Tenth Book Worth of Photos: The Route to Love, From The End and Beyond

Kitou Akari 1st Photobook "Love Route" [Available on Amazon Japan]

You know you're an otaku when your dad brings in a big box and asks "what is this" haha

Oh is this another Gamers thing again? Haha they like to give free store magazines

This specific package in an overview

I know the others are great too but we know the focus is on this haha IT'S HAPPENING (Between this and Tom Nook's island package... lol)

If you incessantly giggle while looking at this like me, you have suffered from a virus that is Kitou Akari haha

写真集 Kitou Akari 1st Photobook "Love Route"

She wants me so bad she's already prepared to marry me, this girl

Wow this is very good oh yeah she can draw

Woah! What's this? Another bromide?!! (Oh, this is the mystery one... Wait, what?)

Okay we have seen this before it's literally the cover but the other side is my new favourite now (I will say that often btw)

See, it's this level of imperfection on her face that makes me like her even more call me a freak I don't care

Ooo is this is the American highway of what lol (Legit thought it's page number but it's unlikely)

"Thank you for getting your hands on this book.
Since it's my first photobook, I got really worried in many aspects but I did try out a lot of situations (for images). I really enjoyed the photo shoot!

The point that I was given the opportunity to be a voice actress
I never thought that it was possible for me to come out with a photobook at any point (of her career) and I could not believe it... 

For everyone who have gotten this I'll be happy if you even get any amount of satisfaction out of it!!"

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #1: China with them buns!! (This is literally page 1, right after the comment from her)

"Family Business" Akarin your dad runs a TCM shop or something? (She's in one of the many Chinatowns that's for sure probably one in Japan)

Really sad side view because she doesn't have any chest- I DON'T CARE SHE'S CUTE haha

Erm my dear Empress may I get you anything?

This is too cute, too cute...

Did they just take a photo of her when she gets to take a break? lol

Stare at me more, Akain. Please.

"Holiday" Akarin you know how to surf?

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #2: Her holding a surfboard even though she doesn't know how to surf haha (Then again we don't know)

The pretence is fine because this is perfect somehow

"As her surfer boyfriend I feel honoured that my girlfriend approves of my hobby" lol

Akarin on the beach might be the perfect combination we or even she ever seen

This smile can heal depression I assure you

This is going to be as wet as she can get haha

When you got that water master chi going lol (insert bald headed kid anime reference here)

I show this to my dad and he'll still agree she's a beauty because this is not taken from 30 years ago

"Departure" Ah hello megane-san long time no see FETISH TRIGGERED (Also Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #3!)

If Akarin is flying to Singapore to live with me forever I'll pay for her plane ticket hehe

This is so beautiful I can't even

If she is this cute sleeping I'm just going to stare at her like this

"Make Up" Okay my least favourite segment haha just joking (Akarin, I trust you to not put too much makeup, yes?)

This means she wants to play hide and seek with you but with your eyes masked haha what

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #4: Her, On Bed (Oh Akarin you also fail sit-and-reach too? We are two of a kind then)

Makeup lessons 101 with Kitou Akari (You think this will work as a livestream? I mean every other girl is showing off their "tools" on Instagram anyways)

This is the part where you HAVE to say her nails are great lol

"Nest" This is a scene to behold.

This dress is surprisingly nice I can recommend this to my sis

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #4!! (Thanks for close-ups I totally appreciate it I can stare at these all day)

"Lifework" Didn't know you can guitar, girl.

Now that I think about it am I teaching her guitar? I mean, I do know a little so technically I can do that...

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #5: Akarin with a guitar! (I mean, with this many images you'll like something of her)

I want an offshot video of her screwing this up haha she's been posting videos on Twitter lately

"Triumph" Chinatown again? If she likes the culture then I have a chance hehe (Also, according to the sign on the top image, she's in Yokohama apparently)

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #5: Her with Bubble Tea (This is so wholesome it makes me gentlemanly paying for it all the more worth it)

"Confession" Uh oh Akarin, you don't mean...?

Stop staring at me like this I need to know!! (Also, when the tree trunk is shorter than you and you have to pose lol)

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #6: This. (How you expect she would react if you put her against that tree)

How it would look like in reality lol

"And this is how I got rejected by Kitou-san" haha

This side view is pathetic but I love it haha sorry

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #7: Playful Akarin! (I don't think this is how she behaves normally but)

And this is... I have no idea I'll fill it in if I ever find out haha (Edit: See THE INTERVIEW)

She seems to happy eating that ice cream I bought for her hehe

F-For me? But isn't this an indirect kiss...??

Is this where she wants me to hold her hand? Or is this just a freeze frame where it seems like so? lol #DatingProblems

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #8 (I wonder if she likes boat trips)

"Eternal" Wait, she said yes???

Again, whoever's the lucky guy to be able to marry this girl

Keep the gown down, girl, keep it down lol

These are literally photos taken for a wedding book

We in the church already?? Or is this the hotel room lol

Kawaii Akarin You'll Fall In Love With #9: Akarin's back view

She's taking it off herself? How desperate is she? lol (Oh, the reality is her putting it down herself, as seen in the book)

We did it, guys. And by we I meant Akarin and me haha I can't run away now xD

"AKARI NO ARIKA"!!

"Dojikko Maid-san" Not Anime reference afaik they just can't stand her not being clumsy lol

"Hajimari" (This is probably when I fell for her charm)

"Shinsengumi" The cutest in the force haha Mulan isn't even close

Again, not her usual behaviour but that's why she's adorable doing it hehe

"Nightingale" What is that again? *laughs*

"Agatha Christie" Okay she may look like the real McCoy when she's her age haha

"Marilyn Monroe" If you saw that issue of the magazine she did the skirt blow thing HAHAHAHA

"Pimiku" Ah, she's a Shaman queen...

"Yukata Date" Remembering those simpler times when we were dating hehe

"Marie Antoinette" Impersonating the French queen? This looks like her daughter haha

"Madame Curie" She's triggering my glasses fetish again haha you think she looks better than Ten-chan? *laughs*

"Junior High School Days" So that is chuunibyou? That eye patch might be too iconic in Anime haha

"Audrey Hepburn" Ah, this British actress likes photography...

"Yosano Akiko" This is just her posing as a philosopher haha

"Cleopatra" This might be my least favourite amongst the ones here tbh she looks like my mom's friend haha (sorry)

And the recent I don't know what equation equals Kitou Akari (Okay to translate it's [Chigasaki X Waves / (White One Piece Press / Barefooted)2]

Ooo another survey winning campaign again? Now's my chance

This girl's an artist, man

Ah, and I'm glad I didn't see this last page first haha (I mean, is it a surprise when the marriage is literally the cover? lol)

Yay! Haha

We all deserve to get married to her so you can zoom in in all its glory

"Maeshima Ami"? Hey, cute girl haha

I mean, LOOK AT THIS.

"Departure Disc" Wow it's over already? lol

• Kitou Akari was born 16th October 1994; her name came about from her parents wanting her to be cheerfully brought up and specifically her dad wants her to shine in everything she does, and this the name "Aka-ri" was formed. Akarin said her as a kid is one who somehow is not afraid to chat up to strangers. She listed an example where her mother would be shopping at the supermarket and she'll be talking to some random old man on the street. (lol really)
• Akarin went through a chuunibyou (ie. rebellious) phase too but in the form of appearance. Around the end of elementary school she began to dress up in more gentlemanly outfits including pants and keeping her hair short and wearing black shirts with skulls.
• She is probably influenced a lot from manga and/or anime, stating that she reads a lot of shounen manga and watched a lot of shows back then. (As a female you'll probably prefer shoujo genres, where it's those lovey-dovey prince saves princess plots, not the male-preferred shounen genres where action and harem genres take the lead)
• She has a younger sister (hello sister-in-law, haha), and his dad would spoil them by buying manga for them to read because he's a big fan of them himself. Normally he would buy the first volume for Akarin and say "this is rather interesting" and then she will end up having to buy the rest herself. (lol the dad is like a living advertisement God Akarin I love your father already oh hi dad haha)
• Her favourites in manga include (get ready weebs) "HUNTER x HUNTER", "BLEACH" (Yo~!! haha), "D.Gray-Man", and specifically likes more of "Air Gear". (Feel free to find out about these series which were popular a decade ago lol)
• Middle school Akarin was hooked into the Internet. (lol who doesn't? FYI that's around 2005-2006) She would always browse the Internet by borrowing her dad's PC and (I asssume laptop because) she would also learn her illustrations on them.
• She decided on becoming a voice actress only close to graduation during her high school days. This was when she had to decide on her future path, but her dad dropped the bomb on her and said "get your own money or a scholarship to get into college (university)" and did not provide her the funds to do so because he doesn't have them. (Hey, no one said their family was rich the dad spent it on manga) (Haha, a true manga fan) So that was when Akarin had to make a different choice in education, and she chose to pursue her dream of being a voice actress as a way to allow her to complete her education, so she gave up on that for this dream. (Aw...) She did mention that she would like to challenge herself (to go to college) if she could in the future. (Oh it's those Kotobuki Minako 1-year hiatus again lol)
• So in the end, the parents did not give her allowance for a year, she worked for half a year part-time but could not get nearly enough funds to do anything (probably enough to go by tbh), but it was also then her talent company Pro Fit was recruiting members biannually and so the parents allowed her to "take this challenge for once" with tears in their eyes. She eventually passed, and got into the company itself. (Again, a true genius haha)
• She says her parents really treat her with respect on the decisions she makes in life. They had the "do it with your own efforts" kind of mindset. Even when she was part-timing as an illustrator and got recommended by friends online to meet up outside town and stuff, her parents would be "if you can pay for your own expenses you can go" and she did. (The best kind of parents) She felt that is how she ended up paving the "route" of life for herself. She said if not for such parents and they would give her all the money she would just do things without much thought. (Yeah you looking at a live example right here, but then again I think it's also me being a pussy haha)
• Since she started getting work as soon as she entered her talent company, her student life soon became empty as it was filled with work. (Refer to Kohara Rin, from "Sore ga Seiyuu!") And as soon as she graduated, she had to go into city (ie. Tokyo), so in the process she lost a lot of friends and felt the pains of having to meet new people in another society. Since she was not confident in her skills as a voice actor, her fear of the adults around her only grew stronger. Because she can technically not listen to adults in school ie. teachers and get away with it, but if you go against adults out there you'll be done for. This is what made her shrink even further in the face of society.
• Her first Anime role back in 2014 was in "Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!?" (as Aika Maki, supporting character), and as one of the villians to the main character, she got a solid two episodes worth of dialogue, and she felt that it was hard. Since she got her role real quick, she didn't have time to familiarise herself with the studio, so she had to learn everything from scratch, which got her real nervous at the time. She was in the "fear of adults" feels too, so she said she could barely remember anything from it. (Haha man that is rough) She was living in anticipation of this recording to end as soon as possible, sort of attitude.
• Her break from being... afraid of adults came in 2016 from Anime "Boku Dake ga Inai Machi" (ie. "ERASED" because I did watch that, really don't know she was in it though) (I mean, there was Yuuki Aoi-chan haha), and in "Time Bokan 24" as one of the two main roles, and it was because she was practically surrounded by veterans that she started to learn a lot from them. She felt that these provided a good step up into overcoming that fear.
• On asking what she treasured in her voice actress career, (I don't think she is answering the question lol, but) she said she was the type that likes to think a lot about her work. Even in school with math she can think all day about the equations and in the test, and yet in the end she still could not get it anyways.
• She was serious about her work, but sometimes the production would give her directions on how to do it but she still would not get as to why, and practised too much from overthinking such things. Because she felt that inspiration is vital to expression of voices in Anime (quite true), but she did follow the directions told to her accordingly and learnt how to adapt to the recording which in turn increased her confidence on the job.
• She would like to work on different roles that would last. (I assume like, from series with sequels, say "KonoSuba") Also, roles that were thought to be perfect for her were also preferred by her. She can't really picture how the roles would fit from watching the Anime (its original work, I assume), so this would come as a surprise.
• On talking about the photobook, the interviewer mentioned on the photobook has a story starting from her hometown (so that is the Aichi prefecture), pursuing of dreams, and to the extent of being tied to the person you love forever... a sort of self-searching type of travelling photobook.
• They started shooting on summer of 2019 in (a) Chinatown, where it was surprisingly crowded on the day of the shoot, up on a sunny summer day. It was also her first time shooting in such a situation, even if she may have worked on part-time jobs which involve standing outside in the crowd, especially in Chinatown, so it was fresh to her.
• The China outfit was from her favourite brand "Lily Brown", so she got real hyped to have worn it. They also got to enjoy Chinese food at one of the restaurants there. (They were shooting in there too, so...) "The mini steamed buns were delicious" haha lol
• The interviewer recalled at that time it was also close to the autumn school festivals. (when most high school festivals happen, around October)
• On mention of going to Chigasaki beach to take photos, (see last image of "Akari no Arika", and her on the surfboard) Akarin said it was quite a while since she went to the beach, since she doesn't really go to the beach in her own time. They had to take her barefooted standing above the waves on her feet, so she felt the history of not doing that for years (when shooting for this photobook). Her own summer ended up not going to the beach or the pool alone because of this. (Oh man, we owe her a summer, boys)
• According to the interviewer, the scene of her playing the guitar was above a cafe at the beach itself, with Mount Fuji behind as background.
• On the scene with the guitar, she totally enjoyed the sunset view there. And (as expected) she cannot play the guitar, and recalled the only time she ever touched an instrument was playing the bass during high school in a band (refer to Anime "K-ON!") (lol it's accurate enough), and that is just her only playing do-re-mi (lmao), but it turned into her getting a vocalist role soon after. (See? She got the vocal talent then)
• According to the interviewer (thanks for the insider info), the wedding dress scene indoors was filmed at Yokohama in Yamate Western area (feel free to Google that, specifically "BERRICK HALL"), and according to Akarin she would like to wear that specific dress design again if she ever gets married (to me) (lmao), but she also learnt of the reality of wearing one, specifically it being tedious and hard to move in when worn. (I give a salute too all women who have to bear this pain for whatever purpose)
• She felt that this (I guess, for wedding photos) is similar to the feel she would want in a wedding. She had friends who had small scale weddings but either she wasn't invited to go (why) or she just didn't have time to go due to work (up in Tokyo), but she wants to go to one. For her, she would like a wedding set in a church (uh oh, time to be Christian) (haha) as she thinks she doesn't look good in traditional (I assume, Japanese wedding) outfits. (Okay NOW we need to see it haha)
• The interviewer retorted her real quick (haha I like this guy), stating her in the red one-piece she had to wear for the shooting (okay I don't know which one this was referring to tbh) looked good on her. She replied that she looked girly in that and with the sunglasses on she laughed at how she looked.
• In the scenes where she shot with the white hoodie in Yamashita Park (thanks interviewer Google Lens didn't work on my camera shots of the book lol), Akarin mentioned it was hot then. But then again they got ice cream for her. (Haha hey they gotta) It was her favourite grape flavour (*note taking*) but it melted real fast under the hot weather so it was kinda bad that she had to eat it up quickly so it wouldn't dirty her outfit.
• On the scenes where she was in a bedroom wearing with her usual roomwear (thanks interviewer, I'm taking notes haha) (FYI "Make-Up" section of the book) with navy colour short pants (they are very short hehe) was actually a set with the blouse, and even came with the eye mask, according to Akarin. It was staple of her to shop for roomwear often since she likes to watch TV at night in her room wearing cute roomwear. (*actively imagining* Oh wait isn't this it? Haha)
• On talking about her wearing the one navy blue dress, she says she likes clothing that bring out the dressy feel. (Refer to her Tweet on how much she liked it; she liked it so much she went back without changing out haha) It was also the last day of the photo shoot.
• On being asked about what left the best impression on shooting for the photobook, it was during her time at the beach. It was humid at that time of the year and just walking on the sand is kind of tough. But she got excited on the waves hitting her bare foot. The photo shoot results turned out great too in her opinion.
• The interviewer was impressed (I can infer that this guy is one of the staff, if you haven't noticed) at how she can keep her mood and not look tired throughout the photo shoot, and that is because according to Akarin she was just sleeping on the road trips between shoots. (lol makes sense)
• On being asked on the "journey" aspect on the topic of "journey" and "fate" for the "Love Route", she recalls enjoying the days where she goes out to camp with her family during the summer holidays. She looked forward to it and enjoyed it every year.
• If she had the chance to plan a trip herself, she would like to go overseas, on countries with beautiful streets like Italy and France. She wants to take lots of photos there. She also would like to go to Guam too. She has been overseas several times because of work and hopes to get more of it in the future.
• "On the announcement of the photobook, I thank the fans for the warm voices of support which became power for me. I would be glad if I get to hear of your comments."

I want to be bubble tea now haha Akari I will treat you to as many as you want IS THAT A CLEAVAGE???

When your girl wants to do it, uh, I mean, sleep and you're still working in the room HOW COULD YOU lol

I want to be the wall haha