Kobayashi Chiaki Discusses the Appeal of Hikari ga Shinda Natsu and the Enthusiasm of Overseas Fans Felt at Anime Expo [Interview]

Interview with Kobayashi Chiaki on the Appeal of “Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” and the Passion of Overseas Fans Felt at Anime Expo 2025

An interview was conducted on-site with Kobayashi Chiaki-san, who plays Tsujinaka Yoshiki, following his appearance at the Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu talk panel held at Anime Expo 2025 (AX). We discussed his impressions of the fan reactions at “Anime Expo 2025” and his thoughts on the series.

Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu premiered globally on Netflix and exclusively for free on ABEMA starting July 5th (Saturday), and is currently broadcasting nationwide every Saturday at 24:55 JST on Nippon TV. The series achieved immense success at “Anime Expo 2025,” North America’s largest Japanese pop culture event, held from July 3rd (Thursday) to July 6th (Sunday), 2025, in Los Angeles, USA, where it hosted its North American Premiere and a special talk panel.

The Atmosphere at Anime Expo 2025

――What was the atmosphere like at the AX venue?

Kobayashi Chiaki: I was truly surprised to see the venue packed to capacity, especially considering that the series hadn’t even started broadcasting yet. There were so many people trying to get in, even some who couldn’t find a seat but were still eager to be part of it. It was both incredibly surprising and heartwarming to witness such enthusiasm.

Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu blends in a supernatural entity like Hikaru, but it also features a distinctly Japanese village atmosphere. So, initially, I thought it might be a difficult series for American audiences to connect with easily. However, seeing so many people express genuine interest in person made me realize that perhaps its unique qualities resonate, or maybe there’s another captivating element that transcends cultural barriers. Either way, witnessing this reception has made me really look forward to the reaction once the series starts airing! (This interview was conducted prior to broadcast).

Anticipating Fan Reactions

――Indeed, it was a moment where you could feel how well it was being received.

Kobayashi Chiaki: We also held pre-screenings in Japan, but I feel like there were significantly more people laughing here than at those events. Even during tense scenes, if there was even a slightly amusing moment, everyone would just burst out laughing. It really showed me how different the enjoyment of entertainment can be for fans in Japan versus overseas, and it was incredibly fun to experience.

The Thrill of Connecting with the Audience

――What were you most looking forward to at AX?

Kobayashi Chiaki: Above all, I was most looking forward to truly experiencing the audience’s enthusiasm firsthand. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in events for various works in Japan, and even just between Tokyo and Osaka, the audience atmosphere can differ significantly. So, when you go to a different country, they react in entirely unique ways, and seeing that is always something I eagerly anticipate.

――It truly felt like we were all creating the stage together during the talk panel, didn’t it?

Kobayashi Chiaki: It’s quite rare in Japan for the audience to call out your name when you answer a question, isn’t it? (laughs)

Differences Between Japanese and American Fans

――Having participated in overseas events in the past, have you noticed any differences between Japanese and American fans?

Kobayashi Chiaki: I actually haven’t attended any overseas events other than AX myself. So, I guess you could say I’m an AX-exclusive overseas voice actor! (laughs). As for the differences between Japanese and American fans, I believe that Japanese fans feel moved or laugh at the same moments as American fans do, deep down inside. However, perhaps out of consideration for those around them, they don’t often express those emotions outwardly. It can be hard to tell their reactions during an event because there isn’t much outward response, but when I see their reactions online afterwards, it’s often like, “Oh, so they were enjoying it!” and that’s a relief.

American audiences, on the other hand, don’t worry about what others think. If they want to laugh, they laugh out loud, and if they think something is wonderful, they applaud. Everyone openly expresses their emotions. As a performer on stage, when the audience expresses themselves so freely, it really enhances the feeling that we are creating the event together, and I’m truly grateful for that.

Memorable Fan Messages and Episodes

――During your participation in the Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu panel this time, were there any particular messages or episodes from overseas fans that left a strong impression on you?

Kobayashi Chiaki: They would applaud every time a question was answered. Even after I answered in Japanese, and even after the translator relayed it in English. On stages for other works too, every time someone spoke, there would be cheers and applause. I was truly impressed by the immense respect they showed to all the panelists.

Because of that, it felt like we were all able to give back to each other, creating a mutual exchange. It made me instinctively think, “If they’re this happy, I want to talk about this a little more.” The applause and cheers were definitely heartwarming, and it felt like a unique characteristic of overseas fans.

English Phrases for Overseas Fans

――Do you have any English lines or phrases you’d like to say to overseas fans?

Kobayashi Chiaki: Everyone who came to the venue spent one or two hours together at the event, right? So, whenever I do an event for a work I star in, I always hope that the attendees leave feeling like it was a truly special time, different from any other. That’s why I usually try to do a call-and-response at the end. In Japan, we can do it by splitting the title, like “Hikari ga shinda!” and then “Natsu!” But for the English title, “The Summer Hikaru Died,” I was actually racking my brain trying to figure out where to split it for a call-and-response. “Hikaru Died” sounds a bit ominous, doesn’t it? (laughs)

In the end, we ran out of time and couldn’t do it, but I really want to come up with a good call-and-response for the English version of Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu and try it sometime!

A Message to the Fans

――Finally, please share a message with your fans.

Kobayashi Chiaki: Once again, thank you so much for reading this interview. I am a truly huge fan of this work myself, and I am confident that it’s a series you’ll find genuinely interesting and engaging.

While Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu is set in a certain Japanese village that even I haven’t visited, I can confidently say that it has been crafted into a work that people all over the world can empathize with and enjoy. So, I would be absolutely thrilled if many more people would watch it and follow the fates of Hikaru and Yoshiki.

© Mokumoku Ren／KADOKAWA・”Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” Production Committee

This article is a translation and re-post from Anime Anime Global

《MORI Motoyuki》

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