The TV anime "MAO," based on the latest work by Rumiko Takahashi , known for manga such as " Urusei Yatsura ," "Ranma 1/2," and "Inuyasha," will begin airing on April 4th, every Saturday at 11:45 PM. In the series, the main character, Mao, an onmyoji (exorcist) who has lived for 900 years, will be voiced by popular voice actor Yuki Kaji. Kaji, who has been a fan of Takahashi's works since childhood, said that his participation in this role "fulfilled one of my dreams as a voice actor, but at the same time, I felt a sense of responsibility and weight." We asked him about his thoughts on playing Mao and the work itself.
◇The impact of Rumiko Takahashi works
Kaji, who belongs to the "Inuyasha" generation among Takahashi's works, said, "The serialization started when I was in elementary school, and the anime started airing when I was in middle school. I think that the works you encounter in elementary and middle school have such a big influence on your personality that it's almost like a part of it, so my memories of 'Inuyasha' are very strong."
"Also, in terms of the first Rumiko Takahashi work I encountered, the image of 'Ranma 1/2' is very strong. That's why, when I was old enough to understand things and looked at the work again, the art was undeniably Rumiko Takahashi's, but the style was so different that I remember being shocked, thinking, 'Is this really a work by the same artist!?' (laughs). I love Rumiko Takahashi's comedic style, but I also really like works that are the complete opposite, such as those that depict the karma and darkness of the human heart... like the 'Mermaid Series.' I feel like that genetic code is definitely incorporated into 'MAO'."
"MAO" began serialization in "Weekly Shonen Sunday" (Shogakukan) in May 2019. Set in the Taisho era, it is a dark fantasy x time-slip mystery in which Mao, a mysterious onmyoji (exorcist) who has lived for 900 years due to a curse, meets Koyo Nanaka, a girl who has wandered in from the Reiwa era, and together they confront a chain of curses.
This was a work that had a connection to Kaji even before it was decided to be made into a TV anime.
"I've always loved Rumiko Takahashi's works, so I was thrilled when the new series started. I was asked to do an interview when the second volume of the original manga was released, and I was able to talk a lot about my feelings for 'Rumic World.' At that time, I received an autographed illustration of 'MAO' by Rumiko Takahashi herself, and she even added a message saying, 'I'm watching Attack on Titan.' It really felt like a dream."
Later, in 2021, when the manga series surpassed 100 chapters, Kaji was cast as Mao in a digest movie of the original work. It was Takahashi who specifically requested him to play the role.
"I was so happy to learn that the author really wanted me to play Mao. However, at the time I appeared in the digest movie, it hadn't been decided yet that 'MAO' would be made into an anime, and it's not uncommon for the cast to be completely changed when an anime is made. So, while trying not to have too many expectations (laughs), I focused on putting my heart and soul into my performance in the PV. Some time later, I received the official news that 'MAO' would be made into an anime, and when I heard that I would be entrusted with the role of Mao again, I felt like my dream had come true once more. I was really happy. To be entrusted with the important role of the lead in a work with the protagonist's name in the title, like 'Ranma 1/2,' 'Inuyasha,' and 'Kyoukai no RINNE,' truly felt like a dream come true since my student days. At the same time, I also felt the responsibility and weight of being involved in the anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's work."
◇Cherishing Mao's pure side: An approach to "fill in the 900 years"
Kaji spoke about "MAO," saying, "In the sense that the heroine travels between the present and the past, and together with the protagonist, she bears his destiny, it may have some similarities to 'Inuyasha'." He then described the appeal of "MAO," saying, "However, in 'MAO,' we go back from the Reiwa era to the Taisho era, and even to the Heian period. It's not just an adventure story, but there are also many mysteries and mystery elements surrounding it."
"There are differences in values between Nanaka, who lives in the Reiwa era, and Mao, who lives in the Taisho era, but that gap is what makes it interesting. And as their bond grows stronger, the way that gap is bridged is irresistible. I feel that this depiction of 'love' in a broad sense is something that it has in common with 'Inuyasha.' Reading 'MAO,' I was once again struck by the breadth of Rumiko Takahashi's expression, and I also felt that 'MAO' is a work that could only have been born because of all of her previous works. It's filled with things that could only be depicted now."
She says she feels that the main character she plays, Mao, is "a very pure and kind person."
"Originally a pure and gentle Onmyoji (exorcist) who lived in the Heian period. Cursed by a cat demon, he has lived for 900 years and now lives in the Taisho era. His greatest goal is to settle his score with the cat demon, but he has no memory of the details and has lived alone until now. As an immortal being, he has repeatedly met and parted with various people and has witnessed the changing times. 900 years. For an ordinary person, he must have been tormented by loneliness that would drive them mad. Having endured and overcome such emotions, he is naturally very thoughtful. While he cherishes those close to him, including Otsuya, he will not easily open his heart to or trust others. And he does not get overly excited or sad about everything. To put it in terms of something more relatable, the amount of emotion he feels during the process of growing from a child to an adult..." It feels similar to the feeling of change. When you're a child, everything feels fresh, so you're emotionally rich and your energy levels are high. But as you get older and experience various things, the sense of freshness fades, and you become less emotionally moved by a single topic. In other words, if Mao has hundreds of times more experience than us, then I thought that his output would naturally become more subdued, in a way that is different from his original personality and nature. For that reason, especially in the early part of the story, he gave a strong impression of being low-toned, low-energy, and quiet. However, at his core is the pure and gentle Mao from the Heian period. I thought it was important to change his tone of voice and emotional intensity depending on who he was talking to, such as Nanaka, Otsuya, Hyakka, and Kamon, and I acted accordingly."
Mao is not a very talkative character, and he's rather reserved. Kaji tried to express Mao's changes through subtle tuning. He also felt that he could play Mao because of his experience and the way he is now.
"Many of Rumiko Takahashi's works are long-running series, and of course, new works are constantly being created, and not all of them are being adapted into anime, so I felt that the chance to be involved as a voice actor wouldn't come along very often. After 'Inuyasha,' there was 'Kyoukai no RINNE,' but I wasn't even able to audition for that. Including other jobs, it's not easy to get an offer. In addition, there's the hurdle of whether my career and age are suitable for the role. What I've learned from working as a voice actor is that the characters that suit me (in an objective sense) change every five years, or maybe even every year. Newcomers come along, and the overall balance changes accordingly. When you think about it that way, including the timing, it really comes down to fate. If I hadn't been asked to do an interview about 'MAO,' then I would have continued..." I might not have had the opportunity to play Mao in the movie, and if the anime adaptation had been decided earlier, I think I might not have even been considered as a candidate given my age and career at the time. As I mentioned earlier, Mao is a character who, while retaining the pure and innocent aspects of his time living in the Heian period, has also experienced various things over 900 years. So, I think that the actor playing him needs to have a certain level of human experience to be convincing. I'm sure that 10 years ago, it would have been a role I couldn't have played, and conversely, 10 years from now, I think the youthful atmosphere (visually) would have faded. I think that it's a role that can only be portrayed now, because it's being animated at this particular time, and because of who I am now. In that sense, I feel that I was meant to play the role—at least, that's how I felt when I took on the role of Mao."
◇"Great job discovering these two!" Rising voice actors make their mark!
The anime "MAO" is directed by Teruo Sato, who also worked on "Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon," an anime that inherits the worldview of "Inuyasha," and is produced by Sunrise. The recording took place quite a while ago, and Sato said, "I only recently got to see the finished film, and it was truly moving. From the voice recording sessions, I felt a sense of respect and love for the work, but seeing Mao and the others moving with color and sound added made me feel deeply moved all over again. Simply put, I feel that it is an extremely high-quality animation. The worldview and nuances of the manga drawn by Rumiko Takahashi have been captured down to the smallest detail and beautifully brought to life, so I think it will be a finished product that will definitely satisfy and please fans of the original work. Also, for those who are encountering "MAO" for the first time through the anime adaptation, the story will undoubtedly keep you wanting to know what happens next each week, so I hope you will look forward to the broadcast of the first episode."
In particular, they praised the "amazing detail and dynamism of the action scenes."
"They put an incredible amount of care into making it, and I felt a great deal of respect for the original work. Personally, I was particularly impressed by the sword fight using Mao's Hagunsei no Tachi. From drawing the sword to handling it and sheathing it, I felt that they brilliantly recreated in animation all the details that couldn't be fully expressed in the manga. I was deeply moved. His strength, coolness, and smartness were faithfully portrayed, and I felt that the animation strongly conveyed the significance and meaning of delivering it as animation. And we mustn't forget the background music by Shu Kanematsu. The three eras of Reiwa, Taisho, and Heian each had their own distinct character, and he maintained an exquisite balance where they blended together beautifully. It was wonderful."
Regarding Natsumi Kawaida, who plays Nanaka, who stands with Mao against the curse, and Momoka Terasawa, who plays Otsuya, Mao's shikigami, he said, "Both of them were so perfect for their roles that I was moved, thinking, 'How did they find them?' Their acting was truly wonderful. All the cast members had a strong love for the work, and the set was always filled with excited conversations like, 'How will this scene be portrayed in the anime?' Oh, and I mustn't forget Takashi Matsuyama, who plays the cat demon. He's a very kind and gentle person, and I really like him, but... he was such a cat demon that I almost started to dislike him (laughs)."
Approximately seven years after the manga series began serialization in 2019, the anime "MAO" is finally being released to the world. Expectations are high for the passionate performances of the voice actors, including Yuki Kaji, who approached the recording with extraordinary dedication. (Shiroinu/MANTANWEB)
