Haisukuru! Kimenshumi: Tomokazu Seki, Shunsuke Takeuchi, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Chiaki Kobayashi, Kikunosuke Toya Directly Asked About Their Chaotic School Days!

About ‘Haisukuuru! Kimengumi’

The TV anime ‘Haisukuuru! Kimengumi’ (also known as High School! Kimengumi) is set to air every Friday at 11:30 PM starting January 9, 2026, on the Fuji TV network’s “Noitamina” block nationwide. This series is based on a school comedy manga that began serialization in 1980 in Weekly Shonen Jump as 3-nen Kimengumi and was renamed Haisukuuru! Kimengumi as the characters moved up to high school. It was previously adapted into a TV anime from 1985 to 1987, creating a major boom and cementing its status as a classic.

The central “Kimengumi” members are voiced by an all-star cast. Here’s a quick look at the main voice actors and their roles:

In interviews, the five shared their thoughts on why this series is being revived in the Reiwa era and what makes the 2026 version unique. We also got to hear some wild stories from their own school days!

[Interview and Text: M.TOKU　Photography: Ayumi Fujita]

How Will the Chaotic ‘Haisukuuru! Kimengumi’ Fare in the Reiwa Era?

— When it was announced that ‘Haisukuuru! Kimengumi’ would be animated in 2026, social media was filled with surprise and joy. How did you all feel when you heard about the anime adaptation?

Seki: First, I was shocked. I did wonder if ‘Haisukuuru! Kimengumi’ would fit in this era, but since it’s a personal favorite, I was happy thinking, “I get to see it again!” For the audition, my agency said I could go for any role I liked. At first, I thought about aiming for a character with less competition, but when it comes to ‘Kimengumi’, it’s Zero-kun, right? Then my manager said, “No, no, someone your age wouldn’t audition for Ichido Zero anymore.” (laughs)

— Wow!

Seki: Of course, I knew it was impossible, but I still wanted to give it a shot as a commemorative exam. So when I got it, I thought, “See, I still got it! Told you so!” (laughs)

Takeuchi: When the casting was announced, I got messages from people of various generations saying, “You’re doing ‘Kimengumi’!” From seniors who watched it in real time, I received passionate comments like “I used to watch it,” and on another set, a young female director greeted me wearing a ‘Kimengumi’ T-shirt. From her story, I learned she had encountered the work through stage plays and media mix expansions. Through these interactions, I realized anew how beloved this series is by many people, and my desire to create content that can be enjoyed by all generations grew even stronger.

Matsuoka: I auditioned for Zero, Kiyoshi, and Jin. Among them, the one I had the least confidence in was Kiyoshi.

Seki: Surprisingly, it’s often those kinds of roles that you get.

Matsuoka: When you think “I nailed it!” that’s when you don’t get it, right? But when I received the news that I passed and could join the project, I felt a lot of pressure. This is the 2026 version of ‘Kimengumi’, but we can’t ignore the previous ‘Kimengumi’ anime, and surely fans of the original and anime will be watching. With such expectations, it might be impossible to satisfy all 100 out of 100 people, but we should be able to get close to 100. With that in mind, I decided to act under this good pressure.

Kobayashi: During the recording for episode 1, the producer mentioned something that stuck with me: the idea of using laughter to blow away the negative aspects of modern society and the unspoken atmosphere of the world. Hearing that, I felt that this series isn’t being aired in 2026 just because it’s popular, but because there’s meaning in doing it now in the Reiwa era. Carrying that entrusted feeling, I approached the recording.

— I see.

Toya: When I first watched the anime and read the original for the audition, I was surprised by how over-the-top the gags and word choices were. Honestly, I wondered, “Will this be accepted by people living in the Reiwa era?” But when I heard the producer’s words about “turning negative things into positive power,” I felt that this is actually the perfect time for this work. That comment turned my anxieties into positives, and I felt very reassured. This series is great precisely because it’s so wild!

Takeuchi: These days, I feel like we’re often expected to conform to a correct form. But this work shows that it’s okay to be different, and that our differences can be our unique weapons. The five members of ‘Kimengumi’ each do their own thing, but they also show mysterious solidarity at times. Seeing that makes you think, “We don’t always have to be together.” Even though the original is decades old, I feel it’s a work that fits the current timing.

Recording Session Mayhem? Focus on the Unique Atmosphere

— Tell us about the recording session. Seki-san, as Zero, did you feel like leading the others?

Seki: No, not at all. In fact, I’m shy around new people, but Kobayashi-kun and Takeuchi-kun are open-minded and approachable, Toya-kun is gentle, and Matsuoka-kun brings up topics like heartbreaking stories from home. I felt like I was made to feel comfortable by everyone instead. With lavish treats and no shortage of topics, it was a homey studio, and I naturally enjoyed diving into the recording.

Toya: At the first recording, we were told, “It’s okay to try challenging things.” Maybe because of that, everyone was going pretty wild (laughs).

Kobayashi: Going wild (laughs).

Toya: The ad-lib acting was so funny that I was laughing the whole time, and it made me think, “I have to approach the recording with a fighting spirit too,” so I got pumped up again.

Seki: Especially Matsuoka-kun, he boldly added ad-libs that we thought would never be used (laughs).

Takeuchi: He did ad-libs that would need mosaics (laughs).

Seki: We’re all curious to see how it turns out on air.

— Did you do those challenges specifically because of this work?

Matsuoka: No, I’m like that on every set (laughs). But this probably relates to human psychology: when you try to make people laugh on purpose, it often falls flat. So I only do it when I feel the moment is right. On the other hand, if someone says, “Do some ad-lib here,” I get stuck.

Kobayashi: It’s hard when you’re told to fill a spot with ad-lib, right?

Matsuoka: Exactly. So I only add ad-libs where I feel the flow allows it.

Takeuchi: Watching Seki-san and Matsuoka-san’s approaches, I tried various challenges. I’d try something and then refine it by thinking, “This was too out there” or “This was noise that didn’t fit the story’s purpose,” so I feel like it got more polished with each episode. Actually, as we recorded more, a natural uniqueness and funny atmosphere came together in the overall recording, which I really felt.

Kobayashi: In terms of the studio atmosphere, it was really like a school. Although there are many people involved in this work, before and after recording in the booth, M・A・O-san and Yui Ishikawa-san would be chatting, Daisuke Sakuma-san and Nobuhiko Okamoto-san would be talking, and there were various communities. And when recording started, everyone would laugh at Seki-san and Matsuoka-san’s acting. With seniors like Shou Hayami also there, the age range is really varied, but there was a feeling like before and during classes, and I feel like we’re classmates creating a work together.

Seki: Shou Hayami-san was in the previous ‘Kimengumi’. Also, in episode 1, Kenichi Ogata-san will appear as the same principal role as before. Amazing, right? I think those who watched the previous anime will enjoy those aspects too.

Gallery: More Snaps from the Interview

《M.TOKU》

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