Demon Slayer Infinity Castle: Takahiro Sakurai and Saori Hayami Reveal the Scenes They Want to Rewatch, Sakurai Finds Beauty in Shinobu Kocho’s Anger

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle voice actors Takahiro Sakurai and Saori Hayami appeared at a special screening event with a stage greeting on August 9 at TOHO Cinemas Namba to celebrate the Blu ray and DVD release of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Chapter 1: Akaza Returns.

Sakurai, who voices Giyu Tomioka, and Hayami, who voices Shinobu Kocho, took the stage together. It marked the first event appearance since the anime began to feature only the Water Hashira and Insect Hashira, and the two answered questions directly from fans in attendance.

At the beginning of the event, Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho delivered a lively exchange before Sakurai and Hayami themselves appeared together on stage. When the two greeted the audience with, “Hello, everyone!” and joined them in a call and response, the excitement inside the venue immediately grew.

Although Giyu and Shinobu have undertaken numerous missions as fellow Hashira in the story, this was the first time Sakurai and Hayami had appeared at an event together on their own. For Sakurai, it was his first Osaka stage greeting since one held when Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Chapter 1: Akaza Returns opened in theaters. For Hayami, it was her first Osaka stage greeting for this film.

Takahiro Sakurai and Saori Hayami Reveal the Scenes They Want to Rewatch

The event quickly moved into a question and answer session featuring questions submitted by attendees.

The first question was, “With the Blu ray and DVD release, are there any scenes you would like to watch over and over again?”

Sakurai answered, “As the person who plays Giyu Tomioka, I would like to recommend the battle against Akaza, where he and Tanjiro go in prepared to risk their lives. But the scene I want to watch over and over is Shinobu’s battle with Doma. There was a moment when I was simply stunned. I want to sit down at home and really take in again the shock I felt when I saw it in the theater. The battle with Doma left a very strong impression on me, especially with Shinobu’s emotions woven into it.”

Hayami said, “There are so many, but if we are talking about Shinobu’s scenes, it would be the scene before she encounters Doma. The way she ends up reaching Doma almost as if something is drawing her there is, for me personally, a scene where you can fully experience the atmosphere of the work. It feels as though something invisible, a unique mood and sense of atmosphere, is drifting across the entire screen. It is one of my favorite scenes, so I want to experience it again at home.”

Hayami added, “Other than that, I also want to watch the exchange between Zenitsu and his grandpa again.”

How Their Impressions of Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho Have Changed

The next question asked, “Looking back from the first television series through each of the battles in Infinity Castle Chapter 1, has your impression of the character played by the other person changed in any way?”

Sakurai spoke about Shinobu Kocho, while Hayami reflected on Giyu Tomioka.

Sakurai said, “I really like the scene this time where Shinobu’s emotion of anger comes to the surface. Through Hayami’s skillful performance, I felt there was a kind of beauty within that anger. I think Infinity Castle Chapter 1 presented so much information that helps us understand Shinobu.”

Hayami said, “This is just my own interpretation, but from early on I felt that Mr. Tomioka carried this sense that he was not someone who deserved to be there as a Hashira, and that he kept himself one step removed. Then Tanjiro’s presence and other things had a major influence on him, and I felt that the way Mr. Tomioka carries himself has gradually changed.”

Performances That Influenced Their Own Acting

Another question focused on the voice recording sessions and asked, “Were there times when the performances of people you recorded with influenced your own acting, in a good way?”

Hayami replied, “The performance that struck me most unexpectedly was in the scene with Kanae, played by Ai Kayano. When I stood beside her during the recording and actually heard the line, I felt this incredibly strong core and resolve in Ai, this sense that she would never waver. At that moment, I felt something like an overwhelming force coming from her, and it made me shiver.”

She continued, “While recording this scene, I had become more emotionally fragile than I expected, so it felt as though she helped me steel myself. In a good way, I felt like Kanae helped pull me along.”

Sakurai said, “It has to be Ishida. That was especially true during the battle with Akaza. The change from Akaza to Hakuji was one thing, and Akaza’s inner monologue completely captivated me. The time we were able to work together was extremely valuable.”

He continued, “When it comes to the way Akaza is created as a character, someone you cannot help feeling for in some way, I think a very large part of that comes from everything Ishida has built up through his performance.”

Takahiro Sakurai and Saori Hayami Share Their Final Messages

As the event approached its conclusion, Hayami told fans, “When you get home, I hope you will enjoy Chapter 1 again and again from now on. And the battles will continue, so I hope you will stay with us. Thank you very much!”

Sakurai added, “Please keep rewatching your favorite scenes and the moments that make your heart race, and I hope you will continue supporting Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba as it goes on. Thank you very much for coming today!”

The event came to an end as the venue filled with enthusiastic applause.

Source : ORICON NEWS