Japanator: Which kind of cat tastes best?

Translator: Hm?

Japanator: Yeah, tastes... which kind of cat tastes best?

Translator: Oh! [she laughs, and then when talking to Shoko-tan, she says "deep kiss," which starts the whole room laughing]

Shoko-tan: The most delicious cat is called Mamitasu, which is my cat. I've had so many cats in my life so far, but Mamitasu is the only female cat. I love her to death. Everyday when I go home, I smell her whole body [room explodes with laughter] and I kiss her fur. 

[in English] Smell. Good Smell. [laughter]

I just love her to death. And I've even worked with her in a collaboration with Hello Kitty. Also, I published a mamitasu photobook. 

[again, in English, grinning] Mamitasu, good smell.

Japanator: Your blog is incredibly popular. I was wondering if you had any advice fellow bloggers on how to make their blogs as popular as yours is.

Shoko-tan: My advice, if I could give any advice to other bloggers, would be to be free and not care about what other people think. Because that's exactly what I do.  You know, I dress up in a cosplay outfit and do cooking and have a picture posted. Or when I feel like smelling my cat's butt [laughter], I do that. You know, stupid things like that. 

I just want to leave proof of my life in my blog, and I just want to be as free as possible. Sometimes I'm too free, and my manager will get mad at me. 

Japanator: You do so much! In a day's time... it's amazing. There's no way I could post as much as you do!

Shoko-tan: Well, if you wanted to squeeze it all into one post, it would be possible. [laughs]

Japanator: Can you tell us what you think of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann?

Shoko-tan: Gurren Lagann is really a life-changing anime for me. I'm a big fan of Evangelion, and Gurren Lagann is produced by the same company, Gainax. It's their first anime in eleven years, you know, robotic anime in eleven years. Even before I watched the anime, I thought it would be really exciting. And once I watched it, I really got into it. I watched it every day.

I even had an opportunity to sing the theme song for the anime, and it was like a dream come true. By singing the theme song for Gurren Lagann, that expanded possibilities for me as a singer. So, in that sense, I really appreciate that anime. And I heard that Gurren Lagann will be broadcasted in America. 

Japanator: Yes, it will.

Shoko-tan: I hope it will be popular here.

Japanator: It will be! And the theme song is great. We love it!

Shoko-tan: Ah! Thank you. [in English] Thank you.

[Thanks to Shoko-tan and Yuriko Inagaki for the interview. Photo by Chie Kato]