The opening-day stage greeting for the theatrical advance screening Kaze wo Tsugu Mono -Hajimari- was held on November 13 at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya in Tokyo. Three cast members took the stage: Sakuma Daisuke (voicing protagonist Tachikawa Jinsuke), Kaji Yuki (Okita Soji), and Kase Yasuyuki (Serizawa Kamo).

About the Series

Kaze wo Tsugu Mono is an original anime centered on the Mibu Roshigumi, the group that would later become the legendary Shinsengumi. Produced through a three-way partnership between Aniplex, Live2D, and Drive, the series reimagines the fleeting youth of young men living through a turbulent era with a fresh narrative perspective and new animation techniques. The theatrical version, -Hajimari-, covers the story’s early chapters and runs for two weeks from November 13, ahead of the TV anime’s January 2027 broadcast premiere.

Sakuma Daisuke: “As an Otaku, My Expectations Are Through the Roof”

Welcomed onto the stage with enthusiastic applause, all three actors expressed their joy at finally being able to share the work with audiences. Sakuma Daisuke — well known as a passionate anime fan — cited the involvement of Aniplex and its partners, as well as a cast so illustrious that each member could headline their own project, before declaring with conviction:

“Even though I’m one of the voice actors, as a single otaku, I have nothing but sky-high expectations!” He went on to insist the finished product more than lives up to them.

When Sakuma spotted the full cast list on the screen and launched into an enthusiastic monologue, Kaji Yuki quipped, “That’s starting to sound like the opinion of someone in the audience (laughs).”

Highlights: Cute Designs Meet the Raw Reality of the Bakumatsu

Kaji Yuki led the discussion of the series’ appeal by first noting the charming character designs, then warning viewers not to be lulled into complacency — because the Shinsengumi setting brings visceral, unflinching depictions of the era alongside intense battle sequences. He described the contrast between the designs and the gritty content as one of the show’s key draws. Both Sakuma and Kase added that even in the recording booth, the cast were visibly surprised by how raw some of the scenes turned out.

Kase Yasuyuki’s Unexpected Connection to Caramel Box

Kase Yasuyuki, who plays Serizawa Kamo, shared a memorable personal anecdote. As a teenager, he and friends were discussing plans to stage a production by the theater troupe Caramel Box — whose founder Narii Yutaka wrote the script and original story for Kaze wo Tsugu Mono — at a restaurant, hoping to obtain permission. By sheer coincidence, a Caramel Box troupe member happened to be seated nearby, overheard the conversation, and immediately said, “Go ahead!” Years later, when Kase met Narii himself at the recording sessions, he was moved to the point of thinking, “The real thing is right here in front of me!”

New Key Visual and a Hint at the Story’s Direction

During the event, a new key visual for the TV anime was unveiled, depicting a slice of the Shinsengumi’s daily life — notably without Serizawa Kamo in the frame. Kase responded with a touch of melancholy: “So it really is the Shinsengumi’s story now,” a remark that nodded to the character’s historical fate and hinted at where the narrative is headed.

Closing Remarks

Wrapping up the event, Kase told the audience, “There’s a lot I couldn’t say to avoid spoilers, but I genuinely think this is an exceptional piece of work — please immerse yourselves in it completely.” Kaji Yuki declared, “This is a Shinsengumi anime that could only be made as this project.” Sakuma said he had been looking forward to the day fans could finally see the work, and urged everyone to spread the word so that “Kazetsugu” could build momentum all the way to the TV anime’s final episode — tying his words to protagonist Jinsuke’s signature talent for running.

Series Information

Staff

• Original Story / Script: Narii Yutaka (Caramel Box) / Aniplex
• Director: Kawamura Tomohiro
• Original Concept Advisor: Mashiba Azuki
• Character Design: Ebina Fumi
• Music: Kishida Shigeru
• Animation Production: Live2D Creative Studio × Drive

Cast

• Tachikawa Jinsuke — Sakuma Daisuke
• Okita Soji — Kaji Yuki
• Koganei Hyogo — Yuki Aoi
• Hijikata Toshizo — Uchiyama Koki
• Kondo Isami — Nakamura Yuichi
• Nagakura Shinpachi — Kimura Ryohei
• Todo Heisuke — Murase Ayumu
• Harada Sanosuke — Tsuchiya Shinba
• Yamanami Keisuke — Otsuka Goo
• Serizawa Kamo — Kase Yasuyuki
• Kurosuke — Omori Nichiga
• Umeda Shinbe — Kamikawa Takaya (special guest)

Schedule

• Theatrical Advance Screening -Hajimari-: November 13, 2026 — 2 weeks limited run
• TV Anime Kaze wo Tsugu Mono: January 2027, CBC/TBS network (28 stations nationwide, “Agaru Anime” slot)