sites, but be cautious to only visit them with good adware and firewall installed.

Additionally, if you ever want to receive info about the PGSM cast without being bogged down by content with fanart, fanfic posts like this blog, I recommend following @pgsm-gal!

4 days till the 20th anniversary of Act 1 air date!

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |

#pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #bssm #bishoujo senshi sailor moon #sailor moon live action #pgsm appreciation #reasons to watch pgsm #pgsm 20th anniversary countdown #kitagawa keiko #sawai miyuu #rika izumi #komatsu ayaka #azama mew #Youtube #Director Suzumura's Glass Night Take.017 #khmyh translates #khmyh's fansub & translations

[real-life-senshi]

PGSM Five Performers Special Talk Session - Fan Translation

In celebration of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (Live-Action)'s 🎉 20th anniversary🎉, I present to you the never-been-done-before, full translation of the Senshi talk (3 pages long) from the "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Visual Book" (first released on April 30, 2004)!

Some notes & disclaimer:

I'm not a fluent Japanese speaker, but I do know Hiragana, Katakana, basic Japanese grammar and kanji, and a few good tools to use for translation. All's to say, all mistakes are mine. Sorry if there's any!

I'm also not a professional translator. Due to the grammar differences between Japanese and English, some sentences will sound awkward in English for the conversation to make sense.

Hama Chisaki is the old stage name Izumi Rika used when working on PGSM. She changed her stage name to Izumi Rika after changing production company and returning to the entertainment industry after a hiatus where she focused on school.

Please note that everyone's name is written in the order of (Family Name) (First Name) in Japanese style instead of Western style.

You can find scans of the full Visual Book at Miss Dream.org! I own a copy of the Visual Book, so I made some of my own scans for some of the images and was able to double-check the text outside of Miss Dream's scans.

Without further ado...

No matter in transformation as a Sailor Senshi or out of transformation, all 5 girls are incredibly busy in their daily lives.   Although there are not many opportunities for all the members to get together, but just like their development within the drama, the bond between them seems to be deepening day by day.

Here is a guest-talk session with all 5 of them. In fact, this is a "first in history”!

Kitagawa: Among the 5 of us, don’t you seem the most feminine and lady-like? Azama: Is that so?

—For this round of work, the 5 of you are gathered to do this photo shoot for the Visual Book, but you rarely get to all come together in a full group when you're shooting for the drama, right?

Sawai Miyuu (Sawai): That’s true. I think the first time all 5 of us got to shoot together in the drama was the assembly hall scene (Act 18)?

Azama Mew (Azama): And after that, there were a couple more times.

Hama Chisaki (Hama): But for the other times I'm the only one that's not really there. (laughs) Right now I’m Dark Mercury (Editor note: this is how everyone calls Sailor Mercury on site while she’s under the enemy’s control). Because of this, I’m all alone. (laughs)

—From “Crank In” (= Japanese term for starting film shoot) till now, over half a year has passed already.

Sawai: That’s so quick!

Hama: Eh, that means it’ll be farewell soon? (laughs)

Kitagawa Keiko (Kitagawa): But you can also think of it as there’s still another half a year to go.  It’s kind of like a turning point for us.

Hama: I see. From that perspective, it feels like we still have a long way to go. (laughs)

The truth of the 5 girls! Would you want to go back to that day?

—In reality, among the 5 of you which of you is most unlike the character you portray?

Sawai: Isn’t everyone quite similar to their character?

Kitagawa:  Not me.

Hama:  I don't think so either.

Kitagawa: (without hesitation) Yeah, you’re not.

Hama: Hey now. (laughs) But Mako-chan (= Azama Mew) also isn’t, so isn’t everyone quite unlike their character besides Usagi (= Sawai Miyuu)?

Sawai: Wait, what?

Azama: You really are just the way Usagi is.

Sawai: What? …… But one of us is more mature?

Hama & Azama: (in unison) Who?

Sawai: Me! Sawai Miyuu!

Everyone: ……

Sawai: Eh, why? That’s how everyone thinks of me?

Azama: Fashion sense, hairstyle, etc. is different though.

Sawai: Not like that! I meant my personality, my way of thinking, etc. (laughs) …… But, I still think with the 5 of us, we all are like our characters in individual unique ways……

Kitagawa: We look similar.

Komatsu Ayaka (Komatsu): What do you mean by that? (laughs)

Kitagawa: Like our aura, I think we all give off a similar vibe to the original characters.

Komatsu: Ahh, you’re right, we do fit the vibes.

Azama: I don’t think my vibe fits though?

Everyone else: You fit—!

Sawai: Such as the part where you’re both feminine.

Kitagawa: Among the 5 of us, don’t you seem the most feminine and lady-like? 

Azama: Is that so? 

Sawai: Then we’re fine up until the last episode, Minako is alive! Komatsu: Got it. I’ll do my best. I won’t die. (laughs)

Hama:  Seriously though, even for the people who have not seen the show at all, if they see the 5 of us, I think they probably can figure out which character each of us plays (just then, a sound of “pop” came from beside her.) …… Usagi-chan, stop popping your bone. (laughs)

Sawai: Ah, please transcribe the sound you heard just now in a cool* way.

「シャキーン！」(Shakin) was the word Sawai used to describe her request. Which is an onomatopoeia commonly used in manga to describe something done looking cool and eye-catching, like a character's victory pose. What a Usagi-like behaviour... lol

Azama:  That makes no sense. (laughs)

—Now that we’ve gotten to the punchline (laughs), I'd like to ask which of the 5 of you do you think gave a first impression that is the most different from the reality.

Everyone: Chisaki!

Hama:  Me, because I’m shy……

Azama: When we first met, I thought she was not talkative at all. Then before I knew it, she started talking a lot. ....... I don't remember how it happened in between. (laughs)

Kitagawa: But we’ve all changed [since the time of establishing first impressions].

Sawai: That’s true. At first, we wouldn’t even joke with each other.

Hama: Yeah. And before, they wouldn't ignore me or anything like they do now.

Azama: Eh? We would ignore you now?

Hama: I didn’t mean it like that. (laughs) Before, when someone made a [bad] joke, you wouldn't just let it slide, or say something halfheartedly like "yeah, yeah", right? I wish I could go back in time.

Kitagawa: I don’t want to go back.

Komatsu: Yeah, you’d want to move forward. (laughs)

Kitagawa: Yeah, let’s keeping looking forward. Because we’ve all done such hard work to get here already.

Hama: And I don't want to go through that winter again (laughs)……

The Senshi team divided? What would Minako’s fate be?

—As mentioned earlier, it took quite a long time for all 5 of you to get together in the show, hasn't it?

Sawai: I was really happy about it.  It was like, "Finally, all five of us are here!"

Azama: My friends laughed at that assembly hall scene though.

Komatsu: My family too. (laughs)

Hama: Eh? Why?

Azama: Y’know, we paused to pose a few times didn't we? And after all of that, we end up not fighting as a full team after all. (laughs) They said, "Aren’t the 5 of you supposed to fight together?"

Sawai: Speaking of, Venus has a lot of cool-looking arrival scenes.

Kitagawa: Halation*. (laughs)

Halation: (photography/filmography terminology) It means a halo-effect when additional lighting is added.

Komatsu: Come again?

Kitagawa: It's what Director [Sato] Takemitsu said. “This is the scene where the princess appears, so we'll need some halation,” he said.

Sawai: He really did say that quite a few times.  “Halation, more halation”, he’d say.

Kitagawa: He'd say, “It’s an iconic scene. So give me more halation!”  It's strangely still ringing in my ears. (laughs) But by the time this book came out......

—Everyone would’ve found out that Usagi is the real princess, and Venus is the leader (Act. 25~26).

Komatsu: That’s true. (At Kitagawa Keiko) “You’re the substitute”. (laughs)

Azama: And, the rest of us are like the other 2 spares. (laughs)

Hama: The princess, the leader and the sub, and then blue and green, it does feel like that. (laughs)

—No way! (laughs) By the way, do you guys have time to watch the show at all?

Sawai: I watch it. After all, sometimes it’s hard to imagine how I would look on TV. Even with commercial shoots, you never know how it's going to look until the final product is finished .......

Kitagawa:  I’m the opposite. I’m afraid to watch it.  At first, when I watched it on the On Air* date, I felt frustrated and thought, "I could’ve done much better now.” I guess I watch it mostly when I don’t appear much on screen.

On Air: Japanese filmography terminology for the first official footage release of a program, typically means the first episode of a series.

Azama: There was a time when I didn't have enough time to watch it, at its peak I'd miss the show for up to a month's time. So I'd binge-watch all 4 episodes in one go the moment I can instead, and I’m still 2 episodes behind right now. (laughs)

—Excluding your own scenes, what scene has left a memorable impression on you?

Kitagawa:  There are so many that I can’t decide on one.

Hama: It’s practically impossible to say our lines when suffering from pollen allergies. Sawai: It’d be like “In the name of love and justice… achoo!” (laughs)

Azama: For me, the scene where Akumi-chan (Editor’s note: During the time as Dark Mercury, Hama Chisaki’s character Mizuno Ami is referred to as “Akumi”, merging “Aku” (evil) with “Ami”.) was on the merry-go-round was great.

Sawai: That sideway glance was really intense. (laughs)

—Speaking of intense, the confrontation between Rei (=Kitagawa Keiko) and Minako (=Komatsu Ayaka) was also very exciting.

Sawai: And ever since then, I notice those two (Kitagawa & Komatsu) have become very close. (laughs)

Azama: And, those two (Sawai & Hama) are also really close with each other, so I’m left all alone……

Sawai: That’s not true!

Azama: Odd numbers are not good to work with after all. (laughs) From now on, I'll get closer to Luna (Sailor Luna = Koike Rina) instead. (laughs)

Hama: Lately, most of my time is spent in the company of the Shitennou. (laughs) I feel like it's been a long time since I’ve met everyone like this.

Sawai: I've also been spending a lot of time with Mamo-chan (Chiba Mamoru = Shibue Jouji) lately. And most of the scenes are done with gloomy expressions. (laughs)

Komatsu: Minako’s also suffering from time to time...I wonder what will happen?

Sawai: She did say there’s only six months left.

Hama: Let’s make a decision now?

Komatsu: About my illness? (laughs)

Hama: Wouldn't that make it easier [to act]?

Sawai: In talking with the collective staff-san, the story is supposed to be that Sailor Moon protects Minako from dying using the Silver Crystal......

Azama: Eh? Mamoru* dies from the Silver Crystal?

“To protect”( 守る) is pronounced “mamo-ru” in Japanese. Azama mistook Sawai's choice of saying “protect” with “Chiba Mamoru” the character.

Sawai: That’s not it! (laughs) To use the Silver Crystals to "protect" Minako.

Kitagawa: I guess that'll be in the last episode……

Sawai: Then we’re fine up until the last episode, Minako is alive!

Komatsu: Got it. I’ll do my best. I won’t die. (laughs) But before the last episode, I might die a bit.

Azama: Die a bit?

Komatsu: No, I meant to say, “I might die a bit before”. (laughs) (At Sawai Miyuu), Well, I’ll be counting on you then. (everyone laughs)

Sawai: But six months is quite a long time, isn't it?

Komatsu: …… So you want me to die sooner? Even though I just bowed at you. (laughs)

The Sailor Senshi’s message to their fans

—Since Crank In in the summer, winter had come and gone, and now spring has arrived……

Sawai: Crank-in was so hot! And I was running all the time.

Hama: At first it was just the two of us, me and Usagi. And Naru-chan (Kawabe Chieco) too.

Kitagawa: And I joined in September.

Sawai: It would have been rough to wear a shrine maiden costume in August.

Kitagawa: No, because there’s the fireplace, it actually always feels like midsummer for me.

Sawai: Oh I see. But even though I’m really glad winter’s over, now there’s pollen allergy to deal with in spring. (laughs)

Hama: It’s practically impossible to say our lines when suffering from pollen allergies.

Sawai: It’d be like “In the name of love and justice… achoo!” (laughs).

—To wrap us up, would you please give a message to your fans?

Hama: This kind of thing is so hard to do. (laugh)

Azama: Let’s go in the order of the day of the week*.

Japanese days are named according to the elements. From Monday – Sunday: moon, fire, water, wood, gold/metal, earth, and sun. This means Mercury's and Mars's order is flipped when compared to the Senshi lineup.

Sawai: The order of the day of the week. (laughs) So I’m first? …… Hm~mm, it has already been six months since the program started and the 5 of us have come together, please support us until the very end. We will also do our very best!

Kitagawa: For purchasing this book, thank you very much.  It's very much appreciated.

Hama: You can see the 5 of us outside of our usual roles in this book. And you can also see how we spent our New Year's (laugh), so please enjoy this book!

Azama: When thinking about how things will unfold moving forward, I think everyone will be looking forward to how things turn out, so let’s all be excited and watch each episode together! (laughs)

Komatsu: They said everything already. (laughs) I don't know what to do……

—It's the closing of this segment, so please end it with style.

Komatsu: …… Only six more months left.* (everyone laughs)

OMG, she legit just quoted her own line, THAT line from Act 18. lol

—Thank you very much. (laughs)

#pgsm #pretty guardian sailor moon #kitagawa keiko #sawai miyuu #azama mew #komatsu ayaka #izumi rika #pgsm cast #pgsm visual book #khmyh translates #khmyh's fansub & translations