Talent Databank Interview with Kanna Mori and Shiho Kato | Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko 2nd Stage

Here we go! One more interview with Shiho and Kanna, this time from Talent Databank. The show starts two days from now and we have the fan meeting tomorrow, plus a mini Instagram live, so...I hope this will help us all get even readier for AyaHiro 2! Enjoy!

― Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko is coming back, after about a year. What can you tell us about the response received by the first season?

Kanna: It has been incredible. We received a lot of comments from viewers, our fans brought AyaHiro to a high place in the summer drama ranking, in the midst of so many series...we could really feel everyone's excitement. I personally got countless messages, including many from lesbian viewers. I even got love letters from people telling me they fell in love with me. I mean, the response was huge. 

Shiho: I agree, there was an amazing response. At the time, I was still in Hinatazaka46, and many viewers who got to know me through AyaHiro then went on to become fans of Hinatazaka46, even attending the lives. It filled me with joy that I was able to bring interest to the group through the drama, before graduating from it.

― When did you first hear about AyaHiro 2nd Stage?

Shiho: I think it was just before spring this year… 

Kanna: Isn’t it spring right now? (laughs) (the interview was conducted in early May) 

Shiho: Yeah, so...it was in the winter. (laughs) 

― What was your honest reaction when you found out there would be a sequel? 

Kanna: There was definitely pressure around making a sequel. I had a lot of worries going on in my mind. Like, considering the amount of people who loved the first season, maybe it was better to just leave it at that. The way a continuation was to be portrayed would also make a difference. So I can't say I was fully on board with the idea right away. However, we got so many messages saying things like "I absolutely want a second season!", "I want to see what happens next" that I eventually got like "All right, then! Let's do this". And now I can say I'm very happy we did it. I'm yet to watch the final result, but I'm very excited, since the script was hilarious.  

Shiho: I was convinced there was no way there would be a sequel, so I was honestly very surprised, and happy at the same time. I also got many messages from fans telling me they bought the DVD/Blu-ray, that they kept watching the series again and again, and that they were waiting for Season 2, so I believe this is all thanks to the people who have been supporting AyaHiro.

― You’ve already wrapped up filming. Any story from your reunion on the first day on set? 

Kanna: A reunion story? We've actually been going out to eat together quite a bit, so it didn't feel like a reunion at all, right?  

Shiho: That's correct! I got to eat out with her multiple times, which I'm very grateful for!

Kanna: Still, on set I suddenly found her again "as Ayaka", so there was a sense of "it's been a while" to that!

Shiho: We first met again on set at the costume fitting, after all. I was looking over thinking, “Oh, so that's what Hiroko's going to wear this time around!" (laughs) 

― What made you feel like you had really returned to the AyaHiro set? 

Kanna: While acting as Hiroko, I often have to make these big facial reactions, and that definitely brought me back to the last time. At first I was like "Wait, how was it that I used to do it?", but soon after it clicked, as we kept filming. 

Shiho: My very first scene was one where I had to run at a right angle and then turn, which immediately felt very "Ayaka-ish" and made me feel like I had come right me back to AyaHiro. 

― After working together through the first season, and now filming the second one, has your impression of each other changed? Any new discoveries?  

Kanna: The biggest difference definitely had to do with Shiho having graduated. Last time, she had to do...what was it? 27 Hours TV? 

Shiho: 46 Hours! (laughs)

Kanna: Right! She had this Hinatazaka 46 Hours TV event, and had to turn into Ayaka while being fully engaged with her work as an idol, so I believe that was very tough for her. Considering her schedule, it was quite obvious that she was barely getting any sleep, so I remember being like "Are you feeling tired? Are you okay? Wanna sit down a bit?" (laughs). This time, however, she was full of energy! So much so that she'd talk nonstop since early in the morning. Last time she looked like she was ascending to heaven during makeup, but this time she was super talkative even in those moments. It was nice, seeing her like that (laughs). 

― Shiho, how have things changed for you since your graduation? 

Shiho: Last time, I feel like I was only able to push through it all thanks to everyone's support. On the other hand, this time I can clearly remember every single day on set. I'm very happy about it. 

Kanna: That’s good to hear, really! 

― Shiho, what’s your impression of Kanna? 

Shiho: At first, I thought she was cool, beautiful, lovely… 

Kanna: I mean, of course! (laughs) (my note: It's so cute how Kanna cannot take compliments straight-forwardly and always diverts to joking).

Shiho: That hasn’t changed, but the strongest impression is definitely of her being hilarious! And, through filming the 2nd Stage, I was also reminded of just how cute Kanna is! 

― Is there anything that you specifically kept in mind while playing your roles this time? 

Shiho: In season 1, Ayaka was in a recklessly "on the attack" mode, constantly declaring her love for Hiroko. In the 2nd Stage, however, my wish was to be able to bring out a more human, more natural side to her. 

Kanna: Did you send that as a prayer to the gods? (laughs) 

Shiho: Yes, I kept acting while sending that prayer to the gods! (laughs) 

― Would you say the divine intervention worked? 

Shiho: I think Ayaka is much more human this time! 

Kanna: I agree. She definitely became a full blown human being!

Shiho: Hooray!! 

Kanna: But the same goes for me, I think. In Season 2, you're going to see more of Hiroko's uncool, flawed and clumsy sides. So, viewers will be able to see both characters as much more human, getting a clearer sense of who they are, as people.

― What would you say makes the relationship between you two so charming?

Kanna: Last time, we had just met for the first time and had to build up everything from that, but now we've known each other for a while, so I would say that Season 2 includes scenes that would've been impossible to capture if it weren't for our bond, or that are made possible only because of our established relationship. 

Shiho: So true. It was a lot of fun! 

Kanna: Now, that sounds like a comment a child would make (laughs). Truth is that, this time, in addition to kiss scenes, there are also going to be love scenes. 

Shiho: That's right! We filmed "see you later kisses" like a hundred times (laughs). They kept saying "Okay, once more!" and honestly, I had a blast with that!

― Do you think that having already worked on an entire season before this one has helped you make your chemistry even better?

Kanna: For sure. 

Shiho: You think so? That makes me so happy!

Kanna: Sometimes we didn’t even need words, and were able to communicate with our eyes! 

Shiho: True! And when I was feeling stuck or troubled, I'd always ask Kanna, and she would help me without fail! 

Kanna: Also, when one of us noticed something funny, we became able to have silent conversations about that, without speaking a single word (laughs).

― The 2nd Stage sees the appearance of original characters as well. Is there anyone who left a particularly strong impression? 

Shiho: Ema! She plays Hiroko’s niece, Tsumugi, and she is super cute! 

Kanna: Soooo cute! Such a source of healing for everyone on set.

Shiho: And she was funny too, on top of being cute!

― How would you spend time on set with Ema?

Kanna: We'd talk, I'd carry her in my arms, and we played the whole time.

Shiho: We even played rock-paper-scissors! She was adorable. I don't really have kids around usually, so it felt very refreshing. Talking to a 5 year-old is surprisingly fun. She would talk to me even when we were not filming. I loved it! 

― Tsumugi is sort of a rival for Ayaka, isn't she? 

Shiho: Yeah, like a mini rival. There's a scene in which we kind of argue, and Ema must've had a lot of fun filming it because once it was all over, she kept saying "Let's do it again!", and she would repeat "I'm the one who likes Hiroko more!!" (laughs)

Kanna: Couldn't ask for a cuter way of being caught in the middle (laughs). We also have Sayuri Matsumura appearing as a mysterious woman! Her presence is going to bring about some worrisome misunderstandings...Make sure to look forward to that! 

― Any memorable scenes during filming? 

Kanna: Episode 5 will show how Ayaka and Hiroko started living together, and there's a throwback to the scene from the ending of Season 1. Yeah, I think Episode 5 might be one of the episodes with the most memorable moments!

Shiho: There’s a scene in which Hiroko gets drunk drinking wine, and it was quite intense! I remember bursting out laughing on set (laughs). I can't wait to see how it turned out! 

― The wine scene is in Episode 1, isn't it? 

Shiho: Yes! Episode 1 is absolutely wild! Hilarious! 

Kanna: Right, partying and making merry (laughs).

Shiho: Filmed on the bed!

Kanna: We were basically on that bed the entire time.

Shiho: And that was so fun!! As soon as we lie down on the bed, we immediately get giggly, don't we?

Kanna: So true! Like before getting to sleep on a school trip! It happened during Season 1 as well, remember? I think we might have a weakness when it comes to beds!

Shiho: Right! Turned out that Kanna starts getting sleepy as soon as she even just slightly gets in contact with a bed!! (laughs) 

Kanna: It’s my weakness, really! (laughs) 

― Any other highlights from Episode 1? 

Kanna: Episode 1 is, overall, a pure festive chaos, from Ayaka and Hiroko not quite understanding each other at the Hawaiians resort, to the squid and carrots at the end...

Shiho: The season starts off quite intense, doesn't it? And it begins with a sort of suggestive scene too, so...I'd say it's quite the adult start!

Kanna: And just when you think it's an adult start, there's when the misunderstandings begin! We also have a whole new opening, and I want everyone to look forward to that as well. 

― Lastly, please send a message to AyaHiro's fans.

Shiho: Season 2 was only made possible because of everyone who supported Season 1. And I'm deeply grateful for that. I'd love it if we could all get excited together on social media for Season 2 as well!

Kanna: This season has a lot going on and is very funny, but it also portrays the very real obstacles that a lesbian couple living together faces. That's something that's almost never been shown, so I think viewers will be able to enjoy something completely new. I truly hope everyone's going to have fun watching AyaHiro 2nd Stage! 

On X if you want to share:

By -
Labels: , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)