The producer says he takes full responsibility for the backlash surrounding the third Mononoke film.
Mononoke franchise planning producer Kōji Yamamoto has announced his retirement from producing, following controversy surrounding the surprise return of voice actor Takahiro Sakurai in the latest Mononoke film.
The statement was posted to Yamamoto's X (formerly Twitter) account, where he apologised to fans and confirmed that the staff had recast a voice actor who had previously been replaced. Yamamoto stated that he would step away from producing, and instead focus on management and training the next generation of creators.
Why is there controversy surrounding Takahiro Sakurai's return?
The controversy stems from Mononoke The Movie: Chapter III–The Curse of the Serpent, which premiered in Japan on 29 May.
Fans who watched the film discovered that Sakurai had reprised his role as the original Medicine Seller in a cameo appearance. However, neither the film's staff nor distributor Twin Engine had announced the character's return before release.
The cameo quickly sparked debate online. While some fans welcomed Sakurai's return to the franchise, others criticised the decision due to the circumstances that led to his original replacement.
The staff later released a new trailer featuring the character, but did not initially reveal who voiced the role.
What did Kōji Yamamoto say?
In his statement, Yamamoto explained that during production discussions for the trilogy's final chapter, the idea emerged to bring back another Medicine Seller.
While the team could have introduced a different version of the character, Yamamoto said they ultimately chose the original television anime incarnation because they wanted to respond to longtime fans who had hoped to see him return.
According to Yamamoto, the staff intentionally kept the appearance secret because they wanted audiences to experience the reunion as a surprise.
However, he acknowledged that doing so removed the ability for viewers who did not want to see the original Medicine Seller return to make an informed decision before purchasing a ticket.
Yamamoto apologised for what he described as a lack of consideration and accepted responsibility for the resulting controversy.
Why was Takahiro Sakurai replaced from the Mononoke trilogy?
Sakurai was originally expected to reprise the role in the Mononoke film trilogy. However, in October 2022, Japanese tabloid Weekly Bunshun reported that the voice actor had engaged in a long-term extramarital affair with a writer who worked on his radio programme. The report alleged that the writer was unaware Sakurai was married until shortly before the show's conclusion.
Following the report, Sakurai's agency issued a statement acknowledging the situation and apologising to those affected.
In February 2023, Twin Engine announced that Sakurai would no longer appear in the Mononoke films. At the time, the company stated that the decision was made because the trilogy focuses on themes surrounding the suffering and healing of women.
Hiroshi Kamiya was subsequently cast as the Medicine Seller for the film trilogy. Notably, the Medicine Seller featured in the films is a different character from the original protagonist portrayed by Sakurai in the television anime.
Who is Kōji Yamamoto?
Yamamoto is one of the anime industry's most recognisable producers and has worked on numerous acclaimed projects throughout his career.
His production credits include Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, The Ancient Magus' Bride, Eden of the East, Lu Over the Wall, Princess Jellyfish, Psycho-Pass, ZENSHU., and The Tatami Galaxy.
Following his retirement announcement, Yamamoto stated that he plans to focus on management responsibilities and mentoring future creators, rather than continuing active production work.