- Interview Date: 8/23/2025
- Interview Location: Anime NYC 2025
- Interview Format: In-Person, One-on-One
Anime Herald: Throughout the first half of the film, we hear Zaitsu’s name spoken with respect and reverence. Then we meet him, and when he’s asked why he keeps challenging himself, he drops an amazing line.
“I’m a living thing. I’ll die eventually, I’ll never be born again.”
Did you put extra effort into that scene?
Kenji Iwaisawa: Yes, I agree. Zaitsu lives this amazing super-fast existence. His name comes up often among the boys. They sort of idolize him. When he finally appears we wanted to make it impactful. Just by showing up “this truly is the king.”
His dialogue from the manga already has such a big bang. I think what a lot of Japanese fans liked about the film is the way he pulls up the microphone and talks into it. They really liked that scene. We pulled mostly from the manga, but we put effort into that scene.
Anime Herald: It was very well done. I love Zaitsu. He’s my favorite character.
Kenji Iwaisawa: Thank you.
Anime Herald: You said you could relate to Zaitsu because you also played sports when you were growing up. What sports did you play?
Kenji Iwaisawa: I played baseball. I pitched, and played second base and third base.
Anime Herald: Max Fleischer received a patent for rotoscoping in 1917. What attracts you to this animation technique?
Kenji Iwaisawa: I think rotoscoping matches my style. I think, by using rotoscoping, I can bring out my individual characteristics.
Anime Herald: How would you describe your style?
Kenji Iwaisawa: I think my style is using the camera to fill the screen with animation, especially the background.
Anime Herald: What is your origin story as a director? Why did you choose to enter the anime industry?
Kenji Iwaisawa: I’ve always wanted to be a director. I started in live action. Then I discovered the art of rotoscoping. When I did a rotoscoping project, everyone praised me for it. That’s how I came to be.
Anime Herald: What filmmaking lessons did you learn from Ishii Teruo?
Kenji Iwaisawa: Actually, he didn’t teach me anything about filmmaking. It was mostly about dinner etiquette, how to behave at the table, or how to treat a woman when you are escorting them. Really nothing about filmmaking?
Anime Herald: What did he teach you about dinner etiquette?
Kenji Iwaisawa: I forgot. I forgot most of it.
Anime Herald: What do you remember about what he taught you about how to treat women you are escorting?
Kenji Iwaisawa: I mostly don’t remember, so I am not able to apply it at all.
Anime Herald: Threats of violence are a sub-theme in On-Gaku: Our Sound. However, my recollection is that only one punch was thrown on screen: Aya strikes Kenji in the shoulder. What was behind that decision for the story?
Kenji Iwaisawa: That scene is based off of the manga. Personally, I don’t like to include violence in my work unless it is necessary, and it is usually not. Even though a fight is about to break out, it’s not going to actually. That’s a conscious decision I make, because I don’t want to depict it.
Anime Herald: In your spare time, would you rather:
A. Read a book and drink coffee
B. Relax and pet a cat
C. Run as fast as you can
Kenji Iwaisawa: I would pick B, relax and pet a cat.
Anime Herald: So would I.
Kenji Iwaisawa: The cat that appears in the film is my cat.
Anime Herald: What’s your cat’s name?
Kenji Iwaisawa: Hokusai.
(Editor’s note: We had a brief discussion about Stadium Yanmar Nagai, which appears in the film.)
Anime Herald: You named your animation studio Rock ‘N Roll Mountain. Who are the musicians who have inspired you?
Kenji Iwaisawa: Credence Clearwater Revival.
Anime Herald: Did you ever play an instrument?
Kenji Iwaisawa: Not at all.
Anime Herald: 100 Meters took hair very seriously. Who was your favorite character in that regard?
Kenji Iawisawa: Zaitsu I think.
Anime Herald: Of all the characters, Kaido is self aware in a way many elite athletes are not. Many believe they will win, regardless of the evidence. Kaido recognizes Zaitsu is faster, but willingly escapes from reality to bolster his self confidence. How did you focus on portraying Kaido in the film?
Kenji Iawisawa: I think among all of the characters, Kaido would be the most normal. He probably has the skill and the ability, but he always falls into second place. I think he knows what defeat feels like. That’s why he’s able to come up with his own philosophy, and how to run. I think that’s why the words that he speaks are the most convincing. I think that’s also what makes him relatable to the audience. I think he has a lot of charm, and I really wanted to depict that. I was really attached to Kaido myself. He’s a special character.
Anime Herald: Do you have any questions for us?
Kenji Iawisawa: I’m curious, what made American audiences get into anime? Why do they like anime?
Anime Herald: This is an incredible question. We grew up with Disney movies. Then we had Saturday morning cartoons. We were used to animated television shows. I think, for American audiences, there’s generally one single anime that got them into it. For some, it’s Akira. For others, it’s Evangelion, or Sailor Moon. For me, it was FLCL. There’s something they see that they like. Now, One Piece is probably the biggest driver of it all.
We enjoyed the shows. It didn’t matter if they came from Japan or America.
Thank you very much.
Kenji Iawisawa: Thank you.
