Season 2's "Nikko-Kegon Falls Arc" Opens with Snow Mountain Training! New Characters Played by Nobuhiko Okamoto and Kento Ito Also Introduced
The program then introduced new characters appearing in Season 2's "Nikko-Kegon Falls Arc." Regarding Nekozaki Hagure (voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto), a part-time instructor at Rasetsu Academy who joins the training, Nishiyama built up anticipation, saying, "The character gets even more interesting once the voice is added." Ura also shared a behind-the-scenes story, saying that during the recording session, Okamoto was told, "You can go even further," and after doing so, was then told, "Please tone it back down."
Meanwhile, regarding Innami Yuu (voiced by Kento Ito), a part-time instructor at Rasetsu Academy who is always coughing and spitting up blood, Nishiyama commented, "Every single line had a cough built into it — he was even coughing during breaks." Hanae also said, "It's like, is that from practicing or is he actually hurt? He coughs so convincingly that I can't tell if it's real or acting, and it worries me during recording (laughs)," and the studio filled with laughter.
All 8 Members of the Onikoku-tai Cast Revealed at Once! Gakuto Kajiwara, Who Plays Todoroki Hayate, Shares His Thoughts on Joining "Tougen Anki"
In the second half of the program, a wave of new information for Season 2's "Nikko-Kegon Falls Arc" was revealed all at once. First, new visuals were unveiled depicting the eight members of the Onikoku-tai, a group of oni not affiliated with the Oni Agency who hold the key to the story in Season 2.
The Onikoku-tai cast was then announced: Gakuto Kajiwara plays the leader, Todoroki Hayate, while Kentaro Kumagai plays Torikai Uri, Nagaoka Ryuho plays Fuwa Shinichi, Tomohiro Ono plays Kakoi Misaki, Ohata Shintaro plays Todomeki Go, Yuki Sakakibara plays Otohara Kyotaro, Wataru Hatano plays Hirunuma Akari, and Hitomi Ueda plays Umitsuki Miyo. The announcement of this star-studded cast got everyone so excited they were left breathless. The comments section was also flooded with reactions such as "So hyped!!," "Way too luxurious a cast!!," and "This is insane, I can't wait!"
When Kajiwara, who plays Todoroki Hayate, made a surprise appearance in the studio, everyone got extremely excited, saying, "Wait, is that really him!?" Asked afterward how he felt when he was cast as Todoroki, Kajiwara expressed his joy, saying, "I auditioned for Season 1 as well, so I'm really happy to be able to join the cast this way." He also confessed it had long been something he wanted, saying, "I was watching 'Tougen Anki' in the break room of a public bathhouse and thinking, 'I want to be in this too' (laughs)," and, "I'd always wanted to try saying a Blood Corrosion Release line." In response, Hanae and Nishiyama expressed their anticipation for Todoroki's "Blood Corrosion Release," saying, "The way it's said differs depending on the character," and "I can't wait to see it."
He also introduced Todoroki as "a passionate character driven by the belief in completely eliminating peaches," and revealed his approach to the role, saying, "He also has clumsy and endearing sides, so I was conscious of how to express that gap." Ura also looked back on the recording sessions, saying, "It ended up feeling like a competition over who could shout the loudest."
Amid this, when Hanae asked, "Can you completely eliminate Momotaro?" Kajiwara immediately replied, "I'll completely eliminate him! Without any mercy!" which excited the studio. Furthermore, when Nishiyama asked, "Of all the characters who have appeared so far, which one do you like?" Kajiwara answered, "Momodera Mikado," under the intense gaze of the other three. When the three, who felt a bit sulky about not being chosen, pressed him further, Kajiwara revealed, "I like long hair," and the three responded, "So that's the reason after all!" The four of them's perfectly in-sync banter kept the studio filled with laughter throughout.
At the end, all four also shared messages to the viewers. Ura said, "In Season 2, new oni-god children will appear, and the story will gradually unravel the mysteries of the world, so I hope you'll look forward to all the different elements," building anticipation for Season 2 as the program came to a close.
The program is available to stream for free until March 31, 2027. The anime "Tougen Anki" Season 2, the "Nikko-Kegon Falls Arc," is scheduled to begin airing in October.
(C) Yura Urushibara (AKITASHOTEN) /TOUGEN ANKI PROJECT
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