Interview with Nao Toyama to commemorate the release of the new single "Cold Non-Magic", which is packed with many "first-time" attempts.

Voice actor and singer Nao Toyama released a new single "Cold Magic" on November 3rd. The title song of this single, "Isekai Shokudo 2", is the ending theme of the TV anime "Isekai Shokudo 2" currently being broadcast.

The single released this time is available in all three forms, "Regular Edition (CD)", "First Press Limited Edition (CD + BD)" and "Special Anime Edition with DVD (CD + DVD)". Each comes with a different jacket and a variety of benefits other than the regular edition.

To commemorate the release, we interviewed Nao Toyama. He talked a lot about her feelings in her songs and the secrets of songwriting.

Recommended by Animate Times Nao Toyama | Summary of anime characters, profiles, appearances, and latest information Nao Toyama's image summary [Animate mail order] [Mook] My Girl vol.33 [Animate mail order] [Album] Rhodanthe * / Graduation Album Special Thanks ◆ 2022 Winter Anime (January this term) New Anime Information List ◆ 2022 Spring Anime (April next term) New Anime Information List

"The magic that doesn't get cold", which is an ED theme but has a rare country style

--Congratulations on the release of "The Magic That Doesn't Cool"! Please introduce the title song "The Magic That Doesn't Cool".

Nao Toyama (henceforth, Higashiyama): "Isekai Shokudo 2" is the ending theme song of the acclaimed "Isekai Shokudo 2". When you hear the ending song, you might think of it as a ballad, but "The Magic That Doesn't Cool" is very bright, and the song has a country-style run-run sound. It is a song that shines even more when combined with the ending video of the anime.

――It's a bright song that doesn't look like ED in a good way.

Higashiyama: The animation of the cat, the signboard of the anime stage "Western food cat", jumping out for a walk matches the image of the song. When I first heard it, I thought it was a cute sound. But ... As I listened to it a lot, I started to think, "Isn't it really an emo song?"

――Is it emo when you listen?

Higashiyama: That's right. If you listen to it in full chorus, you will understand that the composition of the song is different from the standard one, and the composition is suitable for the word "Dadan Yen". It's getting more and more exciting, but it's not that it's getting excited.The song is full of smiles on the table and conveys the image that everyone is surrounded by euphoria with delicious food.

――I found the country-style ending theme interesting.

Higashiyama: Because it's a country style, you can see the warmth from the songs, or you can see such happy pictures as if everyone was dancing in the village.

――It may be a leap forward, but it's a song that many fans are looking forward to seeing what kind of stage Higashiyama will show live.

Higashiyama: I hope you think so. I'm sure I can show you someday. It's a song that makes me wonder where to put it in the set list (laughs). I think "Uncooling Magic" is an almighty song, so I hope it will grow into a song that can show various expressions at each concert.

――So, fans have to practice karaoke in advance!

Higashiyama: One thing to keep in mind when singing in karaoke from me is one point !! Actually, this song is very difficult.

--Are you the knack for singing at karaoke from Mr. Higashiyama himself? Please.

Higashiyama: It's a song with a very cute atmosphere and a light image, but when you actually sing it, you won't know which key to sing, regardless of whether you're a man or a woman. Because the B melody is very low, but the chorus is high enough to use falsetto. When I first listened to the sound source, I was worried, "Well ... where should I sing? I can't escape up or down ..." (laughs).

――It's a song that makes amateurs cry, isn't it?

Higashiyama: It's also a professional cry (laughs). However, this song has a melody line made with a golden ratio, and each one is a very nice song that remains in your ears. So I think I'll want to hum it. RIRIKO, a singer-songwriter, was in charge of writing and composing the lyrics. As a singing professional myself, I think he provided the most pleasant and catchy melody line. But once I got it, I said, "It's catchy, but this is difficult" (laughs).

――It's really "professional crying".

Higashiyama: However, I think the most important point is to have fun singing with ease! Then you should be able to forget the wide range and enter the world of music. I want to sing this wonderful melody! I hope everyone thinks that. And I also did my best to shoot the MV (music video) that is released on YouTube!

The inside story of the one-shot shooting MV that does not stop the camera

――I have seen it, but I definitely want you to see it! Wasn't it difficult to shoot?

Higashiyama: There are some difficult parts and some smooth parts, and I think the staff was more difficult than I was.

――One-shot shooting was done without stopping the camera all the time.

Higashiyama: I stopped the camera once when I changed clothes on the way, but other than that, I've been shooting one shot all the time. Actors of various nationalities and ages appeared to match the image of the anime "Isekai Shokudo 2". Everyone from "Mugen Dancers" who always make my live concerts will also appear. And RIRIKO, who was in charge of songwriting, also came out as a surprise guest!

――Everyone should think that shooting this MV was difficult. What was the difficult point?

Higashiyama: I think the cameraman was the hardest. He shook the camera in various directions while moving backwards.

――How many takes did you shoot?

Higashiyama: The first half was going well, and I was able to shoot in about 4 takes. However, in the latter half, it was difficult because various room equipment and lighting poles were reflected. The MV you are watching uses the only miracle one-take that does not reflect any equipment (laughs).

――Mr. Higashiyama's activities are challenging every time, and I think it's fun to watch.

Higashiyama: Thank you. But when I was first told to shoot one shot, I felt a little pressure. Normally, even if you make a small mistake, you can start over, but this time there are so many extras, but if I make a mistake in the lyrics and retake it ... I can't help it!

――Did you feel a lot of tension at the shooting site?

Higashiyama: No, that may seem surprising, but it was friendly. I used to communicate with foreign extras by gesturing. Ask "Where are you from?" In English and Japanese that you can understand each other, and talk with "When did you come?" And "Hunt Shimaedes". The shooting site was really like a "Western cat".

――I think it's very nice to have a place where there is tension and relaxation.

Higashiyama: The moment I was able to shoot a satisfying take, it felt like the end of the school festival. Everyone was excited to say "I did it!" It was a lot of fun shooting, so I personally would like to try one-shot shooting again. It was difficult, but there were other more difficult shoots, so it's nothing compared to that! (Smile)

――By the way, what was the most difficult shooting?

Higashiyama: It's "Lighting Manimani"! (Laughs) Taken in the frigid cold with a breeze at a snowy winter temple. Moreover, since it was a kimono, it should be well-ventilated!

Everyone: (laughs)

Higashiyama: But that was a valuable experience, and now it's a fun laugh. Anyway, the one-shot video of this "Uncooling Magic" is also enthusiastic, so I would like as many people as possible to watch it.

Composer Sho Watanabe provides Higashiyama solo song for the first time!

--Please introduce the song of the coupling song "Wagon".

Higashiyama: For the song "Wagon", which is included in all forms, Sho Watanabe, who has been indebted to many of the character songs of "Nisekoi", wrote the song for the first time in solo activities. Sho-san is a person who works on various genres of music, so I was wondering what kind of music I would like to ask, but it's fashionable and cool, as the band "sajou no hana" to which Sho-san belongs is doing. We made an offer in the direction of a band sound. So it seems to be exciting even at live concerts.

――The excitement is already in your eyes!

Higashiyama: Thank you! My impression was that it was a mature rock while having a sense of speed. There was a peculiarity in the chord progression, and I thought, "Is it a difficult song to handle?", But it was very easy to sing. When I listened to the result, I felt like I wasn't myself.

--Did the recording go smoothly?

Higashiyama: The director said, "I want you to sing with the consciousness of being a frontman of a band, not a solo singer." It was an approach I had never done before. The feeling of going crazy and talking to each other was a singing style I had never experienced, so it was very refreshing. It feels like opening my new drawer.

--The "band frontman" that Mr. Higashiyama expresses is new, isn't it?

Higashiyama: The recording was directed by Director Uchida and Mr. Sho, who are always in charge. This made the recording richer, and it was a valuable time for me to get a lot of notices from the multiple layers of professional opinions.

――What are your various awareness?

Higashiyama: For example, about the feelings of the main character in the music. Let's get various things in this song and push forward steadily! The message is that, rather than the innocent feeling of "I want this and that too", the direction is to have a stronger will and put out a good part in a good way. It was. But I don't want that greedy feeling to look bad, "and" what kind of facial expression should I sing? " It was an image.

――It feels like it will be completed in the studio.

Higashiyama: That was exactly the case. So, the song was completely different from what I had practiced at home in advance. What do you say ... I think it became a song like "Nao Toyama as a comprehensive art".

――Is such a recording rare?

Higashiyama: Of course, I think that all the songs are made up of your comprehensive art. However, regarding this song "Wagon", even if I had a suggestion, I think that it was an expression that I could finally reach with the assistance of everyone so that such an opinion felt small.

――It's exactly "Nao Toyama's comprehensive art".

Higashiyama: Also, I was very happy that all the musical instruments were wonderful. For example, when it comes to drums, he plays something that doesn't seem like a human business. Furthermore, despite the band sound, the keyboard uses a grand piano instead of a keyboard.

-Is the sound of a grand piano recorded live different from the sound of a general keyboard or piano?

Higashiyama: No! I think that there is still a lack of musical knowledge for me, but just listening to it made me feel the difference in sound, which is the quality of a grand piano.

――That is one of the highlights.

Higashiyama: I hope that those who read this article will listen while thinking, "It's the sound of a grand piano." However, even if you listen to it without getting any information, you can feel that "this piano is something different ...". I think that this kind of attention to detail music is always the music-oriented Flying Dog. I'm not serious! I felt that the single coupling song was a "music nerd group", as it didn't cut corners.

Everyone: (laughs)

No falsehood on the signboard! "How to make important" that carefully wrote and composed the lyrics

――Please introduce the song "Recipe for dearest" written and composed by Mr. Higashiyama himself.

Higashiyama: "How to make important" is a song recorded in "Special Anime Edition with DVD". I wrote and composed the song, and asked Kento Ohgiya to arrange it.

――What song is Mr. Higashiyama's own songwriting?

Higashiyama: Thankfully, this is the 7th song. When I started singing, I never thought I would write the lyrics. It was even more like composing ... If you've made 7 songs, wouldn't you be surprised to write and compose?

――I don't think that's the case!

Higashiyama: It's a big event for me, but isn't it so surprising to the world? Like. I want to say, "Everyone is more surprised! This is amazing!" (Laughs).

――I will write it firmly.

Higashiyama: Every time I write and compose, I realize that the number of professional writers who can make it with the intention of making it is amazing. Isn't it completed by the set date? In my case, it's not obligatory, so I'll try to deliver it to you when a good one is born.

――But I think it's good to be used when good things are born.

Higashiyama: I'm very fortunate because my heart is free when I'm writing and composing, and I'll take the time to create it. Until now, the songs I wrote and composed were recorded on the album, but this is the first time I've entered a single.

――It was an album until now.

Higashiyama: I think it's a great honor to be able to include my songs in the presence of only four precious singles.

--Did you have a hard time writing and composing?

Higashiyama: The songs I wrote up until now were songs that came out of me, such as the message I wanted to convey and my feelings about the movements of the world. However, "How to make an important thing" was made with the motif of "Isekai Shokudo". Creating songs with a theme outside of me is also a new challenge.

――Then, isn't the method of making it different from before? How did you write and compose the song?

Higashiyama: It may sound strange, but I can't really remember the process of making it. Certainly, only rust was made at the beginning. The lyrics and melody came to me. From there, I fleshed out verses A and B. Perhaps I was sitting in front of the Electone, hitting the keys many times, and continuing to search for the sound "This is it!".

-While actually playing?

Higashiyama: I think so. When I write my own songs, there is a reason for every melody. I kept playing until 3-4 o'clock in the evening until I was surprised. So when it's done, it's definitely over. It's over when it's good! If you don't come, let it rest for about a week and restart again! It's like that. In my case, when I make it like this, it often goes smoothly even though it was boiled down. That's why it takes time.

--Are there any difficulties in writing the lyrics?

Higashiyama: I didn't want to expand the theme so much this time, so I used to sing with big themes such as "dream" and "rainbow" that I couldn't hold even if I opened my hands, but this time I used to sing "one room". I wanted to have a "dining table" or a small world view. Various characters appear in "Isekai Shokudo". And I think there are many people who listen to this song. In order for such people to think of each "dining table," we have decided on a rule that "you and I should not be included in the subject." The title song "Gunsei Infinity" of the 2nd album contained a lot of subjects, but I think it's the first song that doesn't contain any subject.

――It's interesting to set rules and set restrictions.

Higashiyama: I didn't bother to impose rules, but as a result of thinking about how I could express what I wanted to express, this time I just came up with these rules. But that afflicts me ... I made it while worrying about "Ahhh! I want to put" Kimi "in these two letters!"

Everyone: (laughs)

Higashiyama: The song was made in such a situation, so the lyrics were finished three days before the recording.

――Isn't the staff sick? (Smile)

Higashiyama: In the past, I wrote lyrics while recording, so when I thought about that, I felt like "I can still afford it!" (Laughs). There was a time when I wasn't able to come up with convincing lyrics for a long time, and I wondered, "I wonder if this tentative lyrics is the best solution." But if I kept sticking from there, it came out three days ago. The songwriting has a particular tenacity, and it won't come out anymore, but if I keep thinking that it's a little moody, the god of art will reward me properly.

――It's a good story!

Higashiyama: The god of art rewards you with "I did my best without giving up. I'll give you a good idea." Thanks to that, I have never reached the production with a moody feeling. There is a moment when I can think "Huh! This is it!" Because I have that experience, I can always continue to make it until the last minute. It's hard to write and compose, but I can't stop because of that inspiration. It feels so good!

――Where was the last phrase you made?

Higashiyama: "Look at tomorrow beyond the horizon."

――How did you make these lyrics?

Higashiyama: In my case, I just swim in the sea of ​​various languages ​​such as books and the Internet. I swim in the sea of ​​words, peck at my vocabulary, and come up with something like "haha". I wanted the lyrics here to describe the scene of the sunset, but I wanted the image of the sunset to come to mind without using the word "sunset" as it is. I've always wondered if I could express the scene in another language. When I talked about this to Kento Ohgiya, who was in charge of the arrangement, he said, "It's a good approach."

――What kind of arrangement did Kento Ohgiya arrange?

Higashiyama: I'm really grateful for the wonderful arrangements and the gathering of the performers. This song is difficult to describe in one word. The tune is neither Shibuya-kei, jazz, nor soul-kei.

――I thought it was a fashionable song.

Higashiyama: That's right. However, if it's too fashionable, it will be difficult to reach the straightforward message that you want to express in this song, so it's important to balance the simplicity. It's a middle-tempo, warm song, isn't it? There was a delicacy that changed the impression with just one note of how the drums were carved. Mr. Ogiya made these adjustments in detail.

――What kind of opinion did Mr. Higashiyama give?

Higashiyama: When I received the arranged sound source, I thought it was "perfect!", But as I listened to it, "I feel that the rhythm is a little heavy." At first it was more groovy. But I wanted to leave a pop that everyone would want to listen to repeatedly, so I wanted to keep the center of gravity in the rhythm so that the message wouldn't become too strong when the lyrics were added. When I consulted with him, "I feel that it will be lighter if I chop a little more drums," he made extremely fine adjustments.

――How was Mr. Ogiya's reaction?

Higashiyama: When I listened to the corrected song, "I just added one note, how about it?", I immediately answered, "This is it!". Mr. Ogiya is all a god play, and he raised the degree of perfection of "How to make important" to 150%. The selection of tones is also wonderful. I have been touring the recording scene of the orchestra as it is, but I checked everything in detail so that I could think "Have you ever adjusted for the center such as such a small one?" .. I was so happy that I could cry just for that, and Mr. Ogiya's warmth is certainly included in this song.

--Did the tone selection be characteristic?

Higashiyama: The percussion and the guitar are both wonderful and impressive, but I was the first to know an instrument called the "flugelhorn." Mr. Lewis, one of the leading flugelhorn players in Japan, participated.

――What kind of instrument is the flugelhorn?

Higashiyama: It's a wind instrument because it's a horn, but how should I express it? It is an instrument that has much in common with the trumpet, and seems to be characterized by its rich tone. I think wind instruments are gorgeous and taut, but the flugelhorn is kind. It's not like "Pan" but "Pan".

――Unfortunately, you can't tell the difference if you write it (laughs). But do you know if you listen to the song?

Higashiyama: I think you'll know right away. The percussion conga is also wonderful. The player is Masao Fukunaga, whose nickname is "Fukucho". Fukucho-san was only planning on conga bongo drums and wind chimes, but he said, "I have some instruments I want to try, so I brought them. Can I try them once?" You participated by bringing your own musical instrument. Moreover, it was really wonderful and it was decided to hire immediately.

――It's possible to bring an instrument that the musician hasn't requested.

Higashiyama: I felt that he not only did his job, but also regarded each song as an art and played plus alpha as an artist. I didn't even imagine the composition, and I got goosebumps for bringing in new ideas in addition to Mr. Ogiya's god-like arrangement. I am grateful that you can feel the image of the song that I did not talk about, and that you can create a wonderful "different world feeling" with the four instruments.

――Did you bring four kinds of musical instruments !?

Higashiyama: All of them were instruments I had never seen. Musical instruments with overlapping disks (finger cymbal tree), musical instruments with a lot of bells on sticks (Jingle bells), and other musical instruments called pin chimes with many pins hung. I regret it, but I wish I had turned the video camera for making. I was so impressed that I forgot to turn the camera and fell in love with it.

"Shiawase Request" with male vocalists

――Please introduce the song "Shiawase Request".

Higashiyama: It's a song recorded in the "Regular Edition" and "First Press Limited Edition", and it's a song that captures the lives of lovers. I still sing love songs, but there were many songs that were awkward and thrilling even if I had a crush or dating. However, "Shiawase Request" is a song that sings two people with a sense of security, such as two calm people who have been dating for many years. It's a song that is just right for singing at my age.

――What is your favorite part of the lyrics?

Higashiyama: What I like is the part that "she doesn't force her to match her hobbies and tastes, but she still smiles." My shoulders are weak and there are some things that are not good for each other, so everything is not perfect, but I can feel that it is not good if they are not these two people. This time, we had a male vocalist join us.

――It's rare!

Higashiyama: At the stage of the cover song, there was a male vocal, which created a retro and fashionable atmosphere, and I really liked it. At first, there was a plan to lower the octave of my voice and sing as a unison, but this time I suggested that male vocals sing so as not to spoil the atmosphere of the cover album.

――Who participated?

Higashiyama: Like me, this is Rib, the vocalist who is in charge of Director Uchida. I'm a busy person, but when I made an offer for the Uchida family, I was kind enough to agree! Rib's gentle singing voice is a very attractive spice, so please listen carefully.

This single is gorgeous and amazing up to the privilege !!

――This single has different benefits for both the first limited edition and the special anime edition with DVD.

Higashiyama: The first limited edition will come with a live video of "Let's go home! Everyone off party".こちらは6月13日にYouTubeに生ライブをやらせていただいたのですが、その映像がまるまる入ります。しかも、未公開映像もついちゃいます！ライブの定番曲、「さよならモラトリアム」と「君の笑顔に恋してる」です。

――そしてもうひとつ、「DVD付スペシャルアニメ盤」は？

東山：タイトルが長いのですが、『東山奈央 スペシャルバラエティ番組 なおぼうの夏休み with ゆみりと種さん』が付きます。過去に配信した、私がただただ夏休みを謳歌するという……お仕事かどうかも不明なくらい楽しんだバラエティ番組です。生配信をさせていただいた番組をそのまま収録して、さらに未公開映像も入れてます。

――またしても未公開映像！

東山：バラエティ番組本編では、ゆみり（花守ゆみりさん）とはホラーゲームをプレイして、種﨑敦美さんとは学力テストをやりました。どちらも阿鼻叫喚の企画になっています（笑）そして未公開映像では、ゆみりとお酒を飲みながらしっぽりトーク、種さんとは本編でやり尽くせなかった残りの答え合わせをやっています。

――特典だけで商品になりそうですね（笑）。

東山：私が言ってしまったら身も蓋もありませんが、とてもお買い得なシングルだと思います（笑）。 but!主役は楽曲ですからお忘れなく!! 皆さんに楽しんでいただけるように、じっくり考えながら作ったニューシングルです。 “冷めない魔法”でおもてなしをしたいと思っていますので、手にとってくださると嬉しいです。隅から隅まで味わってください！

[取材・文：佐藤ポン]

CD information

【主題歌】TV 異世界食堂2 ED「冷めない魔法」/東山奈央 初回限定盤【主題歌】TV 異世界食堂2 ED「冷めない魔法」/東山奈央 DVD付スペシャルアニメ盤【主題歌】TV 異世界食堂2 ED「冷めない魔法」/東山奈央 通常盤

発売日：発売中価格：初回限定盤……3,300円(税込)、DVD付スペシャルアニメ盤……2,200円(税込)、通常盤……1,430円(税込)

≪収録内容≫【CD】01. 冷めない魔法 （作詞/作曲：RIRIKO 編曲：中土智博）02. ワゴン （作詞/作曲：渡辺翔 編曲：eba）03. シアワセリクエスト （作詞：矢吹香那 作曲：前口ワタル / 矢吹香那 編曲：前口ワタル）04. 冷めない魔法 Instrumental ver.05. ワゴン Instrumental ver.06. シアワセリクエスト Instrumental ver.

【Blu-ray】（初回限定盤のみ）・『ミニアルバムリリース記念YouTubeライブ「おうちでなおぼう！みんなでoff会」ライブ映像』・off会未公開映像「さよならモラトリアム」「君の笑顔に恋してる」

【DVD】（DVD付スペシャルアニメ盤のみ）・『東山奈央 スペシャルバラエティ番組 なおぼうの夏休み with ゆみりと種さん』出演者：東山奈央・花守ゆみり・種﨑敦美・『なおぼうの夏休み with ゆみりと種さん』撮り下ろし未公開映像

初回限定盤・アニメイト特典

缶バッジ(56mm)

L判ブロマイド(複製サイン&コメントA入り)

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DVD付スペシャルアニメ盤・アニメイト特典

L判ブロマイド(DVD付スペシャルアニメ盤ジャケットイラスト)

・メーカー特典プレミアムキャンペーン応募券(シリアルNo付)(初回)※特典は無くなり次第、終了とさせて頂きます。 please note that. ※初回仕様がなくなり次第終了とさせて頂きます。 please note that. ※発売日が異なる商品やお取り寄せ商品とまとめ注文されると、出荷時点で初回仕様および初回特典をご用意することができない場合があります。 Please be careful.

通常盤・アニメイト特典

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・メーカー特典プレミアムキャンペーン応募券(シリアルNo付)(初回)※特典は無くなり次第、終了とさせて頂きます。 please note that. ※初回仕様がなくなり次第終了とさせて頂きます。 please note that. ※発売日が異なる商品やお取り寄せ商品とまとめ注文されると、出荷時点で初回仕様および初回特典をご用意することができない場合があります。 Please be careful.

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