Matsurika Kanriden Anime Reveals Kana-Boon Opening in New Promo
The announcement locks in a January 2027 broadcast window and a full production team, signaling that the adaptation of Ishida's long-running novel series is moving into its final pre-release phase.
Key Facts
- The Matsurika Kanriden television anime will premiere in January 2027 and air on Tokyo MX, MBS, TV Aichi, and BS11 in Japan.
- KANA-BOON performs the opening theme song "Hana Hanashi" (Flower Talk).
- New cast members include Takeo Ōtsuka as Tenga Rei, Kōtarō Nishiyama as Shisei Hō, and Shō Komura as Shunsetsu Shō.
- Takeshi Mori supervises the anime, Yūichi Nakazawa directs at Maho Film, and Rie Takahashi and Nobunaga Shimazaki star as Matsurika Kō and Emperor Hakuyō.
- The light novel series has over 2 million copies in circulation including digital editions.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Corner.
Kadokawa released the first main promotional video for the Matsurika Kanriden television anime on Friday, confirming that the rock band KANA-BOON performs the opening theme song "Hana Hanashi" (Flower Talk). The anime, based on the light novel series by Rinne Ishida with illustrations by Izumi, is scheduled to premiere in January 2027 and will air on Tokyo MX, MBS, TV Aichi, and BS11 in Japan. The promo also introduced three new cast members: Takeo Ōtsuka as Tenga Rei, Kōtarō Nishiyama as Shisei Hō, and Shō Komura as Shunsetsu Shō. They join previously announced leads Rie Takahashi as Matsurika Kō and Nobunaga Shimazaki as Emperor Hakuyō. Takeshi Mori supervises the series, Yūichi Nakazawa directs at Maho Film, Tōko Machida handles series composition, Manami Inose designs the characters, and Takurō Iga composes the music. The story follows Matsurika, a court lady at the emperor's inner palace known for her good memory, who meets Emperor Hakuyō and is told to pass the civil service exam before approaching him.
- Chief animation directors are Manami Inose and Kaho Deguchi; Satoshi Shibata is the art director, Kumiko Akahori handles color design, Yukina Nomura is director of photography, Honami Yamagishi (REAL-T) edits, and Yasunori Ebina is sound director.
- Takeshi Mori is best known for Vandread, Gunsmith Cats, and Otaku no Video; Tōko Machida previously worked on Lucky Star, The IDOLM@STER, and My Master Has No Tail, while Manami Inose designed characters for Blue Miburo.
- Ishida's novels are inspired by Chinese history; the first volume appeared in July 2017 under Kadokawa's B's-LOG Bunko imprint, with the 18th volume shipping in October 2025 and the 19th due on October 15.
- The manga adaptation by Waka Takase began in Akita Shoten's Monthly Princess magazine in August 2018; its 12th volume shipped in October 2025, when the first part ended and the second part started in May.
- The series has over 2 million copies in circulation, including digital editions.
- The story setup differs slightly from the summary: Matsurika is asked to serve as a practice partner for a noble house's marriage meeting, and only discovers the suitor is Emperor Hakuyō when she arrives.
- Kadokawa's press release is the source for the announcement; Anime Corner confirms the January 2027 broadcast window and Maho Film's role.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.