The highly anticipated anime TOUGEN ANKI, based on the exciting action-adventure manga “Tougen Anki: Legend of the Cursed Blood”, is generating great anticipation among fans, as the adaptation, inspired by a traditional Japanese fairy tale, promises to captivate audiences with its unique storytelling. ANMO Sugoi is proud to have had the exclusive opportunity to interview the talented voice actors who will bring to life the main characters of this exciting production.
The Star Cast of TOUGEN ANKI
Kazuki Ura as Shiki Ichinose
Hiroshi Kamiya as Naito Mudano
Koutaro Nishiyama As Jin Kougasaki
Kazuki Ura: The Voice Behind Shiki Ichinose
Kazuki Ura, recognized for his roles as Yoichi Isagi in Blue Lock, Shouta Doi in World’s End Harem (Shuumatsu no Harem), and Cobalt in Technoroid: Overmind, shared his thoughts on playing Shiki Ichinose:
What did you do to prepare for the role? What is the most difficult thing about playing Shiki Ichinose?
At first, I had preconceived ideas about whether I had to act badly because I was playing an oni, but I thought that oni had to live and think about various things just like people. Some oni are kind and some are simple, just like humans. In that sense, there is no difference, it’s just a matter of whether they are human or oni. Once I realized that, I was able to play the role surprisingly easily.
How have the TOUGEN ANKI recordings been so far?
I had already worked with Kamiya on another project, but our interactions in the recording were limited to key moments, so I was glad to be in the same booth with him this time. Since it was my first time performing with other actors, I considered my performance as a calling card for them to get to know me. Everyone was very nice, so I had a lot of fun with them.
Hiroshi Kamiya: Bringing Naito Mudano to Life
Hiroshi Kamiya, widely recognized for his roles as Yato in Noragami, Levi in Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin), Seijūrō Akashi in Kuroko no Basket, and Ranpo Edogawa in Bungo Stray Dogs, spoke at length about his role as Naito Mudano:
What did you do to prepare for the role? What is the most difficult thing about playing Naito Mudano?
From his point of view, I think he has to keep the organization in mind. He is a member of the organization. Therefore, he is in a position to raise students as a means of survival so that the organization and the existence of demons will not disappear from this world or be exterminated. However, each student we raise has his or her own individuality, and if we understand their personal aspects before we treat them, I believe that we will not be able to treat them all in the same way.
So I think we’ll have to be aware of what will happen to him when he stops thinking and acting in a very agile and efficient way, and I think it’s important to make him a human being, an exact machine-like character that others see, so that moment comes. It’s a little difficult for me to make him into a machine-like character, so I think I have to appreciate the moments where I fall in love with him or I’m moved by him.
How have the TOUGEN ANKI recordings been so far?
I’m glad to be part of this. I think it’s a great project. A lot of effort has gone into it from the proposal stage. It’s been about a year since I auditioned for TOUGEN ANKI, but it’s finally starting to move forward, and although voice recording has started, it’s still more than a year before the program is aired. The production team is working hard to make this title popular. TOUGEN ANKI was originally a manga, and the theatrical adaptation was made even before the anime.
As I mentioned before, TOUGEN ANKI is also a great title for fans’ creative activities. Once one can draw a character, they can draw costumes for all the students, or they can easily cosplay by modifying the jersey they have. I can feel the enthusiasm of the author and the production team to make this work a success from all aspects.
As for the cast, I think the production team has high expectations for Kazuki. I am sure Kazuki will not succumb to such expectations and pressures. He is a voice actor who can enjoy and move on despite the pressure and the position he is in. Koutaro is a very gentle and caring person, so I think he will be a perfect partner to support Kazuki. His performances are amazing and the character I play (Naito) is a model teacher, so I have to do my best not to be crushed by the pressure, even though I’m not good at handling it.
Koutaro Nishiyama: The Voice of Jin Kougasaki
Koutaro Nishiyama, known for his roles as Kentarou Momose in My New Boss Is Goofy (Atarashii Joushi wa Do Tennen), Kiritaka Muse in Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World and Minami Natsume in IDOLiSH7, shared his thoughts on playing Jin Kougasaki:
What did you do to prepare for the role? What is the most difficult thing about playing Jin Kougasaki?
I’m currently reading the manga and delving into Jin’s personal life and experiences. Also, as the story progresses, I’m sure Shiki will bring out various emotions in me, so I’m really looking forward to the dialogue during the post-recording.
About the challenges of playing Jin, I think he is not used to talking to people, so the distance and the volume of his voice must be very special. However, there are some scenes where he raises his voice, so I thought it would be a bit difficult to adjust the volume of his voice. But as a human being, I hope I can find a good balance between the two.
How have the TOUGEN ANKI recordings been so far?
I think Ura-kun’s Shiki’s power is dragging everyone down. Also, as a character, Kamiya-san will be a sharp critic and a strong character, and I’m sure he will keep the scene tense, so I think it will be a great job and a great scene.
Tougen Anki: A Long-Awaited Adaptation
The TOUGEN ANKI anime promises to be an exciting adaptation of the manga, blending action and adventure with elements of Japanese mythology. The chemistry between the voice actors and their dedication to the project bode well for a high quality production that will captivate fans around the world.
Fans can expect to see TOUGEN ANKI on screens starting in 2025. The production team has been hard at work on this project for over a year, indicating the level of detail and care being put into the adaptation.
From ANMO Sugoi, we deeply thank the voice actors for taking the time out of their busy schedules to offer this interview for our audiences in Latin America and English speaking countries.
Don’t miss TOUGEN ANKI and stay tuned for more exclusive news about this exciting anime!