Inoue Mao Oricon Style Special Interview 2016.07.30
Inoue Mao special interview [My hidden strengths might come out. I might see a new world]
Inoue Mao is now on the last year of her 20s. Up to this time, she has taken big projects such as being the lead actress of the NHK asadora Ohisama, taiga drama Hana Moyu and even as a host of NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen at such a young age which put her at the forefront of the Japanese entertainment scene. This popular actress now is about to welcome her turning point. We asked about her feelings with this new stage she’s about to conquer. She also talked about being a voice actress for the movie Rudolf to Ippaiattena.
‘It takes time to grasp the images of the movie’
Oricon: We were so surprised Rudolf’s voice in the movie was very much different to your usual voice. What are your thoughts about playing a cat character?
Mao: This is a cat character but I consulted with the staff and we decided to mimic the voice similar to a human child. The story’s image at first is suited for lower primary grades, but in the middle, as we see Rudolf’s character development, I started playing the character with a voice of a boy in his higher primary grades. But it was really hard since I was not used to it. During the recording, as I speak each line, I confirm it with the staff and they point out things like if my voice sounds adult-like or my tone is a bit lower.
Oricon: That [Nya---] sounded so real but was that a sound from a real cat?
Mao: I’ve been asked this a lot of times but everything is from my voice (laughs). I love cats since I was little. Back then, I used to mimic their sound to lure out cats in the bushes and with that I am very good at mimicking their ‘nya--’ sound.
Oricon: Really? There were also a lot of scenes when you had to do the sounds while the cat’s running or shrieking.
Mao: As for the running scenes, if this was the normal acting, I had to do the running myself and my voice would come out naturally but with just acting through labored breathing requires a lot of energy. If I expend my energy like that, it will be hard do the next scenes so they had the running scenes last and recorded them together on a separate day after I had more energy.
Oricon: You already had the experience of being the voice actor in the Anpanman movie. What are those things you noticed or understood after doing voice actor roles?
In my work as an actress, I had to look at my co-star as I act. In voice acting, I act while I look at the movie’s image so it takes a lot of time to grasp the picture. But it has its common points with the usual acting roles since I had to act while considering what kind of personality he has and everything about the character. I am only acting through my voice but if I act with the character’s feelings in mind, my voice spontaneously changes with every scene and that is one amazing thing for me. It’s really enlightening.
Oricon: This is also same as Anpanman, but it seems you get voice roles that are really different from the real you.
Mao: Yes. I think my voice is slightly like a young boy’s voice that’s why I got offers for that role in Anpanman and the young male cat role for the current movie. If possible though, I want to play human characters next.
After this, I want to focus more on my private life
Oricon: This movie talks about the Tokyo adventures of a cat named Rudolf in a world he has never been. As for Inoue-san, what was the biggest risk/adventure you had in your career so far?
Mao: Being the host of NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen. I thought it was impossible for me to do it.
Oricon: Really? But you were such a calm and composed host that time.
Mao: No, I was really so nervous that time I almost don’t remember anything at all. But it seems I couldn’t convey my nervousness enough that time (laughs). I managed to pull it through with the support of people around me that time and thus gained more confidence in myself. It is also the same for this project. When I receive offers for projects which I am not really used to, I always think I cannot do it. But at those times, I look back to my Kouhaku experience and think if I can overcome this, my hidden strengths might come out or I might see a new world out of this so with that new feeling, I ended up taking these projects.
Oricon: So from now on, what kind of new challenges do you want to take?
Mao: I had faced a lot of challenges at work so after this, I want to focus more on my private life. My mind becomes focused on one thing when I get into work so I notice I cannot spend my breaks better. I managed to balance actress work and studies when I got into university but after graduation, I don’t know how to better manage my own personal time. When I see other actresses, they are into their hobbies or they travel to discover themselves. I think it should have been better if I know how to manage my personal time in an enjoyable way too. I was raised in a very natural environment so I want to be accustomed to a light-footed lifestyle where I can aimlessly go out, experience things and eat delicious food.
I am not picky of anything. I want to be a versatile actress.
Oricon: But you have come a long way as an actress. In your 20s, you were appointed as the lead for the morning and taiga dramas and appeared in NODA MAP stage plays and had voice actor roles. You have this strong impression of someone who takes on big projects one after another.
Mao: I challenged these roles with both sense of responsibility and tension in my mind so I feel this complete satisfaction. I am turning 30 next year but when I look back on my 20s, I think I was blessed with very rich projects. I was always supported by people around me so this time, I am starting to think from now on, I must be the one who will support other actors and projects.
Oricon: What kind of life are you expecting when you reach your 30s?
Mao: I am not picky about anything so I just want to stay the same way that I am now. It is also the same way for my actress work, without aiming or being picky at anything, I just want to have that versatility. It is an actor’s job to grasp the character in each and every project but I think to push myself in just one particular style is not good at all. In order to immerse myself in that project’s universe, I believe it is important for me to continue having that flexibility.
Oricon: It might be an impression when they see you in variety shows but it’s kind of cool when you put on that playfulness to tease costars or staff members.
Mao: Thank you! (laughs) But if I am not careful with my age, it might come out malicious to other people. After all, I am not that age anymore when my laughs can be thought as cute for others. I just want to have an enjoyable workplace so I always put on that manner to cheer people around me.
***
Inoue Mao is now on the last year of her 20s. Up to this time, she has taken big projects such as being the lead actress of the NHK asadora Ohisama, taiga drama Hana Moyu and even as a host of NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen at such a young age which put her at the forefront of the Japanese entertainment scene. This popular actress now is about to welcome her turning point. We asked about her feelings with this new stage she’s about to conquer. She also talked about being a voice actress for the movie Rudolf to Ippaiattena.
‘It takes time to grasp the images of the movie’
Oricon: We were so surprised Rudolf’s voice in the movie was very much different to your usual voice. What are your thoughts about playing a cat character?
Mao: This is a cat character but I consulted with the staff and we decided to mimic the voice similar to a human child. The story’s image at first is suited for lower primary grades, but in the middle, as we see Rudolf’s character development, I started playing the character with a voice of a boy in his higher primary grades. But it was really hard since I was not used to it. During the recording, as I speak each line, I confirm it with the staff and they point out things like if my voice sounds adult-like or my tone is a bit lower.
Oricon: That [Nya---] sounded so real but was that a sound from a real cat?
Mao: I’ve been asked this a lot of times but everything is from my voice (laughs). I love cats since I was little. Back then, I used to mimic their sound to lure out cats in the bushes and with that I am very good at mimicking their ‘nya--’ sound.
Oricon: Really? There were also a lot of scenes when you had to do the sounds while the cat’s running or shrieking.
Mao: As for the running scenes, if this was the normal acting, I had to do the running myself and my voice would come out naturally but with just acting through labored breathing requires a lot of energy. If I expend my energy like that, it will be hard do the next scenes so they had the running scenes last and recorded them together on a separate day after I had more energy.
Oricon: You already had the experience of being the voice actor in the Anpanman movie. What are those things you noticed or understood after doing voice actor roles?
In my work as an actress, I had to look at my co-star as I act. In voice acting, I act while I look at the movie’s image so it takes a lot of time to grasp the picture. But it has its common points with the usual acting roles since I had to act while considering what kind of personality he has and everything about the character. I am only acting through my voice but if I act with the character’s feelings in mind, my voice spontaneously changes with every scene and that is one amazing thing for me. It’s really enlightening.
Oricon: This is also same as Anpanman, but it seems you get voice roles that are really different from the real you.
Mao: Yes. I think my voice is slightly like a young boy’s voice that’s why I got offers for that role in Anpanman and the young male cat role for the current movie. If possible though, I want to play human characters next.
After this, I want to focus more on my private life
Oricon: This movie talks about the Tokyo adventures of a cat named Rudolf in a world he has never been. As for Inoue-san, what was the biggest risk/adventure you had in your career so far?
Mao: Being the host of NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen. I thought it was impossible for me to do it.
Oricon: Really? But you were such a calm and composed host that time.
Mao: No, I was really so nervous that time I almost don’t remember anything at all. But it seems I couldn’t convey my nervousness enough that time (laughs). I managed to pull it through with the support of people around me that time and thus gained more confidence in myself. It is also the same for this project. When I receive offers for projects which I am not really used to, I always think I cannot do it. But at those times, I look back to my Kouhaku experience and think if I can overcome this, my hidden strengths might come out or I might see a new world out of this so with that new feeling, I ended up taking these projects.
Oricon: So from now on, what kind of new challenges do you want to take?
Mao: I had faced a lot of challenges at work so after this, I want to focus more on my private life. My mind becomes focused on one thing when I get into work so I notice I cannot spend my breaks better. I managed to balance actress work and studies when I got into university but after graduation, I don’t know how to better manage my own personal time. When I see other actresses, they are into their hobbies or they travel to discover themselves. I think it should have been better if I know how to manage my personal time in an enjoyable way too. I was raised in a very natural environment so I want to be accustomed to a light-footed lifestyle where I can aimlessly go out, experience things and eat delicious food.
I am not picky of anything. I want to be a versatile actress.
Oricon: But you have come a long way as an actress. In your 20s, you were appointed as the lead for the morning and taiga dramas and appeared in NODA MAP stage plays and had voice actor roles. You have this strong impression of someone who takes on big projects one after another.
Mao: I challenged these roles with both sense of responsibility and tension in my mind so I feel this complete satisfaction. I am turning 30 next year but when I look back on my 20s, I think I was blessed with very rich projects. I was always supported by people around me so this time, I am starting to think from now on, I must be the one who will support other actors and projects.
Oricon: What kind of life are you expecting when you reach your 30s?
Mao: I am not picky about anything so I just want to stay the same way that I am now. It is also the same way for my actress work, without aiming or being picky at anything, I just want to have that versatility. It is an actor’s job to grasp the character in each and every project but I think to push myself in just one particular style is not good at all. In order to immerse myself in that project’s universe, I believe it is important for me to continue having that flexibility.
Oricon: It might be an impression when they see you in variety shows but it’s kind of cool when you put on that playfulness to tease costars or staff members.
Mao: Thank you! (laughs) But if I am not careful with my age, it might come out malicious to other people. After all, I am not that age anymore when my laughs can be thought as cute for others. I just want to have an enjoyable workplace so I always put on that manner to cheer people around me.
***