Ikoku Nikki TV anime to start in January 2026

It has been announced that the TV anime "Ikoku Nikki," based on the popular manga by Tomoko Yamashita, will be broadcast on ABC TV, TOKYO MX, and BS Asahi from January 2026. It has been announced that Miyuki Sawashiro will play the shy novelist Makio Takashiro, and Fuko Mori will play his niece, Asa Tagumi, and the first key visual and promotional video have also been released.

Sawashiro commented, "I concentrated on somehow conveying the fragrance of Makio from the original work as closely as possible through my voice... but I recalled the recording of "Morning" and "Ikoku Nikki" as if it were something that happened in my own life, as if I had once lived with a middle school girl. I wonder if I was able to properly speak the words of Makio, a stranger to me? I wonder if I was able to stand in her desert. I am quietly waiting, full of anticipation and anxiety, for the day when I can meet you all, hand in hand with my art and music."

Mori said, "On a personal note, 'Ikoku Nikki' is the first anime role I got after auditioning. When I read the original work, the first thing I thought was, 'I want to meet Makio!' I am very happy that by being involved in this work as Asa, I have been able to indirectly make that wish come true. I am truly grateful to everyone who has supported me in my humble beginnings. 'Ikoku Nikki' is a work that makes you realize the difficulty and preciousness of people caring about each other. I tried my best to act in the role, hoping that I could convey to everyone at least a little of what moved me. I hope that this work will become an oasis for those who have a desert in their hearts. I hope you enjoy the anime 'Ikoku Nikki'."

Director Oshiro Miyuki, who is working on the anime, commented, "It's been quite a while since I voiced my desire to turn this work into an anime because I love it, but it looks like I'm finally going to be able to make it happen. While respecting the feeling you get after reading the original, I tried to express the 'Ikoku Nikki' in a way that is unique to anime. I hope you enjoy it along with the wonderful voices and music."

"Ikoku Nikki" is a manga serialized in "FEEL YOUNG" (Shodensha) from 2017 to 2023. It depicts the life of a shy novelist, Takashiro Makio, and his niece, Tagumi Asa, a girl who lost both her parents in an accident. It was ranked 4th in the "Manga Taisho 2019" awards, 5th in the women's edition of "This Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2024," and 1st in the comic rankings of "Da Vinci BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023." It was also made into a live-action movie starring actors Yui Aragaki and Hayase Iku, which became a hot topic.

*Staff (titles omitted)

Director: Oshiro Miyuki ▽ Composition and script: Kiyasu Kohei ▽ Character design: Hayama Kenji ▽ Sub-character design: Kawamura Toshie ▽ Prop setting: Kano Miyako ▽ Costume setting: Aizawa Kaede ▽ Art: Takahashi Eriko ▽ Color design: Tanaka Miho ▽ Cinematography: Namiki Satoshi ▽ Editing: Seki Kazuhiko ▽ Sound director: Omori Takahiro ▽ Music: Kensuke Ushio ▽ Animation production: Shuka

*Cast (titles omitted)

Takashiro Makio: Miyuki Sawashiro ▽ Tagumi Asa: Mori Fuko