On Saturday, June 27, ABEMA aired the exclusive free-to-stream pre-broadcast special Sekai Saikyō no Kōei ～Meikyūkoku no Shinjin Tansaku-sha～ Pre-Broadcast Special at 9:00 p.m., gathering the anime’s main voice cast for a lively evening of behind-the-scenes stories and character deep-dives.
About the Anime
Sekai Saikyō no Kōei ～Meikyūkoku no Shinjin Tansaku-sha～ (The World’s Strongest Rear Guard: Labyrinth Country’s Novice Seeker) is a fantasy isekai series adapted from the light novel by Tōwa, originally serialized on Shōsetsuka ni Narō. The story follows Arihito, a former corporate drone who is reincarnated into a world called the “Labyrinth Country” after an accident. Taking on the mysterious job class of <Rear Guard>, he grows alongside his companions as they explore the labyrinth. The TV anime began broadcasting in July 2026, with new episodes streaming free and exclusively on ABEMA every Sunday at 10:00 p.m. from July 5, 2026.
Full Cast Reunites with MC Aoki Yūma
The special featured the five main voice actors — their first reunion since recording sessions — alongside MC Aoki Yūma:
- Matsuoka Yoshitsugu as Arihito
- Koga Aoi as Telezia
- Nakamura Sakura as Kyōka
- Hayami Saori as Suzuna
- Hondo Kaede as Misaki
Recording Booth Secrets: Matsuoka Disappears for Miso Soup
As the de facto leader of the cast, Matsuoka revealed that because the recording sessions are dominated by female cast members, he tries to be on his best behavior — sitting quietly at the far end near the entrance, reading his script. The women, however, had a different story: just before takes, Matsuoka would mysteriously vanish, prompting everyone to ask “Where did he go?” The answer, it turned out, was that he had slipped outside to drink miso soup.
The Characters Through Their Voice Actors’ Eyes
- Arihito (CV: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu) — “In his past life he was a workaholic who actively took on extra tasks. Even in the new world he can’t abandon his companions and stays up thinking of ways to support them. He’s a protagonist who is naturally suited to looking after others.”
- Telezia (CV: Koga Aoi) — “She can fight in the vanguard and is a huge asset to the party.” Despite the character being unable to speak, Koga added: “You can still feel my presence through her breathing and battle reactions!”
- Kyōka (CV: Nakamura Sakura) — “In her past life she was Arihito’s younger boss — a strong-willed career woman with an unexpectedly cute side.”
- Suzuna (CV: Hayami Saori) — “A rear-guard archer with the ability to sense spiritual presences. Kind-hearted and earnest.”
- Misaki (CV: Hondo Kaede) — “Suzuna’s childhood friend and the party’s mood-maker. She has skills that leverage ‘Luck’ and calls Arihito ‘big brother.'”
Highlights to Watch For
Each cast member held up a flip card naming their personal highlight. Matsuoka wrote “最強 (Strongest)”, stressing that the protagonist is not overpowered from the start but grows step by step. Koga chose “Enemies”, noting that the villains are genuinely tough and it’s worth watching how Arihito deals with them. Nakamura picked “Corporate Drone”, pointing to how Arihito’s past-life skills translate into the new world. Hayami teased “Wait — even this happens!?” while Hondo declared “Life is a gamble!!”
The “Snoring Performance” Sleep Hack That Stunned the Studio
The latter half of the special featured a segment called “Please Support Me, Arihito-sama!” in which Matsuoka tackled his co-stars’ real-life problems. While Hondo confessed she wants more muscle, Matsuoka zeroed in on Koga’s complaint that lying in the dark and silence sends her mind racing, making it impossible to sleep.
Matsuoka, who admitted he also struggles with insomnia, shared his actor-derived method: lie down, tense the body, and breathe slowly and deeply. If that still doesn’t work, the last resort is to focus on the space between the eyebrows and deliberately perform the sound of snoring. The revelation left the entire studio in stunned disbelief.
Messages to Viewers
Closing out the special, each cast member left a message for the audience. Hondo encouraged viewers to find characters they relate to. Hayami asked fans to pay attention to how Arihito, with his panoramic view of the battlefield, drives the story forward. Nakamura described the series as “a little unusual — he’s not just watching from behind, he’s protecting everyone as a rear guard.” Koga highlighted the warm, family-like moments between characters who come from completely different backgrounds. Matsuoka wrapped up by inviting viewers to experience the growth of Arihito and his companions and to discover for themselves what “the world’s strongest” truly means.
The pre-broadcast special remains free to stream on ABEMA until Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. New episodes of Sekai Saikyō no Kōei ～Meikyūkoku no Shinjin Tansaku-sha～ stream free and exclusively on ABEMA every Sunday at 10:00 p.m.
(แชร์แล้วไปกดรับที่หน้าภารกิจ · วันละ 1 回)
