Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Reveals the Secrets of Summer Anime The World's Strongest Rearguard, and His Survival Tactics on a Recording Set Full of Women

On ABEMA, episode #91 of SHIBUYA ANIME BASE (#ShibuAni) aired live on Friday, July 3, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This time, alongside MC Yuki Iwai of Haraichi and assistants Sora Tokui and Sogo Nakamura, the show welcomed voice actor Yoshitsugu Matsuoka and Hantaro Tenshin as guests, delivering a lineup packed with lavish segments—including a feature on the July cour's most anticipated summer anime and a behind-the-scenes visit to a long-established figure maker.

In the first half of the show, the spotlight fell on The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, an anticipated new summer anime of the July cour in which Matsuoka stars. Speaking about the protagonist he plays, Arihito, Matsuoka called him "an excessively good person—so kind that he often ends up getting the short end of the stick," adding, "That ties into a bit of a corporate-drone streak. He takes everything on himself," as he explained the character's endearing appeal.

He went on to reveal that Arihito "has a side that puts a slight debuff on his allies," commenting, "That's pretty bold." There is a secret in which, unless a certain thing is switched off, the female cast members end up in a strange state, and Matsuoka confessed that "once the acting comes together, it gets a little raw." Picking up on this, Nakamura added, "Matsuoka's request is that you please don't blame the protagonist, Arihito, when that happens," to which Matsuoka clarified, "He himself is completely unaware of it and means no harm."

Asked how he keeps his distance on a recording set with so many female cast members, Matsuoka revealed his own survival tactic: "I pretend to be reading the script. I actually am reading it, but I give off an aura that says, please just leave me alone." He also spoke of his passionate dedication as the lead performer: "I learned from my senior Hiroki Yasumoto that on a set where you're the lead, you're the pillar and must never waver." On top of that, the studio unveiled a rare early profile photo from the résumé Matsuoka reportedly submitted to his agency at age 22, to great excitement.