The anime "Though I Am an Inept Villainess" has been capturing hearts since its premiere in July 2026. Set in the "Maiden Court"—a palace where daughters from five noble families are gathered to be groomed as the next empress—the story takes a dramatic turn when the beautiful and brilliant Kou Reirin of the Kou Family is forced to swap bodies with the despised "villainess," Shu Keigetsu of the Shu Family.
We sat down with Manaka Iwami (voice of Kou Reirin) and Natsumi Kawaida (voice of Shu Keigetsu) to discuss their impressions of the work and their memories from the recording booth. Both actresses had the unique challenge of playing two different "souls" within their respective characters.
Recorded using the "prescore" method (recording lines before the animation is finalized), what were the hurdles these two talented stars faced?
First Impressions: A Deep Story Behind the Chinoiserie Aesthetic
── To start off, what were your first impressions of the series?
Manaka Iwami (Kou Reirin): Since it has a Chinese-inspired setting, there are a lot of specific terms and kanji that might make you wonder, "What kind of world is this?" at first. But the core story isn't difficult at all! It explores very human themes—how you face yourself, how others see you, and how you perceive others. Once you dive into the charm of the narrative, it’s incredibly engaging and easy to get into. I actually breezed through the original novels. Plus, the characters are adorable and the world is just stunning, so it’s a total treat for the eyes.
Natsumi Kawaida (Shu Keigetsu): I used to think "Inner Palace" stories were a bit daunting—trying to keep track of who belongs to which faction and who’s feuding with whom. On top of that, you have the ladies-in-waiting and their own internal politics. However, this series makes everything very accessible, perhaps partly due to the color-coding of the families. It was easy to slip into the world-building. Also, there’s a specific "woman’s intuition" portrayed that feels very relatable. The writing strikes a perfect balance between grounded emotions and over-the-top drama. I found that balance really entertaining while reading.
── How were the auditions? Since this is a body-swap story, was there anything unusual about the process?
Kawaida: Oh, there definitely was!
Iwami: For me, it was a standard audition setup. I had my own script and performed both the "original" Reirin lines and the lines where Reirin has Keigetsu’s soul inside her.
Kawaida: I actually performed my lines while listening to Iwami-chan’s audition recording! I think Reirin’s voice was decided first, and they used that as a foundation to find the right Keigetsu.
Iwami: It makes sense because we’re playing each other’s roles, but it’s pretty rare for an actor to hear someone else’s audition tape. I only found out about it later from Kawa-chan.
Kawaida: Yeah, when we met at a different studio later, I told her, "I think that voice I heard was you, Manaty (Iwami)." I didn't know who it was at the time; the audio just started playing. But man, I remember thinking, "I’ve never heard Manaty use such foul language before!" (Laughs)
Iwami: I was so shocked when I heard that!
── How did you feel when you got the parts?
Iwami: I was just so happy!
Kawaida: Honestly, I expected these roles to go to someone with a much longer career. So when I realized they were entrusting such a complex role to me, I was incredibly honored and excited.
Duality of Character: The Fragile Butterfly and the Desperate Villainess
── Since the story involves a body swap, you both have to understand both characters deeply. Could you tell us about their respective charms? Let’s start with Kou Reirin, who has struggled with a frail constitution since childhood.
Kawaida: There’s such a gap between her appearance and her inner self, right?
Iwami: Her body is in constant pain. She’s always running a fever, and her joints ache... She lives in such dire circumstances that everyone around her becomes overprotective, wondering if she should even be moving. But despite that, her heart is incredibly strong. She has pure grit!
Kawaida: Calling it a "steel mentality" doesn't even do it justice. She grew up training and striving for the top while in constant physical agony, yet she never lets it show.
Iwami: Because her default physical state and her destiny are so harsh, she’s developed a kind of toughness from repressing that pain. You see glimpses of it here and there. She’s even come to terms with the idea of her own death.
Kawaida: It’s precisely because she had somewhat given up on life that we see that "explosion" when she finally gets Keigetsu’s healthy body. (Laughs)
Iwami: Oh, she’s absolutely hyped! She finds pure joy in being able to do "normal" daily activities. I think that's the core of her character.
Kawaida: There’s also something a bit "geeky" about her—she takes all the knowledge she’s hoarded over the years and finally gets to put it into practice with Keigetsu’s body.
── Right, because she was so weak, all she could do was accumulate knowledge of things she wanted to try.
Iwami: Exactly...
Kawaida: Health really is the greatest wealth!
── Next, let's talk about Shu Keigetsu, who is driven by a deep sense of inferiority.
Kawaida: Keigetsu is a woman who hasn't given up. She wants to break out of her situation where she feels defeated and inferior to others, which is why she’s capable of such bold, reckless actions. Usually, if your lifestyle is guaranteed to some extent, you might just coast along, but she has this burning desire to not lose to "that woman" (Reirin). That drive is what pushes her to use a forbidden art to swap bodies. It’s something I could never do, but she’s a powerful woman in her own way. She actually has high potential, but her self-esteem is rock bottom. Through Reirin, she starts to notice the good parts of herself she’d ignored—even if her pride won’t let her admit it.
Iwami: She’s "greedy" in both a good and a bad way. It’s like she’s constantly parched. She has enough water to survive, but she’s convinced she’ll die if she doesn't get more. Her clumsy way of expressing her desires and dealing with people stems from the environment she grew up in—the words used against her and the cold treatment she endured. She simply doesn't know how to handle her emotions. If it were Reirin, she would definitely help if Keigetsu just talked to her, but Keigetsu has never experienced that, so she doesn't understand it. She thinks dragging others down is the only way to save herself. While her circumstances shaped this personality, she isn't completely unreachable; I think she has a certain purity deep down.
The "Mic Shadow" Struggle: When Two Voices Become One
── Learning about their backgrounds really changes how you see them. Was it difficult to act out the mental swap?
Both: It was so hard!!
Iwami: It was one of those projects where I only fully "got it" once I saw the finished footage. I never felt like I had a total grip on the character while recording; I couldn't let my guard down for a second. There was a tension unique to this production. I was nervous about the "judgment" every single time.
Kawaida: Usually, we do a test run and get direction, but here, I’d finish and think, "Wait, was that actually okay?"
── What do you mean by the "judgment" being scary?
Iwami: Apparently, when heard through a microphone, my voice and Kawa-chan’s voice sound very similar! We discovered there was a gap between how we sound in the booth and how we sound recorded.
We only realized this because Nikei Farahnaze (who plays Kō Tōsetsu) went into the staff booth and listened to us. In the room, the swap is obvious, but through the mic, we started to blend... I never thought our voices were similar before, so we spent a lot of time adjusting that.
Kawaida: Even though our natural tones are totally different!
Iwami: For Reirin, I have to stay conscious of her physical frailty and "thin" vocal lines. On the other hand, Kawa-chan’s Reirin (in Keigetsu's body) is healthy, so her vocal cords are a bit lower. But when people get excited, their voices naturally go higher...
- Kawaida: ...And then I’d get a direction saying, "Right there, your tone shifted back into Iwami’s Reirin."
Iwami: So Kawa-chan had to express high energy while keeping the pitch low. Conversely, for Keigetsu, who is a powerful, angry character—once she’s in Reirin’s body, I had to keep the vocal lines thin to reflect the illness.
Kawaida: If we went even a little too far, it started sounding like modern high school girls and lost that "Princess" elegance.
Iwami: The differences are probably minute to the listener, but they were incredibly difficult to execute. The director prioritizes acting over just "sound," but the scenes where the two of us interact were the one exception where the specific audio quality was vital.
Kawaida: They didn't want the audience to lose track of who was who.
── Since they swap, wouldn't Keigetsu-as-Reirin naturally try to mimic Reirin’s way of speaking?
Kawaida: I think our first test for Episode 1 was very similar. I was naturally leaning toward Iwami-chan’s Reirin, and I thought it was fine if the tones matched.
Iwami: Me too!
Kawaida: But they decided we should keep them distinct. The staff had a long meeting about it after the test.
Iwami: For a broadcast production, you have to make sure the audience can tell the difference just by ear. It’s a tricky balance.
Kawaida: Plus, when Keigetsu is in Reirin’s body, the inner monologue is done by Reirin (Iwami-chan). If you're listening to that and then the "out loud" voice is too similar, it gets confusing. That’s why we decided to make the spoken voices clearly distinct.
- ── Just hearing about it makes my head spin! (Laughs) Any other stories from the booth?
Kawaida: Actually, this project used "prescore," meaning the animation is created to match our voices. So we didn't have to worry about lip-syncing or timing; we could act freely.
Iwami: That was a huge help.
Kawaida: There were plenty of times I wasn't even looking at the screen! (Laughs)
Iwami: They told us we could take breaths and pauses whenever we wanted and to prioritize our own tempo and acting. It was a wonderful environment.
── So that’s why you only understood the director's vision once you saw the final animation.
Kawaida: Exactly. Though I have to say, the manga was a massive help as a reference point.
High Stakes and High Energy: The Inner Palace Power Struggle
── What do you think makes this series uniquely interesting?
Iwami: There are a lot of psychological battles. The Inner Palace is full of women, so there’s a lot of "saying one thing while meaning another." Everyone is reading between the lines, so the surface stays peaceful. Seeing how characters layer their true feelings under their public dialogue is fascinating. Some characters should show their hand, others shouldn't—that’s the fun of it.
Kawaida: It’s not a fistfight, but there’s enough pressure behind the words that it feels like they’re trading blows.
Iwami: And because it’s between women, it adds an extra layer of intrigue.
Kawaida: Personally, I don't often get to play characters who say such nasty things, so that was a blast. Keigetsu’s first line is literally, "Vile woman, begone!" (Laughs). Only an actor gets to say stuff like that, so I had a great time with it.
Iwami: You looked so lively doing it! (Laughs)
Kawaida: I did! Though as soon as the swap happens, she becomes Reirin and stops using bad language. But when I am speaking as Keigetsu, it’s all jealousy, resentment, and blaming others. It was fun in its own way.
── Are there any characters fans should look out for in the early episodes?
Iwami: Early on, Tōsetsu is just... intense in the anime! (Laughs) She’s intense in the original work too, but she’s hilarious. Nikei-san, who voices her, is also such a fun person.
── What made her so funny?
Iwami: Her energy exceeded all my expectations! During the first recording, they even had to tell her, "You're in the Inner Palace, so please tone it down a bit." She gives it 100% every time, and I love that! I think she’s a character whose charm really multiplied in the transition to anime.
Kawaida: Her "I love Lady Reirin!" energy is off the charts. Tōsetsu might accidentally be the comic relief... She’s just trying to serve seriously, but it comes off as hilarious.
Iwami: Her "love" seemed to grow with every take.
Kawaida: For me, Riirii (CV: Hana Hishikawa) is so cute. Her constant "don't touch me" vibe makes her feel like a younger cousin. Watching her eventually get won over is great. I just found her adorable.
But Riirii was also treated quite poorly by the original Keigetsu. Keigetsu was the type who couldn't stand on her own without lashing out, and Riirii endured that. I feel a mix of "thank you" and "I'm so sorry" toward her. How she realizes the swap is happening is definitely something to look forward to.
- ── Was Nikei-san the mood maker on set?
Iwami: Definitely. She chatted with everyone. While Kawa-chan and I were usually buried in our scripts, Nikei-san was the one building the atmosphere and keeping things moving.
Kawaida: Like I mentioned, she’d go talk to the staff for us, and if we left together, she’d say things like, "That scene was amazing!" or "You guys are such good actors!" She really took care of our mental well-being.
Iwami: Truly! She really boosted our spirits. It was such a fun time.
── What were your thoughts on the first PV?
Kawaida: Beautiful!
Iwami: The embroidery at the beginning of Episode 1... I thought it was a photograph!
Kawaida: Even the clothes have intricate embroidery.
Iwami: No T-shirts and shorts in this world! (Laughs)
Kawaida: Exactly!
Iwami: The "animation calorie count" (workload) must be insane. Since it’s a Chinese-style world, the buildings and interiors are so detailed, and the lighting is complex. I really felt the time and effort put into it.
Kawaida: And the pacing is so fast that it’s almost a waste! It’s so pretty, but you’re already onto the next scene. There are dance sequences coming up, which I’m excited for but also scared of the work involved!
Iwami: Seeing it move in full color is the best part of an anime adaptation, but man, it must be hard work for the staff.
Kawaida: And to think they drew the art to match our acting!
Iwami: They probably even redrew the facial expressions to match our voices...
Kawaida: There was probably a check for eye color, too. Like, "She's Reirin on the inside now, so her eyes are yellow."
Iwami: Yes! In this anime, you can tell who is who by the eye color!
- ── For Keigetsu, her expression changes so much. When Reirin is inside her, she looks so sweet.
Kawaida: Right? She was always pretty to begin with! And the music—the traditional instruments really set the mood. It makes you feel like these girls are truly living in that world.
── If you could choose, would you rather be Reirin or Keigetsu?
Iwami: I mean, physical and mental health is the best combo, right? But if I had to choose which is more important, I think mental health wins. If your heart is healthy, I feel like you can endure physical illness. Even if life is short, if you are loved and in a warm environment, that’s better.
Kawaida: I really don't like catching colds, so I’d pick Keigetsu (for the health).
── Finally, do you have a message for the fans?
Iwami: For those who have read the original work, you already know how great the story is, but I want you to look forward to the colors, the music, and the movement of the anime.
For those starting with the anime, don't let the complex terms scare you. The story is gripping and the themes are universal, so please stick with us! The body swap is the hook, but I hope you also pay attention to the characters' inner growth as you follow the series.
Kawaida: I’ve never encountered a work that depicts the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly of women so vividly. As an actor, it’s a dream to be involved in such a wonderful production. It was a rare challenge to struggle this much with a role, and I’m so happy I was trusted with it. I’m also so glad my partner was Iwami-chan. I hope you all enjoy seeing the true nature of these women hidden beneath their beautiful silken robes.
[Text & Photography by Junichi Tsukagoshi]
About the Anime
Synopsis
In the "Maiden Court," daughters from five noble families are gathered to be groomed as the next empress. Among them is Reirin of the Kou Family—beautiful, brilliant, and known as "His Highness's Butterfly." She is beloved by all.
However, on the night of the Qixi Festival, she is targeted by Keigetsu of the Shu Family—a woman loathed as a "villainess"—who uses a secret art to swap their bodies.
By the time Reirin realizes what has happened, she finds herself in Keigetsu's body, facing an immediate death sentence. But Reirin, who has lived on the brink of death due to her frail health since childhood, is actually... overjoyed to finally have a healthy body?!
What seemed like a tragedy becomes a new beginning. With her "steel mentality," Reirin enjoys her new freedom even after being exiled to a shack. She charms those who seek her life with her natural brightness and kindness, overcoming every adversity. Meanwhile, Keigetsu—who hated and envied Reirin—finds her own heart wavering as she experiences Reirin's true character.
On a night lit by a comet, the fates of these two girls changed forever, leading them into a conspiracy that will shake the Inner Palace. The "body-swap" underdog story of two polar-opposite girls begins now!
Cast
Kou Reirin: Manaka Iwami Shu Keigetsu: Natsumi Kawaida Ei Gyōmei: Makoto Furukawa Shin-u: Yuichiro Umehara Riirii: Hana Hishikawa Kō Tōsetsu: Farahnaz Nikray Kou Kenshu: Rei Igarashi Shu Gabi: Ai Kayano Kin Seika: Mai Nakahara Ran Hoshun: Inori Minase Gen Kasui: Yui Ishikawa
(C)Saki Nakamura, Ichijinsha / "Inept Villainess" Production Committee
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
