The production team behind the summer 2026 anime Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori (天は赤い河のほとり) has released the synopsis and advance scene cuts for Episode 2, “Black Water” (黒い水), set to air on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
About the Series
The anime adapts the manga by Chie Shinohara, serialized in Shogakukan’s Shōjo Comic from 1995 to 2002. The series has sold over 20 million copies including digital editions, won the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo category, and was adapted for the Takarazuka Revue stage in 2018. This marks the first time a Shinohara work has been adapted into a TV anime. The series is directed by Kosuke Kobayashi with animation production by Tatsunoko Production.
Story Overview
The story follows Yuri (Suzuki Yuri), an ordinary girl from modern-day Japan who is suddenly summoned to the Hittite Empire of the 14th century BCE. There she meets Prince Kail Mursili, the leading candidate to inherit the throne, and is sheltered by him as a concubine. Over time, Yuri wins the hearts of the people and becomes known as Ishtar, Goddess of War. With the clock ticking on her return to Japan, she becomes entangled in the schemes of Empress Nakia, conflicts with neighboring kingdoms, and her own growing feelings for Kail. It is a sweeping historical romance in which a girl summoned across millennia forges her own destiny.
Episode 2 Synopsis: “Black Water”
Summoned across time as a sacrificial offering through the machinations of Empress Nakia, Yuri finds herself sheltered by Prince Kail as his concubine. To return to Japan, she needs not only Kail’s power as a high priest, but also the fulfillment of two conditions: “the morning star Ishtar must shine and all seven springs must be full” — and the clothes she was wearing when she was summoned. Those clothes, however, have been taken by Nakia. Yuri sets out to get them back…
Broadcast Information
- Nippon TV: Every Tuesday at 25:29, AnichU block (from July 7, 2026)
- BS Nippon TV: Every Wednesday at 24:00 (from July 8, 2026)
- Episode 2 “Black Water”: July 14, 2026
A new collector’s edition of the original manga (10 volumes) will also begin release around July 24, 2026, with Volumes 1 and 2 going on sale simultaneously.
Staff
- Original Work: Chie Shinohara (Shogakukan)
- Director: Kosuke Kobayashi
- Series Composition: Yoriko Tomita
- Character Design: Kenji Fujisaki
- Art Director: Katsumi Sarutani
- Color Design: Sachiko Tsuji
- Photography Director: Masashi Kamiki
- Editor: Yoshihiro Ueno
- Sound Director: Hiroto Morishita
- Music: Yoshihisa Hirano
- Historical Supervision: Kimihito Matsumura, Daisuke Yoshida (Anatolian Archaeological Research Institute, Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan)
- Animation Production: Tatsunoko Production
Cast
- Yuri (Suzuki Yuri): Mira Tachibana
- Kail Mursili: Wataru Kato
- Nakia: Aya Uchida
- Zananza Hattusili: Shoya Chiba
- Il Bani: Tomoaki Maeno
- Urhi: Koji Yusa
- Kikkuri: Tomotaka Ohno
- Hadi: Shiki Aoki
- Ryui: Natsumi Kawaida
- Shala: Misato Matsuoka
- Kasshu: Haruki Ishiya
- Rusafa: Junya Enoki
- Mittannamwa: Shinichiro Kamio
- Mattiwaza (Black Prince): Kosuke Toriumi
- Narrator / Himuro: Hiroki Nanami
Theme Song
Opening Theme: “暁の空” (Akatsuki no Sora) performed by Hiroki Nanami (King Records)
Lyrics: Hiroki Nanami / Music & Arrangement: YASUHIRO (康寛)
(แชร์แล้วไปกดรับที่หน้าภารกิจ · วันละ 1 回)
