Additional cast members have been announced for the TV anime "Ao no Hako," based on the popular manga by Miura Koji that is currently being serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha), including Sakata Shogo, Nagase Anna, and Yukawa Asaki. Sakata will play Nishida Ryosuke, the mood maker of the boys' badminton club, Nagase will play Funami Nagisa of the girls' basketball club, and Yukawa will play Shimazaki Nina of the rhythmic gymnastics club.
Sakata commented, "I've been reading the original manga as a fan, so I never thought I'd be able to appear... I'm very happy. As Taiki's senior, I'll do my best to liven up the badminton club. Thank you for your support."
Nagase said, "Nagisa is a bright and refreshing second-year high school student. She is in the same basketball club as Chinatsu, and she works hard at basketball, competing with Chinatsu. She is the kind of character you would trust to have a friend like her. Ao no Hako is full of dreams and hopes of refreshing and sparkling young people. I hope you will be moved by it. Please look forward to the broadcast!" Yukawa commented, "Nina is in the same class as Taiki and Hina, and practices in the rhythmic gymnastics club with Hina. I have been reading the original work for a while, and I love how all the characters are enjoying their high school life and how each of them has a brilliant life every day. I think there are many aspects to high school life, such as club activities, studying, romance, and fun. Ao no Hako contains all of these aspects of youth. I would be happy if I could deliver a bittersweet and refreshing atmosphere to everyone together with Nina." It was also announced that the podcast program "TV Anime 'Ao no Hako' Official Web Radio, Abbreviated as 'Hako Raji!'" hosted by Reina Ueda, who plays Chinatsu Shikano, and Akari Kito, who plays Hina Chono, will be distributed on Spotify and the TMS official YouTube channel.
"Ao no Hako" is set in Sakae Mei High School, a powerhouse of sports from junior high to high school, and tells the story of a youth club love story in which Inomata Daiki, a member of the boys' badminton club, falls in love with Chinatsu Shikano, a senior in the girls' basketball club. The story delicately depicts the dedication of life-sized characters as they devote themselves to club activities with their own feelings in their hearts, and the subtle emotions that come with "falling in love with someone." The series began serialization in April 2021 in Weekly Shonen Jump. The comics have sold over 5 million copies in total.
In the anime, Chiba Shoya plays the main character Inomata Daiki, and Ueda Reina plays Chinatsu Shikano. The anime will be produced by Telecom Animation Film, which also produced the "Lupin the Third" series. It will be broadcast on 28 TBS affiliates every Thursday at 11:56pm starting October 3rd.
