With many mysteries, a new story is “launched” after the seeds have been planted; Be Forever Yamato REBEL 3199
Interview with Kosuke Toriumi as Seiya Kitano
Kodai is conflicted and Kitano is unaffected by others
The remake series of the timeless masterpiece Space Battleship Yamato has been running since 2012. The latest work, Be Forever Yamato REBEL 3199 Chapter 1, Dark Invasion, will finally premiere in cinemas nationwide from Friday, July 19, 2024.
Ahead of the screening, Animate Times conducted an interview with Kosuke Toriumi, who plays Seiya Kitano, one of the new characters who will appear in this work. Kitano has few scenes in the first chapter and his full-fledged role will not be seen until later episodes, so it seems that there are still many secrets about him.
We asked Toriumi about his impressions of Kitano and the appeal of Yamato that he feels after participating in the project. Please check it out before watching the film. We hope it will help raise your expectations even more.
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I was attracted to the fact that Susumu Kodai is not just a super hero
Interviewer: Please tell us your impressions of Space Battleship Yamato.
Toriumi: I heard that the first series was broadcast in 1974, so it is almost the same age as me. People older than me watched it. but it’s a title that every Japanese person knows, and I think it can be said that it is one of the most representative works of this country from a global perspective.
I first came into contact with Yamato through the remake series, and it not only has SF elements, but also human drama. For example, the interactions between different races seem to overlap with interactions between people of different nationalities, different beliefs and cultures in real life. I also thought the depth of the story was appealing.
Interviewer: What attracted you the most?
Toriumi: That being said, it’s the Wave-Motion Gun. I think boys love it! (Everyone laughs)
Interviewer: Even generations that don’t know about Space Battleship Yamato know about the Wave-Motion Gun, so it’s famous.
Toriumi: Even people who haven’t seen it know the lines and words, so I think Yamato is deeply rooted in us. I watched the reruns several times when I was a child, and the content was complex, but for some reason I remember the Wave-Motion Gun. I’d be happy if I could say the line “Wave-Motion Gun, fire!” one day while playing Kitano in the future. (Laughs)
Interviewer: Do you feel any pressure when you appear in such a work?
Toriumi: I basically want to be in a flat state, so I don’t feel any pressure. Even if I was enthusiastic and thought, “I have to do my best because it’s Yamato…!” I don’t think it would produce good results. So I try to be relaxed on every set.
Interviewer: Please tell us your impression of the story when you read the script.
Toriumi: There are still many things I can’t talk about, but my first impression was that the story is centered around Susumu Kodai and Yuki Mori, and that it will be difficult for these two. The characters around the two of them each have their own intentions, and I like the part where “Kodai is not just a super hero.”
However, this is just the beginning, because many things related to Dezarium will happen from now on. The story will move forward from here, and as the characters in their respective positions are introduced, we will also see the intentions of those who are currently unable to move.
Kitano, who I play, is not yet the main character of the story in the first chapter. We have finished recording up to Episode 7, but he hasn’t yet been involved in Kodai’s story. I only recently heard Daisuke Ono’s voice live (Susumu Kodai), and I have not yet met Houko Kuwashima (Yuki Mori). (Laughs) There will be a scene where I talk to Kodai in the future, and Kitano seems to care about him, so I’m looking forward to seeing how that will affect the story going forward.
I’m also still in the process of finding out the main story, so I may be close to the viewers in terms of my position. In that sense, I face the work with a fresh feeling every time.
Interviewer: In the beginning, Kodai and Kitano don’t have much contact.
Toriumi: If they met, I think they would at least exchange a quick greeting. In a recent scene, when Kitano talked about his personal life, it didn’t really resonate with Kodai, as if he was asking, “Why did you suddenly bring this up?” So I feel like Kodai doesn’t open up to Kitano very much. Even when I asked him questions, he was cold, like he wasn’t really there. (Laughs)
However, since Kitano is the senior who approached Kodai, I think he’s worried about something concerning Kodai. Seeing that he talked about his experiences, I think he has high expectations of Kodai. At the very least, I don’t think he has a bad impression, and I myself am curious to see how the two of them will interact in the future.
Interviewer: Could you tell us your impression of Kodai in this work?
Toriumi: He’s facing a really difficult situation, so I think he must think things around him are not going the way he wants them to. I also get the impression that he’s focused on what’s happening now, and isn’t communicating much with those around him. In the midst of all this, he’s struggling with what he really wants to do. There is a series of scenes where he seems to be held down, so I feel like I can see his anguish there.
At the beginning, Kitano is not influenced by others
Interviewer: Please tell us how you got the role of Kitano.
Toriumi: I auditioned for a different role, and then I was chosen for the role of Kitano.
Interviewer: What impression did you have of the character?
Toriumi: I got to know his personality while reading the script, and I saw the character’s picture for the first time then. In the first chapter, he only had a few scenes with the young crew, so I got the impression that he’s seen by those around him as “serious and strict.” We still don’t know the full story about him, such as why he has a prosthetic right arm.
As the story progresses, we’ll see his own struggles and feelings about his past, and what he has overcome, but in the first chapter, we don’t seen any of that. However, I personally think it would be great if he was involved in the core of the story. I’d like the viewers to pay attention to the first impression they get of the character, how that extra effort is expressed, and whether that’s all there is to it.
Interviewer: Have you had any memorable interactions with characters that you’re involved with?
Toriumi: It’s difficult to say because it would be a spoiler, but he doesn’t interact with his students, and I’ll just say that the number people he interacts with is limited. I think he’ll become more prominent soon, so I hope you’ll look forward to seeing him in the future.
Interviewer: It seems that his younger brother, Tetsuya Kitano, will also appear…
Toriumi: I’m not sure what the relationship is between the brothers. Kitano has never mentioned his brother, so I’ll be happy if they interact in the future. He has appeared in the previous series, but I haven’t even heard his voice yet. I hope there won’t be any conflict. (Laughs)
Interviewer: In the character introduction, it said he was a “strict instructor.”
Toriumi: That’s correct, but there’s no scene like that in the main story. When I was acting, I thought he was not only strict, but also loving toward his students, so I was careful not to play him as “just a strict person.” On the other hand, he’s not sweet or easy to understand, and he isn’t the type whose expression changes much, so it was necessary to adjust whether to add a little nuance or not.
In recent recordings, there are finally scenes where his feelings are revealed. However, in the early stages, he doesn’t show his emotions, and just goes about his duties calmly, which should stand out.
Interviewer: Did you talk to Director Harutoshi Fukui about the character?
Toriumi: Before recording, we were given an explanation of our character and the situation of the scene we were going to perform, but to a certain extent, we were left to our own devices. After that, we went into the recording thinking about it. After we started, we were rarely told anything.
Interviewer: Have you ever felt that there was something unique to Yamato on the recording set?
Toriumi: The cast list is full of names of great veterans, and I thought the casting was impressive. That’s why I think they were able to portray human drama so well. On the other hand, there’s also a strong presence of young actors, so I think the balance of the cast is very good.
At first, I was recording with Domon (played by Tasuku Hatanaka), but he ended up on another ship. Recently, I had a scene with Yamanami (played by Masashi Ebara), but since it was an exchange with a superior officer, I just replied “Yes!” to what I was told. (Laughs) At this stage, Kitano may not be a character who is influenced by others. I think he’s portrayed with an image that doesn’t waver at all.
Interviewer: Is there a character you’re looking forward to seeing more of in the future?
Toriumi: It has to be Kodai. He shows a human side, so you could say he’s the complete opposite of Kitano. When the main character shows such behavior, the whole story becomes easier to follow. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to him!
Interviewer: Finally, please give a message to the fans who are looking forward to the screening.
Toriumi: I think many people have seen the previous film, but maybe some people are just starting out. I think people of different generations will have different perceptions of the Yamato series, but I hope those who’ve known it since the first series 50 years ago, and those who have been following it since the remake, will all look forward to it.
I haven’t been told the ending yet, but I think the seeds of the story have been planted. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds, and I’ll be waiting for it to develop in the same way as the fans, with an attitude that exceeds my imagination.