Voice actors Masaki Terasoma and Akio Otsuka have been added to the cast of the upcoming TV anime Akane-banashi. The series, centered on the traditional Japanese art of rakugo, is set to premiere in Japan in April 2026. Terasoma will voice Shiguma Arakawa, while Otsuka takes on the role of Issho Arakawa.
The Akane-banashi TV anime adaptation continues to build its ensemble with the announcement of two prominent voice actors. Masaki Terasoma, known for various roles in anime, will portray Shiguma Arakawa, and Akio Otsuka, a veteran in the industry, will lend his voice to Issho Arakawa. This addition complements the previously revealed cast members, including Anna Nagase as the protagonist Akane Osaki, Takuya Eguchi as Karashi Nerimaya, and Rie Takahashi as Hikaru Koragi, among others such as Tohru Osaki, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Chiaki Kobayashi, Yohei Azakami, Seiichiro Yamashita, and Akihisa Shiono in supporting Arakawa family roles.
Directed by Ayumu Watanabe, whose credits include Summer Time Rendering and Children of the Sea, the production features Yu Harima as assistant director. Kii Tanaka serves as character designer and chief animation director, with Michihiro Tsuchiya handling series composition. Additional key staff include Yasunari Nitta as sub-character designer, Noriko Shimazawa for costumes, Akio Izutsu composing the music, and Kikuhiko Hayashiya supervising the rakugo elements. ZEXCS studios is producing the animation.
Based on the manga by writer Yuki Suenaga and illustrator Takamasa Moue, Akane-banashi began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump on February 14, 2022, and has reached 20 tankobon volumes by January 2026. VIZ Media holds the English license, summarizing the story as one of Akane Osaki's quest to avenge her father Shinta Arakawa after his expulsion from a shin'uchi exam in rakugo, aiming to prove his mastery in the art form. The narrative highlights themes of dedication and performance in traditional storytelling.
