Sasamo Yuuki Shares Delightful Experience as Store Manager for ZERO RISE at Animate Ikebukuro

Sasamo Yuuki’s One-Day Experience as a Store Manager

In a delightful event celebrating the kickoff of the new cross-media project ZERO RISE, Yuuki Sasamo, who voices the character Madoka, stepped into the role of a one-day store manager at Animate Ikebukuro. This unique experience allowed him to fully embrace the spirit of the project and interact with fans and customers alike.

On the day of the event, Sasamo donned the official Animate staff uniform, complete with an apron and name tag. He engaged in various promotional activities within the store, such as creating hand-written POP displays and enthusiastically exploring the venue that featured his character everywhere. Reflecting on his experience, Sasamo described it as a surreal moment: "It was quite strange to see my character all around the store; it made me feel a little jittery," he chuckled.

Acknowledging that this was his first experience as a store manager, Sasamo expressed his initial nervousness about donning the apron. "I wondered if I was managing properly, and in the beginning, I questioned if I could carry off the apron well," he admitted. However, encouragement from the staff eased his apprehension, allowing him to feel more confident as the day unfolded. "After their reassurance, I thought to myself, ‘I can do this anytime,’" he joked, recounting a light-hearted moment from the back room.

The event at Animate Ikebukuro featured elaborate decorations promoting ZERO RISE, including a panel honoring Madoka and a display of signed basketballs from the street basketball team 'UNFIXXX' that Madoka is part of. While energetically touring the shop, he encouraged guests to capture memories: "Please take lots of photos and share them on social media; that would make me very happy!"

Looking back, Sasamo shared his thoughts about the project: "I’ve always wanted to be part of something that showcases sports. With ZERO RISE being centered around basketball, it's exciting for me, and I can’t wait!" He also acknowledged experiencing new aspects of performance as he navigates through the needs of staging plays related to this competitive sport. As rehearsal progresses, he notices how different it is to perform basketball on stage compared to actually playing the game.

In preparation for the show, Sasamo has shared a few anecdotes regarding his physical experiences. During a stage performance at the Cardfight!! Vanguard 15th Anniversary event held on January 12, he joked about how certain physical movements left him with unexpected soreness. "Some muscles were aching in places I didn't expect to be used," he said with a laugh.

Contrary to what many may assume, Sasamo clarified that he is not actively engaging in weight training for this role. Drawing inspiration from baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki, he emphasizes his desire to rely on his natural physique: "I want to perform using my innate body balance and any muscle that comes naturally to me through daily activities."

As someone who has never played basketball, he admitted the intricacies of translating the physicality of the sport into a performance format have been challenging yet refreshing. However, he has confidence in his fellow cast members, noting, "All the performers have stage experience, so I'm not overly worried about our ability to present a strong portrayal. Everyone will surely improve through each performance. I hope that audiences can experience our growth throughout the show."

Upcoming Performance Information for ZERO RISE

Performance Period: May 2 (Sat) - May 17 (Sun), 2026 (20 performances scheduled)

Cast Highlights:

- UNFIXXX: Madoka (voiced by Yuuki Sasamo), Date (Fukui Tomoya), Merlin (Ootomo Kai)
- KINGS+HOOT: Blink (Ishibashi Hiroki), Miracle (Tamura Keito), Sunshine (Niwa Haruko)
- RumbleWing[s]: York (Tahata Ren), Ujin (Mano Takumi), Sajir (Maeshima You)
- BLACKSPOT: Barista (Kawakami Masahiro), Unknown A & B: suit actors Takiyama Shouta and Yuushi
- Jigen (Kimizawa Yuuki)

Creators:

- Planning & Original Work: Bushiroad
- Script: Matsuta Ikuta (ILCA)
- Direction: Mouri Wataru

Tickets Go On Sale: Early bird tickets available from January 12 (Mon) to February 8 (Sun) at eplus

Zero Rise Exhibition at Animate Ikebukuro: Celebrating the launch, decorations and displays will be available at Animate Ikebukuro until January 29 (Thu).

About ZERO RISE

ZERO RISE presents a narrative revolving around underdogs in the competitive world of basketball, exploring societal issues wrapped in a compelling storyline. The project promises to engage audiences with its dynamic storytelling and character development.

Official Links:

©ZERO RISE project.