Animate Times Interview With Shun Horie and Hina Yomiya

## Animate Times Part 2: Shun Horie and Hina Yomiya Interview

Winter Anime "The Dangers in My Heart" Season 2, Serial Interview Part 2: Shun Horie as Kyotaro Ichikawa × Hina Youmiya as Anna Yamada | "Why don't they get together?" is a common question in rom-coms. But there's an unspoken barrier that makes sense given their psychological states.

The second season of the TV anime "The Dangers in My Heart" is currently broadcasting on TV Asahi's nationwide 24-station network "NUMAnimation" frame, BS Asahi, and CS Asahi Channel 1. The original manga by Norio Sakurai, serialized in "Manga Cross" (Akita Publishing), has gained popularity mainly through social media and its comics have surpassed a total of 4 million copies in circulation.

Anime Times continues its series of interviews following the first season. The second installment features Shun Horie, the voice of Kyotaro Ichikawa, and Hina Youmiya, the voice of Anna Yamada. We had a chance to speak with them during the recording of Season 2.

Interviewer: Could you please share your thoughts on the first season?

Hina Youmiya: Each episode of the first season held various emotions and memories, making every moment indispensable in the journey of the characters. The events like changing seats and the joy of conversations… Riding a bicycle together is also something that becomes rare as one grows up. "Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu" is filled with unique elements that are intrinsic to it. I was so overwhelmed with emotions, especially during the final episode, I cried a lot.

During this journey, I realized that the emotions I felt while reading the manga and watching the anime were not exactly the same. The manga had its own charm, but the anime brought a different kind of excitement. Feeling this especially in the final episode was incredible. It’s quite rare to announce a second season so quickly… Right now, I’m eagerly waiting to see episode 13! After seeing the animation of the second season… I think it’s going to be amazing (laughs).

Interviewer: How do you feel about heading into the second season?

Hina Youmiya: I’m just really happy that I can continue to be with Anna-chan. Having a second season isn’t something we can take for granted. Although I know we'll have to say goodbye someday, I’m glad we can still live these moments together for a while longer.

Interviewer: And what about you, Mr. Horie?

Shun Horie: When we finished recording the first season, I thought I would feel a sense of relief. But knowing that a second season was confirmed, I realized that I couldn’t let my guard down. There was a significant gap before we started recording for the second season, so I was a bit worried thinking, “This is going to be tough.” Also, as we were heading into the second season, I was expecting Ichikawa’s voice to change. I didn’t know about it during the audition, but I thought it might happen eventually, so I was a bit nervous about that.

Interviewer: So, you've been constantly thinking about Ichikawa?

Shun Horie: Yes, something like that. Also, in the time leading up to the recording for the second season, I often heard people at various places saying, "I've been watching 'Boku Yaba'!"

Hina Youmiya: I heard that a lot too!

Shun Horie: Ah, I thought so.

Hina Youmiya: I was surprised when I played a song by an artist I like on my radio show (A&G NEXT STEP Hina Youmiya's HOOOOPE!) and that artist knew about "Boku Yaba" and reacted to it.

Shun Horie: From a favorite artist? That's amazing. But yeah, so many people in the industry are watching it. It's pleasing, but at the same time, it made me nervous knowing they're watching. So, I was even more focused for the second season. I was nervous about the public's reaction during the first season, but for the second season, it's more about the industry insiders.

Interviewer: You were nervous about the public's reaction during the first season?

Shun Horie: I was extremely nervous, especially before the voice actors were announced.

Interviewer: Did your nervousness ease a bit once the recording for the second season started?

Shun Horie: To some extent… But, for me, not just for this work, I rarely approach recording in a completely clear state. So, for the second season too, it's been a mix of preparation and worry.

The response is gratifying, but it also means a lot of people are watching, which can be intimidating… That's how I've been feeling, up to now and probably going forward too (laughs wryly).

Interviewer: That's quite diligent of you.

Shun Horie: It's not really diligence. I'm just nervous. I'm tired of being this way! (laughs)

Hina Youmiya: From my perspective, Mr. Horie seems very diligent. He always approaches his work seriously.

Shun Horie: No, no! But because I'm nervous, I make sure to prepare thoroughly.

Interviewer: The sound director, Mr. Onuma, said something similar in an interview.

Shun Horie: I'm being presumptuous, but I've noticed many commonalities with Mr. Onuma's approach on his SNS. In interviews, both Mr. Onuma and Director Akagi mentioned finding parts of themselves in Ichikawa. When I reflect on those discussions and look at Mr. Onuma's SNS, I think, "Ah, that makes sense" (laughs). I feel there's a similarity in our underlying mindsets.

Interviewer: Can we hear a bit about episode 14?

Hina Youmiya: Actually, episode 14 had the same line I auditioned with.

Interviewer: Really! Which scene?

Hina Youmiya: It's the scene where Anna-chan confesses her feelings. This particular line was perhaps the most challenging for me when I auditioned to play Anna-chan.

Shun Horie: Yes, yes (laughs).

Interviewer: Did you struggle to understand Yamada's inner thoughts?

Hina Youmiya: Yes, I did. One moment she's crying, and the next, she's all cheerful, showing various expressions. I wondered why Anna-chan, who normally displays so many emotions, felt so scared in that situation. Initially, even after reading the original work, I couldn’t find an answer to what triggered these feelings. But it was a very important scene, which is probably why it was included in the audition script.

I interpreted Anna-chan's emotions in my own way for the audition. That's why it remained in my memory.

When I read the script for episode 14 again, I prepared in various ways. But it was the direction I received on the spot that helped me truly understand Anna-chan's feelings. After it was over, I felt a sense of achievement. I felt happy that I could act out this role after going through the audition process.

Interviewer: What kind of direction did you receive during the actual recording?

Hina Youmiya: It was emotional direction, very detailed. The hardest part was figuring out when to cry and when her feelings would break down. As a middle schooler, Anna-chan realizes that receiving love from someone other than her family was not something to take for granted. I thought about this deeply, but I needed help to fully express parts that I couldn't do on my own.

Producer Endo (TV Asahi): Sorry to interrupt, but you weren't off from the first take. It was a delicate acting scene, so it must have been difficult. I think it was just minor adjustments.

Hina Youmiya: As someone portraying Anna-chan, I'm very happy to hear that the essence was right… Thank you. However, there were other difficult aspects initially.

Shun Horie: Oh?

Hina Youmiya: It's easier to portray a character who easily gets depressed… but Anna-chan is usually cheerful. In episode 13, she gets depressed in the latter half and cries a lot. But I had to let go of all those depressing emotions to bring out her inherent cheerfulness. Switching between these emotions is a challenge in every episode.

Shun Horie: Indeed.

Hina Youmiya: I’m not the type who can switch emotions quickly, so it makes it even more challenging. But hearing Ichikawa-kun's voice and getting support from those around me helps me manage somehow.

Shun Horie: …That sounds very actor-like, and I'm really envious.

Interviewer: Mr. Horie, do you often struggle with how to convey emotions?

Shun Horie: Not at all. You sometimes hear stories on how an actor spontaneously cries because they're in sync with their character. I admire that greatly. Because I, myself, am rather pessimistic, I can disregard these feelings best when I'm reading the script. I'm not sure how to put it… For instance, even if I just experienced something unpleasant in my private life, I never thought, "Oh no, I have to play a high-spirited role today."

Hina Youmiya: That's so impressive!

Shun Horie: On the contrary, I'm actually thankful. While I'm acting, I can forget about what was bothering me. So, when I'm acting, I feel disconnected from daily life.

Hina Youmiya: That was actually the starting point when I decided I wanted to pursue a career as a voice actor.

Shun Horie: Really?

Hina Youmiya: Instead of living as myself, I found the greatest joy in my life in living as someone else. That's something I decided to do, even if it cost me my life. If I can live my everyday life as someone else, then I want to become that person, even if it means losing my own characteristics. Meeting something that I can face to that extent, I consider that very fortunate.

Interviewer: Anna-chan is really a lovely person to entrust a life to.

Shun Horie: Yeah.

Hina Youmiya: I'd be delighted if you thought so!

Shun Horie: That's a beautiful story.

Interviewer: Although you're both voice actors, your slightly different approaches are interesting.

Shun Horie: There's a minor difference indeed.

Hina Youmiya: I have a tendency to be pulled in too much by the characters. I sometimes end up thinking, "Ah, this is too much."

Shun Horie: Ah, I see. You're the type to bring the role closer to yourself? Because I'm the type to move towards the character. Maybe that's where our slight differences lie.

Interviewer: Mr. Horie tends to move towards his characters, while Ms. Youmiya tends to bring her characters towards herself. Despite being fellow actors, your approaches to your roles have delicate differences.

Hina Youmiya: There are still parts I don't understand about myself… But I'm constantly trying to find a way to express something uniquely me. It’s hard, though…

Shun Horie: I see. But I think that kind of ego is important.

Interviewer: You mentioned being afraid of Ichikawa's voice change… So, episode 14 is the one you were dreading, Mr. Horie?

Shun Horie: Yes, it's the episode I feared the most (laughs). I thought voice change would eventually come as the story progresses. When I read the script for episode 14, I thought, "Finally, it's here." So, my mindset was different than usual. Normally, in acting, I focus on the environment.

Interviewer: By environment, do you mean the atmosphere of the dubbing studio, the interaction between actors, direction, and such?

Shun Horie: Yes, exactly. But this time, I focused more on the tone of the voice… It sounds like I’m talking about some technique, but I don’t enjoy acting when it's not a collaborative effort. However, for the voice change, I couldn't say the same, so I prioritized the sound and how it's heard, and then the interaction. I usually don't like to tune my voice, but I did this time.

Hina Youmiya: During the dubbing, we recorded Ichikawa’s voice before the change first, and after tuning, Mr. Horie performed the post-voice change. He was thoroughly immersed in the character of Ichikawa.

Shun Horie: It was quite challenging. The timeline of the story in the original work and the anime differs slightly. In the original, parts that were before the voice change were depicted after the change in the anime. So, it was unexpectedly challenging during those scenes, and I’m a bit scared of how everyone will feel about it (laughs).

Hina Youmiya: I was rewatching the first season recently and thought, "Wow, Ichikawa's voice was so high!" The post-voice change fits so well that it feels natural. I was amazed at how much it changed yet still felt like Ichikawa.

Interviewer: It’s not uncommon for a different actor to take over a role due to a voice change.

Producer Endo (TV Asahi): I think it’s unprecedented. We made a rather unreasonable request to Mr. Horie (smiles wryly). Initially, when we heard the post-voice change line that Mr. Horie brought in, we wanted to explore a bit more range, so we asked him to try various voices. But eventually, the first line he brought was the best. Starting from episode 15, you can hear a neutral voice after the change, which I'm excited about. We were surprised by Mr. Horie's excellent balance as an actor.

Shun Horie: Well… The voice is slightly different from the one in the Season 2 PV (Season 2 announcement PV).

Producer Endo: Yes, that's true. For the Season 2 announcement PV, we asked him to perform with the voice change in mind. It might have changed a bit since then. Ms. Youmiya must have found it challenging to craft emotions, but her performance was wonderful.

Interviewer: By the way, episode 14 also features Wantaro (Yamada's dog). Mr. Horie, you also voiced Wantaro, didn’t you? So, in that sense, we can hear a variety of your voices in episode 14.

Shun Horie: Oh yes, Wantaro appears as well (laughs).

Interviewer: When Wantaro first appeared, the crying sounded so realistic that you were surprised, thinking it wasn't you…?

Shun Horie: After recording, I seriously thought someone else might have been asked to do it. But then Mr. Onuma told me it was indeed my voice.

Shun Horie: Unlike the first season, this time it’s more integrated into the main story. There was quite a bit of direction (laughs). The lines increased, and it felt like a real interaction.

Hina Youmiya: It's not just a simple "woof woof," right? The voice for tugging on clothes was amazing! Like, it's produced by a human!

Shun Horie: Exactly! If it's just "woof woof," even people who don't usually interact with dogs can somehow fake it. But for unusual sounds like tugging clothes, it was difficult for me to imagine, so I received direction to bridge that gap.

Interviewer: As mentioned earlier, this episode also shows various expressions of Yamada. It was said to be challenging, but Ms. Youmiya, did you find any part of Yamada's character relatable?

Hina Youmiya: I did find parts to empathize with. Like suddenly becoming scared. But then I thought, "Do middle schoolers get this scared?" and I could understand Ichikawa's feeling that Anna-chan lives in a different world from us.

Shun Horie: She's really mature. I think it's because she's in the entertainment industry.

Hina Youmiya: Also, watching "Boku Yaba," I realize it's close to everyday life and not overly animated. It's a life-sized work. I think it's common in romantic comedies to wonder, "Why don't they just get together?" Everyone knows they like each other. But there's this one barrier they can't cross, and I can understand their psychological states. I cherish every word and nuance of their conversations when acting.

Interviewer: Actually, before this interview, we talked to the girls' team (Chihiro Kobayashi played by Ayaka Asai, Moko Sekine played by Megumi Han, and Serina Yoshida played by Atsumi Tanezaki), who will appear in the next interview. They were full of praise for both of your performances. Ms. Tanezaki mentioned that your acting, Mr. Horie and Ms. Youmiya, is so wonderful that she wanted to come to the set every time, even when she didn't have a part.

Shun Horie: Really? That's incredibly flattering!

Hina Youmiya: Is that true? I want to read that interview right now! I had the chance to work with Ms. Tanezaki in a different project where we played sisters, so she's like an older sister to me personally. Hearing that makes me really happy!

Interviewer: But seriously, isn't the development from the early stages of the story amazing…?

Hina Youmiya: Yes, exactly! It gets intense from episode 13! It's indescribably amazing!

Shun Horie: Really is.

Interviewer: Ms. Youmiya, what are you looking forward to in the story after episode 15?

Hina Youmiya: The next episode features a Valentine's chocolate-making episode. Also, Anna-chan's family will appear. I think you'll be able to understand what kind of environment Anna-chan grew up in. I really like the depiction of families in "Boku Yaba". For instance, I love the scene where Ichikawa-kun's mother picks him up when he breaks his bone.

Interviewer: Ichikawa is blessed with a great family, isn't he?

Shun Horie: I think so. Like in the car scene, the way his sister sits in the passenger seat gives a feeling of home and security. And I like the mother’s physique. It suggests she was raised in a very warm, typical family.

Interviewer: I also liked the scene with the parent-teacher interviews (laughs).

Hina Youmiya: When I saw Ann-chan's mother's attitude during that time, I thought, "She's just like my mother" (laughs). At home, she's very indulgent. She lets me try various things, and doesn't get angry even if I can't do them. But when it comes to public appearances, she's like, "Your legs, your legs!" Usually, she calls me "Hina-chan," but when she's angry, it's just "Hina!"

Shun Horie: Oh, really!

Interviewer: Just like her!

Hina Youmiya: That's why I feel a strong connection with Ann-chan.

Interviewer: It seems almost fated. Mr. Horie, could you also share what to look forward to in the story after episode 15?

Shun Horie: For fans of the original work, there will be many characters appearing who they might wonder, "Will this person show up in the anime?" The world seems to expand as more people are introduced. We're going to start recording soon, and I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of atmosphere it creates. I'm also excited to see how the interactions between the two main characters will change.

Interviewer: By the way, last time we talked about "the dangers in my heart," you mentioned that you were growing a carnivorous plant in your bathroom at home. Is that still the case (laughs)?

Shun Horie: It's still the same (laughs). But recently, some strange grass started growing…

Hina Youmiya: Eh?

Shun Horie: I think it's probably a weed. If I remember correctly, when I was in elementary school and growing carnivorous plants, weeds would sprout from the pot of my Venus Flytrap, so maybe it's normal…

Interviewer: And Ms. Youmiya, you had talked about being too superstitious.

Hina Youmiya: After hearing Mr. Horie's story, I've tried not to overthink things too much! I'm like, "Oh well!"

Shun Horie: Oh wow!?

Hina Youmiya: Thanks to that, life has become a bit easier for me.

Shun Horie: That's great!

Interviewer: It seems Mr. Horie's way of thinking has been quite an inspiration for you, Ms. Youmiya.

Shun Horie: Maybe I should hold a seminar and start charging young people…

Hina Youmiya: I'll become a member! (laughs)

[Written by Mari Sakasai]

Source: https://fxtwitter.com/animatetimes/status/1746820780246368317 GPT4 Translation