An official interview with Junichi Suwabe, the voice of Sukuna, has been released in celebration of the airing of Episode 17 (41st in total) of the second season of the TV anime "Jujutsu Kaisen".

Q: Please share your impressions upon reading the original comic or the script about the "Shibuya Incident".
A: "It's an incredibly fierce development. It's an episode that becomes a significant turning point for the story. I thought it would require a great deal of energy from both the staff and the cast to depict it in the anime."

Q: Sukuna, like Itadori and the first-year students, makes his return to the TV series after three years.
A: "As many of you may know, Sukuna didn't have many appearances in the first season (laughs). I was happy to be able to play a significant role in the main storyline again after such a long time."

Q: What is your impression of the character Sukuna?
A: "I thought he was a very difficult character. I had been reading the original work from its serialization before the anime announcement, but I didn't have a clear image of Sukuna's voice... I struggled a lot during the audition. However, since worrying didn't lead to an answer, I decided to just go for it, and it turned out well (laughs). But, I was very anxious until the anime started airing because the expectations for the anime were quite high. Especially, I wasn't sure if I could meet the image of Sukuna that fans of the original work had in mind. I was relieved to see many positive reactions after the airing."

Q: How did you perceive and decide to play the role of Sukuna?
A: "Since the character has many elements that are not clearly revealed, it's quite difficult to fully understand him. I've been trying to play him while making my image of the character more concrete by thoroughly reading the original work and contemplating. However, I'm still not sure if my interpretation is correct... It's really a difficult role."

Q: The promotional video for the "Shibuya Incident" has been released (at the time of this interview). What are your thoughts after seeing it?
A: "I thought, 'It's finally here.' Since the animation wasn't complete at the stage of dubbing, I was really looking forward to seeing the finished episode. Like the first season, the anime adds a lot by filling in the gaps between the panels drawn in the manga and presenting the same scenes from different perspectives, especially the dynamic battle scenes. I'm excited to see how they turned out".

Q: Episode 40 featured a fight with Jogo. Could you share your thoughts and highlights after recording?
A: "The battle unfolds very speedily. Although Sukuna is an overwhelming power and hence there's almost no need for action ad-libs... It seemed tough for Jogo (laughs)".

Q: There's a scene where Sukuna says to Jogo, "Be proud. You are strong." How did you feel performing this scene?
A: "I deliberately choose not to say what Sukuna might have been thinking when he said those words. Of course, I have my own interpretation, but I don't want to lead the viewers' interpretation. I leave it to your imagination. However, Jogo was crying, so I think there must have been something very touching for him. I hope at least that much comes across."

Q: With the first season having dispersed recordings, the second season has gradually returned to the normal format. Does having the other actors present change your expression?
A: "For Sukuna, there aren't many instances where his emotional state significantly changes based on what others say. In the scenes I've played so far, interacting hasn't really affected my expression."

Q: As the "Shibuya Incident" approaches its climax, do you have a message for the viewers?
A: "As you can probably feel, this is a work produced with a very high level of energy. The 'Shibuya Incident' is an episode that contains very important elements that will affect future developments, so please make sure not to miss it until the end. I appreciate your continued support!"

"Jujutsu Kaisen" is a dark fantasy based on the manga of the same name serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" since March 2018. It follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he steps into a world of battle centered around curses after a powerful "cursed object" is unsealed. The manga has surpassed 80 million copies in circulation, with the anime adaptation airing from October 2020 to March 2021 and gaining popularity, leading to a movie adaptation in December 2021 and the ongoing second season since July 2023.