There will also be autographs to give away! The recording studio is a friendly place! Interview with Yusuke Kobayashi, Shohei Komatsu, Rina Motozumi, and Yuki Wakai of the spring anime "The Wise Son," which gathered a cast of unique personalities!

The TV anime "The Sage's Son" will begin airing on April 10, 2019 (Wednesday). With the broadcast approaching, we asked main cast members Yusuke Kobayashi, Shohei Komatsu, Rina Honzumi, and Yuki Wakai about their impressions of the work and episodes from the recording sessions.

When discussing the topic of "magic" associated with the work, Ms. Komatsu's unique ideas left everyone bewildered.　The interview was full of laughter and showed how well the four cast members get along with each other.

The obis of the comic books prepared for the interview were lined with interesting catchphrases, such as "Suntiteru," "Mago Manji," and "Sun's Name is.... and other interesting catchphrases. The four cast members, who are good friends, went on to talk about their impressions using those words. ......

--First of all, what was your impression of the film?

KOBAYASHI I am Yusuke Kobayashi, who plays the role of Shin-Wolford. In "The Philosopher's Grandson," the main character Shin, who was reincarnated from another world and has a wealth of knowledge, is picked up by a wise man and becomes strong in all aspects, including magic and physical abilities. Shin is just so strong and muscular that I thought it was a very exhilarating and "Mago Manji" work.

Everyone (laughs)

Yusuke Kobayashi as Shin Wolford

Komatsu My name is Shohei Komatsu, and I play August von Allsheid (Aug). I like to read webcomics, and it is my daily routine to check the newest one at midnight every day. The Philosopher's Grandson" was one of the works I had been checking out, and I was enjoying reading it even before I was told about the audition. There are many funny scenes, and I think Shin is really "grandson" in this work. ...... Is that the wrong way to use the word "grandchild"?

Kobayashi No, you are right. Sorry, I didn't react.

Wakai Oh, I didn't notice!　It was so natural I didn't notice.

Motoizumi One more time, please (laughs).

Komatsu Really, I think Shin is the "grandson" of the film.

Everyone (applauds)

Komatsu When it starts airing, everyone will say, "He's my grandson! He's my grandson! I'm sure that when it starts airing, people will start saying, "He's my grandson! I hope this work will be talked about in various places.

Shohei Komatsu, who plays August von Allsheid (Aug)


Motoizumi My name is Rina Motoizumi, who plays Sicily von Claude. I love fantasy, so I really enjoyed the original story as a reader, and until the recording started, I was excited thinking "I can't wait to talk with everyone as Sicily. I also had the feeling that maybe I had a previous life and was reincarnated in this world. This work is really like "My grandson's name is...". I feel that this work is really like "The Name of My Grandchildren.

Wakai: My name is Yuki Wakai, and I play the role of Maria von Messina. I haven't had the chance to see many "me-too" type of works, but I have the impression that "The Wise Son" is a work that is easy to get into and that anyone can enjoy. It is very gag-like, so during the audition, I thought, "I can play around with it. Shin is a character who came from a previous life, so there is a sense of a previous life.

--What are the characters you are playing?

Shin Kobayashi is an out-of-this-world person who has reincarnated from a previous life. His only flaw is that he grew up without any knowledge of the common sense of this world. However, because of this flaw, he is well-liked by everyone, even though he is a maverick.

Komatsu Aug is a very popular prince in the Kingdom of Allsheid, but he is a lonely person until his best friend, Shin, comes along. He is a character with two sides to him. He usually acts like royalty, but at the same time enjoys making fun of those close to him, such as Shin.

Motoizumi: Sicily is a very gentle and kind girl. Her naturalness is also attractive, but she is also very interested in love stories and has a meek side, which I think is cute.

Wakai Maria is the complete opposite of Cicily. She is strong-willed, firm, and cheerful like her big sister. She is a very sweet character.

Rina Honizumi as Sicily von Claude


--How was it to actually play the character?

Kobayashi: Shin has a lot of lines explaining magic and other things. However, he is not trying to explain things in an easy-to-understand way, but rather to say, "This is what I mean ....... Why don't you understand? But if this sounds sarcastic, I am not a beloved character. So, I was always conscious of the fact that I was acting in a way that I was explaining things honestly, but not in a way that would make people hate me.

Komatsu: Aug is a character who leads the story, but this was the first time for me to play a main character who talks so much in an anime, so I was surprised at the amount of dialogue at first. To be honest, I was very nervous, but Yusuke-san was standing next to me and talked to me gently. He also helped me with the recording of the dialogue separately for each of the voice actors.

At that time, I think I understood a little of how the lonely Aug felt when he met Shin!

Motoizumi Every single thing is interesting ...... (laughs).

Kobayashi I always feel a "DOYA! at the end of every comment (laughs).

Wakai Yeah, yeah. You tend to be smug.

Komatsu That's not true! (laughs).

--What about Sicily and Maria?

Honsen: I played Sicily freely, but although she is shy, she has stronger feelings for Shin than anyone else, so I was conscious of that core strength in my performance.

Wakai: There are a lot of gag scenes in this work, and when Shin and his friends make jokes, Maria is usually the first to make a joke. There are many characters, so in the latter half of the work, there are some episodes in which Maria does nothing but make jokes (laughs). (Laughs.) So, I put a lot of effort into making sure that even just the tskkis were memorable. It was fun to play with different variations.

Yuki Wakai as Maria von Messina

--Is the postrecording studio as friendly as it is today?

Wakai That's right.

Motoizumi It is relaxed.

Komatsu I am even quieter.

Wakai That's true. Today, I wondered, "Is this the kind of character I am?　I thought, "You are a strange person" (laughs).

Komatsu I get really nervous during postrecording. I'm not a strange person (laughs).

Kobayashi Although the work site is loose like this, everyone is very attentive to each other. There was one time when I went to a recording session looking very tired, dragging the fatigue from the previous day with me. Shohei looked very concerned and said, "Yusuke-san, are you tired today? A few seconds later, Honzumi-san came in and said, "Mr. Kobayashi, you look tired today, don't you? He said, "Mr. Kobayashi, you are tired today, aren't you?

Everyone laughed.

Kobayashi Immediately after that, Mr. Wakai said, "Mr. Kobayashi, aren't you tired today?　Are you okay? I am shy and don't like to talk to other people. I am shy and cannot see people's faces very well, so I thought it was great that the younger members could notice that part of me. But those words made me very happy. Thanks to that, I was able to finish the project in good spirits. That was rather recently, though (laughs).

(laughs) -- Veteran voice actors such as Yusaku Yara (Merlin Walford) and Masara Takashima (Merida Bowen) are also in the cast.

Komatsu: Everyone's acting is very funny. There are a lot of gag scenes from the first episode, and they showed us how to do them.

Motoizumi: Ms. Takashima showed us how to be a "cool woman" behind her back. I learned a lot from her, as she was very considerate of various things, such as giving me a microphone that was easy to get into.

Kobayashi The two of you are like Merlin and Merida, making mischievous comments during breaks, making for a very warm and welcoming working environment. Mr. Yara seems to like drinking, so I wanted to go out for drinks with him after the recording, but it was not possible. ...... That is my only regret.

Wakai: Tomoyuki Morikawa (who plays Oliver Strom) is also a veteran, but I didn't feel any barriers, and he was a wonderful person to talk to.

--What kind of magic would you like to use?

Wakai: I would like to use "teleportation. I would like to be able to sleep in until the last minute in the morning and get to the site without having to take a crowded train, or be able to go home right away. This is unwavering.

Kobayashi: I would like to fly. I have longed to fly since I was a child. If someone saw me flying, they would say, "Hmm?　A bird? I dream of flying in the sky when the sun is setting so fast that even if someone saw me flying, they would just say, "Hmmm? So, what's next?

Motoizumi Komatsu-san seems to have something interesting to say, so may I start? (laughs) I want to stop time. (laugh) I want to stop time. I am not very good at mornings. When I want to sleep a little more, I want to stop time and start moving with full readiness.

Wakai That's great!

Kobayashi Yes, Shohei. Go ahead.

Komatsu Aug uses electricity magic. I want to use electric magic too.

Kobayashi Why?

Komatsu Because it is the closest to me and I can do it without being noticed.

Kobayashi What do you mean by ......? (laughs).

Komatsu The electricity magic that Aug uses is the ultimate in static electricity. So, I would like to store static electricity on the doorknob and play a trick on people who come into the room.

Everyone.......

Komatsu I'd like to play a prank on someone's sweater, like bubbling up static electricity and saying, "Ow! Like that. Do you get it?

Wakai...... Yes, I got the message.

Komatsu I thought that in reality, the best way to use electricity without being detected was to use it (laughs).

Motoizumi But wouldn't electricity be able to improve blood circulation?

Wakai Indeed!

Komatsu I see, that's a way to use it.

Kobayashi It is magic that could be used for medical purposes, but you want to use it for mischief.

Komatsu That's not it! (laughs) Aug also likes to tease people close to him, so I guess this is an echo of that.

-Let's end this story now (laughs). Finally, do you have a message for the fans who are looking forward to the broadcast?

Motoizumi There are some very heavy scenes, but there is a good balance between the seriousness and the heartwarming everyday scenes. Please watch it with a relaxed mind.

Komatsu The battle scenes are performed with a lot of passion, so the battles should be exciting to watch. I hope you will also pay attention to the acting.

Wakai: I think parents and children will enjoy watching it together, and those who live alone and spend lonely nights will be very comforted by watching this work. I hope many people will watch it.

Kobayashi: I mentioned at the beginning that "Shin is just so strong," but if you ask me if everything is OK as long as he is strong, it's actually not like that. ...... But that's not the case. It is an easy-to-watch film, but at the same time, it is a work that makes you think, so I hope you will enjoy it all the way through.

(Interview, text, and photos by Mikoto Tomoyasu)

Commemorating the broadcast of "The Wise Son," Yusuke Kobayashi, Shohei Komatsu, Rina Motozumi, and Yuki Wakai autographed color paper giveaway!

To commemorate the start of "The Wise Son" broadcast, we are giving away color paper autographed by Yusuke Kobayashi, Shohei Komatsu, Rina Honzumi, and Yuki Wakai to two lucky winners. Please read the detailed application guidelines before applying.

＜Prizes

A colorful paper autographed by Yusuke Kobayashi, Shohei Komatsu, Rina Motozumi, and Yuki Wakai

<Entry requirements

Application period: April 10, 2019 (Wed) - April 16, 2019 (Tue) 23:59

Number of winners: 2 persons

Announcement of winners: Prizes will be sent to the winners.

Prizes will be shipped by the end of June 2019.

How to apply: Use the dedicated application form below.

＜Please note the following

Registration (free of charge) is required to apply.

Only one entry per person is allowed.

We will not be able to respond to any inquiries regarding lottery results or shipping status.

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Prizes must be shipped within Japan.

We will take the utmost care in packaging the prizes, but please note that we cannot accept returns or exchanges in the event that the prizes are damaged due to an accident during transportation.

Please note that the prize will be invalidated in the following cases

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