TV animation “Chibi Maruko-chan” will hold a “Four Weeks in a Row! Spring Special Month” in March. It will feature Kamiya Hiroshi and Kaji Yuuki and others as voice actors and will be full of special programs.
The “Four Weeks in a Row! Spring Special Month” will be held on March 7, 14, 21, and 28.
Kamiya-san played the role of Hiroshi, a fifth grader who loves cameras, in the episode “Fujiki, I want Sasayama-san’s photo” broadcast on March 7.
Hiroshi first appeared on the show about 20 years ago and has been Kamiya’s signature role ever since. This is the first time in about two years that Kamiya has played the role of Hiroshi, who is a little more mature and cool.
Kaji-san appeared in the episode “Maruko and the Cheeky Izzi” aired on the 21st as Yuji, a boy the same age as Maruko who was brought to Tomozo’s friend’s house when he came to visit.
In the episode, Maruko and Yuji are quarrelsome at first, but after an incident, they become friends.
The scene at the end of the episode where Yuji performs “Uirou Seller,” one of the eighteen Kabuki plays for Maruko, is actually a scene that the program staff incorporated into the story after hearing Kaji-san’s own “Gairou Seller” on YouTube.
The annual one-hour special to be broadcast on the 14 will feature the TV personality Ijuin Hikaru as a guest voice actor.
And on the 28, there will be a special 30-minute program to thank narrator Yamada Keaton, who will be leaving the program on the same day.
“Four weeks in a row! Spring Special Month” will be broadcast on March 7 from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., March 14 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., March 21 from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., and March 28 from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
＜The full text of the comments is below.
Kamiya Hiroshi
Q. It’s been almost two years since Hiroshi appeared in the show, but how was it playing him after such a long time?
A. “I think Hiroshi’s first appearance was about 20 years ago, but the number of times he has appeared is probably still in the single digits… Because of this rarity, I get nervous every time I remember his first appearance!”
Q. What do you and Hiroshi have in common?
A. “When I was in the fifth grade, there was a fierce NES boom. It’s been more than 30 years since then, but I still enjoy playing games… I have a feeling that Hiroshi will do the same.”
Q. What was your own love episode when you were a child?
A. “When I was in the fifth grade of elementary school, I liked a classmate named Saito-san. Unfortunately, I can’t remember her first name… It’s not that I can’t remember her these days, but I can’t go back in my memory and find myself remembering her. Probably, boys back then were a little embarrassed to remember girls’ first names. Boys are stupid, aren’t they?”
Q. What are the highlights of this episode?
A. “The highlight is Fujiki’s love life. As for me, I was given the role of an announcer for the first half of the show, and I had to improvise my lines, but since the world of “Chibimaruko-chan” is in the Showa era and the setting is Shimizu City, I didn’t know what kind of news I should tell, so I called out to Honda-san, the sound director, and asked for his wisdom. … I just wanted to let you know that I had such a hard time!”
Kaji Yuuki
Q. How did you feel when you found out you would be participating as a guest voice actor?
A. “I was so, so happy! I was so happy…I couldn’t believe it right away, so when I got the call from the office, I couldn’t help but ask, “Are you sure it’s Chibi Maruko-chan, the character that everyone in Japan knows?” I asked them back (lol). “Even now that the recording is over, it still feels like a dream. It’s a memory that will last a lifetime!”
Q. How did you play the role of the boy Yuji?
A. “Yuji is a mischievous boy, just like any elementary school boy. But if you know the reason for his mischief, you will feel that he is a very cute boy. And then there’s the occasional smile and masculinity… I was really taken aback by this gap (lol)! I’m honored to play a boy of the same age as Maruko. I hope he’ll appear again someday…!”
Q. This time, the story incorporates the “Uirou” selling technique, which is also shown on YouTube.
A. “Selling ‘uirou’ in front of my seniors… is there anything in this world that makes me more nervous than that? No, there isn’t (lol)! However, Yuji is still in elementary school. However, Yuji is still in elementary school, so I tried to make my performance more fun than delicious. I imagine that he feels proud of the “special magic” that his grandpa taught him.”
Q. What are the highlights of this episode?
A. “It’s an original story with a lot of scenes with just Maruko and Yuji, so I was able to talk a lot! I hope you enjoy the indescribable atmosphere that only elementary school students can create! Personally, I was happy to be able to hum the familiar tune of “Chibi Maruko-chan” (lol). Also… please pay attention to the way Yuji calls Maruko!”
(C) Sakura Production / Nippon Animation
