Kyokai no RINNE - I Asked Kappei Yamaguchi, the voice of Sabato Rokudo! Part 1 & 2

Translation by: Dylan Acres

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1965. Kappei Yamaguchi starred in Ranma 1/2 in his debut role, and has been active in many works, not limited to Rumiko Takahashi's works, such as Detective Conan as Shinichi Kudo, One Piece as Usopp, and Inuyasha as Inuyasha.

Please tell us about the character you play, Sabato Rokudo.

Yamaguchi: (Laughs) As far as appearances go he’s rather helpless and lazy as a father, but he’s not totally hateable.

I think that’s common to all of Rumiko-sensei's works, but that might be because of her kindness? All the characters are kind and there are no truly bad people. That’s how it feels. That's why even when Sabato is struck and beaten in the work, I don’t think everyone is really angry. He’s a character with a mysterious charm.

Are there any similarities to yourself?

Yamaguchi: I think we’re similar in terms of sloppiness (laughs). He's rather optimistic, and I think I’m similar. So far, I have played three of Rumiko-sensei’s main characters, and I think they are a reflection of me at that time in my life. Ranma had just made his debut, so I didn't know right or left, so I just worked hard. As I played Inuyasha, I started to play him with the aim of gradually making the character like myself.

When I started to play Sabato, there was a complete change in attitude in the atmosphere of the studio or rather, completely different than when you're rehearsing as Sabato at home you may be influenced by people.

But that's fine (laughs).

What is that you are the most important in terms of playing a man like Sabato?

Yamaguchi: The animation is by no means the only focus. While doing the anime, I want to take care of the unique aspects of Rumiko-sensei's manga.

Sabato is rarely involved in the main plot (of the story), so there are some parts that he can play freely. I think that’s the branches and leaves of "Rumic World", the gags, and the parts that everyone can enjoy watching, I want to cherish things like Rumiko-sensei cherishes them. As for my personal commitment, since I was playing Ranma, Kenichi Ogata, who played the role of my father, had been ad-libging the noise "Gapyon" whenever I would send him flying, and I wonder if I can inherit it somehow (laughs). ^[1]

That's why I'm going to put more and more into my work, and lately I'm also doing the same thing with Kaito-kun, so I personally enjoy saying "You’ve got to inherit it."

What was the most memorable episode so far?

Yamaguchi: After all this time, its the first appearance scene of Sabato (episode 10).

I thought it would be nice if I could get a cool feeling by going calm, but when I entered the studio, I couldn’t keep it up with Kaito-kun, Ryohei-kun, or the other characters who appeared (earlier). But before you know it you’re bringing Sabato to life (laughs).

But, the work itself is fun and fresh. Somehow I feel like I'm out of my mind. It's been a long time since I’ve gotten to do a work by Rumiko-sensei, so I was feeling that pressure, but it makes me feel like I’m able to stay in the world of her work. ^[2]

What is the appeal of Kyokai no RINNE from your perspective as someone who has appeared in many of Rumiko Takahashi's works?

Yamaguchi: What I can all the works have in common is the "charm of the characters" , but I think that the lead couple reflects each era in Rumiko's work.

At the time of Urusei Yatsura, Lum-chan chases after her "Darling,” a Showa-era boy who says he hates it even when he secretly is torn about her affections. And the boys in Kyokai no RINNE don’t know what the girls are thinking at first glance, "Will their love go forward?" That impatience has been drawn out, and now we’re in an age where people can enjoy that.

After that, there’s the day to day life of our two lead characters, and I think that is the true genius of Rumiko-sensei, but then there is also these aspects of school life and ghosts. It’s then that you can build an even more interesting story by throwing in things like Shinigami or the afterlife.

However, rather than being a complete fantasy, it's this interesting place where you can relate to something like "Maybe there really is such a world.” I wonder what it is... It's not unique to RINNE, but it may be the charm of Kyokai no RINNE that the unchanging idea of "Rumic World" unfolds in this era and becomes such a story.

The third season will start soon, are you excited?

Yamaguchi: I'm looking forward to the fact that Sabato's role will increase, but the first thing is that Otome will come appear. I think I'm going to approach the work with a slightly different stance, and I think there will be a lot of episodes for me to appear in.

I played a romantic role in Inuyasha with Satsuki Yukino, which becomes a parent-child role in Kyokai no RINNE. Now in the third season we have Megumi Hayashibara who played the same character as me in Ranma 1/2 This time, we will play the role of a married couple. What do you call it, there is an exciting part. Hayashibara-san was very happy to be cast, so I think she'll be enthusiastic about it, so I have to make sure I don't lose out to her... but I think I'll probably lose (laughs).

PART 2

What is your philosophy as a voice actor?

Yamaguchi: I wonder... I used to have a lot of opinions when I was young, but now that’s gone now. It's important to be able to be natural in the scenes, and I feel that the idea of I "must do this!" is disappearing.

One thing I can say is that I want to keep my sensibility from diminishing. For that reason, I will actively try to do things other than just genres I like. Try to reach out and try various things. After that, I would like to cherish the idea of "adding more" . For example, if you have water in a scene, don't think of it as just water, but add more to your sense of the scene, such as "it's lukewarm water" or "it's cold water". Is that something one would to do in all jobs?

When was your turning point as a voice actor?

Yamaguchi: For each work you do there will be a turning point.

But in the sense that it was big transformation, Inuyasha was big. The fact that it was a work by Rumiko Takahashi who I worked with I was a newcomer (as Ranma Saotome in Ranma 1/2) and then 10 years later was great in terms of feeling her own growth as a storyteller.

Also, the influence of other actors is great, isn't it? Whether you want to be like that person or want to act like that, the part you admire may have a huge influence on you. Those who possess something that you don't have will be stimulated, it isn’t just the roles of seniors and juniors. Just recently for example, Wataru Takagi. ^[3] We debuted at almost the same time, but when I see something like (his live action work in) Sanada Maru, I think "I have to do my best too" . It's easy to envious, but instead, I think about what I have to do, and I wonder what I can change in that situation to be even better.

Do you ever feel that you have any occupational stress in your daily life?

Yamaguchi: If I go to a theme park movie ride and hear my voice I start thinking "Why did I play it that way?" and it puts me in a mood where I can’t just enjoy the experience in the same way. I react to the flow of the performance. Most of the time, I know who I am, but when I subtly change my voice and I don't know who this is, that’s when I'm most troubled (laughs).

If you could appear on any NHK program, which show would you like to appear on?

Yamaguchi: It would definitely be the "Taiga drama" (laughs). It's an ambition as an actor, but a small ambition of mine is to return to Okasan to Issho (おかあさんといっしょ). ^[4] As a person involved in animation, I think I'm most happy or rewarded when I'm doing a children's program, and I think I have a feeling of "doing it for children" . I think that is also due to the fact that there were many things that I was taught by anime when I was little.

Please give some advice to those who are aiming to become voice actors.

Yamaguchi: I think the best thing is if you learn how to think positively. Even if I fail in an audition, it seems like "This is a learning experience for me.” Also, don't forget the part that "the root of the production is the actor." I want you to have the feeling of becoming an actor who can smell the world (of the anime or film) around you.

Another thing is that it can be a busy career, and if you don't put your feet on the ground, you'll be washed away, so I hope you have a solid vision and don't rush yourself. It’s important to go on for a long time, so I want you to aim to be an actor with endurance.

What is a voice actor to you, Yamaguchi-san?

Yamaguchi: I want to improve so that I can say that it is my vocation someday. I think it's a good profession, but I think I'm still in training, so until the day when I can say that it’s my vocation... I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to me.

I will do my best irresponsibly.

Please give a message to those who are looking forward to the third season.

Yamaguchi: Thanks to everyone's support, we are finally welcoming the third season. Above all, "Otome" will appear this time, so it's an episode I'm looking forward to. Please look forward to the relationship between Rinne and Sakura, which has not progressed as usual. I will do my irresponsible best (laughs).

Kappei Yamaguchi, thank you for your cooperation!

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Footnotes

• [1] Kaito Ishikawa (石川界人) who plays Rinne discusses in his interview how Kappei Yamaguchi gets him to carry on the "gapyon" (がぴょーん) tradition.
• [2] Yamaguchi has been in nearly every Takahashi anime since his debut. In addition to the ones mentioned here he also worked on Rumiko Takahashi Anthology and the 2022 version of Urusei Yatsura as well.
• [3] Wataru Takagi (高木渉) plays Cherry in the relaunched Urusei Yatsura. His other roles include Okuyasu Nijimura in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, Obito Uchiha in Naruto and Eikichi Onizuka in Great Teacher Onizuka.
• [4] Kappei Yamaguchi played the role of Jacobi in the puppet show Goo Choco Lantan (ぐ〜チョコランタン) (2000-2009) and the role of Pout in Monoran Monoran (モノランモノラン) (2009-2011) both within Okasan to Issho (おかあさんといっしょ).

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