The Space Battleship Yamato 50th anniversary stage event for AnimeJapan 2025 took place on March 22 at Tokyo Big Sight. Harutoshi Fukui, the general director of the upcoming film Yamato Forever REBEL3199, appeared on stage and discussed the intentions behind casting voice actress Keiko Han in a pivotal role.

Joining Fukui on stage were Keiko Han, who plays Mother Dezariam, Megumi Han, who voices Sasha, and anime and tokusatsu critic Ryusuke Hikawa. Fukui opened up about how challenging it is to talk about the future of the project without spoiling it. He even quipped, “Sasha might have been the original moe character,” a sentiment Hikawa agreed with.

“Sasha is a complex character,” Fukui explained. “She has the appeal of a ‘moe’ archetype, a relatable human side, and also embodies a sense of modernity. That layered complexity makes her unique.”

As part of the event, the cast posed together: from left to right, Harutoshi Fukui, Megumi Han, Keiko Han, and Ryusuke Hikawa. This appearance also spotlighted the familial succession of the Sasha role from mother to daughter—Keiko Han originally voiced Sasha, and her daughter Megumi Han now takes on the role.

Fukui went on to reveal a deeper narrative twist behind casting Keiko Han in her new role: “Why did we cast the original Sasha, Keiko Han, as Mother Dezariam—a sort of final boss for the enemies? If you hear her final line in the last episode, you’ll go, ‘Ah, now I get it.’”

Megumi Han interjected with concern, “Is it really okay to talk about the final episode already!?” Fukui, grinning, brushed it off: “I don’t think most people know yet. I brought her on for that one line.”

Then he added, somewhat cryptically, “You’ll get the answer in two years—maybe next year. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure myself.”

Yamato Forever REBEL3199 is the latest installment in the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 series, incorporating reimagined elements from Be Forever Yamato and Space Battleship Yamato III. The film will be released in seven chapters in theaters across Japan. The third chapter, titled Ultramarine Asteroid, is set to premiere on April 11.

Source : ORICON NEWS