Continuation of interview (1): A completely new anime adaptation of Takahashi Rumiko's hit manga Ranma 1/2 began airing on Nippon Television in October. The series was originally broadcast as a TV anime from 1989 to 1992, and this is the first time it has been adapted for TV in 32 years. The new anime will feature the same voice actors as Yamaguchi Kappei as Saotome Ranma, Hayashibara Megumi as Ranma, and Hidaka Noriko as Tendo Akane, while the appearance of new cast members Sugita Tomokazu as Kuno Tatewaki and Sakura Ayane as Kuno Kodachi has also been a hot topic. We asked Sakura, who took over the role of Kuno Kodachi from Shimazu Saeko in the 1989 anime version, about her thoughts on Ranma 1/2.
◇The recording session was incredibly nerve-wracking
Sakura took on the role of Kuno Kodachi as a new cast member. On the day of the recording, he said he was "incredibly nervous."
"I imagined all the worst-case scenarios and headed to the studio. I knew that the seniors I was acting with were kind people, but I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't get discouraged no matter what happened. Even if they told me I wasn't good enough, even if I ended up dragging my seniors into a lot of retakes, I still went to the set with the determination to see it through to the end, and the set was hundreds of times warmer than I had imagined."
On the day of the recording, he recorded with Yamaguchi, who plays Saotome Ranma, Hayashibara, who plays Ranma, Hidaka, who plays Tendo Akane, Yamadera Kouichi, who plays Hibiki Ryoga, and Sugita, who plays Kodachi's older brother Kuno Tatewaki.
"They welcomed me with something like, 'Welcome, Ayane-chan,' and then said, 'Was this an audition? We took a voice test too.' We had plenty of time to chat with everyone before the recording started, so the seniors really helped me relax. I thought it was amazing to be able to hear the original cast members' live voices of 'Ranma 1/2,' which is something you can only get by being on set. It really touched my heart to think that 'Ranma 1/2' has really returned to the Reiwa era."
Looking back on the recording, she said, "Everyone was merciless, which made me really happy and it was fun."
"I was treated like Kodachi, and even after the recording, I received a lot of very nice words. One senior said, 'When I heard that Ayaneru was playing Kodachi, I knew it would be fine,' and another said, 'You were really into it, it was amazing.' At another set, Sugita-san said, 'I'm glad Sakura is the sibling Kodachi,' and I received a lot of words that motivated me. I felt like I was included in the group, and I was very happy. During the break, I heard a lot of stories from back then, and I felt that each person has their own history, and that's how we've made it to the Reiwa era of Ranma 1/2." ◇The joy of having Ranma 1/2 become a personal thing After finishing her first recording as Kodachi, Sakura confesses, "I had no confidence at all." "As the character of Kodachi, I tried to keep my confident feelings in mind, but when I got back to myself, I had no confidence at all and was completely speechless. I had no confidence and was more anxious than anything, but I was able to finish the first recording session thanks to the help of my seniors."
She has released her own limiters and is giving it her all in the role of Kodachi. She once again feels the greatness of Shimazu-san, who played Kodachi in the "1989 version" anime.
"After I laughed out loud, I had no oxygen and felt dizzy for a long time. I thought it would be difficult to act like that every time. It was a very valuable experience. I realized once again that Kodachi has a lot of power, and Shimazu-san, who has been walking with Kodachi for a long time, must be a very powerful person."
When Sakura-san's Kodachi was revealed in the second PV, fans responded with "It's really Kodachi," "It moved me," and "It's amazing."
"I myself have been asked a lot of times by various people, 'You're going to play Kodachi, aren't you?' I'm very emotional that we can watch 'Ranma 1/2' in the Reiwa era, and that Kodachi-related matters are no longer someone else's. Of course there is pressure, but there are also many emotions, and when I saw Kodachi in the opening of the first episode that was broadcast, I was so happy that it became my own. I'm just happy to be involved with 'Ranma 1/2'. Shimazu-san's Kodachi is what occupies the image of Kodachi in my mind, and I'm sure everyone feels the same way, so I want to continue to work hard on recording so that I can properly inherit the voice and spirit of Kodachi that Shimazu-san has always cherished. I intend to continue to support 'Ranma 1/2' as a fan." Sakura-san takes on the role of Kodachi in the "completely new anime" with love for 'Ranma 1/2' and extraordinary feelings. I want to really feel the soul of the performance.
