One of the new anime series that will debut in the spring of 2024 is Tonbo!, which is about golf. We had a conversation with lead voice actors Rika Hayashi and Hiroki Tōchi at Anime Japan 2024 about their characters, their golfing experiences, and the advantages of living in a rural area of Japan.
Hayashi voices the title character, Oi! Tonbo, a young golfer from one of Japan’s many small island settlements. This is her first major character voice acting role. Tonbo is a genius, Hayashi said when introducing her persona. Not just in terms of ability, but also in regard to attitude. She never gives up trying. She makes an effort to comprehend her errors as well as the actions of those around her. She’s always becoming better because she understands what she can and cannot achieve.
Hiroki Tōchi, a seasoned voice actor, portrays Kazuyoshi Igarashi, the disgraced former professional golfer. Tōchi described his basic nature as “clumsy… not really skillful—or rather, he keeps on failing.” However, as the narrative progresses, Igarashi’s bond with Tonbo helps him develop personally. Tōchi’s favorite part of the whole thing is when Igarashi expresses his thoughts regarding their mentor/mentee relationship. Igarashi has never done anything like this before, so it’s amazing that he is able to tell Tonbo exactly how he feels. You can feel the connection between them in this incredibly beautiful scene. Even as an adult, I thought it was a beautiful occasion.
Given that Tonbo! is an anime about golf, it’s helpful to know that both of the voice actors have played the game for a while. When she was given the post, Hayashi had very little golfing experience. “I didn’t play golf other than a few swings with a golf club when I was in elementary school,” she said. “I’ve been going to the practice range since [production on Tonbo!] began, attempting to hit balls and considering how to make them fly a long way. I strive to do things the same way Tonbo does, and I’ve learned to appreciate the happiness and pleasure she gets from taking risks and succeeding. It could be comparable to the happiness Tonbo experiences after conquering obstacles and achieving, even when things don’t go as planned initially.
Conversely, Tōchi has a longer history with golf. “I used to go golf with my dad on occasion when I was in my first year of high school, around the age of sixteen,” he said. I know the strain of knowing that if I make this putt, my score will drop from 40 to 39. I’ve played since I used to grasp the tension. When Tonbo and Igarashi play golf, I can see where their mindsets originate.
It’s interesting to note that Tōchi and Hayashi had to overcome the obstacle of golf—or rather, the English title for the game. There are numerous technical components to golf, which might be difficult to articulate. I occasionally had to read aloud from the script for three pages at a time. That is difficult. Tōchi went on, “I know that words like ‘3-iron’ are mentioned, or words like ‘against’ for headwind and ‘follow’ for tailwind,’ but these words can be tricky to pronounce, like in ‘fairway.'” Hayashi concurred. “At first, I couldn’t say it!”
Even while golf is Tonbo!’s main focus, the environment is just as crucial. The Tokara Islands, a group of tiny islands off the southern coast of Japan with a combined population in the mid-hundreds, are the setting for the beginning of the novel. Although Hayashi and Tōchi have not traveled to the islands, Hayashi is accustomed to living in a rural area and can readily relate to the close-knit community of islanders: “I used to frequently forget my house keys before heading to school when I was younger. I had to wait for my parents to return home because they both had jobs. But because I lived in Wakayama’s countryside, passing neighbors would see me and inquire, “Would you like to come over?” There was a great deal of friendliness and everyone knew one another.
Despite not being raised in a rural area, Tōchi observed that as a child, there was a stronger sense of community, which is reflected in Tonbo! “The neighbors in the apartment complex where I currently reside don’t even say hello to one another. When I was a child, it was normal practice to borrow items from neighbors in case you ran out, such as soy sauce. Tōchi remarked, “It appears that these customs are still prevalent on the Tokara Islands. Some individuals yearn for Tokyo, but the people of the Tokara islands are inherently friendly and pleasant. Everyone in the community helps one another even though they are not related by blood. It resembles a large family. I wish such a community existed.
Hayashi had this to say regarding the knowledge that Tonbo! will be watched by anime enthusiasts all across the world. “I’m both excited and a little nervous about how and what people from different places will think of the anime. I hope everyone enjoys seeing it because it’s an interesting show that highlights the charm of all those involved.
Tōchi shared his opinions on the subject as well. Since golf is a widely popular sport, it’s easy to follow and appreciate Tonbo’s plot. While there are many different kinds of anime, this one has a traditional Japanese feel to it. Furthermore endearing are the characters. They can teach you about kindness, resiliency, and what it is to be strong. I hope that both kids and adults will be able to enjoy its beauty! I hope the series is enjoyed by many people.
