Sakurai　Yun*chi, when did you first find out about Uesaka?
Yun*chi　It was the TV commercial for “Genshi, Joshi wa, Taiyo Datta.” I was like, ‘Who is this beautiful girl?’ I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I mean, I watch a ridiculous amount of anime on a regular basis, but until that point I had never really become fixated on the people singing the songs that featured in any of the anime. So Sumire was the first anison artist that I really got hooked on.
Uesaka　Stop, that’s too much.
Yun*chi　What’s more, that person (Uesaka) also happened to be a voice actress from one of my favorite anime, “Genshiken,” so I knew her voice already.
Sakurai　“Genshi, Joshi wa, Taiyo Datta” is a song that means a lot to you, right, Sumire?
Uesaka　Yes, I decided I wanted to become a voice actress when I was a little girl because I wanted to be like Haruko Momoi, and she’s the reason I am where I am today. Momoi is my idol and shortly after my debut as a voice actress, I got to sing a song written by Momoi for the anime I was involved with.

▲Yun*chi

Sakurai　Yun*chi, what kind of anime do you like?
Yun*chi　My favorite anime is “Lucky☆Star.” I love the dialogue between the characters and the adult humor that pops up here and there. I also like “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.” Before I even realized I liked anime, though, I also used to watch other shows like “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon” and “YuYu Hakusho.” But everything from “Lucky☆Star” and “Haruhi” onwards, I watch in acknowledgement of myself as an anime otaku (lol). I also really like “Chu-2 byo demo KOI ga shitai” that Sumire is in.
Uesaka　It seems you like anime made by Kyoto Animation.
Yun*chi　I do. Don’t you think the coloration is kawaii? I find them to be quite stylish, too.
Sakurai　What do you think of Sanae Dekomori that Sumire voices in “Chu-2 byo demo KOI ga shitai”?
Yun*chi　Love her. Can’t get enough. I just love it all. It must take a lot of power to play Deko-chan though, right?
Uesaka　All of the dubbing for her takes up a lot of energy. I put my entire soul into it. But Dekomori is quite a similar character to myself and I also have experienced “chu-2 byo” so it’s really quite a fun character to play.
Yun*chi　I also put myself in the shoes of the characters and compared their experiences to my own when I watched Chu-2 byo.

▲Sumire Uesaka