Kudou Haruka
Guitar – Hikawa Sayo
When the more intense movie version of Sayo came across in a recording I did for the game, someone was like “you’re acting kind of scary right now”. That got me like “no wait! That’s the wrong Sayo!” (*laughs*)
———How did you feel about reprising your role as Hikawa Sayo for these movies?
I was surprised by just how much she’s developed between the band’s formation and now. You could probably go as far as to say she’s made a complete 180 (*laughs*).
———What did Sayo seem like when the band was first formed?
She never cut any slack. Both then and now, she calmly analyzes situations. But she doesn’t want to lose to her younger sister. She thinks playing guitar is all she has going for her. She can’t really see beyond that, so it feels like her perspective is limited. There’s a scene where she acts incredibly unfriendly towards the members of her old band, the one she was in before Roselia. Even in that scene, nothing she says is actually incorrect. Yukina hears her and sympathizes with her words, so she invites her to form a band together. But as the story unfolds, she becomes friendlier. She goes out to eat with the others (*laughs*) and lends a kind ear when Lisa feels troubled. Based on all that, Sayo’s character is completely different when you compare the first few scenes to ones in the second half. I appreciate how the journey she took to get there is covered in such a short amount of time.
———Was there anything you paid special attention to while playing her in the movies?
When I record lines for the game, I’m playing a version of Sayo who has grown. The movies return to what she used to be like. Even brief comments like “what is it?” carry only a shred of kindness. On the other hand, when the more intense movie version of Sayo came across in a recording I did for the game, someone was like “you’re acting kind of scary right now”. That got me like “no wait! That’s the wrong Sayo!” (*laughs*).
———It’s as though you’re turning the hands of a clock forwards and back again.
Yeah. That’s something I kept in mind. I can look back on the early parts of the story by rewatching the anime or rereading chapters in Garupa, but I don’t usually get to act the part anymore. I’ve played a number of different roles, but this experience felt very new. I thought I’d never get to say such cold and unfriendly lines ever again, so I was glad.
———Do you enjoy recording that kind of dialogue?
I do (*laughs*). Sayo’s especially harsh towards Ako-chan, right? I wondered how intense I should sound, so I checked with Sakuragawa-san. Like, I can’t really be that intense… right? So I went back and double-checked, and sure enough, it was that intense (*laughs*).
———(*laughs*). What kind of impression did the movie version of Roselia leave on you?
I recorded alongside Shizaki-san, so I got the impression that Rinko-chan didn’t talk much in the early days (*laughs*). It was mostly lines like “ah…” or “Ako-chan…”. There are scenes where she expresses herself a bit more, but if those scenes were done with respect to how the character is now, she would hesitate less. It made me feel a little nostalgic for the older, more reserved Rinko-chan, back when she wasn’t as confident in herself. Ako-chan is still basically the same as ever, but early on, she didn’t understand why Sayo would get mad or why Yukina would say the things she did. The relationship between them hadn’t developed yet. But now, she expresses what she feels. She thinks about how her actions can make others happy. She cares about others and works hard to meet their expectations. That’s really admirable!
———It is. She gives her all.
Lisa also said stuff like “I’m doing this for Yukina” early on. But she realized that wasn’t enough. She thinks really hard about how she can help the band in her own way. She makes cookies and tries writing lyrics to help keep everyone’s spirits up. Now that Lisa has started working “for everyone”, she feels even more like a big sister. Yukina is… actually, I talk with Aiba-san a lot about how similar Yukina and Sayo are. They’re both self-disciplined when it comes to music, but they lack the same closeness and feeling of friendship that the rest of the band possesses. But she was dealing with so much. And she realized that she wanted to get to know everyone better… and after talking more openly with the band, everyone changed (*laughs*). They’ve grown.
———How do you perceive that growth?
It’s like “people really can grow up so fast!”. Following the story makes me think “alright, I’ll grow more too!” (*laughs*). It’s a good motivation to do it. But even though so much has happened, everyone’s love for Roselia is something that has not ever changed.
———Do you feel like playing this character has changed you?
The amount of time I spend focusing on music has grown. Playing an instrument has become a major part of my life. But there’s still so much that I have to learn.
When I look at Poppin’Party and the other bands, I think they haven’t changed. And I mean that in a good way. Poppin’Party is Poppin’Party. I look at the five real members and feel like their bond is getting even deeper. So if we were to look at ourselves with that same perspective, I guess you could say the same about us.
———It’s as though you’re learning more about yourselves by watching Poppin’Party. Instead of merely feeling like your bond is deeper, it seems more like it’s become natural for you to spend time together.
Right, right, I guess so. Spending time with the band has become so normal for me. A lot of people say things like “you’re still just as close as ever”. I hope the “as ever” part means we’ll stay that way forever. People also tell us “you’re still as lively as ever”, so I guess that means we’re loud and obnoxious (*laughs*).
———(*laughs*). You’ve devoted a lot of time to guitar practice so you can play it at real concerts. How do you feel about that?
Since I play Sayo during performances, I have to act like her. That means I have to think about how I look on stage, plus I have to play all the musical phrases correctly. There’s so much I have to do, it sometimes gets overwhelming like “wah!” (*laughs bitterly*). But as I’ve had more experience performing at big venues, I’ve come to really understand the excitement of putting on concerts, just like what’s shown in the movies. Make eye contact with everyone, get ready to play that cool part, and let’s go! Bang! Whenever that happens, I know all five of us are united, thinking “let’s go” in our hearts. And then when the song ends, I know we’re all thinking the same thing again. We’re thinking “we did it!”.
———You understand each other even without putting your thoughts into words.
Well, Sakuragawa-san ends up saying it (*laughs*). There was this one time when her microphone picked up her voice as she did. Even though Aiba-san was looking all cool, you could hear “yay!” (*laughs*). In that way, she’s a lot like Ako-chan.
———She really is (*laughs*). You’ve released a wide variety of songs, but their difficulty has been steadily increasing. Are there any that are particularly hard?
Our recent songs are all hard, but the one that made me think “this is nuts!” was FIRE BIRD. All five of our parts were equally hard, so we started practicing it as soon as possible. We knew it was a barrier we’d need to overcome. The first time anyone heard FIRE BIRD was when it played in the anime’s second season. I like to check out what people are saying by searching hashtags. Lots of them said “it’s a cool song!”. But since it’s so difficult, lots of them were also saying “there’s probably no way they’ll ever be able to play this in real life”. So we said, “let’s surprise them!”.
———Ooh. It got you fired up.
Yeah, we were burning up. We banded together and worked our asses off. After we overcame that wall, I haven’t really had to stress about the newer hard songs. I started to think “we can do it as long as we practice!”.
Okay, this is Lisa’s song, so let’s approach it from her perspective. Like, we’d base the lighting and stuff off that. But we’ve started discussing them in more depth than we used to
———Out of all of Roselia’s original songs, are there any that have left a particularly notable impression on you?
Which one should I pick… there’s a lot, but when it comes to Sayo as a character, it’s gotta be Determination Symphony. It’s a song about Sayo and her sister Hina. It’s easier to practice songs that you form a stronger attachment to. You can lose track of time and play for an hour straight.
———An hour straight!?
I’ve done that, yeah. Beyond that, after our solo concerts get planned and we figure out the setlist, I play constantly. Then I add in an MC, set down my guitar, and drink some barley tea. Once three minutes pass, I go “alright!” and start playing again. There are some things that become clear when you do that. This song and that one are similar. These two are in the same key. It becomes easier to link them together in concerts.
———Another song related to Sayo is Avant-garde HISTORY, right?
If you were to ask the whole band “what do you think about this song?”, I’m certain every single one of us would say something like “it feels so long!!”. It’s around 5 minutes long, but playing it makes it feel twice that. It’s like “this is only the second chorus…!?” (*laughs*). I really have to use my head to play it, so after I finish, I really wanna treat myself to some sweets (*laughs*).
———(*laughs*). The song is fairly complex, isn’t it.
Right, it is. It absolutely saps your stamina. If you lose focus for even a second, the whole thing falls apart. It’s a terrifying song. But there are also some parts that I do in unison with the keyboard. Those are fun to play.
———We’re told that the song was also composed by Sayo.
Yep (*laughs*). Avant-garde HISTORY had the provisional title 391. She told everyone that it’s because she’d had a 39 degree fever, but it’s more that the song carried her thanks. It’s almost like a dumb dad joke… to think that she’d come up with something like that… it’s funny (*laughs*). It also made me think “Sayo, do you enjoy manic songs like this?”. I wonder what kind of music she usually listens to.
———That’s a good question, now that you mention it.
Sayo’s the only one I’m not sure about. Lisa and Ako-chan are in dance club, so I can kinda imagine what they like. Rinko likes games, so I think she’d be the type to listen to music from those games and classical stuff. And then Yukina’s dad was in a band, so she’d probably listen to a wide variety of genres. But Sayo’s still a mystery. I mean, we still don’t even know why she started playing guitar in the first place.
———In some sense, it was because of her sister, but why did she choose guitar specifically? Is that what you mean?
Yeah, that! Why not piano or bass? There’s still a lot of mystery there, and I’m excited to see when it’ll be revealed.
———I’d love to see that story! Do you think appearing in these movies will lead to any feedback or influence on the real Roselia?
When we first started trying to play songs together in rehearsal, way back when we first formed, we’d talk about the story surrounding each song and the emotional backbone behind it. Okay, this is Lisa’s song, so let’s approach it from her perspective. Like, we’d base the lighting and stuff off that. But we’ve started discussing them in more depth than we used to. I used to pour all my energy into just playing my instrument, which I’m sure is something other people in bands can relate to. But even though I’d talk with the others, I wouldn’t have a good idea of what the lyrics were like. I memorize the songs based on their sheet music. So whenever I’d hear them on the radio, I’d think “so this is what we’re singing about!” (*laughs*). I’m more able to learn the lyrics now.
———But don’t you sing along to the songs when you play them live?
Sometimes I sing them correctly and other times I get it completely wrong. During rehearsal, the staff tell me “did you sing the wrong line just now!? Please be careful during the actual performance!” (*laughs bitterly*).
———(*laughs*). You’ve performed at many different places with Roselia. Is any concert particularly memorable?
Oh, which one!? There are so many…. Can I pick two?
———Go ahead.
The first one is our debut performance. It was at Poppin’Party’s concert, “BanG Dream! 3rd☆LIVE Sparklin’ PARTY 2017!”. It was our first time on stage, and it was a surprise performance, so no one expected us to show up. I still remember the sight I saw from the stage that day. It felt so massive, like “is this Tokyo Dome!?” (*laughs*). Look at all these people! The ceiling’s so high up! We usually held our rehearsals at smaller studios, so we were always so close together. But everyone felt so far away…. We’ve been able to perform at even bigger venues like Saitama Super Arena and Yokohama Arena, but that first concert felt the most monumental.
———What’s the other?
Nippon Budokan. The year before that, I went to see Poppin’Party at their first Budokan concert. I was blown away by how awesome it was. I thought it would be nice if we’d be able to do that someday too. At the time, I figured that day was a long way off, but we got to do it faster than I thought. I’ve been to the Budokan a lot before as an audience member. But I the view I saw from the crowd and the view from up on stage were completely different.
———I’ve heard it said that looking up at the audience from the Budokan stage is like staring up at a wall.
Yeah, it was just like a wall. Like Aiba-san said during one of the MCs, we could clearly make out each and every face in the audience. Then she suddenly blurted out “we could play rock-paper-scissors with y’all!”. It was such a non-sequitur that everyone started ribbing her for it (*laughs*). I thought it was a great venue. I felt really blessed to be standing on its stage.
———I’m eagerly awaiting your next concert! Well then, could you tell us some of the highlights from the movies?
The highlights have gotta be the concert scenes! When the concerts connect with the story, it’s like an outburst of emotions. Back when “BanG Dream! FILM LIVE” released, the audience was able to cheer. But current circumstances make that impossible…. So we want you to cheer for us inside your hearts. It’s also fun to look back on the story in Garupa and the main anime when you watch. I’m sure it’d also be fun to see it with no background knowledge of Bandori. If you go see the movies with someone who doesn’t know about us, I think they’d probably leave the theater as a fan of Roselia. I think it’s something that lots of different people will be able to enjoy.
They feel like a new family. I mean, we also have our actual blood-related families, but it’s like we’ve formed a brand new family ourselves. And that’s such a great thing
———Taking everything into account, what do you think about Bandori?
I think the amazing thing about Bandori is that I can suggest trying something new and they’ll respond “sure thing”. A while back, I had discussions with the staff because I wanted to re-enact the scene where Sayo plays Hina’s guitar at one of our concerts. The guitar manufacturer went through the trouble gathering and assembling all the right parts. Everyone has a lot of attachment towards the franchise, right? Hearing people say “it’s so emotional!” really makes me happy.
———Do you interpret “emotional” as a keyword? Because in my own opinion, there are many scenes in the anime and the game that I would describe that way.
Pretty much everyone says it. Maybe because there’s a character (Afterglow’s Aoba Moca) who calls everything “emotional” (*laughs*). But I think it goes to show how much everyone likes the franchise.
———To close things out, what do the other members of Roselia mean to you?
They feel like a new family. I mean, we also have our actual blood-related families, but it’s like we’ve formed a brand new family ourselves. And that’s such a great thing. Even when no one has anything to say, everyone feels comfortable. We have that kind of vibe. We aren’t relatives though. That doesn’t quite feel like the right term.
———But you’re closer than ordinary friends.
There are times when we need to depend on each other, maybe even too much. Like “will you ever forgive me!?” (*laughs*). Looking at it from that perspective, we’re just like a family. The band’s a family. A place to call home.
———It looks like you have a truly wonderful relationship. It’s not easy to find a place you can call home.
I’m just really happy I have something like this in my life.
Keyword Q&A
Q1 — How would you describe your personality?
My strongest quality is that I’m cheerful. People often tell me I’m happy-go-lucky (*laughs*). When I first heard that phrase, I didn’t really understand what it meant, so I was like “what do they mean by lucky?”. Like, I didn’t consider myself particularly lucky (*laughs*). My weak point is that I’m careless. I just kinda say whatever haphazard stuff comes to mind. I dunno if I’m just a persuasive person or something, but everyone goes along with it for whatever reason. So I’m always telling people “don’t believe what I say because I’m just speaking nonsense”.
Q2 — What kind of year do you want 2021 to be?
Last year, Aiba-san I discussed getting our driver’s licenses. A whole bunch of stuff happened so we ultimately couldn’t do it, but I hope we’ll be able to this year. I don’t really have anywhere particular that I want to drive (*laughs*), but when I’ve got a lot of stuff that I need to lug around, I think “having a license would be nice”.
Q3 — April is the month when students graduate and go on to higher education or employment. When you enter a new environment or face new circumstances, what do you pay attention to?
I try to bring stuff that I like with me so it’s easier to start making conversation. For example, if I were a BanG Dreamer, I would hook a rubber strap or stick a pin on my pencil case, so that someone with the same interests might see it and come talk to me. When I see someone with stuff like that, it feels easier to go talk to them, so I usually have stuff that’s easy for people to understand.
Q4 — What kind of fashion has caught your eye this Spring?
This is a “Roselia Thing”, but whenever we’re doing solo work, we all wear colorful clothes. But then, when we get the band together, everyone’s somehow decided to dress in all black. Even in the middle of summer (*laughs*). So I’ve been a little more conscious of the color of my clothes.
Q5 — Where and when do you feel the most relaxed?
When I’m soaking in the bath. People send me lots of bath salts and stuff as gifts, so I use those. My bed is another good option. As soon as I get out of bed, I just want to go right back in…. But I’ve been an early riser lately. My happy place is when I get up early, have some coffee with a splash of milk, and then sit around absentmindedly for like 15 minutes.
Q6 — If you could meet Hikawa Sayo, what would you want to talk about?
I want to hear all about her practice methods! Like “how did you practice this part of that song?”. And I’d also wanna ask “what kind of music do you usually listen to?”.
Q7 — If you could be a character from Bandori for one day, who would you chose and what would you do during that time?
Probably Poppin’Party’s Toyama Kasumi. I want Random Star. When I do solo practice, I decide to take a little break, and then pick up a Random Star sitting around the studio and use it to play some Roselia songs. Wait, is that even considered a break…? (*laughs*). But it’d be a great change of pace.
Q8 — When you’re on stage during a performance, what routines or items are essential to you?
Towels are a big must-have because my hands get sweaty. As for my routine, I have to be ready in the stage wings 15 minutes before we’re set to go on. About 45 minutes before our scheduled time, I drink some black coffee, brush my teeth, and apply some lipstick. I get pretty relaxed before our performances.
Q9 — Send a message to the Roselia members!
Dear Aiba Aina: We’ve been talking about having a house party for nearly two years. It seemed like it was finally gonna happen, but then you said “I’ll figure it out” and nothing ever materialized! I wanna have a house party soon!
Dear Nakashima Yuki: I used to be something of a gamer myself, but I don’t really understand modern games. Since you know a lot about games, I’d like you to recommend me some. I want to play online with you!
Dear Sakuragawa Megu: When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, I want you to take me to Sakuragawa City in Ibaraki Prefecture, where you’re the goodwill ambassador! I wanna eat more of the world’s best dried sweet potato, the stuff you gave me before at a concert!
Dear Shizaki Kanon: I used to struggle with eating spicy food, but I’ve gotten better at it lately. So I wanna go eat some hot-pot with spice master Non-chan!
Q10 — And please leave a message for all the BanG Dreamers!
I’m really really happy that we’ll get to share the most incredible Roselia with the most incredible sound systems, up on the silver screen! It’s thanks to support from all the BanG Dreamers that I get to be part of Roselia, perform concerts, and share our work with the whole world. I hope I’ll be able to repay that favor. The world has changed, but Roselia will keep its sights set on the pinnacle. I hope we’ll get to keep walking together with everyone. I hope we’ll reach the pinnacle together. Thanks so much for your support!
Notes:
1. The title 39 is a play on words. In Japanese, 39 can be pronounced “San Kyuu”, which sounds similar to “Thank You”
More from this book:
I. Aiba Aina – II. Kudou Haruka – III. Nakashima Yuki – IV. Sakuragawa Megu – V. Shizaki Kanon
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