Tomokazu Sugita x Nobunaga Shimazaki x Ayane Sakur:"SAKAMOTO DAYS" Interview: A gorgeous group of unique voice actors clash!

The TV anime "SAKAMOTO DAYS," based on the popular manga by Suzuki Yuto currently being serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha), will be broadcast on TV Tokyo and other networks every Saturday at 11pm starting from January 11th. The story is about Sakamoto Taro, a former legendary assassin who runs a shop after retiring, who fights with his friends against approaching assassins to protect the peaceful daily life he lives with his beloved family. This is a popular "Weekly Shonen Jump" series with impressive battle scenes featuring unique characters, and is also attracting attention for its appearance by a star-studded cast of voice actors, including Nobunaga Shimazaki of Sakamoto from his days as an assassin, and Ayane Sakura as Lu Shaotan, a former mafia member who now works at Sakamoto Shoten. We spoke to Sugita, Shimazaki, and Sakura about what went on behind the scenes during the recording.

◇I never thought I would be playing the role of Sakamoto…

-What is your impression of the work?

I read the Sugita-san comics. When I heard that it was going to be made into an anime, I remember having fun imagining in my head what would happen in that scene while reading the manga.

Shimazaki: As expected, the action is very appealing in this work. There is a scene in the opening spread where they face each other on a Ferris wheel, and I was really drawn in. The action scenes are constantly evolving, and it's a work that really stands out when it becomes an anime. I think that's why it's difficult, but I'm looking forward to acting in it.

Sakura: I'm not very familiar with works published in boys' magazines, but I knew the title. From the image of the title, I imagined a stylish and stoic manga, and of course it has a stoic coolness and stylishness, but it also has a down-to-earth feel, a sense of speed, tension and relaxation... it's a work that's difficult to explain in one word.

-What is your impression of the character?

Sugita: The main character is a relatively old and accomplished adult man. I personally liked the fact that this kind of work was serialized in the boys' magazine "Weekly Shonen Jump," and I even bought the comics. I never thought I would end up playing the role of Sakamoto (laughs).

Sakura-san, could you not hear your own voice?

Sugita-san: When I read manga or play games, I don't think about myself. I don't have that kind of mindset. Because at heart I'm a gross otaku.

Sakura-san, I don't think you need to add the word "gross" (laughs).

Rather than focusing on who Sugita is, it's fun to think about what kind of voice he would have... It's been like that for a long time. That's true of "City Hunter" and "Gintama," which he also starred in. I'm interested in and find interesting works in which older, experienced men are the protagonists. A large man who is fast and strong, something that is usually seen as negative. There is a character named Bob in the fighting game "Tekken," and he was originally slender, but as a result of thinking about how to make him even stronger, he became an agile, flexible, large man. I was reminded of that when I saw Taro Sakamoto.

Shimazaki- san, Shin is actually not as young as everyone thinks. I think that's the key. When you read the original work, you might think he's a high school student. Of course he's young, but he's actually over 20 years old. The assassin in this work is a member of society, and he's lived in society. He may not look as good as a top-of-the-line assassin like Sakamoto-san, but he's good enough to survive compared to the average assassin. But when he's facing his idol, Sakamoto-san, he feels like a younger brother, a junior. He gives off a younger vibe. That's attractive, but rather than that being the main focus, the focus is on him having worked hard in society as an adult man. I think that the gap between his special feelings for Sakamoto-san and his charm is what makes him attractive, and I'm playing him that way. People who have goals and dreams and work hard towards them can grow.

Sakura-san received a report from her manager saying, "I passed the audition and will be playing the role of Lou," and when she asked, "You're the heroine, right!?" she was told, "Isn't the heroine Aoi...?" and the more she dug into Lou's position, the more confused she became...

I wonder if Sugita-san is also the heroine? The perspective of this work is more on Shin. It's also a story of his growth. If that happens, Lu might also be promoted to something like a female protagonist.

That's right, Sakura -san... I thought that with this tone of voice, there might be only one role I could choose. Until now, I've confidently auditioned for roles that I've been performing, with a look on my face like "This is original!", using the unique acting style that must have been embedded in me.

◇How do you play the slim Sakamoto?

--What was the recording like?

Shimazaki: Basically, it's not just the three of us, but we also record with guests.

There was also an episode where a bunch of muscular men gathered together. They were all unique, but none of them had the same personality.

Both Shimazaki's character and the other cast members look very muscular (laughs).

Sugita-san is very comfortable.

Shimazaki: It's a smooth and uninterrupted set where everyone does what they should do as a matter of course. It's not that a set that takes a long time is bad, but people with experience gather together, respond to various requests instantly, and act while feeling each other's acting properly. It's a really fun set. When a lot of seniors gather, I feel like I'm skipping to and from work. I'm like, "I saw something amazing!" It makes me stand up straighter too.

--Sakamoto becomes slim during the fights. Does your acting change when you're fat?

When Sugita's limbs and neck get thicker and his stomach gets bigger, his center of gravity becomes more stable. But just because he's thin doesn't mean he can't sing louder. So when I'm trying to sing the voice of a giant, how should I use my body? I think about that in my own way while I'm acting. It certainly makes a difference when your neck gets thicker. It's not just a fat guy. How do I express that with my body? What about Taro Sakamoto? I'm trying and testing things.

--Does the way you stand during recording change anything?

Sugita: The balance of the lower body is important because the body supports the body and produces the voice with the whole body. There are times when shoes become popular among the same profession, and everyone starts wearing the same type of shoes. By the way, I'm currently only wearing "HOKA" shoes that are somewhere between sneakers and sandals.

◇ Nobunaga Shimazaki and Ayane Sakura's sense of security

-What do you keep in mind when playing the role of Shin?

The focus is on Shimazaki being an adult male who has survived alone in the assassin society for a long time. He is quite harsh towards others than Sakamoto, for example towards Lou. Because that is the base line, you can see his special feelings towards Sakamoto. It's not that I'm centered on "Sakamoto-san!", but I try to be conscious of the special feelings there.

--What about Lou?

Sakura-san: It's hard to put into words... I've changed the voiceless parts to voiced ones, added a little Kansai-like intonation, and I'm acting in my own way, as if there is no mechanism, and I'm trying to make it natural. Since she's a character with two sides, I'm exploring how far I should go with this and expanding my image.

-What do you feel while working with Sugita?

I can feel the delicate and technical acting of Shimazaki-san and Sugita-san. Sakamoto-san is not a character who says anything interesting, but is rather quiet. He is someone who doesn't overdo it or get too excited. How do you express that? Perhaps Sugita-san has a public image of being someone who puts in brilliant ad-libs and performs punchy, easy-to-understand acting. Of course, his skills are amazing, but what's more, it's the delicate nature of the gods that he has accumulated as an actor. He is definitely ahead of us, so I'm learning from him.

Even the two Sakuras together can't beat it!

Sugita-san: I also rely on the two of you very much. I was happy to hear that Shimazaki-san will be playing Shin. He has a kind of inner kindness that stands out. He is kind even in private. He has a kind heart and no ulterior motive, and I often consult with him on a personal level. Ayane Sakura-san's talent is undoubtedly the best. She has a charm that cannot be explained in words. I once played a brother and sister in another work, and the younger sister's acting was so good that the older brother's reputation also improved as a result. This is amazing! It was the same when we played the parent-child roles. It really made me feel like a father would treat his child. When I see Sakura-san's name on the lineup, I feel relieved and think, "That's good!"

--Finally, please give a message to those who are looking forward to the anime.

Sugita-san: There are a lot of attractive characters. Anyway, please take care of all the members of Sakamoto Shoten! That's what I want to say. I don't want people to look at me! I want people to pay more attention to the comrades I'm fighting with. I think Taro Sakamoto's charm is complete when someone else talks about him, rather than when I talk about him. It's the same as a hero. He doesn't come from me, but only comes into being when other people talk about him. So please take care of both Lu and Shin.

Shimazaki: Unique and attractive characters appear one after another. Even characters who only appear in one episode are attractive. I think you'll be surprised at the actor who was cast for this character. Rather than casting amazing people to liven things up, the actors who express the depth of the characters have naturally come together. Gag, serious, extraordinary, and all sorts of things pop out, like a jack-in-a-box. I hope you enjoy that. Shin is doing his best to keep up with Sakamoto, so I hope you'll keep an eye on him.

I'm personally interested in how Sakura-san's original work will be portrayed in the anime. Killers appear one after another like a parade. The unique characters are brought to life by the unique cast members, and the dubbing is fun. I'll do my best so I don't lose to everyone.

"SAKAMOTO DAYS" is an action manga that has been serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" since November 2020. The second season of the anime has also been decided, and it will be broadcast every Monday at midnight from July 2025 on the same station and other networks.

※ Nobunaga Shimazaki's "saki" is pronounced "tatsusaki" (standing cape).