"Is This a New Form of Pure Love?!" — Kaori Ishihara and Ayana Taketatsu Dish on the Chaos and Heart of "The 100 Girlfriends" Season 3

The third season of the hit TV anime "The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You" (hereafter "The 100 Girlfriends") has finally kicked off! After being told by the God of Love that he has 100 "soulmates" waiting for him in high school, Rentaro Aijo faces a brutal reality: if he doesn't make every single one of them happy, they will die. Can Rentaro truly save them all?!

In this interview series, we dive into the "DEAD OR LOVE" world of this groundbreaking rom-com. For our second installment, we sat down with Kaori Ishihara, who plays the disciplined "Class President" Chiyo Iin (who growls a distinctive "Vū!" whenever she sees public disorder), and Ayana Taketatsu, who voices the "American-style" English teacher Naddy, who speaks her own unique brand of "Naddy-go." They shared their thoughts on the series' unique charm and what it’s like to voice these eccentric heroines.

"I Realized I’d Stumbled Into Something Truly Insane...!"

── What were your honest first impressions when you first encountered the world of "The 100 Girlfriends"?

Ishihara: I had heard of the title since Season 1, but after I was cast as Chiyo, I sat down to watch the anime. From the title, I expected a standard rom-com, but it was way more gag-oriented than I imagined (laughs). I haven't worked on many gag anime before, so my first thought was a mix of, "Can I keep up with this energy?" and "I have to give it my all so I don’t get left behind by the rest of the cast!"

── Could you feel the intense passion from the other cast members as well?

Ishihara: Definitely. I saw sides of everyone that I’ve never seen in any other project (laughs).

── How about you, Taketatsu-san?

Taketatsu: I knew the title too, and rumors had reached me that it was a "legendary" piece of work (laughs). I actually did some work for the series before the anime (a promotional PV for the manga), so I was incredibly happy to get the offer for the anime. When I looked at the material again, I thought, "100 girlfriends?! That’s unheard of!" There are plenty of series with lots of girls, but I’ve never heard of a guy actually dating 100 of them. The impact was huge (laughs). I mean this as a total compliment, but my first impression was: "I’ve stumbled into something truly insane...!"

Once I started recording with everyone, the momentum was so overwhelming that I found myself naturally blending into that world, thinking, "Wait, this is actually fun..." It’s a series that sucks you in like a swamp—the "The 100 Girlfriends" world is addictive. Every time we record, I’m reminded of how amazing voice actors are for being able to handle such a massive range of comedy. I’d never seen my colleagues act like this either! (laughs).

── Does the comedy aspect really test your skills as a voice actor?

Ishihara: It really does. Everyone is dead serious when it comes to deciding what kind of "flavor" to bring to a scene.

Taketatsu: What’s amazing is that while every character has a rich "Quirk," none of them overlap. It felt like everyone was unlocking "new doors" in their acting. The recording sessions were non-stop laughter. Also, it’s impressive how every single heroine appears in every episode and gets her own moment to shine.

── Aside from your own characters, are there any heroines that have caught your attention so far?

Ishihara: There’s one character who always makes me crack up, and that’s Shizuka-chan. I was so confused at first—like, "A character who talks through a text-to-speech app on her phone? What?!" I love how Maria Naganawa, who plays her, gives it that slightly digital, smartphone-like feel. I always look forward to seeing what kind of performance she’ll deliver next (laughs).

Taketatsu: I’m really intrigued by Hahari-san. When I was told during the first recording that she was Hakari’s mother, I was like, "Wait, WHAT?!" (laughs). That was the biggest shock for me. Plus, the sounds Sumire Uesaka-chan makes as Hahari are just hilarious—I’m always wondering where that voice is coming from! She uses this super deep voice from the bottom of her gut to bulldoze through lines with pure power. I take my hat off to her every time, even while I’m laughing.

── Tell us how you felt when you officially received your roles.

Ishihara: When I got the offer for Chiyo Iin, I looked her up and realized, "Oh, her name is a pun on 'Class President' (Iincho)!" (laughs). I figured she’d be a serious girl who keeps everyone in line, but she turned out to be so much more than that. I wondered why they chose me, but since she’s a type of character I’ve never played before, I was genuinely excited to try something new.

Taketatsu: Chiyo-chan’s signature "Vū!" growl is so cute (laughs). I’ve seen the character "Vū" (ゔ) in manga before, but I always wondered how you’d actually pronounce it. Hearing her, I felt like I finally found the "correct" answer for that sound (laughs).

Ishihara: I’m glad to hear that! But I was actually quite conflicted about it. I wasn’t sure how to make that sound—if I crushed my throat too much, the sound wouldn't project well...

Taketatsu: That’s true.

Ishihara: But it was such a standout phrase, and I felt like that one sound would define Chiyo’s entire character, so I was really nervous.

── Certain characters really are defined by specific catchphrases.

Ishihara: Exactly. So I practiced different ways of saying "Vū!" at home and tried it out at the first session. The director gave me feedback saying, "This needs to stand out even more!" Usually, there’s a word right before the "Vū!", but if that word ends in a "u" sound, it blends together and the "Vū!" loses its impact. I had to leave a tiny gap before the growl, and eventually, I just stopped worrying about my vocal cords and decided, "As long as my voice lasts through today, it’s fine!"

── There was a line like "I’ll eat it myself—Vū!" (Jibun de taberu-vū!) where the sounds could easily blur.

Ishihara: Exactly! Also, Chiyo has several sides: the girl who growls "Vū!" when things are messy, the reliable Class President side, and the side where she cries like a child when her glasses come off. Normally, you’d try to keep those within a certain range since it’s the same person, but for Chiyo, I felt I had to treat them almost like separate personalities.

── Taketatsu-san, what did you think when you got the offer for Naddy?

Taketatsu: I was happy to be in the show, but honestly, I was a bit bewildered (laughs). When the offer first came in, I looked her up and saw she wore a Stars and Stripes scarf—definitely unique. Then I read the manga and saw her first-person pronoun was "I am." I was like, "What does that even mean?!" (laughs). Plus, she ends every sentence with "-desu," so I spent a lot of time thinking about how to perform that.

Once the role was officially confirmed, I decided to just dive in and commit to the bit. But while Naddy's high energy and "American" persona are overwhelming, she’s actually Japanese—her real name is Nadeshiko Yamato. She’s just someone who yearns for a free lifestyle and created this "Naddy" persona to become the person she wants to be. Learning about her background made me feel a real kinship with her. Her appearance and speech represent what she needs to survive as a woman, and I kept that in mind during recording.

── How was the actual recording session?

Taketatsu: I was worried that with such a weird look and way of speaking, she would feel out of place among the heroines. But that was a total waste of worry (laughs). Once I got there, it was just a collection of extreme personalities—I realized I didn't need to worry at all! In fact, I felt a sense of panic like, "I need to go even harder!"

At first, I was doing the "-desu" with a bit of a trill (rolling 'R'), but the direction was to make it sound more "broken," like "Katakana English." So I focus on giving it that distinct non-native vibe.

Ishihara: The script for Naddy’s parts is full of Katakana. I’m the type whose eyes just slide off the page when there’s too much Katakana, so I was watching Taketatsu-san thinking, "She’s incredible!"

Taketatsu: My eyes definitely skipped a few times (laughs). There was so much Katakana, but as I came to understand Naddy more, I started looking forward to the recordings.

── It sounds like it would be difficult to read if it's just a wall of Katakana.

Taketatsu: There were some lines that were so long it felt impossible.

Ishihara: Oh, I remember those! (laughs).

Taketatsu: I was really scratching my head over those. One line spanned two pages! And since it’s in "Naddy-go," you can’t even tell what she’s saying at first glance.

Ishihara: There were like three Katakana words in every single line (laughs).

Taketatsu: I tried drawing vertical and diagonal lines in my script to make it readable, but if you write too much, it gets even harder to see, so I tried to keep it as simple as possible.

── Ishihara-san, what did you think of "Naddy-go" from the outside?

Ishihara: It was sooo cute! Honestly, I had no idea what she was saying (laughs), but because it was Naddy, it was adorable and just fun to listen to.

── In the first half of Episode 25 ("My Cousin’s Girlfriend"), four new heroines appeared suddenly alongside the ones from Season 2. I heard the recording didn't actually start with that scene?

Ishihara: That’s right. We recorded the specific "introduction" episodes for each of the new heroines first, and then went back to record the first half of Episode 25.

Taketatsu: I was really grateful for that because it allowed us to take our time building the characters.

── Since you both joined the cast from Season 3, were you nervous?

Ishihara: My situation was a bit complicated. I recorded Chiyo’s focus episode (Ep 25, Part B) and the following episode where all the other heroines appear (Ep 26, "Chiyo-chan’s Family Guidance") on the same day. There weren't many characters in Episode 25 Part B, so I could really focus on building Chiyo. But just as I thought I finally understood her, everyone else swarmed in for Episode 26! I was overwhelmed by the "mic-work" (laughs). I was like, "Hey, I had my own dedicated microphone a minute ago!" (laughs). On top of that, Chiyo’s role shifted to being the "straight man" calling everyone out. I finished that first day with my brain in a total muddle. I didn't even have time to be nervous (laughs).

Taketatsu: I wasn't really nervous either, but there were just so many people. The studio wasn't huge, so it was a tight fit. You could really feel the "pressure" of having so many eyes on you (laughs). I’m sure the others didn't mean anything by it, but being the new person, it was a little intimidating. But I was so busy struggling with Naddy’s character that I didn't have much room to worry. It all went by in a flash.

Also, after talking to everyone and seeing the relationship between Rentaro and his "Family" of girlfriends, I reached a conclusion: "This is a series where you shouldn't think too deeply" (laughs). Once I realized the show is much more fun if you just sprint through it with love, heart-throbs, and laughter, everything became much easier.

── We have to ask about Rentaro Aijo. What do you think of him?

Ishihara: He’s just such a fundamentally good person. He lives this incredibly busy life just to make every girlfriend happy—he’s a fascinating character. His only motivation is his devotion to his girls. Normally, you’d be mad if someone had other girlfriends, but Rentaro is so sincere that even that anger disappears. I actually like him a lot.

Taketatsu: In real life, you’d probably think, "Look only at me!" but once you step into the "The 100 Girlfriends" world, you can’t think badly of Rentaro-kun. He’s so pure and straightforward, and seeing him give 100% of his love to every single individual makes you go, "Wait... is this pure love?" (laughs). I found myself starting to like him too.

He’s usually so gentle, but he has a "switch" that turns him into a hot-blooded hero. At the end of Episode 25 Part A, he got absolutely furious because someone spoke ill of his girlfriends—it was a side of Rentaro I’d never seen! (laughs). He’s bottomless, so I want to see even more sides of him. I just want him to meet all kinds of heroines and make them all happy.

── Your senses really do start to get numbed by the madness (laughs). Wataru Kato-san brings an incredible amount of energy to the role, doesn't he?

Ishihara: I felt like he and Rentaro are very similar. You can really feel his desire to make this series as fun as possible.

Taketatsu: It’s amazing how he can pull off those long monologues, and because he’s read the source material so thoroughly, he’s always checking the differences between the manga and the script and asking thoughtful questions. He really cherishes "The 100 Girlfriends" as the lead. Also, because the cast is so large, there aren't always enough seats in the waiting room. Seeing him subtly offer his chair to others made me think, "What a good kid!" (laughs). I think that kindness translates directly into his performance as Rentaro.

What were the most memorable scenes from your "Focus Episodes"?

── Let’s talk about the story. First, about Episode 25 Part B, where Chiyo Iin joins the family.

Ishihara: Chiyo’s father (Uncle Hiro) appears, and he’s... quite a character. He’s so powerful and memorable that you realize, "Oh, Chiyo is definitely his daughter." Both of them are total crybabies, which adds a certain cuteness to their family dynamic.

Her father loves Chiyo dearly, but the logic of "I want to set my daughter up with this boy (Rentaro) because he saved me from a tanker truck when he was a kid" is a bit hard to follow (laughs). Still, his desire to pair them up stems from his overflowing love for her, so he’s a very kind, daughter-loving man. He might actually be more eccentric than Chiyo herself! (laughs). Shinichiro Miki-san seemed to be having a blast playing him, and it was an honor to act alongside him.

── Do you have a favorite scene, Ishihara-san?

Ishihara: The scene where she gets locked in the changing room with Rentaro. There’s a part where they both say the same line at the same time: "Because we’re... cousins." It had a slightly "forbidden" feel to it that was great. It’s a rare moment where you see a glimpse of their pure feelings for each other.

── How about Episode 26?

Ishihara: That’s where Chiyo goes around growling "Vū!" at all the "disorder" in the Rentaro Family. She peels off Mimimi-san’s fake eyelashes and tells Karane-san her loose socks are unacceptable. It’s hilarious how she tries to "fix" everyone’s unique traits. Rather than just focusing on Chiyo, it’s an episode that highlights the "Quirks" and charms of all the other heroines. It’s a fun way to get to know everyone better.

── It’s a clever way to re-introduce the cast. Now, moving on to Episode 27 ("The Japanese Teacher is a Blonde"), Taketatsu-san, what were your thoughts?

Taketatsu: Seeing both the "past" and "present" versions of Naddy was a huge contrast. When I read the manga, it actually made my heart skip a bit. Past Naddy was raised very strictly in the Yamato household, but after seeing American media, she was struck by a longing for the "Land of the Free." That’s how she ended up with the blonde hair and American style she has now. But when she went home like that, her parents kicked her out. There’s a scene at the front door where she says, "F-ck you...!" It was quite impactful and oddly touching (laughs). It was drawn in a gag style, but it was a heavy moment.

── She was basically disowned.

Taketatsu: Exactly. So I’m curious to see what happens with Naddy and her family in the future. Will her conflict with her mother ever be resolved? Or will they even show it? (laughs). Because she’s usually so bright, I felt like her feelings toward her family must run quite deep, and I kept that in mind while playing her.

── In Part B of Episode 27, the Rentaro Family puts on a "freedom" show at Naddy's request.

Taketatsu: I realized then that in this show, literally anything goes—even small meta-jokes (laughs). Also, seeing Kusuri-chan inside a tank of water (well, a liquid that looks like formalin but is harmless) just going "Ababababa" the whole time was a shock (laughs). You shouldn't think about how she’s breathing, but man, that was funny.

── And then we have Episode 28 ("Idol Legend: Rentaro Family"), where the whole family takes the stage as idols for the school festival.

Ishihara: Up until then, it’s constant comedy—and honestly, this episode is comedy too—but the stage scene is surprisingly moving.

It’s a wild story where the popular idols they invited all broke their bones and couldn't perform, so the Rentaro Family stands in for them (laughs). But despite that, I love that it’s actually touching (laughs). When I was checking the footage at home before recording, I felt like I was watching the debut of a group I’d been cheering for my whole life, and I almost cried (laughs). The songs are great, obviously, but I didn't expect to see such a wonderful idol performance. I think the fans will be moved by it too.

Taketatsu: They’re really living out their youth, and there’s this mysterious sense of emotional payoff... It was a beautiful story, but I loved that when they were offered a real debut, they turned it down because "Idols aren't allowed to be in love." It was a relief to see that they all choose to live for love (laughs).

They retired as idols in an instant, saying, "We’re going back to being ordinary girls." I thought, "Yep, that’s exactly how it should be!"

The recording for the insert songs was difficult because it was hard to sing "in character." Naddy’s identity is her "Naddy-go" and her "-desu" ending. When that’s gone in a song, how do I express "Naddy"? It became a philosophical question: "What is Naddy?" It might have been the hardest thing I’ve done yet.

── It was that difficult?

Taketatsu: The first song, "Kyun-chi♡!", is a fun idol song. I thought, "I can do this!" but I totally couldn't (laughs). I stopped sounding like Naddy. If I sang normally, I just sounded like Nadeshiko-san. Expressing that balance was tough. However, I was given one Katakana-heavy part, so I put all my effort into making sure that part sounded 100% like Naddy!

Ishihara: For me, it wasn't that the singing itself was hard, but bringing out the character’s "Quirk" was. In the story, Chiyo isn't a great dancer, but she overcomes that in her own way and learns to have fun. So I tried to sing with a vibe that was energetic and serious, but showed she was truly enjoying herself with everyone.

Also, Chiyo struggles with the fact that everyone sees her as just a "reliable person." For the more melancholic parts of the other insert song, "HAKOBUNE ~100 People Can Fit~", I tried to channel those deeper feelings.

── Between Coach Queery Tina, who prioritizes quality over everything, and Rentaro, who refuses to abandon anyone... it was an episode that reminded us what’s truly important.

Ishihara: It really was. Also, I thought the Dad was the best in this one. Rentaro-kun worked with him to hype up the crowd and bring people in—it was actually moving (laughs). Though the crowd was a little creeped out! (laughs).

── Finally, please tell us what to look forward to in the coming episodes.

Taketatsu: This series introduces new heroines at a great pace, and the number of girls keeps growing. But every time a new girl joins, there’s no drama or bitterness—everyone just gets along and lives this festive, happy life. It’s heartwarming, hilarious, and sweet. Also, I’ve had fun imagining who would be cast as the next heroine (laughs). There are so many ways to enjoy this show. I hope everyone continues to enjoy the laughter, heart-throbs, and emotion of "100 Kano"!

Ishihara: We already have so many unique heroines, and viewers might be wondering, "What could possibly happen next?" But trust me, the stories will continue to exceed your imagination. There’s a guaranteed laugh in every single episode. I don't think we ever got through a recording session without laughing, so I’m sure there will be plenty of episodes that will make your time fly! Please look forward to it every week!

[Text & Photography by Junichi Tsukagoshi]

Series Information

Synopsis

After hitting a record of 100 rejections in middle school, Rentaro Aijo visits a shrine to pray for a girlfriend in high school. There, the God of Love appears and delivers a shocking prophecy: "You will meet 100 soulmates in high school."However, there's a catch—if a person meets their soulmate but fails to achieve mutual love and happiness, that soulmate will die...!

One soulmate after another appears before him—what will Rentaro do? And what will become of his 100 girlfriends?!