Yui Makino Reveals 20th Anniversary Behind-the-Scenes Story of "Welcome to the N.H.K.": Co-star Unwittingly Causes an NG with Unscripted Line "I'm lonely!"

On June 26 (Friday), from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Episode 90 of "SHIBUYA ANIME BASE" (#ShibuAni) was broadcast live on ABEMA. This episode featured MCs Yuki Iwai (Haraichi), Sora Tokui, and Shugo Nakamura, alongside guest voice actresses Yumiri Hanamori and Yui Makino. The packed program included a feature on highly anticipated summer anime, a look back at classic anime masterpieces, and a live reading of a heart-throbbing manga.

In the first half of the show, a special feature focused on "The World Is Dancing," a hot new summer anime that will begin simulcasting and advance streaming on ABEMA starting July 2 (Thursday). The series depicts the life of Zeami Motokiyo (childhood name: Oniyasha), a crucial figure in the development of Noh theater. Yumiri Hanamori, who voices the protagonist Oniyasha, explained the appeal of the work through three key points.

Regarding the first point, "breathtaking animation depicting the dances," she passionately spoke about the overwhelming visual beauty, noting that "the contrast between stillness and motion, and the depiction of Noh, are thoroughly detailed." For the second point about the character, she introduced the gap in Oniyasha's personality, saying, "He is a boy with a cute smile, but he is actually a historical figure (the future Zeami) who appears in textbooks." As the third point, she mentioned the star-studded cast gathering, including Shinba Tsuchiya, Maaya Uchida, and Takahiro Sakurai, and shared the warm atmosphere of the studio, saying, "The acting is solemn, but it's very cozy." She also revealed a behind-the-scenes anecdote where the cast members take turns bringing in Japanese sweets, inspired by a scene where dango (dumplings) appear in the story.