TV Anime "GARO - Kouren no Tsuki" Cast Talk!　Masei Nakayama as Raikage and Daisuke Namikawa as Hakamadaru - Two demonic warriors talk about the turbulent Heian period drama!

Nakayama: This was my first time in the world of anime, so I thought it would be different from the live-action version, but I found many things in the world of "GARO" that were similar. But I found many similarities with the world of "GARO." I think it's fascinating that it has a taste of the Heian period.

Namikawa: My previous performance in "GARO" was set in medieval Europe, so my impression was quite different. But as Masei just said, the passion of "GARO" is the same, and especially when the Golden Knight Garo appears, it seems to come together as one.

─ ─ There are also many words and descriptions that are typical of the period.

Namikawa: It's hard to say, isn't it, the name (laughs).

Nakayama: Many of the words are new to me.

Namikawa: I can read them, but I can't say them well (laughs). We are not used to saying them, but Raikaku and Yosuke are used to saying them, so it is difficult for us to play them like that.

Nakayama: Even when I am reading the scenario at home, I practice so that I can say it well.

─ ─ Moreover, this is your first attempt at voice acting.

Nakayama My heart is always racing during recording sessions, and I feel like I am standing in front of the microphone while suppressing my trembling. I want to get used to it in a good way, but I still feel more nervous. ......

Namikawa: I think it's amazing. It was my first attempt at voice acting and I was able to do such a large amount of lines and move through such a large amount of emotions. In the live-action version, I don't think there is any way to say the lines of "GARO" without moving in front of the microphone. Even though there are similarities in the play, it is usually a bit disconcerting, and I feel like I have to move my body.

Nakayama: I was very nervous at first. In live-action postrecording, I was fine even if I moved a little, but in animation postrecording, I knew that I must not make even the smallest sound. ...... Now I think that even if I relax somewhat, I am able to act naturally.

Namikawa: That is truly admirable. And you are surrounded by the deepest characters in the world of voice acting (laughs). If you can get through this, you'll be fine wherever you go.

─ What is your impression of Raikhang played by Mr. Nakayama?

Nakayama: I started out with Raikhang as a straight-forward, manly knight, but as the show went on, I started to see a bit of a loser in him (laughs). I love the comical and humane way he interacts with Hoshiaki and Kintoki. I think this gap is an expression that can only be achieved in anime, so I think it's interesting.

Namikawa: I met Masei for the first time in this work, but before that, I had the impression that he was "hot but cool" when I saw his works. I had never met him in person, so I was just going by the image of the role. But when I saw how Raikawa jokes around, gets pushed around, and expresses these comical aspects with all his might, I got the impression that Raikawa and Masei are more similar than I thought.

Nakayama Really?

Namikawa: In a good way. He is cute and worldly, but the way he does it so naturally makes him look like Raikaro. For example, Park teases him nicely, and he is always on the same level with Keno Horiuchi's high level jokes, while talking about games with me.　He is so natural that I envy him. But when he gets up in front of the microphone, he is very decisive.

─ Is there anything you are conscious of when acting?

Nakayama: I've been doing plays where the person I'm talking to is in front of me, so it's hard for me to have a conversation with the person next to me while I have the screen in front of me. I am very careful about the distance in the animation, not only the distance in my mind, but also how far away the other person actually is and how I should express that.

───So, what is your impression of Hakamadaru (Yasusuke Fujiwara), played by Mr. Namikawa?

Namikawa: He is difficult. First of all, when I think about why Hakamataru gets along so well with Raikaku, I think he agrees with Raikaku's lack of separation. On the other hand, there is also a part of him that has a sulky attitude. I think it is because he is still young, but when he becomes Zanga, they fight together as a tag team.

Nakayama: I think the difference between Garo and Zanga...... Raikou and Hakamadaru is that Raikou's priority is to protect everyone and Hakamadaru's priority is to destroy all "hora" (horror). I think that is why they disagree and argue.

Nakayama──They have slightly different policies.

Nakayama: That's right. When I was watching Hakamadaru, I noticed that even the same "protector" has a different way of thinking depending on what his motto is.

Namikawa: I think Hakamataru started out the same as Raikau, but after the incident that led him from Hosuke to Hakamataru, he came to the conclusion that he could protect people by defeating the fire rays. But the Raikou seems to be "protect everyone at all costs".

Nakayama: It is the difference between attacking and protecting. Hakamadaru says, "I am there to destroy Hira because of me," and I think he knows how important he is. On the other hand, Raikou has the spirit of self-sacrifice, "I don't care what happens to me, I will protect everyone. In the eyes of ...... Seimei, that's not good enough.

Namikawa: He would immediately try to trade his life for it. Raikaro is a hot man from the root, if it were yin and yang, he would be the yang, the sun. Hakamadaru is the moon, which I imagine is thinner than a half moon, like an edge.

Nakayama: They are the same, but opposite. On the flip side, they are opposites, so maybe that is why I can entrust my back to them.

─ I felt that there was a big change in the way you played Hosuke and Hakamataru.

Namikawa: I was very careful about that. He had been living on his salary from his formal job as a kenko-jibyo, but suddenly he took off his hair, wore old clothes, and changed the way he spoke. Above all, his facial expression changed, so it must have been a difference that he was prepared for. However, people can't change everything right away, so I try to change things step by step. In that sense, I think Raikaku is consistent.

Nakayama: It never changes.

Namikawa: I feel that Raikhara is the only one in "Kouren no Tsuki" who has the strength to remain the same.