Boukyaku Battery Season 1 Retrospective Event: Nobunaga Shimazaki Reveals Mamoru Miyano’s ‘Advanced Advice’

The second retrospective screening event for the TV anime Boukyaku Battery took place on August 9, 2026, at a theater in Tokyo. After screening episodes 4 through 6, voice actors Nobunaga Shimazaki (Chihaya Shunpei), Mark Ishii (Maki Hironobu), and Kengo Kawanishi (Kirishima Akito) took the stage to look back on the first season and share their excitement for the upcoming second season.

Boukyaku Battery is based on the high school baseball manga by Mikawa Eko, serialized on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ app, where it has surpassed 400 million cumulative views. The anime, directed by Masato Nakazono and produced by MAPPA, aired its first season from April to July 2024. The series is known for its unique premise of a protagonist with amnesia, a cast of charming characters, realistic baseball drama, and a delicate balance of comedy and serious moments. A second season is scheduled for 2027.

The event began with the cast reflecting on the middle episodes that drive the story forward. Shimazaki singled out episode 5 as particularly memorable. He spoke passionately about how the team at Koteisho High School finally came together as a true unit, especially in the scene where they protect the back of the opponent who once caused Chihaya and his friends to quit baseball. He also emphasized how Yamada Taro’s gritty, earnest cheering—rather than heroic or flashy words—gives the team strength, reaffirming Yamada’s importance.

Kawanishi focused on Kei’s training at the batting center, where he faces his fear of being hit in the face by a ball. Kawanishi, who has his own baseball experience, said he was deeply moved by Kei’s determination, noting that even without his memories, Kei’s passion for baseball remains ingrained in his body.

As the conversation turned to the final arc of the first season, the complex relationship between Chihaya and Maki came under scrutiny. Ishii described Maki as “actually a good kid, just overly serious.” Shimazaki agreed, explaining that Chihaya’s cold attitude toward Maki is not born of contempt but rather stems from a sense of inferiority and respect for Maki’s straightforwardness—something Chihaya himself no longer possesses. The cast delved into the subtle psychological nuances between the characters.

Kawanishi, who had been watching the Koteisho members’ performances from behind, revealed a touching moment: “After the test recording, I saw Mamoru Miyano giving advice to Shimazaki-kun. It was a great example of teamwork. From the sidelines, I could see that this is what Koteisho is like.” Shimazaki then confessed that during the recording of a crucial scene where Chihaya reveals his past, he had been heavily focused on subjective emotions like Chihaya’s pain. Miyano advised him to incorporate an objective perspective and an awareness of the flow of the scene. Shimazaki said this advanced advice greatly expanded his range of expression, and he is certain his performance in the actual recording was far better than in the test.

When asked what makes Boukyaku Battery unique, Ishii and Kawanishi discussed the atmosphere at the recording studio. Ishii noted the incredible switch between on and off among the Koteisho cast. When the microphone is off, the room is lively and relaxed, but the moment recording begins, the air becomes tense and uncompromising. He admitted that when he first joined the cast, he was a little intimidated. Kawanishi said he immediately sensed that atmosphere and, in order to maintain his role as a rival school character, he deliberately kept a certain distance from the Koteisho group during recordings.

In the latter half of the event, the cast took part in a “relay question” segment, where each guest asks a question for the next set of guests. The first event’s guests, Toshiki Masuda and Yuki Kaji, had asked: “If you were to compare your position in the voice acting world to baseball, what batting order and field position would you be?” Shimazaki assigned Ishii the role of pitcher and cleanup hitter, saying, “You have that kind of energy.” Meanwhile, Shimazaki and Kawanishi, who are flexible and adapt to the situation, compared themselves to infielders like second baseman and shortstop. The answers revealed each person’s personality.

For the next guests—Yohei Azakami, Yoshiki Yamaya, and Ryuichi Kijima—the trio set a deliberately difficult question: “Tell us about your own personal black history.” The question drew laughter from the audience.

At the end of the event, the cast delivered heartfelt messages to the fans in the venue and those watching online. Kawanishi thanked the attendees and mentioned that recording for the second season is already underway, saying, “Please look forward to it.” Ishii, with a touch of humor, said, “I hope you’ll continue to support us as much as Yamada-kun cheers.” Shimazaki expressed his love for his character, saying, “Even when I’m not involved with Boukyaku, Chihaya Shunpei is always in my heart.” He encouraged fans to look forward to the characters’ further growth in the second season, and the event closed to warm applause.

The third retrospective event is scheduled for August 23, 2026, and will feature Yohei Azakami (Todo Aoi), Yoshiki Yamaya (Tsuchiya Kazuki), and Ryuichi Kijima (Takasu).

Cast

(C) Mikawa Eko / Shueisha, KADOKAWA, MAPPA