Aiden's Notebook

Yuto Uemura (Nakajima Atsushi)

I will redefine Atsushi as he was before and shower him with even more love.

———What were your thoughts and feelings after completing the third season? Uemura: It's already been three years since the series began. I was happy to be able to continue moving forward with Atsushi, without stopping the steps we had taken together over many years. Each season brought new encounters, and each time I became aware of new emotions in Atsushi, and based on that, I came up with my own answers to each one. In the third season, the past that is related to the root of that way of thinking was also revealed... ———That's the orphanage director's event from episode 31, right? Uemura: I always receive the script and try to understand Atsushi's emotions, but episode 31 was really difficult. At the end, Dazai-san says, "All I can say is generalities... People cry when their father dies," but Atsushi has never thought of the orphanage director as his father, and what has happened up to that point is something he can never forgive. The words the director said to Atsushi have been stuck in his head for a long time, and he has replayed them in his mind as motivation to overcome challenges, so it's not something that can be easily reversed now. But for some reason, Atsushi also felt a kind of warmth there... I think Atsushi himself didn't really understand how he was feeling at that moment. Before I started acting, Miyano (Mamoru)-san advised me to not think in terms of logic, but by imagining how Atsushi's feelings for the orphanage director, which were initially completely dark, gradually begin to unravel, and to express the frustration he feels as he questions himself, saying, "No, but..." I drew the character from that advice. ———The ending, with tears unexpectedly falling, was very memorable. Uemura: In the actual video, there's no sound; only the tears fall silently. However, during recording, we included the breath that accompanied the tears. Even though it's not audible, I feel it resulted in a deeply emotional and luxurious scene. ———The third season also featured Atsushi being caught between Kyouka and Lucy, which was one of its highlights. Uemura: Lucy's addition to Kyouka's already natural presence as a friend has made their relationship even more lively. Lucy has a feminine emotional maturity, so her presence really deepens the conversation. When they were talking about Kyouka's parents, she admonished the insensitive Atsushi, telling him to leave Kyouka alone for a while. That kind of thoughtfulness makes her seem like an older sister, and I think Atsushi is influenced by her in some ways. ———What are your impressions of Fyodor now that he has risen to prominence? Uemura: He's always been a mystery, always operating in the shadows, and we don't know where he is or if what he's saying is true (laughs). To be honest, I still don't understand what he's thinking at all, but as Karma said, "something darker and more hideous than evil," so it feels like he's not even evil anymore. If you delve deeper into that, even Atsushi and the others lose sight of what they're fighting for... I get the strong feeling that they're being manipulated by Fyodor.

———Even the two leaders of the organization, Fukuzawa Yukichi and Mori Ogai, faced a major crisis... Uemura: I had always forgotten because they both seem so aloof, but this incident reminded me that they, too, are individuals with supernatural abilities. Then, when Natsume sensei appeared, I thought, "Oh, so even these two have someone they can't stand up to!" (laughs). Feeling that sense of exhilaration, I also felt deeply moved because, as a young Oda Sakunosuke, I had a conversation with Natsume sensei during the Dark Era arc, so it was moving to see the era unfold in this way. ———Furthermore, a change can be seen in the relationship with Akutagawa this time around. Uemura: I spoke with Akutagawa for the first time this season in episode 36. Suddenly being put in the same space as him after the commercial break made Atsushi very nervous. So, when I tried to show my disgust to the fullest during the test, I was told, "Uemura-kun, you're overdoing it" (laughs). However, in this episode, when Atsushi blurted out some rather harsh words to Akutagawa, Akutagawa accepted them for the time being, and Atsushi, while thinking, "Huh?", faced the situation together with him, and I felt that this scene showed the growth of both of them. ———It seems that confronting Akutagawa holds a special significance for you, Uemura-san. Uemura: I don't do it consciously, but when I interact with Akutagawa as Atsushi, I unconsciously glare at him. It's like I blurt out my true feelings without sugarcoating anything, or like we're dragging out the deepest power hidden within each other. At their core, there's a kind of "self-loathing," so I thought it would be good to explore that further. They hate each other from the bottom of their hearts, but they acknowledge each other's abilities—it's a relationship that can never be broken, no matter what. ———Having played Atsushi up to this point, what are your thoughts now? Uemura: The production team is filled with love for the "Bungo Stray Dogs" series and a desire to make the anime even better, so my greatest joy was being able to return to that environment for the third season. However, I felt that Atsushi was in a difficult situation where he had to redefine himself, and this season made me think about Atsushi more than ever before. I was strongly motivated to create more enjoyable moments with Atsushi and to pour even more love into him.

Kensho Ono (Akutagawa Ryunosuke)

No matter how much we grow, we still have a long way to go and keep our eyes fixed on the future.

———What were your thoughts and feelings after completing the third season? Ono: To be honest, I didn't really feel like it was the third season; it felt more like we'd just suddenly reached this point. For me, Akutagawa is a very troublesome character, and I can't let my guard down for a single moment when I'm dealing with him. He's not the kind of character you can play with just a few superficial tricks, like "it's roughly like this"...well, I don't play any character that way, but I feel especially tense when I'm playing Akutagawa. No matter how much I think about it, there's always something new to discover. I feel like I've just been running at full speed, desperately trying to capture that essence of his character. ———The third season revolved around Fyodor, but what are your impressions of him? Ono: As someone who can hold his own against Dazai, Fyodor is definitely a character that's hard to read, and there's always an unfathomable, terrifying aura about him. It's the kind of formidable opponent that makes you think the story might end if you defeat Fyodor (laughs). We've reached a kind of conclusion this time, but we still don't know his ability, and he remains shrouded in mystery. And as we recorded, I really felt that Ishida (Akira)-san's voice deepened that mystery even more. That was in full force from the moment he made his impactful appearance at the end of the second season. ———What changes or growth do you feel Akutagawa has undergone as the seasons have progressed? Ono: The first season began with the premise that everyone who touched him was an enemy, and that those with great power were always right. But in the second season, I think Akutagawa was influenced, or rather shocked, by the relationship between Atsushi and Dazai-san, and by seeing Atsushi doing things that he himself couldn't do. However, it's hard to tell how aware he is of this. That's because Akutagawa is the kind of person who constantly pushes forward, carving his own path, so it seems he doesn't pay much attention to how much he's grown as a person. Even if he's grown a lot, he still only looks ahead, and thinks he still has a long way to go. I think a big part of it is that he's not satisfied with the current situation. ———I think the words "That's good for you" that he said to Kyoka are something that the old Akutagawa would never have said. Ono: That's right. So I thought about it a lot. I wonder what Akutagawa was feeling when he said that... There were so many possibilities, was it sarcasm, or something like jealousy towards Kyoka for following a similar path to Dazai-san, or a genuine feeling that it was for the best for Kyoka. Or perhaps it was just a jumble of all those different feelings mixed together that came out unintentionally. Before recording, I talked a lot with director Igarashi (Takuya) and sound director Wakabayashi (Kazuhiro). We all agreed that these were probably words that came out unconsciously, at a point when Akutagawa himself hadn't fully grasped his own emotions. But the fact that Akutagawa was able to speak to the other person at a moment like this made me feel that he had grown as a person. It was like he had finally learned to see the other person as a real human being.

The commonalities between Atsushi and Akutagawa, and the existence of Dazai

———Having played these characters up to this point, what kind of changes have you noticed in each of them? Uemura: When Atsushi, who was once lonely, joined the Armed Detective Agency, he began to interact with many different people. I tried to portray Atsushi's character as he gradually came to understand his place among his comrades, and I felt that his heart was greatly moved as a result. For example, in episode 8, when Atsushi was protecting the townspeople from Kajii Motojiro's bomb, I think the fact that he was able to control his supernatural ability for the first time was a result of a change in Atsushi's mindset, as he began to think that there might be something he could do too. I feel that I myself must grow so as not to be outdone by Atsushi's growth, and by linking our growth together, I hope to become closer to Atsushi. Ono: In the beginning, Akutagawa would repeatedly show up, cause trouble, and then leave, so my first impression was, "What's wrong with this guy?" However, each time he came into contact with Dazai, you could feel his emotions coming to the forefront. This culminated in a turning point in episodes 9 and 10. Rather than a change, I felt that Akutagawa was finally able to show a little of what he had been harboring inside. ———What were your thoughts on playing the character of Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Ono-san? Ono: Akutagawa Ryunosuke is a novelist everyone knows, so I felt a lot of pressure. "Rashomon" was in my textbook, and I've also performed "In a Grove" in a dramatic reading, so I'd often encountered the author's works. Therefore, playing a character with that name felt strange, or rather, I initially wondered how I should approach it. ———How do you two perceive the relationship between Atsushi and Akutagawa? Uemura: I thought they were similar in that they both possess powerful supernatural abilities and can display incredible power in battle, but they are also constantly battling their own feelings of inferiority. Yet, their ways of thinking are completely different. They seem to stand at opposite ends of the spectrum with Dazai at the center. As long as Dazai is around, I think their relationship will remain inseparable. Ono: That's right. They definitely have a lot in common, like the desire to be recognized by someone, and the underlying reasons are very similar. But the way they express those feelings and where they use their energy are completely opposite, so I think they're really at opposite extremes. From Akutagawa's perspective, Atsushi was nothing but a source of hatred. It's like jealousy, wondering why he's not the one standing next to Dazai. ———Dazai is a key character, isn't he. What kind of inspiration have you received from Miyano (Mamoru)-san's portrayal of Dazai? Uemura: Dazai's character has evolved from the original work, and in the anime he's portrayed with even more expressive and comical acting, with lots of ad-libs, but Miyano-san perfectly captures it every time, which is amazing. There was even a scene where he hummed a tune, and that was Miyano-san's original composition. On the other hand, I was also overwhelmed by the atmosphere he created when he suddenly became serious. His acting gives the impression that there's something more to it than what meets the eye. Ono: For me, Dazai is someone who constantly provokes Akutagawa, so to be honest, I get quite irritated every time (laughs). You could say that Akutagawa is a product of that frustration, so it's definitely a great source of inspiration when playing Akutagawa, but it takes a lot of energy to deal with him.

———What were your thoughts on the ED, which depicts the relationship between Atsushi, Dazai, and Akutagawa? Ono: Wow, it's beautiful but heartbreaking. I thought, poor Akutagawa. But I think this video will surely convey Akutagawa's sadness to everyone, and I hope that an "Akutagawa Support Squad" will be formed. On the other hand, Uemura-kun is lucky, isn't he? (laughs) Uemura: Personally, I heard that the scene where the book pages fly up was intended to represent the influence Atsushi has on those around him, and I really resonated with that point. It might seem like Atsushi is being led around by everyone, but that's not all there is to it. In fact, Atsushi's presence is unique within the Armed Detective Agency, and that's why he has such a big impact on the agency. Of course, Atsushi himself isn't aware of it, and he's just struggling and wavering as best he can, but there are people whose hearts are moved by Atsushi. ———On the other hand, the existence of a girl named Izumi Kyoka is also a key point when depicting Atsushi and Akutagawa. Uemura: I think Atsushi saw a reflection of his past self in Kyouka when he heard her true feelings. That's why, just as he was saved by Dazai and everyone at the Armed Detective Agency, he now wants to protect Kyouka, and I think Kyouka being at the Armed Detective Agency will be a huge source of strength for him. Ono: Perhaps it was the same for Akutagawa; he probably felt like he was teaching Kyoka, who was in a similar situation to himself, how to survive. No matter how cruel his methods were, it was normal for Akutagawa, and that was the only way he knew. I think Akutagawa was trying to show, in his own way, the meaning of Kyoka's existence in this world... And when I think about that, it makes me sad again. ———By the way, I heard that the two of you have worked together before. Uemura: When I was about 10 years old, we worked together on an NHK radio drama. It was a show called "Island of Light" (first aired in 2003), Ono-san and I played brothers, with Ono-san playing the older brother. Ono: Wait, really? Uemura: Kensho-san was already very successful. He was the kind of person you'd think of when you heard Himawari Theatre Group! (At the time, Ono was also a member of Himawari Theatre Group, just like Uemura), and he was a great senior to me. Ono: No, no, no. Uemura: Being able to work on the same project with that senior colleague again is something I'm truly happy about, and I'm approaching it with a sense of gratitude and a desire to learn from them. Ono: Somehow... before I knew it, I was in that position. On the contrary, I was consciously trying not to act like a senior, but after hearing what you just said, I feel like I need to put several times more effort into my voice recording than usual (laughs). ———To reiterate, what was it like working together this time? Ono: It's something I always feel on set, but he's really facing Atsushi head-on with a straightforward, all-out attitude. That feeling of comfort is directly reflected in Atsushi, and I think that's really great. Uemura: Thank you. Akutagawa is a character whose heart is filled with darkness, but Kensho-san's portrayal adds even more weight to each of those darknesses, which gives me chills. I never imagined Kensho-san playing a villain, so it was a refreshing experience. Ono: It's true that I haven't played many villain roles, so every time might be a challenge. I'm approaching it with the belief that I'll discover something new once I overcome this challenge.

Uemura Yuto・Keypoint #04The Armed Detective Agency, which is "by far more dangerous" than anyone else, pleasantly defied Atsushi's worries that he would cause trouble for those around him. This episode is a crucial turning point for Atsushi. I think it was here that Atsushi finally realized that's where he belongs.

Ono Kensho・Keypoint #09Dazai's words, "My new subordinate is far more capable than you," pierced Akutagawa's heart. This was probably the moment when his feelings for Atsushi, which had previously been merely that he was an eyesore, suddenly transformed into intense hatred. Incidentally, I personally like the scene where he tells Kyouka, "Let's go home!" I think I did a good job with it (laughs).