#garyudo

Publication: July 1, 2025

Kimura Kaiki (Kumade Mashiro)

"When did your audition for Kumade Mashiro take place?"

Kimura: The results arrived around last Fall. The audition itself was even earlier than that, as I did it at the same time as the other members.

"Did you also find out at the same time who the five Gozyugers were going to be?"

Kimura: The only thing I could be told was that I had been chosen. That's why when information was first being officially released, I knew almost nothing, and learned about them at the same time as all the fans. When I found out I was like, "Ah, so these are the five people they decided on. This guy's Red, and that guy's Blue……," but since information on me was still being withheld, I couldn't tell anyone, so I was just secretly excited about it (laughs).

"So then, were you able to communicate with the other Gozyuger members from early on?"

Kimura: We were always together until the final audition, so we were kinda acquainted with each other, but I had virtually zero communication with them up until I entered the set. When I arrived at the set for costume fitting, it felt as if I was saying, "It's been awhile" when I introduced myself to them. I hadn't seen everyone since the final audition, so it had been about 3-4 months. From the time I was informed of my acceptance to the start of filming felt like a very long time, but the time I've spent since I first arrived has really flown by, and it's been very fulfilling.

"The atmosphere on set is also very good, isn't it?"

Kimura: It's natural for everyone to be together, as we get along well. After filming ends, we sometimes go out to eat a meal with those who have free time, and we'll talk all night not only about the production, but also about a variety of other things. Everyone naturally has moments where they trip up on set, but those who have the time to spare will follow up with them, so it's not just that we get along well, but there's also a feeling that we're all in this together. Our relationship is exactly like that of the Gozyugers. I think we're able to work well together, as we maintain a good distance and help each other out, and just like in the show, each and every one of us are aiming to become Number One as actors, so I hope we continue to learn from each other.

"What was your first impression of Kumade Mashiro?"

Kimura: First, I read the script, where I was pretty shocked by how intense his character was (laughs). When I thought that the viewers should be shocked in the same way I was when I read the script, I felt pressure and excitement that "I was going to be playing this kind of role." These two feelings struck me simultaneously. That's why I had been looking forward to my first day for such a long time.

"He demands money immediately and has an unusual personality, so we were alittle worried that children might not like him (laughs)."

Kimura: He's always full of himself and is a rather peculiar character (laughs). The same goes for the fact that he charges money as soon as something happens, but if you're looking at just those scenes alone, his character becomes easily misunderstood. In reality however, he had alot going on in his past, and he's got his reasons for charging money. These parts regarding the, "This is the kind of life he's led, and this is the kind of person he's become" will gradually be explored more. I'm still in the process of understanding him as I perform, so in that sense I'm just like the viewers. I hope to enjoy watching the show with everyone, and am curious to see their reactions. And then on the flip side, I'm reading the script while thinking about how to show off Kumade Mashiro's cute side. For example, there's a scene in episode 17 where he's very kind to a child, and in episode 19, he eats honey in a way where he looks incredibly satisfied. Just being able to get the message across that he loves honey is amusing, and I try to be conscious of acting in a way that contrasts his character when expressing aspects like that.

"His costume is also pretty distinct."

Kimura: I thought, "This is new" when I was flapping his flashy coat around (laughs). To be honest, coats like these tend to wrinkle quite easily, so I have to be very careful when wearing it on set.

"What do you particularly like about your character?"

Kimura: Well……I guess it'd be that I can't immediately grasp what he's thinking. Kumade Mashiro has a unique and considerate way of thinking that normal people can't understand, and I think that's deep. He's also incredibly big hearted and open minded, and that's something I'd like to emulate as an actor. And, it's also interesting seeing how he can instantly detect the emotions and situation concerning the person in front of him. There's a scene where he immediately notices that Hoeru's losing hope, and it's because he has this ability to sense other people's emotions that he notices things faster than anyone else, and acts with a different thought process than other people. I like that about him too.

"He's a mysterious character who can tell when Kuon's getting impatient, is able to read people, and seems to be able to see through everything."

Kimura: I'm playing the role while thinking that these are abilities unique to him, but if he could see everything at a glance, like it was some kind of special ability, I feel like that wouldn't be as interesting as it sounds. That's why, and ultimately this is just my own interpretation, but……I think he can somehow sense the "direction" of people's emotions. I can't really explain it in detail, but I think he gets alot of information just from the way someone looks and behaves, where it's like, "You're a hairdresser, aren't you?"……is what I think it feels like.

"He's positioned to shake things up within the story, including the future outcome of the battle for the rings."

Kimura: He won the previous ring battle, so that's where he's got an advantage. Mashiro uses his rings in different ways, and he's not afraid of doing things that'll make you wonder, "Is it really okay to be using them like that?," as it seems like he's following his own rule book. These differences between Mashiro and the other participants are part of his charm, so I hope fans will enjoy those aspects of him as well. In a good way, I want to betray your expectations of Mashiro, including his unexpected side, and I myself want to become excited over what Mashiro says and does. I'd like to enjoy the unpredictability that only Mashiro possesses together with everyone.

"Listening to what you've been saying, it feels like you're able to comprehend Mashiro very well, but have you faced any challenges while performing?"

Kimura: I have, that being that my personality is the complete opposite of Kumade Mashiro's (laughs). For example, Mashiro's a character who's usually very "bear like," so I can't help but become abit aggressive when I'm doing post recording. However, that alone didn't make him sound "godly," so I've been struggling to find the right balance. I initially struggled with finding the right balance between doing things gracefully and not being too godly.

"What was your first impression of GozyuPolar's design?"

Kimura: I couldn't figure out what color he'd be just from the name "GozyuPolar," so before I saw the design of the suit, the color was my first concern. When I looked at the design, I saw a white hero, which made alot of sense since he's Kumade Ma"shiro" and the coat he wears is also white. I was honestly overwhelmed by how cool he looked. After all, I'm the only person in the world who can transform into GozyuPolar. When I think about it like that, I feel really happy.

"What about GozyuPolar's Suit Actor Nakata Yuji-san?"

Kimura: He's simply the coolest (laughs). I was able to observe how Nakata-san performed on set, and he was truly amazing. I was observing while thinking about how I'd perform during post recording, but he really looks just like Kumade Mashiro. Basically, he fights using a boxing style, and when the moment is right, he unleashes his flashy moves……it's like that. I thought, "Nakata-san, you're so cool!" (laughs).

"What do you talk about on set?"

Kimura: Nakata-san told me, "Don't be hesitant about creating Mashiro's character, it's good if you go all out," but that's one of the things I'm really struggling with right now. I'd like to steadily build up my skills while receiving a variety of advice from Nakata-san on how to draw out more of Kumade Mashiro's personality.

"By the way, who came up with the transformation pose?"

Kimura: During filming of my first transformation, Action Director Fukuzawa-san was able to come up with the movements on the spot. Ultimately, the transformation is performed by pressing the button on the tip of Goodeburn's fist, so I was asked to think about the sequence of events from setting the ring to pressing the button. We worked together to finalize the plan, while also taking into consideration how to make it easy for children to imitate.

"Polar's so strong, that it seems like he could take down Tega Sword unarmed."

Kimura: There's a scene in episode 16 where Goodeburn's punch was stopped by GozyuPolar, which was also amazing. Polar's activities in that episode were really exciting, and it was so cool and moving to watch. While Mashiro's a character who says some complicated things, it'd make me happy if the first thing children honestly felt about him were, "So cool! So strong!"

"Have you met KENN-san, BearKuma50 and Goodeburn's Voice Actor?"

Kimura: One time, I had the opportunity to do my recording session before KENN-san did his, so it was the perfect time to greet him. I was able to observe KENN-san's recording and introduce myself to him afterwards, but I was grateful for the advice he gave me on doing the recording. In reality, it's like the positions Kumade and BearKuma hold are reversed (laughs). He's my senior after all, what's more, he's playing a double role with BearKuma and Goodeburn, so he's an incredible person.

"Since Mashiro works alone, BearKuma and Goodeburn are also valuable friends."

Kimura: They're his only friends and partners, aren't they? The relationship between BearKuma and Mashiro is gradually becoming clearer, and I'm eager for many more interesting interactions between the two of them in the future.

"What else do you hope for Kumade Mashiro's character at this point?"

Kimura: I hope that he'll carry out his ultimate goal of collecting all the rings and dying them in his own colors, and becoming a god that'll surpass Tega Sword. I personally believe that it's malicious to think otherwise. Still, what'll happen in the future, including the final showdown with the other Gozyugers, is really uncertain. If you start thinking about what "being Number One even means," then there's no end to it. That's why I have the same perspective as the viewers, and am really looking forward to it.

"What's your impression of Gozyuger's production as a whole?"

Kimura: I like that all of the Gozyugers have their reason for transforming and fighting. They're all aiming to become Number One, but have different courses of action, and I really like the fact that they all have pride in being outcasts. They also pilot Tega Sword one at a time. While normally everyone just does what they want in order to collect the rings for themselves, when No One's shows up, they try to save people, which I think is good. There are moments like that where they turn to face the same direction, and only in those moments do the five of them become Gozyuger. They're all acting for their own personal motives, and yet they join forces as the Gozyugers when necessary, so I like their spirit. Furthermore, I'm truly grateful to have joined such a messed up group of warriors as the strongest additional member. I'll do my best to become the most supreme being!

"Finally, please tell us some future highlights."

Kimura: Kumade Mashiro was the former contract holder of Wolf's ring, and who at one time experienced victory in the battle for the rings. I'm sure that he must've had some Gozyuger companions at that time, and in that sense, he's already experienced what Hoeru and his friends will experience in the future. This is why there's a gap between his way of thinking and Hoeru and the others, and there's dialog that only Mashiro can say. If you rewatch later on, you may discover deeper meanings hidden within his lines. I'm playing Mashiro with the belief that each and every line holds meaning, so I think you'll enjoy him even more if you take his various words and actions into consideration, and think about Kumade Mashiro's character together with me!

Karuma (Kuon)

"First, we'd like to hear how you got involved, but did you attend an audition?"

Karuma: I received a direct offer. I think it was late last Summer, when auditions for the five main actors had yet to begin. Along with the role I was set to play, his name hadn't been decided on yet.

"It was still quite early in development, huh?"

Karuma: That's right. They didn't have a name for my character yet, neither did they have the "older brother of the main character" setup, so all I had was "something like this" for my character's position and the title being "Gozyuger." From there, information was gradually added and updated.

"We think it's unusual to receive an offer so quickly for a character who's not on the leading actor's side, but we're sure they were enthusiastic about asking Karuma-san to play the role."

Karuma: I'd be happy if that's how it went. It seems that they watched a drama I was in, which was the catalyst to request me. When I was first approached, the only material they had was a 3D design of Garyudo. When my agency called me and told me that "this kind of job had come in," that was the only design they showed me, but after discussing various things with Producer Matsuura and the staff at a later date, it was decided that I'd be appearing.

"What was your first impression of Garyudo's design?"

Karuma: The moment I saw it I thought, "Huh? It's not Super Sentai, but Kamen Rider?" (laughs). I had only heard a summary of it over the phone, so I thought maybe I had misheard.

"That's true, when it comes to Sentai heroes, you'd likely imagine simpler designs."

Karuma: Yes. Or in the case of villains, I imagined he'd be more monstrous. However, when I saw it, it was so stylish and cool that I thought, "Which is it?" I didn't even really know what kind of position my character held, and initially it was unclear if he was an enemy or an ally. After that, I was shown materials alittle at a time, and while I was in the process of confirming some points that were still unclear to me, I had heard that auditions had started. By that time, I had received the news that I was "Hoeru's older brother," so I was really looking forward to seeing who'd be playing the role of my younger brother.

"By the way, do you have a favorite tokusatsu hero from when you were a child?"

Karuma: I started watching right around the time the Heisei Kamen Rider series began. For Rider, it'd be "Kuuga," "Agito," and "Ryuki," and for Super Sentai, "Gaoranger," "Hurricaneger" and "Abaranger" were without a doubt my favorites, and I also had a variety of the toys. I've always liked rival, warrior like characters since those days. I admire characters who are in the position of being the secondary Rider or dark heroes. Like Gills from Agito and AbareKiller from Abaranger.

"In that sense, this role was a perfect offer."

Karuma: I never thought that I'd be asked to be apart of the Super Sentai series, so I was happy, but it gave me a strange feeling at first. I also wondered, "Is it okay that it's me?"

"We think you must've had some anxiety at the time you entered filming."

Karuma: Even though I was the first one to be cast, I only joined in on filming somewhat into the show, so I was very nervous. Also, this is my first time participating in a tokusatsu program, a genre with such a long history, so I felt pressured. It's also the Super Sentai production commemorating the 50th anniversary.

"How did you feel when you actually saw Garyudo after the transformation?"

Karuma: First off, the transformation scene is incredibly cool. The way battles were depicted at the time of his first appearance were also the strongest, and it made me think, "Is it alright for him to be this strong at this point?" We still have a long way to go, so I worried that everyone would get used to that strength (laughs). And then, it's interesting that he uses previous Reds by turning them into his weapons during battle. I thought it was a new idea to not only summon past warriors, but to then use them as weapons.

"The impact of your first appearance was intense. We could see that your character had already been refined."

Karuma: Thank you. The fact that I received a direct offer rather than an audition suggests that they thought I had some kind of appeal that only I could give, so if that were the case, I thought I should clearly show off that appeal from the start so that everyone could see it. As an actor, I was called to play a stimulating character who, in a way, would stir up trouble for those around him, so I didn't hold back……and from the very beginning, I wanted to do something that would make the children who watched me cry. That's why even after I was cast as Kuon in this, I challenged myself to not watch any other Sentai production. I wanted to create a character that had never been seen before, and I wanted him to be scary even for adults. Also, when I read the script, I felt that including the Buraidans, there were "alot of beloved characters." Considering that this is a production that'll continue for a whole year, it's definitely good to have some characters that'll attract hatred. That's why I thought that Kuon should be in a position where he's not simply scary, but very clearly the enemy.

"He's been an incredibly unpleasant guy since the very beginning, and for a variety of reasons, we wondered if you'd be okay (laughs)."

Karuma: It's alright. As long as I'm the one bearing the hate, It's completely fine (laughs).

"We were also curious to see how children would react."

Karuma: To be honest, I too had some hesitation in that regard. I of course don't want children to dislike me, and even the vibes on set were initially like, "Is this really appropriate for a children's program……?" (laughs). However, if Kuon wasn't scary, I think Gozyuger's story probably wouldn't be as exciting as it is now. There's plenty of other appealing characters, but I thought that Kuon should always have that sort of position within the story, and I hope that in comparison to Kuon, the other characters will come off as more appealing. I also think that if I continue to play a consistently evil role, the amount of people who'll end up liking Kuon will gradually increase. That's why especially in the very beginning, I calculated that "even an overly big impact would be just fine." By the way, I'm grateful to hear that Kuon's acrylic stand apparently sold out first (laughs).

"What's also impressive is that despite the other characters being highly energetic, there are many scenes in which you perform while staying calm."

Karuma: When I was first approached about the role, I asked the Producer, "Can I seriously act in a way that'll scare people?" Although my performance of Kuon is based on staying focused, I wanted to tone down my usual energy levels in order to convey how scary he is when I have to get into it. It feels like there's definitely something going on behind the scenes, but you can never tell what he's normally thinking about, so I thought that if I go all out with excitement during crucial moments, it would come off as lively but also terrifying. In that sense, everyone around me is basically putting on a strong performance, so I always try not to be influenced by them. Especially for Fire Candle's Sanbongi-san, he always has a smile on his face that radiates like the sun (laughs), so I have a hard time trying not to get pulled along in the scenes we share together. I was aware that Kuon was going to go on a rampage in episode 15, so up until then, I was playing the role while thinking about building up frustration inside me and then exploding.

"As the broadcast continues, the story has begun to take off in a big way, but has your impression of the production changed in any way?"

Karuma: In a good way, I think the very beginning was chaotic. Still, I feel that Kuon's appearance set the direction of the story and shaped the production, and I believed that it was my mission. The main characters are now all on the same page, and as of late, I think the excitement of "what's going to happen from now on?" has been steadily increasing.

"When Kuon appeared, there was a feeling that the weight of the show shifted dramatically from comical to serious. In a sense, Kuon is at the center of this work."

Karuma: At the moment, he's on Buraidan side because the Queen has absolute trust in him, but I feel that he's in a complicated position, where he's not strictly on the Buraidan or Gozyuger side. I believe that this unrest will give rise to a serious situation.

"Do you have many scenes with the Buraidan team during filming?"

Karuma: There's about a fifty fifty chance of my scenes involving me talking with either the Buraidans or Gozyugers, but right now, filming itself has been slow, so I have the feeling of, "I guess the next time I'll see everyone will be in a month or two." There's no characters who act like my partner or that's always with me in the main story, so there isn't anyone in particular that I often work with……

"Are you stuck in this complex position on the set……?"

Karuma: No, no, it's not like that at all (laughs). I'm not shy at all, and am always talking on set. Every time I go I'm like, "It's been awhile!," where it almost feels like Summer vacation just ended and it's my first day of the second semester. There've been a few times where if everyone's available after filming finishes, we'll all go out for a meal together. I still haven't had that many opportunities since the timing of my return doesn't often match up with everyone else's schedules. Still, I enjoy every visit to Toei's film studio since I often get to meet people who've helped me out in the past and people I've worked together with at other jobs.

"As for Kuon's story, his relationship with his younger brother Hoeru will be an important point in the future developments."

Karuma: That's right. There are still things from his past that haven't been revealed, such as what happened in the No One World, and there are things that I myself haven't been told yet, so I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next. I feel that Kuon's very existence is a major foreshadowing for Gozyuger's entire story. Personally, I play the role with the thought that, "Kuon has his own sense of justice." Even if it doesn't appear that way at first glance, he's doing the right thing in his own way, it's just that his perspective and position are different from the other characters. Still, I don't know if that sense of justice will be shared by the Gozyugers, which is why I don't have even a single millimeter of hope that a development will occur where he'll become friends with the Gozyugers, and I'm fine with him remaining an enemy until the very end. I don't know what'll happen in the future, but I think the only thing I can do now is to believe in Kuon.

"That type of acting may be one of the fun aspects of a drama that lasts for a year."

Karuma: That's right. Besides, since he's not a regular character who appears every week, I think it's important to "not get used to Kuon." Instead of becoming a predictable character, I think it'd be more enjoyable if he appears every once in awhile so that people will think, "Uwah, he's here!"

"By the way, do you have any plans to try out some untransformed action scenes in the future?"

Karuma: I haven't done that much in this production yet, but I've always loved action. Right now Kuon doesn't seem to be moving around that much, partly because Garyudo's way too strong, but personally, I've been working on a series of action filled productions since last year, so I'd love to try my hand at it if the opportunity arises.

"And now finally, please give a message to our readers."