TOUGEN ANKI’s latest action-filled trailer has pumped people up for its newly announced July 2025 premiere. Alongside new footage of the anime adaptation of Yura Urushibara’s manga, a host of supporting cast members were revealed, breathing life into the characters we’ll soon get to know and love.
We recently got to sit down in Tokyo with three of those cast members: Natsuki Hanae (Juji Yusurube), Shogo Sakata (Ikari Yaoroshi), and Manaka Iwami (Homare Byobugaura). They shared their thoughts about their characters, which side of the Oni/Momotaro side they would choose, and what they’re excited to see in the upcoming broadcast to fans.
Check out the previous interview with the two lead characters: INTERVIEW: TOUGEN ANKI Anime Voice Leads Choose Their Side in the Oni, Momotaro Fight
All the questions were asked separately to each voice actor and have been translated into English and edited for clarity.
Please introduce yourself and your character in the series.
Natsuki Hanae: I’m Natsuki Hanae and I voice Juji Yusurube. Yusurube is the classmate–or, in a better way, a co-worker — of the main character, Shiki. One of his main points is that he wears glasses and looks like a serious character. He’s not well-suited for battle, but in terms of his abilities, he can scope out enemy positions. His abilities are more for information gathering.
If you only get this much of a description about him, you may think he’s a very serious and cool character, but the truth is, he loves girls, he hides the lecherous side of himself, and he’s kind of a bit naughty. He hides this interesting aspect of himself, so it’s fun to play this kind of character.
Shogo Sakata: Hello. My name is Shogo Sakata. I am a voice actor who belongs to an agency called Aoni Production. In TOUGEN ANKI, I voice the role of Ikari Yaoroshi.
In general, he has a very short temper and is incredibly harsh towards himself and others, but he has a pure side and allows the jokes to flow smoothly, so he has a unique personality.
Manaka Iwami: Hello, my name is Manaka Iwami and I voice Homare Byobugaura.
The character I play, Homare, is a very shy young girl. She can be pretty negative, but she’s also the kind of character you can watch grow throughout the series.
Were you familiar with the manga before you auditioned?
Natsuki Hanae: I only started reading the manga at the time of the audition because I am reluctant to read manga with roles I might be a good fit for. Usually, I read really masculine manga with really macho muscular characters or manga with messy relationships because if they were to get adapted into an anime, I probably would never work for those kinds of titles.
Otherwise, I just can’t enjoy it for what it is, so I usually don’t read manga for the roles I go for. However, during the audition process, I read TOUGEN ANKI. I think the Yusurube role was the only one I was considered for, and I thought the setting was very interesting. I liked the aspect between the Momotaro and the Oni. These are themes that Japanese people connect with, but there is still an originality to them, like using blood to fight, which I thought was fascinating.
Shogo Sakata: I hadn’t read the manga before auditioning, but I started reading the series while doing my tape audition for the role.
Manaka Iwami: I wasn’t familiar with it before the audition, but I did read it once I started auditioning.
What do you like about the manga? What are you excited to see translated into animation?
Shogo Sakata: The main character, Shiki, is … how do I say this? Quite the delinquent, and that is made quickly apparent, but there is also a kind of dumb side to him. I really enjoy the comedy that is born from that contrast, even though the environment and setting can be quite serious. I am looking forward to seeing how the fights from the manga will be interpreted into anime.
Manaka Iwami: TOUGEN ANKI uses Momotaro, a Japanese folktale, as one of its motifs. Japanese people are very familiar with this motif since they’ve all heard the story as kids.
There are a lot of incredible battles, but there’s also a dramatic story as well. Each of the individual characters has their own story to tell, which I think is really awesome. I also look forward to seeing how the various “Blood Eclipse Release” abilities are animated.
What is an aspect of your characters that you identify with?
Natsuki Hanae: I identify with the fact that we both wear glasses. I’ve been wearing glasses since elementary school, so we have that in common.
And — I don’t know if it’s okay to say this or not — but I also have a bit of a naughty side, so it is also something else I relate to. Well, really, I think all men relate to that. It reminds me of the days when I was in school. Not so much now since I’m married and have children, so I have settled down, but when I was young… I think many people can relate.
Shogo Sakata: That I identify with? I wonder… Maybe the fact that we’re both inexperienced in romance? *laughs*
Other than that, I think we’re complete opposites in every regard. I don’t really get angry, so…
Manaka Iwami: Like Homare, I’m also not a good communicator. I also identified with her anxiety and how timid she is sometimes, as it’s pretty similar to how I would act. I feel like I can empathize and somewhat understand her negativity.
TOUGEN ANKI is a kind of modern sequel to the Momotaro story, so I have to ask, whose side would you be on? The Momotaro or the Oni?
Natsuki Hanae: Both sides have their reasons for fighting, and both sides have characters with tragic pasts that motivate them to fight, so I think both sides are good in their own respects. At least, that’s how I read it. But with the TOUGEN ANKI manga, the Oni are the main characters, so you tend to empathize with them more. So if I had to pick one, I would pick the Oni…
Also, Oni horns are so cool.
Shogo Sakata: That’s a difficult question. But if I think back on the life that I’ve lived so far, I’ve had to face many adversities, so I think I would be on the side of the Oni.
Manaka Iwami: Oh! Hmm! Well, as a reader of TOUGEN ANKI, I think it’s natural to sympathize with the Oni. You get to see and learn about their circumstances and how, although they are Oni, a lot of them are good people who are suffering because they inherited Oni blood. So, I would have to say I think I resonate more with the Oni.
You’ve dealt with supernatural beings before in your previous series. What is it like to be on their side for TOUGEN ANKI?
Shogo Sakata: Although we call them “oni” (demons/devils), they’re very human-like, and it’s emphasized that they live their lives like humans. So I don’t think I felt a sense of, “I have to act like an oni!” way. I acted my character like a human who happened to be in the position of “oni.”
Manaka Iwami: Ah, yes. One of the main aspects of the story is that the bad guys* are on the Momotaro side.
I’m playing a character on the Oni side, who don’t perceive themselves as “bad.” So I haven’t been too conscious of the difference in the comparison between the two sides, but I do notice that there’s this component of wanting to resist this fate forced upon them. Our characters suffer due to the perception that Oni are dangerous, and they try their best to change that.
*Note: Historically, it has been the Oni who are considered bad.
Is there any aspect of the anime you’ve worked on so far that you’re excited for fans to see?
Natsuki Hanae: When Yusurube uses his Blood Eclipse Release ability, I think the animation will be amazing. Even in the manga, it’s depicted magnificently, so I wonder what it would be like when color and movement are added. The visuals are so incredible that even I want to watch it as soon as possible. Everyone’s acting is also very impressive, so please look forward to seeing how the characters come to life.
Shogo Sakata: There are many appealing aspects to TOUGEN ANKI, but what I especially like is his way of life. Though he himself is an oni, he puts those suffering first. He bases his decision-making and how he lives his life based on that aspect. I like that mindset, so I aimed to voice Ikari Yaoroshi so that he can be near Shiki, not as his support, but as his reinforcement. So I hope that everyone can see that, empathize, and, above all else, enjoy watching.
Manaka Iwami: I’d have to say the battle scenes and whether they’ve become cooler (compared to the manga). I think that’s what fans of the manga hope to see in an anime adaptation, and I am really looking forward to seeing them myself. I hope fans are excited too.
Do you have a message for international fans of the series who are excited to see TOUGEN ANKI animated?
Natsuki Hanae: To the international fans, this represents one part of Japanese culture, Momotaro… Does everyone know Momotaro? Or Oni?
Of course!
Natsuki Hanae: Things from Japanese culture, like samurai, are popular, right? Along that same line, TOUGEN ANKI has an innovative setting that I think everyone can enjoy. Even before its broadcast, I am confident that international fans will welcome TOUGEN ANKI with open arms. I look forward to your reactions, and I hope that I can bring that energy into my voice acting. I hope that you will be cheering us on.
Shogo Sakata: Is the Japanese folktale “Momotaro” well-known internationally?
It’s known as Peach Boy internationally, but we know the story quite well.
Shogo Sakata: I just heard that it seems to be relatively well-known, but I’m still not entirely sure if everyone knows the original folktale. It’s a different take on the “Momotaro” that you know and a series that portrays the perspective from the other side. Within that, there’s a moral to the story with many passionate lines that come from the battle scenes. I think it’s such an excellent series that international fans can also enjoy.
It would make me happy if you gave it a watch. Thank you very much.
Manaka Iwami: It fills me with happiness that fans overseas will be able to enjoy TOUGEN ANKI at the same time as fans in Japan. The story uses a Japanese folktale, Momotaro, as one of its motifs, so I hope fans can enjoy the series and Japanese culture together. That would make me so happy. I hope they not only enjoy the cool battles, but also the individual stories of each character and the bits of Japanese culture they are introduced to in the series.
The original TOUGEN ANKI manga series was created by Yura Urushibara and is published in Weekly Shonen Champion. Twenty-four volumes have currently been released in Japan, and the fourth volume is scheduled to be released in English by Yen Press on October 28, 2025. The anime adaptation of TOUGEN ANKI is scheduled to start on July 11, 2025. Thanks to REMOW for setting up this interview and providing on-site assistance. Translation by Momo Cha and Dan Luo.
