A special episode titled "Show Me Your Rider SP" for the TV anime "Tojima Tanzaburo wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai," based on the manga by Yokusaru Shibata, known for works such as "Hachi-One Diver," was streamed on ABEMA at 9 p.m. on December 30th. Voice actor Katsuyuki Konishi, who plays Higashijima Tanzaburou, cinematographer Takatsu Junpei, and fans of the series, Tsukaji Muga of Drunk Dragon, Ishii and JP of Sayaka, and Arai Yoshiyuki of Harikens, appeared and talked about their love for Higashijima Rider. Immediately after the recording, Konishi, Tsukaji, and Arai looked back on the episode.
-How was the recording of the special program?
Konishi: It was super fun! I came to the recording thinking I was just a customer (laughs).
Tsukaji-san: No, no!
Arai: I was totally a player (laughs).
Konishi-san: I will use your love as fuel for tomorrow.
Tsukaji: We really wanted to hear what (cinematographers) Takatsu and Konishi had to say.
Konishi: I feel like we didn't talk at all (laughs). More than anything, everyone's love for the riders was amazing. I was very happy to see that they were paying so much attention to detail.
Tsukaji: That's what it means to be "the person behind the scenes." As a fan, it's a valuable experience to hear from voice actors and those involved in production. We were members who were gathered together as "Kamen Rider comedians" on "Ame Talk!", so we were happy to have the time to talk about "wanting to be Kamen Rider."
Arai: It was such a joy! It's rare to be able to hear directly from a cinematographer. We heard so many great stories that we almost wondered if we were even allowed to be at work (laughs).
Tsukaji: I'm just saying that I enjoyed watching it.
Konishi: I enjoy watching it. In that sense, I feel like it's circulating well. What I talked about on the program was just a small part of it.
Tsukaji-san: I could really talk for hours.
--The presentation corner for famous scenes was also very exciting.
Konishi: In adapting "Tojima Tanzaburo wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai" into an anime, Shibata-sensei's original work was the basis, and the actors and staff all shared the same passion for the film. I feel that this has created a synergistic effect, resulting in a great film.
Tsukaji: When I heard Konishi's voice, I thought, "That's totally Higashijima...!" Not only in the first episode, but also when the real Shocker appeared, and when the monsters appeared, when I heard Konishi's voice trembling as he fought, I thought, "Higashijima has had a lot of experiences." I really think Konishi's voice is perfect.
Arai: "Thank you for playing Higashijima Tansaburo."
Konishi-san: I'm so happy! It was worth all the consideration on the show.
Tsukaji: I don't know if Konishi-san noticed, but... Konishi-san was the one who started the promotion for the special program, so everyone's voices got louder (laughs).
Konishi-san, I'm sorry!
Arai-san: Takatsu-san was the only one who was going at his own pace (laughs).
Konishi: I do it while thinking, "I'm really sorry" (laughs).
Tsukaji: But that's a good thing.
-Looking back on the special program, please give a message to the fans who are looking forward to future broadcasts.
Arai: I'm looking forward to "Higashijima Rider" from episode 14 onwards, but I'd love for you to watch the special. As Tsukaji said earlier, his voice is a little louder (laughs). If you haven't seen it yet, you can still catch up, so be sure to check out episodes 1 to 13. Thank you.
Tsukaji: I think it's a very passionate work, both as an anime and as a work that deals with Kamen Rider. Anyway, I'd like you to watch the first episode. It's a really fast-paced story, and each character's "mischievousness" = "cuteness" may be something that everyone possesses. Just give it a try and see for yourself!
Konishi: I think that whether you're a boy or a girl, there are probably a lot of things that you dreamed of when you were little. I don't think there's any other show that fully depicts that, where "someone who just dreams of something, while still dreaming of it, fights a real enemy." If you can feel that passion and excitement once, I think you'll be able to enter this world, so I would definitely recommend watching it. As for the special, rider fans talked a lot about their "rider love," so I enjoyed it completely as a customer. I just laughed after shouting out loud (laughs). I hope you can feel everyone's love.
The series began serialization in Monthly Heroes (Heroes, currently out of print) in 2018, and is currently being serialized on the manga distribution site Comiplex (same publisher). The story follows Higashijima Tanzaburou, who at the age of 40 is still serious about becoming Kamen Rider, but just as he is about to give up on his dream, he gets caught up in a fake Shocker robbery that causes a stir in the world. Ishimori Productions and Toei are collaborating.
The anime is directed by Ikezoe Takahiro and series composition is by Machida Doko. It is produced by Liden Films. In addition to Konishi as Higashijima Tanzaburo, the cast also includes Ai Kayano as Okada Yuriko, Kenichi Suzumura as Shimamura Ichiyo, Soma Saito as Shimamura Mitsuha, Fairouz Ai as Yukaris, and Kenjiro Tsuda. It is currently airing on TOKYO MX and other channels.
