by An official interview with Sasakura Kana, who plays Asanagi Iori (Uta) in the anime “Sing Love Like a Whisper,” has been released.
The anime ” Sing Love Like a Whisper ” is a girls’ band love story that begins when Kino Himari (CV: Shimano Hana), who has just entered high school, falls in love at first sight with Asanagi Iori (CV: Seto Asami ), who is the guitarist and vocalist in a band. The original work is the manga of the same name by Takeshima Eku, serialized in “Comic Yuri Hime” (Ichijinsha), which won first place in the 2020 “Yuri Manga Awards.”
You started your career as an artist after passing the “Anime Music! Matching Audition 2021”. What made you decide to take this audition?
Kana Sasakura (from now on, Sasakura): I initially worked as a musician, singing anime songs. While working part-time jobs, I would perform at live music venues, do street performances, and do live streams, and I would look for auditions and apply.
I wanted to sing anime songs because I had a lot of difficult times in my school days, and anime helped me out at those times. Relationships with friends, teachers, family… I could forget about all the worries, but only when immersed in anime could I ignore reality. Before I knew it, I wanted to sing anime songs myself. So I started doing music activities, and in the process, I found the “Matching Audition.” I applied, thinking that if I passed, I could be involved in anime through singing.
So you’ve always loved anime.
Sasakura: I got into anime after discovering Nana Mizuki. My favorite is “Senki Zessho Symphogear.” From then on, I started watching anime, whether or not Mizuki was in it. I also really like “Angel Beats!”
Speaking of “Angel Beats!”, the band featured in the show Girls Dead Monster is also active in real life.
Sasakura: That’s right! I’ve always admired the vocals in plays like Galdemo, so being involved in “Sasakoi” as a vocalist in the play has been a dream come true.
After the audition, how did you end up being cast in “Sasakoi”?
Sasakura: I was informed that I had passed the second round of auditions, but I didn’t know that there would be a third round, so I was called to a recording studio and recorded a cover song.
Later, I was told that there was a production called “Singing Love Like a Whisper” and that I might be selected to sing for the character Yo-chan. So I sang “Humming Love” and “Orange-dyed Sky,” although the lyrics were different from the current one. They listened to that song, and I was selected.
How did you feel when you passed?
Sasakura: I was looking forward to it, and I was happy, but the staff at my agency supported me in various ways, such as by giving me voice training during the audition, so I was more grateful to them. I told them, “I’ll do my best.” Now that the show has started, it’s starting to feel like my debut is real.
What impression did you have of the original “Sasakoi”?
Sasakura: First, I was impressed by how sparkly it was. The illustrations were delicate and beautiful, and it was the first time I’d read a story about love between girls, so it felt fresh. I play music, so I was also drawn in by the fact that it featured a band, and I was immediately drawn in.
What did you think about Yo?
Sasakura: She was a character I had been interested in since I first read her. I admire extraordinary women, so I wanted to be a person like her and get closer to her (laughs). But halfway through, my impression that she was “cute” strengthened. I remember reading her while cheering her on, saying, “Do your best, do your best.”
Are there any similarities between you and Sasakura-san?
Sasakura: Generally, we love singing, just like me, and we both tend to be attracted to things (laughs).
But the thing we’re most similar to is that, at first glance, we seem incredible, but inside, we’re lively. I’m not cool, but I have a lot of turmoil, and I don’t show my emotions on the surface. I’m not that up and down (laughs). When I saw Yo-chan’s lively side, I empathized with her and thought she was just like me.
When I saw you on stage at the advance screening, I thought you were calm.
Sasakura: It’s completely different! (laughs) I was in a mess.
I see. By the way, what do you value most as the singer of Yo?
Sasakura: Yo-chan has such a solid attachment to singing that she says singing was all she had, and Himari-chan fell in love with her at first sight, so at first, I was apprehensive about what her charm was and how I should sing to her. Especially before the recording, when we were practicing, I felt like I was trying too hard to sing well, and it was getting hard to convey my feelings.
Yo-chan is a girl who genuinely loves singing, so it would be wrong to put too much emphasis on her technique and singing ability but rather to sing in a way that conveys her feelings straightforwardly. Yo-chan, who had no interest in love, falls in love for the first time. I wanted to convey the freshness of that moment, the pure feelings, to everyone.
Do you sing in a way that brings your feelings to the forefront?
Sasakura: That’s right. However, if you put too much emotion into it, it might not be conveyed, so I tried to find the right balance while recording.
Now, I would like to ask about the songs that have appeared up to episode 6. First, what do you think about the opening theme, “Follow your arrows”?
Sasakura: When I first received the song, I thought, “What a classic anime song!” From the intro, I felt the story’s beginning was bright but somehow sad. Even though there were no lyrics, I cried just hearing the synth melody. That’s how powerful Kurosu (Katsuhiko)’s melody was.
I thought Fujibayashi (Seiko)’s lyrics were also beautiful and symbolic of “Sasakoi.” “Arrows” means “arrows,” and in addition to the feelings from Yo-chan to Himari-chan and from Himari-chan to Yo-chan, the word “arrows” expresses the thoughts and arrows of various characters. I was also moved by the large scale of the lyrics, which take you to a world without sadness, and I felt a great love.
What part of “Follow your arrows” do you particularly like?
Sasakura: I like the D melody after the second chorus. The director told me, “The D melody is the key to this song, so the pitch and rhythm are important, but I also chose a rough take with nuance and emotion.” Indeed, the lyrics and melody combine to create a D melody that hits home.
What do you think of the song “Humming Love” in the first episode?
Sasakura: As I mentioned, “Humming Love” was the first song in “Sasakoi.” I knew the song before Yoru-chan was chosen to sing it, so I have a strong attachment to it.
The lyrics have changed since the audition.
Sasakura: The lyrics express the world of “Sasakoi” more clearly, and while it’s a song for SSGIRLS, I feel it also represents the whole of “Sasakoi.” I’ve never had the chance to be directed by a writer, so it was also memorable to have Kurosu direct the recording. I’m very grateful that he created an environment where I wasn’t nervous.
It was first unveiled at “Anime Japan 2023.”
Sasakura: It was the song I performed for my audition and the first song I performed in front of everyone, so I feel like I’m starting my singing career with “Humming Love.” I hope we continue to grow together.
I was also surprised at how your singing voice seamlessly connected with that of Seto Asami, who plays Yo.
Sasakura: I’m glad to hear you say that! At first, I was a bit worried because I still can’t objectively listen to my voice, but I’m relieved to hear such feedback.
What do you think about inserting the song in episode 1, “The Orange-dyed Sky”?
Sasakura: This is also a song I sang at the audition, so it’s a song I’m very familiar with. There was a little time between the audition and the actual recording, but the production staff praised me for my singing at the audition so that I could sing it confidently, in my and Yo-chan’s styles.
You wrote the lyrics for this one yourself, Sasakura-san.
Sasakura: This was my first time writing lyrics. At the lyrics stage, I wasn’t told in detail what scene it would be used in, but since it was a song to sing and play, I thought of the rooftop scene in the first volume of the original manga. I liked that scene, so I wrote it with the theme of the sunset seen from the rooftop.
Did you come up with the title, Mr. Sasakura?
Sasakura: That’s right. When I was writing the lyrics and wondering how to express the sunset, the words “orange-tinted sky” suddenly came to mind, so I used this as the title. The sunset in the anime was gorgeous, so I’m happy I chose this title.
When Himari comes to the rooftop, Yo sings “Rooftop Melody.” This was composed by Sasakura-san.
Sasakura: I was asked to write and play a song along with my humming. I composed it while sitting cross-legged on the bed, thinking, “Let’s give it a try,” but Yo-chan in this scene was also playing with the same vibe of, “Let’s give it a try,” so I felt an exquisite connection and was happy (laughs).
And then, in episode 6, you finally performed “Sunny Spot.”
Sasakura: Fans of the original work will have a strong feeling for this song, so I was determined to sing it with all my heart. Even before recording, I had a hunch that it would be an essential song for me, and when I received the demo, that feeling turned into certainty, and I got goosebumps.
I tend to sing songs that express my innermost feelings, but this was the first song that expressed my feelings for a loved one so directly. If I hadn’t been involved in “Sasakoi” and sang for Yo-chan, I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to sing “Feelings about Someone.” When I delivered a song to a loved one, what did it mean to sing? I was allowed to think about such things, and this song became a favorite and essential song to me.
This song also has become a turning point for you.
Sasakura: That’s right. I felt like “Sasakoi” and “Sunny Spot” had changed me. However, maybe because I felt too strongly about them, I got too emotional during the recording, and at first, the atmosphere became heavy and solemn (laughs). I wanted to make a refreshing, pure, and sparkling song that expressed the love between Yo-chan and Himari-chan, so I made some adjustments during the recording.
It was a very heartwarming song.
Sasakura: Kisuke’s lyrics are lovely, and I especially like how “Himawari” and “Hidamari” overlap. The D melody is also perfect, so I’d love for everyone to listen to the full version.
Now, let’s talk about the anime itself. From episodes 1 to 6, which scene was the most memorable?
Sasakura: The rooftop scene at the end of episode 1 left a lasting impression on me. It was an essential scene for both of us, and when I watched the anime, I was moved by how the images, music, and lines overlapped. And then there was the SSGIRLS live scene. I had the opportunity to watch the motion picture actors filming.
It was so!
Sasakura: It was filmed at a live music venue, and I had the opportunity to visit there. I was impressed to see the production process and how this performance turned into an animation. I also had the chance to observe the dubbing process for the animation. I learned how voice and music are added to the production process, which changed my perspective on animation. It was a valuable experience.
As you mentioned earlier, you performed the song “Sasakoi” at “Anime Japan 2023,” “Anime Japan 2024,” and the advance screening. What were your impressions of the live performances?
Sasakura: I was so nervous at “Anime Japan 2023” that I don’t remember it. I was going to appear as a secret guest, and I was going to suddenly perform a song, even though no one knew who I was… I was shaking so much that it was the most nervous I’ve ever been (laughs). But I was happy that everyone responded so warmly, and when it was decided that I would appear at “Anime Japan 2024,” I remember practicing hard, wanting to show a performance so much improved that it was unrecognizable. For the advance screening, I went in to brush up on my performance at “Anime Japan 2024” and put on a performance that would make people even more excited about anime.
Thank you. Could you tell us what music you often listened to in high school?
Sasakura: As I mentioned, it’s anime songs, starting with Mizuki Nana. I was a loner who wanted to form a band but had no friends to do so, so I gave up on bands. Mizuki Nana’s songs gave me the push I needed and saved me many times. From then on, I started listening to songs by female voice actors and anime song artists.
Is there anyone or anything that you’ve fallen in love with at first sight recently?
Sasakura: It’s a capsule toy called Ezomomon Oyster, which combines the Ezo flying squirrel and oysters. I found it at a capsule toy shop in Okayama, where we went on location to shoot the music video for “Follow Your Arrows.” I love oysters, so it was love at first sight, but it felt so good that I kept squishing it all day, and by the second day, the face had disappeared (laughs). So I spun it again the next day.
The music video was shot in Okayama, where the story is set and where Eku Takeshima is from.
Sasakura: That’s right. I met the teacher the day before the shoot, and it was an enjoyable shoot.
Finally, please tell us what we can look forward to from episode 7 onwards and what you are looking forward to.
Sasakura: Lorelei will finally make a whole appearance. I’m looking forward to hearing more about the band and finally hearing Sui Mizukami’s song, which has been with us since “Anime Japan 2023” through anime. SSGIRLS will continue to do their best, so please consider each character’s feelings.
