Yoshizawa Ryo on His Role as Kamen Rider Meteor

Actor Yoshizawa Ryo discussed his role as Ryusei Sakuta, who transforms into Kamen Rider Meteor, in the 135th issue of Uchusen magazine. Asked by producer Tsukada to play a character with two contrasting sides, Yoshizawa said he initially compared the role to Light Yagami from Death Note, cheerful on the surface but very different underneath, and reread the manga looking for material to apply to Sakuta. He found acting the duality harder than expected: after reading the scripts for episodes 17 and 18 and continuing straight into 19 and 20, he noticed Sakuta’s behavior shift from someone who read as good on the surface but troubled underneath, to someone who came across as a straightforwardly good person, a change he described as unexpectedly quick.

Yoshizawa also spoke about voicing Meteor’s fighting sounds, including a signature “Hoowaatchaaa” shout. He said the line initially gave him pause, but recording it in the studio turned out to be enjoyable, and he expressed interest in developing more variations on the character’s fighting noises, hoping children would imitate them. He cited watching Bruce Lee films, particularly Enter the Dragon, as a reference for the physicality.

He described ADR dubbing as still an adjustment, noting that his first attempt at the “Hoowaatchaaa” line didn’t sync well with the punch and the enemy’s reaction, though the finished version worked. He added that Sakuta gets considerably louder and more animated once he transforms into Meteor, requiring him to raise his voice for the role.