Prior to the announcement of the TOUGEN ANKI anime adaptation last month, we got the chance to sit down with three of the lead voice actors in the series: Hiroshi Kamiya (Naito Mudano), Kazuki Ura (Shiki Ichinose), and Koutaro Nishiyama (Jin Kougasaki). The voice actors took sides in the generational battle between the Oni and Momotaro.
All the questions were asked separately to each voice actor and have been translated into English and edited for clarity.
An Introduction to TOUGEN ANKI
Anime Trending: Please introduce yourself and your characters in the series.
Kamiya: My name is Hiroshi Kamiya and I voice for the character Mudano Naito. Nice to meet you.
Ura: My name is Kazuki Ura and I voice Shiki Ichinose! Shiki… is a very pure and innocent, childlike character. He’s super joyful when he’s happy and openly upset when he’s sad. He’s extremely straightforward. What you see is what you get. Him being so direct is something I need to pay close attention to when voicing him, and I think it’s one of the traits that will attract people to this character. He’s a very cute character that people will want to root for.
Nishiyama: My name is Koutaro Nishiyama, and I play Jin Kougasaki. Kougasaki is a boy that is covered in scars. He covers his facial expressions with a mask and his hands with gloves. It’s clear something happened to him in the past, and because of that, he’s quite mysterious. He arrives at the school where he meets Shiki and the others, clearly still influenced by what happened to him. His past is very tragic, and it serves as his source of motivation. He’s that kind of character that is fueled by the power of sorrow and the power of hatred.
Were you familiar with the manga before your audition?
Kamiya: Unfortunately, I was not. I was introduced to this series at the time of my audition, and that’s where I saw it for the first time.
Ura: This time, I only learned about the manga after the audition. I think about ten volumes had come out around that point. I bought the manga and read the first volume, hooking me right then and there. I ended up buying every volume and read all the way to the end on that very same day. It made me really want to play the voice of Shiki. I remember coming into the audition with those thoughts in my mind. I really loved the manga.
Nishiyama: I was introduced to this series at the time of my audition. The setting is based on Momotaro, which is a legend every Japanese person knows. It takes the setting of Momotaro in a way that I thought was very interesting, tells the story from the perspective of the Oni rather than Momotaro. I remember that when I first read it, I couldn’t stop until I had finished [all the chapters].
What were your thoughts going into the audition?
Kamiya: I was so happy to receive this opportunity because I thought this was going to be a hit. It’s just so incredibly entertaining. I thought that everyone is for sure going to love it, so I was just grateful that I passed the audition.
Ura: I learned about the manga after getting the audition, and I found the author’s vision of making a modern version of Momotaro really interesting. Not only that, he also decided to make the Oni the protagonists rather than Momotaro, which is a much different approach than most people would take and that drew me in further. The atmosphere of the story is exactly the type I like, since you know, in Japan, Momotaro stories generally portray the Momotaro side as justice with the Oni side portrayed as evil, meant to be defeated.
Both the Oni side and the Momotaro side have their own circumstances. They are fighting against each other, but it’s kind of presented like the Oni are being wrongfully persecuted. A story like this getting animated… I didn’t even care what role I got. I just definitely wanted to be a part of this project. That was how I was feeling when I went into the audition for Shiki.
Nishiyama: I auditioned for both Shiki and Kougasaki. They are both character types that I haven’t played before, so to be honest, I found it hard to approach the characters. When the time came to read lines in the studio, I cemented an image of who I believed Kougasaki to be, and read my lines based on that. Later, when I received the notification that I had been selected, I was both surprised and incredibly happy. This was my first time trying something like this and having it affirmed like that was really rewarding. I’m glad I challenged myself.
What is an aspect of your character you identify with?
Kamiya: There’s not really much I can relate to with Mudano. One of the fundamental aspects about him is that he’s a character who fights. I don’t attack others, and I don’t have the need to protect someone to the point where I have to become stronger, even if that means hurting people in order to protect that someone since Japan is so peaceful.
In terms of an aspect I identify with, it’s very difficult to answer, but his name, “Mudano Naito,” is a play-on-words in Japanese, “muda ga nai,” which means “nothing is wasted,” and that’s what he encompasses. He’s the type of person who thinks about how to do everything efficiently and unexpectedly. Although I don’t take it too seriously, I also think things through carefully to be efficient, do things with intention, and take everything into consideration, and I think I can identify with him or have this in common with him.
Ura: Hmm… The childlike, no, immature aspect? Like, the part about him not being able to be honest with his parents and how it’s clear that he’s still quite mentally immature. It reminded me of what I was like when I was a kid. I would always argue with my parents.
I’m living by myself now and it’s only after you leave your parents do you realize how nice it is to have them around. Shiki also kind of experiences that when he loses his father, his only relative. He’s all alone in the world now. How do I put it… I’ve of course, also experienced having lost people in my life, so I do kind of understand somewhat the sorrow he feels.
His… tragic circumstances kind of draw you to him. Makes you empathize with him. But in spite of all he’s been through, he’s not cynical. His dad really raised him well, so he’s an honest and straightforward person. He won’t bend or break no matter what challenges he faces. He will directly communicate what he’s thinking, drawing the people around him to him. That’s the kind of character he is, and I both empathize and look up to him. He’s the kind of person I wish I could be more like, the person I wanted to be. Through him and his story, it feels like I’m reliving those feelings and experiences from my own life.
Nishiyama: To be honest, I find it a bit challenging to relate to him. The tragic experiences the character has gone through, such as losing his parents, is not something I’ve personally experienced and I think the feelings he carries are not something an outsider can comprehend. I have to constantly think about the correct way to bring out something that I myself don’t possess. In conclusion, there is not a single aspect of my character that I can relate to! Because there isn’t, I think the correct approach to this character is to go for it in a way that is reserved for how I am!
Oni vs. Momotaro
TOUGEN ANKI is kind of a modern sequel to the Momotaro story, so I have to ask, whose side would you be on, the Oni side or the Momotaro side?
Kamiya: I sincerely hope that I am neither. [laughs] But which am I? Hmm, I think I’d be an Oni.
I don’t have a particular reason for it, but I think I’d be an Oni. There are all sorts of Onis out there. I’m sure there’s got to be a pacifist Oni out there too. So, well, if you asked me if Momotaro was justice, that’s not necessarily true.
You especially feel it when you read this story. It’s not like Momotaro is justice and Oni is evil. Within the various ways to think about things because I am someone who acts for a living, if I ultimately were to be an existence that is slightly further away from where everyone else is, I feel like I would end up an Oni after all.
Ura: To tell you the truth… The Momotaro legend originates from Okayama Prefecture, right? My mother was born in Okayama, so I grew up constantly listening to stories about Momotaro. So maaaybe, at least it would be really cool if I might be a descendant of Momotaro? Kibi dango, those confectionaries [in the Momotaro story], I eat them a lot, so maybe rather than Momotaro, I might be descended from the pheasant, monkey, or dog that appears in the story. It’s just my headcanon, but I think I’d be a Momotaro.
Nishiyama: Hmm… That’s a good question… I could see myself on either side. The Oni side or Momotaro side gets to choose who they’re with, so I don’t feel like there’s much of a difference. The Oni were not born as Oni because they wanted to be Oni, and the Momotaro weren’t born that way because they didn’t want to be Oni, so I feel their fates are quite similar. I feel like it’s hard to really properly answer this question without experiencing it for yourself!
If I had to choose… then I think I’d choose the Oni side. That’s sort of where the appeal in TOUGEN ANKI lies, and I would like to try going against the idea that I should be killed by Momotaro simply for existing! So, I’d choose the Oni side!
Is there any aspect of the anime that you worked on that you are excited for fans to see?
Kamiya: This story is based on Momotaro, a fairy tale that every Japanese person definitely knows.
Because of that motif, every Japanese person can most definitely understand the story. You can say it’s a bit strange, but a similar thing happens with Yokai monsters and ghosts. Japanese people have this thing for grasping vague concepts of that nature, like, “Oh, a yokai. That makes sense.” I guess understanding those concepts is a characteristic of Japanese people. I’m sure you can say the same for Oni.
And I really do think the series has aspects that everyone can truly enjoy. But when you start thinking about people overseas, they might start thinking, “Oh, so Japan has this fairy tale…”
If people unravel the story that far, I believe they can enjoy the series even more. And from there, if people become interested in Japanese culture or understand that there is a fairy tale in Japan of this nature, that would make me delighted.
And if people overseas gain interest and then say, “Well, in our country there’s this other fairy tale…” and introduce it back to us, I think that would make me delighted in its own way.
I hope that such a cultural spreading happens as I strive to do my best in our weekly recording sessions.
Ura: Ah, how do I put this… The story is already perfect in manga form, since well, that’s what the original source material is, and as a story, it is rather conventional, with cool action scenes and a story that will draw people in. But, inside that story, something that I personally find really captivating, is that neither the Oni side nor Momotaro side are clearly on the side of evil or the side of justice.
It’s much more complicated than that, with a lot of nuance and gray areas, which is a lot like the real world. I don’t think there’s a thing as absolute evil. It’s various circumstances that lead to other people viewing what you’re doing as evil, although you may think what you’re doing is correct.
When people communicate with each other, there’s a lot we don’t see, and I’m kind of hoping that through watching TOUGEN ANKI, maybe the way people communicate, or at least view things, will change.
I’m hoping that message will get through to the fans. In the end, it’s meant to serve as entertainment, for people to enjoy, so it’s fine to also just enjoy it without thinking too much. The show will have exciting action scenes, and scenes where you’ll find yourself crying before you realize it. I hope the fans will be able to find something in the show that they will be able to resonate with and enjoy.
Nishiyama: There are a lot of characters, and they all fight for their own ideals and strong sense of purpose. Each and every single one of them has a strong sense of will driving them, and I wish for the fans to experience that for themselves.
There are a lot of characters, and I think everyone will be able to find at least one that they can relate to. You will definitely be able to find at least one character you like, so please watch!
Do you have a message for international fans who are excited to see TOUGEN ANKI animated?
Kamiya: Oh, this kind of goes back to what I said earlier. Well… the story of TOUGEN ANKI in itself is based on Momotaro, a Japanese fairy tale. So if you know the story, I think you’d enjoy the series even more. And we’re really thankful for people who touch upon Japanese culture in ways like this. So if you happen to like this series, TOUGEN ANKI, if you could stretch out your interest and think, “So Japan has fairy tales like this…” I guess, reach your hand out and read it, that would make me so happy.
And all that aside, it is simply a great series. There is such a diverse array of characters that show up. So you are just bound to find a character that you are absolutely in love with. Because there are so many charming characters in the show. It doesn’t matter if the character is an Oni or a Momotaro.
If you could touch bases with the characters that show up one after another and find one character, someone you can say, “Oh, I like this character,” we’d be so delighted. And that can be a catalyst, as there is at least one episode bound to do a deep dive into that character. So you can patiently wait until the episode for your character comes. I think you can enjoy it more if you watch it in that fashion.
Ura: TOUGEN ANKI is a work that is based on Japanese history, or at the very least, is very Japanese, so I hope that foreign fans will be able to learn and understand more about Japanese culture through the show. I hope everyone enjoys the show, and if they’re interested, perhaps they may make a trip to the birthplace of Momotaro, Okayama Prefecture, or other places in Japan that show up in the show. I hope people will come to love Japan more through watching the show.
Nishiyama: Thank you so much for supporting the series. Action scenes, that special atmosphere created by battles in shounen manga, the extremely exciting developments one after another, the clash of wills between all the amazing characters, me and the rest of the staff are all doing our very best to ensure the creation of something the fans will enjoy. Please continue supporting us!
The original TOUGEN ANKI manga series was created by Yura Urushibara and is published in Weekly Shonen Champion, with 20 volumes currently released in Japan and the first volume on the way in English on September 17 from Yen Press. The anime adaptation of TOUGEN ANKI is scheduled to air in 2025.
Interview Interpreter: REMOW
Translators: Momo Cha, Dan Luo