by The TV anime series “Ikoku Nikki” is scheduled to begin airing in January 2026, and the first key visual and promotional video have been released. It was also announced that Sawashiro Miyuki will play the role of Takashiro Makio, and Mori Fuko will play Tagumi Asa. Makio. The original work is the manga of the same name by Yamashita Tomoko, which was serialized in “FEEL YOUNG” (Shodensha) from 2017 to 2023.
The story depicts the life of a shy novelist, Takashiro Makio, and his niece, Tagumi Asa, who has lost both her parents, as they fumble their way through living together. The animation will be produced by Shuka, known for the “Natsume’s Book of Friends” series.
The director will be Oshiro Miyuki, with composition and scriptwriting by Kiyasu Kohei, character design by Hayama Kenji, and music by Ushio Kensuke. Takashiro Makio, a shy novelist, impulsively takes in his niece, Tagumi Asa, who lost her parents at his sister’s funeral. Their unexpected cohabitation completely changes Makio’s previously quiet daily life. Unaccustomed to living with others, Asa feels uneasy living with 15-year-old Asa. Meanwhile, Asa, who has lost her parents and is disoriented, experiences loneliness for the first time and is introduced to Makio’s “unadult” lifestyle, utterly different from her mother’s. Makio is not good at socializing and prefers solitude, while Asa is friendly and straightforward.
The two, with entirely different personalities and values, begin an awkward, albeit bewildering, life together. The first key visual released depicts a scene from the contrasting daily lives of Makio and Asa, as if they were living in “different countries.” A new promotional video was also released, featuring lines from Makio and Asa. Sawashiro delivers a richly emotional performance as the strong-willed yet shy Makio. In contrast, Mori, playing her first main character in this series, offers a refreshing performance as Asa, an innocent yet delicate character.
The anime’s official website has also been revamped, and an official Instagram account has been launched. Official X (formerly Twitter) is also hosting a campaign to commemorate the release of various information. Further information will be announced on the TV anime “Ikoku Nikki” official website and various official social media platforms. Comment from Sawashiro Miyuki (voice of Takashiro Makio): I’m Sawashiro Miyuki, and I’ll be voicing Takashiro Makio.
I focused on capturing the fragrant Makio from the original work as closely as possible through my voice, but… I recall “Asa” and the recording of “Ikoku Nikki” as if it were something that happened in my own life, as if I had once lived with a middle school girl. Was I able to adequately express the words of Makio, a stranger? Could I have stood up in her desert? I am quietly waiting, filled with both anticipation and anxiety, for the day when I can meet everyone, hand in hand with my art and music. Mori Fuko (role of Tagumi Asa): On a personal note, “Ikoku Nikki” was the first role I received through an anime audition.
The first thing I thought when I read the original manga was, “I want to meet Makio!” I’m thrilled that my involvement in this work as Asa has indirectly made that wish come true. I’m genuinely grateful to everyone who supported me, even in my humble beginnings. “Ikoku Nikki” is a work that makes you realize the difficulty and preciousness of caring for others. I acted with the hope that I could convey a little of what moved me to this work. This work will become an oasis for those with deserts in their hearts.
I hope you enjoy the anime “Ikoku Nikki.” Oshiro Miyuki (Director): I love this work, so it’s been quite a while since I voiced my desire to adapt it into an anime, but I’m finally making it happen. I tried to capture the feeling you get after reading the original manga while expressing “Ikoku Nikki” in a way that’s unique to anime. I hope you enjoy the incredible voices and music.
Kiyasu Kohei (Screenwriter/Writer) It’s been two and a half years since I handed over the script for the final episode. Considering that production has been running continuously during that time, I am hesitant to watch this or any other anime from the comfort of my own sofa. There’s still a little time until the broadcast, and production is surely still running. In honor of those tireless days, I’d like to sit up straight and await the moment when I can see the whole picture.
However, that means it’s been over three years since I first encountered the original work. The world and creative aspects have changed somewhat since then, but what do you think? However, Makio and Asa, the lives surrounding them, will always remain the same, like a gushing spring. Universal and vital stories that deserve to be shared with others are always born from the lonely, personal reactions of someone’s heart, even before the Common Era.
I feel as though Yamashita and “Ikoku Nikki” are teaching me this fundamental principle of creation. I’m confident that every time I come into contact with the characters’ lives, I’ll experience the same pain and joy. Please enjoy the series with me. Hayama Kenji (Character Design) All the staff will do their best. Thank you. Ushio Kensuke (Music) It’s been several years since the series began. Now, revisiting the work, I was surprised to find that it moved me in entirely different ways, with a completely different perspective. As the years pass, was it the morning? Was it Makio? Or the relatives at the funeral? I created the music while asking myself these questions. I hope to empathize with everyone. But no matter how old you are, dry sushi is deadly.
