Tomokazu Sugita Voices 'XO Sauce Ryū' in Iron Wok Jan! Anime

The official Iron Wok Jan! site dropped a fresh alternate main promotional video and bold key visual on June 24, announcing that Tomokazu Sugita will voice Ryūji Bitō, the nomadic Chinese cuisine specialist nicknamed "XO Sauce Ryū." The character wields his signature pungent sauce as a weapon in no-holds-barred cooking competitions and arrives as a direct threat to the protagonist's chaotic style.

Sugita, whose deep, commanding performances include Gintoki Sakata, expressed immediate excitement at the role. A longtime fan of Shinji Saijyo's manga, he described the surprise casting as sending his energy to peak levels without even needing an audition.

The reveal comes alongside the ending theme "Naita Akuma" (The Devil Who Cried) by EMUNIMINI. Ei Aoki directs at TROYCA with series composition by Makoto Uezu and character design by Masako Matsumoto. The series premieres July 5 on TV Tokyo and affiliates, streaming on ABEMA and other Japanese platforms.

The adaptation draws from the 1995-2000 Weekly Shonen Champion manga that has sold over 10 million copies. With its over-the-top philosophy of cooking as pure combat and larger-than-life personalities, the anime now gains even more fire from one of Japan's most recognizable voice actors stepping into the kitchen.