Straight off the heels of Comic-con in San Diego, I made my way to beautiful Sunset Blvd. I started to reflect upon whom I was about to interview. Yumi is one half of Japan's "Puffy (AmiYumi)," arguably one of the biggest J-pop female duos ever! How would huge rock star like Yumi be when she goes one on one with the Red one?

As I introduce myself to the walls of representatives representing Puffy and Sony Records, Yumi presented herself in a fashionable and laid-back style. Crammed in a small room full of stuffy one-dimensional reporters, lil O' Akadot must have been and breath of fresh air to the mega successful artist as she curiously checked me out with her eyes and protested to the world, "This guy is all about being aka!"

One of her staff member's asked me if my underwear was Aka. Yumi, staff, and I all checked.

Ironically it was...

Akadot: So how was Comicon in San Diego?

Yumi: More people than I thought showed up. It was good to see many people cheering for Puffy AmiYumi.

Akadot: One of the first things when you came out to the states was go to AX 2002. How do you feel your fanbase has increased since then?

Yumi: It's a very exciting thing, and good to know that the music we made with great effort is being listened to and people here in the United States know of our existence. It's a great thing.

Akadot: Do you happen to go to other anime conventions in Japan, what's the otaku level like out there compared to the US?

Yumi: This time at Comic-con there weren't many people dressed up, but previously at the anime convention there were obviously more people dressed up. However, in Japan it's just not comparable because there's so many people dressed up as anime figures and characters. It's usually on the news because it's so big.

Akadot: Speaking of anime and manga, any favorite titles?

Yumi: For manga, there's one called Berserk (pronounced with a heavy accent), and as far as anime is concerned, Detective Boy Conan.

Akadot: Berserk! Gattsu!

Yumi: You know of it? Wow! I'm glad to hear that. I love Berserk!

Akadot: Yeah, the Berserk manga will be released in an English version in October.

Yumi: Great!

Akadot: Ah, okay what's your opinion on anime dubs?

Yumi: When I see Japanese anime translated into English it feels very awkward.

Akadot: And what about any sort of American cartoons such as Batman or Spiderman. Are you familiar with those titles?

Yumi: News programs are obviously too fast for me to understand, but with cartoons I make an effort to listen to what they're saying and it's kind of easier to understand.

Akadot: So, let's see, I want to talk a little bit about the Teen Titan theme song. How did that come about because it's kind of a surprise that a Japanese artist would happen to do the theme song for an American TV show. How was that arranged?

Yumi: Cartoon Network actually offered us to do this. It was something that came from their side, and the producer has previously been coming to a lot of our shows and listens to our music. That's when we got the offer and of course were thrilled.

Akadot: Cool. What kind of transitions did you have to go through when doing the music you're used to doing right now and the Teen Titans theme song since it was full English lyrics? How was the process?

Yumi: It was a very enjoyable process and you notice when you spell out all of the letters, even the staff was singing along. It was a very easy song to accomplish.

Akadot: You've had some English training before this song so it was pretty easy for you to do the lyrics?

Yumi: I tried my best! But speaking the language is obviously very difficult. But as long as everyone can see that we enjoyed it while we were singing the song then that's the most important thing.

Akadot: Well I think it's a very good song. The tune is very catchy.

Yumi: The other day there was a party for the airing of Teen Titans in San Diego and we were all watching together, so all the my staff and people related were singing it.

Akadot: Who is your favorite Teen Titan?

Yumi: Robin.

Akadot: Just 'cuz he's Batman's sidekick is so cool or because Robin actually is?

Yumi: Actually whenever people say Robin, my staff always put on the mask (with their fingers) and pretends they're him. I don't know why they do that...

Akadot: Let talk about Puffy AmiYumi's new album NICE. Are you happy with the album yourself? Is it what you wanted it to be?

Yumi: I feel that it is very well put together because there are so many different genres. It's a great thing.

Akadot: This is, in some way, one of the first times you're working with an American producer, Andy Sturmer. How is it working with him as opposed to working with Tamio Okuda? What are some of the biggest differences?

Yumi: They're both very strict about music because they're very professional people. Tamio would be more the risk-taking producer. Andy would be more down-to-earth when it came to music.

Akadot: So one's more aggressive and the other's more "thinking it all out"?

Yumi: They're both people that always have people around them and they're very friendly. Difference-wise, it would be how Andy-san and I would spent more time concentrating and thinking about the music, while Tamiya would take a more interactive role.