Ahead of the currently ongoing anime adaptation of KILL BLUE, we were invited to participate in a press interview with members of the cast. The roundtable session featured Yuko Sanpei (Juzo Ogami) and Takeo Otsuka (Tenma Tendo), where we asked a few questions alongside Japanese media.
Below, we’ve separated the responses to our own submitted questions from the broader roundtable discussion.
Anime Corner’s Questions
Answered by Yuko Sanpei (Juzo Ogami)
Q: Juzo has the mind of a seasoned professional but the body of a middle schooler. How did you approach balancing that contrast in your performance?
A: It started with the audition, and at that point I was really focused on how to bring out that middle-aged-man feel, thinking carefully about his speech patterns and practicing a lot. When it came time for the actual recording sessions, I followed the same flow as the manga. I started by fully feeling adult Juzo, who is voiced by Takeuchi-kun, a professional assassin and a divorcé, and capturing his whole personality first.
Q: Is there a specific interaction Juzo has with another character that you especially enjoy performing?
A: In terms of the dynamic, everyone is great, but Kotatsu is probably the easiest one to play off of. Even when Juzo does his own thing, Kotatsu doesn’t mind and kind of looks after him, and you feel that in their exchanges. He’s the kind of partner you can toss the ball to without worrying about how it’ll land.
The one with the really delicate, curious balance is the back-and-forth with Eri. I think it’s funny that he’s a middle schooler but talking to his ex-wife. Since he’s Juzo on the inside, even though he looks like a kid, I hope the everyday exchanges like “Oh, this again,” or “You’re always like this” come across naturally. In that sense, Eri is the fun one.
And with Noren, I voice him hoping that even though they’re both middle schoolers, the dynamic between them feels more like that of a father and daughter. Every character has their own interesting dynamic with him, and I’m really enjoying playing off all of them.
Roundtable Discussion (Japanese Media Questions)
Answered by Takeo Otsuka (Tenma Tendo)
Q: Do you have goals as a voice actor, and anything you’re working on to reach them? Is there a voice actor you look up to?
A: Once I started this job, there were plenty of people I thought I’d like to be like, but originally I didn’t aim for this industry out of admiration for one specific person. Rather than wanting to become like any one person, I want to keep absorbing the good qualities of many people and make that my own.
It’s been ten years since I started, but I’m still exploring. I do have a sense of who I am, but I feel there’s still more potential to discover.
If I can become someone that aspiring voice actors look at and think, “I want to be like Takeo Otsuka,” that would feel meaningful. You probably can’t survive in this industry unless you reach that point, so I’m always thinking about having something uniquely my own.
Answered by Yuko Sanpei (Juzo Ogami)
Q: Once you had adult Juzo as a foundation, how did you approach playing him in his child form?
A: Building on adult Juzo life and background, his skill as a professional and that weary middle-aged quality, I first made sure all of that was grounded. Then I played him in a way where, even after he turns into a kid, the audience can still see he’s the same person.
There’s that tired quality of an adult, and the way he’s one step removed from the middle schoolers around him. That calm pacing comes through naturally, and I think it’s one of the things that defines him.
Q: How did you work on the character with your fellow cast members?
A: We didn’t really discuss things directly. Each of us brought our own interpretation and showed it through our performance. Takeuchi-kun’s portrayal gave the character a lot of depth, so when I picked it up, it still came across as one cohesive character.
Juzo is someone who has spent his whole life as an assassin. There’s a sense of experience and weariness from that, but it’s different from just general life experience. Interestingly, we later realized we had been on the same wavelength about this without discussing it beforehand.
Q: What were your first impressions when you read the manga?
A: I thought it was really interesting. You don’t often see a character like Juzo. He tries to blend in, but the middle-aged-man part of him leaks through.
It’s his mission to hide it, but you get the sense he isn’t trying that hard. That contrast made me think it would be really fun to play. Since I often get cast as boys, playing one who is actually a middle-aged man inside felt especially appealing.
Q: What makes Juzo such an appealing character?
A: He’s impressive, but he doesn’t take pride in it. He just ended up where he is because he was suited for it. There’s also a sense that he sees his life as somewhat dull.
Then suddenly he’s in a middle school setting, and there’s something very charming about watching an adult get mocked by middle schoolers. He’s incredibly capable in action scenes, but completely out of his depth socially, and that contrast is really fun.
Q: Is there something viewers should pay attention to across the series?
A: The contrast between his two sides is very important. One moment he’s being made fun of, and the next he’s incredibly cool. The series balances action and comedy very well, and the pacing makes it very enjoyable to watch.
Q: What do you keep in mind when performing the comedic scenes?
A: I was careful not to lean too far into comedy. If I did, he would just feel like a normal middle schooler.
What makes Juzo unique is that slight distance he maintains. Even when strange things happen, his reactions are more like, “Well, that’s life.” That adult perspective is what makes him interesting.
Q: Has your experience as a voice actor influenced your life outside of work
A: People often tell me my voice carries more than I realize. I don’t feel like I’m speaking loudly, but others say it comes across strongly.
It sometimes makes me worry, like when I’m scolding my child, I wonder if I sound harsher than I intend. I try to be mindful of that. (laughs)
We would like to thank Yuko Sanpei for her responses to our questions, as well as 33USA for the opportunity and for sharing the full roundtable interview materials.
KILL BLUE is one of the most widely available anime this season, streaming globally across major platforms including Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Prime Video, alongside regional services such as Rakuten Viki, Plex, and Bilibili. The series is also accessible via the It’s Anime FAST Channel and YouTube in select regions, with additional local platforms supporting distribution across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
© Tadatoshi Fujimaki / Shueisha, KILL BLUE Production Committee
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