TOUGEN ANKI: Legend of the Cursed Blood is a new action and adventure series that has an anime adaptation coming on July 11, 2025, and we had the amazing opportunity to interview the talented Natsuki Hanae and Shogo Sakata on their upcoming roles.
Natsuki Hanae will voice Juji Yusurube in the TOUGEN ANKI anime, while Shogo Sakata will voice Ikari Yaoroshi. Read on for all their answers, starting with Natsuki Hanae.
Natsuki Hanae on TOUGEN ANKI
Q: How does working on TOUGEN ANKI compare to other projects you’ve been part of?
A: Well, rather than comparing it, I’d say what makes it stand out is that the Oni are typically depicted as villains in traditional folktales, but in this story, they’re the protagonists. Even though they’re misunderstood as evil, each of them has their own past and reasons for fighting, which I think encourages the audience to think about their circumstances.
Also, the abilities that appear in the story are very distinctive, which makes the battles especially unique. The idea of “fighting with blood,” where each ability reflects their trauma or deep-seated feelings from the past, is something I found incredibly interesting.
Q: If you could have any Momotaro or Oni ability, which one would you pick and why?
A: I’d say Oiranzaka’s healing ability. It seems really useful for helping people close to me if they ever got hurt. Plus, I don’t really fight in my daily life, so it would be more practical. Although, being able to turn invisible also sounds convenient, doesn’t it? But… it does feel a little shady, almost criminal. Out of these options, healing seems like the best choice.
Q: Can you tell us about your character in the TOUGEN ANKI anime?
A: He’s one of Shiki’s classmates. His defining feature would be… “glasses,” I suppose? He’s a character known as “the glasses guy.” While he looks diligent, he’s actually a bit naughty and always thinking about girls, which makes him a pretty comical character. That said, he’s also someone who struggles as he works hard to improve and refine his abilities. I think audiences will find themselves rooting for him.
Q: What aspects of the TOUGEN ANKI story or your character do you find most intriguing or challenging?
A: First, there’s Kougasaki’s appearance. His body is covered in stitches to a degree you rarely see—it’s like his entire body is sewn together. I thought that was a bold and challenging design. But once you learn about his past, you come to understand why he looks the way he does, and it’s clear the scars weren’t just added for shock value.
That level of thought put into the design is truly impressive. Also, as for another character, Kuina Sazanami…how do I put it? Her personality or her character—she’s completely unhinged. Out of all the characters, I’d say she’s the most off-the-wall. I remember thinking that as I was reading.
Q: How do you approach voicing emotional or high-intensity scenes? Is there any particular technique you rely on?
A: Rather than simply reading the lines as they’re written, I think of the breaths before and after as part of the dialogue. I try to ensure the rhythm of the scene isn’t broken.
Q: Finally, what excites you the most about being part of the TOUGEN ANKI anime, and what do you hope the fans will take away from your performance?
A: I don’t know how much of the story the anime will cover, but since Yusurube plays a more active role much later in the story, I really hope we’ll get to that part in the anime. I truly hope this series can continue for a long time, and I’d love for all of you to support and cheer it on. Let’s make it a success together!
Shogo Sakata on TOUGEN ANKI
Q: What do you think is the greatest appeal of this series? How do you think it stands out compared to others?
A: I think the greatest appeal is how the Oni team is always facing adversity. That aspect really makes this series stand out to me. The Momotaro are always considered righteous, so I really like how the story explores how the Oni resist and fight back.
Q: Can you tell us about your character in the TOUGEN ANKI anime? What drew you to this role?
A: I play a character called Ikari Yaoroshi. One of his defining traits is that he’s quick to anger—he has quite the short temper. But that comes from him being harsh not only toward others but also toward himself. I think his anger comes across as comical and almost silly. He’s a character with a very strong fighting spirit. What I like most about Yaoroshi is, well, how should I put it…his strictness with himself, or perhaps his stoic nature. I think it’s wonderful how he is so determined to grow stronger.
Q: We previously spoke with Mr. Kazuki Ura and Mr. Koutaro Nishiyama, and we asked which Momotaro or Oni ability they would pick. They both mentioned Ikari Yaoroshi’s “Doki-Doki Hysteria.” What do you think of your character’s ability and is it also the one you would pick?
A: Hmm, I think Kyoya Oiranzaka’s healing ability would be nice. Personally, I don’t get angry very often, so…I mean, saying that makes it sound like I’m trying to come off as a really nice person, and I hate that! (laughs) But it’s true—I don’t really feel much “anger” as an emotion. That’s probably why. Honestly, I’d be nervous that if I used “Doki-Doki Hysteria,” with which the angrier you are, the stronger you are, it wouldn’t create a very strong weapon. So, if I had to choose, I’d go with Kyoya Oiranzaka’s healing ability.
Q: What kind of preparation or research did you do to portray Ikari Yaoroshi effectively?
A: Of course, I read the original manga. I also carefully studied the recording scripts. I really put thought into why he feels such intense anger and why he’s so harsh toward others. Those were the things I made sure to consider while performing his role.
Q: Can you share any memorable or particularly challenging moments you experienced while recording your lines?
A: One of Yaoroshi’s traits is that he’s kind of awkward when it comes to romance, so during the recording, I had to adjust a few times to figure out how to portray that side of him. I remember that being quite challenging. If we leaned into it too much, it would mess with his character, so finding the right balance was tough—but it was also a lot of fun.
Q: How do you engage with fans of series you’re involved with, and what kind of feedback do you find most rewarding?
A: I’m lucky to have opportunities to engage with fans. Personally, I’m not very good at putting on airs or acting overly formal, so I like to just talk with fans as if they were my friends. As for feedback, I really appreciate it when fans talk to me about my performances. When someone tells me, “I loved this specific line in this scene because of this,” that’s the kind of thing that makes me happiest.
Q: What do you hope the fans will take away from TOUGEN ANKI?
A: TOUGEN ANKI portrays a lot of harsh, unreasonable situations. The main characters, as well as many of the supporting characters, find themselves in unfair and painful circumstances. But seeing how they keep their strong and unwavering hearts in those moments—I hope that resonates with the audience. I’m so happy to be part of TOUGEN ANKI. I think people will laugh at the comedic scenes, be on the edge of their seats during the fight scenes, and get deeply moved by the serious moments. So, I’d really love for everyone to watch it. Thank you so much!
We would like to thank Natsuki Hanae and Shogo Sakata for taking the time to answer our questions, and we look forward to following the anime when it begins airing on July 11, 2025.
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TOUGEN ANKI is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yura Urushibara. It has been serialized in Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shonen Champion magazine since June 2020. Volume 24 was released on June 6, and the manga already has over 4 million copies in circulation. For the English release, Volumes 1-3 are now on sale, with Volume 4 set to release on October 28, 2025.
Yen Press began publishing the manga in English from September 2024, and they describe the story:
Shiki Ichinose’s blood is Oni, and his father’s is Momotaro. Normally, those with Momotaro blood hunt the Oni – but Shiki’s fathre refused to kill him as an infant. Instead, he adopted Shiki and raised him despite the rebellious attitude and dangerous temper that come with Oni blood. When a member of the Momotaro Agency kills Shiki’s father, Shiki vows to avenge him. But as he hones his abilities and learns to control his Oni blood, will he be strong enough to survive the dangers waiting for him…?
© Yura Urushibara (AKITASHOTEN) /TOUGEN ANKI PROJECT
Official Website: tougenanki-anime-global.com
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