The second season of the TV anime " The Blue Wolves of Mibu, " based on the Shinsengumi-themed manga by Tsuyoshi Yasuda , known for the soccer manga "DAYS," titled "The Serizawa Assassination Arc," will begin airing on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV every Saturday at 5:30 PM starting December 20th. The anime follows the exploits of the Mibu Roshi-gumi (Miblo), which later became the Shinsengumi. The first season aired from October 2024 to March 2025. With the addition of the kindhearted protagonist Chirinuno, the Miblos deepen their bond through daily battles. As the subtitle suggests, the second season will depict the tragic story of Miblo's Serizawa Kamo. Just before dubbing for the second season began, we spoke with Shuichiro Umeda, who voices Noo, and Ryota Takeuchi, who voices Serizawa Kamo, about the first season and their thoughts on the second season.
◇A different sense of tension from the first season
--The "Serizawa Assassination Arc" will begin on December 20th.
Umeda-san: During the first season, it was a daily routine for Nio to meet with everyone on Miblog every week for recordings. There was a difficult time for Nio in the first season, and from now on we will enter the "Serizawa Assassination Arc." The original story also has a profound story.
Takeuchi-san, it certainly gets heavier. There is a serious historical incident, and I think the recording will have a different kind of tension than the first season. The subtitle is "The Assassination of Serizawa," so Takeuchi will likely be pondering how to look at the meaning of life and the meaning of death until that time comes. "The Blue Wolves of Mibu " is an ensemble drama, and there is also the joy of building it together with his friends. Rather than anxiety, there is a strong sense of fear. I would like to portray Serizawa together with all the passionate cast members.
-What did you think of Serizawa's appeal throughout the first season?
Takeuchi-san has a villainous charisma. From the outside, he may seem like a tyrant, going his own way and sticking to what he says, making him difficult to approach and feared, but he surprisingly lets his actions speak for him, and although he uses rough language, he still has friends who follow him. I think that's one of his charms. Kondo-san and Hijikata-san are kind-hearted and people follow them, but Serizawa has a different kind of charm that attracts people. I think he changes from there, but I think the term villainous charisma is a perfect fit.
--What is the appeal of O?
In the first season, Umeda-san feels resentment towards himself for being unable to do anything. He was a life-sized boy of the era, but he comes face to face with the Bloody Ambition Corps, a group of people who have a different sense of justice than he does, and in the midst of it all, a woman named Nagi passes away. Living in an era where he knows he could die, he begins to view justice from a more mature perspective, both towards himself and the world. Rather than focusing on what is right, he begins to think more about what each individual is thinking, which I think ties into the keyword "the size of a tatami mat" that Nagi-san taught him. It's been about a year since recording, and I want to bring that growth to Nio and approach the recording. This is the "Serizawa Assassination Arc," and I hope you'll see what Nio focuses on and how she acts amid the changes in Serizawa-san and the world.
◇The power and dignity of Serizawa Kamo
--What was the recording of the first season like?
Umeda-san seems to be in a club. It's like a 12-year school.
Takeuchi-san, that atmosphere was there. Were you nervous?
Umeda-san was also nervous. The character of Nino is not an easy one, so I was feeling nervous, but I remember that Azagami-san ( Yohei Azakami , who plays Hijikata Toshizo ) treated me like Hijikata, saying, "Why don't you just relax and do it?" What about Takeuchi-san?
Takeuchi-san, I was nervous too. Looking back now, I have a lot of fun memories. I was able to hear the wonderful acting of each cast member, and for me, it felt like time flew by. I was able to take on the challenge without feeling too overwhelmed, just thinking, "Let's do it! Let's do our best!", and each cast member was able to express what they had carefully created, so I was able to naturally enter the world of the work in front of the microphone. It was a really wonderful set. There wasn't much dialogue between Nino and Serizawa, but I was happy to be able to act together.
I get excited every time before the scene where Umeda and Serizawa are about to speak. I wonder what kind of Serizawa we'll see. I'm sure everyone feels the same way.
Takeuchi-san is scary (lol).
--Serizawa is a historical figure who is portrayed in various ways depending on the work. The scene in episode 3 of season 1 where he confronts Oto was very memorable. It also gave us a glimpse of him as more than just a violent person.
I'm on good terms with Umeda-san and Takeuchi-san, but when I faced Serizawa-san through Nino, I felt a bit spine-chilling, or maybe even chilled. In episode 3, Nino faces Serizawa-san while searching for what is right, so it felt like a challenge.
Takeuchi: I thought that this would be a climax while I was acting. I had to convey the power and dignity that would make Hijikata look like he was about to draw his sword. I felt that he wasn't just evil, but also had a warm side to him while reading the original work, so I tried to bring that out even a little, and it's a scene that I'm very attached to.
◇Special report that challenged me to push myself
--I also feel a sense of pressure from Serizawa, played by Takeuchi.
Umeda-san's voice is usually deep and wide when he talks with Takeuchi-san, but when he plays Serizawa-san, it takes on a tone that exudes tension. That's what excites me. I feel like Takeuchi-san's own sensitive side and the sensitive side at the core of Serizawa-san are linked, and he gives the impression of not just being a villain or a tyrant. That's why he's so persuasive.
Thank you, Takeuchi-san . I feel like there's a connection between Ume-chan and Nio when they stand in front of the microphone, and it's been about a year since the recording of the first season, so when I look at the work objectively, I can really tell that Nio's breathing is Ume-chan's breathing. Ume-chan approaches her acting with great passion. I feel her seriousness and depth in her acting and expression, and I respect her for that. I think Nio is a difficult role. She's a character that grows, and Ume-chan's ability to express that is truly amazing.
Thank you Umeda-san !
--The scene in the trailer for "The Assassination of Serizawa" where Noo breaks down in tears was also very memorable.
Takeuchi-san really gets to me!
Umeda: We recorded it after the final episode of the first season, and even though we were taking group photos, I felt like I was pushing myself hard. Even though we'd just wrapped up filming, I was anxious. During the recording, I was standing in front of the microphone and only looking at my hands.
--This is the "Serizawa Assassination Arc," so Serizawa gets assassinated...
I've read Takeuchi's original work, so I know what's going to happen, but in a time when the view of life and death is completely different from today's, I want to keep in mind how Serizawa will live without regrets and what he will leave behind. Unlike in the first season, Serizawa has a lot of impatience and other emotions. I want to bring that out as well.
Umeda: I feel that Serizawa is the main character in "The Assassination of Serizawa." It's not told from Serizawa's perspective, but rather from the perspectives of various people, including Kondo, Nio, and Taro, and you can really get a sense of Serizawa's greatness. Nio also experiences conflict and grows, and begins to look at Serizawa's actions and words with a more critical eye. She will have to bear a heavy burden, and the story can be difficult in parts, but it will be a story that will stay with you, so I hope you will watch it from that perspective.
Anima Mitsuru/MANTANWEB
