Hiro Shimono and Shigeru Chiba appear at " Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba : Kimetsu no Yaiba" stage greeting

A stage greeting to commemorate the release of the new movie version of " Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1 - Akaza Returns," based on the popular manga by Koyoharu Gotouge , was held at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) on August 3rd, with Hiro Shimono , who plays Zenitsu Agatsuma , and Chiba Shigeru, who plays Zenitsu's master Kuwashima Jigorō, taking to the stage. The two "master and disciple" spoke of their passionate feelings for each other and their joy at the movie's release.

When Shimono and Chiba took the stage, the venue erupted in thunderous applause. Chiba, making his first appearance at a Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime event, smiled and said to the fans, "I'm so happy," expressing his joy, "I'm truly happy to be able to stand on stage with Shimono to greet the audience on stage for a series that so many people support." Shimono's appearance with Chiba was also a long-cherished dream, as he expressed his deepest feelings, saying, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc a variety of characters, including Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and the Pillars, and these unique characters are played by a variety of voice actors. I really hoped that I could work with Chiba in this way at some point, even when talking about Zenitsu in the first chapter of the 'Infinity Castle Arc' arc."

Shimono said that Chiba's presence was a big influence even during the auditions for "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Yaiba." He recalled, "When I was auditioning, I was shown a cutout of Zenitsu from the manga, and I got the impression that he was a character with many dualities, as he could be yelling at times and then have a serious expression. I've had the opportunity to play comical characters up until now, but I felt that I wouldn't be able to express "Zenitsu Agatsuma" unless I brought out something more intense, and when I was thinking about what kind of voice I should use, I suddenly thought that I might not be able to play this character unless I had a voice that was bursting with energy like Chiba's, so I imagined Chiba."

Shimono said, "I took inspiration from Chiba's acting and got the role of Zenitsu. Then, when I found out that Chiba would be playing the role of the grandfather who is his "mentor," I was so happy that when I worked with Chiba for the first time in the dubbing for this film, I told him about it, thinking that I might never have another chance to share this joy with him. Chiba was a really big presence for me in playing the character of Zenitsu Agatsuma."

On the other hand, Chiba said that when playing Kuwajima, a big presence in Zenitsu's life, "I was conscious of not just playing a master who trains his disciple, but also a parent who watches over him with kindness and strictness at times, and completely believes in him. He's a wimp, but it's okay. I played him as a master and a parental figure, without destroying the part of Zenitsu that believes in him: that he'll get stronger and live an upright life." Regarding his voice-raising performance, he praised Shimono, saying, "Shimono-kun also worked hard, even with his veins bulging, in the Hashira Training Arc!" and added, "Shimono-kun is someone who can act with such integrity. I thought the way he puts his whole body and soul into his performance was exactly like Zenitsu."

Shimono recalled, "I wondered if I'd get to hear Chiba's high-pitched voice when he was supposed to be raising Zenitsu as a grandfather and showing his strict side, but I was surprised to hear it when he said, 'Call me Master!!' and I almost cried during the recording. ' Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' was the first time we had a proper conversation, including those kinds of things, so I was really happy when he was concerned about my health and massaged my shoulders."

When asked about their impressions of the new film, Shimono said excitedly, "Each time, the quality of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba surpasses the previous one, but this one also surpasses it so many times in terms of sound, visuals and impact, I was amazed!" Chiba also passionately appealed, "As Shimono said, all the staff poured their talents into the film, including the power of the art, and of course the actors worked hard, resulting in such an amazing work. I always think that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba exists within each and every one of you. No one will have the same opinion, and I think that's fine. I think that each viewer will receive different parts of what was intended to be conveyed. I think the fun of the film lies in the fact that everyone who watches it will take home the work Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kimetsu no Yaiba and reconstruct it within themselves. I hope you will create your own version of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Yaiba."

Shimono revealed, "I think this will be one of Zenitsu's biggest stories, and I knew it would have a different atmosphere from previous Zenitsu stories, so I went into the dubbing with a lot of energy. I think the tension and energy were the highest I've ever felt. I was completely focused on this battle."

Finally, Shimono sent a message to fans, saying, "Thank you so much to everyone who watched this film. I think this is one of the most important stories for Zenitsu Agatsuma. I personally believe that through the character of Zenitsu Agatsuma, more people have gotten to know me. Not only that, he is a wonderful character that allows me to show everything I have accumulated as a voice actor, and I think he is an indispensable part of my career as a voice actor, so I would like to continue to show what I have improved through Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba'!"

"Infinity Castle Arc" is a trilogy, with "Chapter 1: Akaza Returns" opening on July 18th in 452 theaters, surpassing "Mugen Train." The film's running time is 155 minutes. Within eight days of its release, it grossed over 10 billion yen, breaking the record held by the theatrical release "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Mugen Train," which held the title of highest grossing movie of all time in Japan, and becoming the fastest movie to reach 10 billion yen in the history of its Japanese release. In the 17 days since its release, it grossed 17,639,550,000 yen, with an audience of over 12.55 million.