Discussing Hana-Kimi Characters With Aya Yamane and Kikunosuke Toya

At this year's Anime Expo, Anime Atelier interviewed two of the main cast of the Hana-Kimi anime adaptation, which is currently broadcasting its second season. 

Aya Yamane (山根綺), who plays Mizuki Ashiya, and Kikunosuke Toya (戸谷菊之介), who plays Shūichi Nakatsu, talked us through the challenges they faced while working on a series that was known as a “bible for the Japanese people” when Hisaya Nakajo’s original manga was still serialising. And we find out which character they’d most like to have as a roommate! 

Were you familiar with the Hana-Kimi manga before joining the cast?

Yamane: Absolutely. The original work that this anime was based on was actually adapted as a TV drama twice in Japan. When I was in elementary school, for example, it was kind of in vogue. It was kind of like a bible for the Japanese people, culturally speaking, to the point that if you hadn't seen it, you couldn't even go to school because there was really nothing else you could talk about.

Toya: And as for me, I hadn't read the manga, but I did have a pretty good idea of the story because I had seen the TV drama. 

Toya-san, this is your first big shojo role. Was there anything you had to change or adjust compared to other roles you've played?

Toya: Yes. Nakatsu ends up liking Mizuki and thinking that he's a man, and I guess there was a little bit of rebelliousness about that within me, but I thought that this was something that had to be represented accurately. So, I would say, his emotional reactions were something that I had to work on a lot to make sure that I could get it right in his character. 

Yamane-san, Ashiya is quite a stubborn, tomboy-like character compared to the female leads we usually see in shows like this. Did that present any particular challenges for you when it comes to voicing her?

Yamane: I mean, even if Mizuki gets sad, the next moment something may happen and those emotions flip completely. They go to the other extreme, and it's like it's no big deal. They have this side of them where they're just not taking things that seriously and not getting all dark and depressed. Personally, I feel like when something happens to me that isn't so positive, I tend to actually get nervous and dig my heels in. I had to really deal with that, especially at the start. Then, I got instructions like: “Okay, you're taking this a little bit too dark; you're taking this a little bit too seriously. Just remember that this character is just going to move on like no big deal and just keep it light and just keep it going.” And that was a challenge for me. 

Ashiya is constantly balancing confidence and panic. Which side of her character do you feel is the most fun to perform?

Yamane: When things are happening, and there are events, that's really when it gets more exciting. That, for me, was probably a little bit easier and more fun for me as a voice actor.

Toya-san, Nakatsu's emotional journey is both hilarious and heartfelt. Which scene did you have the most fun recording?

Toya: Probably the interaction between Nakatsu and Mizuki, when he grabbed his juice, and they had an indirect kiss. Those kinds of scenes are/were a lot of fun for me.
That’s kind of the scene I was thinking of when this question came up. [everyone laughs]

What traits do you admire the most when it comes to Ashiya and Nakatsu?

Yamane: I think what's attractive about Miyuki is that she doesn't get depressed. I mean, she's not holding on to the past. She moves on. And she's also not anxious about the future. She's not constantly getting sad about what happened, not crying over spilled milk. I think that the fact that she doesn't let her emotions get dragged down by those kinds of things - that's what I think is admirable about Mizuki

Toya: What I thought was great about Nakatsu is that he's just so earnest and does everything in earnest. The way that he is authentic in his feelings for Mizuki, even when there's a fight with Sano, he defends Mizuki from his attacks. He is earnest in his love for soccer as well. I really understand that; I get that about him, and even his jealousy and those kinds of things. And I think maybe this is common, but I think when it comes to love, he was very considerate and always thinking about putting a lot of thought into everything. And that's something that I could really relate to. So that's what I thought was great about Nakatsu. 

If you were a student at Osaka Gakuen, which character do you think would be the best and worst roommate to have?

Yamane: Yeah, I think, honestly, the most ideal roommate would be Mizuki, because I think every day would be fun. I don't think I would get bored. She's also very considerate, and I think it would be easy to live with a person like that. And then in terms of who I wouldn't want as a roommate, I would probably be Kayashima-san, and that's because he knows exactly what I’m feeling because of his powers. [everyone laughs] So if I’m depressed about love, he can see that I’m having relationship troubles through the bed, and he can see right through me. It might be a little difficult to live with him.

Toya: On the other hand, I like people who are on the quiet side, and so I think the person that I would most like to be roommates with is Kayashima. [laughs] And then the person that I think I wouldn't want to live with the most is Nakao, and that's because he's always just blabbing about everything that happens on a daily basis. He really doesn't ever keep quiet, and I think that would make it difficult to have a quiet, peaceful life. [laughs]

What would you like to say to fans who supported the series from the beginning?

Yamane: Well, first of all, thank you for supporting the first season. which has ended. Starting in July, we will have season two, and there are going to be new characters, and there is going to be a lot of changes in the dynamic between Nakatsu and Sano and Mizuki. So I hope you will enjoy it all the way to the end!

Toya: At the beginning of Season 2, there is going to be a pretty major change with Nakatsu character. I hope people will watch that and enjoy it, and then follow the second season all the way through all the different transitions and all of the different ups and downs. And I think it's going to be very enjoyable. I hope everyone will support us all the way to the end of Season 2 as well. 

Anime Atelier would like to thank Yamane-san and Toya-san for taking the time to speak to us! Season 2 of the Hana-Kimi anime is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll, with new episodes releasing weekly.