The Elusive Samurai season 2 is airing on Fuji TV's Noitamina block, with episodes streaming on Prime Video and later on DMM TV and U-NEXT. The season premiered on July 13, 2026, and has introduced new allies and antagonists while maintaining a comedic, experimental tone.
The Elusive Samurai season 2 opened with a premiere that mixed a live-action rakugo recap of the first season with a side quest to catch sea bream, and introduced a new antagonist group, the Kanto Hisashiban, assembled by Tadayoishi. The episode set the season's tone as a blend of historical detail, comedic character dynamics, and flashy action. A Nijimen survey of 699 respondents ranked the season as the most anticipated anime of summer 2026, ahead of sequels like Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2 and You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2.
The season's early episodes have focused on character pairings and expanding the cast. Episode 2 sent Tokiyuki into enemy territory with Ayako as his sole vassal, giving her rare solo time and showing Tokiyuki developing feelings for her through her musical performance. Episode 3 introduced new Hojo retainers, including General Unno, with absurd humor; a review compared the show's tone to The Muppet Show, praising its comedic chaos over narrative depth. Earlier coverage of the first season's second episode framed retainers Kojiro and Ayako as the moral center, restoring Tokiyuki's faith after a betrayal.
Production details were locked in before the premiere. The season is directed by Yuta Yamazaki with character designer Yasushi Nishiya at CloverWorks. Kento Nakajima performs the opening theme "Onigoto," and Bocchiboromaru performs the ending theme "Romantic ga Hoshii nara" with three guest vocalists from Hinatazaka46. The season premiered on July 13 on Fuji TV, with Prime Video streaming episodes the same day, and DMM TV and U-NEXT following on July 21.
Merchandising and promotional tie-ins have accompanied the season. A collaboration cafe with waiter-attire art runs July 15 to July 29 at four locations. A Gokurakuyu RAKU SPA collaboration starts July 9 at two venues. A NAMJATOWN event runs July 3 to July 26. A pop-up shop at Yurakucho Marui and Namba Marui runs August 15 to August 23 and August 28 to September 6, featuring seasonal illustrations of Tokiyuki and a lottery with exclusive prizes.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/the-elusive-samurai.
CC BY 4.0.
The Elusive Samurai introduces warlord Ogasawara Sadamune, who brings an Imperial Court order threatening death or exile for Tokiyuki's protectors. To steal the decree, Yorishige advises seeking wicked retainers, leading to Genba Kazama, a feared thief with a kitsune mask. Genba's backstory reveals a broken bond: his father, a loyal vassal, was scapegoated for his thieving skills and disgraced.
The Elusive Samurai Marui POP UP SHOP opens at Yurakucho Marui on August 15 and Namba Marui on August 28. New goods use freshly drawn illustrations with a four seasons theme. Items include acrylic stands, trading washi-style can badges, trading omamori-style charms, polaroid shot collections, mini hanging scrolls, and bath towels. A purchase lottery offers BIG acrylic stands and mini cards. Web sales start August 15 on Marui no Anime ONLINE SHOP.
Anime News Network reviews episode 5 of The Elusive Samurai Season 2, titled "The Unyielding." The episode sees Tokiyuki face a real failure on the battlefield, as his troops achieve small victories but miss the larger enemy strategy. The review notes the arc's impact is diluted by being spread across a month of episodes.
Episode 4 of The Elusive Samurai season 2 opens with the kids reuniting with the Mochizuki warriors, and the scene suddenly transforms into a live-action puppet show for no in-story reason. The episode then spends much of its runtime on maps, charts, and battle meetings, which the reviewer found slower than usual. The highlight is the arrival of the Shinano Mask, clearly Yorishige in a bright pink disguise, which prompts Tokiyuki to ask his mentor for a more proactive role.
Anime News Network reviews episode 3 of The Elusive Samurai season 2, noting the growing cast of new characters and storylines. The review compares the show's tone to The Muppet Show, praising its comedic chaos over narrative depth. New Hojo retainers, including General Unno, are introduced with absurd humor.
A pop-up shop for the TV anime The Elusive Samurai will run at Yurakucho Marui from August 15 to August 23, 2026, and at Namba Marui from August 28 to September 6, 2026. The event centers on a newly drawn illustration of Hojo Tokiyuki in seasonal attire, with four versions themed around spring, summer, autumn, and winter: spring with cherry blossoms, a cool summer, autumn with leaves and a Japanese umbrella, and winter with snow. The shop will sell goods using these illustrations, including acrylic stands, trading washi-style can badges, omamori-style charms, polaroid shot collections, mini hanging scrolls, and bath towels. A lottery will be held at the venue, with entry for purchases of 3,000 yen or more, and an extra entry for Epos Card users. Prizes include a big acrylic stand and mini cards. The Yurakucho venue is on the 8th floor, Space 6, and will be closed on August 19. Business hours are 11:00 to 19:00 at both locations.
Episode 2 of The Elusive Samurai Season 2 sends Tokiyuki into enemy territory with Ayako as his sole vassal. The episode gives Ayako rare solo time with the young lord, includes a tense conversation with Sadamune, and shows Tokiyuki developing feelings for Ayako through her musical performance.
The Elusive Samurai Season 2 premiered on July 18, 2026, with an episode that balances recap and new story. The premiere opens with a live-action rakugo-style recap of the first season, then sends the Elusive Gang on a mission to catch sea bream for Tokiyuki, a task complicated by war and logistics. The episode also introduces a new group of antagonists, the Kanto Hisashiban, assembled by Tadayoishi, featuring characters with striking designs including a vampire-like figure and a giant blade wielder. Animation studio CloverWorks handles the production, with the episode streaming on Crunchyroll. A Nijimen survey of 699 respondents ranked The Elusive Samurai Season 2 as the most anticipated anime of the summer 2026 season, gathering 67 votes ahead of sequels like Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2 and You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2. The episode establishes the season's tone with a mix of historical detail, comedic character dynamics, and flashy action sequences.
The Elusive Samurai Season 2 will premiere on July 17, 2026 on Fuji TV's Noitamina block. Amazon Prime Video will stream episodes the same day, making it the fastest streaming option. Other services including DMM TV and U-NEXT will follow on July 21. The article from Anime Anime details the streaming schedule and recommends Prime Video for early access and DMM TV for a cheaper subscription with a free trial.
Bocchiboromaru will perform the ending theme for The Elusive Samurai season 2, with three guest vocalists from idol group Hinatazaka46. The song is titled "Romantic ga Hoshii nara." The season premieres July 17 on Fuji TV and streams on Prime Video. Returning staff include director Yuta Yamazaki and character designer Yasushi Nishiya at CloverWorks.
The second season of the anime adaptation of Yūsei Matsui's The Elusive Samurai manga will premiere on July 13 on Fuji TV. The main promotional video previews the opening theme song "Onigoto" by Kento Nakajima. Returning staff include director Yuta Yamazaki and character designer Yasushi Nishiya at CloverWorks. Prime Video will stream the series.
The indoor theme park NAMJATOWN in Tokyo will host a collaboration event with the TV anime "The Elusive Samurai" from July 3 to July 26, 2026, featuring seven characters. Activities include a quiz rally, a ninja training ground, fortune latte sales, and a resale of original goods from 2024. The event commemorates the second season of the anime.
The anime The Elusive Samurai will collaborate with Gokurakuyu RAKU SPA from July 9, 2026, at two locations in Saitama and Kanagawa. The event features four character-themed baths on rotating schedules, newly drawn goods, collaboration menu items, a digital stamp rally, and an X campaign. Original merchandise includes locker-style keychains, acrylic stands, and can badges.
The Elusive Samurai TV anime will hold a collaboration cafe with and GALLERY from July 15 to July 29, 2026, at four locations. Newly drawn illustrations of Tokiyuki, Shizuku, Fubuki, and Mima in waiter attire will appear on menu items, goods, and novelties. The menu includes five character-inspired food items and eight drinks.
CloverWorks announced a regional tour of its POP UP SHOP 2026 event, starting January 16 in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, followed by Nagoya in February and Kochi in March. The pop-up shops will sell merchandise for series including My Dress-Up Darling, Wind Breaker, Bocchi the Rock!, Spy × Family, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, and others. Limited quantities of past release goods and books will also be available. Each venue will display reproduction artwork and production materials, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the studio's animation process. The tour begins at Ebetsu Tsutaya Books (January 16 to February 4), moves to TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Noritake in Nagoya (February 13 to March 2), and ends at Kochi Tsutaya Books (March 27 to April 13). Stock and exhibits may vary by location. The announcement was made on January 9, 2026.
A new review of The Elusive Samurai focuses on the second episode's betrayal of Kunitoki and the introduction of retainers Kojirō and Ayako, who restore the protagonist Tokiyuki's faith in others. The piece contrasts the betrayal scene with the Gospel account of Judas, framing the retainers as models of faithful heroism.