Hirata Hiromi recently did an interview about her playing the part of Miyabi in Senran Kagura Estival Versus, which you can see above. In the event that you don’t understand spoken Japanese, we’ve taken the opportunity to transcribe the interview below.

Q: Please perform one of the lines your character says.

Hirata Hiromi: Look at this, Yumi! Homura is imitating a youma!

Q: Please introduce yourself.

HH: I am Hirata Hiromi, and I have been given the part of Miyabi. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Q: Three years have passed quickly since Senran Kagura. How did you feel about being offered a part in an “Explosive Breast Hyper-Battle”? Let’s hear your impressions, memories, and thoughts.

HH: An “explosive breast hyper-battle?” I guess I can discuss that. Maybe. How was it? Well, only women were there. I was really happy to get the part of a woman in it. So I’d like to express my profound thanks for that. I was chosen to play the part of a woman!

Q: Do you mainly get chosen to play male parts?

HH: Not exactly. In addition to Miyabi, I get chosen to play parts that need gender-neutral voices. In this game I got to play an attractive, erotic lady. I heard them mention a battle, but I chose not to focus on that. I was more interested in the part of the lady and whether I’d do a good job playing her. I was excited about it. It worked out well, I think.

Q: What sort of person is Miyabi? How is the character like you? How is she different? Let’s hear your answers in terms of interests, nature, and other things as well.

HH: Miyabi is very honest and frank, and very lovely. You might think she’s relaxed enough to doze off, but she is aware of everything going on around her. You definitely get the sense of her being a girl.

As far as what we have in common: we have a different sense of style from everyone else.

And umm … the characters in their game still have their youth – old age is still far away for them. A year ago I had the same hairstyle as Miyabi … nope, she and I are very different. We don’t look alike.

Q: Have you been admired by other girls?

HH: Nope! When it comes to girls admiring other girls, height is important, but I’m small, and my voice is low. So I’m kind of ordinary and not popular.

Q: How about a line to Imu, who loves Miyabi?

HH: Take it easy. Read the mood!

Q: Do you enjoy the same kind of food the character enjoys? And how about the food you yourself enjoy?

HH: I love eggs, and she likes oyakodunburi (chicken and egg over rice). As far as other food, greasy, oil stuff is fine with me. Tonkatsu … well, high calorie food in general.

Q: The stage is a midsummer beach. Do you like beach parties or do you prefer going to the mountains? Please tell us and give us your reasons why.

HH: Between the two, I’d have to say mountains. If I get sunburned, I turn bright red. Of course I like to put on a swimsuit and go to the ocean, but what happens afterward is painful. If I’m covered up like I am right now, I won’t get burned.

[A chime occurs.]

[Onscreen text: The five PM chime interrupted the interview.]

Q: So which of the two was it?

HH: The mountains, if I have to choose one of the two, because I won’t get burned by the sun. But I want to go to both.

Q: She said both! What do you like to do for fun on the mountains?

HH: Mountain trekking isn’t play but it is fun.

Q: What about cooking rice on a mountain trek?

HH: Oh, food. Well, it’s fun to eat with people who trekked up the mountain with you, but the last time that happened was back in elementary school. I haven’t done that since then. I do want to climb Fuji someday.

Q: Tell us about the highlights of this work.

HH: The bounciness of the boobs. They’re so impressive I want to touch them.  I think the graphics are very impressive. You can see the difference between those and the previous game. There are also five more characters. So there are a lot. And they’re in their underwear.

Q: Which of the new characters caught your eye?

HH: San! (Sayuri!) People are very afraid of this ripe old woman. That’s real life!

Q: What kind of lines or scenes left an impression on you?

HH: The part where the line about  Mama-shama popped up. Not Mama-sama, but shama. That was when Miyabi’s cuteness was solidified. It was the first time she’d seen her mother in a long time, so I sensed how straightforward and honest Miyabi was. I hope that you’ll have fun with that.

Q: In Senran Kagrua, there was a changing room where you could change into  your favorite outfit. Are there any outfits you’d like to try on or is there an outfit you want Miyabi to wear?

HH: Maybe this is mannish, but a gakuran (male school uniform). It’s so simple and unsexy that it becomes sexy. But not a blazer. As for me, if I were 15, I’d like to dress up as a miko (shrine maiden). But if I try now … [trails off]. It sounds like everyone got really quiet all of a sudden. It wouldn’t be good. My office would complain. If I said I was okay with it, my office would tell me to read the mood. It’s no good. But I’d like to.

Q: In the Senran Kagura game, costumes get torn apart during battle. Do you have any experience with your clothes suddenly tearing?

HH: As expected, no. Not to the point of my clothes tearing. Now a button popping off, or a few buttons, that has happened.

Q: For you, where are the parts of Senran Kagura that you like?

HH: Well, a lot of girls come out, and it becomes a Muhou Chitai (outrageous zone). A place thick with freedom. It was a game where you faced challenges.

Q: Tell people who’ll play Senran Kagura for the first time what the charm of the game is.

HH: The number of characters increased, bringing the total to 25. There’ll be a character you can enjoy among them. However, it’s not a girl-raising game, but you’ll feel affection for the one you play. Even the first time around, you’ll have fun playing it. Even with the subtitles running, you can pick it up, start playing, and have fun.

Q: What would you say this game is in a single word?

HH: Revolutionary (as in technology)! Or freedom.

Q: Do you have any hope or expectations for Senran Kagura?

HH: The last time I got to sing a character song. There’s a lot of work that goes into making sure the performance matches the theme of the song. Then there are live shows. I think those will be fun. And the anime adaptation.

Q: What is Senran Kagura to you?

HH: A gravure idol? Characters with big hearts. Yup. That’s it. Thanks.

Q: How about a message for everyone excited to get Senran Kagura Estival Versus?

HH: The love of the staff, and the destiny of the actresses, and many other things have come together in this Senran Kagura game. It’s the first time in a long while that I’ve been asked to play Miyabi. Even with all these characters, Miyabi is still there. I worried that with all the new characters, she’d be shoved off to the side. She clearly wasn’t. The snake girls are all trying hard, and I think they’re the best. I’ll be glad if first-timers and regular customers play this and have fun. Please continue supporting Senran Kagura. The snake girls are the best, so please regard them favorably. Thank you very much. Yay!

We’ll cover these interviews as they’re made available – so please check back later!