2022 Winter Anime "Orient" Interview with Yuma Uchida & Souma Saito just before broadcast! Episode 1 synopsis & advance scene cuts revealed!

An interview with Yuma Uchida, who plays Musashi, and Soma Saito, who plays Kojiro Kanemaki, has arrived from the TV anime "Orient," which will start airing on January 5, 2022. In addition, a synopsis of the first episode and advance scene cuts were also released.

The manga "Orient" serialized in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine is the latest work by Shinobu Otaka, whose works such as "Magi" and "Sumomo Momomo: The Strongest Yome on Earth" have also been made into anime.
It has been 150 years since a "demon god" suddenly appeared in Sengoku-era Japan and seized control of the world, and only the "bushidan" (a group of samurai warriors) have stood against him. The boys, Musashi and Kojiro, pledge their dream of "forming the strongest warrior group" and take on the challenge of exterminating demons.

⇒ TV anime "Orient" teaser PV based on Shinobu Otaka's original work is released! Riyo Takahashi & Satoshi Hino will appear in it!

⇒Click here for the list of 2022 winter anime.

An interview with Yuma Uchida, who plays Musashi, and Soma Saito, who plays Kojiro Kanemaki, has just arrived from the TV anime "Orient," which will start airing on January 5, 2022. The two talk about the charms of "Orient," which is about to start airing at last.

The synopsis of the first episode and preceding scene cuts have also been released, so be sure to check them out before the start of the broadcast.

Interview with Yuma Uchida (Musashi) and Soma Saito (Kojiro) just before the broadcast

With the broadcast of "Neo Sengoku" about to begin on January 5, we have an interview with Yuma Uchida (Musashi) and Soma Saito (Kojiro). Mr. Uchida said, "Although it claims to be a neo-sengoku (warring states), the conflicts that the characters face have a part that everyone can sympathize with, and in a good sense, it is a mixture of the unrealistic and the realistic. I think this adds to the unpredictable and exciting atmosphere of "Orient. Saito added, "I think there is an image of 'if you are the hero, you are hot-blooded; if you are the sidekick, you are cool. The main character is hot-blooded and the sidekick is cool," Saito said. But "Orient" overturns that image one after another," Saito said. He also talks about the appeal of Orient. (The full interview is below)

Episode 1 Synopsis & Advance Scene Cuts

Episode 1 "Musashi and Kojiro

<Synopsis
The world is in turmoil. Samurai who resist the demi-gods are regarded as great criminals and abhorred. While people worshipped the demi-god, Musashi had a secret dream in his heart. He and his childhood friend Kojiro wanted to create the "strongest warrior group" and exterminate demons. Like the samurai who once stood up to the demons in order to restore freedom to Japan. Just as Kojiro's late father, Jisai, had told him. But it is also to fight against the lies of the world. ......

Interview with Kojiro just before the broadcast (full text)

--First of all, please tell us what you thought when you first read the original story.
Uchida: I have always loved works with a Japanese taste, so I was very excited when I started reading it. I was really inspired by Shinobu Otaka's dynamic drawings and the sense of fantasy that only "Orient" can create. I also find the adventure storyline very appealing.
Saito: Another appeal of "Orient" is the originality of the characters. In shonen manga, there is an image that the main character is hot-blooded and the sidekick is cool. The hero is hot-blooded and the sidekick is cool. However, "Orient" overturns such a royal road one after another. Moreover, the novelty of the story is firmly connected to the core of the characters, so you can really empathize with them. You can enjoy Mr. Otaka's great manga ability.
Uchida Also, there is a lot of excitement in this shonen manga. There is a huge castle that moves around, for example.
Saito: Yes, yes. There is a castle, but then there is a vehicle that looks like a modern motorcycle. I think it's a work for those with a boy's heart, or those who like cool things.

--Saito: Yes, I think so.
Saito: The character I play, Kojiro Kanemaki, seems cool and nihilistic at first glance. However, he is really a life-sized boy, and he is a friendly character who does not have the appearance of being a handsome second-class person. He feels inferior to his partner Musashi's behavior, easily falls for his tricks, and is mysteriously good at living (laugh). He has had a hard time because of his bloodline, but I feel the reality of him as a "person in the process of growing up" including that.
Uchida The way we see Kojiro changes between the first and second episodes.
Saito: The first and second episodes are usually depicted from Musashi's point of view. The impression from Musashi is also taken into account, and he may have a strong cool impression. In later episodes, we see him in a more mischievous or mature way, so I think he is a smiling boy in spite of his cool appearance.

--What kind of character is Musashi, the character you play?
Uchida: Of course he has the "straightforward and hot-blooded" elements that are the mainstay of shōnen manga, but he also has another side to him, such as "reading the atmosphere and not being able to say what he really thinks. I think a protagonist like Musashi is very rare in shōnen manga. Even though it claims to be a neo-sengoku, the conflicts that the characters face are a mixture of the unrealistic and the realistic in a good way, as everyone can sympathize with them in some way. I think this adds to the unpredictable and exciting atmosphere of "Orient. Also, as Saito mentioned, I think that Kojiro is a more easily relatable character than Musashi. I feel that Musashi gives us "insights and discoveries" through his actions, and I find his earnest way of thinking and single-minded beliefs to be cool.
Saito: Musashi has a lot of monologues, doesn't he?
Uchida Yes, he does. Especially in the beginning, there are many scenes where he talks to himself. On the other hand, there is a part of him that never bends over backwards, no matter how hard he is in a pinch. Such an image of Musashi is very different from the main characters I have played in the past, and I feel it is very fresh.

--How do you feel about each other's characters?
Uchida: Musashi has a firm ideal image of a "samurai" within himself, while Kojiro is a character who is finding his ideal self from now on. He is a boy who is expected to grow, and I think he will change more and more under the influence of those around him.
Saito: In a sense, he may be a bit of a "meh" guy (laughs).
Uchida That is also different from Musashi. In a good way, the two are not alike.
Saito: But not everything is different. For example, when they are hungry, they both get grumpy and start fighting. They have a perfect balance of naturally communicating with each other and doing the exact opposite, so you never get tired of watching them.

--What is your impression of the character of Musashi?
Saito: Even though he is still in his mid-teens, there are many moments when I feel that he is very mature. Not only Kojiro, but also Tsugumi Hattori, a samurai girl who will appear in the future, is a girl who is honest about her feelings or acts on the spur of the moment. Musashi, on the other hand, often looks at things, especially relationships, from a bird's eye view. He also has a high ability to verbalize his feelings. That is why he is able to clearly express "I want to do this! I am impressed that he is still young. I think it is because of this personality that Musashi is suited to be a leader, and I think he pushes Kojiro and the others to be better.

--By the way, Saito-san, when you were a student, were you a leader or a supporter?　Or were you more of a supporter type?
Saito: I was the type of person who did not want to take on more responsibility than I could handle, so I was sometimes recommended for student body president, but I stubbornly refused (laughs). (laughs) Instead, I often served in positions such as vice president or vice dean.
Uchida: I once ran for and was elected student body president when I was in junior high school. When I was in high school, I was the department head.
Saito: Really?　Did you always want to be a leader?
Uchida I guess I wanted to stand out (laughs). (laughs) But I also had a strong desire to convey my opinions to everyone. I thought the fastest way to do that was to run for student body president or department head, so I ran for those positions.
Saito: What did you want to convey when you became student body president?
Uchida: At that time, the relationship between teachers and students at my junior high school was not good. Some students said, "Teachers should treat students equally! Some students said, "Teachers should treat students equally! But Uchida said, "No, no, no. Teachers are human beings, too. It is natural that they have likes and dislikes. If you want to build a good relationship with teachers, you should communicate more with students. And I also thought at the time that this idea was absolutely correct (laughs). So I set my sights on becoming student body president in order to convey my ideas to all the students.
Saito: Did you actually communicate it?
Uchida: I was able to convey my thoughts at a school assembly or something like that. However, he was satisfied with that and became a bad leader, simply nodding his head and saying "I think that's a good idea" to the various suggestions of the students (laughs).
Saito: (laughs). (Laughs.) But he is exactly like Musashi, in the way he sticks to his own will. I can relate to Kojiro's detached character and his inferiority complex toward Musashi, and we are able to play good roles in which both of us can easily get into each other's heads.

--I heard that the two of you are good friends in your private life, so was it easy to express the feeling of Musashi and Kojiro as partners during postrecording?
Uchida: It is only between the characters, so of course we don't project our relationship onto the characters. Nevertheless, in terms of quickly grasping the atmosphere of being best friends, I think the "Orient" scene was pretty quick.
Saito: That's right. Because we knew each other so well, I think we were able to quickly get the act of matching each other's breath. More specifically, the three main actors, including Riyo Takahashi who plays Tsugumi, seem to have a similar sense of what they like and what is interesting. Musashi, Kojiro, and Tsugumi often interact with each other in a comedic way, and we ourselves have experienced the feeling of "fitting in" with each other on many occasions. But I think there are parts of Mr. Takahashi that I sometimes don't understand. ...... It's hard to explain in words, but it's like a cosmic idea (laughs).
Uchida That is also interesting. It is a good stimulus.
Saito: The "Orient" team really gets along well with each other.

--What are the highlights of the first episode?
Uchida: In the first episode, the world of "Orient" is explained, and the story is told in a slow and exciting way, so I think you will be absorbed in the story so much that you will finish watching it in a blink of an eye. There is even a moment in the last part where he and Kojiro match lines, which gives me half a sense of anticipation for the second episode. On the other hand, the relationship between Musashi and Kojiro in the first episode is a bit complicated because they have feelings for each other; what will they think and how will they communicate with each other and walk the same path? I would be happy if you could witness the beginning of their relationship.
Saito: It is true that in the first episode Kojiro is cold toward Musashi (laughs). I hope you will pay attention to Kojiro's thoughts behind his coldness. Musashi has more to show and Kojiro tends to be overshadowed by Musashi. But Kojiro is the man behind the scenes, and I believe that the audience will be able to sympathize with Kojiro, who believes in Musashi's success and gives him the best path to success. The second story focuses on Kojiro. This is a very important episode for understanding the passion of the young man Kojiro, so don't miss it!

--Lastly, do you have a message for your fans?
Saito: For those of you who have been waiting for the anime to air, thank you for your patience. Musashi and his friends are about to begin their long and epic journey, and we hope that you will enjoy the images, music, and our play in the best possible way. We hope that fans of the original work, as well as those who are new to "Orient" through the anime, will enjoy it to the fullest. Personally, I think this work has originality and universality in the casual conversations in daily scenes and in the facial expressions of the characters at a moment's notice. I hope you will pay attention to the subtleties of the hearts of Musashi, Kojiro, and the other fascinating characters who will appear in the future.
Uchida: You can enjoy the heart-pounding neo-sengoku battle action of "Orient," but the straightforward way of life of the samurai warriors is a work that adults can enjoy as well. Please enjoy the rich drama and exhilarating battle scenes. I am sure you will be so curious about the rest of the story that you will reach for the original manga as well (laugh). And I hope you will like "Orient" even more and enjoy the adventures with Musashi, Kojiro and the others.

[Production information
TV animation "Orient

<Broadcast Information
Broadcasting will begin on January 5, 2022 (Wed.)!
TV Tokyo: Every Wednesday from January 5 (Wed.) at 24:00~.
BS Teleto: Every Wednesday from January 5 (Wed.) at 24:30
AT-X: Every Thursday from January 6 (Thu.) at 21:00
AT-X repeat broadcast: Every (Mon.) 9:00~ / Every (Wed.) 15:00~ (AT-X repeat broadcast: Every (Mon.) 9:00~ / Every (Wed.) 15:00~)

＜Staff
Original Story: Shinobu Otaka (Serialized in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine/ Kodansha)
Director：Tetsuya Yanagisawa
Series Composition：Mariko Kunisawa
Character Design：Takahiro Kishida
Chief Animation Director：Fumio Matsumoto, Sayuri Sakimoto
Prop Design：Hidefumi Kimura
Color Design：Hitoshi Hibino
Art Director：Mitsuki Maeda
Art Director：Hirofumi Sakaue
Director of Photography: Hidenori Manaka
Editing: Ayunami Yamagishi (REAL-T)
Sound Director: Ryosuke Naya
Sound Production: Studio Mouse
Music: Hideyuki Fukazawa
Animation Production: A・C・G・T
Production: "Orient" Production Committee

Opening Theme: Da-iCE "Break out
Ending theme: Wataru Hatano "Naniiro

<Cast
Musashi: Yuma Uchida
Kanezaki Kojiro: Saito Souma
Tsugumi Hattori: Riyo Takahashi
Takeda Naotora: Hino Satoshi
Inukai Shiro: Shimono Hiro
Inusaka Nanao: Azumi Waki
Hideo Koumeda: Wataru Hatano

＜Introduction
A popular manga series in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine
The latest work by Shinobu Otaka of "Magi" will be adapted into a long-awaited anime: ‼️

The dominance of Japan has shifted from "humans" to "demons" due to an attack by a demon god.
The people accept the rule of the demons, and only the "samurai" continue to fight in this time of upheaval,
Musashi and Kojiro vow to form the "strongest warrior group" and take on the challenge of exterminating demons!

The splendid cast includes Yuma Uchida as Musashi and Soma Saito as Kojiro!
The royal battle action unfolds in the world of "Neo Sengoku"!

TV anime "Orient" official website: #
Official Twitter: @orient_PR #Orient

(C) Shinobu Otaka, Kodansha / "Orient" Production Committee