#claude va interview

Because you encountered the other students as enemies, right?

Toyonaga     Yes. I remember thinking “Curse you!!” when Bernadetta attacked from the ballista because I didn’t scout her. Laughs. Having to fight the characters that I wanted to come to my side was really painful as I cleared the map. And so, that was how I played the game. I remember thinking it was a particularly pure playthrough. I also remember thinking “There’s so, so many of these!” as I collected the fallen items from around the monastery. When I think of the lost items, I remember stuff like the fish. Laughs. Fishing was fun too, and so was growing things in the greenhouse… though I forgot about it a lot, so there were some plants that didn’t grow. As you can guess, I ended up harvesting what I planted before the time skip five years later, after returning to Garreg Mach.

Which difficulty level did you choose?

Toyonaga     On my first playthrough, I chose normal classic. I play with the thought process that has followed me throughout the series, that I can’t let anyone die, so I have never once chosen casual mode.

We’d like to ask you about what impressions you were left with when you played normal mode.

Toyonaga     I thought that even normal was hard too! I progressed through the game without utilizing the free maps much at all. I only leveled up by completing the main maps and paralogues, so the War Phase was tough. There were many times where Claude and Byleth did nearly all of the work. I also gave Lysithea Lorenz’s Thyrsus Staff, giving her four range, so there were also a lot of situations where her magic did a lot of work even from far away. There ended up being a huge gap between Leonie and Ignatz’s levels and everyone else’s, and felt sorry about that as I continued through the game.

Did you make Lorenz a physical or a magic unit?

Toyonaga     I made Lorenz a Dark Knight. He was closer to a dark mage cavalry unit. Also, I remember thinking it was kinda cool that Grappler Raphael could attack four times in a row as he punched his enemies with all his might. Marianne fulfilled the role of the healer, and Hilda swung around her axe with great force. However, my Hilda’s defense didn’t grow very much, so I kept it in my mind that she couldn’t go out on many risky missions as I played.

What scenes did you like, or what scenes left an impression on you?

Toyonaga     I liked the mystery of the scenes where Byleth and Sothis spoke in the place that resembled a throne room, that was a sort of spirit world. I also really liked Seteth and Flayn’s conversations.

They’re all characters that are all similar to each other in some way!

Toyonaga     They are. When their allies learned of Flayn and Seteth’s true identities and relationship, a lot happened, and their allies changed a bit… Aside from that, because Claude is an archer, I also really liked being able to hear his conversations with Shamir, as they are both archers. It felt like she was a big sister.

The developers said that this game’s storytelling, and the creation of how noble society functions, among other aspects, were developed with Genealogy of the Holy War in mind, so what sort of impression did that have on you, as someone who has many memories of that game?

Toyonaga     There were many times where I thought that might be the case, that Three Houses was based on Genealogy, but as we talk about it now, I sort of think that might be why it was so easy for me to become fond of Three Houses… They both feature a type of war that doesn't really feel rewarding at all… And questions like “Who’s really behind all of this?” and “Is fighting this fight really what’s right?”, that deepened Genealogy's story, were things I also felt really strongly during the War Phase of Three Houses.

We agree! And you can even play the villain’s side of the story.

Toyonaga     About that, I thought that Hubert and Dedue’s roles were so unfair! They are considered the closest confidants to Edelgard and Dimitri respectively, existing as their right-hand men. The Golden Deer don’t have anyone in that position… Lorenz would never be someone like that.

Both     Laugh.

Toyonaga     Lorenz finally comes to support Claude during the War Phase, but the way that Hubert and Dedue are so devoted because they are right-hand men is really moving, and as men, it’s so cool! Oh, I mean “man,” as in “manly man...”* I could talk on and on like this for five minutes about just one character. Laughs.

(above) Hubert and Dedue both serve their lord without any concern for their own well-being. Also, Mr. Toyonaga also told us that he didn’t choose a different class from the Golden Deer even for his second playthrough, so we showed him scenes like how manly (!?) Hilda acts when she faces Claude as an enemy.

It feels weird to hear your own voice

Did your impression of Claude change after recording?

Toyonaga     My original impression of Claude was that his core personality cannot be changed, but aside from that, he gives off the mood that he has the flexibility to accept the opinions of many types of people… That sort of image. That part didn’t change the entire time we were recording, so after recording, I don’t think my thoughts changed then, either. I just thought from time to time that he says some pretty snobby things. Laughs.

He does. Laughs.

Toyonaga     He talks like that to the professors, to his fellow students in his class… ‘He… He can say nasty things like that?!’ I thought. But I think it’s still a good part about him, or not bad, at least.

So your image for performing Claude’s role was consistent from beginning to end. Does that mean that you didn’t have to do many retakes?

Toyonaga     We hardly did any retakes. I corrected myself on my own when I mispronounced town names that were difficult to say, and things like that, but aside from those physically difficult to perform lines, I don’t feel that we did that many retakes.

So how did you feel as a player when you heard Claude’s voice?

Toyonaga     This much is obvious, but when I first heard my own performance in a Fire Emblem game, it felt weird. And on top of that, I don’t know why exactly, but I wanted Claude to get married and have a paired ending, and I chose Professor Byleth. So I ended up confessing to myself! Laughs.

Laughs.

Toyonaga     I enjoyed the game in a way that only I could. But it was really weird the entire time. Hm, how do I put it… I wanted to express myself in the world of Fire Emblem, and wanted to confirm that I did a great job of that, so I listened really carefully to my own performance as I played the game.

That’s the point you discussed before, that you wanted a portrayal that made the game feel like it really happened in history, right?

They’re three rivals, aren’t they.

Toyonaga      In their initial battles, I thought Claude seemed like the life of the party, and the most easy-going one. But as the latter part of the academy phase developed, and his true motives and intentions became clear, he didn’t seem like that much of an easy-going character… so I thought it was best to strike a balance between his aloofness and the feeling that you don’t know what he is thinking.

That is a very good balance… But then five years passes, and the situation changes.

Toyonaga      About the time skip. As I was reading the script, I thought, ‘It’s getting dark! This is Fire Emblem!’ Laughs. The first time the game pulled at my heartstrings was at the beginning of part two, when all of the classmates reunite in Chapter 13. As each turn passed and everyone appeared one-by-one… That scene was so difficult to perform. Because I’ve played previous games in the series, I was able to picture it just by reading the script.

Did you imagine them joining the battle from off-screen...!? Laughs.

Toyonaga       Yes, I did! Because of that, it was easy to imagine the scene and perform it. The only thing I worried about was how much Claude had changed in five years since the Academy Phase. In the end, I accepted that his impression had changed a lot in many ways, but to be honest, I also feel that he didn’t change. I don’t think that I changed much in the five years between my late teens and early twenties, either.

Many don’t.

Toyonaga      But, because of both Lady Rhea’s and his teacher’s difficult situations, when you think of the war that ravaged all of Fodlan for five years, he probably had to fight a lot of difficult battles.

He also had a responsibility to bear as a leader of the Leicester Alliance.

Toyonaga      Yes. I thought that I needed to define his identity more. During the Academy Phase, he was sneaking around to investigate the Church of Seiros and Garreg Mach, but I questioned if he should be hiding so much. I decided to give off the sense that he had changed himself to have a secret life for a duty of his, and then implied that he revealed himself a bit during the five year skip.

We think your performance was full of expertly executed adjustments. And for long-time fans, who have a clear image of what FE characters are like, you were able to define Claude as a character who fits that image.

Toyonaga      I agree. As someone who was granted an opportunity to be a voice actor for FE, the one thing I wanted to portray to those who like the series is the sense that the game isn’t a performance, but a realistic battlefield. FE is of course fiction, but at its core, I wanted the game to feel like the events really happened in history, and the characters were real people.

Creating a Realistic Sense of War and the Complexities of the Tension During the Five Year Gap

The Similarities and Differences Between Claude and Toyōdo

In what ways do you think you are similar to Claude, and in what ways do you think you are different?

Toyonaga      I think we’re very similar in that we can both connect to others without any sense of favoritism or discrimation, and in his “ideal” that he expresses after fighting against Dimitri and Edelgard for five years: “To broaden Fodlan’s views, which currently knows nothing of the other nations, so anyone can freely travel to between each land without descriminaition, and obtain the true meaning of freedom.” Compared to Dimitri and Edelgard’s senses of duty, Claude’s feelings were able to resonate the best with me. When I first read them, I thought, “I think so too!”

The line where he says that he wants to break the barrier between Fodlan and the other nations really seems so full of emotion, doesn’t it?

Toyonaga       The only difference is that he likes parties, and he always wants to throw a party for any little reason. I really like staying at home, so I was always thinking... ‘You don’t have to party that much…’ Laughs.

He does say he wants to party a lot.

Toyonaga      He does. I’m the type of person who wants to go home right away. So that’s where we’re different. Laughs.

(above) As Claude grew between the ages of 17 to 23, he earned the nickname “The Master Tactician.”** Mr. Toyonaga, who prefers strategy games over action games, likely resonated with Claude over this fact as well. 

*T/N: The Japanese used here is “Oudou,” which you can find my detailed definition and explanation of here.

Mini Q&A

What is your favorite class in the series?

Toyonaga     I use Knights when doing challenge runs, but it would be more accurate to say that I like the feeling after they class change to General and all the hard work pays off a bit. When I’m playing normally, I like magic users. Mages, Sages, and so on… The magic classes are thrilling to use, don’t you think? Their magic stat is high, so they can rout the enemy during the enemy’s phase, but because of that, their HP could be slowly chipped away at. They can easily be killed, and it makes you feel so tense. I think I like the feeling of the thought, ‘Please don’t defeat any more enemies!!’ I personally really like the feeling that they contribute a lot to the fight, but also that any little thing could make their situation take a turn for the worst!

Please tell us your impressions of the illustration made for the promotional card included with this issue.

Toyonaga     Where he’s inviting someone to the dance floor? And, of course he’s winking, just like always! Laughs. It’s so unfair when he winks! From the viewpoint as a member of the cast, I’m quickly filled with complex thoughts when I see him and the other characters in a situation where no one knows yet what’s going to happen next. But I wonder if this scene was chosen because it was the most memorable for everyone who played the game, and it is from the Academy Phase where all three of the class leaders are together.

And we’re all really curious about the fact that he’s taking someone by the hand, right?

Toyonaga     Yeah… Claude will even do this to male Professor Byleth, so I think that was a bit surprising to see! As the person who performed his role, when I think that this scene, where he takes the professor’s hand, might be what made him so popular with everyone, I feel very deeply that everyone is saying “Thank you for making it!!” Laughs.

Please tell us your impressions and thoughts about recording the FE Three Houses Extra Drama CD: An Officers’ Academy Sleuthing Story.※

Toyonaga     Having the three class leaders team up together is something that isn’t possible in the main game, or the Ashen Wolves DLC, so when it was decided that a drama CD would be produced, I was personally happy and glad they were able to do something together. As drama CDs are especially known for their fanservice, I felt that I would be the one amongst the three making things fun and lighthearted. As I performed Claude’s lines, I had the thought in my mind that he would especially carry the burden of relieving the tension between the trio.

Toshiyuki Toyonaga

Birthdate: April 28th, 1984

Height: 162 cm (5’4”)

Title: A jack-of-all-trades who can even do voicework!

Hobbies: using computers, video games, writing, spending time lost in thought

Likes: his house

Dislikes: coriander, sea urchins, oysters, spicy food, people who are too friendly

Favorite tea: darjeeling

Favorite flower: sunflowers, dandelions

Q: Which do you prefer: sweet foods or spicy foods?

A: Sweet foods (I can’t eat spicy foods.)

Q: Which do you prefer: meat, or fish?

A: Meat (I can’t stand the smell of fish.)

Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?

A: A cat person.

Bonus     Can we ask you about Earthbound as well?*

We know that this is a totally different series, but we’d like to ask you about Earthbound as well.

Toyonaga     Oh! Ah ha, okay.

It’s a very popular game with Nintendo Dream readers even now.

Toyonaga     Wow, really!? That’s amazing! But I had a feeling that was the case. This brings me back to my aunt again, but she played the first game. I was a bit older when Earthbound came out on the Super Famicom, but my aunt bought that game as well. As I watched her play it, I wanted to play it, too. So, since there were three save slots, I believe? She chose one for me to use, and let me play it.

That was so nice of her!

Toyonaga     I was stuck on the name entry screen for about two to three hours, choosing my favorite food, and then after that, my favorite thing! I remember thinking while entering them, ‘Why are they asking me something like this?’ and things like that. I loved collecting the melodies. Of course, I also thought that Shigesato Ito-sensei’s script was amazing as well, but I was really moved by the music. I thank the game so much for its superb music! Later on, I was also moved when the third game came out.

*T/N: In the English-speaking world, we better know Mother 1 as Earthbound Zero. The popularity of the Mother series has resurged in Japan, to the point that new merch has even been a frequent occurrence over the past several years! A two page spread about a merch line in 2021 was even included in this issue, so Mr. Toyonaga being asked about the series as a part of this interview makes perfect sense in context.

※Waku Koyasu: Refers to Mr. Takehito Koyasu, the voice actor who voiced Navarre in the first FE radio drama, alongside some other appearances; and is known for being a huge Fire Emblem fan. His passion for the series has led him to perform roles for every game since Awakening, and earned him the title “Waku Koyasu.”

Were you shown the game footage after recording?

Toyonaga      I was shown the animated event scenes as I recorded for them. Besides that, the action scenes were recorded similarly to conventional anime, so they were easy to voice. It was also easy to do things like ad lib.

How was the dialogue recorded?

Toyonaga      We usually recorded by ourselves, even for the dialogue, but for the scene in Claude’s support with Annette where she sings, I didn’t know what kind of song it was, so they let me hear it.

It would be difficult to know how to react otherwise!

Toyonaga      When I asked “Does the “creepity creep” song in Claude and Annette’s C Support Conversation have a melody?” I was told, “We have a recording of it, so we’re going to play it now!” and thought ‘Now I understand!’ as I recorded the conversation.

In that scene, you see a different side of Claude, so it’s really impressionable.

Toyonaga      In scenes where he is joking around a bit, like in his supports with Annette and Ingrid, I wanted to express that it wouldn’t be historically accurate for him to always be on guard. It left an impression on me whenever I tried to portray the feeling that he really is joking around when he jokes around, and his love for parties as what he’s like when he “switches himself off.”

(above) Claude’s support with Annette. Be sure to listen to Annette when she sings the “creepity creep” song!

Are there any other scenes that left an impression on you when recording?

Toyonaga      (Spoiler warning for the War Phase of Verdant Wind, the path followed if you choose the Golden Deer.) The scene after you save Lady Rhea. Claude usually doesn’t get very angry, and he wasn’t really meant to be very angry in this scene either, but… because he has such a broad outlook on the world, I wondered if this would be a moment when his anger would come out. Lady Rhea was still being vague about the truth that he’d wanted to know for so many years, so it seemed impossible that he would just let it be. Because of that, I performed him raising his voice towards her, regardless of how it was originally written.

That certainly is a scene that leaves an impression!

Toyonaga      It was the first time he raised his voice when he wasn’t on the battlefield, so it likely left an impression on everyone. Thankfully, everyone directing me gave me the okay to go ahead with the idea, so I felt really accomplished.

To hear that Claude raising his voice came from such a story makes the scene all the more enjoyable!

Toyonaga      Thank you! To all of the readers out there, please play the game after the five year time skip once more after reading this.

(above) Rhea, the Archbishop of the Church of Seiros, which controls all of Fodlan. This screenshot depicts Claude and the others getting closer to finding the true history of Fodlan so they can bring the continent closer to peace.

Spoiler warning!

Claude von Reigan’s True Character and New Reality

We were wondering if there were any documents that stated that Claude is actually a foreigner to Fodlan, or the Prince of Almyra, or anything like that.

Toyonaga      The documents weren’t that detailed; it felt more like I was reading from the script. I got a grasp of what kind of person he probably is from the flow of the story and conversations.

Did you know that Claude isn’t his real name?

Toyonaga      Yeah, about that! Is it okay that I didn’t know…? I have something to say to the staff that announced it. Laughs.

The DLC gave us the hint that it might not be his real name.

Toyonaga      It did, but because he didn’t reveal his past in the beginning of the game, even though he hinted that Claude isn’t his real name, I said, “I mean, I guess so,” and couldn’t accept it. I also thought, ‘You just have to trust what he says.’ But he’s wise and cunning, and if he’s using a fake name to help bring peace to the world, then I thought it must be for a good reason. I was just so surprised! I thought, ‘What?! Claude isn’t his real name?!’

Because you thought you were performing the role of Claude.

Toyonaga      Yes! I thought that I was performing the role of Claude von Reigan. Now I feel like I can’t trust anything about Claude anymore, even though I’m his voice! Laughs.

They didn’t have the opportunity to tell us in the game, but they revealed in an interview that his real name is Khalid.፠

Toyonaga      Huh!? Gasps while reading the script. What!? Laughs.

Both      Laugh.

(above and right) In the Cindered Shadows DLC, Claude hints at “Claude” actually being just a nickname. In FE Heroes, this form shown here presents Claude with the title “King of Almyra.”

Voice Actor of Claude in “Three Houses”

An Interview with Mr. Toshiyuki Toyonaga

About Three Houses & the 30th Anniversary

Pg. 14 ->

Introduction of a Deck w/ the Promo Card + New Booster Set Information

Hero Research Lab

Pg. 22 ->

Promo Card

“Secret Dance Prodigy

Claude (Fodlan)”

Enclosed in the back of the magazine ->

-> The formal event outfit that Claude can be changed into if you purchase the DLC

Claude (Fodlan)※, from “FE Three Houses,” the latest release in the FE series. This card is part of a set with the other class leaders, Edelgard and Dimitri, who were included in previous issues. Because this is the finale, Claude is wearing formal clothing, and the card is holographic!

(above) The scene from “FE Three Houses” that is portrayed on the card. It is from the Officer’s Academy ball.

※Claude (Fodlan): Because there is another character with the same name in “Genealogy of the Holy War,” Claude is called “Claude of Fodlan” in FE Cipher.  (T/N: This distinction does not apply in English, as Claud and Claude are spelled differently. Both are クロード in Japanese.)

Pg. 2 (pg. 13 in the magazine)

making

[rough sketch] The scene for this art is the ball, so I decided to use warm tones, and bring the entire piece together with an orange-gold color. I arranged the information that I wanted to convey (that Claude is drawing the hand to him) in such a way that it would not be covered by the card icons or frame.

[midway progress] I cleaned up the lines that I drew loosely on the rough draft. I also created different layers for the outline and the colors to make it easier to color when the time came.

[finished drawing] I adjusted Claude’s right hand to give it depth, then added another chandelier in the background. When I finished coloring the entire piece, I adjusted it to fit the color scheme I had first imagined. Finally, I added the glittering lights as a finishing touch.

comment

“There’s only one expression that Claude would have in an illustration on the dance floor at the ball!” I thought, and drew him winking. I thought it would be fun for it to seem like his dance was gradually pulling in the wallflowers, so I created that feeling. I left it up to imagination whose hand he is pulling (because everyone is wearing formal clothing that’s different from their casual outfits). I also studied all the art I had of him as closely as I possibly could to get his face just right. I wanted his personality to come out in the illustration, so I hope I got it right!

Senri Kita

Everyone looks back on the past 30 years together

Fire Emblem Live Broadcast Round Table Discussion

(left) During the broad cast, Mr. Toyonaga explained to us that when he was wondering how to act out the support conversations that can be viewed during both the Academy Phase and the War Phase, he was told, "Just imagine it's three years after the time skip!"

T/N: The word on the screenshot reads "generic."

You want to play Castor from Mystery of the Emblem!?

During the live broadcast, you said that you think the first FE game you really played on your own was Genealogy of the Holy War on the Super Famicom. Did your aunt also let you play Mystery of the Emblem?

Toyonaga     She did let me play Mystery of the Emblem. I just think that I played Genealogy first. The games belonged to her, so I’m pretty sure I played Genealogy first, then Mystery of the Emblem second. The first game I bought on my own was… The Binding Blade, I believe.

Did you use the characters that you said you wanted to voice, Ryan and Castor, in your playthroughs?

Toyonaga     I did level up Ryan. Castor, on the other hand… no comment. Laughs.

Laughs. Were there any characters that you used because they were in a similar position as Arden, and you felt bad for them?

Toyonaga     Castor and Matthis.፠ But I used them during different playthroughs.

You may have used them during different playthroughs, but it’s amazing that you even remember a detail like that!

Toyonaga     It is. As a person who has always needed money, Castor left a really strong impression. The inclusion of conversations like that one made the games really fun to play.

(above) Using a video we recorded for the live broadcast, Mr. Toyonaga did a live recording of both Ryan and Castor!

Talking more about Genealogy of the Holy War, one of the great definitive titles of the series

How many times have you played through Genealogy of the Holy War?

Toyonaga     Three times, I think? I know I played it normally the first time. I applaud the game for it’s pairing and child system, and how you can pair characters together to raise their affection and marry them, then pass skills on to their children. So during my second playthrough, I planned out who should marry who for the children to inherit certain skills, and kept putting the couples in forests next to each other. ...I mean, they fought together and talked to each other! Laughs. I remember my third playthrough was an Arden challenge run.

That’s the challenge you talked about during the live broadcast, right? As an armor knight, Arden moves slowly, and doesn’t get much use in the game, so you only had him progress through the maps…

Toyonaga     Yes. During the prologue, I had him guard Chalphy Castle, used Sigurd to lure in the enemies, then had Sigurd enter the castle while Arden defeated all of them. After Arvis appeared, he defeated the boss, and after that I captured the castle. That’s how that map progressed. In the next chapter, I didn’t recruit Ayra, and she killed Arden. No matter what I did, he couldn’t win against Ayra. Laughs. I felt totally stuck, so I gave up.

(above) “Chief Feh” (voiced by Takehito Koyasu) lead the live discussion, and sparked a nostalgic conversation about memories of previous games.

So it sounds like you did your best to utilize the marriage system on your second playthrough.

Toyonaga     That’s correct. I wasn’t aware of it during my first playthrough, and there were a lot of characters that didn't inherit anything.

Were there any skills or weapons that you were particular about being passed down?

Toyonaga     Ayra’s Astra and Chulainn’s Luna. I wanted to make a character who could attack five times in succession while also making the enemy’s defense zero. Aside from that, I couldn’t decide if I should pair Edain with Jamke or Midir, so I went with the most common choice. I also thought about things like how strong Noishe’s skills are, and what would happen if they were passed down to the second generation; as well as how to combine Pursuit and Adept. 

When you’ve played every game in the series until that point, you want to counterattack.

Toyonaga     Yeah. Yeah, that’s true. Laughs.

There are some children who don’t come from bloodlines with Pursuit, so…

Toyonaga     Huh? Oh yeah, yeah, that’s right! That’s why I remember it being hard to make any marriage decisions. If I can buy a strategy guide then I will, but I was the type not to look at it until I finished the game myself. I remember playing the entire game, then once I had a good understanding of it, I looked at how the strategy guide did things, and enjoyed thinking things like, “You could move the characters around like that?!” and “So I could have utilized that sort of combination, huh?” There were a lot of people like that in our generation, I think. Laughs. As the internet grew in popularity, and strategy guide-type websites started to appear, things that I used to mull over for several days and nights were now all written out in the open! I thought “Whoa!” when I saw them, and also thought that we really are in an age of convenience now. But the present is the present, and when I look back on that time I spent lost over what to do, I remember it was also a lot of fun. So even now, I often play games on my own and I don’t look at strategy sites very much.

You said that you're hoping for a Geneaology remake. What aspects of the game do you want modernized?

Toyonaga     First and foremost, I’d look forward to the graphics. Of course I would also enjoy the event scenes, but, just like in Three Houses, when you see the zoomed in map, I’d like to be able to see not only the character being focused on, but also all of the other soldiers. Although instead, I’d rather they not seem like they are all fighting together, but something more realistic. That’s the kind of experience I’d like to have while playing Genealogy.

Seeing various types of battalions make an appearance seems like it would fit in Genealogy.

Toyonaga     I want a class change system with full customization like Awakening has, too, where characters other than priests can class change into priests, and things like that. I think that kind of class change system with a lot of personalization is fun. Also, in Genealogy, I remember really enjoying the very spacious maps where you conquer castles within them one by one. So if the game is remade, I’d like the maps to unfold in a way where once you conquer the first castle, that castle becomes the base, then the map shifts and expands in order to make it to the next castle. …Something like that to make the map unfold seamlessly. Then, in a fashion similar to an open world game, you would make your preparations at that base castle, then attack from there. If I could plan my strategies like that, then I might play the game forever, I think!

That way of expanding the image of what you can see feels very fitting for a next generation Fire Emblem.

Toyonaga     I agree. It’s something I’m personally looking forward to. Laughs.

፠ Castor: A hunter from Talys who was hired by pirates in order to save up money for his mother’s medication. In his recruitment conversation, he becomes your ally when you give him money, earning him the nickname “Talys’ Swindler.”

፠ Matthis: Lena’s older brother. He is a member of the enemy army when he finds Lena on the battlefield, but will even attack Lena for some reason, earning him the nickname, “Lena’s Idiot Brother.”

The Voice of Claude from Fire Emblem Three Houses

An Interview with Mr. Toshiyuki Toyonaga

He loves the series so much that he wanted to express his feelings for it with us!

Starting with his appearance in the Fire Emblem Cipher live broadcast, Mr. Toyonaga has been telling us about his passion for the Fire Emblem series. We asked him many questions about both his experiences recording for Three Houses and his memories of previous titles.

Your Introduction to Fire Emblem

We enjoyed your appearance on the Fire Emblem Heroes official live broadcast, “Let’s Look Back on 30 Years of Fire Emblem Together! A Fire Emblem Round Table Discussion.” Toyonaga: Thank you, and I’m really sorry. It ended up feeling more like a casual chat between Mr. Koyasu and I about Fire Emblem at a cafe. (laughs)

(laughs) It was your aunt who introduced you to Fire Emblem, correct? Toyonaga: Yes. I had watched my aunt, who lived with us at the time, play Fire Emblem since the Famicom days, and that’s how I was introduced to Fire Emblem. In short, I played all kinds of games in my childhood because my aunt bought them and would let me play them.

Does your aunt like all types of video games? Toyonaga: Yes, she does. She’s always loved games, so when I was still just a child, I’d usually play the games she bought, we’d play competitive games together, and so on. We’d play simple games like “Doctor Mario” most often. Though I never won of course, because she was an adult!

What kind of memories do you have of Fire Emblem from your aunt? For example, how did she teach you to play it? Toyonaga: My aunt is also detail-oriented, so she always looked like she was thinking over everything very carefully.

Now let’s talk a little bit about the live broadcast as well. We want to ask you a number of things about it.

The appeal is the feeling that the player is experiencing history

For you, Mr. Toyonaga, what is it that you find appealing about the Fire Emblem series? Toyonaga: Let’s see. Well, first of all, I’m not very good at action or fighting games, so I have fun when I can use my head. When I first played simulation RPG games, I felt that they were like a very complicated version of shogi or chess. My skills come not from asserting control over the progress of a battle, but the need to carefully think over and calculate every single move, so I think simulation RPGs are a perfect match for my ideal game genre. That kind of experience, FE being a great example, is the foundation of Japanese simulation RPGs. Of course, there are many other games considered to be simulation RPG masterpieces, but I like Western history and fantasy. And the fascinating game that includes such a world is none other than Fire Emblem!

Claude von Riegan