Interview: Aqours Return to Los Angeles for 'Brand New Wave' Concert

Love Live! Sunshine!! is the second multimedia project from the Love Live! School Idol Project franchise, jointly developed by Dengeki G Magazine, animation studio Sunrise, and record company Lantis. Its television anime debut in Summer 2016 garnered an international following for the school idol group, Aqours. Following its commercial success, a second season aired in Fall 2017 and Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie: Over the Rainbow premiered in theaters across Japan on January 4. Funimation recently screened the film in select theaters across the United States between August 5 to August 8.

Five live concerts have been performed across Japan by the voice cast of the nine-member school idol group. Their most recent showing in Saitama's MetLife Dome on June 8 and 9 attracted an estimated 120,000 viewers, including the venue audience and fans worldwide watching the live stream. Aqours performed their first full-length solo concert in the United States during Anime Expo 2018.

At this year's Anime Expo, Aqours returned for a two-day performance titled "Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours World LoveLive! in LA ～Brand New Wave～" in The Novo, located in downtown Los Angeles. Ahead of the event, MyAnimeList interviewed Kanako Takatsuki, Anju Inami, and Aina Suzuki (left-to-right in the image), the voices of Aqours members Hanamaru Kunikida, Chika Takami, and Mari Ohara, respectively.


Inami-san, you have been to Los Angeles several times now. What do you think of the city?

Inami: I can feel its power—or should I say passion, especially since today is the day before our performance. It feels great to be in Los Angeles, and the food is amazing. I can really feel the difference in atmosphere between here and Japan. I want to take in all the effects and excitement of the city.

Were you excited to come here again?

Inami: I was totally looking forward to it!

In the recent Love Live! Sunshine!! movie, Aqours also traveled overseas to Italy. Takatsuki-san, could you compare the interactions among your characters when traveling, to your (the voice actresses') interactions when traveling together for performances overseas. Are there any differences or similarities?

Takatsuki: The similarity is being able to eat delicious food. (laughs) Also, we can go sightseeing wherever we want in each country. The difference is we avoid accidents because we don't have solo activities, such as Yoshiko going off by herself... (laughs)



Each of the Aqours members was assigned a country to represent in the past. Suzuki-san, you were selected to represent the United States, correct?

Suzuki: That's right.

What are some new things you have realized or learned about the United States since you were selected?

Suzuki: This is my third time coming to Los Angeles and the United States. A few other members are here for the fourth time.

When I came here for the first time, I was so nervous because I wasn't sure if people would accept us—but it was a needless concern. I feel a lot of deep affection from them. The audience loves Love Live!; they always cheer for us and give us a warm welcome.

Last year, when we sang "Yuuki wa doko ni? Kimi no Mune ni!," they made a nine-color rainbow for us as a welcome surprise. The rainbow was so beautiful from the stage, and we were very moved by it. There are many people who move us with their spirit of surprise. Their hearts are so warm.

Translation Note (T.N.): "Yuuki wa doko ni? Kimi no Mune ni!" is the ending theme song of Love Live! Sunshine!! 2nd Season and translates to "Where Can You Find courage? Inside Your Heart!"

You feel the love from the US fans, right?

Suzuki: Yes, we did!



Inami-san, please tell us some good points of Numazu (the setting of Love Live! Sunshine!!) that you saw or felt when you actually visited the city.

Inami: I had never been to Numazu before I was involved in this work. When I went to the place where the girls started, I was particularly impressed by the sea. When I am in Tokyo, I rarely have a chance to see the sea. (There is also a sea in LA!)

"We want to shine!" (私たち,輝きたい！) is the theme of Love Live! Sunshine!! and Chika-chan frequently says it. Because the main characters grew up in Numazu, I think that such glittering phrases like "We want to shine!" could be conceived; Numazu seems to have influenced the series' vocabulary. The words "sea" (海) and "Aqours" (アクア) also connect strongly.

Besides the sea, Numazu is rich in nature and has sunflower fields. Chika-chan was born in August and her birth flower is the sunflower. When I visited Numazu on her birthday, I went to the sunflower garden. It was a great sight that you can't see anywhere that isn't rich in nature.

Numazu also has many delicious, locally-grown foods and souvenirs, such as fresh and dried fish, Hanamaru-chan's favorite noppo pan, and local foods that everyone likes.

The source of words that nature produces, the delicious food, and beautiful landscapes—Numazu is really a wonderful place. I think it's a place that's brimming with positive energy.

T.N.: Aqours is pronounced as "Aqua."

There is an impression that the image of Numazu has changed because of Aqours. I think you brought attention to the city from those who were previously unaware of it. Do you get that feeling from the people in Numazu?

Inami: Every time we have a concert, people in the Numazu area give us flowers. For example, a balloon shop gave us a flower arrangement decorated with balloons with the motifs of each member.

We have received a lot of love from the local people. They're warm and come to see our concerts. They say we receive energy from your concerts. When we hear that, we get energy, too. I think we care for each other, there's love coming from both sides.



Congratulations on your appearance on Kouhaku!

Everyone: Thank you so much!

T.N.: NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen (NHK Red and White Song Battle) is a New Year's Eve radio and television program which divides female and male performers into two teams (red and white, respectively), and then the best performance is voted on by the audience and judging panel. Artists are selected to perform based on record sales, public survey, and that year's theme. Last year, Aqours appeared as a special guest performance, but did not compete.

I think that performing on Kouhaku is a great achievement. It is a stage artists long to stand on. How was it?

Inami: It was great!

Takatsuki: It didn't feel real.

Inami: I know, I agree.

Takatsuki: The artists I met had to be fake. (laughs) I couldn't believe I really met them.

Inami: I thought they were people you can only see on TV. If this were Love Live! Sunshine!!, Chika-chan would feel the same way.

What's the next goal for Aqours after performing on Kouhaku?

Inami: Though it's a big dream, we've always wanted to do a world tour. Some members also talk about wanting to perform at Tokyo Dome again. I think that's becoming one of our dreams—to have a concert at Tokyo Dome with all nine members once more.

T.N.: Aqours' 4th live concert was performed at Tokyo Dome; their 5th live concert was performed at Saitama's MetLife Dome.

Sounds like it might be a good idea to go on a world tour with Tokyo Dome as the final performance.

Inami: That'd be nice, wouldn't it? Since we appeared on Kouhaku as guests, we'd also like to participate together as the red team.

Takatsuki-san, is there a reason Aqours has returned to perform again at AX this year?

Takatsuki: We performed the "5th Live" in Japan, and the set list included the theme songs of our recent film, Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie: Over the Rainbow. Since the movie opens this August in the US, we'll do the same here and hope our performance inspires the audience to see the movie in theaters.


Interview was conducted in Japanese by Takeo Yatabe from the MyAnimeList team. It has been translated into English and edited for clarity.