"Kaiju No. 8" Official Report from Anime Expo 2025: Masaya Fukunishi, Nazeeh Tarsha, and English Dub Director Shawn Gann Take the Stage!
We've just received the official report from this event, where both the Japanese and English cast members of "Kaiju No. 8" expressed their gratitude to fans in America.
Event Report
"Anime Expo 2025," North America's largest anime convention, took place in Los Angeles, USA, from July 3rd to 6th. For their second consecutive year, Masaya Fukunishi, Nazeeh Tarsha, and Shawn Gann participated in the "Kaiju No. 8 Panel Powered by Crunchyroll."
The event's scale surpassed the previous year, held in an impressive hall capable of accommodating approximately 7,000 attendees. The fans there, some even cosplaying in Defense Force suits, filled the venue. Even before the panel began, the hall vibrated with chants of "KAIJU." The screening of the "Kaiju No. 8" Season 2 main trailer, titled "Rising Threat," was met with an explosion of applause and cheers.
Following the screening, Masaya Fukunishi made a striking entrance, introduced by the MC with makeup mimicking Kaiju No. 8's lightning bolt. Nazeeh Tarsha entered holding a Kaiju No. 8 mask. Dressed in coordinated outfits, Fukunishi carried a Kaiju No. 8 mascot and Nazeeh a Kafka mascot, both beaming and generating excitement among the crowd. Fukunishi energized the audience by asking, "Do you love KAIJU No. 8?" The fans' enthusiastic "YES!" was met with his heartfelt reply, "Me too. I love KAIJU No. 8! I love everyone!" and the panel officially commenced.
The event then transitioned to a Q&A session. When questioned about securing the role of Kafka, Fukunishi revealed his deep connection to the character: "I had been reading the manga from the first chapter and always wanted to play Kafka. I even got down on my knees and begged my agency's president, saying, 'Please let me audition for Kafka!'" He animatedly re-enacted this passionate plea as he shared the story.
Fukunishi also shared that his most memorable experience was last year's AX, his "first overseas job," which he found "amazing." He was delighted to see many fans return for a second year, stating, "I'm so happy to see so many people coming back to see us this year. I didn't expect such a turnout!"
When asked if they would prefer to be a Defense Force member or a Monster Sweeper in the world of "Kaiju No. 8", Fukunishi chose the former. He expressed a desire to wield a spear and even demonstrated monster-slaying techniques using the host, Tim, as a mock kaiju. Nazeeh and Shawn, however, opted for Monster Sweeper, humorously citing the physical demands of the Defense Force, which amused the audience. Fukunishi and Nazeeh also enthusiastically spoke about connecting on social media prior to sharing the stage.
Fukunishi then revealed a gift from Japan: a collaborative illustration of Godzilla vs. Kaiju No. 8 by monster designer Mahiro Maeda, displayed on screen. This "dream crossover" of two popular North American kaiju, powerfully depicted, thrilled the fans.
The event culminated with a live dubbing of Episode 10, where Nazeeh and Fukunishi's portrayal of Kaiju No. 8 confronting the monster bomb at Tachikawa Base captivated the audience, building their excitement to a fever pitch.
During the closing remarks, Fukunishi was visibly moved, tearfully expressing his joy: "I was on the verge of crying listening to Nazeeh and Shawn's passionate words. I'm so happy to be part of such a warm and welcoming stage." He further elaborated on the upcoming second season, stating, "Both my fellow cast members and I are putting our hearts into our voice acting. And we have all the people creating the animation and music. I pray that this becomes a precious work for you and everyone." His heartfelt words resonated deeply with the audience, who responded with enthusiastic applause.
The highly successful event concluded with a spirited "Kaiju hachi~? Go~!" call-and-response and a commemorative group photo with the assembled fans.
About "Kaiju No. 8" Season 2
Synopsis
Thanks to Isao Shinomiya, Kafka Hibino avoids being turned into a weapon. As new recruits head to their posts, Kafka meets Gen Narumi, the strongest man in the Defense Force and leader of the First Division. Kafka embraces the power of Kaiju No. 8 to force Gen to recognize his strength. Meanwhile, Kaiju No. 9 lurks in the shadows as the greatest threat the Defense Force has faced awaits.
Cast
Kafka Hibino / Kaiju No. 8: Masaya Fukunishi
Mina Ashiro: Asami Seto
Reno Ichikawa: Wataru Katoh
Kikoru Shinomiya: Fairouz Ai
Soshiro Hoshina: Kengo Kawanishi
Iharu Furuhashi: Yuuki Shin
Haruichi Izumo: Keisuke Komoto
Aoi Kaguragi: Shunsuke Takeuchi
Konomi Okonogi: Sayaka Senbongi
Gen Narumi: Koki Uchiyama
Eiji Hasegawa: Hiroki Yasumoto
Rin Shinonome: Kana Hanazawa
Isao Shinomiya: Tessho Genda
Kaiju No. 10: Kenta Miyake
Kaiju No. 9: Hiroyuki Yoshino
©JAKDF 3rd Division ©Naoya Matsumoto/SHUEISHA
※Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
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