The anime "Steel Ball Run: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," based on "Steel Ball Run," the seventh installment of Hirohiko Araki's popular manga series "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," will be released on Netflix in 2026. Set in late 19th-century America, the show follows the Steel Ball Run, the first horse race across North America, covering a total distance of approximately 4,000 miles with a total prize pool of $50 million. The protagonist, Johnny Joestar, a former genius jockey who is now partially paralyzed, is played by Yohei Azakami Sakata, while Yohei Azagami plays Gyro Zeppeli, a mysterious outlaw who partners with Johnny. We spoke to Sakata and Azagami, who are taking on the "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" anime series just like the two of them competing in this grueling race, about their passion for the project.
◇ "Scary" due to strong feelings Even after the recording started, "Is this a prank?"
-How did you first come across the "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" series?
Sakata : When I was in junior high school, a friend of mine was talking about "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," and when I asked him, "What kind of work is it?" he said, "It's impossible to explain it all in words." It was just when the anime "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood," based on the first part of the original work, was being broadcast, so I started watching that and that was how I first encountered it.
--What were your thoughts when you first saw the anime?
Sakata-san, you really can't predict what's going to happen next. There are a lot of interesting characters, and there are some heartwarming moments and a series of shocking developments, so I was instantly captivated.
Azagami: I became hooked on the world of JoJo after reading Part 5, "Golden Wind," at a friend's house. At the time, a game based on Part 5 had been released, and my friends and I became completely absorbed in it. I still remember playing "JoJo" together, saying things like, "If it were me, I'd want to use this Stand," and reading "OraOra" aloud.
-How motivated were you when you auditioned for the anime "Steel Ball Run"?
Sakata: First of all, it all started with me thinking, "I can audition for JoJo." I watched the original manga and the anime, studied the intonation and the way the lines were spoken, and dug deep to find out what kind of character Johnny is. I took on the role thinking, "This is amazing."
When I auditioned for Azagami-san , I was of course happy and excited, thinking, "Yes! I can audition!", but I was also scared. This is a bit of an occupational hazard, but even though I had the chance to appear in a production I'd always loved, I couldn't help but think about the shock I'd feel if it didn't work out. So I seriously thought, "Oh no, it's come to this." Moreover, career-wise, this was the time when I needed to be most serious about my goal, so I thought, "If this doesn't work out, I might never recover," and I was quite reluctant to even start reading the audition script. "But I have no choice but to do it," I thought, and went in with many thoughts in my mind.
--You both went into the audition with extraordinary feelings, so how did you honestly feel when you were selected to appear?
Azagami- san, I can't believe it! What's more, he's going to be appearing in this film as a junior and senior at the same agency (Aoni Production). I was so surprised I thought, "Is this really possible?" It's still hard to believe.
Sakata: I feel the same way, but it doesn't really feel real to me. When I'm standing in front of the microphone during recording, I feel immersed in the experience, but as soon as the dubbing is over, it feels like "it doesn't feel real." It's a strange feeling.
Azagami: That's right. I thought it might be a prank until the anime started (laughs). I think that's the kind of work it is.
◇We can't lose to each other!
--What do you keep in mind and what do you value when acting?
Sakata: Johnny still has a young side to him. He has weaknesses and pitifulness as a person, but I think that's what makes him so appealing, so I try to make sure to fully embrace those human aspects when I play him.
Asagami- san, I think it's really difficult to play Gyro. He's a character whose expression changes completely depending on the day, the situation, or his state of mind, and the more I read the original work, the more my impression of him changes. That's why I still feel like I haven't fully grasped him. However, that's the man Gyro is, a man who has an air of not being bound by anything, so I value that. He also actually has some human aspects. I said he's "not bound," but there are times when he hasn't been able to face up to his past, so I take that into consideration when I play him. That's why I feel like my acting changes with each episode. I'm looking forward to seeing what impression I make of him when I actually watch it on air.
-As the actors playing Johnny and Gyro, what were your impressions of interacting with each other during recording?
Sakata: It's something I've thought for a long time, but I have a lot of respect for Azagami's high level of precision and skill. I felt that during this recording, and I could also sense the passion that Azagami puts into his work, and as a junior, I felt like "I can't lose," and I felt a strong desire to do my best to keep up.
Mr. Azagami, he (Mr. Sakata) is very polite and seems to be very considerate of those around him...
Can you see Sakata-san ? (laughs)
Azagami-san ... I can see it (laughs). When he gets into the acting, he gets completely immersed in the character, and that really linked up with Johnny. He's so focused that even if someone comes up and says something completely different, he just slips away, and it's like he's let go of the role. I'm not really good at that kind of power. I tend to adapt to the role, or rather, I tend to grasp the character through skills and logic. In that sense, I'm not like him, saying "I can't lose," but there are a lot of points that are very stimulating. I really think he's a perfect fit for Johnny.
◇A scene filled with JoJo love and an incredible amount of enthusiasm
--The cast members who have appeared in the anime series so far have said that the recording sessions are very heated. What do you feel is unique to the "JoJo" series?
Sakata: As we were recording, it was clear to me that "everyone loves JoJo." Everyone looked like they were having a great time. It felt like they were creating the worldview of the work on set. With everyone having fun acting, I was able to naturally enter that world as well. At first, I was really nervous, but the atmosphere on set was "everyone!", so once I got on board, I felt like the pressure lessened. However, because it was a race, the energy and tension during recording was incredible, so that was also fun.
Azagami: The fun and great thing about "JoJo" is that when I read the lines, I feel like my body temperature rises by a degree, and my blood gets pumping. There are lines like "Isn't it...?" and lines full of "h", which are phrases that would never be used in normal conversation, and you might think, "No, no one would say that in real life," but it's like, "Stop it! This is what's good!" (laughs). Even as a fan, I can of course feel that everyone is pursuing these conversations and expressing them as acting, and it's fun to see them clash and sparks fly when they exchange words. It feels like we're engaged in a sword fight with all our might, each using our own specialty weapon. The volume and intensity of our voices keep rising, and I feel like everyone went home from the recording of the first episode completely parched.
--What are the highlights of the anime?
I'm personally looking forward to seeing how Sakata-san's fantastic original work will be adapted into an anime. I'm sure it will be exciting to watch how he will survive as an actor, how he will run the race as Johnny, and how he will overcome hardships together with Gyro. I hope everyone will stay well hydrated while watching.
Azagami: More than just a voice actor, I'm also a fan of the "JoJo" series, so my excitement for the new JoJo series is the same as that of the fans who are excited about it. This "Steel Ball Run" series features an unprecedented number of characters, and on top of that, they're racing and riding horses, so even fans debated whether it was possible. But everyone involved with the anime was determined to "do it!" and start the race called Steel Ball Run! We are savoring that enthusiasm as well. I'm sure this enthusiasm will reach everyone, so I hope you'll look forward to it.
