Koki Uchiyama appears at "100 Meters" event

The premiere screening of the animated film " 100 Meters ", based on the manga by Uoto , who is also known for " Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (Chi: Chikyu no Undo ni Tsuite), " which was adapted into a TV anime, was held on August 27th at Nikkei Hall (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), with voice actors Tori Matsuzaka, Shota Sometani, Koki Uchiyama Uchiyama, Kenjiro Tsuda, and director Kenji Iwaisawa appearing on stage to greet the audience. The film is based on the 100-meter dash in athletics, and Uchiyama, who plays Zaitsu, the undisputed champion in the athletics world, spoke about the difficulties of acting and what it was like recording with Sometani, who plays Togashi.

Uchiyama commented on the appeal of the work, saying, "As a voice actor, I've been involved in a variety of sports anime, but this is different from any of them. There are visual expressions I've never seen before scattered throughout the various scenes. I was moved by the fact that a new, amazing, and tremendous work had been born."

Tsuda, who plays Kaito, a character whose title is constantly denied to Zaitsu by his rivals, said with a smile, "It has plenty of the classic good points of a sports anime, but also some truly unique and original visual expression, so it has elements of both. It creates a different kind of catharsis from the classic one. I think it's good that everyone came today."

Matsuzaka, who plays Togashi, said, "When I read the original work, even though it was a manga, I really felt the characters' breathing, the sound of their running footsteps, and the sense of air cutting through the wind. I was really curious to see what would happen if this depiction of running was made into an anime, but when I saw the finished work, it was just as shocking as when I read the original work. It's amazing. I was amazed that they were able to create something so amazing through animation." Sometani was also impressed, saying, "The manga made me feel the brevity and transience of the 100-meter sprint, which lasts for just 10 seconds, and the life that is packed into it. The feeling I had when reading the manga was expressed in a new way in 10 seconds that is unique to the movie. It was a vivid and immersive image."

Someya, who recorded with Uchiyama, commented, "Zaitsu is a character I really like. The moment it started, I thought, 'Ah, it's Zaitsu!' And that scene was one that really hit me hard. Working alongside him was really inspiring." In response, Uchiyama said, "I think it's okay to make mistakes in dubbing. I try to feel my way around, but Someya has no hesitation in his expression. He acts as if he has the answer out from the very beginning. I thought, 'He's really good at it, as expected.'"

Zaitsu is a memorable character with a unique way of speaking, and Uchiyama commented on the difficulties of creating the role, saying, "When I read the lines in text, I could just read them as 'hmm hmm,' but when it came to actually expressing them in voice, I struggled to figure out how to make them sound like Zaitsu." Director Iwaizawa revealed that the original author, Uoto, also suggested minor corrections, saying, "Even the endings of the lines make sense when read in text, but they might sound strange when spoken. He even asked me to change the lines." He also commented on Zaitsu's lines, saying, "Uoto told me to change them to more polite language. I thought, 'That's fine,' but when Uchiyama actually said the lines, it really suited him." He seemed impressed.

Meanwhile, Matsuzaka, who recorded with Tsuda, commented excitedly, "I felt incredibly lucky to be able to watch Tsuda record his voice up close for free. As I listened to Tsuda speak from behind, I thought to myself, 'Wow, so that's how you do it! Amazing!' and I was in spectator mode the whole time." Tsuda also replied with a smile, "In the dialogue scenes, he gave me really raw words. It felt like I was responding to that. I'm really glad we were able to record together, and I was really happy too."

In his closing remarks, Sometani said, "Whether you're an athlete or not, anyone who watches the film will be greeted with sounds and depictions that will resonate deeply in their hearts. I hope you'll experience this film on the big screen and through the theater's speakers. I hope you'll take something home with you." Matsuzaka added, "As Togashi says, 'If I can run 100 meters faster than anyone else, everything will be solved.' I think the emotional movements and beauty of the characters who have dedicated their lives to this simple yet profound world will really move you. I hope you can experience this with a sense of realism. Please enjoy until the very end."

"100 Meters" is Uoto's debut serialized work, serialized on Kodansha's web manga app Magazine Pocket (Magapoke) from 2018 to 2019. It depicts the madness and passion of those in the world of track and field who are captivated by the brilliance of the 100m (meter) race, a moment that lasts less than 10 seconds. Togashi, a naturally fast runner who has made friends and found a place to belong, meets Komiya, a transfer student who simply runs desperately to forget his harsh reality. Gradually, the two develop a relationship that could be described as both rivals and best friends through the 100-meter dash. A few years later, Komiya, now one of the top runners, appears before Togashi, who has made a name for himself as a genius runner but is terrified of the need to keep winning...

The anime will be directed by Iwaizawa, who was nominated for an Annie Award for his work on "Music," and produced by Rock 'n' Roll Mountain, the studio behind "Music." It will be released on September 19th, and in North America in October.