“Kitaro Tanjo GeGeGe no Nazo” Blockbuster Movie Gets First Terrestrial Broadcast & Full Uncut Version on July 12th
The movie *Kitaro Tanjo GeGeGe no Nazo* is set to have its first terrestrial broadcast on Fuji TV’s “Doyou Premium” on July 12, 2025, starting at 9:30 PM, presented entirely uncut. Furthermore, Seki Toshihiko, who played Kitaro’s father in the film, and Kiuchi Hidenobu, who played Mizuki, have been decided to participate as selectors for *GeGeGe no Kitaro Watashi no Ai shita Rekidai GeGeGe*, which is currently airing as a special project commemorating 10 years since Mizuki Shigeru’s passing. From *Watashi no Ai shita Rekidai GeGeGe*, a new ending theme titled “Yami ni Goyoujin,” a collaboration between Yamauchi Keisuke and Shiina Ringo, was also revealed along with new accompanying visuals.
*GeGeGe no Kitaro* is a historical masterpiece manga by Mizuki Shigeru that continues to be loved even today, more than 50 years after the first anime season began airing in January 1968, with the sixth season concluding in March 2020. As the origin of the *youkai* boom, it has established enduring popularity and a solid position, becoming a national anime series that is arguably known to everyone throughout Japan.
In November 2023, the movie *Kitaro Tanjo GeGeGe no Nazo* was released, generating significant buzz across Japan. The film also received the Excellent Animation of the Year award at the 47th Japan Academy Film Prize, among other accolades, indicating its widespread success. From April 2025, a selection of masterpiece TV anime episodes, titled *GeGeGe no Kitaro Watashi no Ai shita Rekidai GeGeGe*, began airing to mark the 10th anniversary of Mizuki-sensei’s passing. Each week, one episode selected by a prominent figure associated with Kitaro is broadcast from the previously aired first through sixth seasons.
*Kitaro Tanjo GeGeGe no Nazo*, now confirmed for its first uncut terrestrial broadcast, was created as a commemorative work for Mizuki Shigeru’s 100th birthday in 2023. It is a completely new feature-length animated film that, for the first time, depicts the secret of Kitaro’s birth, the encounter between Kitaro’s father (who would later become Medama Oyaji) and Mizuki, and the destiny the two fathers faced together.
The film was produced by a reliable team, including director Koga Go, scriptwriter Yoshino Hiroyuki, and character designer Yatabe Tooko. The cast assembled talented voice actors who are leaders in the Japanese anime world, such as Sawashiro Miyuki, who voiced Kitaro in the sixth season, and Nozawa Masako, who plays Medama Oyaji. This work gained immense support from fans and received high praise both domestically and internationally, winning the Excellent Animation of the Year award at the 47th Japan Academy Film Prize and being nominated in the Contrechamp category at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to enjoy the main film uncut!
Furthermore, Seki Toshihiko, who played Kitaro’s father in the movie, and Kiuchi Hidenobu, who played Mizuki, have decided to participate in *GeGeGe no Kitaro Watashi no Ai shita Rekidai GeGeGe*. The episode they chose, which holds special memories for them, is the 14th episode of the sixth season, titled “Makura Gaeshi to Gen ei no Yume”. This episode, which features Kitaro’s father, is scheduled to air on July 6th, before the terrestrial broadcast of *Kitaro Tanjo GeGeGe no Nazo*.
In *GeGeGe no Kitaro Watashi no Ai shita Rekidai GeGeGe*, the 15th episode on July 13th will be the 32nd episode of the third season, “Kitaro Ayau shi! Youkai Daisaiban”, selected by Uentsu Eiji. Regarding this episode, Uentsu-san revealed his reason for choosing it, saying, “Although there are few combat scenes, it’s an episode I love because you can see various characters, and their personalities and traits are scattered throughout.” He added, “The trial scene was also adopted in the live-action movie, and the scene where the *youkai* companions Kitaro had helped betray him simultaneously brings feelings of understanding and sadness,” expressing that it is an episode he empathizes with due to its connection to the scenes in the live-action films *GeGeGe no Kitaro* and *GeGeGe no Kitaro Sennen Noroi Uta*, in which he played Kitaro.
Continuing the lineup, the 16th episode airing on July 20th will be the 34th episode of the fourth season, “Rurou! Youkai Azuki togi”, selected by Matsuoka Youko, the voice of Kitaro in the fourth season. The 17th episode airing on July 27th will be the 54th episode of the sixth season, “Dorota bou to Inochi to Daichi”, chosen by Sawashiro Miyuki, who played Kitaro in the sixth season and the movie *Kitaro Tanjo GeGeGe no Nazo*.
Furthermore, the new ending theme, “Yami ni Goyoujin,” performed by the duo Yamauchi Keisuke and Shiina Ringo, which will be used starting with the broadcast on July 6th, was revealed along with new accompanying visuals. The video begins with the lyrics “Yome Toome Kasa no Uchi…”, creating a generally dark atmosphere that matches the song’s image with a mysterious feel. It also allows viewers to fully appreciate the mood reminiscent of the first season of *GeGeGe no Kitaro* and the “Youkai Yokochou” from the fifth season, allowing them to enjoy the atmosphere from various eras of the series.
The newly unveiled “Yami ni Goyoujin” is a song that, while retaining Yamauchi-san’s characteristic style, is richly infused with Shiina-san’s worldview in its lyrics, incorporating words like “arigata” and “shoukei.” It marks new territory for Yamauchi-san’s music. It also includes phrases that evoke *GeGeGe no Kitaro*, such as “marui mentama” and “aoi hi no tama,” foreshadowing that this song will be cherished alongside *GeGeGe no Kitaro* for a long time. A music video was also filmed. Yamauchi-san commented, “It was dramatic, and I put a lot of emphasis on the acting aspect. Shiina-san also gave me various ideas, and I think I can show a side of Yamauchi Keisuke that breaks away from previous images. We were very particular about the music video, so I hope both fans and new viewers will be interested.” The song will be available for streaming and download on major digital music services starting July 2nd, so be sure to listen to it in preparation for the TV broadcast.
The anime *GeGeGe no Kitaro*’s masterpiece collection, *GeGeGe no Kitaro Watashi no Ai shita Rekidai GeGeGe*, is currently airing every Sunday at 9:00 AM on Fuji TV and other networks (*Note: Broadcast times and days may vary by region*). On July 12th, the movie *Kitaro Tanjo GeGeGe no Nazo* will have its first terrestrial broadcast on Fuji TV’s “Doyou Premium” at 9:30 PM, presented uncut.
《Nakase Koutarou》
