Studio Stunned by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka's 'Fake Snoring Performance'! Report on the Anime The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker Pre-Broadcast Special

The special program "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker Pre-Broadcast Special" aired exclusively for free on ABEMA on Saturday, June 27, starting at 9:00 p.m.

The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker is an isekai fantasy series based on the light novel by Towa, originally serialized on the web novel site "Shosetsuka ni Narou." The story follows Arihito, a former corporate drone who is reincarnated into the otherworldly "Labyrinth Country" after an accident. Taking up the mysterious class of "Rearguard," he becomes a labyrinth explorer and grows alongside his companions. The TV anime began broadcasting in July 2026.

The program featured the actors behind the series' main characters: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (as Arihito), Aoi Koga (as Theresia), Sakura Nakamura (as Kyouka), Saori Hayami (as Suzuna), and Kaede Hondo (as Misaki). With Yuma Aoki serving as MC, the cast discussed their approach to their characters, behind-the-scenes recording anecdotes, and what to look forward to going forward.

Behind-the-Scenes Stories from the Recording Session and the Appeal of the Cast of Unique Characters

The cast noted that this was their first time reuniting since the recording sessions. Speaking about how he carries himself on set, Matsuoka, who leads the cast, revealed, "Since there are a lot of women on set, I feel like I have to be on my best behavior, so I always sit in the seat closest to the entrance, at the very end, and just keep reading the script."

The female cast members, meanwhile, shared an anecdote about how, right before recording, Matsuoka would mysteriously disappear, leading everyone to wonder, "Where did he go?" and have some fun with it. It was later revealed that he had actually been outside drinking miso soup.

During the program, the cast discussed the settings and appeal of the main characters, each from their own perspective.

Arihito (voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka): "In his previous life, he was what you'd call a corporate drone, but the type who would proactively take on work himself. Even in another world, he can't abandon his companions, and he's the type to stay up all night thinking about skills — he's a protagonist who's naturally suited to supporting others," Matsuoka explained.

Theresia (voiced by Aoi Koga) was introduced as "someone who can fight on the front line too, and is a huge help to have in the party." Regarding her setting as a character who cannot speak, Koga appealed, "You can still feel my presence through my breathing and my reactions in battle!"

Kyouka (voiced by Sakura Nakamura) was described as "Arihito's younger boss in his previous life, a strong-willed, hard-working career woman," with Nakamura also touching on the gap between that image and her cute side.

Suzuna (voiced by Saori Hayami) was introduced as "a rearguard who uses a bow and has the power to sense spiritual things. She's a kind-hearted, serious girl."

Misaki (voiced by Kaede Hondo) said, "She's Suzuna's childhood friend and is always the cheerful mood-maker of the party. She has a skill that makes use of 'luck,' and she looks up to Arihito like an older brother."

Next, each cast member announced a highlight of the series. Matsuoka held up a flip board reading "Strongest," emphasizing, "This is an element you absolutely can't leave out of this series. The protagonist isn't the strongest from the very start. He doesn't just dominate every fight — he properly grows step by step, so I want people to watch with that in mind and feel at ease." Koga picked "Enemies," saying, "The enemies are properly strong. There are moments where you think, is he really struggling this much? I want people to pay attention to how Arihito fights through that, using it to his advantage as everyone grows stronger together."

Nakamura answered "Corporate drone," pointing out, "There are a lot of parts where the skills and experience from his previous life come in handy in the new world. The former boss-and-subordinate relationship between Kyouka and Arihito is also interesting." Hayami also brought up, "Wait, even this happens…?!" while Hondo mentioned, "Life is a gamble!!" — each digging deeper into the series' appeal from their own perspective.

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