Event Overview: A Spectacular Stage Greeting
On February 8, 2026, roughly seven months after its release, Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugenjou-hen Dai Isshou: Akaza Sairai (the film adaptation of the “Infinity Castle” arc, also known as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza’s Return) held a special stage greeting event. This first-of-its-kind event took place at the IMAX Theatre of Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro in Tokyo and was broadcast live to 357 theaters across Japan. The stage was graced by the voice actors, invited by MC and producer Takahashi Yuma: Hanae Natsuki (as Kamado Tanjirou), Shimono Hiro (as Agatsuma Zenitsu), Ueda Reina (as Tsuyuri Kanao), Sakurai Takahiro (as Tomioka Giyuu), and Hayami Saori (as Kochou Shinobu).
The actors couldn’t hide their excitement in front of the massive IMAX screen. Hanae Natsuki kicked things off with a laugh, saying, “Thank you for coming out in this weather, which feels like Douma’s Blood Demon Art!” He added, “I watched the film on this very screen on opening day. I hope we can have a fun conversation today.”
Shimono Hiro greeted the audience with a cheerful, “Hello, everyone! Thank you for coming in the cold. I hope we can make this a time that warms you up a bit.” Sakurai Takahiro noted, “I’m happy to meet you all on a snowy day that reminds me of the first episode, and on Giyuu’s birthday!” Hayami Saori expressed her gratitude, “Thank you for coming despite the bad weather. It’s a short time, but let’s talk energetically!” Ueda Reina shared her joy, “I’m so happy to be on stage with Shinobu today!” Their greetings instantly amplified the venue’s excitement.
Celebrating a Record-Breaking Run
The film had reached 205 days since its premiere, with domestic attendance soaring past 26.84 million viewers. Astonished by this incredible number, the cast reacted with mixed feelings of surprise and gratitude, exclaiming, “This is truly amazing! Thank you so much!”
Fan Q&A: The Cast Shares Their Thoughts
The lively atmosphere continued as the event moved into the “Long-Run Thanks! What 26.84 Million Fans Want to Know!” segment. This involved answering fan-submitted questions on the spot.
Dream Destinations for Promoting the Film
The first question was: “If you had the chance to promote the film anywhere in the world, which country or region would you like to go to?”
Hanae Natsuki replied, “I’ve been to many places overseas, but surprisingly not so much within Japan. I love onsen, so I’d like to visit the Jigoku Onsen in Oita Prefecture, specifically the Oniyama Jigoku.” Shimono Hiro added a tasty tip, “(Oita) has really delicious karaage!”
Shimono himself excitedly chose Fukui Prefecture, known for glasses and dinosaurs, and mentioned hearing about its delicious seafood. When Ueda Reina suggested her hometown, Toyama Prefecture, Shimono immediately changed his mind, saying, “Then, I’ll go to Toyama!” drawing laughs from the crowd. Sakurai Takahiro hoped for his character Giyuu’s birthplace, Nogata in Tokyo, prompting the others to tease, “Isn’t that too close?!” Hayami Saori proposed an extravagant idea, “How about building a special stage in the ocean off Okinawa for a maritime event?” Ueda Reina, with sparkling eyes, said, “If my older sister (referring to Shinobu) goes to the sea, I’ll go to the summit of Japan’s highest mountain!” The first question set a highly energetic tone.
Behind the Voice: Sakurai Takahiro on Tomioka Giyuu
A question was directed at Sakurai Takahiro: “We saw a significant change in the usually quiet Giyuu during the Infinity Castle battle. How did you approach portraying this shift?”
He explained, “After the story with Tanjirou in the ‘Hashira Training Arc,’ I felt he was freed from the self-blame he had carried alone. It might look like a big change, but it was more of a gradual release from what he had been holding inside. Furthermore, in the Infinity Castle, he encounters unknown parts of himself during the battle, so as I followed the story, that portrayal naturally emerged.” When asked if he liked Giyuu’s favorite dish, salmon daikon, he humorously replied, “I’ve never had it. I have had yellowtail daikon, though!” lightening the mood.
Hayami Saori on Shinobu’s Defining Moment
Another question focused on Shinobu’s battle against Douma: “I love the tongue-click scene. In just an instant, it feels like all of Shinobu’s emotions are packed in—it was brilliant. What was your mindset when performing that scene, Hayami-san?”
Hayami Saori reflected, “If I had delivered it like a line, it might have come out cuter. Rather than specifically planning ‘how should I do this tongue click?’, it was the result of refining Shinobu’s feelings and passion towards Douma; within the larger flow of expression, it came out in that form.”
Ueda Reina on Kanao’s Heart-Wrenching Cry
A fan who had seen the film over 20 times asked, “Every time, Kanao’s scream when she arrives grips my heart. If there are any recording episodes, please share.”
Ueda Reina answered, “Until the recording day, I couldn’t fully imagine what kind of voice Kanao would have in that scene. I was allowed to watch the recording of Shinobu and Douma’s battle from the beginning, and my feelings naturally built up while seeing them fight. I particularly felt the concentration and emotions of Shinobu’s battle from Hayami-san’s performance. Also, having seen the exchange between Shinobu and Kanae (voiced by Kayano Ai) and Shinobu’s feelings, I believe that scream was born naturally. It’s a scene that blurs with tears no matter how many times I see it.”
Shimono Hiro on Zenitsu’s “Fire Thunder God”
A question about Zenitsu came: “We saw a different, very cool Zenitsu in the Infinity Castle! The ‘Fire Thunder God’ scene had me on the edge of my seat! How was it to perform that scene?”
Shimono Hiro recalled, “For the battle between Zenitsu and Kaigaku, I felt I had to lead and create the atmosphere. I was influenced by the opponent’s feelings and the actor’s performance. When thinking about how to express ‘Fire Thunder God,’ I considered various patterns. The staff felt the same way, and we explored together what form would make ‘Fire Thunder God’ look wonderful,” revealing it was a scene built by everyone.
Hanae Natsuki on the Fierce Three-Way Battle
Regarding the intense battle between Tanjirou, Giyuu, and Akaza, Hanae Natsuki was asked about his feelings overcoming it. He confessed, “I had somewhat decided my own path for this battle, but as the recording day approached, I had this strange feeling of wanting to do it quickly but not wanting it to end.”
The presence of Ishida Akira, who voiced Akaza, was significant. Hanae shared, “Even though he’s the enemy, I was greatly pulled in by Ishida-san’s performance. On site, I thought about trying to perform by receiving his acting, and there were scenes where I recorded with my eyes closed, valuing what was born in the moment.”
Exciting New Announcements
The final question, read by Hanae Natsuki himself, was: “Chapter 1 was so dense, I still want to bask in the afterglow. Will there be any developments to enjoy ‘Chapter 1’ even more in the future?” This led to a recap of new information.
It was announced that from February 6, an “IMAX Special Edition” began screening—a first for a Japanese anime film. This version uses IMAX’s exclusive expanded aspect ratio to show more image area vertically in some scenes, offering a new experience. Furthermore, from February 20, the first-ever SCREENX and ULTRA 4DX screenings for the Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise were confirmed, promising a completely novel theater experience with triple screens for SCREENX. Upon hearing this, Hanae exclaimed, “Thank you! I’m definitely going!”
Towards the end, the mini-warrior Tanjirou appeared to announce that a full re-broadcast of the entire TV series has been decided! It will air every Sunday at 9:30 AM starting April 5 on Fuji TV and other stations. The cast reacted with delight, saying, “Sunday mornings!? That’s great!”
Closing Remarks
Hanae Natsuki concluded the event: “Thank you very much for today. Kimetsu no Yaiba has brought so many first-time experiences. Being able to do a stage greeting on such a huge screen, visiting various countries and regions—I always feel it shows me new scenery. I look forward to continuing to walk this path with all of you, so please keep supporting us. And above all, with utmost gratitude to the original author, Gotouge Koyoharu-sensei, I will close this stage greeting. Thank you!” With that, the highly energetic event came to a close.
Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Long-Run Appreciation Stage Greeting for Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugenjou-hen Dai Isshou: Akaza Sairai |
| Date | February 8 (Sunday) |
| Venue | Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro @IMAX® Theatre (Grandscape Ikebukuro, 1-30-3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo) |
| Cast (in order of appearance) | Hanae Natsuki, Shimono Hiro, Ueda Reina, Sakurai Takahiro, Hayami Saori |
| MC | Takahashi Yuma (Producer) |
(C) Gotouge Koyoharu / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable
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