The TV anime "Tandoku" (Nippon TV and others), based on the manga by Miyagawa Taiga, will air its final episode on December 24th. The series has been serialized on the manga app "GANMA!" since 2013. The story depicts boys and girls caught up in the harsh survival game "Tandoku," who use their special abilities and privileges to confront the mysterious Emperor, who hosts the game, and carve out their own destiny. Before the climax, we spoke with Kazuki Ura, who plays Ichinose Ryuta, a mood maker with excellent athletic ability, about the series. The two, who are senior and junior voice actors, talked about memorable scenes, their impressions of working together, things they respect as voice actors, and the privileges they would like to use.
◇ Toshiki Kumagai "Ura-san's ad-libs were so funny lol"
--How do you feel about the response to the broadcast so far?
Kumagai: It was a role I'd never played before, and my friends who watched it said things like, "It was interesting" and "The story was really scary."
Ura: There were a variety of responses, but the most amazing one was from my mother, who had been following the crowdfunding version (2020) in which I also participated.
-What scene left an impression on you?
Ura-san: The part where Raion gradually begins to feel guilty after lying to the emperor, Yanagi Haruto, is three-dimensional and realistic. It felt like the delicate conflict of a teenager was carried because of Toshiki-kun's performance, and it left an impression on me from the time of the dubbing. I felt that even the parts that I might have exaggerated in some way were gradually built up.
Kumagai: Personally, I felt that it was good that we could fight together even during the recording stage when Raion and Iruga Ren fought against Kirishima Kou in episode 23. I'm glad that we were able to be in a battle between the strongest, and Raion was cool, so it left a strong impression on me. Also, during the interaction between Ryuta, Jin Omi, and Raion, Ura-san's ad-lib on the massage chair was so funny that I remember we all laughed so much that we couldn't finish recording (laughs).
Ura: After I did it once, the director told me to make it look a little more proper, which was a bit disappointing (laughs).
-What was the most memorable scene featuring the character you play?
Ura: For me, not just in this scene, but overall, Ryuta is in a position to watch over everyone, and at first it feels like he's watching over Narita Saneatsu as a friend, but in turn, they have an equal relationship where he is worried about him. Raion, who appeared in the second season, is younger and has not been able to sort out his emotions well, and is carrying a lot of confusion, so he is a child who needs to be guided. I was impressed by how Ryuta sensed this and quickly stepped in to support him. I have a younger brother, so I thought that the older brother-like side of him was cool, as if he was remembering the times when I was with him.
Kumagai: When Raion first appeared, she was lying from the beginning, but I felt that she had a strong human touch because of her interactions with Ryuta and Omi, and her relationship with the emperor, Yosho. In that sense, I think she is a kind and pure girl from the bottom of her heart, so I hope that I have been able to bring that atmosphere to life in the recordings so far.
Ura-san, it's okay. It was wonderful.
◇Respect for Kazuki Ura"greeting"
--Please tell us your impressions of working together and the areas in which you respect each other as voice actors.
Ura: When I was watching the anime "Yu-Gi-Oh! Go-Rush!!" in which Kumagai-san appeared, I thought he had a really great voice, or rather, a really good throaty voice, and to be honest, it scared me a lot (laughs). His voice is really catchy, and I was curious to hear what it would be like when he grew up, so I was surprised that we got to work together so soon. Once his voice changed, it mixed a little adult essence with his original charm, making him even more wonderful, and I was honestly jealous. During the dubbing this time, I was observing how he stood and how he spoke. I was happy to be able to work with him!
-What did you think of Kumagai's acting?
Ura-san: There are parts of his acting that I want to emulate, that "freshness" and "freshness" that only a teenager can bring out. I watched with the intention of absorbing as much of that as possible. I have a lot of respect for him. Ah... I shouldn't have said that earlier. Sorry. It ended up feeling like I had to praise myself (laughs).
Kumagai: Not at all (laughs). I was nervous during the recording, but the biggest thing that helped me to relax was that Ura-san talked to me a lot. I was so happy that every time I got home I would tell my mother, "Ura-san talked to me again today!" I was also nervous during the scene with Ryuta, but when I heard Ura-san's cheerful voice saying "Way!", the tension in my back went away and I was able to relax. I thought I would like to become an actor who can resonate with other actors and move them. Also, I really respect the volume of his voice when he greets me when he enters the set. I thought I should learn from him.
Ura-san: You don't have to imitate me (laughs)! The new manager who joined recently was the first voice actor he saw in the office, and since I was the one who came into the office shouting "Good morning!" in a loud voice, he thought that all voice actors would greet each other cheerfully. However, there aren't many voice actors who normally use their throats like that, so he was surprised by how quiet our voices were (laughs).
◇What special rights would you like to try?
--Raine is a character with a quick mind. Is he similar to you?
Kumagai: We are not alike at all. Raion is a very smart kid, but I'm not so much like that myself, I'm just always doing good work (laughs). I think we are polar opposites in that respect.
Ura-san: It's probably because you're kind. Constant excellence means you can imagine what lies ahead but can't take a step forward, so I think it's proof that your mind is working.
--Ryuta has excellent athletic ability, but what about you, Ura-san?
Ura: I can do any sport except ball games... (laughs). I'm good at snowboarding. When I was a university student, a friend invited me to try snowboarding for the first time. I was completely worn out by the morning of the first day, but by the afternoon I was able to snowboard, which surprised me. On the second day, I got too excited and fell hard on my neck, but fortunately I didn't suffer any aftereffects, so I think I'm just as tenacious as Ryuta (laughs).
--Are there any special rights you would like to use?
Ura-san: I guess it's Ryuta's "Right to Fusion". It's based on one sacrifice, but since you can fuse various things, you can do anything. Recently I've had a strong desire to do things like skydiving, soccer, scuba diving, and mountain climbing. I want to fuse with various people and live my life on the basis of those sacrifices. I'm also aiming for Toshiki-kun's voice. Just kidding (laughs).
Kumagai: After watching the anime, I realized once again that the Student Council President Yagihashi Tojuro's "guiding right" is very versatile. I'd like to use it in my daily life. The effective range seems to be about a 10km radius, so even if you forget something on the way to school, you can go and get it, or rather, you can be guided to bring it to you. It seems very versatile, so I'd like to use it.
--Finally, please tell us what we should look forward to in the final episode.
Kumagai: One of the highlights will be how the final battle ends, but personally I would also like people to pay attention to how the relationship between Raion and the Emperor, Yoto, changes.
Ura: I think it's a satisfying final episode because it feels like everyone's stories that have been running through the story are finally coming together. It also eases the sadness I felt a little, and I think it's an ending that brings relief to everyone. (Interview, text, and photography: Endo Masaki)
