Weekly Shonen Sunday Special Focus

Translation by: Harley Acres

ano, who is currently performing the theme song Iinazukkyun for the completely new anime Ranma 1/2 that is currently airing to rave reviews, has arrived at Sunday! This is also a special collaboration with Ranma 1/2! You're sure to be thrilled by these eight charming pages!

Since we're meeting for the first time, what's the correct way to address you, ano-chan?

ano: "ano-chan" is fine with me, but some people feel they have to add "-san" and end up calling me "ano-chan-san." In that case, I think "ano-san" is even better.

Who is your favorite character in Ranma 1/2?

ano: Shampoo. Because I love cats. I think it's great that cats are free-spirited and honest about their moods. I'm like that too, and I think it's great that all of that is forgiven due to their cuteness.

Ranma doesn't like cats, but what does ano-chan dislike?

ano: There are a lot of things. I don't like vegetables, so I can't eat them, and I don't like noisy people either... I try to stay away from them as much as possible.

When Ranma gets splashed with water he turns into a girl, but what about you, ano-chan?

ano: I think I'd be a mouse. If I could wish to be anything, I'd like to be a mouse. I like cats, so I'd like to be chased by cats. I also like mice. Mice are small, so I think they can hide in all kinds of places, so I'd like to go into all kinds of places.

When did ano-chan almost do the "chu-don pose" recently? ^[1]

ano: I'm usually quite good about using polite language, but I ended up talking to Kenichi Endo-san, who I'm currently co-starring with, in a casual manner... ^[2]I didn't mean to talk to him in a casual manner mind you, so I was panicked when it happened. I felt like, "Aiya!"

With this project, you're in charge of the opening theme for the TV anime Ranma 1/2! How much do you keep the contents of the original work in mind when singing the theme song?

ano: I was quite conscious of it. I tried to incorporate the chaotic, heart-pounding feeling of the original manga.

What do you like most about the costume in Iinazukkyun?

ano: I asked for cute pastel colors like pink and light blue, with Shampoo in mind. I combined it with an apron, so it was like a cute combination of both. But I love that it's a proper Chinese outfit.

I want to be able to sing your songs. Do you have any singing tips?

ano: A sense of rhythm is very important. I think that's true for all songs. I think you can sing this song well if you pay attention to matching the words to the tempo. Also, I sang with a loud voice that really hits home, so if you do it that way you should be able to sing it.

Ranma and Akane are engaged, but what kind of person would you like to be engaged to, ano-chan?

ano: I'd like someone who would do anything and everything for me. Someone who would even look out for my personal needs.

This time we also shot at a Chinese restaurant. What's your favorite Chinese food?

ano: I love Xiaolongbao. ^[3] I love them so much that I make sure to go to a restaurant that serves them. When I went to Taiwan, I ate Xiaolongbao every day, and when I came back to Tokyo, I had gained about 3kg. Even though I know I'll get burned eating them, I like the feeling when they burst open, so I eat them without hesitating. I love them.

What is your favorite part of today's outfit?

ano: Originally, I wasn't planning on wearing this blue outfit, so it was just a light blue costume, the quintessential Chinese costume. When I put this blue costume on, I thought, "Oh, two layers would be nice," and it really gave it a lively feel. These fluffy boots are a total mismatch, which I think is actually quite nice. The embroidery is also cute, so it's become one of my favorite costumes.

Do you have a favorite Chinese item?

ano: I like pretty much anything Chinese, but I really like the round things that you wear on your head.

Since this is in Sunday, please tell us your ideal Sunday.

ano: I'd like to live like a cat, lying down and lazing around watching TV or movies, and sleeping in the afternoon on Sundays.

What do you like about manga?

ano: It's like they let you peek into stories about things outside of your own experience. Sometimes I get so engrossed in them that I feel like I've entered their world, and I think it's great that they let me encounter things that are different from me.

If you were to become a manga artist, what genre would you like to draw?

ano: I'd like to draw comedy manga. I think it would be fun to draw a heartwarming comedy manga. Even four-panel manga would be good. When I was little, I used to draw something like manga, and it was always a bit comedy-like and heartwarming. I'd like to draw something with that kind of laid-back feel.

What are your ambitions for the future?

ano: I don't really have anything I want to achieve, but I'd like to be able to live life the way I want to.

Thank you!

ano Profile
●Birthday: September 4
●Active as an artist, model, actor, and talent.

Information
[CD] Iinazukkyun on sale now!
[TV] Ano-chan no Den Den Denpa ♪ (あのちゃんの電電電波 ♪)
(TV Tokyo, every Wednesday at 2:00am~)
[YouTube] Ano Churu

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Footnotes

• [1] They include a note that explains "the chudon pose is what you do when you feel like 'aiyaa'." The "chu-don" (ちゅどーん) sound effect has long been associated with Rumiko Takahashi as a signature sound that appears in many of her series, particularly from Urusei Yatsura and Ranma 1/2. When asked about it Takahashi has always pointed to Shin Tamura's Dekin Boy (できんボーイ) as she also mentioned on Twitter.
• [2] Kenichi Endo (遠藤憲一) is an actor known for Violent Cop (その男、凶暴につき/Sono Otoko Kyobo ni Tsuki), 20th Century Boys (20世紀少年/Nijusseiki Shonen) and The Great Yokai War (妖怪大戦争/Yokai Daisenso).
• [3] Xiaolongbao (小籠包) are Chinese steamed buns. The name means "little basket bun".

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