- Interview Location: Anime Expo 2026
- Interview Format: In-person, One-on-One
Anime Herald: Congratulations on reaching the finish line. What are some of your favorite moments from the series (My Hero Academia)?
Daiki Yamashita: There are so many that it is hard to choose.
I have received this question many times. It’s always hard for me to choose, but I do have to come back to the first episode, where All Might reaches out and says, “You can be a hero.” That stuck with me though the final season.
Koki Uchiyama: For me, it’s season one. The first appearance had an impression on me, especially the U.S.J. Attack arc. As I look back on it now, my voice has changed, my acting style has changed. It’s almost hard to believe it’s me.
Anime Herald: Any stories from recording that you would like to share?
Daiki Yamashita: In the battle between All Might and All For One, the final battle, Miyaka-san (Kenta) lost his breath and collapsed. The first one to go help him was Akio-san (Ōtsuka), the voice actor for All For One.
Koki Uchiyama: For me, it was the time progression with meeting Akio-san of All For One. When I first met him, he really praised me for my past acting experiences and characters. After the time skip, there was a part where All For One took in (Tomura) Shigaraki and the process of the voices, they were in unison. In the recording process, I recorded after him. His voice made an impression on me. I was listening to it over and over.
Anime Herald: Both of you had to deal with some major character changes (Dark Deku, All For One’s takeover). How did you handle what was effectively a new character?
Daiki Yamashita: A lot of people tell me it appears [as if] Deku has fallen into the darkness, but to me, I interpret it as his sense of justice becoming very strong, in the sense he is doing everything for himself. I never felt that it was dark.
Deku was in a mental situation where he was battling alone, and fighting with loneliness. It’s almost a situation where he can’t hear anyone. He’s alone, and almost being cursed by All For One’s voice. It was very hard to act that out. I didn’t have an appetite. I lost around 5 kilograms.
Koki Uchiyama: As for me, when All For One took over Shigaraki, yes that made an impression on me. But, from season one onward, Shigaraki was a character that had so many changes. I felt like every season there was a wall for me and a challenge for me to change my acting.
Anime Herald: If you could have a quirk (either from the show, or something completely new), what quirk would you like to have?
Daiki Yamashita: I’m greedy, so I’d want many. From when I was young, I’ve always wanted to fly. As a kid I had a dream that Goku taught me to fly. If I had to choose, I’d choose flight.
Anime Herald: Good dream.
Daiki Yamashita: Yes.
Koki Uchiyama: I’m pretty stiff. I have knots in my shoulder, so I’d like a massage quirk. I’d like a relaxation quirk.
Anime Herald: Thank you very much.
Header image © K. Horikoshi / Shueisha, My Hero Academia Project
