BLEACH: TYBW - Renji Abarai Voice Actor Kentarō Itō Discusses Love, Secrets, and His Journey with BLEACH

Evolving the Voice for Thousand-Year Blood War

Q.Did you receive any particularly memorable direction for Thousand-Year Blood War?

Itō: When Renji achieves his true Bankai after training with Squad Zero, I wanted to convey that evolution through his voice. Previously, I voiced Hihiō Zabimaru with a loud, piercing intensity. I approached Sōō Zabimaru with a similar energy, but the director and Tite Kubo suggested a more restrained and composed tone.

Personally, I wanted to raise my voice even more than before (laughs), especially since I often play characters who go all out emotionally. Holding back and expressing strength through restraint was a fresh challenge for me, and I saw it as reflecting Renji’s growth.

In earlier arcs, I gave Renji’s voice a unique texture to mimic the coiling motion of Hihiō Zabimaru, but for Sōō Zabimaru, the direction was to tone down that effect and deliver a more straightforward performance.

Reunion Moments in the Recording Studio

Q.Any memorable experiences from the recording sessions?

Itō: With the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, we still record in smaller groups. However, there was one occasion when over ten of the voice actors playing captains gathered together.

It felt like a reunion after 10 years, with many senior actors I’ve long respected. Seeing their excitement, like Ryūsei Nakao taking tons of photos, really touched me. You could feel how much everyone loved BLEACH and how happy they were to be back. It was like a class reunion—complete with embarrassing stories about being late after staying out all night back in the day (laughs).

Performing with the Ending in Mind

Q.With the Thousand-Year Blood War arc being the conclusion, how does knowing the ending affect your approach?

Itō: The biggest difference is that both the viewers and we, as performers, know how the story ends. In the earlier BLEACH series, neither the audience nor we knew the conclusion. This required us to adapt as new developments arose, ensuring the performances remained consistent.

With Thousand-Year Blood War, we can work backwards from the ending, shaping our roles with the full context of the story.

That said, there’s one thing I intentionally avoid focusing on—Renji and Rukia’s relationship (laughs). When I read the manga’s developments, I couldn’t help but think, “Wait, since when?!” (laughs). Even during the recording of BLEACH WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU on YouTube’s Jump Channel, I wondered, “Will this influence my portrayal of Renji?” Ultimately, Orikasa-san (Rukia’s voice actor) and I agreed to keep the “love vibe” hidden until the very end of Thousand-Year Blood War. It’s our little mission (laughs).

A Message for Fans

Q.Finally, do you have a message for fans visiting the official website?

Itō: Are you enjoying Thousand-Year Blood War? Through Renji, I’m doing my best to convey his journey and the depth of BLEACH’s world. Please stick with us until Renji and Rukia’s “big moment” at the very end. Thank you for your continued support!

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Source : ORICON NEWS