MARRIAGETOXIN has been one of the most exciting shows of the current anime season, and we had the opportunity to sit down with the series’ main duo, Shion Wakayama (voice of Mei Kinosaki) and Haruki Ishiya (voice of Hikaru Gero), during the recent Anime Expo.
We were fortunate to spend 30 minutes with them, and I hope you enjoy some of the fun questions and answers from our conversation.
Q: How did the both of you first get introduced to the series? What was your impression of the concept?
Wakayama: “The first time I was introduced to the series was through the audition. At first I didn’t know if the concept of marriage hunt and battle would work, but because of the amazing story structure and also the storytelling of the original writers I was drawn in immediately as a fan.”
Ishiya: “I myself really enjoy reading manga, so really from the first MARRIAGETOXIN manga for me. Aside from the concept though my first thoughts of it was that it had really great art. And from the very first panel of the manga it was very offsetting but afterwards it became apparent that the concept was a mix of marriage hunt and battle and I was drawn in by that.”
Q: The beginning of the story has a good deal of action, despite the focus being on finding a romantic partner. How do you think this introduction affected the way the anime progressed?
Ishiya: “It’s very impactful for us to see this in the first episode. Because it shows that the big gap between how the show can be cute at times with Kinosaki and their marriage counseling and then quite serious when Gero has to fight. It really heightens the anticipation for the viewers and makes them want to know what will happen next.”
Wakayama: “The first episode has a very fast tempo quickly showing us the two main aspects of the show which is the marriage hunt and the action. In my perspective I believe that the first episode is almost like overview of what the whole series will be like.”
Q: Ishiya-san, Gero has a bit of an awkward personality but shines when he’s saving or helping people. How do you approach showcasing such different parts of his character?
Ishiya: “I believe its hard to be the perfect being and the fact that you said that he shines when he’s saving people that hits the nail in the head. I believe you need some shortcomings and imperfections to be intriguing and you can still be cool while still having those shortcomings. As I am acting out Gero I don’t really think of him as a separate being. I think of him as the same person in acting. So having the cool parts and not so cool parts and all the ups and downs of his character is something I really try to emphasize in my acting.”
Q: Wakayama-san, Kinosaki is a swindler and thus has to have a conniving side, but is relied on by Gero. How do you balance the honest and dishonest parts of the character?
Wakayama: “So yes Kinosaki is a swindler but throughout the series you come to see that they are also a very heartful person that has integrity. And with Kinosaki’s experience of swindling, they use it very cleverly. Kinosaki also has many faces and so when I acted out them out, I made sure to really differentiate between my voice so I could act out each face appropriately.”
Q: For both of you, how did you determine how the voice you use for your character needed to sound? Did you get any specific guidance or advice about what kinds of sounds to aim for or avoid?
Wakayama: “I was told to try to find a sweet spot for my voice somewhere in my talking voice range. And due to Kinosaki having many facets in their personality they wanted me to have almost like a gag humorous type of voice. And one voice I found when searching was one strong core voice that also isn’t afraid of changing and from there have many variations in between.
Ishiya: “In Gero’s appearance you can see that his neck is really thick, and he just has a very big and athletic body that moves really well. So I at first assumed that he would have a very strong core voice. But when I really thought about it I remembered he’s also and assassin and assassins don’t speak loud. So I made sure to find a voice that blends in. Sort of like the voice you would use on an invasive mission where you needed to blend in with the surroundings. So that’s the voice I really looked into. But, during the audition they told me not to be scared to flip his voice when he is saddened or not feeling confident. So being able to have variations between those two voices was what I went for.”
Q: How do you both feel MARRIAGETOXIN handles the topic of dating in general? Does it present an honest portrayal of how people interact with each other romantically or is it over the top?
Ishiya: “So all the marriage hunting potential partners are pretty out there, kind of like Gero. They’re all very unique but the root understanding in the show of being able to understand each other perfectly at all times is something that is exaggerated but I think it can also be a real life lesson to always try your best to better understand one another especially in dating. And I think that is something that is special about this series.”
Wakayama: “This series having dating and assassin battles is of course exaggerated and not real. But, the emotions both Gero and his marriage hunt partners have and the atmosphere between them is something that can be connected to reality as well.
Q: What are both of your impressions of Gero as a potential romantic partner? And as a character overall? What about Kinosaki?
Wakayama: “So all the marriage hunt partners have strong personalities and are all strong and kindhearted people. And Gero is a very ideal partner… I don’t really get why no one picks him up he’s a very attractive guy. But I believe he will persevere and put in the hard work to find the right person, and Kinosaki will definitely help Gero find his partner. Kinosaki of course, being that they are a swindler, it makes them seem bad, but they would never betray Gero. I also believe that Kinosaki is a very kindhearted person and will continue to help build Gero’s relationships with his potential marriage partners. As for Kinosaki as a partner… I think Kinosaki is a very attractive person.”
Ishiya: “Gero is the type of guy that everyone wonders ‘He’s cool so why can’t he get married? Why??’ and while Gero is really cool during his battles if there was a compilation of just him doing marriage hunt activities you can understand why he isn’t being picked up. Kinosaki is there for Gero and he is thankful for them being there. Kinosaki’s presence for Gero is kind of like having a coach in the field whenever Gero looks back to ask if he is doing something okay Kinosaki is right there to put an arm around his neck and tell him he’s doing fine. And that’s kind of how I see both of those characters and their relationship with each other.”
Q: Did you find yourself imagining yourself in some of the situations Gero was in? Would you have approached them differently?
Ishiya: “Gero as you can tell, kind of just went with flow of life and than decided one day to take control. Putting myself in his shoes though when your life is at risk at such a young age for a long time I think it’s inevitable to believe you can’t really change things and just go with the flow. But I would feel like that I’d want to change things, the only difference is I don’t have the same skills as Gero.”
Wakayama: “If I was placed in Gero’s situation I might’ve just given up on the whole finding a marriage partner thing. Just thinking about if I had to go through all the dangers and risks he went through plus having to still go on the marriage hunt. Yeah I think I’d just be in group that would give up.”
Q: What do the both of you enjoy most about Gero and Kinosaki’s interactions and overall relationship?
Wakayama: “Like a husband and wife type of comedy skit. I really enjoy the tempo of Gero and Kinosaki’s coversations. Where Gero might not be confident and feeling a bit timid Kinosaki comes right in to kick him into shape like ‘Come on!’ and that type of conversational tempo is one I really enjoyed.”
Ishiya: “Gero and Kinosaki have a seamless realationship where they can interchange between the comedian and slapstick. So in many situations I’m often wondering ‘Which character am I right now? Am I the comedian or the slapstick?’ And even when we’re both unsure of which we are playing at the time the moment we start acting it kind of just flows. When I’m acting with Shion I’m often surprised at how well it flows at times. It really almost feels like a rally, or an exchange of conversations and atmospheres. So I really enjoyed doing the reading for the lines in those conversations.”
Q: What are some of your favorite lines you’ve delivered in the anime?
Ishiya: “‘I wanna get married.’ That line came out after everything had been broken down. From Toshiro’s perspective (the Beast Master Gero was fighting at the time he had said this line) he was like ‘What are you talking about?’ but it’s an emotional line for me. From Episode 1 I wondered how I would deliver this line but by the end of it all I felt really proud of that line it was a very special moment for me.
For reference, the line Ishiya-san is talking about is from Episode 11:
Wakayama: “My favorite line is the one I say during the Bug Master’s wedding. It came when Gero wasn’t feeling very confident about getting married and asks Kinosaki if he could ever get married like this to which my character responds with ‘Of course. You’ve got me in your corner.’ And Kinosaki having that kind of confidence acting that out was something I really enjoyed.”
For reference, the line Wakayama-san is talking about is from Episode 7:
Q: Finally, are there any messages you’d like to share with fans?
Wakayama: “Thank you for watching. I personally love this series and the anime itself. This anime really helped me pull out many different expressions as a voice actor and I’m thankful for that. And Season 2 was announced and confirmed for 2027! So I hope you’ll all continue to watch the show. Thank you all again very much.”
Ishiya: “Hello I am once again Haruki Ishiya. I’ve been doing voice acting in the entertainment business in Japan since when it was mainly consumed in just Japan. But lately through the staff and even the cast I see that anime is now very globally known and is a worldwide thing. I also have seen a lot of love for this series and we want to let you know we will be working hard for Season 2 so I hope you’ll enjoy it, but also feel free to read the original manga, and even rewatch Season 1. Thank you all very much.”
That concludes our 30-minute interview with the wonderful voice actors Haruki Ishiya and Shion Wakayama. Both were incredibly gracious with their answers, and I was captivated by their thoughtful insights into the series. It was clear they were fully invested in their roles and passionate about bringing these characters to life.
Final Thoughts:
Despite its goofy and serious moments, this series is incredibly charming, and I found myself wanting to watch more and more as each episode went on. As both voice actors mentioned, every character is charming in their own way, and each one has something special about them, which is something I completely agree with.
On a personal note, this show has also helped me not feel so dejected whenever I go through hardships. I just think back to Gero when he first begins his search for marriage and tell myself, “Yeah, I can do better!” But all jokes aside, this is a genuinely fun series, and I think it’s the perfect show to watch if you ever need a reminder to stay positive.
With that said, the first season is streaming on Crunchyroll, so if you’re interested, definitely check it out! As mentioned earlier, Season 2 is also set to premiere in 2027. In the meantime, be sure to check out the Season 2 announcement trailer below.
All photos are courtesy of the official Marriage Toxin site and Crunchyroll.
©Joumyaku・Mizuki Yoda/SHUEISHA, MARRIAGETOXIN Project
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