Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Launches 10th Anniversary Project as Director Celebrates Tasuku Hatanaka and Sayaka Senbongi’s Marriage

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, the television anime series, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its broadcast this April. To commemorate the milestone, the “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress 10th Anniversary Project” has officially launched. Under the theme “A Decade Long Journey of Kabaneri,” the project will roll out a series of initiatives designed to retrace and revisit the past ten years once again.

10th Anniversary Project “A Decade Long Journey”

Commemorative messages have arrived from Tasuku Hatanaka, who voices Ikoma, Sayaka Senbongi, who voices Mumei, and director Tetsuro Araki.

Hatanaka commented, “It truly feels like I have spent such a dense and long period of time with this work. If possible, I would love to meet Ikoma and Mumei once again.” Senbongi shared, “Even after the broadcast ended, many people continued to bring up Kabaneri, and each time it made me feel proud. What I experienced on set back then became the foundation that has supported me over these ten years.”

Director Araki reflected on the production’s origins, saying, “It started from my small desk, a project I sent out into the world while praying that it would resonate. I remember searching to see whether the word Kabaneri existed anywhere and making a fist pump when nothing came up.”

Special Campaign in Odaiba and Radio Revival

To commemorate the project launch, the “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress TV Broadcast 10th Anniversary Campaign” will be held from April 4 at the Noitamina Shop and Cafe Theater inside Aqua City Odaiba. The campaign will feature special in store exhibitions, newly illustrated anniversary goods, limited collaboration menu items, and revival screenings of fan voted anime episodes.

In addition, the official radio program Kabaneri Tours, originally streamed during the 2016 anime broadcast, will return for a limited time. Beginning in the latter half of the campaign period, it will be played exclusively inside the Noitamina Shop and Cafe Theater.

Full Comments from the Cast and Director

■Tasuku Hatanaka as Ikoma
Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. This work truly shaped my life and is an irreplaceable title for me. It is hard to believe that the television series, excluding the theatrical version, was only one cour. It feels as though I spent such a long and meaningful time with it. If possible, I would love to meet Ikoma and Mumei once again. I sincerely hope that the day will come when I can play Ikoma again. Ten years have passed for all of us, and many things may have changed, but I want to face Kabaneri again someday without forgetting how I felt back then. I hope everyone will continue to support Kabaneri.

■Sayaka Senbongi as Mumei
Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. I can vividly remember my audition as if it were yesterday, yet ten years have already passed since the television broadcast. I am amazed at how quickly time flies. Even after the show ended, many people continued to talk about Kabaneri, and each time I felt proud. What I experienced on set back then became the foundation that has supported me throughout these ten years. I sincerely hope it is a work that holds that kind of meaning for everyone as well. I also hope it continues to meet many new people in the future. I truly love Kabaneri.

■Director Tetsuro Araki
Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the broadcast of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. This is the one work for which I feel a personal sense that I brought it into the world, so please allow me to say thank you. Of course it was created together with many people, but it began at my small desk as a project I launched while praying it would reach someone. I remember searching to see if the word Kabaneri existed and celebrating when I found nothing. Thanks to many wonderful colleagues, wonderful fans, and even amusement machine collaborations, the content has remained active for ten years. It is beyond my expectations and brings me great joy.

However, what made this work most precious to me is that the two actors who played Ikoma and Mumei got married in real life. I cannot quite explain this happiness. It felt like proof that I was not wrong. Watching the two of them during recording and tuning the characters based on their presence means that this film contains something real. Not everything went perfectly, but a certain truth is etched into it. If that is the case, then it is a treasure. I intend to cherish this treasure from now on as well.

Source : ORICON NEWS