Skip to content 
There was a visible excitement in the air at Mumbai Comic Con 2025 as Crunchyroll brought two legendary seiyus of the anime world to India: Kappei Yamaguchi, the iconic voice behind Usopp in ONE PIECE, and Hiroaki Hirata, the suave and sophisticated Sanji.
Before they took the stage for a much anticipated live dubbing performance, both voice actors engaged the media in a round table meeting, once again facilitated by Crunchyroll.
Despite their status as iconic stars themselves, they patiently answered a barrage of questions from eager journalists.
During a promotion for ONE PIECE FILM: GOLD years prior, Yamaguchi had expressed admiration for Admiral Fujitora and Sabo, revealing that he felt a longing to play such cool side characters after watching them in action.
This sentiment stood in stark contrast to the character he has so brilliantly brought to life for 25 years: Usopp.
The Straw Hat Crews’ sniper is known for his tall tales, his inherent fear in the face of danger, and his reliance on wit and ingenuity rather than brute strength. This placed him a tier below the formidable “Monster Trio” of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.
So, during our exclusive interaction with the voice actors, we seized the opportunity to revisit this past statement. Did Yamaguchi still harbor a desire to play a cooler character? More importantly, did he ever wish that Usopp was a character cut from a different cloth? Perhaps a more stoic fighter or even a surprise addition to the Straw Hats’ powerhouse trio?
Yamaguchi’s answer, though simple, displayed his commitment to the integrity of Usopp’s character.
The voice actor firmly believed that instead of making Usopp cooler or a part of the monster trio, his journey should be one of organic growth and development.
“I personally feel that Usopp is plenty cool enough as he is right now. I hope he continues to live true to himself in future works, and I believe I’ll always be able to feel the joy of getting to portray him that way,” Yamaguchi added.
Interestingly, when Yamaguchi had first auditioned for the anime adaptation, his sights were set on a very different Straw Hat – Monkey D. Luffy. He was rejected and the role, of course, went on to the legendary Mayumi Tanaka.
However, after playing Usopp for 25 years, Yamaguchi feels that he is the perfect person for the role and closest character to who he was now.
“After playing Usopp for 25 years, I feel like I’m the perfect person for the role. It’s the closest character to who I am now.”
This personal connection shines through in his portrayal of Usopp, imbuing the character with a vulnerability and realism that is all too relatable to many.
While the allure of playing a traditionally cool character might have been present in the past, Kappei Yamaguchi’s words at Mumbai Comic Con 2025 make it clear: he has found his perfect fit in the sometimes cowardly, often hilarious, but always courageous God Usopp, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
