Hiroki Touchi is a Japanese voice actor and actor that is affiliated with the talent agency
OFFICE OSAWA.
PM2023 20 - Press Release
Kabu, the Gym Leader of Engine Stadium, appeared in episode 20, Kabu-san's Battle Training. The official Japanese Anipoke Twitter account
posted an interview with Hiroki from the
press release about the role on August 25th, 2023.
A comment from Hiroki Tochi, the voice of Kabu:
This is my first time appearing in the Pokémon anime ever since I played Achroma in Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2: Episode N. This time I'm going to play Kabu, a character whose lines of advice for Liko and Roy I feel really make an impression on you. Kabu is so skilled as a Pokémon Trainer he's able to serve as a Gym Leader, and I felt like his words are based on his own past experiences. I found him a very appealing person, and I love the way he has a huge smile on his face when he praises someone.
I feel that one of the things that makes Pokémon so much fun is how you can feel Pokémon and Trainers grow through battle, and I think episode 20 really gets that charm across as it shows the challenges both Liko and Nyahoja with their unreqruited feelings, and Roy and Hogator with their presumably somewhat stronger bonds, will have to face. I hope you'll look forward to the episode itself as well as Kabu-san's debut.
【カブ役・東地宏樹さんコメント】
アニメ「ポケットモンスター ベストウイッシュ シーズン2 エピソードN」でアクロマ役として一度出演させていただいた以来のアニポケ出演でした。今回はカブ役でアニメに参加させていただきましたが、リコとロイに対してアドバイスをする彼のセリフはとても印象的でした。ジムリーダーを務めるほどポケモントレーナーとしての実力があるカブの言葉は、かつての自分の“経験”を踏まえて伝えているのだと感じましたし、褒めるときは破顔しているところなんかも素敵で、とても魅力にあふれる人だなと思いました。
バトルを通して、ポケモンとトレーナーの成長を感じられるところも「ポケモン」の楽しさのひとつだと思うのですが、リコとニャオハの気持ちのすれ違いや、彼女たちよりもうまく絆を結んでいるであろうロイとホゲータにも課題が見えたり、第20話はそんな「ポケットモンスター」の醍醐味を感じられる回になったと思います。カブさんの登場とあわせて、楽しみにしていただけたらと思います。