Koji Yamamoto, the planning producer behind Mononoke the Movie, announced his retirement from producing on July 5, citing responsibility for the controversy surrounding voice actor Takahiro Sakurai’s unannounced return in Mononoke The Movie: Chapter III – The Curse of the Serpent.
Yamamoto issued a lengthy apology on X, acknowledging criticism over both Sakurai’s reinstatement and the decision not to disclose his appearance in the film before its release.
Sakurai originally voiced the character in the 2007 television anime and was initially expected to reprise the role in the film project. However, he was removed from the cast in 2022 following reports published by Bunshun Online alleging that he had engaged in an extramarital affair.
Following his departure, Hiroshi Kamiya was subsequently cast as the protagonist of the film trilogy, portraying a different Medicine Seller and not that of Sakurai’s character.
At the time of the recasting, the production committee stated that the decision had been made in consideration of the themes of the film project, which shifts the setting to the Ooku and focuses on the suffering and salvation of women.
However, audiences who attended Mononoke The Movie: Chapter III – The Curse of the Serpent discovered that Takahiro Sakurai had secretly returned to voice the original Medicine Seller. The unannounced cameo sparked controversy online, with fans criticizing the production for withholding his involvement prior to the film’s release.
Addressing the criticism, Yamamoto apologized to viewers who felt uncomfortable with the decision and accepted full responsibility for the controversy, stating that the choices surrounding Sakurai’s removal and eventual return were his own.
He explained that Sakurai’s return was tied to creative discussions surrounding the conclusion of the trilogy’s story. According to him, the production team faced challenges in determining how to resolve the storyline involving Hyakume, a Mononoke that appears after the events of Hebigami. During those discussions, the idea emerged to bring back another Medicine Seller.
The producer said the staff considered alternative approaches, including introducing a different Medicine Seller or featuring the original character only through visual appearances. Ultimately, however, he believed many fans still wanted to see the original version of the character return and felt that reintroducing him could provide a meaningful moment for the trilogy’s finale.
Yamamoto acknowledged that the production committee failed to properly consider how audiences would react to the surprise appearance.
He stated that the staff intentionally withheld the information because they wanted viewers to experience the return of the original Medicine Seller without prior knowledge and even implemented a three-day spoiler-free campaign after release.
However, he admitted that the approach ultimately deprived some viewers of the ability to make an informed choice about watching the film.
As part of his statement, Yamamoto announced that he would retire from producing altogether.
The complete statement by Koji Yamamoto can be read below:
Warning: This statement contains spoilers for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter III – Snake God. Please proceed with caution if you have not yet seen the film.
Thank you very much for your continued support of Mononoke the Movie.
We are sincerely grateful to the many people who have gone to see Mononoke The Movie: Chapter III – The Curse of the Serpent, which opened in theaters on May 29. We have also received messages of appreciation from viewers, and on behalf of the entire staff, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks.
At present, we have received many opinions regarding the removal and reinstatement of a voice actor, as well as how that information was communicated. As the person overseeing production, I would like to explain the circumstances and offer my apologies.
Although I am in the position of apologizing, I humbly ask that there be no personal attacks, harassment, or arguments among fans. Director Nakamura and all members of the staff have devoted themselves to creating this work with a single desire: to provide something audiences could enjoy. I sincerely ask for your understanding and cooperation.
Regarding the Recasting
Due to the series of incidents that led to the actor’s removal, some staff members expressed concerns about whether it would be possible to continue production as planned. I personally felt that the project itself might not be able to continue under those circumstances.
At the same time, I believed that the environment in which audiences could enjoy the work had been damaged. Those were the reasons behind the decision to remove him from the role.
Regarding His Reinstatement
As the director has mentioned in interviews, one of the challenges we faced was determining how to conclude the story involving Hyakume, which appears after Hebigami. An idea emerged to summon another Medicine Seller.
Of course, there were other possibilities, such as introducing a different Medicine Seller or having the Medicine Seller from Mononoke’s original continuity appear only visually.
However, I also wanted to respond to the voices of fans who wished to see the Medicine Seller from Bakemono no Ko (“Ri”) again. I believed that if we could bring him back in a meaningful way and give audiences something they would appreciate, it would create a fitting moment for the final chapter. That belief led me to decide on his return.
I also hoped that those who were saddened by the feeling that a beloved character had simply ceased to exist would find joy in being reunited with the Medicine Seller from Ri.
Regarding How the Medicine Seller from Ri Appears
The protagonist of the film trilogy is, first and foremost, the Medicine Seller from Kon. The Medicine Seller from Ri was depicted as someone who appears in response to a call for help from the Medicine Seller of Kon.
The Karakasa, Hinezumi, and Hebigami Mononoke—born from the suffering of the women living within the Ooku—are exorcised by the Medicine Seller of Kon. Meanwhile, the Medicine Seller of Ri assists in slaying Hyakume, a Mononoke born from the accumulated emotions and obsessions of all people.
This distinction was deliberately established between the two characters.
Regarding How Information Was Communicated
The greatest issue, in my view, was that we failed to exercise the level of consideration that this decision required.
I believed that if the distinction described above was properly conveyed, audiences would welcome the appearance of the Medicine Seller from Ri.
We wanted audiences to experience their reunion with him without prior knowledge, so we chose not to reveal the information in advance and implemented a three-day spoiler-free period.
As a result, however, this approach deprived those who did not wish to see the Medicine Seller from Ri of the opportunity to decide for themselves whether they wanted to watch the film.
I deeply regret how poorly we anticipated that outcome and sincerely apologize.
I also offer my heartfelt apologies to anyone who felt uncomfortable because we did not disclose the cast information beforehand. We failed to show sufficient consideration.
Correction
I would like to correct a misunderstanding regarding the appearance of the Medicine Seller from Ri.
Some people may have gotten the impression that the decision was left up to Hiroshi Kamiya. That is not the case.
Both the decision to remove the actor and the decision to bring him back were made by me, as the person overseeing production. Mr. Kamiya was informed of our intentions and gave his approval.
I would like to express both my gratitude and my apologies to Mr. Kamiya, who understood the creators’ intentions and, above all, helped bring the Medicine Seller of Kon to life throughout the theatrical trilogy.
I would also like to express my gratitude and apologies to Mr. Takahiro Sakurai, who accepted the role despite his own concerns and deliberations, after understanding the creators’ intentions.
For transparency, Mr. Kamiya’s agency and Mr. Sakurai reviewed this statement in advance.
Final Remarks
Every member of the Mononoke the Movie staff has worked on this project with the sincere hope that audiences would enjoy it.
I would like to offer the highest praise to Chief Director Kenji Nakamura and all the staff members who contributed to the films.
Despite their efforts, I recognize that I have failed to create an environment where audiences can enjoy the work without reservation, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility for that reality.
I am truly sorry.
I humbly ask for your continued support and affection for Mononoke in the future.
Koji Yamamoto
Twin Engine Inc.
Mononoke: Phantom in the Rain, the first film in the trilogy, was released on July 26, 2024. It was followed by the second film, titled Mononoke the Movie: The Ashes of Rage, which was released on March 14, 2025.
The final film, The Curse of the Serpent, hit the theaters in Japan on May 29, 2026.
Source: X
