With Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: The Movie – Part 1: Akaza Returns now showing in theaters across Japan, voice actress Saori Hayami spoke about her feelings before recording and how she approached Shinobu Kocho’s long-awaited emotional story in the new film.

Quick Summary

・ Saori Hayami voices Shinobu Kocho in the new Demon Slayer film.
・ She describes feeling that “the moment has finally come” for Shinobu’s story.
・ Hayami approached recording with deep emotional preparation.
・ She emphasized maintaining an unbroken flow of emotion during the session.
・ The Infinity Castle Arc marks a pivotal chapter for Shinobu’s character.

“The Moment Has Finally Come” — Facing Shinobu’s Emotions

Hayami explained that she had already understood the storyline from reading the manga but felt a renewed sense of gravity when realizing Shinobu’s pivotal story would finally be told. She received the script long before recording and said she had felt Shinobu’s emotions growing inside her over time.

“When I opened the script, I needed to prepare myself emotionally,” she recalled. “When Shinobu encounters the one she has vowed to defeat, there is no gradual rise in emotion — everything bursts at once. Her life has built up to that moment. I imagined she already sensed Doma’s presence even before finding him.”

Describing the decisive scene, Hayami added, “When Shinobu faces Doma, every restraint inside her breaks free. There was no time to raise the gear slowly. I wanted to face the performance by summoning every drop of emotion I had cultivated with her.”

Recording with Unbroken Emotion

When asked about any notable direction from the production team, Hayami reflected on her previous experience in the Hashira Training Arc, particularly a scene where Shinobu speaks to Kanao about “how to kill demons.” She explained that multiple takes were recorded to adjust pacing and phrasing — whether to deliver the final line in one breath or pause for emphasis.

“However,” she said, “in the Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1, there was almost none of that. We didn’t repeat or retake many lines. Of course, we redid parts that needed it technically, but I strongly felt that we were preserving the continuous flow of emotion.”

Hayami added that while she had many creative ideas for the character, she ultimately trusted what emerged naturally in the moment: “I believe that what came out during the real take — in that flow — was the right answer.”

FAQ

Q: Which character does Saori Hayami voice in Demon Slayer?
A: She voices Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Q: What film is she discussing in this interview?
A: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: The Movie – Part 1: Akaza Returns.

Q: How did she feel before recording Shinobu’s scenes?
A: She felt it was finally time for Shinobu’s important story to unfold and approached it with emotional readiness.

Q: What was her main focus during recording?
A: Maintaining a continuous emotional flow without interruption.

Q: Were there many retakes during recording?
A: Very few — Hayami said most scenes were recorded as they naturally flowed.

Source : ORICON NEWS