Hirayasumi Anime Sets October 7 World Premiere in New York
Composer Kaori Sawada and producer Junichi Katsutani will attend ahead of the anime’s January 2027 debut on NHK General.
Viz Media and Japan Society will screen Hirayasumi’s first episode in New York City on October 7 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The anime adapts Keigo Shinzō’s manga.
Viz Media announced Friday that it and Japan Society will host the world premiere of Hirayasumi’s first anime episode on October 7. The screening takes place at Japan Society in New York City at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
Composer Kaori Sawada and producer Junichi Katsutani will attend. Viz Media Community Manager Godswill Ugwa will host the panel.
The adaptation of Keigo Shinzō’s manga is a co-production with Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd and Production +h. It will debut in Japan on NHK General in January 2027. Viz Media also announced a 2027 release in English.
The anime’s staff includes:
- Director: Kei Suezawa (Fate/Grand Order The Movie Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot - Wandering: Agateram, FLCL Progressive), working at Production +h.
- Character designer: Naoyuki Asano (Urusei Yatsura, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Mr. Osomatsu).
- Art director: Mika Nishimura (Dead Dead Demon's Dededededestruction, Typhoon Noruda).
- Composer: Kaori Sawada (What Did You Eat Yesterday?, When Spring Comes).
Viz’s synopsis follows Hiroto Ikuta, a carefree 29-year-old with no girlfriend, full-time job, or future plans. He is perfectly happy, though others struggle to understand his easygoing outlook. Amid anxiety, confusion, and grief, Hiroto and those around him do their best to navigate life.
Shinzō began the manga in Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits in April 2021. Shogakukan released its ninth collected volume on July 30. The series has more than 1.1 million copies in circulation worldwide.
The manga’s recognition includes:
- A nomination for the 15th Manga Taisho awards in January 2022.
- The #18 spot in the 2023 edition of Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (This Manga Is Amazing!) guidebook in December 2022.
- A nomination for the 27th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in February 2023.
- A Best Continuing Manga Series nomination at the 2nd American Manga Awards.
Hirayasumi also received a live-action series adaptation, which debuted on NHK in November 2025.
Denpa has licensed Shinzō’s Holiday Junction, a collection of seven one-shot manga. Shogakukan released the book in Japan in July 2016.
Sources: Email correspondence via ANN
