With a growing list of anime credits and a voice that effortlessly bridges the worlds of music and performance, Rico Sasaki continues to leave her mark across Japan’s entertainment scene. In this exclusive interview, she shares her excitement over performing “Palette Days”, the opening theme for Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!, and dives into her unique process behind voicing the charming cat-boy Mewi.
From heartfelt songwriting to her dreams of voicing unexpected roles, Rico Sasaki opens up about her passion, versatility, and the joy she finds in connecting with fans through both music and character.
Rico Sasaki
Honey-Chan
Interview with Rico Sasaki
Ms. Sasaki, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. It’s a real pleasure to learn more about one of our favorite artists!
You've had several years of career and nearly a dozen appearances in anime. How are you feeling about your song "Palette Days" being chosen as the opening theme for the anime Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!?
When I heard I was chosen for the theme song, I was truly thrilled and honored! I was also happy when I passed the audition for the role of Mewi, and to be entrusted with the opening theme song as well! I almost jumped for joy.
And this isn't your only anime involvement this year. You recently performed as Doloris in the opening of BanG Dream! Ave Mujica and will also be voicing a character in the upcoming Isekai Mokushiroku Mynoghra. How do you personally relate to Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!? and what is the connection between your song "Palette Days" and this anime?
Every show has a completely different world, and getting to both act and sing in each one is truly fun and fulfilling! In Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!, I play Mewi, a cute cat-boy with the special ability to control magic stones. To fully bring out his charm, I read the original manga thoroughly, watched cat videos to study their meows, and practiced really hard!
While "Palette Days" was composed and arranged by KOUGA, with lyrics by Erica Masaki, another track on your latest single was written and composed by you. Could you tell us more about this particular song?
“Kimi to Boku no Hoshi” is a song about cherishing and never forgetting emotions—even loneliness and sadness—and turning those feelings into the strength to face tomorrow, with a firm resolve to become a star. It’s like a wish carried on a shooting star. To stir the listener’s imagination, I intentionally used vague expressions, kept the instrumentation simple, and went through many rounds of trial and error, repeatedly sharing my vision as we shaped the song.
You've had a notable career as a voice actress. How do you balance your time between your roles as a singer and an actress? What excites you the most about each?
Through singing, I can express my true, unfiltered emotions as Rico Sasaki. Through voice acting, I can become someone entirely different. Both are irreplaceable sources of purpose in my life, and getting to pursue something I’ve loved since I was young brings me more joy than anything else.
As an artist with such a distinctive voice, how do you prepare vocally for such varied projects like singing and voice acting? Do you have any special routines?
Eating well and getting plenty of sleep! No matter how motivated or excited I am, if I’m not healthy, I can’t give 100%, and I’d definitely regret that. So before a performance, I’m extra careful about taking care of myself. I also read lots of messages from fans. Even when I’m feeling anxious, their words calm me and make me want to see everyone right away. It instantly blows my fatigue away!
And to wrap up the interview, is there any unexpected type of role you'd like to voice in the future, such as a ruthless villainess, a quirky mascot character, or something along those lines?
I’d love to try voicing a handsome young man! I’ve played young boys around elementary school age before, but I’ve never had the chance to voice a teenage or adult male character, so I’d really like to try it. I’ll study hard to deliver a cool performance that gets everyone’s hearts racing!
Thank you again, Ms. Sasaki, for sharing your time and insights with us. We’re excited to see what the future holds for you—both on stage and on screen—and we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way!
![Rico-Sasaki-Palette-Days-Artist-Photo-scaled [Honey's Anime Interview] Rico Sasaki on Palette Days and Her Creative Journey](https://honeysanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rico-Sasaki-Palette-Days-Artist-Photo-scaled.jpg)