The TV anime "Marriage Toxin," based on the manga serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine app "Shonen Jump+", is currently airing on Kansai TV and Fuji TV's nationwide network every Tuesday at 11 PM in the "Tuesday Anime!!" time slot. Based on the manga by Jyakuen (original story) and Mizuki Yoda (artwork), it's a "marriage-hunting battle action" story about Gero Hikaru, a young man who is a "poison user," a line of assassins that has been around for hundreds of years, and his pursuit of the perfect marriage with the help of a con artist, Shirosaki Mei, in order to prevent the lineage from dying out. We spoke to Haruki Ishitani, who plays Gero Hikaru, and Shion Wakayama Wakayama, who plays Shirosaki Mei, the ultimate buddy duo in the TV anime, about behind-the-scenes stories from the recording and the appeal of the work.
◇Gero-kun has the charm of a bento box; you can't help but root for him. Shirosaki can win over any opponent in 30 seconds.
--What aspects of the original work did you find appealing?
Wakayama-san, I read the original manga after the audition, and I was completely hooked from the start. First of all, I was struck by the novelty of the main character, Gero-kun, being a member of the underworld. At the beginning, I thought he didn't think much of his job as a hitman, but that wasn't the case at all; he has a very strong sense of justice. You can also enjoy the intense battle sequences by Professor Jyakusen and Gero-kun's coming-of-age story through his search for a wife, and Professor Yoda's artwork is so amazing that I felt like, "This is exactly what I've been looking for!"
Mr. Ishitani , for me too, my initial attraction was the color scheme of the cover drawn by Professor Yoda. He uses very vivid colors, yet the illustrations have a gentle feel, and I felt that his sense of style was reflected in the artwork. As you read on, the way the worldview changes dramatically is also appealing, and each of the matchmaking partners, the "users," who appear have their own unique worldview, making it very diverse. It's like a bento box with various dishes, and I think there's something for everyone to like in this work. Also, Shirosaki is a mysterious character, but the balance of that mystery is just right. I felt that the way all the different elements come together is very appealing.
--What are your impressions of the character you play?
I think Gero is a very clumsy person, Ishitani-san. I think his environment made him that way. There's a huge difference between when he's confident and when he's not. But even so, the people close to him want to support him. Because in a normal romantic comedy, if he kept changing his dating partners one after another, people would think, "This guy's hopeless," but I think he's a charming character that doesn't come across as unpleasant. Also, the fact that he fights while wearing a mask really appeals to a boy's heart. He has a professional side, but he's also a very human side with his own struggles, and he's sincere. I think he's a character that can be perceived in many different ways depending on the viewer.
--Although he's a hitman, he's honest and clumsy, which makes him endearing.
Mr. Ishitani has a strong core within him. He probably can't stand the idea of hurting people indiscriminately. Even though he's a hitman, he has a strong sense of justice. He also carries the burden of his karma as a hitman. I think it's rather clumsy of him to possess something that a hitman shouldn't really have.
--The character Wakayama plays, Shirosaki, is a highly skilled con artist who boasts that he can win over anyone in 30 seconds.
Wakayama-san has a history of deceiving people and making money through marriage scams, but the Shirosaki we see in this work is consistently sincere, and I get the strong impression that she basically never lies to Gero-kun. She sometimes has the perspective of a female friend towards Gero-kun, and sometimes the perspective of a male friend. I really feel that she's a person with multiple perspectives while I'm playing her.
--As a matchmaking advisor, I sometimes say harsh things to Gero.
Wakayama says some pretty harsh things and gives Gero a kick in the pants, but it's all based on the premise that she won't give up on him. I think the fact that her harsh words and venomous remarks are based on the premise that she will never give up on Gero and will never let go of his hand is what makes it reassuring to watch.
Everything Mr. Ishitani says is absolutely right. There's nothing that hits you harder than the truth (lol).
I think Gero-kun is a good person for accepting Wakayama-san so well; he's honest and a nice guy.
◇The difficulty of playing Kinosaki
--What do you keep in mind and what do you value when you're acting?
When I play Gero -kun, I value sincerity. I try to portray him in a way that shows his reactions to new things, like when he starts looking for a wife and can't talk to women properly, and how he gradually becomes more comfortable with them, allowing his good qualities to shine through. This story is told from Gero-kun's perspective, and there are times when it's seen from other perspectives, but I think the perspective of "watching over Gero-kun" is a big element, so I try to play him as a complete person.
--Since starting his search for a marriage partner, Gero has met many different women, and each time he finds himself in a state of confusion.
Every time a new potential marriage partner appears for Mr. Ishitani, the world changes quite a bit. When things change, I make sure that Gero remains true to himself, but as a person, he does waver. Each of his potential marriage partners and users acknowledges Gero to some extent, so I try to strongly emphasize the aspects of Gero that they see in him, and use them as a kind of spice in the story.
Wakayama- san, Kinosaki is a character where versatility is important, so I'm making sure to give him a wide range. I often get this in direction, but I think his charm lies in the fact that he can swing from cute to cool, so depending on the flow of the story, I make sure to fully commit to each line.
-- In the first episode, Shirosaki appears with an appearance that makes him seem like a woman, but then he says, "I'm a man," making him a mysterious character with many different facets.
The character of Kinosaki, as portrayed by Wakayama- san, was very difficult to create, and it took a considerable amount of time to develop the character, with many discussions. Kinosaki is a character with many different elements, and on top of that, he's a cute character that everyone will love. He's energetic, cute, and lively, and he supports Gero, and he doesn't annoy the viewers. Finding that balance was really difficult... Moreover, he has a wide range, so I felt the difficulty throughout the entire performance.
--What was the most memorable thing about Kinosaki that you discussed?
Wakayama-san, this connects to what we were just talking about regarding different perspectives, but what you said about Kinosaki having two axes was very impressive. Hearing that, I was able to organize my perspective, and I thought, "I see." You said that Kinosaki can be divided into his cute side and his cool side. I think that was very significant. So, I'm trying to distribute my lines well between both sides.
◇Inspirational from our first collaboration; grateful to the unwavering Gero-kun
--What was it like working together as buddies in "Marriage Toxin"?
This is my first time working with Mr. Ishitani and Mr. Wakayama. What I felt when working with them was that their ability to go above and beyond is truly amazing. I had the impression that they had played various characters in other works, and I thought that I would be able to work with them someday, and then we ended up co-starring in "Marriage Toxin." When it comes to characters other than the one I play, I often think about "how would I construct this character?", but I think Mr. Wakayama is the one who most often surpasses the image I had in mind. He creates characters with his own unique sensibility, so I feel that it is a great source of inspiration for me to work with him. That's why I feel like I can also try to express myself on a grander level, and I feel that it's easy to create that kind of chemical reaction with him.
Thank you , Wakayama-san .
--Are you ever surprised by Wakayama's acting?
Yes , Mr. Ishitani , we have it.
Wakayama-san , as I mentioned earlier, it took me quite a while to define my character, so I spent a lot of time feeling lost and wondering what to do. During that time, Ishitani-san played Gero-kun with a very solid foundation from the beginning. Even when I was wondering "what should I do?" about Kinosaki's character, Gero-kun was unwavering, so I was able to try out various ideas. I'm truly grateful that he led the way with such a firm image of Gero-kun. I really appreciate it.
--What are the highlights of the anime "Marriage Toxin"?
Wakayama- san, I guess it's the worldview of the work, isn't it?
Ishitani-san , yes, it's this worldview. We were really looking forward to seeing what kind of chemical reaction would occur when everything came together, with the dialogue and music added in. When you watch the animation, you'll notice that the night lights are incredibly beautiful, and the use of color from the original work is reproduced very faithfully. These are some of the highlights that are unique to animation. I hope you'll also take a look at the background artists' use of color and the overall color scheme. Of course, the music, story, and character movements are important, but I think they've paid a lot of attention to the details, so I hope everyone who watches it will find something that they think is amazing.
As it's a Wakayama-san matchmaking battle action series, the battles are, of course, amazing. The battles in this work are quite unique; they're not just simple fights, but also involve people from the underworld called "users," and there are special moves and other such elements, so I hope you'll enjoy that world as well. Also, the heroines are all very unique and really cute. I think another charm of this work is that even the characters who appear as enemies are somehow lovable. I'm sure you'll be able to watch it with a warm feeling until the very end.
(Shiroinu/MANTANWEB)
