Hanae Natsuki, Sakurai Takahiro, and Others Take the Stage at "Demon Slayer" Event [Machi Asobi vol.28]

Kyodo News

4 days ago

Animate Times - 21 minutes ago - 18:29 | All
On May 11th (Sunday), as part of "Machi★Asobi vol.28" held in Tokushima Prefecture from May 10th (Saturday) to May 11th (Sunday), a special "Demon Slayer" anime stage event took place at Aibahama Park.
The stage event featured voice actors Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro Kamado), Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu Agatsuma), Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Inosuke Hashibira), Takahiro Sakurai (Giyu Tomioka), Katsuyuki Konishi (Tengen Uzui), and Kengo Kawanishi (Muichiro Tokito).
"Demon Slayer," a manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, was serialized in Shueisha's "Weekly Shonen Jump" from February 2016 to May 2020. The series, known for its poignant tale of humans and demons, intense sword fights, and occasionally comical character portrayals, has gained immense popularity. The total circulation of all 23 volumes has surpassed 150 million copies.
The theatrical release "Mugen Train Arc," which premiered in October 2020, recorded approximately 41.35 million viewers worldwide and a total box office revenue of about 51.7 billion yen. It became the highest-grossing film of all time in Japan, cementing the series' popularity not just domestically but globally.
Moreover, the first part of the "Infinity Castle Arc," which will be the third theatrical installment of the "Demon Slayer" anime, is set to premiere in Japan on July 18th, 2025 (Friday)!
Full House! Six Main Cast Members Appear at Machi★Asobi!
Despite the scorching heat, a large crowd of fans gathered at the Aibahama Park stage, reaffirming the series' popularity. The excitement was palpable even before the event began. As character "shadow narrations" played throughout the venue, cheers and laughter erupted from the audience.
The six cast members who took the stage were visibly surprised by the packed venue. They greeted the audience one by one, with Hanae-san cleverly referencing "Water Breathing" to remind everyone to stay hydrated.
The first segment was the "Yes/No Topic Guessing Game." The cast had to guess the topics or words displayed on the screen behind them, using audience reactions as hints.
Topics like "Nezuko Kamado," "firewood," "Hiro Shimono," and "Kasugai Crows" were presented, creating a warm atmosphere typical of "Machi★Asobi" as the cast interacted with fans.
Next up was "Zenitsu's Favorite Dice Roll of the Day: On Tour Edition," hosted by Shimono-san. In this dice-talk format, the cast members took turns discussing themes related to Tokushima and the series.
For the theme "What you want to eat or are curious about in Tokushima," Sakurai, visiting Tokushima for the first time, asked for recommendations for Tokushima ramen. The audience enthusiastically shared names of famous local ramen shops.
When discussing "Memorable recording sessions or events," the cast touched on impressive moments and behind-the-scenes stories from past experiences. Their conversations revealed the depth of their teamwork and the experiences they've accumulated through working on the series.
Finally, each cast member expressed their gratitude to the fans and shared their excitement for the upcoming Infinity Castle arc, bringing the event to a close.
The "Demon Slayer" cast reaffirmed their bond with fans in Tokushima. Their journey will soon continue on the big screen. With just 68 days left until the theatrical release on Friday, July 18th, anticipation for the movie is reaching fever pitch!
About Demon Slayer The Movie: Infinity Castle
Synopsis
In his quest to restore his demon-transformed sister Nezuko to human form, Tanjiro Kamado joins the Demon Slayer Corps, an organization committed to eliminating demons.
Following his induction, Tanjiro's skills improve, and he forges strong friendships as he confronts various demons alongside his companions, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira.
Tanjiro collaborates with the Hashira, the Corps' most skilled swordsmen, engaging in fierce battles alongside Kyojuro Rengoku (Flame Hashira) during the "Mugen Train" arc, Tengen Uzui (Sound Hashira) in the "Entertainment District" arc, and Muichiro Tokito (Mist Hashira) and Mitsuri Kanroji (Love Hashira) in the "Swordsmith Village" arc.
As Tanjiro and his fellow Demon Slayers participate in rigorous joint training led by the Hashira to prepare for the ultimate confrontation with the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, the demon lord, unexpectedly appears at the Ubuyashiki Manor, the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters. The Hashira and Tanjiro hasten to defend their leader, but Muzan's powers transport them to an enigmatic realm: the Infinity Castle, the demons' fortress.
Thus commences the final decisive battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons.
Cast
Tanjiro Kamado: Natsuki Hanae
Nezuko Kamado: Akari Kitō
Zenitsu Agatsuma: Hiro Shimono
Inosuke Hashibira: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
Kanao Tsuyuri: Reina Ueda
Genya Shinazugawa: Nobuhiko Okamoto
Giyu Tomioka: Takahiro Sakurai
Tengen Uzui: Katsuyuki Konishi
Muichiro Tokito: Kengo Kawanishi
Shinobu Kocho: Saori Hayami
Mitsuri Kanroji: Kana Hanazawa
Obanai Iguro: Kenichi Suzumura
Sanemi Shinazugawa: Tomokazu Seki
Gyomei Himejima: Tomokazu Sugita
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