A future woven from the thoughts inherited from the original and “a heart that cares for people”
Interview by Shinzo Inoue
Published April 12 by Animate Times. See the original article here
Be Forever Yamato REBEL 3199 Chapter 3: Ultramarine Asteroid, opened nationwide on Friday, April 11, 2025. We interviewed Keiko Han, who plays Mother Dezarium, about how she was chosen to appear in the film, and the fact that her daughter Megumi Han plays the character Sasha/Mio Sanada, which Keiko played in the original Be Forever Yamato. She also shared insights into the significant differences between the character of Sasha then and now, and moments from the recording of the original Be Forever Yamato.
Keiko Han at Anime Japan 2025 (March)
What Mother Dezarium and Queen Millennia have in common
Interviewer: First, please tell us how you got cast in this series.
Han: After Be Forever Yamato, I was offered a different role in Yamato. However, I was worried about whether I should play another character after Sasha, so I declined at the time. After all, I have strong memories of Sasha, and it is very difficult to play multiple characters in one series.
This time, I was first approached by the sound production company, and at first I declined as I had done before. At my age, you never know what’s going to happen, and I didn’t want to cause trouble for anyone, so my current stance is to avoid new work as much as possible. For ongoing work, I take the position of, “if I get an offer.”
When I declined Yamato 2205, I was contacted by General Director Harutoshi Fukui, who asked me, “Would you like to be in my story?”
Another thing is that although my eyesight is good, when the line of sight changes drastically between the script and the screen, I have trouble focusing my eyes. After all, that’s something that only young people can do. But Mr. Fukui said, “This time, it’s an AI role, so it’s fine. There’s no lip-syncing, so you don’t have to match the picture.” So I accepted, but I never expected it to be such a challenging character…
Interviewer: How did you find out that your daughter, Megumi Han, was cast?
Han: One day, I had the opportunity to have dinner with Fukui-san, and he suddenly brought out a storyboard of Sasha and said, “This is for Megumi-chan.”
For me, it’s strange to be able to work with my child. Because even though they are characters in a fantasy world, we’re family members who are playing different personalities. I was unsure whether the element of being parent and child was necessary for the character.
While it is true that we have co-starred as mother and daughter before, I find it very uncomfortable to reveal aspects of myself that I don’t show to my child when portraying a different personality. I think my daughter probably feels the same way.
In addition, I think that when a child enters the same profession, the parent should gradually step back because they have to stand on their own. It’s understandable that you would provide support at first, but voice acting is a job where the character is important, and the voice is what brings the character to life. Because of that, I feel that it’s better not to reveal your private life.
Interviewer: Please tell us your impressions of the role of Mother Dezarium, who you will be playing this time.
Han: Although the role was decided suddenly, when I asked Mr. Fukui about what kind of character it is, he didn’t tell me much, and I only knew that it’s an AI. At first, it was in Yamato 2205 before Sasha appeared, so I thought it would end there. But it wasn’t over at all and we started on REBEL 3199.
Since the story is set in the future of Yamato, where AI has already advanced farther than in our modern world, I initially imagined that an AI would speak naturally. However, I received direction to “adopt a more detached perspective and avoid emotional expressions.”
When I thought about how I should play this machine, I remembered La Andromeda Prometheum, who I played in Queen Millennia. Leiji Matsumoto always said that humans would definitely win against AI ever since those days. I think that aspect overlapped with Mother Dezarium.
Interviewer: Could you tell us about the enduring appeal of Yamato from your perspective, as someone who has appeared in both the original and the remake?
Han: If you ask how humans can win against AI, it’s with a heart that cares for others. This is true in love, relationships between parents and children, and between friends. There’s also the desire to serve others, the feeling of wanting to do something for someone else. Some people are naturally nurturing, while others wish for someone to lend them a hand. I wonder if machines can truly replicate those emotions.
With that as the main axis, how do we protect the people we care about in a space war? I think that’s one of the reasons everyone loves Yamato. There is important work that needs to be done for someone else. That’s what I think is the theme of this work, and it’s a wonderful part that doesn’t change.
Megumi Han’s Sasha has a strong side
Interviewer: What impression did you get of Megumi Han’s Sasha?
Han: The Sasha I played has a fragile impression. Nearly 50 years have passed, and I feel like she’s from that era. But nowadays, girls are strong, so if she was that fragile, she’d just disappear.
I don’t know if everyone was happy with Sasha, but I think it was good for that time. For me, it was good that she was the girl who protected the Earth and faded away like a mirage. But in today’s world, there are more patterns where women are stronger and become the protagonists. So I think this is just a reflection of the times.
I was probably weaker both physically and mentally, so I’m more impressed with the Sasha played by my daughter than the Sasha I played. My daughter is strong. She has a strong will, and she works twice as hard as I did back then. I have no worries about my daughter’s Sasha standing alongside Susumu Kodai and the others in the remake series. I honestly felt that I wanted to see this Sasha.
Back then, I was asked to portray a fragile character. Even though she had a strong will, she was the type that people pitied. So I wonder if I could play the Sasha that my daughter is playing now.
Even now, I’m worried about whether I can fully play the role of Mother Dezarium, since I’m not suited to characters with that much strength. Even if I have a strong core, I don’t have the power to move many people, so I’m struggling with how to play the role.
Interviewer: Please tell us your impressions of the characters that Mother Dezarium commands.
Han: I’m curious about Alphon. He has human weaknesses and looks very pitiful. I’m sure he’s a subordinate to Mother Dezarium, but I’m curious about him because I think his weakness makes him more human.
Alphon appeared in the original work, but the scenes where the original characters fight in the remake are fresh. In the dialogue with the Dezarium characters, I consider them as people in the world that I (Mother Dezarium) created, with the image of using my subordinates. There are many different feelings for people, and love can turn into hate. This time I’m playing Mother Dezarium, but I actually like Mother Teresa. Do you know what the opposite of love is, other than hate?
Interviewer: Is it indifference?
Han: That’s right. So I thought Mother Dezarium should do the opposite. I think I should play her as if she’s saying, “I want to live.” I’d like to ask Director Fukui in secret.
Interviewer: Before we wrap up, please tell us about any memorable moments that occurred during the recording of the original Be Forever Yamato.
Han: At the time, I was still 25-26 years old and a newcomer. It was the same time as Mobile Suit Gundam, so I remember going straight to the recording of Gundam after Yamato.
The recording took 2-3 days, but it was my first movie. Yoshinobu Nishizaki and Leiji Matsumoto sat and watched me while I was recording. At the end, just before Sasha dies, there is a line that says, “I’m going to my mother now,” and I started crying in the middle of it.
At that time, I was recording late and often came home late at night, so my family was against me taking this job. My family opposed me taking this job, so I decided I had to run away from home to continue working. I left a letter behind and left. It was during that period of recording. I remembered that and started crying. It was a scene where I had to act as if I was going to die, and I was unable to speak. (interview pauses)
Then Mr. Nishizaki opened the door to the recording booth and said, “It’s fine the way it is,” and “we’ll adjust the picture.”
When I checked the video afterward, the lip-syncing of the animation had stopped. It may be impossible now, but back then, the animation and voice recording were done simultaneously. That’s why I think they fixed the animation at the end. I’m grateful.
Performing on stage and voicing a character in dubbing are no different. And it’s because those passionate feelings have been passed on to the next generation that the people involved in this remake series are so dedicated to their work. What has been passed on in this way will never change, so I hope that the current generation will also watch it.
Interviewer: Finally, please give a message to all the Yamato fans who are looking forward to the screening.
Han: I feel that AI is unable to care for people, to cherish someone. I think this is the biggest problem, especially at this time. When asked who will win, humans or AI, I would be happy if you could watch this film with your loved ones, so that you can proudly say that it’s humans, and so that we can coexist.
