As the second season of Tower of God unfolds, fans are treated to a deeper understanding of the story’s complex characters. Taichi Ichikawa, the voice behind Jyu Viole Grace (Twenty-Fifth Bam), and Saori Hayami, the voice of Rachel shared their thoughts about their roles and the series during the interview.
Rachel’s Complexity and Evolution
Rachel has long divided fans with her morally ambiguous decisions and mysterious motives. Saori Hayami reflected on stepping into the shoes of such a polarizing character.
Q: Tower of God has many passionate fans. Do you remember how you felt when you were cast in this series? Is there anything you do to prepare to play such a complex character?
HAYAMI SAORI: Being cast in such an internationally popular series to play Rachel, a character about whom much is still unknown even in the Webtoon, made me feel both happy and nervous.
During my first recording session, the director and sound director told me a lot about Rachel, and with every recording we took, they provided me with careful direction as we built her character through her voice.
Q: Compared to when you first performed as Rachel, has there been any change in your understanding or approach?
HAYAMI SAORI: My approach has not changed much. However, toward the start of recording season 2, the sound director told me something like, “In season 1, there were scenes showing Rachel’s psychological state and inner thoughts, so the audience could feel affection for her, but there are fewer of those scenes this time.” The director said, “He’s prepared for existing Rachel fans to hate him, so don’t hold back with your performance.” So, I tried to be as bold as possible with my performance.
Q: Many fans have both a strong attachment to Rachel and complicated feelings about her. When playing such a complex role, is there anything you do to make audiences empathize with the character and give them depth?
HAYAMI SAORI: Many of her actions are quite shocking, and she is shrouded in mystery, so she draws a lot of attention for both good and bad reasons. As the story develops and more is revealed, I believe she will inspire huge emotions in the audience. Personally, rather than trying to get the audience to empathize with Rachel, I hope that my performance straightforwardly delivers her words and actions to the audience.
Bam’s Journey of Self-Discovery
Bam’s evolution from a naive, kind-hearted boy to the conflicted Viole reflects his struggle with betrayal and self-discovery. Taichi Ichikawa shared his thoughts on capturing Bam’s emotional journey.
Q: “Tower of God” has many passionate fans. Do you remember how you felt when you were cast in this series? Is there anything you do to prepare to play such a complex character?
ICHIKAWA TAICHI: I personally became a fan of the series after reading the Webtoon, so it was an honor. Bam is an Irregular, a special entity in this world, and his origins are still a mystery. For Bam, who used to live inside a dark cave, the world inside the Tower is where everything began. So, I performed Bam as the pure and honest person that I feel he is.
Q: Compared to when you first performed as Bam, has there been any change in your understanding or approach? (Such as when he became Viole.)
ICHIKAWA TAICHI: From season 1, when he was an honest and straightforward boy, he became a character troubled by all sorts of conflict in season 2. Compared to season 1, when he had friends supporting him and bringing him out of his shell, in season 2 he chooses solitude in order to protect his friends and suppresses himself. Though he still puts his friends first, I believe his approach is the exact opposite.
Q: Bam’s journey is one of self-discovery and reclaiming himself. How do you face Viole (Bam) when performing as him? Do you have a unique personal approach?
ICHIKAWA TAICHI: I see Viole (Bam) as someone who is devoted and frequently prioritizes others over himself. He hates losing friends more than anything, so he’s always most emotional when his friends are suffering or in trouble. In season 2, Viole’s emotions remain mostly steady, but I make sure he responds emotionally in those situations.
Memorable Moments and Key Themes
Both actors shared the challenges and highlights of recording for Tower of God’s second season.
Q: Is there anything you paid special attention to when performing scenes with Bam and Rachel? Were there any scenes that were particularly difficult?
HAYAMI SAORI: Especially towards the beginning, in scenes with Bam and Rachel, I focused on creating soft and kind expressions. It wasn’t difficult exactly, but Khun and Rachel’s conversation in the hospital room in season 2 was intense. They seem to be speaking kindly to each other, but neither one reveals their true thoughts. It was a fun scene to record.
ICHIKAWA TAICHI: Starting in season 2, Viole struggles with his feelings towards Rachel. He suffered a cruel betrayal in season 1, so their conversations in season 2 are told primarily through flashback, so having to speak to Rachel with 100% trust made me feel conflicted as an actor.
Q: Do you have any memorable moments from recording or favorite lines of dialogue that resonated with you?
HAYAMI SAORI: The scene in which Rachel says, “What have I done that’s so wrong?!” after hurting Dan’s legs in episode 11 of “Return of the Prince” made an impression on me. During the test recording of Rachel deliriously saying, “I’ve done nothing wrong, nothing wrong…” leading into the scream, the sound director told me to improvise and stretch out the delirious rambling and punctuate that with an even bigger final line, so I was given some freedom with the timing.
ICHIKAWA TAICHI: Viole’s reunion with Khun in season 2, episode 11. I hadn’t gotten to record with Mr. Okumoto, and Viole hadn’t properly reunited with Khun even though they had met again. That made it memorable. I specifically remember the tone change in the monologue from this scene. It was spoken not as FUG Slayer Candidate Viole, but in the words of the 25th Bam.
Q: “Tower of God” features many themes, such as friendship, betrayal, and ambition. Did you have any thoughts on these themes while performing your character?
HAYAMI SAORI: Through Rachel—or rather, through the entire series, I felt that people influence each other in all kinds of ways through their interactions, and their lives become intertwined.
ICHIKAWA TAICHI: Despite being pushed around by so many betrayals and the intentions of others, Bam has held onto his pure-hearted principle of cherishing his friends, leading to like-minded allies naturally gathering around him. In a world where betrayals are commonplace, he has friends who he can trust. I think that’s one of the beautiful parts of this series.
Connecting with Fans Worldwide
Both actors expressed excitement about the series’ global impact and their chance to interact with international fans.
HAYAMI SAORI: I am very glad, grateful, and excited to have the opportunity to directly interact with international fans who support this series. By directly experiencing their passion and love, I hope that I can incorporate that into my performance.
ICHIKAWA TAICHI: I believe there are many passionate fans around the world, so I’m really excited to meet them in person and discuss the series with them.
ANIMEPH would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Hayami Saori and Ichikawa Taichi for generously sharing their time and insights with us. Their dedication to bringing Rachel and Bam to life has deeply resonated with Tower of God fans worldwide.
Don’t miss the chance to experience the epic journey—both the first and second seasons of Tower of God are now available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
