Following the announcement that Tohru Furuya would be stepping down from his role as Sabo in the TV anime “One Piece,” it was revealed that Miyu Irino would be taking over the role. Irino’s debut as Sabo took place in the 1116th episode, “Let’s Go Take It! Buggy’s Big Proclamation,” which aired on August 18, 2024. On social media, reactions ranged from “I’m not used to it yet” to “There’s no sense of discomfort,” sparking discussions.
Amid these various opinions, why was Irino’s performance considered “unnoticeable”? Let’s explore the reasons by looking back at Irino’s previous works.
A Representative Work from the ‘Ghibli Masterpiece’
Born in February 1988, Irino, now 36 years old, actually made his debut not in an anime but in a historical drama called Korczak Sensei, playing the role of a young boy. He entered the acting world as a child actor, not as a voice actor, after joining the Himawari Theatre Group (which he has since left).
Irino made his debut as a voice actor in the 1996 anime You’re Under Arrest, playing the role of Shou, one of the kindergarten trio who frequently interacted with the main characters, Natsumi and Miyuki.
Irino’s most notable work came in 2001 with the Ghibli film Spirited Away, where he voiced Haku, the boy who helps the protagonist Chihiro navigate the world of the gods. This role made his name widely known.
Spirited Away Scene Photo (C) 2001 Studio Ghibli・NDDTM
Following this, Irino landed roles such as Sora in the Kingdom Hearts series, Daisuke Niwa in D.N.Angel, Sena Kobayakawa in Eyeshield 21, Syaoran in Tsubasa Chronicle, and Jinta Yadomi (Jintan) in Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. He continued to take on protagonist roles in many works. He also played significant characters like Saji Crossroad in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Koushi Sugawara in Haikyu!!, and Todomatsu Matsuno in Osomatsu-san.
Why Viewers Found No “Discomfort” in Irino’s Sabo
Those familiar with the characters mentioned above may recognize that Irino’s voice has a charming “boyishness” to it. While there are various kinds of boyishness, Irino’s high, clear tone, which is pleasing to the ear, seems to fit well with characters who possess a pure heart and inner strength.
Sabo, who is Luffy’s older brother by oath and stands alongside Ace, often mediated disputes between Luffy and Ace during their childhood. Even after reuniting with Luffy as adults, he shows a strong sense of responsibility and cares for Luffy, offering kind words after Ace’s death and asserting, “I’ve got your back, Luffy!” Despite his strong demeanor as an older brother, Sabo sheds tears after parting with Luffy.
It seems that Irino’s voice perfectly matched the character of Sabo, who embodies this earnest and passionate spirit. While Furuya’s portrayal of Sabo was more fitting for the calm and composed chief of staff of the Revolutionary Army, Irino brought a fresh and lighter touch to the 22-year-old Sabo, leading viewers to find “no discomfort” in the transition.
Miyu Irino’s Broadened Range After Studying Abroad
In 2017, Irino took a temporary break from his career to study abroad. He explained on his blog, “I wanted to learn more about language and acting. Not going was no longer an option.”
He resumed his activities later that year, performing in the musical Fiddler on the Roof in December, where he played Motel, who falls in love with the eldest daughter of the protagonist Tevye, played by Masachika Ichimura. He performed alongside a stellar cast, including Masachika Ichimura and Ran Otori.
Having accumulated various experiences, Irino has undoubtedly expanded his range of expression. His future performances as Sabo in the anime One Piece are definitely something to watch closely.
Source: animeanime
