Mononoke Movie Producer Koji Yamamoto Retires After Controversy Over Takahiro Sakurai's Unannounced Return in The Serpent God

Mononoke: The Movie Chapter III The Serpent God producer Koji Yamamoto announced his retirement from producing on June 5 following controversy surrounding the unannounced return of voice actor Takahiro Sakurai as the Medicine Seller.

Yamamoto, who served as the planning producer for the currently screening anime film Mononoke: The Movie Chapter III The Serpent God, revealed the decision in a statement posted on X. He apologized for the handling of Sakurai's return and said he would step down from producing to take responsibility for the situation.

Producer Announces Retirement Following Mononoke Casting Controversy

The Mononoke film trilogy began releasing in 2024. Originally scheduled to debut in 2023, the project underwent significant changes after reports surfaced in 2022 regarding Sakurai's private life. As a result, Sakurai was removed from the role of the Medicine Seller, with Hiroshi Kamiya taking over the character.

At the time, the production committee explained that the decision was made because the film's story focuses on the suffering and salvation of women within the inner chambers of the Edo period palace, making the casting change necessary from the perspective of the work's themes.

However, when Mononoke: The Movie Chapter III The Serpent God premiered last month, audiences discovered that Sakurai's version of the Medicine Seller appeared in the film despite no prior announcement regarding his return. The surprise casting decision quickly became a topic of debate online.

Yamamoto Explains Decision to Bring Back Sakurai

Addressing the criticism, Yamamoto released a lengthy statement explaining both the recasting decision and the lack of advance notice.

He stated that Sakurai's original removal occurred because the controversy surrounding the actor had created concerns among staff members and threatened the continuation of the project itself. Yamamoto said the production team felt that the environment necessary for audiences to enjoy the work had been compromised.

Regarding Sakurai's return, Yamamoto explained that the creative team faced the challenge of concluding the story involving Hyakume following the events of The Serpent God. During development, an idea emerged to introduce another Medicine Seller.

According to Yamamoto, several options were considered, including introducing a completely different Medicine Seller or showing the original character only through visual appearances. Ultimately, the team chose to bring back the version known as Ri, the nickname commonly used by fans for the Medicine Seller portrayed by Sakurai in the original television series.

Yamamoto said he wanted to respond to fans who had hoped to see Ri's Medicine Seller again and believed that a meaningful reunion with the character would provide a fitting milestone for the trilogy's final chapter.

He added that the intention was also to offer comfort to viewers who felt saddened that a beloved version of the character had seemingly disappeared from the franchise.

Apology Over Lack of Advance Disclosure

Yamamoto acknowledged that the greatest mistake was failing to properly consider the impact of keeping Sakurai's return secret.

He explained that the production team hoped audiences would experience the reunion with Ri's Medicine Seller without spoilers and therefore chose not to reveal the casting beforehand. A three day spoiler free campaign was also implemented following the film's release.

However, Yamamoto admitted that this approach prevented viewers who did not wish to see Sakurai's return from making an informed decision about whether to watch the film.

"I deeply regret the lack of consideration," Yamamoto said, apologizing to those who felt uncomfortable after discovering the casting choice only after attending screenings.

"I Will Retire and Take Responsibility"

In his statement, Yamamoto announced that he would retire from producing.

He revealed that the decision had already been shared within his company group, adding that throughout his career there had been multiple instances where problems arose because he pushed projects forward too aggressively.

For the Mononoke situation specifically, he concluded that he personally needed to take responsibility.
Yamamoto also apologized to audiences and industry partners who had been negatively affected by his decisions throughout his career. He cited an increasing sense of disconnect between his own judgment and changing public expectations as a factor behind his retirement.

While stepping away from producing, Yamamoto said he plans to focus on management, mentoring younger talent, and pursuing industry innovation. Credits on projects already in production will remain unchanged.

Concluding his message, Yamamoto reflected on his more than twenty years as a producer dating back to his time at Fuji TV, estimating that he had been involved in roughly one hundred productions. He described director Kenji Nakamura's works as particularly special to him and expressed gratitude that his final production would be the Mononoke film trilogy.

He encouraged audiences to watch Mononoke: The Movie Chapter III The Serpent God, calling it an exceptional work.

Source : ORICON NEWS