NHK Sets January 2027 for 'Hirayasumi' Anime; Uchida Yuma Leads Cast

Production +h.'s anime adaptation of Shinzo Keigo's manga "Hirayasumi" will premiere on NHK General TV in January 2027, and the studios have now released a teaser, a key visual and the principal voice cast. Viz Media and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions (ShoPro) released the material. International streaming plans have yet to be revealed — a gap worth noting before anyone outside Japan marks the date.

The teaser follows Hiroto, a relaxed 29-year-old part-timer, through his daily routine in Tokyo's Asagaya neighborhood. It also sketches his close bond with the elderly neighbor he calls Granny, and the arrival of his cousin Natsumi, who has come to the capital to study at art school. Production +h. previously made "The Orbital Children" and "Dead Dead Demons Dededede Destruction."

Who is in the cast?

Uchida Yuma voices Hiroto. His previous roles include Fushiguro Megumi in "Jujutsu Kaisen," Ash Lynx in "Banana Fish" and Mikage Reo in "Blue Lock."

"'Hirayasumi' is a wonderful work where human drama unfolds amidst the ordinary moments of everyday life," Uchida said. "I hope to have fun portraying Hiroto while staying true to his unpretentious personality and easygoing vibe."

Takahashi Mayu plays 18-year-old Kobayashi Natsumi, a reserved newcomer from Yamagata who privately hopes to become a manga artist and often clashes with her laid-back cousin. Takahashi finished second in the Kimi Koe Project, a scheme set up to find and train new voice actors; her earlier credits include "The Legendary Hero Is Dead!" She said that on reading the original manga, she felt she had never identified with a character so strongly.

"I'm truly delighted to be involved in this wonderful work that I love so much," Takahashi said.

Veteran performer Aikawa Rikako voices Wada Hanae, the 83-year-old Granny, a pensioner who once served school lunches and starts eating dinner with Hiroto twice a week after a chance meeting. Aikawa's voice roles span Squirtle in the "Pokémon" franchise, Oxnard in "Hamtaro" and Ishishi from the "Kaiketsu Zorori" series.

"All of the characters are very kind. And yet, deep inside, they carry pain and worries of their own," Aikawa said. "'Hirayasumi' brings not so much a flutter in the heart, but a catch in the chest, followed by a slow, tender swell of emotion."

The key visual places Hiroto and Natsumi in front of the one-story Asagaya house he inherited from Granny. Joining them are Hideki, Hiroto's closest friend; Akari, who studies alongside Natsumi at university; and Yomogi, a real estate agent from the neighborhood. No voice actors for those three characters were announced.

Who is making it?

Suezawa Kei ("Fate/Grand Order: Camelot – Wandering; Agateram," "FLCL Progressive") directs and handles series composition and scripts. Asano Naoyuki ("Urusei Yatsura," "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!") designs the characters, Nishimura Mika ("Typhoon Noruda") serves as art director and Sawada Kaori ("What Did You Eat Yesterday?," "When Spring Comes") composes the music.

The source material carries weight. Shinzo's manga began its run in Shogakukan's "Weekly Big Comic Spirits" in 2021 and now spans 10 volumes, with more than 1.7 million copies in print worldwide. Its honors include best serial comic at Lucca Comics & Games 2024 and the 71st Shogakukan Manga Award.

Shinzo made his debut in 2008 with "Nankin." His 2016 series "Moriyamachu Driving School" became a feature film, and "Tokyo Alien Bros." received a live-action adaptation in 2018. An autobiographical one-shot about his recovery from lymphoma, created during the COVID-19 pandemic, also inspired "Hirayasumi."

What does this change for viewers? NHK's prime platform, a decorated source manga and an established studio suggest a prestige adaptation rather than a fast commission — but with international streaming undisclosed and three main characters still uncast, the January 2027 date remains the only firm commitment on the record.