On January 30th, a stage greeting was held at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) on the opening day of the animated feature film "The Keeper of the Camphor Tree," based on Keigo Higashino's novel. While Higashino's works have been adapted into live-action films and TV dramas, this is the first time they've been adapted into an anime. The anime is directed by Tomohiko Ito, known for works such as "Sword Art Online" and "Erased," who also served as sound director. Director Ito, Takahashi Fumiya, who plays the protagonist Reito Naoi, Amami Yuki, who plays Reito's aunt, Yanagisawa Chifune, who holds the key to the story, Saito Asuka, who plays Saji Yumi, who investigates her father's secret, and Miyase Ryuya, who plays Oba Soki, the heir to a long-established Japanese confectionery manufacturer, appeared on stage and revealed the unusual filming conditions.
Saito said that when recording the scream, he stood away from the microphone. Miyase said about the speech scene, "The staff lined up in front of me. It created a good kind of tension."
Usually, when recording an anime, the actors face forward and act while looking at the screen, but there were scenes where Takahashi and Amami faced each other while recording. Takahashi said, "I myself was shaken," and there were times when he felt that his feelings were linked to those of his character.
Amami said, "It was my first time to record my voice face-to-face, but I was grateful," and director Ito seemed to have taken on the challenge, saying, "I've never done this in any other work either."
This is Takahashi's first time starring in an animated feature film. Saito's first time as a voice actor in an animated feature film, and Miyase's first time as a voice actor in a Japanese animated feature film. Director Ito said, "It was just a spur of the moment idea," but it seems that various efforts were made to make it easier for the cast, who are not used to recording anime, to act.
"Guardian of the Camphor Tree" is the story of a young man named Naoi Reito who loses his job due to unreasonable dismissal and becomes the mysterious "Guardian of the Camphor Tree," where he meets people with various circumstances.
