People who have children regret having children at a higher statistical rate than trans people regret hormones, transitioning or surgeries. Imagine if people talked about having kids the same way as they do about gender-affirming treatments. Like someone excitedly tells you they're trying for a baby, and you'd just fucking go
"Are you sure you want to go through with that? What if you end up regretting it? You can't get rid of it once it's here, you know. That thing will outlive you. My aunt had a baby once somewhere back in the 90s and all she ever talks about is how much my cousin sucks."
Uchusen Vol.191 (Winter 2026)
No.1 Sentai Gozyuger
ft. Fuyuno Mio x Kimura Kaiki Interview
(translation below)
Publication: December 27, 2025
"What were your first impressions of each other?"
Fuyuno: Our first real meeting wasn't after it was decided that we'd be working together, but before the final audition. Prior to that, we were conscious of each other's faces from the auditions, but we happened to meet at a karaoke box and became friends.
Kimura: About two hours before the final audition, I wanted to practice my lines and double check everything, so I went into a karaoke box. Then, when I went to the bathroom, I bumped into him, and when I asked, it turned out that he was in the room right next to mine. So, I thought, "Since we're here, why don't we read things over together?," and decided to go to Mio's room to read our lines……but eventually I thought, "Maybe it's best not to overdo it," and ended up singing together with him (laughs).
Fuyuno: We did sing. Personally, I believe that Gozyuger began with karaoke.
Kimura: No, it was with us (laughs).
"Were you able to open up to each other from the start?"
Kimura: No, Mio's always been shy around others.
Fuyuno: At that time too, Kaiki-kun was really talkative, so it was helpful.
Kimura: When I'm nervous, I end up talking alot as a reflex, you know? That's why from my perspective, I did feel kinda bad about it, like, "Did I come off too strong and drag him along?"
Fuyuno: I'm someone who doesn't say much, so I felt very comfortable since he talked alot.
Kimura: Still, it felt like it was fate that Mio, who read his lines together with me at karaoke, and I were selected together as Red and the additional member, and I was so happy when I found out that he had gotten the role of Tono Hoeru. During the auditions, we didn't exchange anything in particular like contact info, and the only thing I knew was that I had been cast as the additional member, so just like all of the fans, I only found out about the other main cast members at the time of the production announcement.
"Has anything changed since your first impressions of each other?"
Fuyuno: My first impression was, "This guy sure talks alot," but from there, it formed into, "This guy's really serious." His preparation for the script is always incredible, and on set, he really listens to the Director's input to build his role. He's actually really reliable and serious.
Kimura: I remember thinking that Mio was someone who puts up a wall of decent distance between him and others, but since we were working together, I figured we had to communicate, so I actually tried even harder to talk to him during the very beginning……however, I've come to realize that it's not really that he's shy around people, it's more like he's clumsy. He wants to talk to people, but since he's clumsy, he doesn't know how. Still, as I continued to watch him, I began to realize that while he's clumsy, he's committed to taking the initiative, and is someone who will recklessly rush into action. I can feel the passion and energy he puts into the challenges before him, and can feel a sense of respect when I watch him. So, I think we've developed a relationship where we're aiming to reach higher together, while being conscious of each other's efforts.
"What kind of relationship do you two normally have?"
Kimura: Initially, we were really poking around each other. Since we've spent so much time interacting with each other through our characters Hoeru and Mashiro, our private time started off with those same kind of vibes.
Fuyuno: From there, we started going out for meals and hanging out at each other's places, where things gradually changed each time.
Kimura: Now, we can just casually say things like, "Wanna go out for a meal?" without having to overthink it, and there's no awkward feeling that we have to be considerate with each other. Still, that's not just between Mio and me, as it's the same for all the Gozyugers. We're all actors around the same age, so we do view each other as rivals to an extent, and even though filming for Gozyuger has just ended, we're still curious about each other's future projects. It feels like we're friends, while at the same time rivals, who are pushing each other in order to sharpen our skills.
Fuyuno: Kaiki-kun's awareness of the production towards the end just kept growing and growing, and he was really taking it seriously. I was also influenced by that, as it helped me to work harder, and having seen Kaiki-kun put so much effort into things like post recording made me think, "I should try my best too" countless times. For me, Kaiki-kun is someone who naturally influences me and fires me up.
Kimura: As we neared the end, Kumade Mashiro's past also came into focus, and it's because of this that I could clearly comprehend what Mashiro was thinking and where he was headed. With the answer within me becoming clear, I feel like I was able to focus more on his character.
Fuyuno: Watching Kaiki-kun up close like that has made it feel like I've become able to naturally concentrate as well. When we'd have an early shoot the following day, we avoided going out to eat together. Since I was focused on shooting each day's scenes, I feel like I tend to become so focused on one thing, that I lose sight of everything else around me.
Kimura: I think that Mio has incredibly strong confidence in himself. He firmly maintains the stance that it's not, "This is how things are going, so I'll do it like this," but rather, "I want to do it like this, so that's what I'm gonna do." He's a natural born Tono Hoeru (laughs).
Fuyuno: I'm really not good at speaking, including in interviews like this one (laughs), but I feel like I've gotten alittle more used to it after doing it so many times. I've been speaking in front of people more often, and am usually asked to give the closing remarks, so I think I can speak better now than I did during the beginning.
Kimura: We all understand that "that's just Mio," and it feels like everyone accepts it. We respect each other and avoid encroaching on each other's "territory," while still being able to maintain a good distance between us. I think that's what Gozyuger's all about.
"Including post recording and action, is there anything you feel that you've improved on over this past year?"
Kimura: Mio's gotten really good at recording, don't you think? Compared to the first episode, he's on a completely different level now.
Fuyuno: In the beginning, my throat would become sore easily and I couldn't really carry my voice……is how it felt, but after trying out various things like running before recording sessions and going to karaoke to practice vocal exercises, my voice has gotten more powerful over the past year, and I think I've gotten better at recording compared to before. Kaiki-kun has also improved.
Kimura: Really?
Fuyuno: I can't say much yet, but the episodes near the ending were absolutely amazing. He poured his entire heart and soul into it.
Kimura: I pushed myself to the point of almost running out of oxygen (laughs). This goes for all the Gozyuger members, but during the climax, I could really feel their growth in both the post recording and action scenes. As for Mio, I think his recordings were especially impressive.
Fuyuno: Speaking of which, I'd say it's action for Kaiki-kun. He learned from GozyuPolar's Suit Actor Nakata-san, and he often practiced boxing styles too, so he really is incredibly skilled.
Kimura: It was so much fun doing action, so I'd always practice whenever I had the time. I wouldn't go home even after my own filming was over, as I'd stick around and have the action team watch me.
Fuyuno: I'm no good with action. I was really bad at memorizing things like the moves (action instructions) and dancing.
Kimura: I especially enjoyed working with Action Director Fukuzawa-san and Nakata-san to change the action into something "more typical of Mashiro." For instance, we'd adjust the punch's feel from something typical of Chinese kenpo to being closer to that of a boxer's, and would change the punch's trajectory to achieve that. Even when throwing a punch, it was interesting to create his character with a sense of "more bold and powerful" in mind.
"This production featured many guests, including those who took on the role of Universe Warriors, but who were the most memorable guests for each of you?"
Fuyuno: Personally, it'd be Atami Tokonatsu's Nanase Kou-san and Sekimoto Kazu's Seki Tomokazu-san. I worked with Nanase-san during the very beginning, but we became close enough where we went out for meals together, and he even gave me a birthday present. He radiates the same "happy sunshine like aura" that he had during his performance, and was genuinely kind to me. Seki-san was also memorable, as I had the opportunity to do post recording with him, but the impact he had during those times were truly incredible. I was completely overwhelmed by everything from the quality to the volume of his voice, where I remember getting goosebumps. Being able to hear that voice right next to me was an invaluable experience.
Kimura: I love anime, so it made me happy seeing how awesome Seki-san was, and I couldn't help but look at him with admiration. Additionally, I was personally happy that each episode's No Ones had such luxurious Voice Actors participating. Every single No One had such wonderful personalities, and they're all so appealing that it felt like a waste for them to appear in only one episode. Whenever I saw a guest's name written in the recording booth, I'd get super excited every single time and think, "This person's recording right now!" I'm personally aware that I'm not very good at recording, but thanks to everyone's participation, I was able to maintain my motivation in some ways (laughs).
"What were your impressions of Shida Kohaku-san, who joined you midway through?
Kimura: We meet for the first time during the filming of the new opening sequence, but she's a very cheerful and lovely person.
Fuyuno: We only worked together on the shoot for a short amount of time, but she's an incredibly positive person who really brightened up the place. She was always smiling, and gave off the impression of being a cheerful and pleasant person.
Kimura: She even memorized the opening dance in just one day, and while it must've been tough having to memorize so much, she never showed it, and always greeted us with a smile. I thought that was amazing.
"Including the enemies, out of all the characters that've made an appearance in Gozyuger, which one is your absolute favorite?"
Fuyuno: I was fixated on Kuon for the entire year. I was shocked every time I saw Karuma-san's performance, as his sheer level of craziness was about two steps beyond what I had envisioned, but at the same time, I could also feel an older brother's strong love for his younger brother, and he's not just crazy, as you could also catch glimpses of his sensitive side, which is just how amazing his range is. His visuals are also cool, and I really have always loved him.
Kimura: For me as a viewer, it's definitely Hoeru. I think that Gozyuger is fundamentally Hoeru's story, as when I watched the process of him powering up, I could feel not only Hoeru, but also Mio growing alongside him as he performed, so that was a key point I couldn't overlook throughout the year. But, I really think that Hoeru has lost way too many things.
Fuyuno: Still, no matter how many times he gets fired from part time jobs, he doesn't get hung up on it, so he's really strong mentally, huh? (laughs).
"The Super Sentai series will enter a hiatus after Gozyuger, but did hearing about that change how you felt about the production?"
Kimura: Nothing in particular changed for me. My stance didn't change before or after hearing it, although maybe I was just trying not to think about it. My assignment didn't change, I just had to do what had to be done.
Fuyuno: Nothing in particular changed for me either. Just for argument's sake, even if Gozyuger becomes the final entry in the series, the entire cast and staff approached it as a 50th Anniversary production, with each and every one of us pouring our hearts into creating it together, so we made a conscious effort to approach it with the same unchanged passion that we've always had.
Kimura: Also, we might've had abit of a defiant attitude. We wanted to show the fans, "Look at how much passion we've got!" But while I naturally feel abit sad about it, on the flip side, there's also my own tokusatsu fan heart that's excited about the program coming after this. Its key visuals are seriously cool too (laughs).
"And now, please tell us your thoughts looking back on the past year."
Kimura: First, thank you very much for the past year. Through the great man Kumade Mashiro, I've been working with the hope that I too might grow, even if just alittle. Right now, I seriously feel that Kumade Mashiro and GozyuPolar were made possible by the support of the staff, cast, and fans, and I want to cherish the power I've received from all of you as I myself continue to grow even more. Gozyuger is a production that features tons of Super Sentai Reds as Universe Warriors, and just being able to see DekaRed and AbaRed, both of whom I watched as a kid, right before my eyes made my heart race, and it motivated me to strive to embody that kind of presence myself, so in that sense, it was truly an incredibly honorable year.
Fuyuno: I thought it was a year where I was able to learn and grow while experiencing various things. Around the beginning, I didn't have much experience and was overwhelmed with anxiety, but from everything including post recording, action, and filming in front of others as a Gozyuger, I truly feel that I've "grown alot." I've come this far by projecting myself onto Tono Hoeru's journey of overcoming various hardships and growing stronger, hoping to grow together with him, and since I feel like I have actually grown as well, it's been a truly invaluable year. It felt like a year "rich in density," and I want to make good use of what I've gained this year moving forward.
Kimura: It was really rich.
Fuyuno: It was more rich than I had envisioned (laughs).
Kimura: That anxiety I had in the beginning lasted only a moment. Once I made up my mind that I "had no choice but to do this," the year that followed flew by in the blink of an eye.
"Finally, please give a message to the fans."
Kimura: The final No One has appeared, and from here on out, we're entering the phase where we'll be charging nonstop towards the conclusion. I'm also looking forward to celebrating the culmination of this past year together with everyone.
Fuyuno: This past year has truly been one supported by all of the fans. The voices of everyone who helped build excitement on SNS and other places was something Gozyuger's cast and staff also looked forward to, and we have nothing but gratitude. The story is about to rush into a furious climax, so I hope you'll enjoy it up until the very end.
Kimura: It was because of your voices that I feel like I was able to move forward while believing that I was a hero. I want to race towards the ending while receiving everyone's encouraging voices, so I'd appreciate your continued support!