New footage from the anime adaptation of Shinzo Keigo’s manga ‘Hirayasumi’ has been unveiled, along with a key visual and the principal voice cast, ahead of the series’ January 2027 premiere on Japan’s NHK General TV.
The teaser trailer follows Hiroto, a relaxed 29-year-old part-timer, through his daily routine in the 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.
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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.
Principal cast and character notes
Hiroto is voiced by Uchida Yuma, whose 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. I hope to have fun portraying Hiroto while staying true to his unpretentious personality and easygoing vibe,” Uchida said.
Kobayashi Natsumi, an 18-year-old reserved newcomer from Yamagata who privately hopes to become a manga artist and often clashes with her laid-back cousin, is played by Takahashi Mayu.
Takahashi finished second in the Kimi Koe Project, a scheme set up to find and train new voice actors, and 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, adding: “I’m truly delighted to be involved in this wonderful work that I love so much.”
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. ‘Hirayasumi’ brings not so much a flutter in the heart, but a catch in the chest, followed by a slow, tender swell of emotion,” Aikawa said.
Manga background and accolades
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 as well as 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, which Shinzo created during the COVID-19 pandemic, also inspired Hirayasumi.
