ジョニィとジャイロの前に立ちはだかる敵キャラクターを演じる役者陣の視点から、『スティール・ボール・ラン ジョジョの奇妙な冒険』の魅力を掘り下げていくキャストリレーインタビュー。
第1回となる今回は、体内に飼った虫を操る奇襲攻撃でジョニィとジャイロを追い詰めたミセス・ロビンスンを演じた、福西勝也さんに話を聞いた。福西さんが考える、ミセス・ロビンスンのパラメーターは……？
▲本記事のサムネイル画像は、福西さんが選んだ第2話の“推しシーン”。「選んだ理由はいろいろとあるのですが、一番はやっぱりシンプルに映えるから！目の光が綺麗で、きっと撮影の方が気合を入れて表現してくださったんだと思います」（福西）
『ジョジョ』風ポーズをしながら演じたことで、リミッターが外れた
――まずは、今作への出演が決まった際のお気持ちを教えてください。
福西：『ジョジョ』シリーズに出演するのは実は2度目でして。『黄金の風』のときにも一度、名前のないサブキャラクター役で出させていただいたことがあったんです。『ジョジョ』では名もなきキャラクターも含めて一人ひとりが作品世界を構成する大事なエッセンスですから、そのときもとても嬉しかったのですが、今回は名前のある役、しかも主人公たちと相対するキャラクターとしてオファーをいただいて、喜びもひとしおでした。第２話という、2nd STAGEのスタートダッシュを飾る重要な話数に出演させていただけることも嬉しかったです。
――声優として参加される以前から、『ジョジョ』シリーズはご存じでしたか？
福西：はい、デザインやファッション的な面で荒木飛呂彦先生の描くものへのリスペクトはずっとありました。ただ、実は本編にガッツリと触れたのは声優になってからなんです。自分の出演作をチェックしようとテレビをつけたら、たまたま『ダイヤモンドは砕けない』の再放送がやっていて。ちょうど事務所の先輩である谷山紀章さん演じる噴上裕也が大暴れする回だったのですが、それがめちゃくちゃ面白かったんです。「『ジョジョ』って硬派なバトルのイメージがあったけど、こんなにウィットに富んだコメディバトルもあるんだ⁉ しかも、こんなにオシャレなんだ⁉」と衝撃を受けました。それをきっかけに原作を読んだら、大好きになっちゃって。以降の部も、アニメや漫画で楽しませていただいています。
――ミセス・ロビンスンを演じる上で意識したことを教えてください。
福西：演じるにあたっては、まず、この作品におけるロビンスンの立ち位置に着目しましたね。ジョニィとジャイロに対して初めて明確に敵意を向けてくるファーストエネミーであること。それと同時に、ご覧になる方にとっては、「『スティール・ボール・ラン』って、やっぱり『ジョジョ』なんだ！」と感じる象徴のような存在でもあること。そういう意味では、この作品において非常に重要な役割を果たしているんです。だからこそ私も、「わけのわからないまま大物感を出して登場して、わけのわからないままくたばる」というところを大事にしようと思いました。
ただ、単純に大きい声を出したり、癖のある読み方をしたりするだけでは、大物感は出せません。大事なのは、日本語の組み立てをしっかりすること。そのために、まず台本のセリフを文節ごとに区切って、現代文的に読み解いていき、「この人はどこを大事に読むだろう？」と考えていきました。セリフ自体は台本上、2見開きぐらいしかないのですが、そのなかにどれだけ印象を詰め込めるか。自分が今まで積み重ねてきたいろいろな技法を総動員して臨ませていただきました。
――福西さんが選ぶ、第2話の名場面は？
福西：第2話の名場面としては“このレースでオレの前を走るやつはいねえッ!!”のところを挙げたいです。実はこのセリフは、マイク前で『ジョジョ』風のポージングをしながら演じさせていただいたんです。特定のキャラクターの立ち方を真似したというわけではなく、私なりのポージングですが（と言いながら、腕を上げて身体をくねらせたポーズを実際にしてみせる福西さん）。というのも、ボイストレーニングの手法で、「身体の各所の筋肉を使いながら声を出すと、一つ抜けた音が出せる」というやり方があるんですよ。実際、ポーズをしたことでリミッターが外れたといいますか、この派手なシーンにそぐう芝居ができたんじゃないかなと思います。あとで地上実況役の稲田徹さんが「『ジョジョ』っぽい立ち方をしてたね」と言ってくださって、それも嬉しかったです。
――ミセス・ロビンスンの《危険度》《かっこよさ》《かわいさ》《精神の強さ》《頭の良さ》《友達になりたい度》を、A（超スゴイ）～E（イマイチ）の5段階で評価して、パラメーターを作ってください。
福西：まずは《危険度》から。虫を操る能力は意外と応用が利きそうですし、遠距離攻撃もできるし、場面によってはめちゃくちゃ強そうですよね。とはいえ、圧倒的なパワーにはぶち負かされそうなので、Bとさせていただきます。《かっこよさ》は、ビジュアルが超かっこいいのでＡをあげたい……んですけど、いかんせん「目から虫が出る」というのは苦手な方も多そうなので、Cということで。一方で、《かわいさ》はAです。動いている姿も、巻き髪も、黒リップも、豊かな表情も、ファッションの色使いや露出のバランスも、もうすべてが完璧でした！
《精神の強さ》は、文句なしのＡ！ なんならSにしたいぐらいです。どう考えても、自分で体内に虫を飼って、スタンド能力と誤認するほどの技術を独力で開発するってやばすぎる！ ただ、私的に、襲撃の仕方についてはちょっと文句を言いたいんですよね。「アナタ、そんな強い能力があるなら、もっとヒット＆アウェイでチクチク攻めていけば、確実に仕留められたんじゃないのォ⁉」と。「お前ならもっとやれたぞ！」という激励の意味を込めて、《頭の良さ》はＥを付けさせていただきます。最後、《友達になりたい度》。育ってきた環境を考えると守ってあげたくなりますし、話していて楽しそうだし、ファッション的にも通ずる部分がありそうなんですが……やっぱり虫さんがネックかな（笑）。決して本人が悪いわけではないんですが、一緒に遊ぼうと思っても入れないお店が多そうだし、銭湯やサウナに行ったら虫さんたちが耐えられなさそうだし……などなど懸念事項が多そうなので、Dということに。
というわけで、私が考えるロビンスンのパラメーターはこんな感じです！ 《かわいさ》と《精神の強さ》がＡって、なんだか最強ギャルみたいな結果になりましたね（笑）。
▲福西さん直筆のパラメーター
――ミセス・ロビンスンは退場となりましたが、これからもレースは続きます。最後に、今後の展開を楽しみにしているファンの方へメッセージを。
福西：ジョニィ役の坂田将吾さんとジャイロ役の阿座上洋平さんはもともと私の大好きな役者さんなのですが、この作品に臨む覚悟の決まり方が本当に半端なくて。一言一句どのセリフにも自分の表現の粋を込めてやる！という緊張感が、ひしひしと伝わってきました。正直、テストのときは、そんな二人の熱量に圧倒されてしまって。「あ、私は今、負けたんだ……」と感じたんです。それは悔しくもあり、同時に本当に嬉しいことでもありました。そんな二人が引っ張る作品の座組が素晴らしくないわけがありません！ これからも彼らをはじめとするキャスト陣のお芝居に、そしてお馬さんたちの逞しくかわいい姿や、アニメーターの皆さんが描く素晴らしいアニメーションにも注目して、『スティール・ボール・ラン』の物語を楽しんでいただけたらと思います。
Editor's Note
インタビュー当日は、『ジョジョ』をイメージしたという紫ベースのファッションで取材現場にやって来た福西さん。「アフレコのときはまだ映像に色がついていなかったので、ロビンスンは黒が基調だと思っていたんです。でも、インタビュー前に完成映像を見せていただいたところ、紫を基調とした色彩になっていて。今日は意図せずリンクコーデになって嬉しいです」と笑っていた。また、OPテーマを手掛けるバンド・Kroiの大ファンということで、「やっとKroiが主題歌を歌うアニメに出られた！」と嬉しそうに語っていた。
In this cast relay interview series, we explore the appeal of STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure through the perspectives of the actors who portray the enemies standing in the way of Johnny and Gyro.
For this first interview, we spoke with Katsuya Fukunishi, who plays Robinson, the foe who cornered Johnny and Gyro with surprise attacks carried out using insects raised inside his own body. What does Fukunishi-san think Robinson's character charts look like...?
▲Fukunishi-san's favorite pick from Episode 2
“There are a lot of reasons I picked it, but the biggest one is simply that it looks fantastic! The glow in his eyes is beautiful, and you can really tell the anime production team put a lot of effort into bringing that expression to life.” (Fukunishi-san)
By Performing a “JoJo-Style” Pose, I Was Able to Break Through My Limits
――First of all, how did you feel when you found out you would be appearing in this series?
Fukunishi：Actually, this is my second time appearing in the JoJo series. Back during Golden Wind, I had the opportunity to play a minor character without a name. In JoJo, every character, even unnamed ones, serves as an important element in building the world of the story, so I was already thrilled to be involved back then. This time, however, I was offered a named role, and on top of that, a character who directly confronts the protagonists. That made me even happier.
I was also delighted to appear in Episode 2, an important episode that serves as the opening sprint of the 2nd STAGE. Being entrusted with such a significant point in the story was truly an honor.
―― Were you familiar with the JoJo series before joining it as a voice actor?
Fukunishi：Yes. I've always had a great deal of respect for the work of Mr. Hirohiko Araki from a design and fashion standpoint. That said, I actually didn't really dive deeply into the series itself until after I became a voice actor.
One day, I turned on the TV to check a show I was appearing in, and by chance a rerun of Diamond Is Unbreakable was on. It happened to be the episode where Yuya Fungami, played by my senior at the agency, Kisho Taniyama, was causing all kinds of chaos, and it was incredibly entertaining.
I was genuinely surprised. I had always thought of JoJo as a serious, hard-boiled battle series, but then I realized, "Wait, it can have witty, comedy-driven battles like this too? And it's this stylish?" That revelation really shocked me.
That experience inspired me to read the original manga, and I completely fell in love with it. Since then, I've continued enjoying the later Parts through both the anime and the manga.
―― What did you keep in mind when portraying Robinson?
Fukunishi：When approaching the role, the first thing I focused on was Robinson's place within the story. He's the first enemy to openly direct hostile intent toward Johnny and Gyro. At the same time, for viewers, he's also a symbolic presence that makes you realize, "Ah, so STEEL BALL RUN really is JoJo!" In that sense, he plays a very important role in the series.
Because of that, I wanted to emphasize the idea of appearing with an overwhelming sense of importance despite being completely mysterious, and then meeting his end while remaining completely mysterious.
That said, you can't create that larger-than-life presence simply by shouting or giving the lines an unusual delivery. What's truly important is having a strong grasp of the structure of the Japanese language itself.
To achieve that, I first broke every line in the script down into individual phrases and analyzed them almost like modern Japanese literature. I kept asking myself, "Which words would this person emphasize? What does he consider important?" The total amount of dialogue only filled about two double-page spreads of the script, but I wanted to pack as much impact as possible into those few lines.
So for this role, I drew upon every technique and approach I've accumulated throughout my career and brought them all to the recording booth.
―― What is your favorite scene from Episode 2?
Fukunishi：If I had to pick a standout scene from Episode 2, it would be the moment where Robinson declares, “Nobody’s gonna run ahead of me in this race!!”
Actually, I performed that line while striking a JoJo-style pose in front of the microphone. It wasn't meant to imitate any specific character's stance. It was my own original pose, though. (As he says this, Fukunishi-san demonstrates the pose by raising his arm and twisting his body.)
The reason I did that is because there's a voice-training technique that teaches you to engage different muscle groups throughout your body while speaking. When you do that, you can sometimes produce a voice that breaks through your usual range and limitations.
In practice, striking that pose really felt like it removed my limiter, so to speak. It allowed me to deliver a performance that matched the over-the-top energy of the scene. Later, Toru Inada, who plays the race announcer, told me, “You were standing in a very JoJo-like way.” That made me really happy as well.
―― Please rate Mrs. Robinson in the categories of Danger Level, Coolness, Cuteness, Mental Strength, Intelligence, and “Would You Want to Be Friends with Them?” on a five-point scale from A (Amazing) to E (Not Great), and create a character parameter chart.
Fukunishi：First, let's start with Danger Level. His ability to control insects seems surprisingly versatile, and it allows for long-range attacks as well, so depending on the situation he could be incredibly dangerous. That said, I feel like he'd still get overwhelmed by someone with truly overwhelming power, so I'd give him a B.
For Coolness, his visual design is undeniably amazing, so I really want to give him an A... but the whole "insects crawling out of his eyes" thing is probably a bit much for some people, so let's settle on a C.
On the other hand, Cuteness is an easy A. The way he moves, those curled locks of hair, the black lipstick, his expressive facial reactions, the color coordination of his outfit, even the balance between coverage and exposure in his fashion design... everything about him is perfect!
As for Mental Strength, that's an unquestionable A. Honestly, I almost want to give him an S. I mean, just think about it. Raising insects inside your own body and independently developing techniques so advanced that people mistake them for a Stand ability? That's absolutely insane!
That said, I do have one complaint about the way he carried out his attacks. My reaction is, "You have an ability that strong! If you'd just fought with more hit-and-run tactics and kept whittling them down, couldn't you have finished them off for sure?!" With that thought in mind, and as a form of encouragement, I'd have to give his Intelligence an E. It's more of a "You could've done even better!" kind of rating.
Finally, there's Friendship Potential. When you think about the environment he grew up in, you kind of want to look after him. He seems like he'd be fun to talk to, and I feel like we'd probably share some interests in fashion too. But...
...the insects are a bit of a dealbreaker (laughs).
It's not his fault, of course, but I can imagine there being lots of places we wouldn't be allowed to enter together. And if we went to a public bath or a sauna, I doubt all those insects would survive the experience. There seem to be a lot of practical concerns, so I'll give that category a D.
So those are my Robinson parameters!
Getting A in both Cuteness and Mental Strength makes him sound less like a villain and more like some kind of ultimate gal, doesn't it? (laughs)
▲ Charts hand-written by Katsuya Fukunishi
―― Robinson may be out of the race, but the journey continues. Finally, do you have a message for fans looking forward to what's coming next?
Fukunishi：I've always been a huge fan of Shogo Sakata, who plays Johnny, and Yohei Azakami, who plays Gyro. But what truly struck me was the incredible level of commitment they brought to this project. You could feel the tension in every line, the determination to pour the very best of their craft into every single word they spoke.
To be honest, during the test recording, I was completely overwhelmed by their passion and intensity. I remember thinking, "I've been beaten." It was frustrating, of course, but at the same time it was also genuinely inspiring and gratifying.
A production led by actors with that kind of dedication can't possibly be anything less than outstanding.
As the story moves forward, I hope fans will continue paying attention not only to the performances of those two and the rest of the cast, but also to the horses, who are both rugged and adorable in their own way, and to the incredible animation brought to life by the animation team.
I hope everyone continues to enjoy the story of STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Editor's Note
On the day of the interview, Fukunishi-san arrived wearing a purple-based outfit inspired by JoJo.
"When we were recording, the footage hadn't been colored yet, so I assumed Robinson's design would primarily be black. But before this interview, I was shown the completed footage and discovered that his color was actually centered around purple. So today I unintentionally ended up matching him, which makes me really happy," he said with a laugh.
Fukunishi-san also revealed that he is a huge fan of the band Kroi, which performs the anime's opening theme.
Smiling broadly, he added:
"I finally got to appear in an anime with a Kroi theme song!"