Daisuke Ono and Makoto Furukawa: Yamato 3199 interview
Passing on Love to the Next Generation and the Appeal of Yuki Mori
Daisuke Ono has been playing the main character Susumu Kodai for about 12 years since the first remake series, Yamato 2199, started in 2012. We asked Ono and Makoto Furukawa, who plays Alphon, a new character who appears in REBEL 3199, about their thoughts on Yamato.
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Daisuke Ono (L) and Makoto Furukawa (R)
The trigger was Super Robot Wars
Interviewer: This is the first new work since Yamato 2205, which was screened in theaters in 2021 and 2022.
Ono: I am truly proud to be able to board the ship of hope again. Every time I go on a journey, I wonder, “why am I going on this journey?” I think about that this time, more than any previous series. I have an image of taking off toward hope for the future. I think there will be difficulties and hardships, but the joy of being able to ride Yamato again far outweighs my anxiety. As Susumu Kodai, I feel full of hope.
Furukawa: Yamato is a masterpiece that has been running for a long time, and I feel a lot of pressure to be able to participate, but I also think it’s a great honor. As for Alphon, please look forward to him! It’s frustrating that I can only say that, but I’d be happy if you can accept the character. As the story progresses, I will do my best to become part of it.
Interviewer: How did you come into contact with Space Battleship Yamato?
Furukawa: I think I first came across the theme song by Isao Sasaki in a nostalgia music special, but I first came across the remake series through Super Robot Wars V, in which Yamato 2199 is included. It has original elements, but carefully explains the flow of the story and the outline. That was my first introduction to the world of Yamato.
Interviewer: I also found out about the Yamato remake series because of Super Robot Wars V, so I empathize.
Furukawa: Really?! Yamato has a lot of emotional commands. Kodai can use love, and Captain Okita can use soul, so it’s pretty strong!
Ono: I think I’ve also seen it called the “strongest battleship.” Also, it’s designed so that you can’t just fire the Wave-Motion Gun randomly, right?
Furukawa: That’s right.
Ono: It’s good that they follow the theme of the work properly. People who aren’t part of the Yamato generation have seen it in the game, and Yamato 2199 was broadcast on Sunday evenings, so elementary and junior high students know it. That makes me happier than anything. It’s a series made to be passed on to the next generation, after all. It’s the greatest reward for an actor. I want to be like Susumu Kodai
Interviewer: How do you feel about playing Susumu Kodai for about 12 years?
Ono: The theme of Yamato can be summed up in one word: “love.” Universal love. I believe that love will continue to exist and be passed on to the next generation. Yamato began broadcasting before I was born, but I’ve been given the responsibility of carrying the Yamato of a new era.
Some of you on the ship are from the Yamato generation, and some of you know Yamato from here. We created Yamato and there are people who accepted it. It’s not just for people who like anime, it has become a national anime once again, and we’re trying to pass it on to the next generation.
I want to live like Kodai, but it’s difficult, so I’m supported by the people around me, and we end up firing the Wave-Motion Gun together. You need love, you can’t live alone. I’ve always held in my heart the mission to convey that love to the next generation, as an actor and as Susumu Kodai, and I continue to act with that in mind.
Interviewer: Mr. Furukawa, what did Mr. Fukui explain to you about Alphon?
Furukawa: He told me about Yamato, his thoughts about the human race, his goals, emotions, and his actions, but there are many things I can’t talk about because it would be spoilers. As more and more things become clear, I’ll look back and think, “So that’s what it was all about.” It feels like he’s laying groundwork.
If I ask him questions that dig deeper, he answers, but I’m sure there are still some framework parts that I haven’t noticed yet. There are also unknown parts, so I think it’s a repetition of thinking about it every time I get a new script, getting new information on the set, and building it up. That process is really interesting.
Similar passion
Interviewer: Mr. Ono, what did you think when you heard Mr. Furukawa would be appearing?
Ono: Because I play Susumu Kodai, I try to approach recordings without knowing the story of the original. For the past 12 years, I’ve always watched the original as a reward after the broadcast or theatrical screening. So I don’t know who Alphon is or what story is being depicted. He is an unknown entity.
Until now, veterans have played that unknown entity. For Garmillas, President Dessler was played by Koichi Yamadera, and for Gatlantis, Emperor Zordar was played by Hideaki Tezuka. They were such powerful enemies. This time, it’s Mr. Furukawa, and he’s young. I was surprised by that, and I feel like there must be a hidden message here.
This is just my own feeling, but Furukawa-kun’s acting is a bit similar to mine, and we’ve played brothers in other productions. Each time, I felt that we had a similar level of passion. I thought, “Now, Furukawa-kun is my rival…interesting!” I was fired up in a different way than before. I felt like I definitely can’t lose!
Furukawa: I’m honored.
Interviewer: Are you excited about the fact that Ono is your rival?
Furukawa: With Ono-san as my rival, there’s no way I can win.
Ono: That’s not true. (Everyone laughs)
Furukawa: I also thought that a position like this should go to someone with more seniority. I didn’t really understand why I was entrusted with Alphon and put up against Ono-san until recordings started.
The intention behind the casting may be different from what I feel, so please keep that in mind, but there was a moment when Harutoshi Fukui explained the outline of Alphon and his background and I thought, “I see, he’s about the same age as me.” When that made sense to me, I was finally able to settle down and play the role. When I say rival, those who haven’t seen Yamato might think of a shootout, but he’s more of a romantic rival.
The outcome of the romance in this work is still shrouded in mystery, but by comparing these two, something should become clear. Ono-san said that they’re similar, so maybe they took that into consideration when casting me. But that’s just my speculation, and I don’t know if the truth will be clearly revealed after it’s over, or if Mr. Fukui will tell me.
Ono: I want to know as soon as possible. Furukawa-san has thoroughly researched the original work and is building a solid backbone together with Mr. Fukui. I enjoy it more if I don’t know about it, and I want to be moved the moment I find out the “truth.”
Furukawa: Many things will probably become clear, so I wonder what will happen then…
Ono: Depending on the results, I might punch you. (Laughs)
Furukawa: I wonder what my expression will be like at that time. (Laughs)
Ono: (Laughs) I want to record together.
Furukawa: That’s right. We haven’t recorded much together yet, so I’m looking forward to what’s to come.
Continuing to follow in the footsteps of Daisuke Ono
Interviewer: What is your impression of Mr. Ono as your senior?
Furukawa-san: He’s a very kind older brother. He talks to me on the same level, makes me feel at ease, teasing me, and helping me out. We’re in the same industry and I see him that way, but in my eyes, Ono-san is an incredibly manly actor who can easily transform into a variety of roles, and an incredible voice actor who I’ve always admired as a viewer. I know I shouldn’t say this here, but I’ll never be able to beat him. I want to continue to follow in his footsteps. He’s that powerful to me.
Ono: I didn’t know I was such a big presence.
Furukawa: No, no, there are a lot of people who see you that way!
Ono: Really?! Tell me that, everybody!
Furukawa: I couldn’t say that to you face to face! If I actually did, you’d be a bit stunned, wouldn’t you? (Laughs)
Ono: Maybe so. (Laughs) That’s probably how I feel about Koichi Yamadera (Dessler). But I have to fight it. Shohei Otani said something really great: “Stop wanting to be like others.” Just yearning to be like others won’t make you better, and it’s disrespectful to the other person. I’ve told Yamadera, “I love you so much!” but when I faced him as Dessler in Yamato, I really wanted to win. I remember very well that I tried not to lose, not just in the number of acting tricks, but in the amount of passion.
Kodai is a red flame that burns. Yamadera’s Dessler is a blue flame with a higher temperature. I wonder if I can beat him. But I’ll definitely chase after him and catch up with him! That’s how I feel.
Interviewer: Finally, please give a message to those who are looking forward to the screening.
Ono: They’ve put a huge amount of time and effort into finishing the work. Because it’s the first episode to be shown in theaters, each episode is theater quality. There are so many frames, the details are incredible, and it moves like crazy. Not all the pictures are done at the voice-over stage, so when we see it in the theater, we’re just as moved as the fans are. We’re on such an amazing ship. Japanese animation is so incredible! I’m sure you’ll be able to fully feel that, so please look forward to it.
Furukawa: I’m a newcomer, so I’ll be grateful if people accept me. There are things I feel because I know the original work, and there are some parts that go in unexpected directions…
Ono: Does that mean that even fans of the original can enjoy it in a different way?
Furukawa: I’m sure they can. I don’t know how it will end, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as if you’re experiencing something new. As a newcomer, I think it will be enjoyable for both new fans and those who are familiar with the original. Thank you for your support!