During his first visit to the German convention AnimagiC, we interviewed voice actor Anji Iwata about his portrayal of Kentaro Yamada in the anime You and I Are Polar Opposites. Iwata-san took part in a live Q&A session with the dubbing panel and held three fan signing events. In this conversation we explore how he secured the role and his journey voicing Yamada.
Portions of this interview have been modestly revised for clarity. This interview was carried out with the help of an interpreter.
Q: Were you acquainted with the manga when you were offered the role of Yamada?
A: I was already a huge fan of the manga, and I especially liked Yamada. I made a voice demo and gave it to my agents, asking them to send it if a role for Yamada came up. After that I got the audition and landed the part, which thrilled me.
Q: What was your initial response when you learned you’d been chosen?
A: I was attending university when my agency called, which was unusual since they usually email. I thought it was urgent, answered quickly, and went to an open area to take the call. Because I was so excited about the news, I involuntarily shouted, “Eh!? Wow, really? Are you kidding me?” I felt a bit embarrassed that I was so loud.
Q: How did you first perceive Yamada, and has that view shifted as you’ve worked on the role?
A: Initially I saw Yamada as a straightforward, impulsive character. Over two seasons, particularly through his dynamic with Nishi, I realized he actually deliberates before acting. In season 2 I received more monologues, so now I view him as someone who overthinks a great deal.
Q: Yamada evolved from a primarily comedic character to a member of a romantic pairing. How did this shift affect how you played him?
A: I wasn’t intentionally trying to alter my portrayal of Yamada. Instead, I let his emotions guide me, as if we were growing together. The transformation felt organic, and each recording session became an encounter with Yamada anew.
Q: Which episode or scene have you enjoyed voicing the most so far?
A: The recording for episode 13 was the most enjoyable. It features a fried chicken party at school. Since the main cast get along and spend a lot of time together during sessions, we even recreated a party atmosphere in the studio. The excitement from the episode’s party spilled over into the recording, and vice versa—I loved that.
Q: Which scene have you found most challenging?
A: Since this is my first major anime role, episode 12 felt especially tough. It shows Yamada and Nishi on a date in Yokohama’s Chinese quarter, with lots of dialogue. As it’s the season finale, I felt a lot of pressure to deliver a good performance and was a bit nervous. After finishing the recording, though, I felt a sense of accomplishment.
Q: Which traits do you consider Yamada’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?
A: Yamada’s straightforwardness is both his greatest strength and his main flaw. He tends to act before thinking, which helps him connect with Nishi—he can easily ask for her number and open up. This has helped their relationship grow. However, the same impulsiveness can be a drawback, as seen in episode 1 when he quickly asked Suzuki if they were already a couple without much thought.
Q: Do you see any similarities between yourself and Yamada?
A: We share a lot of honesty. Both of us prefer to let our feelings show and aren’t good at hiding them. I try to be open and transparent with other people.
Q: If you could meet Yamada in person, what’s a piece of advice you’d give him?
A: I’ve given this some thought. Yamada is such a nice person that I don’t really have any specific advice for him. Instead, I’ve learned a lot from his personality, so I’d love to receive advice from him or simply be his friend.
We appreciate Anji Iwata and Crunchyroll for providing this interview, which deepened our understanding of Yamada as a character.
Don’t overlook the fresh installments of You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Check out more anime at Info Anime & manga terbaru.
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