After our interview in October 2024, Otaku USA caught up with KAF about the airing of the new KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION anime on Crunchyroll.
Read the full interview with KAF to learn more about her creative process and experience on her first anime credit.
©KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO/SINKA ANIMATION PROJECT
Congratulations on the airing of KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION on Crunchyroll and your recent music releases!
How has the launch of KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION been received? How do you and your castmates feel now that the show is finally online for audiences across the globe to watch?
Being shared across all manner of media, the story of “KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION” becoming an anime was, both to KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO and myself as a fledgling voice actor, a massive undertaking. The anime itself has been in the works for years, and it really feels like it’s finally here! Me and my fellow V.W.P members have been deeply moved since its release.
With everything going on in the anime every week, I’ve been enjoying watching the reactions from everyone on X and other platforms.
What parts of this project did you find most challenging, and which parts do you find most rewarding?
It was honestly difficult for me to convey the emotion of “joy” in a natural way. At first, I was finding myself lost in the unfamiliarity of everything that I had to worry about, but as I slowly began imagining how Kafu as a character would think, the more I was able to think, “This is how I want it to be heard!”.
Unlike when I’m making music, the voice recordings were done as a group, so it almost had to be done in one shot, which was both nerve-wracking and challenging. At the same time, though, there was a feeling of doing this together as a team, which felt very rewarding.
You mentioned in our last interview that you were working towards MCing in English. The Episode 0 Ending Theme Song from V.W.P “Chase the Day” is sung completely in English. How did you prepare for the recording?
I checked my pronunciation so many times at home, and really tried to figure out what sounded like Japanese-English. When I speak normally, I tend to give priority to conveying my message, and pronunciation usually becomes a secondary concern, but it’s not like that when I’m singing. “Chase the Day” is such a lovely ballad with this flowing melody, so I tried my best to make my vocalization with smoothness in mind.
Do you have a favorite song from this series? If so, what about this particular song is your favorite?
I love the a cappella performance of “Closing one’s eyes” that plays when Koko embraces Kugel. It’s one of my favorite singing scenes in the series, showcasing the mysterious bond between the Familier and the witch’s daughter, born from their contract, as a simple, warm, loving, and precious relationship. It makes you feel as though there’s a world only the two of them can understand.
You also recently released your fourth remix album, “Fable γ”, collaborating with 13 artists. What were some of your favorite memories from creating this album? Are there any songs you are particularly excited for people to listen to?
Since I didn’t re-record the songs, I don’t have many memories of the actual production of it, but I’m overwhelmed with emotion because Vocaloid producers, alongside other wonderful artists who had been listening to my songs for a long time, helped create this wonderful remix album. I hope you’ll listen to all the songs [laughs]. I think you’ll see a different side to the songs from the original versions.
Lately, I’ve been listening a lot to “Replaceable Goodbye,” remixed by KAIRUI. At the beginning, you can hear the sound of rain, which completely changes the image of the original, which is like a dazzling sunrise that’s so bright it hurts your eyes. While the loneliness of the song remains, it feels like a completely different scene.
And not to mention your collaboration with CHiCO on “Break Out”! What was collaborating on this project like?
I’ve been listening to CHiCO’s songs since I was in elementary school. The songs created by honeyworks, which CHiCO teamed up with at the time, were among my formative musical experiences, and it was a dream come true to be able to sing with a singer I’d admired for so long. I wish I could tell my 10-year-old self, but I don’t think she’d believe me. [laughs]
I was also very happy that we were able to sing a song written by Ryuto Seiri. It’s a wonderful tune, standing on its own yet evocative of a unique feeling, with delicate and sharp language and a sound that makes you feel warm and want to dance from the soul. The difference in our vocal qualities complement each other and blend together, creating a feeling of unity that’s very satisfying.
As more virtual and traditional artists collaborate, what do you hope for the future? Is there an artist you would like to sing with next or in the future?
It doesn’t matter if it’s real or virtual! Rather than a perfect fusion, I hope we can create a relationship where we can create an even more amazing and fresh experience through synergy, while retaining the limitations, advantages, and charms of each world.
But as someone who works virtually, I long to perform at an outdoor live event! I’d love to sing under a blue sky, or even in the rain.
What projects are you looking forward to working on for the remainder of the year?
In November, I’ll take part in a big event with all of my labelmates. It’s called KAMITSUBAKI FES 2025, and I’m looking forward to that a whole lot.
Now that you have blended your singing career with anime production, do you aspire to work on more anime projects in the future?
I really enjoy acting. If the opportunity arises, I’d love to try it again.
What’s next for KAF?
I intend to continue working diligently on each and every task in front of me so that myself and everyone else at KAMITSUBAKI can continue our activities for a long time.
Thank you again KAF!