CSM Exabelt & Exalyzer Release Commemoration Interview with Keisuke Kato, voice of Keisuke Nago | BANDAI OFFICIAL TOY SHOP | PREMIUM BANDAI

●The "CSM Exabelt & Exalyzer" was decided to be commercialized due to the requests of many fans as a "MASKED RIDER KIVA" related item following the "CSM Kivat Belt" released in March 2020. What was your impression when you held the product in your hands?

The product is in front of me now. At a glance, it feels like the real thing. The size is almost the same as the "DX Ixa Belt" that was released at the time of broadcast, and it is the same size as the one we used for filming back then, but the paint is much more realistic, and I heard that the number of recorded sound ver. A.N.I.M.E. has increased dramatically since the DX version. It truly reminds me of the Ixa from the past (1986) to the present (2008) Ixa, which was upgraded 10 times to reach its final form.

●The sound ver. A.N.I.M.E. includes the electronic voice built into the EXA belt, the transformation sound effects, the background music, and the lines from the play by Mr. Kato's character "Nago Keisuke." I heard you just finished recording, so what were your thoughts on that?

I thought each line was long. I think Nago is the only one whose lines are like "sentences". Even when we were filming, when I opened the script, Nago's lines were voluminous (laughs). This time, we recorded many new lines for Nago from the first episode to the final episode, and The Movie. Every time I spoke a line, I remembered even the smallest details, thinking, "Oh, that's what Nago said."

●Were there any difficulties when recording the audio?

The recording went very smoothly and I didn't have any particular difficulties. When filming a TV drama, you always speak your lines in front of the other person, so there were times when I had to remember the scene and think about the nuances, such as "What kind of emotion is this line being spoken with?", but at those times I watched the actual footage again and went into the recording while checking the situation Nago was in. But most of the lines "remained" in my head, so the words came out naturally with almost no problems.

What did you pay attention to when recreating Nago's lines?

When I was shooting "MASKED RIDER KIVA", I had heard from the beginning that Nago would become Kamen Rider (Ikusa). I had the idea that Kamen Rider was "cool", so I consciously tried to make Nago's voice lower when he transformed. In this voice recording, I was conscious of the same tone as Nago at that time.

●Many of Nago's lines were very grandiose, and every word he said had a strong impact. Kato, if you have any favorite lines, please tell us a few.

Speaking of Nago's signature line, it's the one that all the fans love: "Fangire! Return that life to God" (Episode 9 and others). For me, this is the first line that comes to mind when I think of Nago's lines.

I also vividly remember the line, "In this hell of a place where demons and monsters run rampant, Keisuke Nago is here. He will appear again!" (Episode 40). I don't use words like "demons and monsters" in my daily life (laughs).

One of the memorable lines I practiced a lot at the time was when Nago went to a group date with Wataru, Kengo, and the others (episode 21), and the waitress Fukao repeated the order that she couldn't remember: "Tongue and pork belly, kalbi, skirt steak, premium bone-in kalbi and liver sashimi, stomach omasum sashimi, premium heart, bibimbap, gukbap, seaweed salad, super spicy kimchi, and lettuce, thank you!"

One line that received a great response from fans when it was broadcast was when Nago was sent back in time in episode 28, and after his exchange with Queen's Maya, he said, "So you were a Fangire... Goodbye, my first love..."

A line that shows Nago's "justice gone wild" was when he was caught by the police in episode 13, "Let go! Don't you know me? Let go! Let go! I'm Nago! Let go!!" It was very impactful. In the same episode, he shouts, "I didn't lose. Ikusa is the one who lost!" It's also very Nago-like (laughs).

Also, when he harbors a grudge against Kengo for stealing Ixa and places a thumbtack in the Ixa Knuckle, he says, "Now, when he transforms...the thumbtack...Kengo Eritate, I can see your face distorted with agony..." (Episode 37), which is very funny. By this time, I was looking forward to what Nago would do every episode. When I read the script and Nago had few scenes, I would feel unsatisfied and think, "This time is just normal" (laughs).

●This CSM Ixa Belt will be sold as a set with the Ixa Riser, the special gun for Ixa's enhanced form, Rising Ixa. In the movie, Ixa transforms into Rising Ixa, so it's a visual that we don't see on TV, with Kato holding the Ixa Riser in his hands.

That's right. I have never had this Ekusariser as Nago. I have always liked the color "blue," so I think the blue body color of the Rising Ixa is very cool and I like it. I was surprised to see the Ekusariser come out of the "mouth" of the Rising Ixa, though (laughs).

●Mr. Kato, could you tell us some tips for those who have purchased the CSM Ixa Belt to look cool in the "modern" Ixa transformation pose?

It's important to transform with a "serious, smug look on your face." Transforming into a hero isn't something to laugh about, after all. Nago himself isn't having fun transforming either. The most important thing is to stand in front of the Fangire and hold the Ixa Knuckles with a serious look on your face. Another thing is to "not look at your hands" when loading the knuckles into the belt. When I was filming, I always loaded the knuckles while facing forward, and surprisingly, it often went in on the first try. Even if it doesn't go in, don't forget to have a smug look on your face! And make sure to take lots of videos of your transformation poses.

●Please give a message from Kato to all the fans who will purchase the CSM Exa Belt and Exa Riser.

I am truly grateful that there are people who still love the work "MASKED RIDER KIVA" even after 12 years have passed since the broadcast. I am very happy that the work and characters continue to live on in the hearts of the fans. I think that this "CSM Ixa Belt & Ixa Riser" is the perfect item for people who "admire" heroes to get closer to them. If I got the product, I would definitely like to display it in a glass showcase as an interior decoration. Since Ixa products are being released, I hope that they will sell well. If there is an opportunity, I will sign it, so please look forward to it. Finally, as Keisuke Nago, I would like to leave a message saying, "You must buy this product!" (laughs).