![“Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi” Voice Cast, Synopsis, and Highlights Summary [Friday Roadshow / Airing January 2, 2026]](https://animeworld.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/464514.jpg)
Broadcast Information
Nippon TV Network’s ‘Kin’you Roodo Shoo’ (Friday Roadshow)
Airing on Friday, January 2nd, 2026, from 9:00 PM to 11:34 PM.
Synopsis
Chihiro is a sullen, somewhat apathetic 10-year-old girl—your typical modern kid. While driving with her parents to their new home, they inadvertently stumble into a mysterious, otherworldly town. When her parents help themselves to food from a vacant stall, they are transformed into pigs. Left completely alone, Chihiro must survive in this strange realm. Stripped of her full name and now simply called ‘Sen,’ she begins working under Yubaba, the greedy witch who rules the town.
Her workplace is a grand bathhouse, an onsen where the myriad gods and spirits of Japan come to wash away their weariness and heal their wounds. Thrown into this chaotic environment, Chihiro finds herself working harder than ever before among an array of suspicious deities and ghosts. Through encounters with characters like Haku and the River God, and through various trials and interactions, Chihiro gradually begins to grow up. It makes you wonder: what would happen if the overly-protected children of today were suddenly left completely to their own devices? Will Chihiro ever find her way back to her own world…?
Voice Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Chihiro | Hiiragi Rumi |
| Haku | Irino Miyu |
| Yubaba / Zeniba | Natsuki Mari |
| Father (Ogino Akio) | Naitoo Takeshi |
| Mother (Ogino Yuuko) | Sawaguchi Yasuko |
| Aogaeru (Frog) | Gashuin Tatsuya |
| Bou (Baby) | Kamiki Ryoounosuke |
| Lin | Tamai Yumi |
| Bandai-gaeru (Front Desk Frog) | Ooizumi You |
| Kawa no Kami (River God) | Hayashi・Koba |
| Chichiyaku | Jou Tsunehiko |
| Aniyaku | Ono Takehiko |
| Kamajii (Boiler Man) | Sugawara Bunta |
| Kaonashi (No-Face) | Nakamura Akio |
Staff
| Role | Staff Member |
|---|---|
| Director, Original Creator, Screenplay | Miyazaki Hayao |
| Theme Song: “Itsumo Nando demo” | Lyrics: Kaku Wakako / Composition & Performance: Kimura Yumi (Tokuma Japan Communications) |
| Music | Hisashi Joo (Soundtrack: Tokuma Japan Communications) |
| Producer | Suzuki Toshio |
(C)2001 Studio Ghibli・NDDTM
Highlights & Why You Should Watch
This film is far more than just a coming-of-age story. It’s a breathtaking journey into a meticulously crafted spirit world that feels both utterly fantastic and strangely familiar. The bathhouse setting is a character in itself, bursting with imaginative creatures and chaotic energy. You’ll watch Chihiro’s journey from a whiny, helpless child to a determined and compassionate girl—a transformation that feels incredibly earned and satisfying.
The film is packed with iconic moments, from the silent yet profoundly expressive Kaonashi (No-Face) to the breathtaking train ride across a submerged plain. The animation, hand-drawn by the masters at Studio Ghibli, is overflowing with rich detail and a sense of life that is truly magical. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (also known internationally as Spirited Away) is an experience that continues to reveal new layers and wonders.
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