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The Resolve to Portray Shinobu Kocho: An Interview with Saori Hayami in "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - To the Infinity Castle Chapter 1: The Return of Akaza"
The first chapter of the "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - To the Infinity Castle" trilogy is now in theaters in Japan, having premiered on July 18, 2025.
Tanjiro and his companions have finally made contact with Muzan Kibutsuji - and now, the stage is set for their decisive battle against the demons in their stronghold, the Infinity Castle.
To commemorate the release, Animate Times is publishing a series of cast interviews. Today, we're speaking with Saori Hayami, the voice behind Shinobu Kocho.
Hayami shares her thoughts on the resolve required to portray Shinobu. What lies behind her words? Through this interview, we'll explore the unique tension of the "Infinity Castle" arc and delve deeper into Shinobu's character.
I want to pour everything I can into expressing Shinobu Kocho in the "Infinity Castle Arc."
―― The film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie - Infinity Castle Arc Part 1: Akaza's Return was released on Friday, July 18th. The Demon Slayer anime, which first aired in April 2019, is celebrating its sixth anniversary this year and is finally beginning the "Infinity Castle Arc." What are your thoughts on reaching this point?
Saori Hayami (Shinobu Kocho): I'm surprised to think that it's "only been six years." It feels like the time has been so incredibly dense. Looking back over these six years, there have been so many different stages and a long road, so there's a strong feeling of finally having made it this far.
―― Please share your honest impressions after watching "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-"
Hayami: It's difficult to express in words how deeply it stirred various emotions in me. I think it's a work that moves the heart from all angles, something that can't be described in a single phrase. As someone who plays Shinobu Kocho and is involved in this work, I felt very emotional being able to do the voice recording for this film. Seeing those scenes on the big screen again really touched my heart.
―― Please tell us about your memories or impressions of recording for this work.
Hayami: This might be a bit off-topic, but before the voice recording, the staff and cast members had a kind of pep rally where we said, "Let's run in the same direction towards the 'Infinity Castle Arc'." From the very beginning, I felt that this is a work where the staff and cast are united in moving in one direction. This strengthened my resolve even further, and my approach to this work became to pour everything I could express into it.
―― In the previous work, the "Hashira Training Arc", we saw Shinobu Kocho preparing for the next battle. Based on that, could you tell us about any changes in Shinobu or how you approached your role for this story?
Hayami: Since I joined this project, Shinobu-san has always been at the root of who I am. From the first scene where Shinobu-san appeared in the "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc", I feel like I've been able to experience Shinobu-san's journey alongside her as the story progressed. Especially from the "Hashira Training Arc", I felt like I was carrying everything flowing through Shinobu-san's body along with her. I have this feeling of wanting to go anywhere and everywhere with Shinobu Kocho as a person.
With that feeling, when I received the voice recording script, I couldn't bring myself to open it for a while.
―― In past interviews about the series, you mentioned that Shinobu Kocho might be outwardly imitating her sister Kanae's words and actions while keeping her true feelings deep inside.
Hayami: That's right. Before reading the script, I thought I would express Shinobu-san as if she had internalized her sister. But when I finally gathered the courage to read the script before recording, feelings welled up inside me, and I felt like I wanted to do more and more. Shinobu-san has always been a person who's kept various thoughts bottled up inside her heart.
―― It becomes clear that Upper Rank Two, Doma, is the one who killed her sister. Could you share your memories or impressions of recording with Mr. Miyano, who plays Doma?
Hayami: I was able to record in direct interaction with Mamoru Miyano-san (who plays Doma), which allowed me to express many times more emotion. Shinobu-san is also desperate, so I felt my emotions escalate more and more. I've worked with Miyano-san on so many projects over the years, and he's an actor I respect and trust, so this time it felt like we were starting from a relationship we've already built rather than creating something from scratch.
―― What are your impressions of Shinobu Kocho's successor, Kanao Tsuyuri?
Hayami: When Shinobu first met Kanao, she was feeling a bit irritable. She couldn't ignore Kanao and was a girl who boldly threw money to take her in. But I think it was Kanao who was closest to Shinobu, watching her change after she lost her older sister. Kanao was initially silent and didn't show her emotions, but with the addition of many new friends, she also changed. In the "Hashira Training Arc," she was able to say, "I want to train more with you, Master." I believe Shinobu was able to feel Kanao's growth every step of the way. Because the two of them walked this path together, they were able to communicate their feelings to each other. I think this is proof of the bond that existed between them.
Hayami: This is a story from the recording studio, but when Ai Kayano-san, who plays older sister Kanae, entered the booth, I was a little selfish and asked her to sit next to me, saying, "I want my sister right next to me." So, Ai-san sat on my left. Then, Reina Ueda-chan, who plays Kanao, sat next to Ai-san. We were able to have the three Kocho family members all sitting in a row. I felt like I could give my all to the recording after that! (laughs). So, I was able to record while feeling my sister and Kanao right there with me.
As a side note, after the recording session was over, I was drenched in sweat and just casually said, "I want to eat meat." Ai-san immediately said, "Okay, let's go eat!" She invited Reina-chan, and the three of us from the Kocho family went to a yakiniku restaurant. I was so happy that Ai-san took us to a delicious yakiniku place. I was just overflowing with gratitude for everyone in the Kocho family. I want to continue moving forward without ever letting this sense of unity fade.
Shinobu Kocho is a "being whose souls we have clashed and merged with each other."
―― What does Shinobu Kocho mean to you now, Hayami-san?
Hayami: I feel like I've walked alongside Shinobu Kocho for a long time, getting to touch the very roots of her heart from up close. It might be a bit abstract, but she is a being whose soul and my own have clashed and merged.
―― In that sense, do you feel there are any shared traits between yourself and Shinobu?
Hayami: If anything, she's a figure I look up to. Shinobu is someone with a strong will and a passionate fire burning inside her. At times, she teases the other Demon Slayers, like Tanjiro and Zenitsu, or deliberately says something a little mean, but at her core, she's completely straightforward. When I connect with that strong will, it's like she influences me—when I'm playing Shinobu, I get this feeling of emotions welling up from the pit of my stomach.
―― I imagine you've had opportunities to interact with international fans during the World Tour Screenings and other overseas events.
Hayami: They greeted me with such big smiles, and it was clear to me that they truly love the Demon Slayer series. When I was talking about the show, they listened so intently, and I felt like I could sense how much they love the work, even beyond the language barrier.
They brought so many things, like plates and fan-made goods, that I couldn't even hold them all. It made me realize that where you're from doesn't matter. Of course, I could only feel this by being there in person. It made me so happy to feel that I was connected to people all over the world through Demon Slayer.
―― Do you have a message for the fans who are looking forward to this film?
Hayami: The film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie - Infinity Castle Arc Part 1: Akaza's Return, has finally been released. While I can't say I understand all of Shinobu's feelings, I did my best to feel them alongside her during the recording. I hope everyone will enjoy it on the big screen with great sound in the theater.
Interview by: Risk Son
Photo by: MoA
About "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle"
Synopsis
Tanjiro Kamado – a boy who joined an organization dedicated to hunting down demons called the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister Nezuko was turned into a demon.
While growing stronger and deepening his friendships and bonds with fellow corps members, Tanjiro has battled many demons with his comrades, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira.
Along the way, his journey has led him to fight alongside the Demon Slayer Corps' highest-ranking swordsmen, the Hashira, including Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku aboard the Mugen Train, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui within the Entertainment District, as well as Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji at the Swordsmith Village.
As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji.
The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons' stronghold – the Infinity Castle.
And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the Demons ignites.
Cast
Tanjiro Kamado: Natsuki Hanae
Nezuko Kamado: Akari Kito
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
Akaza (Upper Rank Three): Akira Ishida
Dōma (Upper Rank Two): Mamoru Miyano
Kaigaku: Yoshimasa Hosoya
Keizō: Yuichi Nakamura
Koyuki: Lynn
©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
