In this post, we translate a short 2022 interview that was held with Masaya Matsukaze, who voiced the protagonist Ryo Hazuki in Japanese in all Shenmue games, about his involvement in the Shenmue the Animation anime adaptation. The interview was conducted during the period of the anime’s broadcast in Japan.
Matsukaze also shares memories from the recording booth and offers insight into why even the smallest details in Shenmue continue to resonate decades later.
Originally released in 1999 on SEGA’s home console, the Dreamcast, Shenmue is a legendary action-adventure game that has influenced countless titles since.
Now, the anime adaptation Shenmue the Animation has been streaming across various platforms since April 2022, and as of May, has also begun airing on TOKYO MX [TV station].
We’ve obtained an official interview with Masaya Matsukaze, who plays the lead role of Ryo Hazuki. In it, he talks in depth about the anime adaptation, describing it as proof that “the miracle isn’t over yet.” He shares his impressions from the voice recording sessions, his thoughts after watching the finished episodes, and what continues to make the world of Shenmue, including the original game, so captivating.
Official Interview with Masaya Matsukaze, Voice of Ryo Hazuki
Q: How did you feel when you first heard that Shenmue the Animation was happening? And what was it like stepping back into the recording booth after all this time?
MM: To be honest, I already thought it was a miracle that the whole idea of making Shenmue III through crowdfunding came about. Then that campaign ended up setting a Guinness World Record, we moved through the recording sessions and Shenmue III was finally released… I was already blown away by how unbelievable all of that was. So when I heard the anime would be made, it really felt like the miracle wasn’t over yet.
Since Shenmue had been experimenting with full CG from the start, when I heard about the anime, it just clicked. "Yeah, that totally makes sense!"
This was my first time voicing Ryo again since Shenmue III, but for me, I don’t really change my voice deliberately for a role. I act based on emotion. So sure, there were some natural changes in my voice since I’ve aged a bit, but it didn’t feel like a big challenge to get back into it.
At the studio, there were lots of moments where we’d go, ‘That line doesn’t feel right,’ or, ‘Ryo wouldn’t say something like that, would he?’ And because some of us have been with Shenmue from the start, our opinions actually influenced things a lot, which was kind of surreal! We’d be saying, ‘Wait, this sounds off, why isn’t anyone saying anything?’ Meanwhile, Yu Suzuki was just smiling at us through the glass. After the session, he came up and said, ‘Thanks, that really helped,’ with a big grin. That’s when it hit me. This is what 20 years of working on something does. It was a really chill, welcoming atmosphere.
Q: What were your impressions after seeing the anime footage? Were there any standout moments or scenes you found particularly memorable?
MM: I was really curious how people would respond to an adaptation of something they already knew, but the reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, and honestly, I’m kind of surprised by how well-received it’s been. It has this vibe that reminds me of the anime I watched as a kid in the ’80s, and I think that nostalgic feeling is really working in its favor. After all, the story itself is set in 1986.
When we were preparing for the Shenmue III crowdfunding campaign, Yu Suzuki personally called me and asked for my help. He told me, “The reason I reached out to you is because the core concept of Shenmue III is ‘nostalgia.’” He wanted it to be a game that would feel nostalgic to those who had played the original. I think that same feeling carries over into the anime, too. In fact, for people experiencing Shenmue for the first time, it might even come across as something new and fresh.
Q: Shenmue features a lot of unique characters. Is there anyone in particular who stood out to you?
MM: The people around Dobuita Street are all such strong personalities that if I start focusing on just one, I’ll probably end up talking about them forever. Like, take Tom, the hot dog guy. If you really dig into his character, there’s so much there that you’d want to shine a spotlight on him. The same goes for Mai and Goro. The way the anime gives them both some focus, and I think that balance is really well done. The story would still work even without the whole “Mai and Goro are dating” angle, since that's a detail that only shows up if you’ve played the game really thoroughly.
And before you know it, you find yourself wanting to know more about people like Mai’s older sister who works at Tomato Mart*… (laughs).
* Note from Switch: possibly meaning the Hokuhoku Lunches stand.
Q: What do you think makes the world of Shenmue, including the original games, so special? And what is it about the character of Ryo Hazuki that stands out to you?
MM: These days, open-world games are everywhere, but even back then, I think Yu Suzuki had already realized that the ultimate goal of a game was to create a fully believable alternate world. I don't think people really understood that vision at the time - not even us. And when the games first came out, they didn’t immediately get a ton of praise like, “Wow, this is amazing!” But what matters is that Yu-san stuck to his vision and made Shenmue I and II without compromising. I think that’s what really stands out.
Even for something as simple as buying a drink from a vending machine, I did the motion capture for putting in the coins, grabbing the can, the whole lot. And the voice you hear after drinking is actually different when Ryo drinks a carbonated beverage, versus an orange drink*. No one's ever going to notice something like that, right? (laughs) I remember doing a bunch of takes just for the sound of drinking the cola and getting told to redo them! But I think it's those kinds of little details that, decades later, people are finally appreciating, and it makes them want to walk around that world again.
* Note from Switch: does Ryo's voice after drinking differ depending on whether the drink is carbonated in the release version? Leave a comment if you have tried!
In the games, I did both the voice and the motion capture for Ryo, but I’ve come to realize that the people playing the game really saw themselves as being Ryo. He lives inside each player. He’s not just a protagonist you watch. He’s someone you move around. So when people say they love Ryo, they’re really saying they love a version of themselves. That’s why I think Ryo Hazuki isn’t just a cool character to look at. He’s an extension of the player.
Q: Do you have a message for everyone looking forward to the broadcast and streaming of the anime?
MM: I think Shenmue the Animation is made in a way that strikes the perfect balance for viewers who might be like, “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of Shenmue before.” You can come into it naturally, just enjoying the start of this action-adventure story - and before you know it, you might find yourself getting pulled deeper and deeper into the world of Shenmue. I’d love for people to fall into that world and get hooked.
Shenmue the Animation is currently streaming on various platforms and airing every Tuesday at 7:00 PM on TOKYO MX. To celebrate the anime adaptation, the city of Yokosuka, where both the original game and the anime are set, is hosting the "Shenmue × Yokosuka Anime Commemoration Project*", currently underway!
- Related post: Shenmue x Yokosuka: Animation Promotion Announced
Shenmue the Animation: Series Info
- Airing every Tuesday at 7:00 PM on TOKYO MX!
Please note: episodes may occasionally be delayed or skipped due to scheduling.
- Now streaming on various platforms!
Story
1986, Yokosuka.Ryo Hazuki, raised at the Hazuki Dojo under the strict guidance of his father, has been training in Hazuki-style jujutsu since childhood.But one day, his father is killed by a mysterious man named Lan Di, who also steals a powerful artifact he calls "the mirror." Vowing to uncover the truth behind the incident, Ryo begins his investigation. As he follows the clues connected to his father’s past, he finds himself caught in a conflict involving a dangerous criminal organization…From Yokosuka to Hong Kong, Ryo’s long journey now begins!
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