Season 3 of the TV anime " To Your Eternity ," based on the manga by Yoshitoki Oima, known for "A A Silent Voice ," began airing on NHK General TV in October. The story of Fushi, an " To Your Eternity " with the ability to transform into the form of anything he's stimulated by and to regenerate even after death, has entered the "Present World Arc," set in the present day, after a battle with the Knockers, a hostile force that seeks to destroy humans. We spoke to voice actor Reiji Kawashima, who has been playing Fushi since Season 1 began in April 2021, and Kenjiro Tsuda, who plays the role of the Observer who watches over Fushi, about their thoughts on the series and what to look forward to in Season 3.
◇The ever-changing Fushi and the unchanging observer - what a surprise in the "Present World" edition!
Season 2, which aired from October 2022 to March 2023, depicted a fierce battle between Fushi and his friends and the Knockers. What scene left the biggest impression on you?
Kawashima: There was a scene where Fushi is trapped in molten iron and is asked, "Why shouldn't people be deprived of their right to live?" and he says that he doesn't want to have all the joy and emotions taken away from him in the future. The observer then says, "It's as if you've become human," and Fushi replies, "Yeah, that's right," and I think this is the core of "To Your Eternity." For me, it felt right as the answer to the question, "What does it mean to live?" and I thought, "That's it."
Tsuda: For me, it was the scene where Fushi finishes his battle with the Knockers and goes to sleep. The visual impact was quite impressive, and I remember it hitting me deeply as it marked a turning point after all the battles, encounters, and farewells that had taken place up until that point.
--Fushi has changed a lot both in appearance and personality over the years. What do you pay particular attention to when acting?
Kawashima: I had heard that seasons 1 and 2 were about Fushi establishing himself, so I worked backwards to create the character. Each volume of the comics tells you what Fushi needs to achieve during this period, so I worked backwards to create the character.
--On the other hand, the observer seems to be an unmoving presence.
Tsuda: I basically haven't changed at all (laughs). The story goes through many changes, but the observer remains the observer.
Mr. Kawashima, you said that you value the involvement of gravity.
Tsuda: That's right. I'm also in charge of the narration, so as various things change, my role is to create a sense of atmosphere as an observer or as narrator. Compared to the narration, the scenes where I interact with Fushi as an observer are a little softer, but I play it as if I'm standing there calmly and with a bird's-eye view as an observer, with no emotion whatsoever.
-What is your impression of the story of the "Present World"?
Kawashima: In the "Present World Arc," the Knocker insists on "taking on the pain for others," but I myself thought, "That's a good idea," and "Is there anything wrong with taking on someone's pain for others?" How will Fushi, through his interactions with various people, find his own answer and present it to such a sweet invitation that seems good at first glance? In the "Previous World Arc," Fushi was "protecting" from physical attacks, but the present world is an age of the heart, so he is struggling to understand what "protecting" really means. I was careful to pay attention to this change even while acting.
Tsuda-san, it's a really fundamental point, but I never thought it would take place in the present day, so it was really shocking. I was surprised. I think the sensei has an incredible sensitivity. What started as a distant story has become a story about us living in the present day. Fushi exists in this world we live in!? It was a particularly shocking and intriguing story.
◇Is Reiji Kawashima edgy? Passion for his work
-What was the recording like?
Kawashima: The series depicts scenes of the characters going to school, so I get the impression that the number of young cast members playing students has increased dramatically. In seasons 1 and 2, I was the youngest junior, but this time I finally have a junior!
Tsuda-san is amazing. I guess that's what happens when you do a show for a long time. At the beginning of season 1, we recorded just the two of us. It started from where Fushi had been through so much hardship and died, so it was really emotional. And Kawashima-kun said, "Oh, so you're my senior." I was really nervous at first.
Kawashima-san was nervous. He had a stomach ache from the first time.
--It seems like Tsuda has been the one watching over Kawashima the closest?
Tsuda-san, no no (laughs). From the very beginning, there was nothing to worry about. He was incredibly stable and fresh, so there was nothing to worry about and it felt like I could just carry the production on my shoulders as the leader.
Thanks Kawashima-san !
--What do you feel are the charms of each other as you work together?
It's a given for Kawashima-san , but Tsuda-san has a completely different nature than I do. We are completely different types, but there is experience and training that goes into that, so I want to bring something out of him. When Tsuda-san is on set for "To Your Eternity," he goes into the booth and asks, "Can I listen to this for the first time in a while?" and shows me. I think it's wonderful that Tsuda-san is pursuing what is beautiful for him, going beyond the framework of a voice actor, so I'm learning from him.
Tsuda and Kawashima are both very shy, not the type to show their passion, and are usually light-hearted and smiling. I haven't had much time to spend with them on other sets, but when it comes to "To Your Eternity," he is incredibly passionate, and is putting his voice acting career on the line to take on the role of Fushi. That stance hasn't changed at all since the beginning of Season 1. He was always in the booth, even in scenes where he wasn't in them, and I'm sure that stance hasn't changed at all even now, and I think "To Your Eternity" in particular has become one of Kawashima's biggest works.
--Even though you have a calm demeanor, you can sense the passion in your recordings and your actions.
That's true for Tsuda-san . I think he's a very edgy person.
Kawashima: That might be true.
Tsuda-san doesn't seem to be the type to put his edgy side forward, but I think he has a sharp side, and I feel like I should work hard to imitate his attitude towards acting.
Thank you Kawashima-san !!
◇ "To Your Eternity" depicts life head-on and the importance of "pain"
-What do you think is the appeal of "To Your Eternity"?
Tsuda: Works that tackle life head-on, like Osamu Tezuka's "Phoenix" or Hayao Miyazaki's manga version of "Nausicaä," are works that are undertaken by veterans. I think it's truly amazing that you were able to tackle it from such a high level at this stage. Plus, I'm amazed that you even thought of turning a work that tackles life from such a high level into an anime. I'm sure the editors and animation staff involved in this must have had an incredibly difficult time making it. I think it has established a position for itself as something different from other anime works. It's rare to have the opportunity to be involved in such a project, so I'm truly grateful.
Kawashima: In a world where the amount of information is increasing and there are many things that we tend to overlook, I think this work makes us aware of that. It also digs deeper. Because the professor presents it through this work, it gives us time to stop and think. What's more, I'm really happy that we can have a dialogue through the work. It doesn't feel like a fast-paced work.
--Have your thoughts changed through this work?
Kawashima: That's right. In Season 3, there was talk of the Knocker claiming to "take on the pain for others," and at first I thought, "That's fine," but in the end, I found the answer within myself. Perhaps it's because we can feel the pain as well that we can feel the happiness and joy on the other side. They are two sides of the same coin, so if someone takes on the pain for us, the feelings of happiness and joy will fade. That's why I want to cherish what I feel in my daily life, and I've learned to take on pain, hardship, and suffering in a positive way. It's made me feel much better about how I deal with my daily life.
The "Present World Arc" of "To Your Eternity" depicts the modern "age of the heart." It will be interesting to see how Fushi and his friends face new challenges.
