Kentarō Itō, the voice behind Renji Abarai in the anime BLEACH, shared insights in an official interview about his experiences with the series, including audition stories and the challenges of voicing one of the most iconic characters in the final arc, BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War.

Meeting BLEACH: How It All Began

Q.How did you first encounter BLEACH?

Itō: As a kid, I was the type who never missed an issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump, and I still read it regularly today. My first encounter with BLEACH was reading its debut chapter in Jump. I remember thinking, “This feels different from the usual Jump series—there’s something special about its mood and atmosphere.”

Renji’s introduction left a strong impression on me. Even back then, I thought, “I’d love to play Renji someday!” But when the anime adaptation was announced and auditions started, Renji wasn’t among the available roles. As I recall, the auditions focused on characters from the World of the Living and a few others. Still, I wanted to be part of BLEACH, so I auditioned for Ichigo.

Auditioning for Ichigo with Renji on His Mind

Q.Do you remember your audition for Ichigo?

Itō: I do. Even while auditioning for Ichigo, I couldn’t let go of my desire to play Renji. Sometimes, characters not included in the initial audition lineup are cast later based on the performances seen during auditions. So, in the back of my mind, I was thinking about Renji as I auditioned for Ichigo (laughs).

When I found out I’d been cast as Renji, I was overjoyed. Being part of BLEACH as it grew into a multimedia phenomenon has been a deeply meaningful journey for me.

Renji’s Iconic Lines and Memorable Moments

Q.Are there any lines from Renji that stand out to you?

Itō: One of the most memorable is Renji’s plea to Ichigo: “I’m begging you, even if it means swallowing my pride…” (Volume 11, Chapter 98). Another favorite is the flashback where Renji and Rukia, standing before the graves of their fallen friends, vow to become Soul Reapers together. I remember eagerly waiting to perform that scene ever since I first read it in the manga.

When Renji’s childhood flashback was adapted, a female voice actor was cast for his younger self, which made me a bit nervous. I kept thinking, “But I’ll get to do the scene where he makes his vow with Rukia, right…?” (laughs).

Source : ORICON NEWS