"It’s Become Easier in a Good Way": Voice Actor Satoshi Hino on the New Mindset Gained Through Experience 【Interview for "Shin-Gekijōban Gintama: Yoshiwara Daienjō"】

[Photos/Images] "It’s Become Easier in a Good Way": Voice Actor Satoshi Hino on the New Mindset Gained Through Experience 【Interview for "Shin-Gekijōban Gintama: Yoshiwara Daienjō"】 1st

Renowned as the masterpiece of popular manga artist Hideaki Sorachi, Gintama has aired a total of 367 episodes over four seasons. "Shin-Gekijōban Gintama: Yoshiwara Daienjō," which hit theaters on Friday, February 13th, is the fourth film in the series and animates the "Yoshiwara in Flames Arc" from volumes 25 and 26 of the manga. It is drawing significant attention for its original elements, such as the appearances of Kotaro Katsura and the Shinsengumi, who did not feature in this specific episode in the original source material.

In this article, we interviewed Satoshi Hino, the voice of the rival character Kamui who works behind the scenes. We spoke with him about how he views Gintama as a work, his thoughts on the new original elements, and the mindset he has reached after building a long career as an actor.

—— Mr. Sorachi’s Gintama is an incredible story that moves between gag comedy and deeply emotional scenes. How do you personally perceive its appeal and what makes it so interesting?

Hino: I think the most appealing part is how it keeps the audience hooked without ever letting their interest fade. If it were only gags, you’d probably get tired of it, and if it were only serious, your heart would get exhausted. It’s built with such an exquisite balance that I’m constantly amazed, thinking, "Mr. Sorachi is truly incredible."

Beyond the characters' expressions and the comedic timing, it occasionally goes completely off the rails in an extreme way, which is very stimulating—or rather, my personal impression is that it’s just plain exciting to watch.

—— Yoshiwara in Flames also features that mix of comedy and serious drama. What were your thoughts on the story for this film?

Hino: Story-wise, it has that classic Gintama feel. However, on top of that, you get glimpses of family love and what lies beyond the pursuit of one's own strength. I feel it strongly presents themes like "What is strength?" or "What is the source of strength?"

I approached the role hoping that the fans watching will be able to sense those things and enjoy making their own interpretations within themselves.