The TV anime adaptation of the popular novel and manga series "Oni no Hanayome" (The Demon Bride) will begin airing on TOKYO MX, BS11, and other channels from July 4th. This popular work won the Grand Prize at the "Comic Seymour Everyone's Choice!! Electronic Comic Awards 2023" in January 2023 and topped the shojo manga category of the "Comic Seymour Annual Ranking" for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023. The role of Kiryuin Reiya, the next head of the demon clan who stands at the pinnacle of all supernatural beings, will be played by popular voice actor Yuichiro Umehara. Known for his "enchanting low voice," how did Umehara portray Reiya, a character popular in the original work? We asked Umehara.
◇Reiya has his clumsy moments
"Oni no Hanayome" (The Demon Bride) is a Japanese-style supernatural Cinderella story set in a world where humans and supernatural beings coexist. It follows Shinonome Yuzu, an ordinary high school student leading an unfortunate life, as she meets Kiryuin Reiya, the top demon among the supernatural beings, and is chosen to become his bride. The series has sold over 7.5 million copies. The anime is directed by Omiya Kazuhito and produced by Colored Pencil Animation Japan. Saori Hayami voices Yuzu.
Reiya, played by Umehara, is the next head of the demon clan, which stands at the pinnacle of all supernatural beings. He possesses a sublime charisma.
"Among the ayakashi, the Oni clan has the highest abilities, and as the next head of the clan, he possesses absolute power. My first thought was to convey an aura-like presence. He also tries to be a safe and comforting presence for Yuzu, so I focused on portraying his depth of character. His expression is clearly different when he's with Yuzu compared to when he's with other characters. I was fine-tuning how much of that kindness to show during the recording. In the test, it was sometimes a little lacking, and I was told, 'Add a little more kindness,' and although there are some sweet lines, I was also told, 'Keep some coolness,' so I tried to portray a kind of kindness that comes from a big heart, rather than a gentle, soft-spoken gentleness."
The character's description also mentions that they are "always expressionless and lacking in emotion." While they give off a cool impression, they also possess other appealing qualities.
"When he's acting as the head of the family, or when he's dealing with other ayakashi or his subordinates, he carries the weight of his family on his shoulders, and his expressions become less pronounced. However, that's just his outward appearance; he smiles a lot when he's with Yuzu. Especially in the beginning, he has a fateful encounter with her, and since Reiya himself isn't used to falling in love, he's confused. There are hints of his inner turmoil in his monologues, and subtle nuances of his emotions are there. But, as a general rule, he doesn't show it that much on the surface. I'm trying to pick up on the parts that I can."
My impression of Reiya changed somewhat before and after I started playing the role.
"My first impression of him was that he was overwhelmingly strong, but as I was acting, I felt that he also had some clumsy aspects. When it comes to romance, he's straightforward, and to put it bluntly, his expressions of affection are rather intense. I think he's serious, but from a third-party perspective, I feel like there could be a slightly better way to express himself (laughs). He's being very honest with Yuzu, and there's absolutely no dishonesty in him. I sense a certain kind of sincerity in him."
Reiya sometimes treats Yuzu in a "sweet" way. This "sweetness" is also an important point.
"Especially in the beginning, it was difficult to figure out how much sweetness to bring out. Even though he's sweet, he's still Reiya, so he can't be frivolous. He has to be firm at the core, but sweet towards Yuzu. It was difficult at first to figure out how much of that switch to. The sound director gave me detailed directions each time, like, 'Make this line sweeter,' or 'Let's make this part a little flatter,' so I was able to try it. There's a sweet line with Yuzu at least once in each episode, so I basically made those sweet."
◇I'm curious about Yuzu's parents...
Yuzu is a character who grows and develops. Umehara-san, who co-starred with Hayami-san, who played Yuzu, directly witnessed Yuzu's growth.
"By gaining Reiya as a place of absolute safety, Yuzu gradually gains confidence. I think she was always a strong person, but she's able to let out what she had been keeping bottled up. As the story progresses, you can feel that she's becoming able to affirm herself. Yuzu is the one who grows the most in this work, and that's one of the highlights. Hayami portrays that change in great detail. For example, in the beginning, she's in a pitiable situation, but Yuzu herself doesn't have a victim mentality. That's her strength, and I felt that it's something that Hayami's voice and the core strength of her acting can achieve. As for Reiya, since he is a demon and Yuzu is human, he has a slight desire to control her in the beginning, but that simply turns into a desire to protect her, and he develops romantic feelings for Yuzu. Their relationship gradually becomes more equal, with them standing side by side."
The other characters besides Yuzu and Reiya are also appealing. Umehara says there's a character that interests her.
"While the story primarily revolves around Yuzu and Reiya, Yuzu's younger sister, Karin, is also important. And then there's Karin and her parents. These three characters have some pretty raw human emotions, and seeing how her parents change after Karin is chosen as the bride, it's a realistic and interesting scene that makes you realize that this is just how people are. The actors playing the parents also did a great job. Personally, I can't bring myself to dislike them (laughs). If I were in the same position, I can't say for sure that I wouldn't react the same way. They are characters that expose the weaknesses of humanity."
Even during recording, it seems that Yuzu's parents' acting bothered her the most.
"His parents are truly terrible people, and that's portrayed wonderfully. They're infuriating characters, but they're also very human and endearing. It's a type of character I've never played before, and I hope I can play one someday."
The various human dramas in "The Demon Bride" are also part of its appeal.
"While the story primarily focuses on the romance between Reiya and Yuzu, I think it can also be viewed from the perspective of 'I wish I had someone who would overwhelmingly support me.' There are also family stories and some messy human relationships, so there are various ways to enjoy it. There are some scenes that may be difficult to watch, but I think you'll feel refreshed in the end."
◇The reason I re-evaluated my vocalization
Umehara is known for his deep voice. While playing Reiya, he said, "Although my voice is low, I tried to maintain a delicate quality. I tried to make it sound solid but not thick. My own voice is low, but it's not thick."
I'm also curious to know how Umehara maintains his "enchanting low voice."
"My throat isn't particularly strong. I'm conscious of humidifying my voice, but recently I had the opportunity to re-evaluate my vocal technique. After doing some research and practicing vocal exercises on my own, my throat has become less prone to damage than before. I feel that I need to continue training every day as I continue my activities."
There was a reason why I decided to re-examine my vocal technique.
"I was given a job to read a novel aloud on the radio over the course of a year, but each recording session involved talking for four or five hours straight, and I realized that I would ruin my throat if I continued like that, so I decided to rethink my vocal technique to reduce the strain. If I strained at the wrong time, it would directly hit my throat, so I aimed for a vocal technique that could distribute the strain. At first, my throat hurt, but the more I trained, the less damage it caused. I'm glad I did it. At first, I didn't really believe it (laughs). But it changed to a level where I could really feel the difference. Now I think I should have done it sooner."
The dramatic, Japanese-style fantasy world of Reiya and Yuzu depicted in "The Demon Bride" is firmly supported by Umehara's "enchanting low voice," which imbues the character of Reiya with overwhelming charisma and profound kindness. We encourage you to fully experience Umehara's "enchanting low voice," honed through daily practice, with all your senses. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
