New Ikoku Nikki Anime Cast and Theme Song Artists Announced

The upcoming television adaptation of Tomoko Yamashita’s acclaimed manga, “Ikoku Nikki” (Diary of a Strange Land), has revealed exciting new details about its cast and theme songs. On a recent Wednesday, the production team announced four new voice actors and the artists behind the opening and ending themes.

The singer-songwriter TOMOO will perform the opening theme song, titled “Sonare,” while the pop duo Bialystocks will handle the ending theme, “Kotozute” (Hearsay).

The newly added cast members include:

– Junichi Suwabe as Shingo Kasamachi

– Sumire Morohoshi as Emiri Nara

– Eriko Matsui as Nana Daigo

– Takashi Kondō as Kazunari Tanno

Fans can get a sneak peek of the series with an advance screening of the first two episodes scheduled for December 2 at the Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro in Tokyo.

The manga, originally penned by Tomoko Yamashita, follows the lives of Makio Kōdai, a 35-year-old novelist, and her 15-year-old niece Asa. After a sudden impulse, Makio takes Asa in following the tragic loss of Asa’s parents, including Makio’s older sister. The story captures their daily struggles as Makio adjusts to living with someone else and Asa tries to adapt to an adult who never quite acts her age.

The anime will star Miyuki Sawashiro as Makio Kōdai and Fūko Mori as Asa Takumi. The series is being directed by Miyuki Oshiro, known for her work on “Durarara!!×2 Ketsu,” “Natsume Yūjin-Chō,” and “To Your Eternity.” The script and composition are handled by Kohei Kiyasu, who previously worked on “Run with the Wind” and “My Home Hero.” Character designs are by Kenji Hayama, renowned for his work on “Princess Jellyfish” and “Tiger & Bunny.” The music is composed by kensuke ushio, who has contributed to “Chainsaw Man,” “A Silent Voice,” and “Heavenly Delusion.”

The anime is set to premiere in January on ABC TV, Tokyo MX, and BS Asahi.

Tomoko Yamashita, known for her works like “The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window,” “Don’t Cry Girl,” and “Mo’some Sting,” launched “Ikoku Nikki” in June 2017 in Shodensha’s “Feel Young” magazine. The manga concluded in June 2023, with its 11th and final compiled book volume released in August 2023. The series has garnered significant acclaim, being nominated for the 28th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and ranking #5 on the women’s list of the 2024 edition of “Kono Manga ga Sugoi!” It also topped Da Vinci’s 23rd annual “Book of the Year” list for manga and was nominated for the 13th Manga Taisho awards in 2020.

Additionally, “Ikoku Nikki” inspired a live-action film adaptation that premiered in Japanese theaters in June 2024.

News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com