Anime Trending is thrilled to bring you the first-ever international interview with Nana Kawaishi, the voice actress behind Mari Otsu in Goodbye, Lara! Hailing from Shiga Prefecture, the rising talent now rises to stardom in her very first lead role following her debut appearance in The Dangers in My Heart. Our conversation delves into her immersion as Mari, her perspective on Lara and Mari’s relationship, and her journey as a seiyuu.
This interview was conducted via email and covers events up to Episode 10 only.
Congrats on your major debut as Mari in Goodbye, Lara! How have you been feeling about the warm reception to both the series and your performance?
Nana Kawaishi: Thank you. This is the first time I’ve voiced a main character in a series, so throughout the recording sessions, I was quite anxious whether everyone would accept my performance. Now, having received so many warm words from those who have watched it, I’m truly happy.
In contrast to Lara, Mari is a more grounded, stoic character. How did you approach voicing her, and were there any key directions from director Takushi Koide-san?
Nana Kawaishi: Mari-chan isn’t someone who wears her heart on her sleeve, so I was very mindful to ensure that her subtle emotional changes didn’t go unnoticed. As her personality is a direct contrast to Lara’s, director Koide instructed me to “voice Mari-chan as a realistic high school student.” I tried my best to keep my acting as raw and natural as possible, but finding the right balance was quite tricky.
You and Mari are from Shiga Prefecture, so you share the same regional dialect. How did you balance your natural Shiga dialect with the theatrical style of anime voice acting?
Nana Kawaishi: We ended up using the dialect that I normally use. Even within the Kansai (Western Japan) dialect, there are subtle differences in nuances, so the times I thought, “I just did a Kansai dialect, but did it sound Shiga-ish?” were when I made a conscious effort to adjust it. When I speak in the Kansai dialect, because of the difference in accents, sometimes the places that should be emphasized aren’t, so it was difficult keeping the balance between the dialect and acting.
Mari gets to really shine in her boxing scenes — in Episodes 3 and 8. How did you find the right vocal technique, like the rougher voice and heavy breathing, to capture the intensity of those high-energy, athletic scenes?
Nana Kawaishi: Since I don’t have any experience in martial arts, there were some slight differences in how I used my body, between the times I filled in the gaps with my imagination and when I actually tried doing the movements. I think observing professionals during their training sessions and imitating their breathing patterns really paid off.
Speaking of boxing, when we interviewed Hana Hishikawa-san, she mentioned that you even took boxing classes and tried adopting Mari’s daily routine to get into character! What was that experience like for you personally?
Nana Kawaishi: I feel like I’ve come to understand Mari-chan even more. She’s a very stoic person, being able to attend school while maintaining that lifestyle — I realized that it’s not something you can pull off unless you have a deep passion for it. As for my inexperience in certain areas of acting, I felt that I had to be proactive and take the initiative to increase my knowledge and experience to overcome them.
I find it interesting that Mari’s first instinct is so “physical” — for example, two of my favorite scenes are when she punches Lara up into the air during their very first meeting in Episode 1, and when she throws Lara off the bridge into the lake in front of Luca in Episode 7. Since Mari has been a boxer since she was a child, do you see those split-second reactions as a natural result of her lifetime of boxing training, or merely as comedic relief?
Nana Kawaishi: For example, in the scene from Episode 1, I feel that Mari-chan would probably say, “If something like that comes falling from above, the only thing you can do is punch it, right?” As for the scene in Episode 7, I think that she was trying her absolute best to protect Lara. Mari-chan is a girl of few words, so it may seem as though she isn’t thinking about anything, but I believe that her actions are a result of her considering and processing a lot of things in her mind.
Episode 8 ends with this beautiful scene where Lara and Mari sit together on the balcony engulfed by the warm lantern light while everything outside is pitch black, visually symbolizing that they’ve become each other’s sanctuary. It’s clear why Mari is so important to Lara as her first friend on land. But from your perspective, what makes Lara specifically precious to Mari in return?
Nana Kawaishi: I think it’s simply her feeling, “I just like silly, fun people.” Lara, someone who treats even the most outrageous things seriously, is so far removed from Mari-chan herself, so I think she just found herself helplessly drawn to Lara. By Episode 3, I think that Lara had already become an important presence to Mari-chan. Episode 8 delved into Mari-chan’s past, and because Lara had experienced the death of her mother, I think she was able to understand the weight of that loss more than anyone else. I feel that this episode is one that deepened her relationship with Lara even further.
Although Mari initially is a girl of few words, she slowly but surely opens up and grows warmer to Lara — who ultimately becomes not only her friend but also someone who truly stands by her side. Did your process in voicing Mari evolve gradually along the way to reflect her emotional shift and friendliness?
Nana Kawaishi: Even before the recordings started, I thought that this would be a story about the two of them growing closer. Mari-chan is the type who may be difficult to understand through her words, but shows her feelings through her attitude and actions, so I think that’s how it developed naturally.
I asked this same question to Hishikawa-san, but I want to hear your take—I noticed how prominent “food” scenes are throughout the series, like when Mari gives Lara a can of chocolate drink in Episode 1, or when Himeka shares a chocolate ice cream with Lara in Episode 4. Why do you think food holds such a crucial role in connecting people?
Nana Kawaishi: I think that eating is the most important thing that all living beings, not just mermaids and humans, must do in order to survive. Even if one’s language or way of living may differ, the act of giving “food” to another is one of the clearest and most powerful ways of showing love.
I’ve been talking about my favorite scenes a lot, so how about you? Do you have any particular scenes or moments that you really love in the show?
Nana Kawaishi: The scene of Lara and Mari talking on the phone in Episode 10 is my absolute favorite. Up until then, Mari-chan had never gotten so worked up, nor poured out her feelings towards others, so I really put my all into that scene. The scene right before that, where she confronts her grandmother and father, as well as the honest words she said after the phone call — all of these are scenes I love.
From their banter to emotional exchanges, Lara and Mari’s relationship is the heart of the series. How did you and Hishikawa-san build that chemistry, and what was it like acting alongside her during recording?
Nana Kawaishi: Throughout every scene, I was immensely grateful that it was Hana-chan who voiced Lara; her voice possesses a certain irreplaceable power. As we grew closer, I felt her kind personality and serious commitment towards acting firsthand, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to become an actor who is able to stand and perform shoulder-to-shoulder with her.
We mentioned earlier that you and Mari share Shiga roots. Other than that, do you find any similarities between the two of you? Also, on the flip side, are there any major differences between you and Mari?
Nana Kawaishi: I feel that Mari-chan and I have very similar ways of thinking. Since no two people are exactly alike, I don’t think we’re identical in every single way, but I could relate to many aspects of her mindset. On the flip side, her way of expressing those thoughts is the polar opposite of mine, so it was quite a challenge for me. There were many scenes where I found myself thinking, “If she felt this way, why didn’t she speak up right then and there?”
Since Goodbye, Lara takes inspiration from The Little Mermaid, did you have a favorite princess or fairy-tale film that you loved watching growing up?
Nana Kawaishi: I used to read picture books and watch anime adaptations of The Little Mermaid and Snow White. Even from way back, I’ve always loved stories featuring princesses and would get completely absorbed into their dazzling, magical worlds.
I’d love to talk about your own journey now! Since this role is such an important milestone in your career, could you please share the story of how you first decided, or what inspired you to become a seiyuu, and what that path was like?
Nana Kawaishi: When I was in elementary school, I did the off-stage narration for a play during the cultural festival. Those around me praised me, asking, “Was that your voice just now? That was amazing!” — which sparked my desire to pursue voice work. In junior high, I attended my first audition for a voice acting training school, and from then on I thought about acting every day — so being able to voice my own character like this today makes me incredibly happy.
Looking to the future, what are your grandest aspirations as a seiyuu, and what kind of impact do you hope to leave?
Nana Kawaishi: There are so many series that I admire, so appearing in them is a major goal of mine right now. I want to become an actor who enables viewers to completely immerse themselves in the anime, and feel as though my character is truly alive.
Are there any specific character archetypes or dream roles you’d love to take on next to challenge your acting range?
Nana Kawaishi: I initially didn’t have much experience voicing cool, collected characters like Mari-chan, so I really struggled trying to expand my repertoire. While bringing the characters I’m confident in to the audience is a goal of mine, I also want to be capable of wonderfully portraying roles I rarely do, such as young boys.
To wrap up, so many people, both in Japan and overseas, have become big fans of you through this series, including me! Do you have a message for all your new supporters?
Nana Kawaishi: Once again, a huge thank you to everyone watching Goodbye, Lara. All the warm and encouraging words everyone has given me are my greatest treasure; nothing makes me happier than having people watch a series I’ve had the honor of being a part of. Goodbye, Lara is a series that has been created by an amazing team who have dedicatedly poured their hearts into this work, so I hope that you’ll continue to love Goodbye, Lara moving forward. Thank you so very much.
Many thanks to Kawaishi-san for sharing her stories with us! We also extend our gratitude to Yuna Kishita, KADOKAWA, and Raccoon Dog for their assistance in coordinating this interview.
You can stream all episodes of Goodbye, Lara on Crunchyroll.
Read more Goodbye, Lara interviews: Kinema Citrus, Hana Hishikawa, and Hana Hope.
