Neon Genesis Evangelion as well as all Characters affiliated with the IP are copyrighted, but not by me. I own nothing, not even the machine I'm typing this on.

Interviewing Kaji

Interviewer: Thanks a lot, Mr Yamadera, for allowing us – or rather me – to occupy your time with this interview.

K. Yamadera: No, you're welcome.

I.: Maybe you want to introduce yourself to our readers so they better know who you are?

K.Y.: (confused) I though I'd make the front page of this issue?

I.: Not entirely. NEON GENESIS EVANGELION and its actors are the focus of this issue, not you alone. I hope you understand...?

K.Y.: (pouting) Well, on the other hand it's better for my ego (winks). So, a short introduction: My name is Koichi Yamadera, I'm the actor for Ryouji Kaji in the suddenly successful TV-Show NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. My hobbies are as distinctively differing to those of my act as my taste is in significant others.

I.: You're already mentioning multiple points I'd like to discuss. For example the rapid success of NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. How do you think did that happen, considering the first episodes of the original run garnered mediocre ratings at best.

K.Y.: To be honest: no-one in the crew can think of a reason. but it's not like we're complaining about the sudden budget increase (laughs)! By now we're in the 18th week and we obviously had the regular three-month break after the thirteenth week. The studio started publishing the DVDs which sold unexpectingly well.

I.: That is an understatement if I ever heard one. You dominated those three month within the second week on the weekly charts like the christians the dark ages!

K.Y.: (slightly bowing) Thank you, but that was hardly my doing. At least not completely (winks)! It seems the shows concept fit the current zeitgeist like a glove, albeit the the time slot was a high obstacle. Again, hardly my doing.

I.: Beginning with the 14th episode the rating sky-rocketed, especially considering the rivalling shows in the new time slot!

K.Y.: Indeed! We had been hoping for an increase in ratings in respect to the DVDs but not like that. It was bitter.

I.: Especially for the other shows!

K.Y.: I wouldn't say that. I really rather watched ski-jumping.

I.: If your act isn't stuck in an elevator what does he do? Watching ski-jumping?

K.Y.: That's what I do. My Kaji would probably chase skirts and enjoy female company or saunter all film noir like through the streets looking for a job as Kaji, P.I.

I.: So you'd say you're quite different from your character?

K.Y.: Well I'd certainly hope so! If it wouldn't be for the role not a singly scraggly hair would disfigure the bottom of my face. And the whole lone-gunman-act... (distorting his face) – that's not me. I rather play Baccara with my friend.

I.: ...steady?

K.Y.: (thinking) Since we're in our third year I'd say yes, we're going steady and sturdy. (winks)

I.: So the rumours are true concering your... orientation?

K.Y.: I don't remember ever having denied them.

I.: That's quite a slap to the face for many female fans.

K.Y.: On the one hand I don't think there are as many of those as you're suspecting and on the other hand the coming episode'll give enough evidence of this being my orientation and not that of Ryouji Kaji.

I.: So Kaji and Katsuragi will...

K.Y.: (Pokerface)

I.: (clearing throat) Be that as it may. Will you tell us some insights to the future of NEON GENESIS EVANGELION?

K.Y.: (holding thumb and index finger half an inch apart) I'd guess this is the thickness of the NDA we had to sign – before the first shot! Even disregarding that – Mr. Anno tells us mostly nothing of what will come in the next episodes. I'm guessing as much as the BB on the web.

I.: Well then, thank you for this interview, Mr. Yamadera. It was a pleasure to talk with you!

K.Y.: (closing door, facing the other way) Nice butt for a... (door closed)

Koichi Yamadera made indeed the front page of the issue containing various interviews, however not in a way he expected. Gainax had send the publishing house a picture with the explicit condition to use it only on the cover or not at all.

The picture shows Koichi Yamadera, looking out of the corner of his wide-open eyes, madly grinning into the camera. His head is slightly turned right and up. There is no denying he looks like the counterpart of Jack Nicholson in „Shining".