The official website hokuto-anime.com revealed today the voice that will portray the main antagonist of episode 10 of the anime Hokuto no Ken – Fist of the North Star 2026: Shirokuma Hiroshi in the role of Devil Rebirth, the giant imprisoned in the Villainy Prison whom Jackal frees in an attempt to eliminate Kenshiro. An official comment accompanies the announcement, translated below.
Devil Rebirth, the incarnation of the demon – Shirokuma Hiroshi
Devil Rebirth (デビルリバース) is one of the most iconic antagonists from the original manga. A deformed giant with superhuman strength, master of the Rakan Niō Ken (Fist of the Arhat King), he was sentenced to 200 years in prison after killing 700 people with a single strike and surviving 13 consecutive executions. Manipulated by Jackal, who poses as his brother, he is freed with the sole purpose of killing Kenshiro.
The role is entrusted to Shirokuma Hiroshi, a voice actor affiliated with Production Baobab, known for his deep voice which he regularly lends to imposing characters. Among his notable roles: Caius Ballad in Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns, Gazef Stronoff in Overlord, Riz in Beastars, Megumi Kitaniji in The World Ends with You, and Mr. Green in SPY×FAMILY. A detail worth noting for longtime fans: Shirokuma Hiroshi had already participated in a Hokuto no Ken production in the past, in the animated film Legend of the True Savior Raoh, Chapter of Love (2006), in a subordinate role. A return to the franchise twenty years later, this time to portray one of its most memorable monsters.
Shirokuma Hiroshi’s commentary
On the project: While thinking about how to express the combat scenes where my gigantic body has to face a tiny Kenshiro, I decided to truly convince myself that I had become enormous. While watching the recording screen and following the script, I mentally constructed a Kenshiro scampering around me, I chased him with my eyes, drenched in sweat, and I performed with all my might.
His favorite line: “Because we are two men who loved the same woman…” (同じ女を愛した男だから……)
His first encounter with Hokuto no Ken: When I was in elementary school, watching the TV series. At school, playing as Kenshiro was all the rage, but there were so many kids who wanted to be Kenshiro that we ended up doing a Hokuto Gohyakuretsu Ken (the Five Hundred Fierce Strikes Fist) rather than a Hyakuretsu Ken (Hundred Fierce Strikes), if you know what I mean (laughs).
What it takes to survive in the post-apocalyptic era: Become a younger brother stronger than his elder.
The Jackal arc comes to an end
With the arrival of Shirokuma Hiroshi in the role of Devil Rebirth, the cast of the Jackal arc is now complete for its climax, presented in our preview of episode 10. The confrontation between Kenshiro and the demon manipulated by Jackal is shaping up to be one of the most striking moments of the series since its launch.
AI-assisted translation This page was translated from the original French using AI, with human review. Some wording may be imperfect. Read the original French version
