After it was announced that Tohru Furuya would be leaving his role as Sabo in the TV anime “One Piece,” it was revealed that Miyu Irino would be taking his place. Irino’s first appearance as Sabo was in the 1116th episode, “Let’s Go Take It! Buggy’s Big Proclamation,” which aired on August 18, 2024. Reactions on social media varied from “I’m still getting used to it”to “There’s no feeling of discomfort,”sparking conversations among fans.
Despite the differing opinions, what led to Irino’s performance being deemed as “unnoticeable”? To understand this, we can examine Irino’s past works.
A Work Representing the ‘Ghibli Masterpiece’
Despite being born in February 1988, Irino, who is currently 36 years old, did not make his debut in an anime. Instead, his first acting role was in a historical drama called Korczak Sensei, where he portrayed a young boy. He initially joined the Himawari Theatre Group as a child actor, rather than as a voice actor, but has since departed from the group.
Irino’s first appearance as a voice actor was in the 1996 anime You’re Under Arrest. He portrayed the character Shou, a member of the kindergarten trio who often had interactions with the main protagonists, Natsumi and Miyuki.
One of Irino’s most renowned roles was in the 2001 Ghibli film Spirited Away, where he portrayed Haku, the boy who aids the main character Chihiro in navigating through the realm of the gods. This particular role brought him widespread recognition and solidified his name in the industry.
The photo of the scene from Spirited Away is (C) 2001 Studio Ghibli・NDDTM.
After these roles, Irino went on to portray characters such as Sora in the Kingdom Hearts series, Daisuke Niwa in D.N.Angel, Sena Kobayakawa in Eyeshield 21, Syaoran in Tsubasa Chronicle, and Jinta Yadomi (Jintan) in Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. He continued to take on leading roles in various projects and also played significant characters, including Saji Crossroad in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Koushi Sugawara in Haikyu!!, and Todomatsu Matsuno in Osomatsu-san.
Why Viewers Did Not Experience Any “Discomfort”with Irino’s Sabo
For those who are familiar with the characters mentioned, it may be apparent that Irino’s voice carries a delightful “boyish”quality. Although there are different interpretations of what it means to be boyish, Irino’s high, crisp tone exudes a pleasant sound that complements characters with a genuine heart and inner resilience.
Sabo, who is bound to Luffy by their brotherly bond and stands by Ace’s side, played the role of mediator between Luffy and Ace during their childhood. As they reunited as adults, he continues to show his sense of duty and affection towards Luffy, offering words of comfort after Ace’s passing and reassuring him with the words, “I will always support you, Luffy.”Despite his stoic facade as an older brother, Sabo cannot hold back his tears as he says goodbye to Luffy.
It appears that Irino’s vocal performance was a perfect match for the character of Sabo, who embodies a sincere and enthusiastic spirit. While Furuya’s depiction of Sabo was better suited for the composed and collected chief of staff of the Revolutionary Army, Irino’s portrayal brought a new and more lighthearted approach to the 22-year-old Sabo, resulting in a seamless transition for viewers.
After studying abroad, Miyu Irino’s range has broadened.
In 2017, Irino decided to temporarily pause his career and study abroad. In a blog post, he stated, “I had a strong desire to delve deeper into language and acting. Not pursuing this opportunity was no longer a possibility.”
Later that year, he returned to his activities by starring in the musical Fiddler on the Roof in December. In the production, he portrayed Motel, who falls for the eldest daughter of the protagonist Tevye, portrayed by Masachika Ichimura. He shared the stage with an exceptional cast, which included Masachika Ichimura and Ran Otori.
With a wealth of experiences under his belt, Irino has without a doubt broadened his repertoire of expressions. His upcoming portrayals of Sabo in the popular anime One Piece are certainly worth keeping an eye on.
The source of this information is from the website animeanime, accessible at https://animeanime.jp/article/2024/08/25/86187.html.
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