This year, the cast will include Maria Naganawa (Cure Wonderful/Inukai Komugi), Atsumi Tanezaki (Cure Friendy/Inukai Iroha), Hayate Matsuda (Cure Nyamie/Nekoyashiki Yuki), Reina Ueda (Cure Lilian/Nekoyashiki Mayu), Chihaya Yoshitake (opening theme singer), Ami Ishii (ending theme singer), Moeha Ushiromoto (ending theme singer), Machico (former PreCure singer), and Rie Kitagawa (former PreCure singer). Last year marked the 20th anniversary of “PreCure”. The gorgeous cast will color the new beginning.
Every year, Animate Times delivers a relay interview about “PreCure Live.” Our first guest is Yoshitake Chihaya, who shines brightly with her sparkling singing voice. Currently, as Chihaya-onee-san, she has become a leader among the singers. In addition to her enthusiasm for the live performance, we asked her about her recent activities and the songs included in “Wonderful PreCure! Vocal Album ~We are Wonderful!!!!”, which was released in July. As she reveals in the second half of the interview, this may be a challenge that Yoshitake has never taken on before, and she seems excited but nervous at the same time.
–It seems like you’ve been touring more places than usual this year with the PreCure songs. When I spoke to you before, you said, “I feel like I’ll be able to meet a lot of different people this year,” and that’s exactly what happened!
Yoshitake Chihaya (hereinafter, Yoshitake): I’m really thankful and happy. Every time, more people than I could have ever imagined come to play. You don’t know how many people are there until you actually go on stage. So the moment I go on stage, I’m the most surprised (laughs).
I’ve been to so many different places. Even though there have been events up until now, I haven’t had many opportunities to talk to my friends directly. But with the “Theme Song Single Support Event,” there’s a meet-and-greet session, so I’m able to talk to a lot of different people. I’m really happy to receive messages from my older friends, and it’s also heartwarming to be able to talk to my little friends. Some of my little friends even come to the venue dressed in Pretty Cure clothes, and I love seeing that.
–It makes you feel happy, doesn’t it?
Yoshitake: That’s right. Then, at one venue, there was a child who came wearing the singer’s costume from “Wanpuri”! And they even had the same hairstyle.
–Wow, that’s amazing!
Yoshitake: I couldn’t help but cry. Apparently her mother made it for her. I was so surprised! I’d never experienced anything like that before… And after the event, her mother messaged me on Instagram. When I looked at it, it said, “My child wants to match her and her older sister! I want you to make one for her!” And she was wearing a headband that day, and she asked me to make that one too. Apparently she got an additional order (laughs).
–That’s a good story. It’s proof that the feelings you put into your songs resonate with the pure hearts of children.
Yoshitake: I was so happy! Also, there was a kid who was 3 or 4 years old when “Star Twinkle PreCure” (“Stapri”) was on, and he still watches “PreCure” today. He said, “I came to see you! I’m in elementary school now!” And there was also a little kid who said, “I admire PreCure singers and want to stand on stage with them someday!”…
— A girl with such a strong dream! As a PreCure singer, that makes me very happy.
Yoshitake: That’s right! I’ve had people say that to me in letters, but I’ve never had the chance to hear it from them in person, so I’m really happy.
いつどんなときも、プリキュアシンガーとしてステージに立つ時は、みんなの憧れの存在でいたいと思っているのですが、改めていろいろな形で、いろいろな思いで、お歌を聴きにきてくれているんだなって感じました。しみじみ、幸せな時間すぎる……！
――本当に。このお話をうかがっているのは「プリキュアシンガーズ Premium LIVE HOUSE Circuit！2024」をこのさきに控えている段階（7月〜8月開催）で。そこにもたくさんの想いを持って来てくれる方がいらっしゃるんだろうなと。
吉武：さらにみんなの夢が広がるような時間になったら良いなって思っています。去年「LIVE HOUSE Circuit！」がはじまって、また今年も開催されると聞いてすごく嬉しかったです。さらに今年は名古屋も加わって4都市6公演。前回、私が出演させてもらったのは広島公演だけだったんですけども、今年は全公演回らせていただけるとのことで！ しかもそれぞれの場所で、歴代のシンガーの出演者が変わってて、つまりはセトリも変わるので、そこもすごく楽しみにしていてもらいたいところです。
――昨年はプリキュアシリーズが20周年という特別な節目の年でしたが、21年目も、きっといろいろな奇跡が起こるんだろうなと思います。まさにえぼりゅーしょん！
吉武：すっごく楽しみです！「20周年ライブを見て好きになりました！」って言ってくださる方もいっぱいいらっしゃって、それもすごく嬉しいです。
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