"Fist of the North Star": Three New Voice Actors Revealed for Episode 8

The new anime adaptation of "Fist of the North Star" (Japanese original title: "北斗の拳") is getting additional voice actors for the eighth episode. As has now been announced, Kaori Ishihara lends her voice to the boy Taki, Sayuri Sadaoka to the old woman Toyo, and Takashi Matsuyama to the villain Jackal.

The eighth episode is titled "A Messenger from Home" (Original: "故郷からの使者"). In the preview for the episode, Kenshiro and his companions are seen meeting burly men in a bar who try to recruit the martial artist for themselves. After Kenshiro effortlessly routs the group, a dirty boy enters the bar – Taki, who comes from the same village as Kenshiro's companion Bat.

Taki, voiced by Kaori Ishihara, and Toyo (Sayuri Sadaoka) are a boy and an elderly woman from Bat's home village. Jackal, portrayed by Takashi Matsuyama, is the villain who terrorizes this very village.

Voices from the Cast

Kaori Ishihara (Taki) expressed her honor: "'Fist of the North Star' is a work with a long history that is loved across generations. Taki is a brave and kind-hearted boy, but he meets a tragic end. I tried to convey his feelings as best as I could." When asked about her favorite quote from the franchise, she laughed and replied: "'You are already dead.' (Japanese: 'Omae wa mou shindeiru') – I even imitated this line as a child, although I didn't understand its meaning back then."

Sayuri Sadaoka (Toyo) also looked upon her role with reverence: "In a merciless world of 'eat or be eaten,' this old, weak woman sacrifices herself for orphaned children who are even weaker than she is. What an admirable attitude. I am grateful to be able to embody Toyo's life full of love."

Takashi Matsuyama (Jackal) looked forward to the role of the "pitiful coward": "He is a villain without a shred of decency, straight out of a picture book. I will play Jackal with all determination so that the viewers hate him – but never want to see him again." As his favorite line, he mentioned a quote from Jackal: "I've told you many times: If you want to live long, don't fight men stronger than you."

Broadcast and Background

The new adaptation of the classic manga by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara is currently airing on Japanese television (TOKYO MX, BS11) and is being streamed worldwide exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. The main roles of the post-apocalyptic epic about the Hokuto Shinken heir Kenshiro are voiced by Shunsuke Takeuchi, Daiki Yamashita, and M・A・O, among others.

The eighth episode will air on May 15, 2026.