Hayami Saori: Six Years as Kocho Shinobu — “Putting Everything Into” Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugenjou Hen [Interview]

Currently showing to rave reviews is Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugenjou Hen Dai Isshou Akaza Sairai. The curtain has finally been raised on the ultimate battle! We bring you an interview with Hayami Saori-san, who plays Kocho Shinobu!

Currently showing to rave reviews is Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugenjou Hen Dai Isshou, where the curtain has finally been raised on the ultimate battle.
Kimetsu no Yaiba is an anime adaptation of the manga by Gotouge Koyoharu, which has sold over 200 million copies across 23 volumes of Shueisha’s “Jump Comics.” The story follows Kamado Tanjiro, a boy whose family was slaughtered by a demon, as he joins the Demon Slayer Corps to turn his demon-turned sister, Nezuko, back into a human, throwing himself into battle against demons.

The anime, produced by ufotable, began its series run in April 2019 with Terebi Anime “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Kamado Tanjiro Risshi Hen. Following the broadcast of the final episode of Terebi Anime “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Hashira Geiko Hen in May 2024, it was announced that Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugenjou Hen would be produced as a three-part film series.

In that final episode, Tanjiro and the Hashira were dropped into the demons’ stronghold, the Infinity Castle, by Kibutsuji Muzan. Anime!Anime! had the opportunity to interview Hayami Saori-san, who plays Kocho Shinobu, a character who will face the Upper Rank Two demon Douma in Gekijouban “Mugenjou Hen” Dai Isshou. She reflected on her exchanges with Miyano Mamoru-san, who voices Douma, and shared what Kocho Shinobu means to her.

[Interview & Text = Yoneda Kaori, Photography = Ayumi Fujita]

■ The Exchanges with Miyano Mamoru-san as Douma were “Exactly Like Douma and Shinobu’s Interactions”

――It’s been six years since the anime began, and now the story has finally entered the “Mugenjou Hen.” There were scenes where Shinobu displayed intense emotions, more than one could imagine from her previous appearances. Were there any scenes that particularly resonated with you while acting or watching the footage?

There were many scenes that deeply pierced my heart. Douma is the hated enemy who killed her older sister. For Shinobu-san, he is a demon she utterly despises. After finally reaching this demon, the scene portrayed her turbulent emotions and expressions.

――How was Miyano Mamoru-san’s performance as Douma, whom you confronted?

During the recording, Miyano-san delivered a very elusive performance. Even when I threw words straight at him, it felt as though he wouldn’t accept them directly.

――What exchanges left the strongest impression on you?

All of them. No matter where you look, everything about him is evasive and noncommittal. I felt that Miyano-san especially imbued “Douma’s essence” into the very endings of his lines.

For example, if the line was “Hayai ne” (That was fast), Miyano-san expressed it as “Hayai nee” (That was faast~). Each of those inflections felt so characteristic of Douma.

――Emotionally intense battle scenes, how were those to perform?

Previously, battle scenes were depicted in the Natagumo Mountain Arc of Kamado Tanjiro Risshi Hen. There were also many instances in games where I had to say lines for “Insect Breathing.” I intended to use a different expression for this battle against Douma, but when I actually did the post-recording, it turned out completely different without even consciously trying, which surprised me.

There was an uncontainable anger, a burning desire within Shinobu-san, so I performed with the conviction that if the opponent she needed to unleash that on was right before her eyes, she would surely throw everything at them, consequences be damned.

――You’ve been playing Shinobu for a long time, Hayami-san. Did you do any special preparations before going into the recording?

I re-watched earlier episodes of the anime and re-read the “Mugenjou Hen” in the original manga to mentally prepare for the recording day. To be honest, it took me quite a while to even open the script for “Mugenjou Hen.” The tension, the resolve, and the pressure of expressing this battle with my own voice were immense, and it took time to get into the right mindset to face it.

――What was the biggest push that encouraged you, Hayami-san?

That would be Kocho Shinobu herself. Shinobu-san is facing this battle with such powerful emotions; how could I be timid? She really spurred me on. Also, there’s the “time spent with Shinobu-san” that has accumulated over the years. Through reading the original manga and performing her lines in recordings, I’ve internalized “Kocho Shinobu’s way of life.” I truly felt as if Shinobu-san gave me a strong push from behind.

――Were there any memorable directions you received from the sound staff?

What struck me this time was how few directions I received. Up until now, there had been several retakes or changes in expression depending on the line, but for “Mugenjou Hen,” that was almost nonexistent.

While we could have recorded many patterns, the fact that there were hardly any re-dos or corrections was, I believe, due to everyone’s intense spirit. I think it was because of the “shared breath” we’ve cultivated over many years that they prioritized raw, unadjusted emotion.

■ Expressing “Kocho Shinobu’s Way of Life” Through Sound

――After the post-recording, the footage was finally completed. Please share your thoughts once again after watching it.

I thought, “This is what it means to be overwhelmed by visuals.” From the very first second, the realism of the space and the power of the visuals made me feel as if I had stepped into the work itself. Watching it on the big screen of a cinema was even more breathtaking. Furthermore, the first chapter also depicts the battles of other characters, and all of them were incredible; I found myself completely engrossed.

――The anime has always been lauded for its “amazing animation quality,” but the depiction of the Infinity Castle this time went beyond mere “amazing.”

Absolutely! It truly lives up to its name, “the infinitely expanding castle.” I was curious how they would portray such an intricate structure and its unfathomable eeriness visually, and I was astonished by the level of completion.

The location where Shinobu-san and Douma fight is also a fantastical and beautiful place, isn’t it? I felt it was depicted in a captivating way. The contrast between such quiet scenes and the unfolding battle scenes is an absolute must-see.

《Yoneda Kaori》