Interview of Ichikawa and Hayami

On March 20th 2020, LINE Manga interviewed the voice actors of Baam and Rachel, Ichikawa and Hayami.

Translation
Modified from translation 1 and translation 2.

Title: '''Saori Hayami, starring Taichi Ichikawa's appearance, "Who is Bam?" Special interview with the anime "Kami no Tou - Tower of God -"! '''

''Subtitle: Boasting more than 4.5 billion views worldwide, the highly popular web comic "Tower of God" serialized in LINE manga is a long-awaited animation! It will be broadcast on Wednesday, April 1 at 24:30 at TOKYO MX and elsewhere.''

If you climb the Tower, everything can be yours. At the top of the Tower, everything exists. You could claim this world as yours... you could become a god. This is the story of a girl who wanted to see the stars, Rachel, and the boy who need nothing but her, Bam. This time, we've interviewed Mr. Ichikawa Taichi who plays the main character- Bam, and Ms. Hayami Saori, who plays the mysterious girl- Rachel."

Interviewer: "The original work is translated in 28 languages and is being read in many different countries. Knowing that, what were your impressions when your role in the anime adaptation was announced?"

Ichikawa: "When I was told it was a very popular series in Japan and in Korea, I felt a lot of pressure. But after the anime adaptation was decided and I was given to read the original work, I became a genuine fan of the series. In that sense, I felt that I wanted to give my best to show my favourite work to the audience."

Hayami: "Ichikawa-san is already a 'Tower of God' master (laughs) As for Rachel, there was a precise instruction of her emotions since the audition. I felt that it was a hard role, because to play her, you need to draw out and express her inner emotions with detail. So, when I actually decided to participate in the work as Rachel, I was thrilled. However, the sound director gave me instructions very carefully, so I was able to play the role with confidence."​​​​​​

Interviewer: "Since the anime isn't out yet it might be a tough question but, what scene would you define as 'godly' in the anime?"

Ichikawa: "The interaction with Rachel in the second part of the anime really became an important scene in me. What happened to Rachel..."

Hayami: "Aah... That one right! (laughs)"

Ichikawa: "In their conversation there's a monologue, and the monologue is... really impressive indeed."

Interviewer: "That's really interesting... I'll be sure to enjoy the broadcast even more! In the series, aside from Bam and Rachel, there are many different characters with various personalities. How was the mood at the recording studio?"

Hayami: "There are a lot of comedy characters, so it was very gentle."

Ichikawa: "That's right! Sometimes, there are a lot of terms and detailed settings that appear in the work, so while checking with the original work, everyone was asking each other 'What terminology was used here again?'. It really consolidated our bonds. There are also comical scenes and serious scenes, so I think that recording was done in a pretty good atmosphere. Especially during the comical scenes, the senpai would act super freely, it was impressive."

Interviewer "Would the ad-libs jump out often?"

Ichikawa: "There was quite a lot of ad-libbing .Because of my role, Hayami-san and I often endured so as not to laugh (laughs)"

Interviewer: "You sure had some other troubles huh (laughs). Then, Ichikawa-san and Hayami-san, what were your thoughts when you heard you'd play these roles, and what are both of your impressions when seeing your performance?"

Ichikawa: "Before recording, when I heard about the cast, my own image of Rachel and Hayami-san perfectly matched up. But when we got to actually recording, Hayami-san's Rachel was even more real. It's an honour that Hayami-san is playing Rachel."

Hayami: "I first got to know Ichikawa-san when acting, but when we had the honour to participate in the recording, I liked his interpretation so much that I thought, 'Ah, this Bam is Bam huh'. I thought Rachel was a character whose impression would change depending on the tension of conversation with Baam, but I was able to solidify it firmly by actually interacting with Ichikawa-san. This time, when we recorded the first episode, we were able to record the picture in a completed state, but I think that the atmosphere of the whole work was fixed from the beginning.

Interviewer: "Both Bam and Rachel are difficult characters because they hold so many secrets and enigmas. When creating your role, what kind of things do are you most conscious about?"

Ichikawa: "At the start of the story, Bam is a really powerless being. Because of that, in the scene at the start when he just enters the Tower and he gets attacked, the instructions regarding my acting was to 'play a little weaker'. At first, I was conscious of "playing weakly" because "Tower of God" is a story about the growth of Baam becoming a man.

Hayami: "Rachel had a very difficult personality to portray... She has her objective really set straight and she lives for it, and for herself it's not very difficult. She's an existence with a lot of spoilers, and, as I was voicing her, I wondered and consulted the sound director on how much I should reveal her characteristics. Because the anime isn't out yet, we can't really talk much (laughs) but, I paid a lot of attention to how I should convey a "What I'm saying now is the opposite of the truth that I know" feeling, and to what degree."

Interviewer: "As Ichikawa-san said, it's a story about how Bam grows through all the trials he has to go through to reach the top of the Tower. Do the two of you have any sentiment of achievement or any thing you've completed?"

Ichikawa: "Lately, I received a birthday gift from Amasaki Kouhei-kun. It was a 'Spirited Away' themed wooden bathhouse puzzle. It took me about a week to complete and when I did, I felt like I achieved something. At first there were a lot of hopeless parts and I worried I wouldn't be able to complete it, but everyday I continued building it and when the bathhouse was finally complete I was deeply moved."

Hayami: "That's quite a stylish present!... Recently, I wonder if I ever got the feeling of achieving something? (laughs) However, I clean every nook and cranny of my room with a mop until it's shiny and clean. When I come back to my bed and see it shining like that, I feel really fulfilled."

Interviewer: "Those are some really fulfilling stories you both have (laughs). Thank you very much! Well then, I'd like to talk a little bit about the manga, but do you two often read manga?"

Ichikawa: "I do. I'm always relying on Line Manga-san! Lately, I often buy manga I'm interested in digitally."

Hayami: "When I was a child, I often read shoujo manga. Now, I often get the opportunity to read the original works for the roles I play. This time, I also read 「Tower of God」on Line Manga-san."

Interviwer: "Thank you very much! We've heard a lot of delightful feedback and expectation from many people regarding the anime we won't be able to tear our eyes from now on,「Tower of God」. Please say something about things to look forward to in the anime to the fans expecting it and to everybody.

Ichikawa: "Other than Rachel and Bam's development through their clearing of the various trials ahead of them, please also look forward to the charming characters they'll meet through their journey in the Tower. Bam's growth will also be something to look forward to, so I hope you enjoy it as much as possible!"

Hayami: "I am so glad to participate in the animation of a globally loved work. Rachel is a character who, no matter how many times you watch it, you'll discover new things about her and her emotions. When I went to record the last episode with one more week left, I found that reading the orginal work at the same time offers a deeper and profound understanding of the work. From this spring on, I'd be happy if we could all climb the Tower!"

Interviwer: "Thank you very much!"

Ending note: Boys just follow her, girls just follow the stars

A boy who rushed into the tower, chasing a girl all on his own. What is the tower that keeps testing the boy, and the secrets hidden by the boy ...?

The anime "Kami no Tou -Tower of God-" will start broadcasting on Wednesday, April 1! The original is being serialized in LINE Manga. Please check it out!