Commemorating the delivery of Season 2 of the anime "Kengan Asura! Interview with Tatsuo Suzuki as Juki Snake Ouma, Part 2 ─ "I'm glad that you trust me even though I'm such a clumsy chairperson.

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 was broadcast on terrestrial TV and BS from January through June 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 been dealing with this work as the leader of the show and episodes with the splendid cast members. He also talked about the highlights and power-ups of Season 2.

I'm glad that you trust me even though I'm such a clumsy leader.

--I was overwhelmed by the tension of the performers in Season 1, the sense that they couldn't let up. You were acting as if your veins were about to break.

Suzuki: I want all the actors, regardless of whether they are young or experienced, to put their whole heart and soul into their performances, and (as the chairperson), I have to lead a suicide mission. Even as a shin-gari (leader), I have to beat them (buttocks) and be aware of their status as a general. I do everything with a lot of enthusiasm, so I think I create the moments when no one can let their guard down.

Even during the gaya, I stand in front of everyone. If I don't hear a voice, I say, "Young man, your voice isn't coming out. The newcomers would hold their heads in their hands and say, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was sorry," he would say. Tatsu-san's voice is too loud, so may I ask you to step back a little? (laughs).

--(laughs). - If the chairperson's voice was the loudest in the gaya, it would be difficult to use it (laughs).

(laughs) Suzuki: Yes, yes. Sometimes we finally use the gaya when the veterans are present because there are so many people, but the seniors laugh and say, "It's been a while," while hurling tremendous abuse at us. Tatsu is out there listening to this too, right?" I could also hear them saying, "Tatsu is listening to this outside, too, isn't he? I kept listening from outside the booth, thinking, "That's right!

--In terms of tremendous acting, the last scene of Season 1, when you and Raian were fighting, was very powerful.

Suzuki: We were all on the edge of each other's seat.

--I was so impressed that I was worried that my voice would get crushed after the recording.

Suzuki: Matsuoka-san (Matsuoka Sadaojo, who played Kureraian) was crushed (laughs). (laughs) Actually, we also recorded the game after that match, but Matsuoka-san's voice was not working. He was still trying to participate, but they made him sit down (because he didn't have to do it), and I was the only one doing fine.

--Did you do well?

Suzuki: I was totally fine. I have never been crushed by "KENGAN ASHURA". I have built my body that way. I also have a bad character, so I made Mr. Matsuoka, who was saying, "I'm sorry," sit down and said, "Yes, this is the difference between you and me" (laughs). Then he said, "Let's go for a drink when we're done!" He said.

--It was good that you were able to establish such a system in Season 1, wasn't it?

Suzuki: Yes, it was. All the actors trusted me. As a side note, when we had the launch party, there were three times as many people as the sound production team had expected (laughs). Almost all of the staff and 90% of the actors came, and the launch site was changed just before the event. Everyone said, "It's Tatsu," which was very encouraging. I am so clumsy, and I am supported by everyone more often than not, but I was grateful and happy that they trusted me. I think I am who I am because of all of you.

--Speaking of launch parties, I heard that you went out for drinks with everyone after the regular recording sessions.

Suzuki: We went every week. In episode 0 of "Kengan Omega," which depicts the aftermath of "Kengan Asura," there is a restaurant called "Izakaya Wattai," which is a reference to a tavern we used to go to all the time. When I saw it, I thought, "This is the same place we always go! (laughs).

--(laughs).

Suzuki: That's right. I was surely doing location scouting, and before I knew it, I was even taking photos of the materials. That's how long I was there. Anyway, it was a site where meat, rice, and alcohol were served.

The conversation with Mr. Cho was an impromptu jazz session.

--If you had to pick one thing that was particularly memorable about Season 1, what would it be?

Suzuki: I would have to say the postrecording sessions with my seniors. For example, Akira Ishida (who played Hajime Ei) prioritized his own performance, so when I felt that there was a slight discrepancy with the original work, he would give me detailed support such as "Akira, this part is probably important, so please pay attention to this part. I was very happy to see how the older members acted and behaved, and I was able to watch their performances change right in front of my eyes.

--As for the cast, I would like to ask about Mr. Cho who played the role of Kazuo Yamashita. He is a very good character and his acting is wonderful.

Suzuki: He is very attractive (laughs). It is the heroine that everyone is thrilled to see, so Kazuo Yamashita is the heroine of "Kengan Asura".

--Do you record together?

Suzuki: We record together every time.

--I am always drawn in by Mr. Cho's acting.

Suzuki: Basically, no two performances are ever the same, whether it is a test, a production, or a retake. I am the same type of person, but I enjoy it because it always changes. Every performance is like an improvised jazz session, and you never know where the rhythm will change or where the solo will come in. It's an exchange where if we don't read the air, we get eaten alive. That is irresistibly fun and pleasant. When I say things like, "It's fun, isn't it?" in the booth, Mr. Cho replies, "That's great!

--It's really a wonderful time for me.

Suzuki: No, not at all. But it is precisely because there are things in the recording booth that the sound director cannot follow up on, that it is important to have a chairperson, and such works (with a good chairperson) turn into works that will remain in people's memories. Such works nurtured me, so I wanted to do it that way if I was going to do it.

That is why I asked a lot of my seniors. I asked them, "What were you doing as the chairperson for this production?" "I wonder why you were so passionate about it. I asked many people. Our seniors have produced many legendary works that are fascinating and make us want to see them again and again. I wondered why. I wondered why, but after listening to them, I was able to discover that this was the common denominator. It doesn't matter if we are going against the times or not.

My highest priority is to create good works. If there is something that I should not do that is not in line with the current era, I simply remove it and do what I can. If I don't do what I can do, I cannot win. What I do is only in the booth, but I believe that only such works will actually remain in people's memories, and I am clumsily aware of this.

One of my goals is to reduce people's vocabulary so that all they can say is, "Wow!

--I've heard a lot of things about Season 2, and I'm getting more and more excited about Season 2. Once again, please tell us about the features and highlights of Season 2.

Suzuki: This time, the modeling of the body has been reviewed and upgraded from Season 1. （The animators, including those at LARX (animation production company), have also improved their skills, and the level of passion is different. Even in the fist-fighting scenes, the way they draw, show, and make you feel is at a high level.

In terms of technology, under my leadership (as I mentioned at the beginning of this article), we are shifting in the direction of seeking a reality that is not realistic. There is an aspect of documentary that creates the illusion that this kind of world may exist, and there is a kind of bloody, kaleidoscopic, and eerie feeling to it. Various things have been upgraded, and while the hardware called "kengan ashula" remains the same, the contents are so different that it seems like a different thing. It's almost like a car that gets a minor change but almost a full model change.

--Season 1 was also of high quality, and I don't have the words to describe it, but it made me say "wow" and "wow! I don't know how to put it into words, but it made me say "wow" and "wow".

Suzuki: That's exactly right. One of my goals is to make the audience's vocabulary so limited that all they can say is "wow". During the post recording of Season 1, Director Kishi said, "I am going to make an anime that will make the world go "wow", so please support me. He said he wanted to surprise the world on a global scale. That is our goal.

--For those who haven't read the original work, it's simply a fun to wonder who will win in the tournament. For those who have not read the original, it will be fun to see who will win in the tournament.

Suzuki: Please wait with excitement. I didn't like them at all, but once they started fighting, I really liked them! I'm sure you'll see something like that, so I hope you'll pay attention to that as well.

--I hope people will pay attention to that.

Suzuki: That's fine. Moreover, Mr. Koji Takanashi, the accompanist, put a lot of effort into creating a different entrance music for each fighter. In this respect for mixed martial arts and different types of martial arts, everyone says, "Otherwise, it wouldn't be interesting, would it? They sacrifice everything else to make "KENGAN ASHURA" a good work, so it is fun for me, too.

--I think that makes "Kengan Ashura" a special work for you, doesn't it?

Suzuki: I have that kind of involvement with every work. I believe that every work should be like that. I wonder why the works that don't do so are not so special. However, my role changes depending on my position on the board, so I don't push too hard against it. I have my own position as a worker, so I just say, "I will move in this way because I am in this position.

In this production, I am entrusted with the role of the chairperson, and I think about what I should do in the Kishigumi, and I move accordingly. The atmosphere of the work changes as the director changes, so I say, "This is what I'm going to do. If you say that this is what makes me special, I am happy.

--I think it is because you are the chairperson that "KENGAN ASHURA" is what it is. By the way, at the end of "AJ", Konosuke Takeshita said to you, "I look forward to the next time you step into the ring sometime.

Suzuki: He always wants to bring me into the ring. I wish he would stop (laughs).

-But, you had experience in kickboxing. ......

Suzuki: I started only for "Kengan Ashula," so I thought I had gained something, and I don't do it anymore, because I am still a voice person. Even so, we have a professional wrestler named Inada-san (laughs).

(Laughs.) There is another reason why I said I didn't want to do it. After all, it is when professionals fight that drama is created and the fun comes out. As I said earlier, if I have a sanctuary in the booth as a professional voice, the ring is a sanctuary for professional wrestlers, and I want to respect that. That is why it is not a place where I can casually stand.

Of course, I am honored to be invited. I am also happy to be told that I am qualified to do so, but I don't do it because I am told to, and I don't think I should go up unless I have something active that I want to do, or unless I am good enough to cross the professional line. It is professional respect.

--That's right. I look forward to "Kengan Ashura Season 2," not just your success in the ring. Thank you very much!

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

Film information】 ※Honorifics omitted.
■Anime "KENGAN ASHURA Season2
Worldwide exclusive distribution on Netflix from September 21, 2023 (Thursday)

＜Staff
Original Story: Sandorovich Yabako / Animation: Domeon (published by Kobogakkan "Manga One")
Director: Seinani Kishi
Series Composition: Makoto Uezu
Character Design: Kazuaki Morinda
Music: Koji Yamashina (Team-MAX)
Animation Production: LARX ENTERTAINMENT

＜Cast
The most famous actor in the world: Tatsuo Suzue (Suzuwa)
Kageo Shita: Cho
Hideki Nozuki: Nakada
Kaede Akiba: Minami UchisoHan_2F2D↩⼣
Mr. Rihei: Mr. Fumiko Hayato
Jun Sekibayashi: Toru Inada
Cosmo Imai: Junya Enoki
Kiryuu Setsuna: Namikawa Tousuke, etc.

© 2023 Sandorovich Yabako, Domeon, Kobogakkan/Kengan-kai 2