Megumi Nakajima
Megumi Nakajima (Japanese: 中島 愛, Hepburn: Nakajima Megumi, born June 5, 1989) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Mito, Ibaraki, who is affiliated with E-Stone Music.[1] Her involvement in the entertainment industry began in 2003 when she participated in an audition held by the talent agency Stardust Promotion, becoming affiliated with them after passing the audition. Her debut came in 2007 when she passed an audition held by the music company Victor Entertainment; she was then cast as the character Ranka Lee in the 2008 anime series Macross Frontier. Her first solo single "Tenshi ni Naritai" was released in 2009, which was followed by her first solo album I Love You in 2010.
Megumi Nakajima | |
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中島 愛 | |
Megumi Nakajima at Anime Expo 2010 | |
Born | Mito, Ibaraki, Japan | June 5, 1989
Occupation |
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Years active | 2008–present |
Agent | E-Stone Music |
Height | 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) |
Musical career | |
Genres |
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Years active | 2007–2014, 2016–present |
Labels | Flying Dog |
Apart from Ranka, Nakajima is also known for her roles as Kaede Sakura in Kämpfer, Lyra in Fairy Tail, Lyra and Meloetta in Pokémon, Yuzuki Eba in A Town Where You Live, and Megumi Aino/Cure Lovely in HappinessCharge PreCure!. Her songs have been featured in series such as Kämpfer, Tamayura, Kotoura-san, and Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne. She is also the voice provider of the Vocaloid software Megpoid. In 2013, she announced an indefinite hiatus from singing to focus on her acting career; she returned to singing in 2017 with the single "Watashi no Sekai", the title song being used as the ending theme to the anime series Fuuka.
Early life and childhood
Nakajima was born in Ibaraki Prefecture on June 5, 1989 to a Filipina mother and a Japanese father.[2][3][4][5] She grew up in a family fond of music; her father had been a drummer in a band.[6] These family influences would later be cited as among the reasons she would decide to pursue a career as a singer.[7]
In 2003, Nakajima participated in an audition held by the talent agency Stardust Promotion. She passed it and subsequently signed with the agency. Despite this, she did not make a music debut, instead training while waiting for her opportunity. As she had yet to make her debut, she was starting to "become desperate" to do anything in entertainment, and she even considered ceasing her pursuit of a singing career.[9] While in her third year of high school, she learned of an audition held by the music company Victor Entertainment. The winner would then be cast in the upcoming anime series Macross Frontier. At the time she had not yet decided what type of artist she wanted to be, but because she believed that it was her chance, she went ahead and auditioned.[10] She ended up being the audition's winner,[11] which would lead to her being cast as the speaking and singing voice of the character Ranka Lee.[7]
Music career
Nakajima made her debut performance as a professional artist at the "Macross 25th Anniversary Concert" on April 18, 2007, as she had been cast as the character Ranka Lee.[12][13] Her first vocal recordings appeared in the compilation album Macross Frontier O.S.T.1 Nyan FRO. on June 4, 2008.[14] She made her music debut on June 25, 2008, with the single "Seikan Hikō" (星間飛行).[15] Her first major live performance was the "Super Dimension Super Live" (超時空スーパーライブ, Chō Jikū Sūpā Raibu) concert held on July 27, 2008.[16] For her performance of "Seikan Hikō", she won the award for Best Musical Performance in the third Seiyu Awards held on March 7, 2009.[17]
Nakajima's first non-Macross single, "Tenshi ni Naritai" (天使になりたい) was released on January 28, 2009; the single peaked at number 13 on Oricon's weekly charts and charted for five weeks.[18] This was followed by the release of her second single "Nostalgia" on March 11, 2009; the title song was used as the theme song to the drama series Daisuki! Itsuitsugo.[19] She then became the vocal provider of the Vocaloid program Megpoid, which went on sale on June 6, 2009.[20] Her next single "Jellyfish no Kokuhaku" (ジェリーフィッシュの告白, Jerīfisshu no Kokuhaku) was released on December 9, 2009; the title song was used as the first ending theme to the anime series Kobato.[21] She released her first album I Love You on June 9, 2010.[22] She then appeared at Anime Expo in Los Angeles in July of that year.[23]
Nakajima's next single "Melody" was released on November 24, 2010; the songs included in the single were used in the original video animation Tamayura.[24] She then performed the song "If", which was used as an insert song in the anime series Moshidora.[25] This was followed by the release of the single "Kamisama no Itazura" (神様のいたずら) on October 26, 2011; the title song is used as the ending theme to the anime series Tamayura: Hitotose.[26] Her next single, "Try Unite!/Hello!" was released on February 2, 2012; "Try Unite" was used as the opening theme to the anime series Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne.[27] Her second album Be With You went on sale on March 3, 2012.[28]
On August 1, 2012, Nakajima released the single "Marble/Wasurenai yo." (マーブル/忘れないよ。); "Marble" was used as the opening theme to the second season of Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne.[29] In 2013, she released two singles: "Sonna Koto Ura no Mata Urabanashi Desho?" (そんなこと裏のまた裏話でしょ?) on January 23, and "Arigatō" (ありがとう) on August 7. "Sonna Koto Ura no Mata Urabanashi Desho?" was used as the opening theme to the anime series Kotoura-san,[30] and "Arigatō" was used as the ending theme to the anime series Tamayura: More Aggressive.[31]
On December 2, 2013, Stardust Promotion announced that Nakajima would go on an indefinite hiatus from her music career after the release of her third album Thank You on February 26, 2014[32] and a final concert on March 20, 2014, although she would continue to be active in the voice-acting industry.[33][34] In a 2019 interview, she was asked the reasons for her decision to go on hiatus. She responded that she felt that had few expectations about herself, and she was worried that she had become so associated with the role of Ranka that she would be unable to establish an identity as "Megumi Nakajima".[35] She initially thought that her involvement in the Macross franchise would not last long and that she could move on after Macross Frontier ended, only to learn later that there would be more upcoming releases and activities for the series. Once the films had finished release, she realized that she had already been a voice actor for three years, and yet felt that her roles did not suit her, even feeling that her confidence was low despite being treated kindly by her peers.[35]
On December 1, 2016, Nakajima's management announced that she would return from her hiatus to perform the song "Watashi no Sekai", which is used as the ending theme to the 2017 anime television series Fuuka.[36] Her second post-comeback single "Saturday Night Question" was released on November 6, 2017; the title song is used as the opening theme to the anime series Recovery of an MMO Junkie.[37]
Nakajima released her fourth album Curiosity on February 26, 2018.[38] She then released the single "Bitter Sweet Harmony/Shiranai Kimochi" on August 1, 2018; the song "Bitter Sweet Harmony" was used as the opening theme to the anime series Miss Caretaker of Sunohara-sou.[39] A planned solo concert in Shanghai, China in June 2018 was cancelled due to "various circumstances".[40] In August 2018, she performed at C3 AFA Indonesia in Jakarta,[41] the last to be held in the country prior to the event's discontinuation.[42] The following month, she performed at Cosplay Mania in the Philippines, the first time she held a performance in the country.[43][44]
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of her career, Nakajima released a cover album titled Lovely Time Travel (ラブリー・タイム・トラベル) on January 28, 2019; the album consists of covers of various love songs from the 1970s to the 1990s.[45] She released a compilation album titled 30 Pieces of Love on her 30th birthday, June 5, 2019;[46] the limited edition includes a Blu-ray disc featuring a video shot in the Philippines, and a cover of the Filipino song "Kailan".[47]
Acting career
Nakajima's first non-Macross role was Miku in the anime series Akikan!.[48] After that, she was cast as the character Citron in the series Basquash!; she along with Haruka Tomatsu and Saori Hayami performed the series' theme songs under the name Eclipse.[49] She then played the role of Kaede Sakura in Kämpfer,[48] and the roles of Chiho and Chise Mihara in Kobato.[48] At the end of 2009, she voiced Ranka in the first movie of the Macross Frontier series, Macross Frontier the Movie: The False Songstress.[48] In 2010, she played Lyra, a celestial spirit that belongs to Lucy Heartfilia, in the Fairy Tail series,[48] and the character Lyra in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.[50] In February 2011, she voiced Ranka in the second Macross Frontier movie, Macross Frontier the Movie: The Wings of Goodbye.[48] In 2012, she played the role of Meloetta in the anime theatrical short Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade,[48] later reprising the role in the Pokémon: Black & White television series.[51] She then voiced Yuzuki Eba in the original video animation A Town Where You Live, reprising the role the following year for the anime television series.[48] In 2013, she played the role of Yō Kasukabe in Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?.[52]
During Nakajima's musical hiatus, she continued playing roles in anime series and other franchises, most notably Cure Lovely in HappinessCharge PreCure! and multiple characters in the multimedia franchise Kantai Collection.[53] Following her return to music, she would then play the roles of Charlotte Abelfreyja Drossel in Violet Evergarden,[54] Maiko Osonoi in Miss Caretaker of Sunohara-sou,[55] and Dolphin Mii in Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō.[56] She was originally scheduled to portray the role of Rona Chevalier in the anime series New Life+: Young Again in Another World, but she resigned from the role in the wake of a controversy involving the original light novel's writer;[57] the anime was canceled shortly after.[58]
Musical style and influences
Nakajima cites growing up in a family that appreciated music as one of the factors that made her decide to pursue a singing career. In particular, she remembers being influenced by her father's listening of artists such as Toto, Airplay, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Chaka Khan, as well as her listening to Japanese idols such as Sayuri Iwai. In an interview with the music streaming service ANiUTa, she mentions that she mainly listens to both Japanese and Western music from the 1980s and 1990s.[59]
In a 2008 interview with Famitsu, Nakajima related the circumstances that led to her being cast as Ranka in the Macross franchise. She noted that she initially had a complex with her voice and felt that it was "lacking in personality", which made her reluctant to talk too much. She felt that because she only knew how to use her natural voice, she wondered how she would be able to make the most out of it. When she was informed of Ranka's character, she felt that she could relate to her as she thought that Ranka's personality overlapped with hers. She remembers that when she was informed of her getting the role, she didn't react as it coming out of nowhere, but rather that "she got through".[6]
In interviews with Natalie and LisAni, Nakajima discussed the production of her first post-comeback album Curiosity. She noted that she wanted to do a pop album, and that in contrast to her previous albums, which had the word "You" in their titles, she wanted to go in a different direction because of a "curiosity to try new things".[60] The title and theme of the album came from experiences during her hiatus, which would include watching musicals and desires to learn about other people and other kinds of music.[61][60] She noted the collaborations she made with various writers for the song's albums: for example, for the song "Life's The Party Time!!", she co-wrote it with composer Kenichi Maeyamada, and compared the experience to "writing diary-like lyrics and answering to them".[60] She also mentions how the song "Zanzō no Avalon" (残像のアヴァロン) sounds like an anime song despite not being used in an anime series.[60]
Filmography
Anime
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Macross Frontier: Itsuwari no Utahime | Ranka Lee | [48] | |
2011 | Macross Frontier: Sayonara no Tsubasa | Ranka Lee | [48][62] | |
2012 | Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade | Meloetta | [48] | |
2014 | Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage 3: Eternal Friends | Megumi Aino / Cure Lovely | [48] | |
2014 | HappinessCharge PreCure! the Movie: The Ballerina of the Land of Dolls | Megumi Aino / Cure Lovely | [48] | |
2015 | Pretty Cure All Stars: Spring Carnival | Megumi Aino / Cure Lovely | [48] | |
2016 | Pretty Cure All Stars: Singing with Everyone♪ Miraculous Magic! | Megumi Aino / Cure Lovely | [48] | |
2018 | Hugtto! PreCure Futari wa Pretty Cure: All Stars Memories | Megumi Aino / Cure Lovely | ||
2020 | Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop | Julie | [65] | |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Hayate no Gotoku!! Nightmare Paradise | Watarase Mikage | PSP | [48] |
2009 | Macross Ultimate Frontier | Ranka Lee | PSP | [48] |
2010 | Busō Shinki Battle Masters | Altlene | PSP | [48] |
2010 | Another Century's Episode: R | Ranka Lee | PS3 | [48] |
2011 | Macross Triangle Frontier | Ranka Lee | PSP | [48] |
2013 | Super Robot Wars Operation Extend | Ranka Lee | PSP | [48] |
2013 | Kantai Collection | Mikuma, Kinugasa, I-168 (Imuya), I-58 (Goya), Hatsuzuki | Web browser | [66][67] |
2014 | HappinessCharge PreCure! Kawarun ☆ collection | Megumi Aino / Cure Lovely | 3DS | [48] |
Other dubs
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Nyan Dra 1 | Ranka Lee | Macross Frontier drama CD (VTCL-60102) | [68] |
2009 | Nyan Dra 2 | Ranka Lee | Macross Frontier drama CD (VTCL-60103) | [69] |
2009 | Nyan Dra 3 | Ranka Lee | Macross Frontier drama CD (VTCL-60104) | [70] |
2009 | Nyan Dra 4 | Ranka Lee | Macross Frontier drama CD (VTCL-60105) | [71] |
Discography
- I Love You (2010)
- Be With You (2012)
- Thank You (2014)
- Curiosity (2018)
- Lovely Time Travel (2019)
- 30 Pieces of Love (2019)
Dubbing
- The Croods: A New Age (2020) as Dawn Betterman
DVDs and Blu-ray
- Nakajima Megumi Spring Festival 2009 ~Mamegu Wasshoi! Haru Matsuri in Akasaka Blitz~ (中島愛 スプリングイベント2009~まめぐだワッショイ! 春祭in赤坂ブリッツ~) (July 15, 2009)[72]
- Macross Frontier Galaxy Tour FINAL in Budokan (マクロスF(フロンティア)ギャラクシーツアーFINAL in ブドーカン) with Yoko Kanno and May'n (October 30, 2009 [DVD], November 27, 2009 [Blu-ray])[73][74]
References
- "Official website" (in Japanese). E-stone music. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Farris, Christopher (February 11, 2019). "These Filipinos Are the Voices of Modern Cartoon and Anime Characters". Esquire (magazine). Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- "中島 愛 オフィシャル・ウェブサイト -Megumi Nakajima Official Web Site - Profile" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 1, 2012.
- Doi, Hitoshi (June 6, 2016). "Nakajima Megumi (中島愛) – Personal Information". Hitoshi Doi's Seiyuu Database. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
- "Official website profile" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- 中島愛:運命を感じた、ランカ・リーとの出会い エンジェル・ボイス アゲイン (in Japanese). Famitsu. October 29, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "マクロスFでブレイク!中島愛さんがCDデビューの心境を語る" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. June 25, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- "中島愛「Thank You」発売記念 活動休止前ラストインタビュー - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- "Megumi Nakajima Interview 1: "A Personal Path Carved by Change and Motivation"". ANiUTa. January 21, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- "Victor Vocal & Voice Audition" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- Macross F (Frontier) Unveiled at Macross 25th Anniversary Concert
- "Yoko Kanno, Heroine's Voice Announced for New Macross (Updated)". Anime News Network. August 18, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
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- 星間飛行 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "A Gabriela Robin Site » Superdimensional Super Live Concert by Ranka Lee and Sheryl Nome Report (update)". Gabrielarobin.com. July 31, 2008. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- "A Gabriela Robin Site » Megumi Nakajima Wins Best Singing Award in the 3rd Seiyu Awards". Gabrielarobin.com. March 5, 2009. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- 天使になりたい (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ノスタルジア (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "Megpoid(メグッポイド)|株式会社インターネット". www.ssw.co.jp. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ジェリーフィッシュの告白 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "I love you" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- "Macross F's Megumi Nakajima, May'n to Perform at Anime Expo". Anime News Network. May 20, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- メロディ (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "If" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- 神様のいたずら (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "TRY UNITE!/Hello!" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "Be With You" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- マーブル/忘れないよ。 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- そんなこと裏のまた裏話でしょ? (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ありがとう (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "CD Jacket Photo for Megumi Nakajima's Last Album Revealed". Crunchyroll. January 22, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- "Macross Frontier's Megumi Nakajima Goes on Hiatus From Music". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- "Megumi Nakajima Announces Hiatus from Musical Activities". Crunchyroll. December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- "Voice Actress Megumi Nakajima Explains Why She Went on Hiatus After Macross Frontier". Anime News Network. January 13, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "Macross Frontier's Megumi Nakajima Returns From Musical Hiatus, Performs Ending for Fūka Anime". Anime News Network. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
- サタデー・ナイト・クエスチョン (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- "Curiosity" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
- "Bitter Sweet Harmony/知らない気持ち(すのはら盤)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- 公演中止のお知らせとお詫び (in Japanese). E-stone music. June 15, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "出演決定(「I LOVE ANISONG」)" (in Japanese). E-stone music. May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "This Year's C3 AFA Jakarta 'May Be Last' in Indonesia". Anime News Network. August 29, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "Cosplay Mania's 10th Year Anniversary Poised to Become the Ultimate J-Culture Experience". InqPOP!. Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 20, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "Cosplay Mania Hosts Megumi Nakajima, Chiharu Sawashiro, Shunsuke Takeuchi". Anime News Network. June 25, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ラブリー・タイム・トラベル (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "30 pieces of love" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "発売日:ベストアルバム「30 PIECES OF LOVE」6月5日に発売決定!!" (in Japanese). E-stone music. March 25, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "声優さん出演リスト 個別表示:中島愛(Megumi Nakajima)" [Voice actor's appearance list individual display: Megumi Nakajima]. Voice Artist Database (in Japanese). GamePlaza-HARUKA-. March 29, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
- "『バスカッシュ!』Blu-ray BOX2が11月5日に発売!Eclipseの完全録り下ろし新曲など豪華特典満載!" (in Japanese). LisAni. October 31, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ジョウトフェスタ! チコリータとワニノコ登場!!. Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl. Episode 143 (in Japanese). September 17, 2009. TV Tokyo.
- ポケットモンスターBW1時間スペシャル・サトシ最後のジム戦! (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "Anime Spotlight - Problem children are coming from another world, aren't they?". Anime News Network. January 9, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "Megumi Nakajima, Megumi Han Star in HappinessCharge Precure". Anime News Network. January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- "「いま『マクロスF』の話ができて嬉しい」中島愛、デビュー10年を振り返る" (in Japanese). Mynavi Corporation. August 8, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- "Miss caretaker of Sunohara-sou Anime's Video Reveals More of Cast, Opening Song, July 5 Debut". Anime News Network. June 5, 2018. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- "CAST-STAFF" (in Japanese). Toei Animation. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "[New Life+] Young Again in Another World Anime Cast Resigns After Creator's Apology for Controversial Comments". Anime News Network. June 5, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "[New Life+] Young Again in Another World Anime Cancelled". Anime News Network. June 6, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- 中島 愛 インタビュー第3回「日常と音楽」 (in Japanese). ANiUTa. January 23, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "中島愛「Curiosity」インタビュー" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "4thアルバム『Curiosity』中島 愛インタビュー" (in Japanese). LisAni. February 14, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- Doi, Hitoshi (June 6, 2016). "Nakajima Megumi roles". Hitoshi Doi's Seiyuu Database. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
- "Ascendance of a Bookworm Anime Reveals More Cast, Staff, October Premiere". Anime News Network. June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- "New Shaman King Anime Casts Yūji Ueda, Megumi Nakajima". Anime News Network. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- "Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Romance Anime Film Reveals More Cast". Anime News Network. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- Kadokawa Games. Kantai Collection (HTML5) (in Japanese). DMM Games.
- "KanColle Anime Film's Trailer Reveals Cast, Staff, Theme Song Artist". Anime News Network. August 18, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- "Nyan Dra 1". Seiyuu Database. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- "Nyan Dra 2". Seiyuu Database. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- "Nyan Dra 3". Seiyuu Database. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- "Nyan Dra 4". Seiyuu Database. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- "中島愛「まめぐだワッショイ!」DVD化&初ツアー決定" (in Japanese). Natalie. April 7, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- "マクロスF ギャラクシーツアーFINAL in ブドーカン [DVD]" (in Japanese). Amazon Japan. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- マクロスF(フロンティア) ギャラクシーツアー FINAL in ブドーカン (in Japanese). Bandai Visual. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Megumi Nakajima at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Megumi Nakajima's channel on YouTube (in Japanese)