Mynavi Interviews Hanae & Hosoya on Digimon Adventure tri.

Original image uploaded by Mynavi.

November 20th, 2015. In an interview done in advance of Digimon Adventure tri.'s Japanese premiere on the 21st, Japanese news outlet Mynavi conducted an interview with voice actors Hanae Natsuki (Yagami Taichi) and Hosoya Yoshimasa (Ishida Yamato). In the interview, Hanae discussed his shock at the original cast being replaced for Digimon Adventure tri., and the challenges he faced in becoming the voice for one of his childhood heroes. Hanae saw Taichi as being Fujita Toshiko, his original voice actress, and went into the audition believing he would never be chosen for the role of Taichi. For his own part, Hosoya had no knowledge of Digimon prior to being asked to audition for Adventure tri., but felt the need to portray a Yamato that Kazama Yuuto (the character's original Seiyuu) could never perform as. A complete translation of the interview was published on the 24th by fan translator Onkei-kun.

"When I attended the Digimon event and saw the bright, shining eyes of the fans who anticipated this series, I felt over again how much love these pure-hearted people have for this anime, and how I'm going to be voicing in such a cherished series."
—Hosoya Yoshimasa

Many fans both in Japan and abroad have remarked on similarities between Hosoya's and Kazama's voices when used for Yamato, with several theatergoers initially mistaking Hosoya for the original actor by the sound of his voice alone. The similarities in the film are reinforced by Yamato's character in the film, which of the cast displays the least amount of change since Adventure 02. In contrast to this, Hanae's Taichi has been immediately singled out for the differences both in portrayal and tone when compared with Fujita's presentation. Hanae is normally chosen to portray very youthful and boyish characters, and his more mature version of Taichi is somewhat surprising to the industry as a whole.

The second chapter of Digimon Adventure tri., Decision, will premiere in Japan on March 12th, 2016, and be simulcast overseas by Crunchyroll.

Agumon Pouch, A3 Poster, Stickers in 9/20 Issue of smart e-Mook

November 17th, 2015. Japanese distributor Elpaka Books announced over Twitter an upcoming special editorial of the e-mook series smart [sic], focusing on Digimon Adventure tri. Contrary to their name, e-mooks are not electronic but are instead "enhanced magazine-books," a recent form of Japanese publishing which come packaged with special gift items that drive up the price of the issue, enticing consumers to buy the mook for the item. This special editorial will contain a large Agumon pouch ("Original Big Pouch") from clothing brand BEAMS, an A3-size poster for Digimon Adventure tri., and a sheet of stickers featuring Ishida Yamato's new band "Knife of Day."

The issue will become available on November 20th, one day before the first tri. film's Japanese premiere. It will feature a special interview with the new voices of Yagami Taichi and Ishida Yamato, Hanae Natsuki and Hosoya Yoshimasa, and will retail for 2000 yen, approximately $20 in US money.

Earlier today the blog Digi-Egg mistakenly reported Elpaka's magazine-book cover as a poster for new charms, misconstruing the word 魅力 miryoku "fascination/charming" to mean a charm item. Elpaka Books is a subsidiary book distribution service of Lawson, a Japanese chain of convenience stores. Originally prominent for its e-book distribution, Elpaka shut down their e-book service in 2014 and has since focused on print.

Meet the Seiyuu: Hanae Natsuki

Ichimichi Mao, Hanae Natsuki, and Mimori Suzuko at tri.'s prescreening. Original image uploaded by @Digi_advntr15th

With less than ten days remaining until the Japanese premier of Digimon Adventure tri., it's an appropriate time to learn about the men and women behind the film. Hanae Natsuki is the new voice of Yagami Taichi ("Tai" in the English dub), selected along with seven other seiyuu to replace the aging human voice cast of Digimon Adventure. Born in 1991, Hanae grew up watching Adventure while in second grade, being seven years old when the series began its Japanese run in March '99, and eight when it ended in 2000.

Hanae was strongly influenced by Taichi's character as a child, and consequently his voice actress Fujita Toshiko. At the 2015 DigiFes event, Hanae admitted to having difficulties stepping into the role of Taichi because the character was such a big hero to him as a child. Sakamoto Chika, voice of Agumon, encouraged him by reminding him that as the new Taichi, Hanae is himself a "chosen child." (The Japanese equivalent to the dub's "DigiDestined.")

Hanae first began working as a seiyuu in 2011 and 2012, playing minor and supporting roles. His first leading role was as Haimura Kiri in 2013's The Severing Crime Edge. Outside of voice acting, Hanae is also a gamer and fan of League of Legends, having done voicework for the game in addition to playing it.