Interview with Hiiro Ishibashi at Anime Frontier

Last month, I sat down with seiyuu Hiiro Ishibashi at Anime Frontier, where he appeared as a guest of honor, to talk about Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers, the long-awaited sequel project in the Samurai Troopers (Ronin Warriors) universe that premieres next month. Despite his youth, Ishibashi brings a notable level of talent and self-awareness to his work, speaking with an ease that suggests both confidence and curiosity about what comes next. What follows is a Q&A shaped less by the spectacle of being a guest at a major U.S. anime convention and more by quiet confidence, curiosity, and a clear respect for the legacy he’s helping carry forward.

Answers were translated from Japanese and edited for clarity.

Twwk: You did voiceover work as a child and teenager, but what made you decide to pursue this work as an adult?

Ishibashi: I wanted to be a singer when I was a child, so I didn’t really know anything about being a seiyuu, but when I was 12 and got the role of Miguel in Coco, I learned that voice acting has so many similarities to singing, but also, there was the appeal of using that same voice to express yourself in different ways. After graduating from high school, I fully committed to working as a seiyuu. 

Since you started voice acting as a child, how has your approach evolved now as an adult professional?

I didn’t really know my left from my right as a kid, and I was nervous, too. When I was young, I was nervous and would rehearse over and over again and simply try to connect myself to the character without opening myself to what the rest of the ensemble was doing. But now, as I’ve gained more experience, I’ve been able to work off the energy of the other cast members. So while I still rehearse, I’m now able to respond better to what they’re doing, to collaborate with them. That’s very important to me as a seiyuu.

What’s something about your voice acting experience that fans might be surprised to learn?

There was one series I was in where I played two roles, and one of them was of a character who loved death metal—and I do not have a death metal image! I had to practice for about a month to prepare to sing death metal. All my fans were so shocked that I would be voicing that kind of character, but they were very supportive. And I had to learn, also, how to protect my voice while singing in a style that strains it. I had to ask myself, “Where am I going to damage it the least? Is it down here? Where should my pitch be?” It was quite an experience. Thank you, death metal!

Do you have a favorite type of role to play—action-heavy, comedic, mysterious, dramatic? Why?

I love everything that comes to me, and every character has a special place in my heart, but I do particularly enjoy fighting and action series where I can play a character that has a rival or archenemy. When I’m in that kind of role, it gives me energy. I feel like I’m fighting for something. It’s fun to play a role like that when you obviously can’t go around in everyday life battling people. So, although I like all genres, I probably enjoy those roles the most.

When you’re not working, what inspires you creatively—books, music, games, travel?

Of all these choices, music inspires me most. My background is in singing, after all. It’s a huge part of who I am. And I listen to a lot of music, both Japanese and international. I especially love music from the 1960s and 70s. There’s something about the music during that time period that you can’t find in today’s music. I like other genres and artists, too, like classical and Frank Sinatra. Many people my age might find that music mature, but it inspires me. When I go traveling or off on a little pilgrimage, I love bringing music to accompany me.

How did you feel when you heard you got the role of Gai in the new, upcoming series Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers, which is the sequel to the classic series Yoroiden Samurai Troopers? Are you a fan of the Samurai Troopers series?

I only found out about it during the audition process. Remember, I’m only 21 years old! But as I read the lines, I thought, “This is going to be an incredible anime.” It inspired me. And having been around for 38 years, I know the series is loved by and inspires many people around the world. And so, I put everything I had into the audition. I really wanted to be part of this series. I found out that I got the role of Gai two years ago, during the filming of a quiz video for social media as part of another project. They surprised me by telling me I got the role, by making it one of the answers I had to show. I was so happy.

But I was also very nervous because I was playing the main character. So I went back to the original series to see why it was so appealing and found that I really liked the music; it was that kind, I mentioned, that has an appeal you can’t find anymore. I loved the sound effects, like bombs going off, and especially how they’re done in a way they aren’t anymore; I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Can you explain to those who are unfamiliar with Samurai Troopers (Ronin Warriors) why you think they should watch the new Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers? 

First of all, those who have loved the series for many years will enjoy the new series, too. But there will also be those who haven’t, who will now get to start this whole new journey with Gai in the main role of the series. And of course, the battle scenes are incredible; they’re full of passion and just very intense. 

Most of all, though, it’s the Samurai Troopers. There’s great character development for each one as the series shows their origin stories. They’re incredible, and I think fans will really enjoy them. That growth and learning are the backbone of the anime, as well as their righteous souls. And then there’s the question about Gai. I hope people will really be looking out for Gai’s progression and growth through the series. 

The villains are also appealing. Although they are the enemies that the Samurai Troopers are meant to defeat, they’re kind of “good guys,” but I can’t really say that they’re completely good either. Their personalities are even more unique, maybe more than Gai and the other Samurai Troopers, which makes them really fascinating. The visuals are also stunning, as are the characters’ armor, which is, of course, part of the original title. There’s just so much to enjoy.

I can see how enthusiastic you are for the series! We’ll be watching when it premieres next month. Thank you for your time.

Thank you so much.

Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers premieres on January 6th.

Twwk
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