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Ayumu
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12h ago
Ayumu Imazu will digitally release "Musubi" on Friday, October 2, 2026, with the jacket photo unveiled the same day the release was announced. The track is a love song about bonds between people, built on the "red thread of fate" motif, with arrangement by Shin Sakiura, who worked on "Anata to Itai" and "MAGICAL." A TikTok demo posted in late August drew a major response, and UGC using the song passed 60,000 posts in about three weeks.
1d ago
The Digimon franchise announced on Tuesday that Shueisha's MANGA Plus platform will add Ayumu Minato's Digimon Eggs manga as a simulpub title on October 2. The series launches in Shueisha's Saikyo Jump magazine the same day, with Simplified Chinese and Korean versions on the Digimon Web website. A new anime project is planned for next year.
1d ago
The television anime of Kyu Takahata and Yuji Kaba's Now That We Draw manga released its first full promotional video and character visuals on Thursday, and the video sets a January 2027 premiere. Shunsuke Ishikawa is directing at ROLL2, with Deko Akao supervising and writing the series scripts and Hiromi Nakagawa designing the characters. The newly announced staff includes Sub-Character Design by Momoka Izumi, Color Key Artist Yurie Matsuura, Art Director Arei Saiga, Compositing Director of Photography Hayato Kifune, 3D CG by Masashi Watanabe, Editing by Mai Hasegawa, Sound Director Fumiyuki Go, Sound Effects by Ryuta Nakahara, and Music by Yoshiaki Miura, with Infinite producing. Ayumu Murase and Sayumi Suzushiro star as Yuki Uehara and Niina Miyamoto, the two aspiring manga creators who agree to a fake relationship to gain the romantic experience their work lacks. The manga runs in Hakusensha's Young Animal. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed it, and the eighth Japanese volume is due September 29.
Sep 20
The KyoMAF special stage for the new Magic Knight Rayearth anime revealed a second main trailer on Sunday, along with two theme songs and four additional cast members. Toaka performs the opening theme "Otome no Tsurugi" (A Young Lady's Sword), and Yurina Kawaguchi performs the ending theme "Hoshiakari" (Starlight); the trailer previews both. Mamiko Noto joins as Alcione, Ayumu Murase as Ascot, Hitomi Ueda as Caldina, and Hiroki Yasumoto as Lafarga. The event also confirmed the anime will air for two consecutive cours, a half-year run. It debuts on October 7 in the IMAnimation W programming block on TV Asahi and affiliated channels at 11:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m. EDT). Ayane Sakura, Rumi Okubo, and Rie Takahashi lead as Hikaru Shido, Umi Ryuzaki, and Fuu Hououji. Yui Miura directs in his series directorial debut, with E&H production animating, Shigeru Murakoshi on series scripts, Satomi Watabe designing characters, and Yuki Kajiura, Takumi Ozawa, and Shiho Terada composing.
Sep 17
HuneX announced on September 17 that the Nintendo Switch version of Otogibanashi will release on December 24 at 8,580 yen for packaged and download editions. The port, from the dramatic create brand, adds a newly recorded voice for Hinode by Ayumu Murase, new Case Files episodes and voice, a BGM viewing mode, a voice save function, and multilingual subtitles in Japanese, English, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), and Korean.
Sep 12
Aniplex released the second cast-reveal PV for the original TV anime Kaze wo Tsugu Mono on September 12. The video carries the first character voices for Ryohei Kimura as Shinpachi Nagakura, Ayumu Murase as Heisuke Todo, Shinba Tsuchiya as Sanosuke Harada, Takeo Otsuka as Keisuke Yamanami, and Yasuyuki Kase as Kamo Serizawa. Comments from the five actors were also released.
Aug 28
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 28, 2026 that voice actor Koki Ino will succeed Ayumu Murase as the voice of Kanon Himeno in The Idolmaster SideM. Murase's graduation from the role was announced on August 18, following amicable discussions between both parties about the character's future. Ino expressed his intention to cherish what has been built so far while giving his best in the role. A special live stream to welcome Ino is scheduled for September 1 at 19:00 JST on YouTube and Niconico Live. The stream will feature Shugo Nakamura as Teru Tendo, Sho Kano as Yukihiro Kamiya, Shogo Yano as Nao Okamura, Keisuke Furuhata as Shiro Tachibana, and Ino as Kanon Himeno. During the program, staff will announce Kanon Himeno's future voice schedule and share details about the event 315 Production presents FANTASIC BATTLE FES ~Wanna step in~. The announcement notes that existing audio in 315 Production episodes will not be replaced for now, though some audio may be replaced in future operations. Ino will appear in the upcoming FES performances and related content announced after August 28.
Aug 18
Voice actor Ayumu Murase is leaving the role of Kanon Himeno in THE IDOLM@STER SideM, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 18. Murase's agency, Aster Nine, said the decision came from discussions between both parties with the future of the character and the work in mind, and that the parting is amicable. Murase has voiced the character for over 10 years. Kanon Himeno is a former child model idol and a member of the kids idol unit Mofumofuen, alongside Shiro Tachibana (voiced by Keisuke Furuhata) and Nao Okamura (voiced by Shogo Yano). A new cast member will be added to support Mofumofuen, with details to be announced later. Audio already released in 315 Production episodes and other content will not be replaced for now, though some parts may be replaced in future operations. Murase will continue to provide the voice for Kanon Himeno in the MONTHLY THEME SONG 10 Mofumofuen release and in some performances within THE IDOLM@STER SideM 11th STAGE ~EVER EVER@FTER~. The replacement schedule and the new cast member will be announced at a later date.
Aug 5
The Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. TV anime revealed its October 4 premiere date, a key visual, and three new cast members on Friday. Takuya Eguchi, Yūki Kaji, and Ayumu Murase join the series, which stars Kazuyuki Okitsu as Mitsutaka Oji and Miyu Tomita as Pugtaro.
Aug 5
The original TV anime Inherit the Winds announced Ayumu Murase will play Todo Heisuke, assistant vice commander of the Mibu Roshigumi. The show premieres in January 2027 on the Agaru Anime block across CBC, TBS, and 26 affiliates, with an early theatrical preview in 2026. The cast includes Daisuke Sakuma, Yuki Kaji, and others.
Jul 1
Kadokawa announced on Wednesday a television anime adaptation of Hidenori Yamaji's manga *Soara and the House of Monsters*, with a 2027 premiere window. The announcement came alongside an ultra teaser promotional video, an ultra teaser visual, and the reveal of the main cast and staff. Ikumi Hasegawa voices Soara, a girl raised to fight monsters who finds herself out of work when peace is declared. Ayumu Murase voices Kirik, a dwarf architect who builds homes for monsters. Takaharu Ozaki, known for *BASTARD!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy-* and *Goblin Slayer*, directs the series at FelixFilm. Ayumu Hisao handles series scripts, Tomoko Iwasa designs the characters, and Hinako Tsubakiyama composes the music. The manga launched on Shogakukan's Sunday Webry website in November 2021 and has seven compiled volumes, with the seventh releasing in Japan on August 10. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes the English edition. Yamaji also drew a commemorative illustration for the announcement.
Jun 30
The Bananya franchise announced a new anime, Bananya At Home Party, to celebrate the first anime's 10th anniversary. It will premiere on July 10 on Japanese streaming services, with a world premiere at Anime Expo on July 4. Returning staff and cast include director Kyō Yatate and voice actors Yūki Kaji and Ayumu Murase.
May 31
The television anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai) announced five new cast members on Sunday, May 31. Yū Shimamura will voice Natsuki Kurotani, and Hayato Fujii will play Fuyuki Kurotani. Ayumu Murase joins as Blacklist. Ako Mayama and Shigeru Chiba will voice the dual role of Tenaga Ashinaga (Long Arms Long Legs), debuting in the anime's 10th episode on June 6. The anime premiered on April 4 on Tokyo MX, BS11, and other channels, and is set for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll streams the series with a same-day English dub. Bones Film produces the anime, with Masahiro Andō directing, Noboru Takagi handling series scripts, and Nobuhiro Arai designing characters. Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music. Vaundy performs the opening theme "Tobu Toki" (Time to Fly), and singer yama performs the ending theme "Tobō yo" (Let's Fly). Arakawa launched the manga in Monthly Shonen Gangan in December 2021; the 13th volume ships July 10.
May 29
The anime adaptation of Kana Akatsuki's light novel series Agents of the Four Seasons has released a climax visual and a three-minute trailer as it approaches its final episodes. The series, which premiered on March 28, 2026, is currently nine episodes into its run and is streaming on Crunchyroll. Wit Studio is handling the animation production. Ken Yamamoto directs the series, with Ayumu Hisao writing the script, Namiko Torii designing the characters, and Kensuke Ushio composing the music. The cast includes Yuka Nukui as Hinagiku, Yoshino Aoyama as Sakura Himedaka, Sumire Uesaka as Ruri Hazakura, Ranko Baba as Ayame Hazakura, Hime Sawada as Nadeshiko Iwaizuki, Taku Yashiro as Rindo Azami, Shogo Sakata as Rosei Kantsubaki, and Satoshi Hino as Itecho Kangetsu. Additional cast members include Kana Hanazawa as Kobai Yukiyanagi and Nao Toyama as Nazuna. The light novel series began publication under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint in April 2021 and has four volumes released so far. Yen Press licenses the light novel in English, and a manga adaptation by Nappa Komatsuda is also ongoing.
May 16
Wit Studio released preview images for the eighth episode of Agents of the Four Seasons on Wednesday, two days before the episode airs on Saturday, May 16. The spring 2026 series adapts Kana Akatsuki and Suoh's light novel, which began publication under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint in April 2021. Ken Yamamoto directs the adaptation, with Ayumu Hisao writing the scripts and Namiko Torii designing the characters. Kensuke Ushio composes the music. The story follows Hinagiku, the Agent of Spring, who disappeared ten years ago and took the season with her. She returns to restore the cycle and, as the myth demands, sends her love to Winter. The light novel has four volumes released so far and is ongoing. A manga adaptation by Nappa Komatsuda also runs alongside it. Yen Press licenses both the light novel and the manga in English. The anime premiered on March 28, 2026, and the new preview gives the first look at the episode before its weekend broadcast.