"Only in the scenes where I talk to my big brother and Gabu-chan—" Exploring Yume Miyamoto’s acting approach as Asa in the anime Daemons of the Shadow Realm

Hiromu Arakawa’s Daemons of the Shadow Realm, currently serialized in Monthly Shonen Gangan, has been adapted into a TV anime and began broadcasting in April. The story opens with a shocking development where Yuru, a protagonist living as a hunter in a remote mountain village in Japan, is attacked by his twin sister Asa, Gabu-chan, and their companions. The high-quality animation by Bones has also been drawing significant attention.

Following an interview with Kenshō Ono (Yuru), Yume Miyamoto (Asa), and Misaki Kuno (Gabu-chan), this article focuses on Miyamoto’s impressions of the original manga and her role as Asa.

The original manga of Daemons of the Shadow Realm, described as an "uncanny fantasy," features a perfect balance of battle action and comical depictions by Arakawa. Miyamoto initially wondered if it would be a story about village life and hunting, similar to the world of Silver Spoon, but she was thrilled to find a serious narrative unfolding, much like Fullmetal Alchemist.

"After the audition, I felt that I really wanted the role, but even if I didn't get it, I would still enjoy it as a viewer because I liked the work so much," she said, describing how she read through the original story all at once.

Asa accepts her situation and takes action while thinking of her brother Yuru. Miyamoto explains, "At the start of the first episode, Asa has already sorted through many things within herself and is acting with a sense of closure. In my performance, I tried to maintain a sharp, composed demeanor, carrying a firm resolve while keeping my worries from showing on the surface."

Despite her intimidating appearance—dressed in all black with an eye patch—she shows the side of a girl her age during conversation scenes with Yuru and Gabu-chan. Regarding her approach to acting, Miyamoto says, "I put a lot of thought into the contrast. I wanted to make sure that only in the scenes where she talks to her brother or Gabu-chan, she can be a normal girl and speak with a relaxed heart."

Miyamoto has been active since she was a child actor, and she shares this background with Kenshō Ono and Misaki Kuno. Regarding their interactions, she smiled during the interview (which Ono and Kuno also attended), saying, "I hadn't really talked to Kenshō-san since we were kids, but he was someone I relied on. As for Misaki-chan, we've worked together since we were children, so I find myself feeling at ease when I hear her voice (lol)."