Interview with Yuki Kaji

Translated by: Harley Acres

Rumiko Takahashi has been creating many hits in a wide range of genres, including Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha, and Kyokai no RINNE. Her latest work, MAO, which has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday (Shogakukan) since May 2019, is said to be the first serious, otherworldly romance in the 11 years in Rumic World since Inuyasha concluded.

Comic Natalie heard a rumor that voice actor Yuki Kaji is a fan of Rumiko Takahashi's works, and conducted an interview with him to coincide with the release of MAO volume 3. Kaji humbly said, "Compared to the rabid fans, I'm still...," but he took the time to talk about his encounters with Rumiko Takahashi's works and their appeal. He also revealed that Inuyasha had a big influence on him when he started his career as a voice actor. When Kaji was asked his thoughts on MAO, which is a continuation of Inuyasha’s tones and themes, he was shocked and said, " What's more, after dogs, we now have cats! (laughs) At the end of the interview, Kaji-san was thrilled to receive a surprise gift from Takahashi-sensei, so don't miss it.

I was practicing with lines from Inuyasha to make my voice acting dreams come true.

To tell you the truth, the reason I asked you to appear on the show is because I overheard you saying at the launch of a certain anime that you liked Rumiko Takahashi's works.

Oh, is that so? How did you overhear that? (laughs)

(laughs) I'm sorry for listening without permission (laughs). But until now, I don't think you've ever commented on Rumiko-sensei in magazines or on the web, is it true that you're a fan?

With all due respect, ... it’s true. I think that the so-called "Rumic World" is really loved by many people, so compared to the rabid fans, I have a strong feeling that I'm not... at that level yet. Even so, I have been familiar with Rumiko Takahashi's works since I was a child. So, I was very happy to be asked to do this interview.

Which work do you have a particular affinity for?

I love Ranma 1/2, but I think Inuyasha had the biggest influence on me. I used to watch the anime every week when it aired, and I used to sing the opening and ending themes with all my friends on the way to and from school (laughs). The timing of the broadcast of the anime was close to when I started wanting to become a voice actor, so I was very sensitive to anime itself. Plus I thought, “oh, it’s by the same creator who did Ranma 1/2!” So that boosted my interest too.

The first season of the anime began in 2000 so Kaji-san, you were in junior high?

At that time, as a way to practice to become a voice actor, I read aloud various manga and transcribed and imitated the lines of anime and dubbed movies, and Inuyasha was one of the works I used for my practice. Therefore, the main characters that I play in anime may have a strong impression of Inuyasha, who was played by Kappei (Yamaguchi).

What did you find appealing about the story of Inuyasha?

While retaining the comedy elements and slapstick feeling unique to Rumiko Takahashi, I was absorbed in the serious story which is different from Ranma 1/2. There are many characters, but each one has a solid dramatic arc, and eventually even the enemy is developed emotionally.

Inuyasha's greatest enemy, Naraku, is a half-demon born of many demons possessed by the evil spirit of a human bandit, Onigumo, but originally he had faint feelings for Kikyo.

When I think that Naraku (Onigumo) had those emotions ... it makes it so you can't hate him completely. The delicate emotional expressions drawn between Inuyasha and Kagome, Miroku and Sango, Sesshomaru and Kagura are also attractive elements.

By the way, I asked your manager a little in advance, and he said Kaji-san's favorite character is Miroku.

Hmmm... Honestly, it's really hard to pick my favorite! I also like Kagura. First of all, I like the way she looks (laughs), but the gap between her and the others is what got me. At first she was just an enemy character born as an alter ego of Naraku, but as the story unfolds, she experiences various things and gradually develops a kind of "human heart". Before I knew it, I found myself looking forward to Kagura's appearances. Whenever there was a scene in which her life was in danger, I would get nervous, and when she survived, I would be relieved when she would be saved (laughs). Along with her, Sesshomaru has also changed a lot from his ruthless image in the beginning. Shippo was always cute, and his presence was very comforting in the midst of all the serious drama… There's really no end to the things I could mention.

What about Miroku who you mentioned at first?

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that (laughs). Miroku is what you would call a "playboy, corrupt monk", and while there is a part of him that is like, "What kind of guy is this?" ... in the end, I like the fact that he is cool. In the scene where he proposes to Sango, he's been gushing over other girls and patting her on the butt, but suddenly he tells her how he really feels with a serious face. That's what makes Miroku such a sly fox! (laughs)

Ahaha (laughs). In that proposal scene, the expression of Sango as she shed tears was also impressive.

I feel that Inuyasha was studded with the cool things for men and the cute things for women so that anyone could relate to it, not only in the visuals but also in their heart. On the other hand, if you just emulate Miroku, you’ll have a hard time (laughs) ... I think the series definitely has a sense of humanity that I admire.

The balance of Mao, Nanoka, and Otoya is like seafood tsukemen.

Rumiko Takahashi's latest work MAO is touted as a serious, mysterious romance that serves as a successor to Inuyasha. Mao, an onmyoji who lives from the Heian era to the Taisho era, continues to search for the cat demon that cursed him, and the story grows from there. How did you feel when you first read it?

First of all, how precious and wonderful is the fact that Rumiko Takahashi continues to draw a weekly serialization? It's really hard to keep creating new things, whether it's through physical strength or mental fortitude. Meanwhile, she is showing us a new type of "Rumic World" yet again. I've been indebted to her since I was a kid... I think it's wonderful to be able to read the latest works of writers who were active before I was born, even now as I’ve grown to adulthood. I was really amazed how I continue to be excited about what will happen next week and what will happen in the next volume with Rumiko Takahashi's work.

Rumiko Takahashi debuted with Urusei Yatsura in 1978, and it's been over 40 years since she made her debut.

MAO is mainly set in the Taisho era, but the story goes back 900 years to the beginning of the Taisho era. I thought this was similar to the story of Inuyasha which started with the story of Inuyasha and Kikyo. What's more, after dogs, we now have cats! (laughs) There are still a lot of mysteries to be solved and the pull to the next volume is always exciting. I’ve gotten the impression that the story was becoming more dramatic.

What is the most memorable scene so far?

First of all, the title is MAO, and so it would be Mao's first appearance scene. Whether Rumiko Takahashi's work was Inuyasha or Ranma 1/2, the name of the main character was often the title. The drama started with the heroine, Nanoka, and I was excited to read the pages, wondering what kind of hero I would meet this time. When Nanoka slipped back in time from the present day to the Taisho era and Mao finally appeared, I thought, "I see, that’s how you’re doing it this time!” I was relieved to see the stability of Rumiko Takahashi's humor with her dialogue with Nanoka even when she was a bit scornful.

I think that the main characters of Rumiko Takahashi's work were relatively emotional types like Inuyasha and Ranma, but compared to that, Mao being an onmyoji makes him much calmer.

Yes, I agree. But that doesn't mean he's isolated or cold. When I saw the atmosphere of his daily conversations with Nanoka, I thought that he might unexpectedly fall into the genre of a straight man and the comic.

Nanoka, on the other hand, is very much like a junior high school girl, or rather, like a modern girl. When Mao suddenly said to her, "You're a demon, aren't you?" she said, "You're a strange person," and quickly left.

Yes, it's very modern! I think it's easy to understand the age and the sense of the times in which the work is depicted by looking at the heroine. In terms of being a tomboyish and active girl, she is in the same group as Kagome and Akane, but she gives a slightly different impression. Aside from her relationship with Byoki, she seems to be a very realistic character in this day and age. She is still in the early stages of the story, but her determination to fight the enemy and to follow Mao is not quite there yet. Naturally, if an ordinary person... much less a junior high school student, is put in that situation, there is bound to be some hesitation.

In the Mangabon vol. 14: Rumiko Takahashi published last November, Rumiko Takahashi said about Nanoka, "Mao is the one who drives the story, and she will be involved as his buddy.”

I think Mao and Nanoka are a very well-balanced pair. After all, Takahashi-sensei has made many exquisite combinations, such as Kagome for Inuyasha and Akane for Ranma. I feel that this is the part where Rumiko Takahashi's aesthetic sense is maximized.

In addition to those two, the shikigami Otoya, who works under Mao, is also an important character.

He has impressive eyes (laughs). As for Otoya, I think his character is unique because the main character is Mao. I guess you could say that he doesn't come on too strong. It's like a seafood tsukemen, which is actually very rich in flavor, but at first it seems light and harmonious. ^[1] (laughs) If you had Shippo or Myoga instead of Otoya, it would be a bit too strong.

It seems to be as strong as tonkotsu. ^[2]

In Inuyasha, Inuyasha was even more intense, so I think it was balanced out. If Shippo was next to Mao, he would have taken the whole story away from him (laughs). I feel again that in each of Takahashi-sensei’s works, she creates a character that fits the main character perfectly. Rumiko Takahashi-sensei doesn't make it easy to dislike her villains. She does hateful things to me (laughs).

This is still in the early stages of the story, so there are still a lot of mysteries left to solve. There are some descriptions that make you think, "Isn't this foreshadowing? Is there anything in particular that caught your attention?

First of all, in the first volume, I was surprised to see Nanoka's eyes change into cat-like eyes when her physical abilities were released. Then, at the end of the second chapter, the awakened Mao had cat-eyes as well. This scene made me very curious about what would happen next! (laughs) And in the next chapter, it is revealed that Mao is not only cursed by Byoki, but has also been physically fused with him. In addition, the connection with Nanoka is slowly becoming apparent. Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes! (laughs)

The tension has risen (laughs).

What I want to know the most is what really happened between Mao and Byoki 900 years ago. They are both being played by someone, or rather, misunderstood each other. I hope that this will be clarified soon.

When Byoki confronted Mao, he said something like, "you fight in vain." Certainly, there are some humans who are the source of Byoki’s existence.

Perhaps Byoki is also burdened with a pitiful fate. The same thing happened to Naraku in "Inuyasha", but I really can't forgive him for being tormented. But that's the core of the story, so I think the truth will be revealed at the very end. The fact that it doesn't let me hate the villain makes me think, "Rumiko Takahashi, you're doing something hateful again this time." (laughs)

In the "Mangabon: Rumiko Takahashi" book that I mentioned earlier, Rumiko-sensei said, "For the time being, the story will run with Mao, Nanoka, and Otoya, and instead, there will be more and more enemy characters. Using Inuyasha as an example can you give us an image of yokai character that you would like to have appear as an enemy in MAO in the future?

Hmmm... It's difficult to say, but I think it would be a character who is as close to the main character as Sesshomaru. In Inuyasha, there was a great catharsis in the fact that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had to fight against each other even though they were brothers. In the third volume (of MAO) that I read earlier, there was a character at the end that made me think of that. Also, I'd like to have a character like Kagura, who was an... enemy, but the heroes want to reach out to them. Also, in Inuyasha, one of the important points is how to make Tessaiga stronger and how to use it well, and Inuyasha grows up during the battles, and some swordsmiths are also involved. So, I'm looking forward to seeing someone who isn't an enemy character, but who will help Mao become even more powerful. ^[3]

What other characters would you like to have as Mao's friends?

It's all about Shippo, of all things! I mentioned earlier that I like Shippo, and I think it's important to have such a comforting character. In many works, even if the character is a bit unreliable, he definitely grows up in the end (laughs). Shippo also improved a little in the kitsune promotion test, but in the end, he was easily defeated by Inuyasha despite fighting with all his strength, and he cried "boo hoo hoo". This is one of the things I like about Rumiko Takahashi's works, that she doesn't change the "character" of the characters.

Appearing in Rumiko Takahashi’s anime is my dream as a voice actor.

Perhaps it's too early to say, but if MAO were to be made into an anime in the future, is there a voice actor you would like to cast for each character?

It would be too rude for me to say such a thing, so I can't really answer that question.. (laughs). But appearing in Rumiko Takahashi's anime is my dream as a voice actor. ^[4] I've been following Rumiko-sensei's "Rumic World" since I was a child, and to be able to be a part of it would be an unbelievable feeling of joy. But... after talking so much about MAO today, if I don't get a chance to work with it when it becomes an anime, I'll be a laughing stock, won't I...? (laughs)

No, no, no, no, no! (laughs)

The more you talk, the more risk you take (laughs).

I think you could make an appeal here! (laughs) But even if you wanted to play Mao, you may have a relatively small number of lines even though since he’s such a stoic type despite being the main character.

No, no, no! It's like Ranma from Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha from Inuyasha, I'd love to play Mao from MAO if I had the chance!

The main character is non-negotiable.

No, no (laughs). I mean, Mao's character is definitely going to be portrayed with more depth in the future.

So, who would you like to read MAO?

Fans of Rumiko Takahashi's works are divided into a wide range of generations, from the Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku generation to the Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha generation, depending on which work was their entry point. That's a really wonderful thing, and it's definitely because she continued to serialize her works to this day. So, of course, those who have been familiar with Rumiko Takahashi's works for much longer than I have, as well as those who enjoyed the manga and anime back then... Those who may have drifted away from it can read this book and enjoy her work again. I'd be happy if it could be a chance for them to come back to Rumic World. I also hope that the younger generation, who have not been able to find a way into Rumic World will read this book, and in the near future we will have a new generation of people who will be called the MAO generation. I hope that this will be the case. I believe that MAO will become the standard number for a new "Rumic World" for the children of the future. Rumiko Takahashi's works are all universal human dramas that will never fade, so I hope that a wide range of people will take this opportunity to read them and support MAO together.

Last but not least, Rumiko Takahashi gave Kaji-san a gift of a colored illustration...

What? Wow, that's amazing! It's Miroku and Mao!

This is why I asked you about your favorite Inuyasha character before the interview. But when Kaji-san came up with names other than Miroku one after another, I thought to myself, "Oh no, no, no..." (laughs)

Oh no! I'm so happy! I'm still just a fan! I'm sorry, but... really this is like a dream. Thank you very much!

Can you give a message to Rumiko Takahashi-sensei along with your comments on the illustration?

It was so unexpected that I can't stop being thrilled! It's not an exaggeration at all, I'm so glad that I’ve kept at it until today. To me, this is the only illustration in the world, and I will keep it as a family heirloom. One day, I hope to be able to be involved in Rumiko Takahashi's works not only as a fan, but also as a voice actor. And above all, I'm looking forward to the newly spun world of MAO, so please take care of yourself and do your best! I'll always be rooting for you!

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Footnotes

• [1] Tsukemen (つけ麺) are cold noodles served with a dipping sauce on the side.
• [2] Tonkatsu (豚カツ) is breaded pork cutlet.
• [3] Coincidentally the swordsmith character Meimeido appeared in MAO after this interview.
• [4] Kaji very vocally wants to play Mao and he got the opportunity in a promotional video for the manga. He then was cast as Tobimaro Mizunokoji in the remake of Urusei Yatsura. He mentions getting to play Mao very proudly in his promotional comments for Urusei Yatsura.

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