Experience the best story of "love" and "excitement" in the series! Interview with Koichi Yamadera (Abert Dessler) and Kikuko Inoue (StasHA) for "Space Battleship Yamato 2205: A New Journey -STASHA-"!

Space Battleship Yamato 2205: A New Chapter will be screened on February 4, 2022.

Following the "previous chapter," which ended with the shocking disappearance of Gamilas and the appearance of Desariam, what will be the outcome of Yamato's new journey?

Amidst all the anticipation and predictions, we spoke with voice actors Koichi Yamadera and Kikuko Inoue, who portray the key characters Deshler and Stasya, to find out.

--First of all, please look back on the "previous chapter" and tell us about your thoughts on the work and your roles.

Inoue: As for Stasya, I remember how difficult it was to express various feelings in short lines, since she was introduced for the "second chapter. Throughout the entire work, the passion and human drama of the Yamato crew really touched my heart.

Yamadera: In Yamato, new crew members such as Ryusuke Domon and others were added, and the story of Sukeji Yabu was explored. In the case of Death Ruror, it started with negotiations with the Federation of Bora, then a more powerful enemy (Desariam) appeared, the planet Gamilas disappeared, and the twin planet Iskandar was carried off somewhere. It was a very difficult time (laughs).

--(laughs) - The scene where Dessler goes to rescue Gamilus as it is collapsing was a great scene.

Yamadera: That was partly due to the influence of Susumu Ancient and the rest of the Yamato crew, and partly because of his encounter with Lanhardt in "2202". Well, to be precise, it was a reunion, but in the "previous chapter," I felt very strongly about my feelings for the now departed Lanhardt. Because of his presence, my feelings for Yamato became even deeper, and because he had entrusted me with the fate of Gamilas, I tried to save as many Gamilas subjects as possible, and the sight of Deshler is something I will never forget.

--How did you feel when you started working on the "later chapters"?

Yamadera: I found out later that the title this time is "Stasya. I felt like it was a perfect title.

Inoue: I was also surprised when I found out that it was titled "STASHA. I was so shocked and surprised that I thought there must be some mistake. In that sense, as the actor, I feel a lot of pressure, but I am also very honored.

Yamadera: As for the script, it was the same with the "previous chapter," but we were not told at the beginning, "This is how it will be throughout the whole work," but we were given a script for each episode and we had to proceed accordingly.

Inoue: We recorded one episode at a time, feeling various things as we went along.

Yamadera: We wondered how things would turn out this time, and how much of a role Death Rider would play. But if I were to give an overall impression, I would say that I was astonished by the relationship between Iskandar and Gamilas, especially the truth that was told by Stasya's mouth.

Inoue: Especially in the latter half of the film, various mysteries are unraveled. I was also surprised and thought, "I didn't know that! I was surprised, but at the same time, I found it very satisfying.

--Yamadera: This is the third remake, each directed by a different director.

Yamadera: The first "2199" was directed by Yutaka Izubuchi, "2202" by Nobuyoshi Habara, and this time by Kenji Yasuda.

Inoue In my case, "2199" and now "2205," I did not receive any particular guidance, but I have the impression that all the directors warmly watched over me.

Yamadera: There was a sound director, Tomohiro Yoshida, who has been involved with "Yamato" for a long time, on site. Of course, it was an environment where "if you don't understand something, just ask," but I felt that he listened to my interpretation of the performance first, and then we moved forward as we went along. Naturally, the way of doing things would be different with a different director, but the postrecording process itself had the same atmosphere as before.

--I would like to ask you if you have any episodes from the postrecording process.

Inoue: The scriptwriter, Harutoshi Fukui, talked to us a lot between recording sessions.

Yamadera: The recording was done separately, but as for me, there was none of that. I just read the script, understood it, felt it, and worked on it solemnly.

Inoue In the case of Mr. Yamadera, I think it was because I could leave him in peace. In my case, it was very reassuring to receive advice and bits of information such as "This is how Stasya feels" or "This is how she feels this time, but this is how it will be in the future. I had been anxious and nervous about playing Stasya for a long time, but during the postrecording, I received encouraging words such as, "This part was good. Also, the fact that there was music in the video we received beforehand made it easier for me to get emotionally involved.

Yamadera: Yes, there was music in some parts, wasn't there?

Inoue: The music was put on the video at the "right moment", so it was great that we were able to approach the film with that in mind.

Yamadera: No one said anything to me during the recording, so I wondered if it would be okay. I thought, "It may not be any different, but can I try one more time? I thought to myself, "It may not be the same, but can I try again? Normally, when recording with a large group of people, it would be very difficult to say, "I don't like my lines, so can I try one more time? But this time, each of us had a set amount of time, and it was fine as long as it was within that range.

Inoue That's amazing!　So that's how you do it too, Yamadera-san. It's true that normally I would be hesitant to say, "I wish I could do this again. But if you are alone, you can do it, can't you?

Yamadera Yes. When everyone is around, I can't make them wait. So I would say, "Please use the better one. It is lonely to do recording alone, and normally it would be done by an ensemble, but in that sense, the current situation made it easier to do it.

--What do you think of Stasya and Deshler?

Inoue: Stasya herself is a truly wonderful character, which is why I have not been able to shake off the tension that I have felt since "2199. She has the burden of being the Queen of the Stars, suffering and troubles, and I wonder if I am the right person for the job. I had to fight with myself to see how much I could express the deep feelings she was carrying, while staying close to the role. Especially this time, the times when I have to tell new facts, I even cried when I read the script. ...... I felt a strong sense of responsibility to make sure that I conveyed this to everyone. However, it also allowed me to learn everything about myself, and I feel like I have been purified.

Yamadera: That can only happen with Kikuko. I think it is very difficult to express the dignity and fragility that Stasya possesses. Whether or not Deshler was playing a cold-hearted dictator for the sake of his Gamilas subjects, he was talking about his love for Stasya, and Kikuko was acting in a way that made me feel the same way, so I thought again that she really fit the role. But then, of all people, that Stasya was .......

Inoue: No, I was surprised. ......

Yamadera There was a scene where a furious Dessler holds up a gun, and if it wasn't for Kikuko-chan, I might have shot him (laughs).

--In the trailer, Stasya says, "The time has come to tell the truth. You can hear her say, "The truth about the blue blood of Gamilas.

Inoue: Those words are the beginning of the story of the past events and facts, so I had to say them with all my feelings. When I think back on it now, I can see the sadness and pain that occurred in the past, and I was able to put them into words in all the scenes, and I was able to naturally get emotionally involved in them. As a voice actor, I am involved in many productions, and sometimes I have to act without understanding the depths of the story, but in this case, even though I myself am not the queen of the stars, I felt as if I could really get close to the story.

--Yamadera-san, on the other hand, as you can hear in the trailer, delivers the famous line from the original work, "Shoot me, Ancient One, shoot me! You can also hear Yamadera-san's famous line from the original work, "Shoot me, ancient one! Please tell us about your thoughts on recording it.

Yamadera: Speaking of Death Rider, Masatoh Ibu's (*Masayuki Ibu at the time) famous performance is still talked about to this day, and I also admire his acting, but recently I realized that maybe I was the only one who cared too much about the original work. To be honest, I have been reflecting on the fact that I thought I had to make it look like the original. We don't compare the antiquity of Daisuke Ono's work with that of Takashi Toyama, do we?

Inoue That is certainly true.

Yamadera At some point, I began to think, "Why am I the only one who is tied down? I started to think "Why am I the only one who is tied down? The settings and drawings have changed since "2199," and of course we respect the original work, but we are creating a new "Yamato. Director Yasuda did not go through "Yamato" as his original experience, and I think he was able to create a wonderful work because he saw it with completely new eyes. Moreover, the facts that Stasha tells this time are not in the original work. The weight of the story is completely different because it is based on the original story, "Shoot me.

--What would you say is the highlight of the film?

Yamadera: I would like the audience to feel various things by watching the whole work itself, but personally, I like Yabu's monologue.

Inoue Oh, that one is very moving, isn't it? There are so many highlights in the film that it is difficult to choose one, but if I had to pick one, I would say that you should pay attention to Deshler's childhood.

Yamadera: So, what Stasya whispered to the young Abert in his ear will be revealed this time.

Inoue That also happened!

Yamadera That's something young people might want to put in their smartphones. Or maybe even a stamp (laughs). I think junior high and high school students will want to have them on their phones.

Inoue Wow, that would make me happy (laughs).

--Well then, I would like to conclude with a message to our readers.

Inoue: I think that "Yamato," which has spun a magnificent worldview up to now, has become a work that can be called a point of arrival.

Yamadera: Those of you who have seen the "previous chapter" may be wondering what the story is going to be like this time. Please come to the theater with an open mind.

Inoue: I believe that visual images are a comprehensive art form, and "Yamato" is full of wonderful visual beauty, powerful battle scenes, and loving human drama woven by a variety of characters. It is filled with so many emotions.

Yamadera: A story of love. That's all there is to it.

Inoue: I hope you will enjoy this moving story. I look forward to seeing you!

(Reporting and writing by Tomohisa Toyota)

Film Information
Space Battleship Yamato 2205: A New Chapter -STASHA
＜Release information
February 4, 2022 (Fri.) Limited theatrical release
February 4, 2022 (Fri.) Limited theatrical showings will begin.

<Staff> Original story: Yoshizaki Nishizaki
Original Story: Yoshinobu Nishizaki
・Production Supervisor, General Supervisor of Works: Shoji Nishizaki
・Director: Kenji Yasuda
・Series Composition, Screenplay: Harutoshi Fukui
Screenplay: Hideki Oka
・Character Design: Nobuteru Yuki
・Mechanical Design: Junichiro Tamamori, Yasushi Ishizu, Mika Akeki
Guest Character Design: Chizuru Kobayashi, Takahiro Kishida, Sei Tateishi
・Prop Design: Sei Edamatsu
・Art Director: Kenichi Tateto
Color Design: Kumiko Nakayama
・Cinematography Director: Shigeki Asakawa
・CG Director: Hiroyuki Goto
・Editing: Ryoko Kaneshige
・Music: Akira Miyagawa, Yasushi Miyagawa
・Sound Director: Tomohiro Yoshida
Original Sound Effects: Mitsuru Kashiwabara
・Animation Production: Satellite
・Distribution: Shochiku ODS Division
・Production: Space Battleship Yamato 2205 Production Committee

＜Cast
Susumu Ancient: Daisuke Ono / Yuki Mori: Noriko Kuwashima / Shiro Sanada: Hochu Otsuka / Abert Dessler: Koichi Yamadera / Stasya: Kikuko Inoue / Yabu Sukerji: Cho /Ryusuke Domon: Yu Hatanaka / Miyako Kyozuka: Satoru Muranaka / Tasuke Tokugawa: Nobuhiko Okamoto / Heiji Bando: Wataru Hatano / Caroline Raiden: Sensai Morinaga / Shigeru Sakamoto: Kento Ito /Deder: Masuo Amada / Melders: Takaya Kuroda