The second season of the TV anime "Hell's Paradise," based on the manga by Kaku Yuji that was serialized in Shueisha's "Shonen Jump+," is currently airing every Sunday from 11:45 PM on TV Tokyo and other networks. Set in the late Edo period, the story follows the strongest ninja, Gamimaru, who is betrayed by his comrades and taken prisoner, as he fights monsters in search of the elixir of immortality in order to be reunited with his beloved wife and escape in a desperate bid to be acquitted. Voice actors Kimura Ryohei and Ono Kensho play the brothers Asatobei and Kirima, who travel to Shinsenkyo, a remote island said to contain the elixir. We spoke to the two actors, who play brothers bound by a strong bond that may seem abnormal to outsiders, about what went on behind the scenes in the recordings and what makes them so appealing to each other.
◇The basis of the acting is "Brothers or something else?"
--The first season depicted Asatobei, who was sent to Shinsenkyo as a death row inmate, and his younger brother Kirima, who became Yamada Asaemon's executioner for his older brother, confronting strange creatures and the monster "Tensen" that rules the island. What were your thoughts when you first found out that you would be playing brothers?
Ono-san was fun.
Kimura: I felt at ease. In my previous works, I often played characters who were not so-called partners, but who were closely related to the main character.
Ono: That's right. I was very happy.
--New characters have been added to the second season, but how was the recording process?
Ono: During the first season, due to the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryohei and I were recording almost exclusively. For the second season, we were able to record together, so it was a very lively and harmonious atmosphere. From our perspective, it felt like everyone was a new character.
Kimura: That's exactly right. To begin with, in the first season, we were in the "Meanwhile, at that time" group and didn't travel with Gamimaru and the others, so we basically did the dubbing just the two of us. So, rather than the addition of new characters from the second season, it felt more like we were able to record together with other people. As Kensho said, when you're recording with other people, you feel something even in scenes you're not in. In terms of how to be involved with the work, it's better to be able to record together.
--What do you value most when acting?
Ono-san , I think both I and Ryohei are probably acting based on the idea that "brothers are the most important thing." Going forward, we'll see how the Asa brothers grew from their childhood to where they are today, but they are really brothers who have lived together, helping each other out. So, I value that most, and I'm acting with that in mind as I think that as long as I have that, it's enough.
Kimura-san , I'm not consciously acting with anything in mind, but when it comes to Tokubei, I think it's the same as Kensho's. Ultimately, it comes down to whether it's with Kirima or someone else. For example, if it's Yamada Asaemon, I think there's a difference between when he's talking to someone from the Yamada family and when he's talking to a criminal, but when it comes to the Asa brothers, it might come down to "are they brothers or something else?"
◇The reassuring dialogue is entertaining even when betrayed
--In the second season, Tokubei travels with the Tensen and Kirima with Gembamaru and his group, and the brothers become separated.
Ono: In the first season, there were many scenes where the two brothers were acting alone, so that wasn't a problem, but in the second season, there will be more scenes where Kirima acts together with Gabimaru and the others. I thought it would be good to be able to act while being influenced to some extent by the other characters.
--After separating from Tokubei, there were some changes in Kirima as well. Were you conscious of these changes while acting?
Ono: I thought that having a plan and thinking, "This is how it's going to be in the future" was just a distraction, so I didn't calculate it that much. However, there is a difference in the way I interact with people. I think that the difference between when I'm talking to my family and when I'm talking to other people comes out naturally.
-What do you pay attention to when expressing the bond between brothers?
Kimura: Actors are all different, so it's hard to generalize, but if you can't act unless you pay attention to something, I don't think it's acting anymore. If you're thinking, "I have to do it like this," you probably can't concentrate on the acting. Kensho mentioned "distractions" earlier, but what do you think?
Ono-san doesn't think about anything when he's acting (laughs). I think that's probably what it means to be focused.
Kimura: In that sense, there will be times when Kensho will come along as expected, and there will also be times when he takes a completely different approach. But whatever that may be, the premise is that we are both professionals. With that in mind, I feel reassured that Kensho will not take me in a direction that I have never expected.
Ono: It's true that having performed together many times in the past and knowing Ryohei's personal side, it's easy to imagine what will happen during rehearsals. Like, "I wonder if Ryohei will come out with something like this." However, even if something different happens during the actual performance than what you imagined, that can still be an interesting feeling of "Wow, I've been surprised." I think the key is quick thinking, or rather, how well you can react to what comes your way.
In Kimura's dialogue, Kirima often resonates with Tokubei.
Ono: That's right.
◇Kirima embodies change, and there's even an adult-looking guy!?
--What is the appealing part of the characters you each play?
Kimura: In the second season, it's Kirima's growth. Change and growth. The theme of the Asa brothers is "change," but Kirima doesn't just follow Tokubei around, he embodies it himself.
Ono-san, I think Tokubei's greatest charm is his strength, which allows him to remain consistent no matter what situation he is placed in. This time, it is misleading to think that "Is Tokubei on the side of the Tensen?", but then there is a betrayal, leading to a scene where the two brothers join forces to fight the Tensen. His strength, which shows that he has always acted with his brother in mind, really stands out, and is fascinating. Also, in the second season there is an adult older brother who gets involved in the sexy parts, so I think that is also one of the highlights. "Hell's Paradise" is a work that also depicts the adult side, so it's like, "Come along with me" (laughs).
- Having co-starred with him as brothers this time, what appeal do you feel as an actor?
Ono: I think of my acting as more passive than active. On the other hand, Ryohei-san gives off an impression of being active, and I've always thought that it's wonderful that he has the "power to move the story forward" that I don't have. However, if I just think that way and Ryohei-san were to say, "No, it's completely passive," then this conversation would be over (laughs).
Kimura: This is also a way of thinking based on your own standards, so I think it's true that Kensho feels that way. It's interesting. I've always loved the unique originality that Kensho has, born from his background. If that is refined year by year, and he combines that with the skills of a professional voice actor while retaining that unique quality, then he becomes an irreplaceable actor. It's fun to listen to that. Of course, each of them has their own charm that comes from their background, but I think that among them all, he is unique.
--Did you feel that way when recording "Jigokuraku"?
Kimura: In "Hell's Paradise," I don't get the impression that Kensho is setting things up that much, but it's not about active/passive as we were talking about earlier. I wonder if he's doing it on purpose. If it's something that's based on the character of Kirima and the relationship between them, I think that's interesting in itself.
From Ono-san's perspective, Kirima seems to believe that his older brother's words are absolute, so I played him with the basic idea that he would never take the lead over Tokubei. However, in the second season, when he started to interact with other people and Kirima's personal side started to emerge, I felt that it was easier for me to act, and the range of expression increased. I think that this is Kirima's growth, and that this is the point where Tokubei thinks, "This guy has changed a bit."
It's more fun once Kimura 's character has more depth.
Ono: That's right.
Kimura and Ono express the bond between the Asa brothers with a sense of trust and security. Anticipation is building to see what kind of battle the reunited brothers will put on. (Shiroinu/MANTANWEB)
