Mononoke Film Trilogy Producer Kōji Yamamoto Retires from Producing, Apologizes After Recasting Takahiro Sakurai in 3rd Film

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Kōji Yamamoto, producer of the Mononoke film trilogy, announced his retirement from producing and issued an apology after the franchise recasted voice actor Takahiro Sakurai in the third film. Sakurai, who voiced the Medicine Seller in the original anime, returned for a cameo appearance that the production team did not publicly announce before the film's release. The lack of transparency about the character's return and recasting prompted Yamamoto's decision to step back from the industry.