To celebrate the theatrical release of the Kaiju No. 8 Season 1 compilation film and the all-new short Hoshina’s Day Off, a special stage greeting event took place on March 29 at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku. Cast members Masaya Fukunishi, Wataru Kato, Kengo Kawanishi, and Yuki Shin took the stage, sharing their personal takes on “days off” with fans in a lighthearted, laughter-filled event.

Originally created by Naoya Matsumoto, the Kaiju No. 8 manga began serialization on Shonen Jump+ in 2020 and has surpassed 18 million copies in circulation across 15 volumes. The TV anime premiered in April 2024 on the TV Tokyo network, with a simultaneous global release on X (formerly Twitter), garnering widespread international popularity.

The event featured voice actors Masaya Fukunishi (Kafka Hibino / Kaiju No. 8), Wataru Kato (Reno Ichikawa), Kengo Kawanishi (Soshiro Hoshina), and Yuki Shin (Iharu Furuhashi).

Right after the screening, Fukunishi warmed up the crowd by stumbling on his introduction—“I’m Fukunishi, the voice of Hafuha… I mean Kafka”—drawing laughs from the audience. Kato followed up with a clever line: “Here’s to hoping today becomes a wonderful day off,” playfully tying into the theme of the short film.

Kawanishi made his entrance with a plushie of Hoshina (known in Japan as a "Hoshina nui"—“nui” being short for nuigurumi, or stuffed toy) tucked in his pocket. He playfully called out to the audience, “Who’s got a Hoshina nui? Who doesn’t?” before adding with a smile, “You gotta keep one with you,” mimicking a popular online phrase and getting a laugh in return.

First-time event participant Shin introduced himself with a cheerful energy, saying, “I came in with Iharu vibes, but my heart’s pounding!”

The event celebrated both the re-edited 12-episode recap and the brand-new short focused on Hoshina, which were screened together. Fukunishi said, “At first I was like, what is ‘Hoshina’s Day Off’ supposed to be? (laughs) But the title sounded fun and got me excited.” Shin shared, “It was fun to play since Reno and Iharu really get to shine in this,” while Kato admitted, “I thought it was just about Hoshina, so I totally let my guard down.” Kawanishi added with a chuckle, “I thought I’d be having a relaxing tea break, but turns out it was a pretty intense day off!”

Reflecting on the compilation film, Fukunishi noted, “Watching it in the theater moved me all over again. Kafka’s desire to stand beside Mina really came through.” Kawanishi chimed in, “Fans often said they wanted to see it in a theater, and with the 5.1ch sound system, it has a whole new appeal.” Shin added passionately, “It’s a rollercoaster of a story—I want people to enjoy it over and over.”

During the celebratory toast, themed around “Hoshina’s Day Off,” the cast gathered around an afternoon tea set (minus the sweets). Fukunishi led with a cheerful “Cheers to Hoshina’s Day Off!” as fans joined in, raising plushies and juice cups in unison. Kawanishi then voiced his plushie into the mic, saying, “This right here… this is my day off!”—prompting Kato to joke, “You said that with the same energy as ‘This is my reason for being!’” The crowd erupted in applause, the loudest of the day.

In closing messages, Shin expressed, “Watching in theaters makes it feel even more powerful.” Kawanishi encouraged, “It’s only running for three weeks, so bring your friends and enjoy it together.” Kato added, “Let’s support it so we can see sequels like ‘Narumi’s Day Off’ or ‘Reno’s Day Off.’” Fukunishi wrapped things up, saying, “This takes me back to our stage greeting exactly a year ago. With Season 2, the game, and future events ahead, let’s keep the excitement going together!” The event ended on a high note, with fans energized for what’s to come.

Source : Kaiju No. 8 Official