In this chapter, Ikeda discusses his relationships with some of his fellow voice actors while recording Mobile Suit Gundam. This includes Tōru Furuya (Amuro), Fuyumi Shiraishi (Mirai), Hirotaka Suzuoki (Bright), Katsuji Mori (Garma), and Keiko Han (Lalah)
He begins with Tōru Furuya, the voice of Char’s eternal rival, Amuro Ray. Ikeda recalls how they didn’t talk much at first outside of the studio, one of the main reasons being that Furuya didn’t drink at the time.
Interestingly, he comments how that early distance between them actually was a benefit to the work.
Ikeda: In the scene where Char and Amuro meet for the first time, there is a contrast between the tense Amuro and Char’s relaxed attitude, and I think this scene also utilized the tension of the time in a positive way. Tōru-chan and I’s actual relationship certainly resembled the relationship between Amuro and Char.
He continues by discussing the recording of Zeta: A New Translation.
Ikeda: It has been 20 years since I first performed in the Mobile Suit Z Gundam series, but when I stand in front of the microphone with Tōru-chan, the atmosphere of those days mysteriously comes back to me. Without any discussion, the relationship between Amuro and Char immediately returns. I am happy to see that Tōru-chan is still in good health, and that he has not changed at all.
Finally, a bit of a humorous note at the end – while Furuya didn’t drink during the time he was recording Gundam, he began doing so within the past ten years (as of this book’s writing in 2007), to the point where he even surpassed Ikeda in alcohol tolerance.
In Ikeda’s words, “I never thought I would lose to Amuro-kun in such a way.”
Next, Fuyumi Shiraishi, the voice of Mirai Yashima. Ikeda had acted alongside her in Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 and was honored to have the opportunity to do so again for Gundam.
He mentions how, despite how often Director Tomino would come in with specific requests on how to perform a scene, the two never clashed, and Shiraishi would just respond with a cute “oka~y!”. However, Ikeda believes she gave priority to her own inspiration for the role.
Ikeda describes Shiraishi as a “cute younger sister-like older sister”, despite being one of the senior members of the cast at the time. He fondly remembers her as a great senior who was bright and playful and always kept the studio in a good mood.
Next, Hirotaka Suzuoki, voice of Bright Noa, and also the voice of the main character (Banjou Haran) from Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3, which is where he and Ikeda became friends.
Ikeda explains that while he didn’t often like drinking with people his own age, Suzuoki was different. While it’s easy to complain, whine, and lick each other’s wounds at drinking parties with people of the same generation, Suzuoki never did so. In his words, “He drinks with I, a man of the Zeon army while serving in the Federation. For the two of us, it didn’t matter whether it was Zeon or the Federation.”
On a night drinking after the recording of Zeta: A New Translation, Ikeda remembers saying to him,
“You (Suzuoki) can’t go first. I (Ikeda) am two months older than you, so keep your turn.”
In reference to the fact both had grieved together for the passing of Yō Inoue (voice of Sayla Mass), a few years earlier. Tragically Suzuoki passed away in 2006, a year before this book’s publication.
Next, Katsuji Mori, the voice of Garma Zabi. He and Ikeda actually met many years before the recording for Gundam while both were still in junior high school and co-stars on a TV drama written by Genzō Murakami. Mori was already a star in the anime world thanks to his roles as Gou Mifune in Speed Racer and Ken Washio in Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
“Why is Shu-chan Char? (Laughs)”
“Why is Mori-san Garma? (Laughs)”
He remembers they had such an interaction upon seeing each other again.
Ikeda: I am sure Mori-san did not expect to be told by me, a younger man whom he has known since he was a child actor, that “he was a spoiled kid”. He is a reliable “kid” who took care of me, who was unfamiliar with anime.
Finally, Keiko Han, the voice of Lalah Sune. Ikeda had worked with her in dubbing the overseas drama series Man from Atlantis and was excited to meet her again on the set of Gundam.
Ikeda: Han-san is a very unusual voice actor, and her tempo is slightly different from my performance. This created a mysterious atmosphere that flowed between Char and Lalah, and it made for an indescribably soft performance. We did not plan this beforehand, so the way they deviate from each other differs from time to time, but it gives the work a good flavor.
Outside of voice acting, Han is also an astrologer and authored many books on the subject. Among the voice actors, it is famous that her fortune telling is often correct.
“Ikeda-san, next year will be a good year for you.”
Ikeda: Han-san says this every time she sees me. I don’t know if it is lip service or if she only tells me when my luck is good, but at any rate, my pragmatism and Han-san’s ability to see beyond the mystical may be a surprisingly good match. At least when Han-san was asked to play the role of the lover, she seemed to be very compatible with my performance.