TV anime "Hikuidori Ushu Boro Tobi Gumi" will start broadcasting in January 2026

It has been announced that the TV anime "Hikuidori Boro Tobi Gumi," based on the popular novel by Naoki Prize-winning author Imamura Shogo, will begin airing in January 2026. Based on the historical Great Fire of Meiwa, the story depicts the reversal of events that took place among the firemen who fought against the great fire of Edo. Voice actor Yuichiro Umehara will play the protagonist, Matsunaga Gengo, the leader of the Ushu Boro Tobigumi, who tries to rebuild the team. A key visual of the Boro Tobi Gumi fighting against the flames has also been released.

In addition to Umehara, the cast of Boro Tobi-gumi members announced to appear include Shuichiro Umeda as the mood-maker and playful vice president, Torigoe Shinnosuke; Subaru Kimura as the kind-hearted former sumo wrestler and unrivaled strength, Tora-san; Nobunaga Shimazaki as Hikoya, an acrobat who is immensely popular with women in Edo; and Kensho Ono Seijuro, a military strategist skilled in astronomy and psychology who is adept at emergencies.

Umehara, who plays Matsunaga Gengo, commented, "I think Matsunaga Gengo is a character who will captivate viewers as he begins his journey as a firefighter again while still carrying the pain of his past. He's usually cool, but it's a lot of fun to play the moments when his personality heats up when it comes to helping others. I felt that the passionate story of him gathering friends and following the path he believes in was perfect for animation. It's also rare for a story to be based on a historical novel, so I was very inspired by the dialogue and other aspects. I hope that the animation will be easy to watch while incorporating the essence of a period drama. I will do my best to act in a way that will be enjoyable for fans of the original work and those who are encountering it through the anime."

Umeda, who plays Torigoe Shinnosuke, said, "I think the image of a hero varies depending on the era, but ' Hikuidori' is the story of the 'firemen' who fight against great fires in Edo and protect lives. Although Shinnosuke is still inexperienced as a fireman, he is a lively young man who runs around beside Gengo and is a good mood maker (?). Please look forward to the scenes in which he shines!"

Kimura, who plays Tora-san, commented, "I'm fired up. Because he's kinder than anyone, he can become stronger than anyone. I'll do my best to portray that Tora-san, so I hope you'll watch! Look forward to it!"

Shimazaki, who plays Hikoya, said, "When I first read the original novel, I thought it was interesting! That's why I feel some pressure, but more than that, I'm really looking forward to being involved in the production and facing Hikoya and walking alongside him. He's really a very refined character. I'll do my best to play the role of the 'handsome man who hangs his head high in the sky.' I hope you'll all enjoy it."

Ono, who plays Kaji Seijuro, commented, "I personally love the Edo period and historical stories, so I remember being very excited when I was offered the role. I'm sure it will be an exciting story about people of that time, without modern technology, risking their lives to protect others from fires, so I hope to act passionately while thinking back to that time. However, I think that Seijuro's first appearance will probably be quite aloof and unrelated to passion, so I'm looking forward to playing the role and seeing how he grows from there, and how he changes as a result of his interactions and encounters with people."

Volumes 1 to 8 of the original novel series "Ushu Boro Tobigumi" will be released in early September with special obi strips featuring anime illustrations. The first volume of the manga version of the series (Akita Shoten) will be released on September 8th. Volume 1 will include a short story, "Hiyokemochi," specially written by the original author, Imamura.

"Hikuidori Ushu Boro Tobi Gumi" is the debut work of Imamura, who is known for works such as "Ikusagami," and is the first in the ongoing " Ushu Boro Tobigumi" series. The story follows Matsunaga Gengo, a firefighter samurai who was once said to be the best in Edo, and his eccentric group of friends who gather around him to save the people of Edo from the disaster of fire. The anime is produced by SynergySP.