Published at the official website November 13. See the original article here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The Chapter 4 Yamatalk “Cast Edition” was held on Wednesday, November 12th at the Shinjuku Piccadilly theater. Attending were Megumi Han (voicing Sasha), Executive Director Harutoshi Fukui, Director Naomichi Yamato, and Screenwriter Hideki Oka. The event was moderated by Eriko Nakamura (voicing Mikage Kiryu). They delved deeply into Sasha, portrayed by Han.<\/p>\n With Han scheduled to appear at Yamatalk that day, the audience was dotted with people carrying Sasha merchandise. Seeing this, Han smiled and remarked, “Oh my, ladies and gentlemen in happi coats, fans, and even Sasha plushies. It’s such a wonderful sight.\u201c<\/p>\n Appearing in her grown-up form, Sasha, played by Han, begins her full-fledged role starting in Chapter 4. When asked about her current feelings, she replied, \u201dMore than my own feelings, my first thought is, \u2018Did everyone who came see the Sasha they wanted to see?\u2019 After all, when people think of Be Forever<\/em>, I believe most have been eagerly awaiting Sasha’s appearance. Among them, several people actually said \u2018Welcome back\u2019 to me. While this is my first time appearing in the series, I was deeply moved by the feelings conveyed by those who said that. Even though it’s my first time, I somehow feel like I’ve returned home,\u201d she said, looking deeply moved.<\/p>\n She further revealed her own encounter with Yamato<\/em>: \u201cI think it’s quite unusual, but I first encountered it when I was three years old.\u201d She recalled, \u201cI also encountered the Universal Century (Mobile Suit Gundam<\/em>) around that time. While I was home alone, I watched Be Forever<\/em> on a laser disc we had at home. I remember feeling sad watching the heartbreaking scenes between Kodai and Sasha, along with the view from my home.\u201d<\/p>\n Though Han inherited the role of Sasha from her mother, Keiko Han, Chief Director Fukui reportedly thought her casting was so obvious that he wondered, \u201cIf we’d offered it to someone else, wouldn’t people have asked \u2018Why?\u2019\u201d He recalled, “When we gathered with the sound director and others to discuss casting preferences, the sound director asked, \u2018Sasha should be Megumi-san, right?\u2019 Oh, right. It was so settled in my mind I forgot to write it down,\u201c he laughed.<\/p>\n Scriptwriter Oka also knew about Han’s casting early on. \u201dMr. Fukui hosts an annual fireworks viewing party at his home. One year, Ms. Han came with her mother. Since the offer was still top secret then, I remember breaking out in a cold sweat when I met her. Later, I had another chance to be on set with her for a different TV program. I remember thinking, \u2018Oh no, Han-san is here, this is bad.\u2019 But I couldn’t let it show on my face at all, and I couldn’t talk about it either. I spent the whole day with her like that,\u201c he recalled, drawing laughter from the audience. <\/p>\n Director Yamato also reflected on Han taking on the role of Sasha: \u201dI thought it must be a huge pressure for her, since many people have their own image of the character from the original work.”<\/p>\n When Han was preparing to play Sasha, she performed several variations of the same line during the first voice recording session, subtly changing the nuance each time, to explore the direction of her performance. Many questions submitted by fans via Twitter requested, \u201cWe want to hear you perform those variations!\u201d<\/p>\n Responding to the requests, she performed the final line from Chapter 3: \u201cYamato<\/em> is coming. Uncle.\u201d She performed both the pattern described as \u201ccloser to Mother” (Keiko Han) and the pattern actually used, demonstrating them for an audience listening intently.<\/p>\n In the story, Sasha calls Kodai \u201cUncle,\u201d but according to testimony from M.C. Eriko Nakamura, who plays Mikage Kiryu, Daisuke Ono, who plays Kodai, had a complex reaction. <\/p>\n \u201cThe first time we recorded together, there was a scene where Sasha kept saying \u2018Uncle,\u2019 and Mr. Ono was really down about it, like \u2018So I’m getting called Uncle…\u2019 But that feeling perfectly captured Kodai being completely at Sasha’s mercy in Chapter 4. It really made me appreciate how Kodai is Ono-san, and Ono-san is Kodai,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n[Translator’s note: the reason this is important in Japanese is that being called “Oji-san” indicates a passage from youth to adulthood in a way that can make a young person feel old. “Uncle” is a common translation in English only because no other word conveys it properly, including “old man.”] In response, Han stated, \u201cWhen the time comes to talk about it, there’s more I want to say. Things that make you think, \u2018He really is Sasha’s uncle\u2019. But that will have to wait. Please remember that until then.\u201d <\/p>\n Director Fukui also teased the audience, adding, \u201cIn the chapters ahead, there’s a line Sasha says that will leave a strong impression. I can’t say what it is now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/br><\/p>\n Finally, Han addressed Yamato<\/em> fans in attendance: \u201cThis marks the last event for Chapter 4. I’m truly delighted to meet so many of you here. What will become of Yamato<\/em>, of Kodai and the others, of Sasha…? I already know, of course,\u201d she said with a laugh. “I imagine many of you are already eager for what comes next just from seeing Chapter 4’s conclusion, but Chapter 5 really kicks off a torrent of developments. I truly believe it’s meaningful to be able to deliver Yamato<\/em> to you all in this way right now. Don’t you want to see a future where everything Yamato<\/em> has gone through so far feels meaningful? Please believe in that future and wait for it. I, too, believe we can watch over that future together. I look forward to your continued support.” <\/p>\n With that, a huge round of applause erupted from the venue.<\/p>\n Published at Mantan Web on November 12. See the original article here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Chapter 4 featured Sasha as a grown woman. Han stated, \u201cTo everyone who came to see us, did you get to meet the Sasha you wanted to see? Hearing you say \u2018Welcome home\u2019 made me feel like I’d returned to my hometown myself, even though it was my first time.\u201d This drew thunderous applause from the fans gathered in the theater.<\/p>\n Mr. Fukui revealed his reason for casting Ms. Han: \u201cIf I offered it to someone else, they’d ask, \u2018Why?\u2019 If she’d just debuted, I wouldn’t have needed a reason. She was simply the only choice. When we gathered with the sound director to discuss our desired cast, I almost forgot to mention her because it was already decided in my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms. Han shared his thoughts: “From the script I received and what Mr. Fukui told me, Sasha walks a different path than the one my mother portrayed. She possesses a different kind of strength and energy. I felt tracing my mother’s path wasn’t right either. Still, I wanted viewers to feel a sense of nostalgia.\u201c<\/p>\n Regarding the recording, Ms. Han reportedly proposed three performance patterns for Sasha: A, B, and C. On this day, she performed patterns A and C live. She explained, \u201dPattern A is closer to my mother. Pattern C, considering future developments, embodies hope toward Uncle (Kodai).”<\/p>\n According to Ms. Han, \u201cPattern A was identical to the Sasha my mother played. I thought it was the only choice! But Mr. Fukui chose C.\u201d <\/p>\n Mr. Fukui added, \u201cThe sound staff were leaning towards C,\u201d confirming the adoption of Pattern C. <\/p>\n Director Yamato praised Han’s performance, stating, \u201cSasha’s active movements in Chapter 4 might seem selfish, but I felt reassured.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, special footage from the currently in-production Chapter 5 was screened. The footage shown that day appeared to depict the start of an \u201call-out war,\u201d causing the fans to buzz with excitement after the screening ended. Chapter 5 features the \u201ccontinuous warp\u201d scene from the original work and reveals confrontations between Susumu Kodai and Alphon.<\/p>\n Regarding future developments, Han stated, \u201cI was deceived until the very end. I’m excited for everyone to see that kind of development,\u201d and appealed, \u201cFrom here on, it’s a torrent. I’d be happy if you’d believe in it and stick with us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/br><\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/dec25\/yamatalk1125b.JPG\")
\nL to R: Eriko Nakamura, Hideki Oka, Megumi Han, Naomichi Yamato, Harutoshi Fukui<\/em><\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/dec25\/yamatalk1125cx.JPG\")
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\nBackstage at the Shinjuku Piccadilly, photo posted on Twitter by the Yamato Production Committee<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nMegumi Han Inherits Sasha: \u201cIt Feels Like Coming Home\u201d – Harutoshi Fukui Reveals Reason for Casting<\/h2>\n
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\nPhotos posted on Twitter by Megumi Han<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n