"Sasaki Kotoko and Ash growth record" 1 year anniversary event report

A look at the fierce "Cat Tower Audition"! It's revealed that kotoko-san has an experience working at an animate from the interview after the event.

Source (lots of nice pics go look at it): https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1723512942

Kotoko Sasaki, a voice actress whose multifaceted career spans anime, stage plays, and more.

A commemorative event for her YouTube channel "Sasaki Kotoko and Ash growth record" was held in July 23th 2024 for its 1st anniversary called "'Sasaki Kotoko and Ash growth record' 1 year anniversary event We might do a cat tower audition "

Moreover, during the lottery session for signed bromides, something unexpected happened! We'll be giving you a look into what happened at this eventful event.

Furthermore, Animate times got a chance to interview with Sasaki-san right after the event. Behind the scenes, impressions about the cat tower audition and gratitude to her fans, a must-read contents for all the fans.

I thought I'll be making nerunerune while casually talking… but people are hyping up at everything I said!?

This event which is held as a commemorative event for Sasaki Kotoko-san and her cat Ash-kun's YouTube channel "Sasaki Kotoko and Ash growth record" 1st anniversary . "Cat Tower Audition" will be the main part of this event, how will it turned out to be?

At the venue, around 100 fans are filled with excitement and anticipation, when Sasaki-san appeared on the stage with the greeting "Hello, I am Sasaki Kotoko, Thanks for coming!", the venue's voltage go through the roof! Kotoko-san enjoying the enthusiastic cheers from the fans, replied "You guys are very loud (laughs)".

After she skillfully finished making nerunerune while chatting. The opening talk ended with a playful atmosphere from the start to finish, despite herself wondering why the venue becomes all quiet when she said "itadakimasu" before eating it.

As a fan, become Ash-kun's playground! Cat tower audition begins!

From here, this event's main program "Cat tower audition" begins! "Cat tower audition" is an audition to search for a cat tower worthy for Sasaki-san's partner cat Ash-kun, the fans at the venue pose and act as a cat tower.

The participants have to put their entire body in the pose they each came up with, while answering questions from Kotoko-san. Contrary to its cute-looking title, the audition surprisingly tests a lot of your physical strength and endurance. How will the participants face this challenge?

The participants that got selected by lottery show off their cat tower pose one by one. From a person with muscular physique who shape up for the audition, to a keen learner who went to pet shops, and studied different cat tower designs. The participants all have their own interesting character! Among that there was one participant that doesn't stand still, but rather continuously moves and call themselves "Electric cat tower" too!

Kotoko-san who was watching the auditions was also surprised. "I thought there were only like 2 poses for a cat tower, but there are so many variations.". She said her gratitude thanking everyone for coming up with all the poses.

The participants are given Ash-kun's bromide with their name written by her. The participants who she sees fit to become Ash-kun's cat tower were given Ash-kun's fur.

Rare happening in the lottery session? Idea for next events onwards!

After all the excitement of the cat tower audition, we move on to the lottery corner. The people selected will received a bromide signed by her, only at this time the atmosphere in the venue becomes tense.

Kotoko-san pulls a slip with numbers of a winner written on it from a box…. but for some reason most of the numbers pulled were in the 30s! No matter how many times she mixed up the box, the result didn't change turning the atmosphere of the venue from being tense to everyone laughing again.

While signing the bromides, she didn't stop talking to the fans. With the fans laughing non-stop at her words like "Reselling this bromide is prohibited!" or "Please don't sell this bromide for at least 10 years!".

After the chaotic (?) lottery session, the events moves on to its finale. As the atmosphere becomes more and more like it's ending, there were voices from the fans not wanting it to end.

Finally Kotoko-san says a couple of parting words to her fans "Thank you for gathering here even if it's a weekday!" "I want to do more events like cat tower audition but also something that isn't too!". The quiet venue becomes heated up again as the fans heard about the next events that she's planning.

Moreover, it's revealed that goods for her birthday in 28th August are now currently in-production! The details will be released at a late date, so stay tuned!

This event had a very at-home atmosphere like her usual live streams. As Kotoko-san steps down the stage, she cheerfully thanks the fans as they cheers and applause, leaving the atmosphere warm as the event came to a close.

We interviewed Kotoko-san right after the event ends! "The fans are all very warm"

— For starters, great job with the event today! You were almost speaking alone for the whole hour, are you feeling any fatigue?

Sasaki Kotoko-san (Sasaki): Not at all! A majority of this event was the cat audition, I think it's more harsh on the participants. I was just watching them…. (laughs).

— We'll talking a lot about the cat tower audition shortly after this (laughs). Well then, this event is the first solo event of "Seiyuu Sasaki Kotoko". How do you feel actually going up on the stage?

Sasaki: Without a doubt, the fans are all very warming. The cheers are very loud and full of character, it was interesting. I'm very thankful that the fans are all postively participating the event. Even before I went up stage, I can hear all the excitement from them. I'm happy that they're looking forward to the event!

There is one thing I have to apologize though… During the lottery session, I think I forgot to sign the bromides. If there are events that is similar to this, I'll sign them if they're there. Sorry, everyone who won.

— Furthermore, all the activities in this event were ideas from Sasaki-san. Do you have any episodes while coming up with the activities or during planning of the event.

Sasaki: This time, I think about "What I want to do" "What I want to say" by myself, and then I tell that to the production team and they made it happen. As a result, I am glad that this event was filled with things I wanted to do. I'm happy that the fans are also on board with what I wanted to do creating this event together.

The difficult part was making the script. I was in charge of writing the general outline of the event, but I had no experience so I don't know what to write… It's a job I never done before, so I think it'll be helpful for my growth. Furthermore, I get to experience what hard work the staff does for me. I felt very thankful to them.

— You mentioned "I get to do what i wanted to do", how many % of what you wanted to do were fulfilled?

Sasaki: 120%! The wanted to do a cat tower audition the most, and the fans all eager to participate in it. I'm very satisfied. There were fans who also wanted to participate in events that doesn't require hard work like this time, so I want to make an event that is enjoyable bye everyone.

— Let's move on to the topic of today's highlight, the cat tower audition. How was it?

Sasaki: It was fun!

— Apparently, it used all the time that where originally for Ash-kun quiz competition.

Sasaki: Yeah! Everyone had fun during the cat tower audition, and the quiz competition was originally planned to fill the time up. So, I'm glad we get to do a lot of cat tower audition.

— There were many different cat towers from the participants, did you anticipated that there would be such number of variations?

Sasaki: Not at all. Everyone is full of character, and they were doing all different poses! I only could came up with the pose that I posted in YouTube shorts. It was eye-opening.

— It really is. Honesly, when I heard about poses of a cat tower, I thought the poses would be difficult to come with.

Sasaki: In reality, everyone did a different pose, I think it's amazing that they were quick to came up with new pose if the pose they prepared happens to be the same at others. I think posing on the stage in front others would be a very nervous experience, but these people are very good at performing their best under pressure.

— I also think that the participants are all enjoying their time on the stage. Unfortunately, there were people who couldn't participate, I am very sad for them

Sasaki: Indeed, but I'm really happy that so many people applied to the audition.

— Are there any cat towers that you liked in the audition today?

Sasaki: I like the cat tower that trained for today, the electric cat tower…. and also the elegant cat tower. There were 2-3 of them that try not to be taller than Ash-kun, I'm happy for him (laughs)

— Seems like you have to tell that to Ash-kun (laughs).

Sasaki: I'll tell Ash-kun "There were many people who want to be your cat tower!" (laughs). Everyone have their own talents, and they got the courage to show off, they were amazing.

— Looks like, there were people who wanted the 2nd audition.

Sasaki: There were people who wanted to participate in the audition but can't come to the event today, so I want to do it again. But, if it's just cat tower audition the fans will be the one doing hard work… Maybe we could do 2 session of an event where the afternoon session will be the cat tower audition and the evening session is something else. I want to make it an event that is enjoyable by everyone.

— Are you going to be the one writing the script for it?

Sasaki: I can reuse the format for cat audition again, I already know how long it will take… there is also the quiz competition that wasn't used at all, so I can use it as-is (laughs). For other parts, I'll gather ideas from others while preparing for it.

Ex-Animate employee, Kotoko-san. If she's going to work here again, there is a condition…?

— Might be sudden, can you tell me 3 of Ash-kun's charm point!

Sasaki: Only 3… (thinks for a while) "Bashful (Tsundere) peresonality", "Small head compared to the body", "Cute-looking but a deep voice"! There is more though…

— Looks like Ash-kun is so cute you can't stop talking about it once you started. Back to the topic of the event, this time you were quite close to the fans, what do you think about then.

Sasaki: There were very kind person, and cooperative even cheering on other participants during the audition.

— During the opening talk while made neruenrune, there was also very hyped.

Sasaki: During the first 10 minutes, I think no one would be excited, but in reality it was super hyped! I'm very glad… !

— Do you want to do more events that you can interact with the fans like this one?

Sasaki: Yes!

— I'm looking forward to it. Well then, this time the event was held in Animate Akihabara, do you have anything you want to do or expecting at Animate?

Sasaki: I think I mentioned this last time, I want to do an in-store broadcast!

— In-store broadcast, that sounds nice! Do you want to participate as yourself or as some character?

Sasaki: I want to participate as Sasaki Kotoko. I want to be myself while speaking.

— How about the script? Would it be good if there is one?

Sasaki: I would be nice if there is a script I can use as a guide, and I can add my own twist to it.

Other than In-store broadcast, If I get to release goods like a photo book or a CD, I want to do a handover event (watashikai). I did one when I was a member of Nogizaka46, but recently I just did one for "Hasunosora girls' school idol club"!

— Sounds nice! If you have any merch coming up, let's do it ASAP!

Sasaki: Ash-kun's fur… Ask-kun's bromide… (laughs).

— Might be a good idea to make a "Sasaki Kotoko's Corner" and put Ash-kun's goods there (laughs).

Sasaki: I want to also play Ash-kun's voice in the in-store broadcast! Having it say "meow meow" all the time (laughs). But Ash-kun doesn't really make sounds much… Maybe I should bring Satoru-kun (A cat at Sasaki-san's parent home) too, he talks a lot! (laughs)

— I don't 2 of them will make a proper in-store broadcast, so I think you need to join them to…! (laughs)

Sasaki: Maybe we start with cat's sounds, and then I do my greeting. How does that sound? I want to try different things.

— I'm looking forward to it! By the way, looks like you have worked at an Animate before… ?

Sasaki: Yes! When I worked part-time at an Animate store, I got to operate cashier, checking sales, announcing in-store pickups, and answering phones. Later on I also get to sort documents too. This time there is a bromide of me as an Animate employee, because I worked here before I think I tied my apron perfectly!

— That was indeed very smooth (laughs). If there is an opportunity, do you want to work here again

Sasaki: Hmm, I think the morning shift is pretty early… (bitter smile). If there is a shift in the afternoon I want to do it (laughs).

— Let's set you up with a late shift! (laughs). Lastly, a message for the people reading this interview and the fans!

Sasaki: This time, the event was on the theme of 'Sasaki Kotoko and Ash growth record' 1 year anniversary, but I also want to do different kinds of events too.

I also want to challenge myself as a voice actress to perform different types of characters, and I try adding new content to my YouTube channel such as cover songs video or travel video, please check them out! Thank you for your support!

— Thank you very much!

Check out my event report to learn more about the lore of the audition → https://notes.ham-san.net/s/cat-tower-audition-review