[2] After that film was released, Yamada passed away without regaining consciousness, and Kurita was again offered the role of Lupin as the official successor.
Kurita turned it down several times, but the enthusiasm of the production staff, who followed him to the bullet train where he boarded for another job, broke him, and he accepted the offer.
On the other hand, there were many fans who supported and defended Kurita, who used impersonation techniques to protect the image of the character Lupin created by Yamada.
[3] On the other hand, he said that "protecting the character image of Lupin established by Yamada" is "a basic rule that must never be broken" since it was the reason he was cast in the first place.
Even now, Kurita always rewatches Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro on the day of recording and checks Yamada's voice before going to the site.