News
Ryotaro Okiayu Replaces Tsuyoshi Takishita as Sima Yi in Dynasty Warriors Franchise
posted on by Sarah Nelkin
Shin Sangoku Musō (Dynasty Warriors) video game series producer Akihiro Suzuki announced on Twitter on Friday that Ryōtarō Okiayu will replace the late Tsuyoshi Takishita as Wei and Jin officer Sima Yi in Shin Sangoku Musō 7 Empires (Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires), as well as in future releases in the series. Okiayu has played the role of Sima Yi's son Sima Shi since Shin Sangoku Musō 6 (Dynasty Warriors 7).
Commenting on the announcement, Okiayu wrote:
It appears that the announcement has been made. “I already have played his son, Shi. If Sima Yi as a character is broken by my performance, then please find a replacement,” is what I said as we recorded the lines. There is no way I can imitate [Takishita]. However, I will try to keep his soul alive, and treasure the image he has made. That is how I performed the role. Well, we actually did multiple retakes on the evil laugh since now the father's sounded exactly like the son's...The Shin Sangoku Musō series is in your hands in the future as well.
Okiayu had given his condolences to Takishita at February's Shin Sangoku Musō fan event in Tokyo, and told fans that there was talk of having Takishita at a future event before his passing.
Takishita passed away last spring at age 37 due to injuries he suffered from slipping and falling on his way home. Takishita had taken part in the game adaptation of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms since the very first game was released in 2000. Shin Sangoku Musō 7 Mōshōden (Dynasty Warriors 8 Xtreme Legends) was the last game in the series his voice was featured in, and it shipped in Japan eight months after his passing.
