MARRIAGETOXIN Interview with Shion Wakayama and Haruki Ishiya

MARRIAGETOXIN ranks among the most thrilling anime this season, and we were able to chat with its lead performers, Shion Wakayama (who voices Mei Kinosaki) and Haruki Ishiya (who voices Hikaru Gero), at the latest Anime Expo.

We got to spend half an hour with the pair, and I hope you’ll find some of the engaging questions and answers from our chat enjoyable.

Q: How did you both first encounter the series? What were your initial thoughts on its premise?

Ishiya: “Reading manga is a hobby of mine, so I first came across MARRIAGETOXIN in its original comic form. While the premise was interesting, what struck me most at the start was the outstanding artwork. The opening panel felt a bit jarring, but I soon realized the series blends a marriage‑hunt quest with intense battles, and that fusion really pulled me in.”

Wakayama: “My first introduction to the property was during the audition. At that point I wasn’t sure whether the idea of a marriage hunt mixed with combat would work, but the compelling story structure and the original writers’ storytelling skill instantly won me over as a fan.”

Q: The opening acts feature a fair amount of action, even though the focus is on finding a romantic partner. How do you think this early fight focus affected the anime’s overall direction?

Ishiya: “Seeing those intense scenes right away was a powerful impression for us. It shows the stark contrast between the series’ cute moments—like Kinosaki’s marriage counseling—and the serious combat when Gero must fight. That juxtaposition heightens viewers’ anticipation and makes them curious about what will happen next.”

Wakayama: “Episode 1 moves at a rapid pace, quickly introducing the two central pillars of the show: the marriage hunt and the action sequences. In my view, the first episode essentially serves as an overview of the entire series.”

Q: Ishiya‑san, Gero has a slightly awkward personality but shines when he’s rescuing or helping people. How do you approach portraying such different sides of his character?

Ishiya: “I think it’s hard to be perfect, and you mentioned that he’s at his best when helping others—this is spot on. Having flaws and imperfections makes a character intriguing, and you can still be cool while possessing those shortcomings. When I portray Gero, I don’t separate him from myself; I see him as the same person. So balancing his cool moments with his less‑cool aspects, along with the ups and downs of his persona, is something I really try to emphasize in my performance.”

Q: Wakayama‑san, Kinosaki is a swindler and thus has to have a conniving side, but is relied on by Gero. How do you balance the honest and dishonest parts of the character?

Wakayama: “Yes, Kinosaki is a con artist, but as the series progresses you discover she’s also a very heartfelt person with integrity. She uses her sleight‑of‑hand skills cleverly. Kinosaki has many facets, so when I portray her I make sure to differentiate my voice for each aspect so I can act them appropriately.”

Q: For both of you, how did you decide how the voice you use for your character needed to sound? Did you get any specific guidance or advice about what kinds of sounds to aim for or avoid?

Ishiya: “Gero’s build is quite muscular—notice how thick his neck is—and he moves very athletically. At first I thought he’d have a deep, powerful voice. But then I remembered he’s an assassin, and assassins usually keep their speech low‑key. So I aimed for a voice that blends in, like the tone you’d use on a covert mission where you need to be inconspicuous. That’s the voice I focused on. However, during the audition they told me not to be afraid to shift his voice when he’s sad or uncertain. Being able to toggle between those two vocal styles was something I targeted.”

Wakayama: “I was encouraged to find a sweet spot within my natural speaking range. Because Kinosaki has many personality layers, they wanted me to bring a kind of witty, humorous tone to the voice. One approach I explored was a strong core voice that isn’t afraid to change and blend various shades in between.”

Q: How do you both feel MARRIAGETOXIN handles the topic of dating in general? Does it present an honest portrayal of how people interact with each other romantically or is it over the top?

Ishiya: “All the potential marriage partners are pretty out‑there, much like Gero himself. They’re all unique, but the series’ underlying message about truly understanding each other at all times is exaggerated. Still, I think it serves as a real‑life lesson to always strive to better comprehend one another, especially in dating. That’s something special about this show.”

Wakayama: “A series that mixes dating and assassin battles is, of course, exaggerated and not realistic. However, the emotions both Gero and his potential partners display, and the atmosphere between them, can still be connected to real‑life experiences.”

Q: What are both of your impressions of Gero as a potential romantic partner? And as a character overall? What about Kinosaki?

Ishiya: “Gero is the kind of guy everyone wonders, ‘He’s cool, so why can’t he get married? Why??’ While he’s really cool in battle, if you watched just his marriage‑hunt activities, you’d see why he’s not being pursued. Kinosaki is there for Gero, and he’s grateful for her support. Kinosaki’s presence feels like having a coach in the field—anytime Gero looks back to check if he’s doing something right, Kinosaki is there to put an arm around his neck and reassure him he’s doing fine. That’s how I see both characters and their dynamic.”

Wakayama: “All the marriage‑hunt partners have strong personalities and are kind‑hearted individuals. Gero is a very ideal partner… I honestly don’t get why no one picks him up—he’s incredibly attractive. I believe he’ll keep persevering and putting in the hard work to find the right person, and Kinosaki will definitely help him along. Of course, because Kinosaki is a swindler, she may seem shady, but she would never betray Gero. I also think Kinosaki is a very kind‑hearted person who will continue to help build Gero’s relationships with his potential partners. As for Kinosaki as a partner… I think she’s very attractive.”

Q: Did you find yourself imagining yourself in some of the situations Gero was in? Would you have approached them differently?

Ishiya: “Gero sort of went with the flow of life then one day decided to take control. Putting myself in his shoes, though, when you’re at risk for a long time at a young age, I think it’s inevitable to feel like you can’t really change things and just go with the flow. But I’d feel like I’d want to change things; the only difference is I don’t have the same skills as Gero.”

Wakayama: “If I were placed in Gero’s situation I might’ve just given up on the whole finding a marriage partner thing. Just thinking about having to go through all the dangers and risks he went through plus still having to go on the marriage hunt—yeah, I think I’d just be in the group that would give up.”

Q: What do the both of you enjoy most about Gero and Kinosaki’s interactions and overall relationship?

Wakayama: “It feels like a husband‑and‑wife comedy skit. I really enjoy the rhythm of Gero and Kinosaki’s conversations. Where Gero might be unsure and a bit timid, Kinosaki steps right in to pep him up with lines like ‘Come on!’ and that conversational tempo is something I truly relished.”

Ishiya: “Gero and Kinosaki have a seamless relationship where they can interchange between comedian and slapstick. In many situations I’m often wondering, ‘Which character am I right now? Am I the comedian or the slapstick?’ Even when we’re both unsure which we are playing at the moment, the moment we start acting it kind of just flows. When I act with Shion I’m often surprised at how well it flows at times. It really almost feels like a rally, or an exchange of conversations and atmospheres. So I really enjoyed doing the reading for the lines in those conversations.”

Q: What are some of your favorite lines you’ve delivered in the anime?

Ishiya: “‘I wanna get married.’ That line came out after everything had been broken down. From Toshiro’s perspective (the Beast Master Gero was fighting at the time he had said this line) he was like ‘What are you talking about?’ but it’s an emotional line for me. From Episode 1 I wondered how I would deliver this line but by the end of it all I felt really proud of that line—it was a very special moment for me.”

For reference, the line Ishiya‑san is talking about is from Episode 11:

Wakayama: “My favorite line is the one I say during the Bug Master’s wedding. It came when Gero wasn’t feeling very confident about getting married and asks Kinosaki if he could ever get married like this, to which my character responds with ‘Of course. You’ve got me in your corner.’ And Kinosaki having that kind of confidence acting it out was something I really enjoyed.”

For reference, the line Wakayama‑san is talking about is from Episode 7:

Q: Finally, are there any messages you’d like to share with fans?

Ishiya: “Hello I am once again Haruki Ishiya. I’ve been doing voice acting in the entertainment business in Japan since when it was mainly consumed in just Japan. But lately through the staff and even the cast I see that anime is now very globally known and is a worldwide thing. I also have seen a lot of love for this series and we want to let you know we will be working hard for Season 2 so I hope you’ll enjoy it, but also feel free to read the original manga, and even rewatch Season 1. Thank you all very much.”

Wakayama: “Thank you for watching. I personally love this series and the anime itself. This anime really helped me pull out many different expressions as a voice actor and I’m thankful for that. And Season 2 was announced and confirmed for 2027! So I hope you’ll all continue to watch the show. Thank you all again very much.”

---

That concludes our 30‑minute interview with the wonderful voice actors Haruki Ishiya and Shion Wakayama. Both were incredibly gracious with their answers, and I was captivated by their thoughtful insights into the series. It was clear they were fully invested in their roles and passionate about bringing these characters to life.

Final Thoughts:

Despite its goofy and serious moments, this series is incredibly charming, and I found myself wanting to watch more and more as each episode went on. As both voice actors mentioned, every character is charming in their own way, and each one has something special about them, which is something I completely agree with.

On a personal note, this show has also helped me not feel so dejected whenever I go through hardships. I just think back to Gero when he first begins his search for marriage and tell myself, “Yeah, I can do better!” But all jokes aside, this is a genuinely fun series, and I think it’s the perfect show to watch if you ever need a reminder to stay positive.

With that said, the first season is streaming on Crunchyroll, so if you’re interested, definitely check it out! As mentioned earlier, Season 2 is also set to premiere in 2027. In the meantime, be sure to check out the Season 2 announcement trailer below.

All photos are courtesy of the official Marriage Toxin site and Crunchyroll.

©Joumyaku・Mizuki Yoda/SHUEISHA, MARRIAGETOXIN Project

Baca juga Anime lainnya di Info Anime & manga terbaru.