LinQ Ami Himesaki: Talk and Q&A!（3/4）

2015.06.03

Did you notice her shuffling around on stage too? That was so cute!

ab: Well then, I guess it's time to announce the guests for the talk and Q&A! Here is Takamasa Sakurai, who was the main MC at "OTAKU SUMMIT SPECIAL LIVE!"

Sakurai：Hello! Special live was great, wasn't it! Ami, you've been in tears since the rehearsal!

Himesaki：It was such an honor to watch the rehearsal! I got to see angela performing live in the middle of such a huge space all by myself! Since the rehearsals the whole thing has been so incredible! It’s been really awesome!!!

Sakurai：Ami, I really could tell that you are an otaku, as whilst you were talking with the artists on stage I could see you were didn’t really know where to put yourself and were gradually edging towards the back off the stage. When Ami was talking to Sumire Uesaka, I was thinking “where are you going? Don’t fall off the stage!” (Towards the audience) Did you notice her shuffling around on stage too? That was so cute!

The reason we asked Ami to be an MC this time was because we wanted someone who could stimulate discussion and draw out stories from artists, which they haven’t spoken about in public yet.
Ami somehow manages to really get people talking and sharing their thoughts, I could sense that these artists felt Ami's love towards them, so they tended to open up to her. That’s why the MC for this event couldn’t be anyone other than Ami. I would have to give you 100 out of 100 for how you did yesterday, actually, come to think of it, more like 120 out of 100!

Audience：(Applause)

Himesaki：Ah, thank you for the kind compliment, I was wandering whether or not I was too much of an otaku!

Sakurai：（Turning towards the audience) How do you think Ami did yesterday?

Audience：Well, actually we like how weird she is (lol)!

Himesaki：That’s ok! I know that I'm a little weird (lol)!

Sakurai：It's like the "kimo-kawa" (gross-kawaii), isnt't it? I’m often at various overseas events together with voice actors and actresses, artist and models, so someday I really think we should go abroad and do events together!

Himesaki：Well, I'll really have to make lots of effort studying English!

Sakurai：They’re not always in English (lol)! The first event that I went to with Sumire Uesaka was in Qatar!

I really would like to be able to work towards creating connections and building bridges between people through promoting Japanese anime and manga

Sakurai:I've been so active building a friendship with those who are involved with otaku events around the world for the past 2 years, and finally the day before yesterday we established an organization called the International Otaku Expo Association (IOEA), and now I'm very pleased to announce that Ami was appointed as an IOEA Cheer Ambassador!

Audience：(Applause)

Himesaki：Thank you so much! I really would like to be able to work towards creating connections and building bridges between people through promoting Japanese anime and manga, together with the fantastic anime events that are held in various countries and regions throughout the world! So I will be doing my absolute best!