The new TV anime "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers," the official sequel to the "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers" series, which aired from April 1988 to March 1989, will begin airing on TOKYO MX, Kansai TV, and BS11 from January 6th. This is the first new anime in about 35 years since the OVA "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers MESSAGE" released in 1991, and the first TV anime series to be broadcast in about 37 years. The story is an entirely original one set in present-day Shinjuku, and is directed by Fujita Yoichi, known for "Gintama" and "Mr. Osomatsu." We spoke to Junya Enoki Kaito, and Ayumu Murase, who plays Hojo Musashi, about their thoughts on the series.
◇Ishibashi Yoa is amazing!
-Have you heard of "Armored Troopers"?
Enoki-san , I knew the title.
Murase-san and I were born in the same year, the last year of the Showa era.
I wanted to follow Enoki-san's lines from his transformation scene, so I watched "Yoroiden" before acting.
Murase: Like Kabuki and Noh, there are some things that have remained unchanged since the Showa era to the Reiwa era, such as the way lines are delivered and the emphasis on words, and I felt that too.
Enoki-san's characters are clearly divided, and there are various characters such as hot-blooded and cool, which is still relevant today. I knew that it was incredibly popular with women back then, and I felt that "Yoroiden" strengthened the trend that continues to this day.
--Was it an audition?
Enoki: That's right. At the time of the audition, there was very little information available, so I looked up information about "Yoroiden" and got a sense of whether I was close to this character.
Murase-san gave a thorough explanation of the terms. I didn't know the character designs yet, so I had to rely on my imagination. But the lines themselves made it easy to understand the intention of the scene, so I tried to do exactly what I felt.
--It's also been a hot topic that a number of talented voice actors will be playing the Samurai Troopers, including Ishibashi Hiiro as Gai, Takeuchi Shunsuke as Hojo Yamato, and Kentaro Kumagai as Ishida Shion.
Enoki-san and I knew a lot of the members, so I could imagine it would be fun. I knew that Yosai-kun was a good singer, so I was looking forward to that too.
Murase: It was my first time meeting Yosai. He's really earnest, hardworking, and straightforward. He's also passionate, and I really like him. He's reliable. He's earnestly searching for the perfect balance between what he wants to do and what is required for the project, and I'm impressed that he's so young!
--The enemy side also features a star-studded cast.
I recorded it with Enoki-san .
Mr. Murase, the seniors from the Trooper generation were really excited.
◇A newness that defies expectations in a good way
--It seems there are some surprising developments in store.
You'll be surprised at how hard Enoki's story unfolds. You'll be surprised at how hard his story unfolds.
Murase: There's a newness to it that surprises you in a good way. It's unpredictable, but still retains the genes of "Yoroiden," and while it's chaotic in a good way, it's also cohesive with the Samurai Trooper color scheme, just like Shio Vanilla. It's an amazing balance.
Enoki-san , salted vanilla is a good description.
-What did you keep in mind while acting?
Murase-san's Musashi has a trauma from his time in an orphanage, and although he should have had a light-hearted and cheerful personality, he lacks self-confidence and feels afraid of interacting with others. However, he also has a strong survival instinct and a sense of justice. However, he is unable to express these well, and feels frustrated. I acted the role hoping that this frustration would be conveyed. Each character has their own conflicts.
Enoki Kaito has emotional scars and a desire for revenge. He is surprisingly emotional, but I think it's important to be aware of the importance of his grandmother's presence when playing the role.
◇Quite clever and elegant!
-What are your impressions of each other as actors?
I don't want to say it, but Enoki-san is a very intelligent person (laughs). He has a great understanding of the story and acts accordingly, and he knows exactly how to act each scene and understands the intention of the lines and scenes. I really don't want to say it, but I think his intelligence is amazing.
Murase-san is clever (laughs). It's embarrassing.
Enoki-san is quite clever (laughs).
Murase-san, you're okay (laughs). It's a difficult point, but the intention that the work wants to convey and the axis of what the character is thinking are different, so I want to keep a clear separation in my mind while bringing them closer together. Yosai-kun has already managed to do that, which is amazing. I'm clever too, so I can do that (laughs).
Enoki-san is quite clever (laughs).
Murase- san is pretty good (laughs). Enoki is of course good at what he does, but he's not the type of actor who does things in a very serious way, but when he speaks, there are times when you can't help but listen. Even the most casual lines have a certain charm. And yet, he expresses the character's feelings perfectly. That's pretty good (laughs).
Enoki-san has quite a bit of charm (laughs). I always think that he's really reliable when we're on set together.
-Finally, please tell us your aspirations for 2026.
Enoki: It's been about 15 years since my debut, and I'm looking forward to enjoying my work. As I gain more experience, I might get used to it, but I want to keep looking forward and having fun.
Murase: After the COVID-19 pandemic, we're all able to record together again, and microphone work has returned. People who debuted around 2020 or 2021 are getting used to microphone work, and it's fun to perform with people from the new generation. I want this to be a year where we can all create something great together. I hope we can all have a positive influence on each other.
(Anima Mitsuru/MANTANWEB)
