New Year!! Yamato fan roundtable discussion
Anxious for “Part 3,” nostalgic for “Part 1” – thoughts, hopes, and opinions – you never know what will come out of a fan roundtable. FC [fan club] headquarters was full of excitement for an hour!
Enthusiastic fans who were fascinated by the vast story share their opinions for Part 3!
Attendees (honorifics omitted):
Shigeru Sugawara (high school year 1)
Fumiko Arai (high school year1)
Hideki Kanno (high school year 1)
Murasaki Kitani (jr high year 3)
Yuichi Akaoka (high school year 1)
Harumi Kawashima (age 21)
Junichi Date (high school year 2)
Mayumi Igawa (jr high year 3)
Rie Ichikawa (high school year 2)
Sei Yamamoto (jr high year 3)
Yoko Takahashi (high school year 1)
Moderator/ FC Headquarters
Becoming a fan at different times and for different reasons
Moderator: Thank you all for gathering here today. First of all, when did you become fans?
Sugawara: I became a fan before Farewell started. It was around the spring of 1978.
Sugano: I joined the FC in April 1978, but I have been a fan since the rerun of Part 1.
Akaoka: Fairly recently. Around the time of Yamato 2.
Date: I watched the original broadcast of Part 1, but I only caught a glimpse of the battle on the planet Gamilas. After that, I learned about the FC.
Moderator: That was a long time ago! (Laughs)
Ichikawa: I joined the FC after reading a special feature on Yamato in OUT magazine. Date-kun took me to the Yamato party at Teikoku Hotel, and then I joined the FC.
Takahashi: I became a fan in elementary school. I think I was 5-6 years old. It was because it matched my dream of “What if a ship could fly in the sky.”
Arai: When did I become a fan? I started watching Part 1 when it was released…
Kitani: It was when I was in the third year of junior high school. I was more fascinated by the music than the anime.
Kawashima: I think it was the second re-run of Part 1. I’ve been a member of the FC since it was established.
Moderator: What do you like about Yamato?
Date: When I was in the 6th grade, there was an astronomy boom. Since then, I’ve loved looking at the stars. That’s why I was attracted to space and mecha. I like the idea of that big ship flying through space. And the research is pretty accurate.
Takahashi: It fits my dream of a flying ship. And I like Yuki Mori. People say I’m unusual for a girl. (Laughs) But Yuki lives a life that is many times larger than a normal life. I’m impressed by her, and she teaches me a lot.
Kitani: The music represents the expanse of the stage. It has a different sound from other music. We played it at the school festival with a brass band.
Akaoka: I was influenced by the girl next to me. (Laughs) She was a huge anime fan, and we watched Yamato together and got to know each other. I wasn’t interested in it before.
Who do you like? Character fans vary widely
Moderator: I received a letter recently saying that Kodai-kun has become too mature. What do you all think?
Kanno: You might say that.
Kawashima: But I still like him the best among all Yamato members!
Arai: I love him, too! (Laughs)
Kawashima: Once in a while, it’s okay to fail like he did in the beginning.
Akaoka: I like Okita. He’s attractive as a leader.
Date: He has the ability to pull others along. I also like Sanada’s role as a big brother.
Kitani: Teresa and Starsha!
Arai: Oh, I like those two, too! (Laughs)
Kitani: People tell me that I like only women. (Laughs)
Arai: Kind of. (Laughs)
Moderator: I hear that some people think the same way about Starsha and Teresa, but what about you, Arai-san?
Arai: I think they’re different. But they’re both beautiful and have good feelings.
Igawa: I also like Starsha. On the way here, I was ranting “Why did you kill Starsha?” (Laughs)
Yamamoto: I believe she’s not dead.
Igawa: Yes, pretend she’s alive and make a sequel! (laughter)
I brightened up, I took a wrong turn; Yamato had a big influence on me
Moderator: By the way, I think everyone has been influenced by Yamato. Did it change your life or personality in any way?
Date: Yes, very much so! It also had a slight influence on my studies. (Laughs) But the stories and themes gave me good memories. There is a merit in the way of thinking and the way people interact with each other.
Ichikawa: I have no regrets. But I’ve become more aware of the world. And I became more manly. (Laughs) I’m a woman, but I wanted to be like Kodai and Sanada. I don’t like Yuki because she’s too effeminate!
Date: You’re right, Yuki is a woman. (Laughs)
Ichikawa: I also learned the pleasure of writing scripts, although it’s only for my own enjoyment.
Takahashi: For me, Yamato is a source of emotional support. When I was little, I was very quiet. But after I started watching Yamato, I became brighter and my studies improved. Everything. (Sighs)
Takahashi: I decided to try to be hopeful like Yamato. That’s why I can’t do without Yamato. I brought my poster to camp the other day. I couldn’t sleep without it. (Laughs)
Moderator: You are completely addicted. (Laughs)
Arai: I can’t put it into words. Oh, there was one thing. I became friends with Mr. Takahashi.
Kitani: I’m now looked at with disdain by everyone. (Laughs) But when Yamato‘s music was played at school, I would run around saying, “Waa, waa!” so I guess it’s understandable… (Laughs)
Kawashima: I was moved by Okita’s and Kodai’s words. I’m an anime fan in general, but Yamato is different from the others and has a special place in my heart.
Yamamoto: I agree with Kawashima-san. I think my way of thinking has broadened…
Igawa: Now that all that has been said, I have nothing to say. If I’ve been affected, it is that the rhythm of my life has become Yamato-centered. It is so hard to watch reruns. I don’t know how I had time to study. (Laughs)
Moderator: I’m afraid your parents will complain to FC headquarters. (Laughs)
We have high hopes for Yamato in the future
Moderator: Lastly, what are your hopes for Yamato in the future?
Sugawara: Don’t modify Yamato too much, I like it as it is now. I’d like you to change the pattern in which Yamato faces its enemies. For example, it would be okay if the Earth is destroyed.
Ichikawa: That’s fine. (Laughs)
Arai: What about a war between Earthlings?
Sugawara: Like Gundam, then. (Laughs)
Date: Rather than action, it should focus on theme and story.
Ichikawa: I don’t want to see the image of the telefeature. Love is important, but if it is emphasized too much…
Arai: Please clean up the picture.
Kitani: I am against one kind of pattern! Please give us a pleasant shock.
Moderator: We’ve heard a lot of opinions, but we’ll end here. Thank you very much for your time today.