It has been announced that a sequel to the NHK drama "The Path of Lila's Blooming Beasts," which aired in February 2025 and stars actress Anna Yamada, will be produced. The series is a human drama set in the vast natural landscape of Hokkaido, questioning the meaning of life. It has also been announced that Takaya Kamikawa will be joining the cast as Kentaro Inukai, an employee at the Livestock Hygiene Center who guides the main character, Satori (Yamada).
"The Path of Beasts Where Lila Blossoms Blooms" is based on the novel of the same name by Yoko Fujioka, winner of the 45th Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award. Set in Hokkaido, the coming-of-age story depicts the growth of a former hikikomori girl who faces challenges in her quest to become a veterinarian. The script was written by Fumie Mizuhashi, who also wrote the same network's serial drama "Scarlet" (2019 fall season). Yamada plays the protagonist, Satori Kishimoto, while Ami Touma plays Satori's classmate and dorm roommate, Ayaka Kajita, and Toshihisa Hagiwara plays Zanyuki Kubo, whose father is an ornithologist and is himself a bird nerd.
In the sequel, "The Path of Lila's Blooming Beasts 2," Kishimoto Satori (Yamada) learns that veterinarians who treat livestock (large animals) such as cows and horses protect the lives of both animals and humans, and decides to become a veterinarian for large animals. Together with fellow veterinary students Ayaka (Touma) and Zanyuki (Hagiwara), she passes the national exam and begins her career as a veterinarian. However, a "specific livestock infectious disease" breaks out, and Satori is faced with the harsh challenge of having to "cull" all livestock that are infected or suspected of being infected.
Satori is tormented by the thought of taking a life in order to save another. What helps him overcome this ordeal is the presence of his friends, Ayaka and Zanyuki, who share a strong bond with Satori. The young veterinarians face the potentially unanswerable question of "coexistence between animals and humans," believing in the "will to live" of living creatures.
Yamada commented, "There are many things that are not easy to deal with, but I felt like I grew up alongside Satori, who does not run away from facing animals or people. In this work, I would like to express with all my sincerity how she faces various things, gets hurt, and grows as she does. I hope that this drama will encourage people to take a step forward and make the world seem a little brighter. I hope that you will look forward to it."
"Lira's Flower Blooms: The Path of Beasts 2" will have five episodes and is scheduled to air in the summer of 2026.
