{"id":44535,"date":"2025-07-04T16:32:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T23:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=44535"},"modified":"2026-07-17T14:40:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T21:40:44","slug":"animatetimes62926","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/animatetimes62926\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Tasuku Hatanaka & Tomo Muranaka"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Which scene made Hatanaka feel, “Our Captain Kodai has finally returned”?<\/h2>\n

Interview & Photography by Shinzo Inoue<\/em><\/p>\n

Published at Animate Times, June 29, 2026. See the original post here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Animate Times interviewed Tasuku Hatanaka (voice of Ryusuke Domon) and Tomo Muranaka (voice of Miyako Kyozuka). Since Domon and Miyako are forced to make major decisions in this sixth chapter, we focused our conversation on that aspect. We hope you enjoy reading this before or after watching the film.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\nYamato<\/em> in Shinjuku prove that this story is directly connected to the modern day!?<\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Chapter 6 is finally hitting theaters. We can start to see the climax on the horizon. How are you feeling about it all right now?<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> Watching the final scene of Chapter 5, I found myself wondering how they were going to wrap up this story. Because of that, I can’t predict what’s coming next, and I think that unpredictability is exactly what makes the future of the series so interesting. <\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> Even while recording, it was clear that Chapter 6 was packed with elements signaling the approaching climax. I\u2019m just as curious as anyone to see how things will ultimately be resolved. Actually, I recorded the episode featuring Miyako\u2019s final appearance over a year ago, so it truly feels like I\u2019ve shared a long voyage with the entire staff and cast.<\/p>\n

Chapter 6 depicts battles on Earth and in space, of course, but it also features many events set in modern-day Japan and aboard the Yamato<\/em> itself. I can only imagine how challenging it must be to craft a story that spans such diverse settings, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in the production. I eagerly await the conclusion, thinking of the people who are working hard today to keep Yamato<\/em> moving forward.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> What were your impressions when Yamato<\/em> appeared in Shinjuku?<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> It was a staggering visual. After all, this is the modern-day Shinjuku where we actually live. Yamato<\/em> appearing there inevitably triggers all sorts of issues. For the people of modern Japan, it\u2019s an “encounter with the unknown.” You start wondering how interaction would play out, and so on. I imagined various scenarios, and I figured the fans were likely speculating about it, too.<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> The original Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> was a story about journeying into space in search of hope to save an Earth on the brink of extinction. So I had a strong impression of it being a tale set in some distant part of the cosmos. But with Yamato<\/em> appearing in the skies over modern Shinjuku this time, I felt like the story was directly connected to our own era.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Did you first learn about that development in the script for Chapter 5? Or was there an explanation beforehand?<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> I don’t think there was. Besides, Domon didn’t have any lines in that scene, so unless you carefully read the stage directions, you wouldn’t know what was happening. It makes sense when you compare the script with the visuals, but reading the script alone just left me thinking, “What just happened!?”<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> Miyako\u2019s lines ended before the final scene, so I was reading along wondering what would happen next, and then Yamato<\/em> suddenly appeared over Shinjuku. It was a huge shock. The only explanation I received regarding Chapter 6 was a single point: “Something major is going to happen to Miyako.” It was really vague, so I didn’t find out the specifics of how it was major until later.<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> For Domon, everything is about what happens right in front of him, so I didn’t get any of those explanations. I think characters like Sasha got proper briefings, though. I once saw Megumi Han being taken somewhere by Mr. Fukui. (Laughs)<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> Kosuke Toriumi (voice of Seiya Kitano) was also summoned individually, so there was an atmosphere of, “He must know something…”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> What was your impression of Chapter 6 as a whole? <\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> This particular chapter sees not just the Yamato<\/em> crew but various other people constantly drifting apart and coming back together. Whenever they were separated, I found myself wondering, “What\u2019s going to happen to them!?” That\u2019s why, with Chapter 6, I was absolutely dying to read the next script.<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> Mr. Fukui had told me beforehand that “Miyako is going to face a really tough situation,” so at first, I assumed that meant she might die or finally end up piloting a fighter jet. I expected that sort of trajectory. But the story unfolded differently than I\u2019d imagined. Rather than Miyako herself facing the crisis, it felt more like the people around her were in turmoil and she got caught in the crossfire.<\/p>\n

Up until now, Miyako hadn’t really voiced her true feelings, nor did she participate much in strategy meetings. She didn’t have the kind of relationship with Domon-kun where she could simply tell him, “That\u2019s wrong”, the way Yuki-san (Yuki Mori) might speak to Captain Kodai (Susumu Kodai). She could speak up to a certain point, but beyond that, Domon-kun would act on his own impulses, so there was a certain poignancy to her position.<\/p>\n

Back in Space Battleship Yamato 2205<\/em>, Miyako acted as a sort of “bond” or bridge among her fellow 38th-class cadets at the Space Defense Academy, connecting the people around her. I always saw her as the kind of girl who was constantly thinking about Takeshi Ageha, Heiji Bando, Caroline Raiden, and the others. But this time, while she does express her feelings, she ultimately takes the stance that if Domon-kun is going to rush ahead regardless, there\u2019s nothing she can do about it.<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> From my perspective, it didn’t feel like a case of “nothing to be done.” I think Miyako was genuinely angry. (Laughs)<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> True, she was definitely pretty angry. (Laughs) That\u2019s how I view it when considering the relationship between Miyako and Domon, but speaking personally, what left the biggest impression on me was seeing the characters make their own choices. The Yamato<\/em> crew arrived at where they are now through a series of choices, and the same is true for the people of Earth and Garmillas alike. Seeing how each of them makes their own choices, and how those choices stack up, wondering where it will all ultimately lead. It was a chapter packed with elements I personally love, so I found it incredibly satisfying.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> The 38th Class of the Space Defense Academy represents the generation following Kodai and his crew. How do the two of you view their growth up to this point?<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> I\u2019m amazed at how much Domon has opened up. At first, he had his reasons for keeping people at arm’s length. Just as he was starting to warm up to everyone, he clashed fiercely with Takeshi Ageha. They even got into a real fistfight. Yet, amidst all that, I feel like the 38th Class has finally come together as a cohesive unit. That very unity, however, ends up working against them in some ways this time around.<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> While it\u2019s been revealed that the other classmates lost loved ones in the past, Miyako\u2019s backstory hasn’t been depicted, so it\u2019s hard to say for sure where she stands. There\u2019s a scene where Shima-san and Domon-kun butt heads, and it made me wonder, “Which side is Miyako on?” After all, even though she isn’t on the front lines like the others, she\u2019s involved with life-and-death situations as part of the crew’s medical division. I played her with the mindset that she understands the feelings of both those who have passed away and those left behind.<\/p>\n

Also, when the situation arose where the Garmillans were being forced off of Earth, seeing Sakamoto and Raiden try to encourage the Garmillans, or harbor doubts about the whole situation, made me realize just how reliable their classmates are.<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> Sakamoto and Raiden were incredibly dependable in the combat scenes of Chapter 5, too. The 38th Class is strong as a team, so I hope everyone pays attention to the waves they\u2019ll make in Chapter 6.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A line from Captain Kodai that really resonated with Hatanaka-san<\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Regarding Kodai, he gives the impression of trying to fulfill the role of watching over Domon and the others. Could you share your impressions of Kodai, now that you\u2019ve experienced this story? <\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> It feels like our Captain Kodai has finally returned. There\u2019s a scene where he tells Domon, “I\u2019m coming too,” and that moment really moved me during the recording session. I think I was touched not just as Domon, but as myself, too. I almost teared up a bit.<\/p>\n

It was as if he stood firm and embraced everything with his whole being. He understood the feelings of our generation and essentially said, “I\u2019ll take responsibility, so you guys see this through to the end.” It felt like the return of the figure I had admired so deeply in Yamato 2205<\/em>. I loved it so much I almost wanted to say, “Welcome back.” It made me want to be that kind of adult myself.<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> A moment that left a strong impression on me was in Chapter 1, where he was practicing his proposal to Yuki. Everyone on the ship could hear him, and I thought it was charming how he had that side to him, hesitating at the crucial moment when dealing with a woman. Of course, I know his cool side too, but for me, my first impression was of that cute side, practicing a proposal with the mic live.<\/p>\n

Regarding the “I\u2019m coming too” line Hatanaka-san mentioned, personally, my reaction was a bit more like, “Wait, no, please don’t…”<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> I suppose that\u2019s how it looks from Miyako\u2019s perspective…<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> On the other hand, Captain Kodai is someone who has grown through repeated failures and regrets, isn’t he? I also sensed an element of succession there, seeing him shift into the role of someone who allows others to make those mistakes.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Were there moments where you were conscious of, or particularly felt, the performance of Daisuke Ono, who plays Captain Kodai?<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> Especially since REBEL 3199<\/em> began, I\u2019ve had many opportunities to record alongside Ono-san. I\u2019ve really looked up to him, watching his back, so to speak, in various situations, such as the specific intonation he uses for the “Fire!” command when shooting the Wave-Motion Gun. There are times when I feel I\u2019m truly inheriting that. I\u2019ve been amazed at how much my own emotions are stirred just by executing exactly what Ono-san taught me. We usually record separately, but for this project, there were scenes where we intentionally recorded together to capture a sense of immediacy. The scene in Chapter 6 in particular where Domon and Captain Kodai get into an argument. It felt incredibly real. During the session, we barely looked at the visuals. Instead, we faced each other and played off one another directly, it was a lot of fun.<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> I was there for that session, too. I held my breath so as not to get in the way, keeping my eyes down to avoid disrupting the atmosphere between the two of them as I listened. Since Miyako had lines immediately following that exchange, I knew I had to listen closely and fully absorb the intensity of their clash.<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> That\u2019s right, we went straight from that into recording the confrontation between Domon and Miyako. Watching the finished episode now, the intensity is so high it almost feels wild, but she met that energy perfectly in her performance, which was a huge help.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> I imagine your impressions of the Dezarium forces, and how you interact with them, have shifted significantly. What are your thoughts on the Dezarian characters this time around?<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> I can actually empathize with their desire to redo the past. There were moments when I thought that, considering Earth’s future, choosing their path might actually be the better option. It really comes down to an ultimate choice between two paths.<\/p>\n

No matter how much you value the connections you\u2019ve made or the things right in front of you, once you step onto that past version of Earth, feeling the wind and the swaying trees, you realize just how pleasant it is. Yet, that is something lost, something Domon and the others can never experience. We witness a truly living Earth, not one restored by the Cosmo Reverse.<\/p>\n

When Domon and the others who live in the future sense that, they naturally want to protect it. They come to see it as something precious. I can understand their desire to erase a tragic event, one that lies in the past for them but in the future for people of 2026. However, doing so carries the risk that people who were meant to be born never will be, or that people destined to meet will never cross paths.<\/p>\n

At first, I couldn’t view the situation objectively either; I was tempted to think, “If it never happened, then that’s a good thing.” But I realized that wasn’t the case. I had started to see things from Domon’s perspective, but getting snapped out of it, literally getting slapped, helped me reach that realization.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> It really makes you think about the people you might never have met if Garmillas hadn’t invaded Earth.<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> It makes us realize that we are alive because of those events, no matter how tragic they were. That history isn’t going away, and perhaps it shouldn’t. It forced me to grapple with those kinds of complex questions.<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> Setting aside the question of right or wrong, I\u2019m sure there are quite a few people who would think the same way Domon does.<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> I think so, too. After all, everyone has moments where they wish they could rewind time and undo something, thinking, “I shouldn’t have said that and hurt someone,” or “I shouldn’t have made that mistake.” We all repeat those kinds of things. But the “now” we live in includes all of that.<\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> I might not hesitate if I were the only one making the sacrifice, but knowing there are people who are happy right now…if it meant dragging a vast number of others into it, I don’t think I could act on that impulse without hesitation. There are people we only met because of the crisis, the threat of Earth’s annihilation, and Sanada-san\u2019s point about there being “too many uncertain variables” really resonated with me. When Kodai-san, Shima-san, Sanada-san, and Yamanami-san were admonishing Domon, I found myself watching from the perspective of those trying to stop him, thinking, “Count me in, too!”<\/p>\n

As for Alphon and Isidore, they are people who have lived their entire lives with that kind of mindset, aren’t they? It\u2019s incredibly difficult to overturn one\u2019s mindset, even for an ordinary person, yet they chose to trust that sense of unease, change their thinking, and move forward together. That choice is something I found truly remarkable in Chapter 6.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> I couldn’t take my eyes off Alphon as he wavered while interacting with Yuki Mori.<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> Alphon really seems to be suffering…<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> I love Alphon. But in Chapter 6, the story powerfully depicts the difficulty of coexistence, not just between species like Earthlings and Garmillans, but even in conflicts of opinion among Earthlings themselves.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Finally, please share a message for Yamato<\/em> fans.<\/p>\n

Hatanaka:<\/em><\/span> I feel like this iteration of Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> is being delivered as a message to the younger generation, those in their 20s and 30s. I think you\u2019ll find significance in the fact that Yamato<\/em> appears in modern-day Shinjuku. That\u2019s exactly why I want our generation to see it.<\/p>\n

We have to keep thinking about what truly matters and turn the results of that thought process into our own answers. It portrays people who make their own choices rather than simply being swept along by the crowd. I\u2019d be delighted if you watched it.<\/p>\n

Muranaka:<\/em><\/span> Chapter 6 is packed with intense combat, so I\u2019m sure fans who love mecha will enjoy it. It also depicts people on modern-day Earth, so you might find yourself reminded of the current state of Japan or the world.<\/p>\n

Looking at characters like Fleur and Tsubasa (Tsubasa Kato), you see that when people with pure hearts meet, they can accept each other and move forward. But conflict arises when distorted information gets in the way. It\u2019s a chapter that makes you think about how to act honestly upon that sense of unease and what it means to act with humanity, so I hope people of all ages will watch it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Return to index<\/a><\/p>\n

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