Are the Yamato crew treated like animals?

Host: Thank you for joining us today despite your busy schedules. The much-talked-about anime Be Forever Yamato is getting positive reviews, and I’d like to hear various things from everyone who appeared in it. First, please introduce yourself, including the role you’re playing. Starting with Mr. Tomiyama, the main character…

Tomiyama: Not at all. The main character is Yamato. (Laughs) Susumu Kodai wouldn’t exist without Yamato…

Nagai: Everyone here has been in it since Part 1, but Kobayashi-san, you’ve played a different role each time.

Kobayashi: That’s right. I guess you could say I have no principles. (Laughs) I appeared in Part 1 as Domel, then Zordar in Farewell, and then I was the captain of Yamato in Be Forever.

Tomiyama: It seems that Kobayashi-san is fully immersed in Yamato. (Laughs)

Asagami: Domel was really cool.

Kobayashi: Domel is my favorite character too. He was cool even when he died. That character has a lot of female fans. Zordar has a lot of male fans, though.

Nagai: But they all died, didn’t they? (Laughs) Yamanami was killed in battle again this time. To be honest, I’m half dead too. (Laughs) I played both Tokugawa and Sado, but both characters were there to add color to Yamato.

Tomiyama: If Okita is the father, then Tokugawa is the grandfather.

Asagami: Tokugawa was really good. He doesn’t talk much, but he works together with the young people.

Tomiyama: That’s right. In that respect, Sado is comic relief…a rare character for Yamato.

Asagami: There’s also Analyzer as comic relief…

Nagai: When I got the role of Sado, I wondered if it was really the right one for me. Because he’s just a veterinarian who’s on a ship to save the world and is in charge of managing health. He’s also clumsy and drinks a lot. (Laughs) So it’s like all the crew on the Yamato are treated like animals. (Laughs)

Asagami: But that calm Tokugawa’s son is also pretty good comic relief. (Laughs)

Crying because of a line from the movie

Host: Everyone, you’ve seen Yamato from Part 1, and now you’ve made another one, so I’d like to hear your thoughts on Be Forever.

Asagami: In a word, the art is really beautiful. It was drawn in minute detail, and watching it as an anime fan, the attention to detail in the visuals really moved me. The fact that even the tiniest line was drawn with such care made me feel really good about it.

Tomiyama: I agree. It was a really beautiful picture.

Nagai: I was especially moved by the backgrounds.

Kobayashi: Every detail was intricate. When we were recording, we couldn’t help but let out a cheer.

Tomiyama: That’s right.

Kobayashi: It’s something that’s never happened before.

Asagami: About 60% of the scenes were done. I’d like to see how it was completed at the theater.

Host: Oh, you haven’t seen it yet?

Asagami: That’s right.

Tomiyama: I haven’t seen it at all.

Kobayashi: I hope there will be a preview screening.

Tomiyama: There was one for Farewell.

Asagami: I heard it was tough for them this time. Apparently they stayed up all night for three days to get it done in time for the opening.

Kobayashi: But the film I saw during the recording was three hours long. The film being screened in theaters is about 40 minutes shorter.

Asagami: That 40 minutes must have taken a lot of work. It’s so frustrating to see it cut.

Kobayashi: Even if you set the running time from the beginning, the images gradually expand, and it ends up being a long film.

Tomiyama: I guess so. If you have strong feelings about it, it can’t be helped.

Kobayashi: That’s why it came to life in terms of acting. There’s a pause after the first line, rather than just going straight to the next one. The reaction to the lines gave us enough time to take a breath. It felt very natural.

Asagami: There was also talk of redoing the picture to match the lines. Usually we have to match the character’s movements. I was really happy.

Tomiyama: I ended up crying during the scene where Kodai can’t bring himself to fire at the artificial city where Sasha is, and has to hold the trigger of the Wave-Motion Gun.

Asagami: Yeah, you could tell even from behind. After they finished the lines and sat down, Takeshi Aono (Sanada) and Tomiyama-san were trembling. At that time, I was watching through the glass from the control room, and Nishizaki-san was also sitting still. I looked at his eyes and they were watery.

Kobayashi: I also couldn’t help but burst into tears. (Laughs)

Asagami: After the scene was over, Nishizaki-san and the sound director Tashiro-san both nodded in unison and said, “Yes! That’s great!” (Laughs)

Tomiyama: It really was a spontaneous reaction.

Smooth recording

Host: This story had two big pillars, which was a little different from the past, wasn’t it? Did you have any difficulties in that regard?

Nagai: Not really. But if I say it so casually, it sounds like we made it up as we went along. (Laughs)

Tomiyama: The roles have already been created.

Nagai: Right. In other words, the situation changed, but the people like Sado and Kodai haven’t changed at all. The only thing that changes is how they deal with the situation.

Tomiyama: The essence doesn’t change.

Host: In that respect, Kobayashi-san’s role was completely new.

Kobayashi: No, I didn’t have that much trouble either.

Nagai: His role changes every time, so Kobayashi-san was the one who had the most work. (Laughs)

Tomiyama: Because you really changed. (Laughs)

Nagai: One minute you’re playing a bad guy, and the next you’re a good guy. That’s the most difficult thing. (Laughs)

Tomiyama: I’m sure fans will recognize Kobayashi-san’s voice no matter what role he plays.

Kobayashi: I’d like to ask fans what they think about me playing different roles.

Nagai: “He’s unprincipled!” Or something like that. (Laughs)

Kobayashi: Come to think of it, there was a fan letter like that. But only one. (Laughs)

Tomiyama: Yamanami-san also died this time.

Kobayashi: But the captain of Yamato has been overshadowed since Hijikata, probably because of Okita’s big presence. (Laughs)

Nagai: Okita is special after all.

Kobayashi: In that respect, Yamanami’s human side wasn’t really focused on, so I couldn’t fully grasp the role.

Nagai: Even now, the line “Okita’s children” comes up, so Okita’s presence is still big.

Asagami: Yuki and Dessler sometimes come back to life (Laughs), but Okita-san is the only one who never comes back to life. That’s how much Nishizaki-san and Matsumoto-sensei care about him.

Host: By the way, did the recording go smoothly this time? I heard that it was tough on Farewell…

Tomiyama: Nothing at all this time. (Laughs) No all-nighters, no friction with the staff.

Asagami: It was really tough on Farewell.

Tomiyama: It was supposed to be three days, but it ended up being five. This time it all went as planned.

Nagai: It was really easy this time. The staff did a great job, too.

Kobayashi: Anyway, the production was great.

Nagai: I think it was the sound effects people who had a hard time. I met them the other day and they said, “You can’t make the sound in advance. So you just have to work on it after the film is finished.” One of them was like, “I won’t be able sleep again [tonight].”

Tomiyama: Come to think of it, Yamato‘s sound is very distinctive.

Asagami: Like a whoosh or a swoosh. (Laughs) With a Western movie, the sound is already set, so it’s easier to do.

Tomiyama: A pistol goes “ba-gyun,” and hitting a rock makes a “chu-uin” sound. (Laughs)

Memories of Part 1

Host: Yamato now has three theatrical films, two TV series, and one telefeature. Which one is the most memorable?

Nagai: It’s definitely the TV series, Part 1.

Tomiyama: Yeah, that’s true.

Asagami: It was really good. Kodai was also crazy. (Laughs) He’s grown up too much now.

Kobayashi: Fans are divided into two groups, aren’t they? It seems like the image of Part 1 is still strong, but one side wanted to end it with Farewell, while the other side wants to go as far as they can (Laughs). But it seems like both sides treasure the image of Part 1.

Tomiyama: I want to treasure Part 1 — but when the next one comes out, I’ll reconsider it again. (Laughs)

Kobayashi: Many people have Part 1 on cassette. They listen to it over and over again.

Asagami: I like the art in Part 1. It’s definitely Matsumoto-sensei’s art. Sometimes Yamato is distorted, the lines are faint — but that’s what makes it so great.

Tomiyama: Yoko-chan is a big fan of Leiji-sensei.

Asagami: But since Farewell it’s become so neat and tidy, it’s a little sad.

Tomiyama: Now that I think about it, Yamato in Part 1 was often damaged. It’s not so bad now, is it?

Nagai: It’s usually tilted and smoking.

Asagami: It looks like the radar is about to fall off. (Laughs)

Nagai: I especially like the takeoff scene. For example, in Star Wars, special effects have become very advanced, but that scene really has to be anime.

Kobayashi: That’s the unique appeal of anime.

Nagai: Looking through the window of the first bridge, the dirt falls off and you can see the sky, and the sky gradually changes into space, and you really feel like you’re taking off from Earth.

Asagami: For me, it’s the end of Part 1. That part where I say, “Kodai-kun is going to die!” I really thought Yuki had died, and that that was the end (Laughs), so I went all out.

Kobayashi: For me, it’s Domel. That character appeared halfway through, but he died soon after. I remember wishing he’d been expanded a bit more before that. Also, I’d just had surgery at the time. I think it was the third time since Domel first appeared. I went to the recording studio with 17 stitches under my left armpit. I guess I was really into it.

Host: You also played the villain in Farewell after that.

Kobayashi: Zordar. Nishizaki told me not to think too much about being evil. It was a difficult role, since he had to be both big enough to conquer the universe and also have a lovable side. What’s also memorable is that he laughed a lot. I did Golden Bat before Yamato, so I thought it was another laughing role. (Laughs)

Tomiyama: Golden Bat’s stupid laugh, huh…? (Laughs)

Nagai: But Yamato has big imagination. A battleship flies into the sky. (Laughs)

Tomiyama: Matsumoto-sensei often makes things fly that seem impossible. (Laughs) In Galaxy Express 999, he even made a train fly. (Laughs)

Host: It recently featured a cat flying on the Galaxy Express 999. (Laughs)

Looking forward to the new series!!

Host: By the way, a new TV series [Yamato III] is going to start in October.

Tomiyama: That’s right. I heard it will last a year this time.

Asagami: I think Yamato 2, which was a 2-hour theatrical film made into 26 episodes, was a bit of a stretch. But this time, it seems like they’ll be able to make it properly from scratch, so I’m looking forward to it.

Tomiyama: I’m really looking forward to seeing it for the first time.

Asagami: It would be great if there’s a proper drama, a sci-fi feel, and good visuals.

Nagai: Indeed, in Part 1, the main idea was that the Earth would be destroyed in a year, and there were various dramas on top of that. Well, our work takes place in the final stage of the anime, so if we can make the most of our abilities and do a job that satisfies us, that will be great. But to do that, we need images.

Tomiyama: That’s right. I want it to be a work where we can concentrate on our job as actors without worrying about anything else.

Nagai: Personally, I’d like to see Dr. Sado interact with the crew a bit more. If possible, he could examine Yuki. (Laughs)

Asagami: Hey, wait a minute… (Laughs)

Tomiyama: But Dr. Sado could do a bit more. Even if there are fewer battle scenes, I’d like to see more of the relationships between the crew members.

Nagai: There was quite a lot of that in Part 1. I think it would be good to have a scene where Sado talks to young people who are about to enter the adult world. They talk about the truth of life while drinking, half jokingly. Also, the people who became Yamato fans around the time of Part 1 are now stepping into the adult world. I think they’ll be watching Kodai and the others with overlapping feelings.

Tomiyama: Probably.

Kobayashi: Sado is definitely a key point.

Nagai: He won’t be the center of the group, but it would be nice if the central characters would come over from time to time to ask for advice. Just like when a sick person comes to the infirmary.

Tomiyama: I’d like to see some “interaction.” In the next Yamato…

Kobayashi: This time it was a movie, so Yamanami wasn’t depicted much, but over a year, there needs to be some drama.

Nagai: The new captain might start a rebellion because he thinks things aren’t going well. (Laughs)

Host: Speaking of the captain, fans often ask “When will Kodai become captain?” in their letters.

Tomiyama: Maybe it’s better if Kodai isn’t the captain. He wouldn’t be as active.

Asagami: Maybe Kodai will never become captain. (Laughs)

Nagai: His marriage to Yuki is on hold. (Laughs)

Tomiyama: As in Part 1, I think Kodai would go to Okita and ask him, “What should I do?” I remember that scene very well. And the scene where Okita dies was good too. The picture falls down like that…it made me cry. It really shows what’s in the Japanese heart.

Kobayashi: But now that I think about it, Okita-san never took his hat off. He would wear it even in bed.

Nagai: Maybe there was a reason why he couldn’t take it off. (Laughs)

Asagami: He was going bald! (Laughs)

Tomiyama: With that crew, it’s no wonder he ended up like that. (Laughs)

The social phenomenon brought about by Yamato

Host: By the way, since Space Battleship Yamato caused such a boom, how has Yamato influenced you?

Asagami: Hmm.

Tomiyama: I don’t know.

Nagai: I think there was an impact. Well, it’s something that stays in your mind. But we actors have other jobs, don’t we? The social phenomenon caused by Yamato is bigger than that.

Kobayashi: I think what we call the anime boom today is still due to Yamato. However, we need to understand it accurately and think about how to develop it properly, rather than just making it a festival.

Nagai: Exactly. Experts need to understand it properly. If we get the positioning of Yamato in society wrong, all the excitement that has built up will be wasted.

Asagami: I think anime has become a cultural phenomenon.

Tomiyama: Indeed, Yamato is the foundation that has built anime as a culture.

Nagai: Because it is a culture, it’s necessary to give it a proper evaluation, but anime is still considered to be for children. For example, Toei’s yakuza movies caused quite a lot of controversy. But that hasn’t happened with anime yet.

Tomiyama: I guess it’s because the image of it being for children just won’t go away.

Asagami: For example, I spent my childhood watching Disney, and then I went to elementary school watching Astro Boy, and now I work on Space Battleship Yamato. (Laughs) I want someone who can really understand that.

Nagai: For example, critics write a lot about Disney. But not at all about Yamato and other Japanese anime. (Laughs) I guess there’s a prejudice…

Host: Japanese anime is already being enjoyed all over the world.

Nagai: I think Yamato is at the root of that boom.

Asagami: I’ve only been in this industry for a few years, but I’ve been working on Yamato for six of those years. I feel like I’ve grown up with the characters.

Nagai: No, you’re already fully grown up. (Laughs)

Kobayashi: You’ve grown up with Yamato.

Tomiyama: After all, Yoko-chan is Yamato‘s Yoko Asagami.

Asagami: I think there is some influence as you mentioned earlier. But I don’t want to be tainted by that color alone. I think I can learn a lot of different things.

Kobayashi: Yamato has a big influence not only on us, but also on society as you mentioned earlier, and on anime itself.

Nagai: Yamato is the champion of the anime world. (Laughs)

Tomiyama: It’s really amazing that the general public knows Yamato when they hear it.

Asagami: And it’s not just because they made Part 1 and 2 and then just went on inertia to make Be Forever Yamato. I think they made something good. It’s certainly a sci-fi anime, but it resonates with the hearts of Japanese people.

Tomiyama: Honestly, it’s interesting. It’s not just robot or mecha combat, and it’s fun to perform.

Kobayashi: I like the fact that it’s not simply about winning or losing.

Asagami: Also, lines like “energy charge 120%!” give it a realistic feel.

Nagai: Technically, they’re trying something new, like skin anime. It’s great that there’s always something new.

Kobayashi: The image of Yamato itself this time was good, wasn’t it?

Nagai: It was shiny like it was waxed. (Laughs)

Asagami: Not just Yamato, but anime in general depicts something that doesn’t actually exist. It’s really amazing to show it with a realistic feel.

Nagai: As I said earlier, I think the experts should pay more attention to anime, which has caused such a phenomenon and had such an impact.

A beloved work…

Host: Well, time is running out, so I’d like to close by asking everyone to share their future aspirations and a message to the fans.

Asagami: In the world of anime, we only get to show our stuff after the animation is done. When we get involved in the process, we want to be actors who are always ready to perform the required acting for the picture. In the end, both the animators and we are pushing ourselves to our limits, so we need to always study and be able to meet the demands. To the fans, I’m a fan too, so I want to grow up through repeated contact within the anime genre.

Tomiyama: That’s right. Well, it’s more of a message than an aspiration, but even though Yamato is very popular, we’re not making as much money as people say. (Laughs) But we’re working hard to create things that are loved. We aim to create a work that we can say with confidence, “You’ll love Yamato,” so please look forward to it.

Kobayashi: I don’t appear in many anime, so Yamato carries a lot of weight among them. I love Yamato and I’m attached to it. I’ll do my best to focus all my energy on it. I don’t want my fans to forget me, and as long as I’m appearing in anime, I think they’ll remember me. (Laughs) Please support me.

Nagai: Well, if I’m talking about my ambitions, there are lots of things I want to do personally. (Laughs) As an actor, unless I’m the leader of a troupe, I can do both acting and anime. So I want to be an actor who never gets tired. If I get tired, I won’t last. This is a job where there’s no off-season.

And to the fans? Well… supporting roles are fun. I enjoy doing them. And I think it would be great if everyone enjoys what I do. Also, I hope that all of you will become real fans who can discuss the content.

Host: Thank you very much. I’m really looking forward to the animation you will all work on in the future. I hope you will continue to be successful.