The winter 2026 anime Hi Kuitori: Ushuu Boro Tobi-gumi (火喰鳥 羽州ぼろ鳶組) has arrived on Netflix. All episodes of the full series began streaming on May 22, 2026, giving viewers the chance to binge the entire epic in one go.
About the Series
Adapted from the hit novel series by Naoki Prize-winning author Shogo Imamura, Hi Kuitori: Ushuu Boro Tobi-gumi is a grand historical spectacle. The story takes place in Edo, inspired by the real-life Meiwa Great Fire, and follows a band of firefighters known as the “boro tobi” (ragtag firemen) as they battle both flames and social scorn. Imamura, who also penned the original work for Netflix’s Ikusagami, made his debut as a novelist with the Ushuu Boro Tobi-gumi series.
The anime is directed by Hiroshi Yatsumi, with animation production by SynergySP. It originally aired on Japanese TV from January 11, 2026.
Synopsis
Matsunaga Gengo, once hailed as the greatest firefighting samurai in Edo and called “Hi Kuitori” (the fire-eating bird), had long since retired from firefighting. But a sudden offer from the Shinjo domain pulls him back into the fray. The domain’s firefighting squad is broke, undermanned, and despised by all. Encouraged by his wife Miyuki, Gengo takes the helm as headman to rebuild the broken team.
He gathers a motley crew of eccentric companions. Mocked as “boro tobi,” they nevertheless swear to save every life they can. Meanwhile, a mysterious series of arson incidents known as the “Kitsunebi” (fox fire) plague Edo. The never-say-die firefighters race against disaster in this rousing entertainment action drama.
Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Matsunaga Gengo | Yuichiro Umehara |
| Torii Shinnosuke | Shuichiro Umeda |
| Torajiro | Subaru Kimura |
| Hikoichi | Nobunaga Shimazaki (note: “崎” is read as “tatsusaki”) |
| Kaji Seijuro | Kensho Ono |
| Miyuki | Sayaka Miyoshi |
| Orita Samon | Koji Yusa |
| Oto Kanokuro | Junichi Suwabe |
Staff
| Director | Hiroshi Yatsumi |
| Chief Director | Hajime Kamegaki |
| Series Composition | Ryusuke Mori |
| Script | Ryusuke Mori, Shohei Fukuda, Yoriko Tomita, Kohei Nishimura |
| Character Design | BILBA |
| CG Director | Takeshi Sanada |
| Sound Director | Shoki Tanaka |
| Music | Koji Takanashi |
| Animation Production | SynergySP |
Streaming Information
The anime is available on Netflix, U-NEXT, Anime Hodai, Prime Video, d Anime Store, d Anime Store NicoNico, d Anime Store for Prime Video, DMM TV, Wowow On Demand, J:COM STREAM, TELASA, milplus, Ponta Pass, ABEMA Premium, Anime Festa, FOD, Hulu, and Lemino. Additionally, limited-time free episodes are available on ABEMA and TVer. Rental streaming is offered on HAPPY! Video, J:COM STREAM, milplus, TELASA, VIDEX, Video Market, Kantele Doga, music.jp, NicoNico Channel, and Movie Full Plus.
(C) Shogo Imamura / Shodensha / Boro Tobi-gumi
