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Yoritomo Minamoto - Makoto Furukawa
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
I thought a lot about how to voice a character who has left such a mark on Japanese history and experimented a lot with how to express myself as him. I considered the fact that he is the head of the Genji clan and a military commander, and also took into account his visual style when creating my voice for him. I wanted to create a voice that was consistent with all those aspects. I also paid extra attention to how Yoritomo interacted with the hero of the story, and with other Genji. I really enjoyed this role.
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
I think Yoritomo is a multi-faceted character whose personality really shifts depending on which route the player is on. Those who are reading this interview and think they might choose his route may be wondering what his personality is like on that route, but I think they'll be interested to see how his personality varies from route to route.
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
Yoritomo is surprisingly jealous and is quick to anger. There is one scene in particular where I wondered just how things were going to turn out, and it ended unexpectedly sweet. In some of the other routes, Yoritomo appears as a villain in the story, and I think there are even some parts in his own route where he comes off as villainous.
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
There are a lot of sweet, sentimental scenes in the game, but a lot of dark and heavy themes, as well as some scenes of true epic heroism, and I would encourage users to play through the game as if they were reading a visual novel.
Each of the characters are based on historical figures, all of whom have unique characteristics, emotions, and stories to tell. I would encourage users to play through all the routes, including Yoritomo's, to experience the full richness of this story.
Tomomori Taira - Jun Fukuyama
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
There were quite a lot of lines to act and now that it's finally over, I feel a real sense of accomplishment. My character, Tomomori Taira, appears in every route of the story, and I feel that his character varies slightly depending on which route the player chooses. I really enjoyed playing all the different sides of him.
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
If Yoritomo Minamoto is the hero of this story, Tomomori is the exact opposite. He's a villain. He seems to live very aloof from the rest of the world, he seems happy, but also unsatisfied. He's a very hard person to pin down.
And yet, there are times when he seems obsessed with the main character, Shanao.
There is such a clean break from the person Tomomori normally is, and the person he is when it comes to Shanao, I think users will really enjoy seeing the change in him.
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
Rather than one scene in particular, I really enjoyed seeing the different roles he played depending on the route the player is on. It was so fun to play his character in so many different ways. Whether he is pursuing Shanao to live with her, or to defeat her, there is such a wide range of scenarios, I think players will really enjoy seeing the whole range of the character.
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
I've been a voice actor for over 20 years now, and the role of Tomomori feels very unique to me. When I started, I was often playing heroes who wanted to save the world, and recently I've been playing villains who want to watch it all burn. But Tomomori is a character without such grand ambitions, he wants only to ensnare Shanao. So be careful everyone, you'll need all the help you can get to avoid his charm!
I hope you all enjoy it to the very end!
Noritsune Taira - Kengo Kawanishi
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
Well, Noritsune is a character with a lot of volume and a lot of battle scenes, so my voice is pretty tired! But since he's such a great character, I also feel a real sense of exhilaration. Noritsune is one of the leaders of the Heike army, so he needs to show dignity and strength at all times...at least that's how I tried to play him!
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
The Heike rule Kyoto with an iron fist and are surprisingly brutal to the people that live there, but Noritsune is just trying to live life as a gallant samurai. I get the feeling that he doesn't have a single scheming bone in his body. Everything is just so straightforward to him. When I was recording lines, I felt like I was playing a simple game of catch. The person he's talking to may be plotting or scheming, but not Noritsune, he just tosses the ball right back, plainly stating how he feels.
At first he sees the main character as a rival, but then their relationship grows and changes. He's a man, and he possesses a great desire to get whatever he wants... I guess that makes him sound more like a little boy though, huh? (Laughs)
He's not one for subtlety in romance, he'll just come right out and say, "Hey, I like you!"
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
Because the story is based on real historical events, I think the game provides a fascinating story for those who like historical fiction. History has various interpretations depending on the person, but there are scenes in the game that I remember from history class in school, and I felt it gave me a new perspective on these people and events. Because the player too is taking the role of a famous figure in Japanese history, I think users will gain a new perspective and be able to immerse themselves into the world and story of the game.
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
It may sound cliché but I am really happy to have been a part of this project. I always enjoyed learning about the battles between the Heike and Genji growing up, and I was really excited to be a part of this project because of that. After completing work on this project, I feel that it is a really fantastic story, and I'd be so grateful if you pick it up and enjoy playing it as much as we enjoyed making it. Thank you!I hope you all enjoy it to the very end!
Benkei Musashibo - Yuichiro Umehara
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
The story itself was very interesting, but because it is a period piece, there were many difficult sentences and lines, and at times it was quite difficult to record.
I've never worked on a project that uses so much old-style Japanese and it was a great learning experience, though I'm afraid I still don't totally have a handle on samurai-era Japanese.
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
Well, I think Benkei is a person that every Japanese person is very familiar with. He's got a really big voice and personality, and I worried that I wouldn't be able to do him justice because I don't have a big voice.
What I really wanted to emphasize about Benkei was his kindness and his gentleness, something that makes him stand out in the context of war. At times, it was difficult for me to gain a common understanding with Benkei, but in the end, after everything was recorded, I felt we made a really likable character.
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
In the early stages of the game, for example when he meets Shanao at Gojo Bridge, he is played like a villain, which is totally different than his character later on in the game. I tried to make him seem really bad, which was a lot of fun. Of course playing to Benkei's true nature was also really fun, but it was nice to mix it up as the villain.
There are many battles scenes where Benkei yells or works up a sweat, but then there are the scenes where Shanao and Benkei are walking on the beach, or playing with children. I really enjoyed those scenes, I found them very calming.
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
The background for this game is the Genpei War, a famous event in Japanese history that most people are probably familiar with. Of course, people knowledgeable about the history of the Genpei War will enjoy it, but I think even those that are less familiar with the story will be able to enjoy it too!
The main character and the characters that surround her are very charming, and I think your impression of the characters will continue to change and grow depending on the route you choose, so I would encourage users to play through them all! Thank you!
Shungen - Soma Saito
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
It's a solid story filled with both historical fact and fantastic originality and I really enjoyed doing the voice work for this game. It was fun to see the various aspects of Shungen as a character. He can be both sweet, but also bold, and his place as Shanao's childhood friend gave him a unique perspective on her story.
Also because the game takes place in feudal Japan, I definitely struggled with some of the old-style Japanese! (Laughs)
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
Shungen is like a brother to Shanao, the two of them grew up together, and unlike some of the other characters in this story, he is not based on a historical figure. He's also one of the few figures that knows Shanao is a girl, and I think his position as a childhood friend gives him a unique perspective on her character.
Although he may be smaller than some of the other leads, his father also served the Genji and it's clear that duty is very important to him. Shanao really is like family to him, and he always acts in her best interest. In addition he is very kind and earnest, so I really liked him as a character. I also really enjoyed the comedic interplay between him and some of the other characters, especially Benkei.
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
This story isn't about one person. It's about a grand struggle between two of the most famous families in Japan, the Heike and the Genji, and it was interesting to see the interplay between history and fiction in this work.
Even for those who know the history of this war, I think the game does a really good job of laying out the consequences of the war, and makes a powerful statement on how history is written.
I was especially impressed by that on the Shungen route and was very impressed with the themes that came up on the route. I have always been interested in this time period in history, and to see it all come to life in such a compelling drama was really worthwhile. I think players will enjoy the climax of every route!
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
This is an epic story that depicts the Genpei war on both a grand and personal scale. I highly recommend users play though each route as their perception of the characters and events will change with each playthrough. I hope players enjoy the game!
Shigehira Taira - Ryota Osaka
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
Of all the characters in the game, Shigehira is by far the most out there character and he was a lot of fun to play!
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
The character has really big swings of emotion, and I really tried to give it my all. I don't really have such big emotions, so it was quite a challenge for me.
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
The character is featured heavily in the battle scenes, and I really enjoyed how he loses control at that time. I also wondered how could there possibly be a route where he's a good guy? But there is, and I'd definitely recommend players try it out!
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
I think when users first play the game, they'll look at Shigehara and think "What's with this guy?", but the more they play the game the more they'll get to know and like him. Shigehira's not the only one with a strong personality and I hope players can enjoy getting to know all the characters!
Tsugunobu Sato - Takashi Kondo
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
Being a part of a story like this, based on what is basically a legend in Japanese history, is always fun, and I had a lot going through my mind during recording. That said, I really enjoyed a lot about the project, including the role.
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
He may look soft, but he's actually a magnificent samurai. I really felt a shift in the character when going between his daily life and wartime. Tsugunobu has many facets which made him fun to play.
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
There are almost too many to name. (Though one scene in particular where Shanao and Tsugunobu are alone comes to mind...) I don't want to spoil anything though; you'll just have to play and find out! There are also some very interesting points where the story diverges from history.
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
I think it's a really interesting work of historical fiction. I hope players will enjoy exploring every corner of the plot!
Tadanobu Sato - Katsuyuki Konishi
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
I've never done a period piece like this before and remembered so many names I haven't heard since history class! (laughs)
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
When I first saw Tadanobu's character illustration I thought, "this guy sure is handsome!", and when I read the script, I realized just how full of life he is!
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
All of my scenes, of course!
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
I sure hope fans will give it a chance! You can even pretend you're studying history while you play! I hope you enjoy it!
Takatsuna Sasaki - Amatsuki
First of all, how do you feel now that recording has wrapped up?
There's a lot of passion wrapped up in this project from the illustrations to the world-building, not to mention the fantastic characters. As we were building up to the finale, I felt my enthusiasm build with each line!
What do you think are some of the best aspects of this character?
Takatsuna is always bright, kind, and positive, no matter the situation he finds himself in. There are many scenes in which Takatsuna acts as the bridge for characters with different perspectives and worldviews, and I did my best to be as lively as possible in the recording sessions. Everyone loves Takatsuna, he's just so cute!
Were there any scenes or moments that left a keen impression on you?
My character's sub-route, of course! Of course, Takatsuna shines in the other routes too, but I think seeing him interact directly with Shanao was a real treat. I hope everyone will like it, too!
Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to the release?
In addition to doing the opening and ending songs, I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to voice Takatsuna Sasaki. I'm so excited to see how fans react to the game, and I've been looking forward to the launch since the game was announced! I hope you all enjoy the game and play it through to the end!
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