[EN]VOICE BRODY Magazine - Interview with Aida Rikako

Original CN TL and Pictures: here



CN TL： Toraiba食堂 (逢田文明博物馆)





Disclaimer: This is a Chinese to EN TL, there would be things that would be lost in translation between the languages.



I’m not posting the image of the TL, sorry about that. Stealing images aren’t cool.

Please refer to my policies for more details and do not use the translations for commercial use.

Since there’s no QC - pardon my bad engrish.

The contents are under the cut.

With regards to the point of not giving up,



It has a very strong resonance (with me).







Q: We can see that in a recently published magazine about Aida-san, you really do like curry?

Rikako: Yes, I love curry the most. Although I’m not that picky about it, but what I really like is a certain franchise’s limited curry soup. And also I can cook some by myself too.







Q: …. Do you really make them?

Rikako: I REALLY DO MAKE THEM!!!





Q: Did you make the sauce yourself too?

Rikako: I used pre-made stuff (laughs)







Q: Not bad (laughs). But today’s interview and shoot is after the 2nd season of the TV anime has ended, in what frame of mind were you in when watching episode 13?

Rikako: I watched it together with the fans and everyone during the screening at the end of the year (2017), and it feels different from what we saw at home. To be able to see each other’s joy first hand, there’s a feeling of security to it. And as expected, as I love everyone in the TV anime, I would still feel lonely although there’s still a movie version. But, thinking that it is a “happy end”, then there aren’t any regrets. Although at the end the school has to close down and they would have to combine with another, but everyone in Aqours did do their best. This can be said to the style of Aqours. So I do not doubt the ending for a single moment.







Q: Speaking about the unique points of Aqours, as the stage isn’t at Tokyo, they are still able to get a different resonance as compared to μ’s.

Rikako: That is the case. For (Sakurauchi) Riko-chan, it’s the same too. As I was born in Tokyo too, it did broaden my vision. But there would be a girl somewhere in this world who is living in a place like that, with similar thoughts right? Thinking in that way would have lots of it’s own rewards as well, for children like that, we could say that they are mentally strong right?







Q: Having performing on stage since 16 years old, what are the parts where Aida-san, who had went through rigorous training, empathize with?

Rikako: Indeed there’s parts like this huh? For myself, the degree of the thoughts of: “I can’t give up at this level”, could perhaps be a little stronger than the others. So, for children who worked hard to progress, and the feelings of not ever giving up, I do have a strong resonance to that. And, for school idols themselves, isn’t that something that they can only do when they are in high school? So as they legitimately do have that limitation, it’s exactly because of that that when it is nearing the time to end, they could give off that dazzling shine in that very instant. I could deeply and sincerely feel that particular point.









Q: For Aida-san yourself, as a member of Aqours, when you step on an actual stage for an event, would you consciously leave behind flashbacks or moments behind you?

Rikako: Holding 1st Live, 2nd Live Tour and Live&Fan meeting all during last year (2017), it does feel that time flew by quickly. So there would be feelings of anxiety and a little loneliness. Events are being completed one after another, and 3rd Live is in the midst of preparations too, of course there’s a far way of before it ends… but I do feel that time has flew by in a blink of an eye. And wondering whether the days of being part of events with Aqours would gradually decrease, there would be feelings of loneliness. At the very moment where I start feeling that at any single moment I would be able attend an event like this. It would mean that every single precious feeling would also start flowing into the depths of my memory instead. I can’t let it end up like this.







Q: What was asked previously: “What was the shine that everyone found?” what Aida-san wrote was: “To not regret” That answer and this topic are connected to together, right?

Rikako: I feel that to shine is something very difficult to do, but to be able to do it to your full extent and not leave behind any regrets, wouldn’t you say that your life is already shining? Until now, I’ve always lived a life without missing anything. So right now, it does seem to be the shiniest time of my life (laughs)? Of course all this is due to everyone in Aqours, I’ve never once imagined to be able to stand on such a big stage to conduct events.







Q: Should we say that it’s a sparkling and shining world then?

Rikako: I originally just wish to be a voice actress, so I didn’t crave to be on stage and perform. Of course the work that I have right now is very fun. It’s because of that, that I wish to put in my all to properly finish my work here. As it’s something that was achieved with much difficulty, so I wish to unreservedly put in my all into it, not carrying with me any doubts of whether I can do it, and instead put my all in and do it.







Q: Going back to Aida-san’s replies from before, we can see Aida-san’s thoughts on the process of moving forward. You did say before that: “You wish to chase the backs of μ‘s”. Moving on one year later, it changed to the thoughts of: “The time where we only looked up to is already over”.

Rikako: I did indeed say something like that (laughs). It’s probably when I was replying to last year’s interview, and I felt that if we continue this way, it won’t do. If we just look up, nothing would ever change. I now feel very happy being part of the members of Aqours in my work, so thoughts like to surpass members of μ‘s or to be shoulder-to-shoulder with them, it changed to how I wouldn’t even consider these. I guess, it’s at this point that changed.







Q: You won’t confuse yourself with μ’s right?

Rikako: That’s the case. Although we are both projects of “LoveLive!”, but if we are able to separate the two, we would instead be happier. It’s how I think so recently. As we hope to work hard as part of Aqours.







Q: To chase and search for “the light belonging to oneself”, you’ll be able to properly find that light, right?

Rikako: We aren’t engaging in a comparison, I feel that the songs by Aqours have their own uniqueness to them too. There’s a kind of power that came from somewhere unknown. It’s the same for (Takami) Chika too. It’s exactly because Chika doesn’t stop trying to express these to us, can the members work hard together as a team.







Q: But it’s because she (Chika) felt that because she was ordinary, that this story could begin.

Rikako: I feel that being ordinary is itself a very amazing thing, there’s limitless potential, it’s exactly because Chika is that ordinary, that is the reason why everyone could resonate with Chika, and isn’t that even more attractive? Especially for me who doesn’t have a single specialty, very ordinary, and I did think that way when seeing everyone at the recordings. Everyone have such distinct personalities, everyone of these children are a little odd (laughs).







Q: You did think that huh (laughs). As for the positives and style of songs by Aqours, “WATER BLUE NEW WORLD” really did sang out the past and future of Aqours, right?

Rikako: When I first heard the sample tape, I felt: “This is an amazing song”. This song can be said to a culmination of many things to be something great. It wasn’t the right time to sing this song at the 1st season, and it’s a song that can only be sung now. The lyrics themselves are also trying to showcase this. I’m confident that this song can move many people, although it wasn’t made by me (laughs). But when I was singing this song, it really encompasses lots of feelings inside.





Q: Are you able to foresee the “light that will come” then?

Rikako: The days where I’m part of Aqours, I wish would never end any time soon, I believe that there are lots and lots of very amazing things waiting for us. We can still continue walking forward. I feel that we haven’t gone all out yet. I believe that there would even more people who would know about us. This allows us to continue working hard, and to be even more united. I guess I would forever never be satisfied with the current situation? No matter where we end up, there would always be another step forward, as I do wish to keep in my heart the feeling of always improving. It won’t do without that intent, but when I am dancing together with everyone, that instant, I really am very happy. When I dance, I carry with me the feelings of, if I can convey this feeling more to everyone, it’ll be great.







Q: For last year’s 2nd Live tour, I was blessed to participate in Numazu and Fukouka’s Live&Fan meeting. At that venue, the atmosphere could be said that: “we’ve already sent the message” right? Especially at the venue itself, it’ll have a totally different feel to it.

Rikako: I really felt it’s simply amazing! We can say it’s passionate, that it’s sincere, but it felt amazing. In “Landing action yeah!!”, the part where Suzuki Ainya-san would sing “Tsugi no basho wa doko darou?/I wonder what place will be next?” solo , was very fitting to how it felt then, I especially like that part.







Q: At that time, your tear ducts were easily hit right (laughs)?

Rikako: I carried with me feelings of wanting to continue on endlessly, and wishing to go to where everyone was and share in everyone’s feelings of having met them. At the same time I felt the loneliness of it all coming to an end hitting me, so it’s really a very very amazing song.







Q: Did you think about what you want to do in the days from the TV anime ended till the movie version where you would meet with Riko once again?

Rikako: I’m trying my best to leave my hair long (laughs). And it’s also because everyone has worked so hard in the TV anime, so for it to end like this is impossible. From this point on, the actors everyone, would have to continue working hard too. Riko too would always be by my side accompanying me.







Q: If you were to say something to Riko now, what would you wish to say?

Rikako: For Riko, she’ll be able to endlessly continue on, and she’ll be able to emit even a more dazzling shine than before. But for now… what are you doing now? If I think of it this way, I’ll feel a little lonely. But as expected if it’s them, they’ll be in another world living on fine, right?







Q: I look forward to that the day where the two of you would meet. Lastly, Aida-san, if you were to look at “LoveLive!” again, what would it’s charm points be?

Rikako: As expected it’s cohesiveness, everyone’s feelings have become one. Even the staff too. The actors and fans, everyone’s feelings have become one. I feel that everyone is inseparable now.







Q: And this particular “feeling” is?​​​​

Rikako: What will happen this year, and what would happen next year, what will happen on the road to the final destination is something no one can foresee, but is something everyone are eagerly anticipating… that is the feeling I meant. Mm, the road to the future.