In commemoration of the distribution of Season 2 of the anime "Kengan Asura! Interview with Tatsuo Suzuki as Ten Demon Snake Ouma Part 1──What is the only way to repay the great senior voice actors?

Kengan Ashura" is an intense battle action manga (original by Sandorovich Yabako, art by Douga Meon) that is unquestionably the most popular manga among readers of the website "Ura Sunday" and the comic app "Manga One". It has been read by over 500 million people and was ranked No. 1 for male readers in the "1 Million People's Choice: The Greatest Web Comics of All Time! Season 1 of the anime will be broadcast on terrestrial TV and BS from January 1st to June 6th, 2020, and is currently being distributed exclusively on Netflix.

What will happen to the "Kengan Zemei Tournament," which ended in an unsettling way in Season 1? What will happen to the powerful images and performances of the cast that overwhelmed the viewers in Season 2? We interviewed Tatsuo Suzuki, who plays the role of the main character "Toki Ohma," and asked him about the highlights and improvements of Season 2, as well as how he has faced this work as the chairman and episodes with the splendid cast members. The article also includes an announcement of a giveaway at the end of the interview.

What true entertainment is like at AnimeJapan 2023

--At the recent "AnimeJapan 2023" ("AJ") stage, you were watching professional wrestling.

Suzuki: Personally, I thought it was the most exciting stage at "AJ".

⇒ Tatsuo Suzuki was also excited at ringside! Big Sight was shaken by the collaboration match between "KENGAN ASHURA" and "DDT Pro-Wrestling" - Real Fist Fight!

--How was it to see the men fighting up close and personal?

Suzuki: Wrestling is a form of live entertainment, a mixture of the "show" part and the "martial arts" part. The show/combative arts of the pro-wrestlers at the anime event "AJ" attracted more and more people and became a big whirlpool. I felt that this was the ultimate form of entertainment. It was a good opportunity for me to see the wonderfully beautiful form up close and personal, and a good chance for me to re-tighten my own belt.

--It was a good opportunity for me to re-tighten my own belt.

Suzuki: On a stage like this, you don't just go easy on the fighters and say "......" if it hurts too much, but you dropkick them with all your might, throw them with all your might, and punch them with all your might. That's why there is excitement and thrill. When we make a film, we should not just say, "If we do it this way, people will understand," but we should always go beyond that and beyond.

It's not all about what you say at these events, but about what makes people want to say, "That's right," or "That was great, did you see it? And we need to make films that will make the viewers of the interview say, "That's right," when they actually see the film. It was a moment when I was reminded of this.

--The audience that gathered seemed to be having a great time.

Suzuki: It's interesting that even though it's "AJ," you feel that the pro wrestling stage is very exciting (laughs). It makes you want to stop and say "wow. It's great. I think this is the true form of entertainment.

Not a cartoonish expression or equation, but just a sound and voice emanating from the body.

--And now, the anime "Kengan Asura" Season 2 is finally delivered. First of all, could you look back on how you started in playing Ouma?

Suzuki: There were so many things that I couldn't complete on my own, so I asked Mr. Kobayashi, the editor in charge of modeling Ouma, "I want to know what he actually receives, so may I have him punch and kick?" I asked him. (Editor's note: The original author, Ms. Sandorovich Yabako, and the editor in charge, Mr. Kobayashi, both have experience in fighting, and when drawing the fighting scenes in the original comic of this work, both of them performed kumite to verify the results. (Ms. Kobayashi also participated in the production of the anime version as a motion actor.) I myself have dabbled a little in kickboxing, so I have a vague idea of what it is like to punch someone. I started by holding a half-mitt to guard myself (against Mr. Kobayashi's punches) and a low-mitt to receive kicks, to get an idea of the level of force required to receive a kick.

--I was also able to learn what kind of power he had to take kicks with low mitts.

Suzuki: That's right. By actually experiencing it, I realized that it is more difficult to receive a punch than to punch out. Now that I understand this, what should I do next? That was the challenge for Season 1.

Looking at the completed film, it may have been "realistic," but I wanted to pursue "reality" as an expression that could be conveyed to others even more. It is better to lie there, so I felt that we should do more and more to push reality as a show.

--I felt that we should do more and more things to push the reality of the show, because it is better to lie.

Suzuki: There are so many moves (in battle) in this work that it is impossible to keep up with hand-drawing, which is why we created it in full CG. In order to make the movements more realistic, the technical aspect is very important, even for a single breath.

For example, when we make qigong waves or energy bullets (in the film), we have to say, "If I make a voice like this, it will be more realistic. If you make a voice like this, it sounds like that," which I think is an "anime-like expression.

But originally, it is necessary to produce such a voice because it is shaped by various things such as why the qigong waves are being emitted, what kind of feelings are being felt when they are emitted from the palm of the hand, ......, and so on. I think that is where the reality is mixed.

If I were to say something about this work, I would say, "It is a sound and a voice emanating from the body. If this is conveyed to the viewer (even if it is not according to the equation), then it doesn't matter what it is. The important part of the work is whether or not the sound is valid, and it is like going back to the starting point of animation. Director Seiji Kishi often asked us to create a sound that would emphasize the feelings of the situation and the content of the game.

What is Tatsuo Suzuki's pride as a "chairman"?

--I think it is related to that story, but in Season 1, before Corona, there were many seniors who were doing amazing performances beside you. What did you feel when you saw them?

Suzuki: It was not so much that I felt something when I saw the seniors, but I was giving them a lot of encouragement.

--Not that they were giving you encouragement, but that they were giving you encouragement?

Suzuki: They were. Because (the seniors) would slack off (laughs).

--(laughs).

Suzuki: I may have put it in a crude way, but they are all wonderful people, so no matter how you do it, it is a passing grade. If I were to pass without being told anything, then of course I would pass, but I know what "more than that" is, so I said to them, "You have to give me more than that. I respect seniors." I know what "more" means, so I say, "You have to give me more than that! You can't cut corners! And. That is my style.

So, instead of being influenced (by the seniors), I was thinking, "The seniors will be influenced by me. I know that they are excellent seniors, and I know that they can come up with great plays.

--I know that they are excellent seniors, and I know that they can come up with great plays.

Suzuki: That's right. They have made it to where they are now. I have the feeling that "I will not be satisfied unless you give us 10%, 12%, or 20%." For this reason, I make an effort, have respect for them, and respect their pride in their work.

Then he added, "If you have any questions about the work, please ask me. I will answer all your questions." "If anything happens, I will be sure to take responsibility, so don't worry. In return, I have high expectations of you," he told everyone.

--I said, "I will answer all your questions," and "If anything goes wrong, I will be sure to take responsibility. When I interview people who are playing the leading roles for the first time, I often hear them say, "It's my first time, so I don't know what to expect yet," when I say, "You are the chairperson. I think it's great that they are so new to the role, but I feel that you are different, despite the difference in our backgrounds.

Suzuki: Thankfully, I think it is because my seniors nurtured me, took care of me, and saved me. This is the only way I can repay my seniors.

In interviews, I often see people talking about how great someone is, but I always wonder if that is all they are looking at. I always wonder if that is all we are seeing. Because I know that the seniors I know can produce even more amazing things. I want to see that, and I have to work hard for that. I think it is polite and natural to say, "I will do this much, so please take care of me. That is why they help me and I help them. I think it is a mutual interaction.

--It is a courtesy and a way of thinking as a chairperson.

Suzuki: The senior members trust me and know how I am facing the microphone. I have to live up to that for the rest of my life, and if I may say so, that is my pride.

--I think that is a wonderful idea.

Suzuki: There are various productions and directors, so there is no one right answer. However, I want my answer to be different from the others, not just a little bit, but more than a little bit.

When people ask me, "Who is in charge of this group? I want to be able to say, "Oh, it's Tatsu. There is a reason why they say, "Oh, it's Tatsu, that's why this is the way it turned out. For this piece, instead of saying, "I want Tatsu to do the emotional and feeling aspects," I was told, "For Ouma, the only person who can physically perform the role is Tatsu. I can't replace you. You are the only one. There is no one else who can do it. There are no words that resonate as much as these.

--I am extremely happy.

Suzuki: That's why I keep thinking about what I can do to make the work even better. There were other words that made me happy, such as, "When Tatsu-san arrives, the scene changes," and "The atmosphere changes, and everything runs smoothly. I was just there from the beginning to the end and thought, "I didn't do anything, so why? I thought, "I didn't do anything. However, I felt that the fact that he told me that the atmosphere changed even just by that means that he trusts me a little as a chairperson. This is a skill you can't put on your resume (laughs).

--(laughs) - I would like you to write it in the special skills section of your profile (laughs).

Suzuki: Something like, "Special skill: I am good at raising the level of my work" (laughs).

(Reporting and writing by Kenichi Chiba; Photography by Shohei Kanazawa)

Present Campaign Outline

In commemoration of "KENGAN ASHURA" Season 2 distribution! One lucky winner will receive a checkerboard autographed by Tatsuo Suzuki!

To commemorate the release of "Kengan Ashura" Season 2, we are giving away an autographed cheki by Tatsuo Suzuki to one lucky winner.

• <Entry requirements
• Entry period: September 21, 2023 (Thu) - September 28, 2023 (Thu) 23:59
• Number of winners: 1
• Announcement of winners: Prizes will be shipped to the winners.
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• How to apply: Please fill out the application form below.

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