Sound, Immersion… Kobayashi Chiaki, Umeda Shuuichirou & Kobayashi Chikahiro Passionately Advocate for ‘Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu’, This Summer’s Must-Watch Youth Horror Anime!
A special live broadcast titled “TV Anime ‘Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu’ Pre-Broadcast Special Live Stream” was aired on ABEMA on Sunday, June 29th.
【Video】’Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu’ Pre-Broadcast Special
The program featured Kobayashi Chiaki (voicing Tsujinaka Yoshiki), Umeda Shuuichirou (voicing Hikaru), and Kobayashi Chikahiro (voicing Tanaka). They discussed the highlights of the upcoming TV anime, delving into the characters and sharing some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from the afureko (voice recording) sessions.
■What are the “Push Points” of “Hikanatsu” According to the Cast!?
Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu (often abbreviated as “Hikanatsu”) is a youth horror story centered around Yoshiki, an ordinary high school boy. Six months after his childhood friend, Hikaru, went missing, Yoshiki accepts a mysterious “Nanika” that has taken on Hikaru’s form and appearance. The series follows their life together as strange and eerie events begin to unfold. With the first TV anime adaptation about to premiere, the three cast members took the opportunity during the program to share their personal “push points” or highlights of the series.
First up, Kobayashi Chikahiro mentioned the use of “sound” in the anime’s direction. He commented, “They deliberately excluded BGM in certain parts, opting instead for only natural sounds or complete silence. I thought this was wonderful as it created a stark contrast between Hikaru and Yoshiki’s darkness and their classmates’ brightness, adding greatメリハリ (merihari – contrast/sharpness) to each scene.” He added, “The director also mentioned that listening with earphones would make you understand more through sound,” emphasizing that viewers should pay close attention to even the smallest sounds.
Next, Umeda Shuuichirou picked the character of “Hikaru,” whom he voices, as his highlight. He pointed out how the series depicts both “Hikaru,” the entity, and “Hikaru” before his disappearance, explaining, “You’ll be able to see the difference in impression between ‘Hikaru’ and ‘Hikaru’, and also understand how Yoshiki feels about these two. So please try listening and comparing the two.”
Finally, Kobayashi Chiaki chose “immersion” as his push point. He admitted he hadn’t had much exposure to horror before but was completely drawn into the deep drama of the original manga, finding he “couldn’t stop reading.” He elaborated, “Accepting a childhood friend who has changed into a different ‘Nanika’ and continuing to live together… It makes you think, ‘If we were in Yoshiki’s position, could we make the same choice?’ or ‘If the person next to you changed, what would you consider real?’ You find yourself constantly thinking about ‘Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu’. I think the immersion is incredible.” He encouraged viewers to enjoy the space and nuances the series leaves for thought.
■Kobayashi Chiaki on Voicing Yoshiki: “I Consciously Acted as an Average High School Student” and More Afureko Stories!
The program further delved into the characters’ appeal. Umeda Shuuichirou, who voices Hikaru, emphasized Hikaru’s captivating charm, highlighting the coexistence of seemingly contradictory elements like madness and purity within him. Kobayashi Chikahiro, playing the role of Tanaka—whose full background is yet to be revealed—jokingly told viewers, “For now, just remember that he likes hamsters!” while hinting at future developments.
Kobayashi Chiaki, who plays the protagonist Tsujinaka Yoshiki, also shared insights into his approach to the role. Describing Yoshiki as “a very human character,” he said, “So when acting, I consciously aimed for the portrayal of an average high school student, trying not to make it overly dramatic. I’m trying to depict him as just a normal high schooler confronting big conflicts and significant worries.”
Throughout the program, more afureko behind-the-scenes stories were shared. The cast talked about the challenges they faced recording in the Mie dialect and even revealed an anecdote about performing an oharai (exorcism or purification ritual) because the genre is horror, which drew surprised reactions from viewers.
They also mentioned that the original author, Mokumoku Ren-sensei, visited the afureko studio. Umeda Shuuichirou shared an episode where he directly asked the author about his impressions of Hikaru to help with his character portrayal, adding to the lively atmosphere of the studio.
Furthermore, a segment called “Yoshiki and Hikaru’s Childhood Friend Sync Challenge” was held to test how well Kobayashi Chiaki and Umeda Shuuichirou, who play the childhood friends, were in sync. During this corner, the duo gave a string of unexpected answers, causing Kobayashi Chikahiro, who was hosting, to panic, saying, “Please sync up already!”
Special Live Broadcast “TV Anime ‘Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu’ Pre-Broadcast Special Live Stream” Exclusive Free Live Stream Overview
Broadcast Date & Time: Sunday, June 29, 2025, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM JST
Program URL: https://abema.tv/video/episode/218-820_s1_p1
Cast: Kobayashi Chiaki (Tsujinaka Yoshiki), Umeda Shuuichirou (Hikaru), Kobayashi Chikahiro (Tanaka)
*Available for free viewing until Saturday, October 4th after the broadcast.
Anime ‘Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu’ Exclusive Free & Unlimited Fastest Streaming Overview
Broadcast Date & Time: Saturday, July 5, 2025, 25:55 JST ~ (Broadcast every Saturday at 25:55 thereafter)
First Episode URL: https://abema.tv/channels/abema-anime/slots/8r7Ga6xvmtwj6P
*Latest episode available for free exclusive viewing for 1 week after broadcast.
・Unlimited streaming also available on “ABEMA Premium” and “ABEMA Premium with Ads”
Streaming Start Date & Time: Saturday, July 5, 2025, 25:55 JST ~ (Streaming starts every Saturday at 25:55 thereafter)
Program URL: https://abema.tv/video/title/218-757
(C)Mokumoku Ren／KADOKAWA・”Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” Production Committee
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