TV anime ‘Nihon Sangoku’ episode 9, titled ‘Crying over Hei Iyayoshi’ (泣いて弥々吉を斬る), aired on June 1, 2026 (Monday). The episode focused on strategist Hei Iyayoshi’s determination to restore the prestige of his lord, Sakura Tiger, at the cost of his own life, moving many viewers to tears.
『日本三國』スペシャルビジュアル
‘Nihon Sangoku’ is a manga by Matsuki Ikka, serialized in Shogakukan’s ‘MangaONE’ app and ‘Ura Sunday’ website. The story is set in a near-future Japan where civilization has collapsed following nuclear war, natural disasters, and bad governance. The country is divided into three warring states, and a minor local official, Sankaku Aoki, rises through his knowledge and eloquence to aim for the reunification of Japan.
The manga surpassed 1 million copies in circulation and was adapted into a TV anime by director Terasawa Kazuaki and animation studio Studio Kafka. The voice cast includes Ono Kensho (Sankaku Aoki), Fukuyama Jun (Asama Yoshitsune), Seto Asami (Higashimachi Saki), and Pan Megumi (narration).
※ The following contains spoilers for those who have not watched the episode. Please proceed with caution.
The episode’s subtitle is an homage to the idiom ‘Crying over Ma Su’ (泣いて馬謖を斬る), derived from a story in the ‘Three Kingdoms’ where Zhuge Liang reluctantly executed his subordinate Ma Su. This led to speculation before the broadcast that Hei Iyayoshi would meet his end.
After being intimidated by Ryumon’s presence at the Kuzuryu River and retreating, Sakura Tiger’s prestige plummeted. Comments such as ‘He chickened out, that’s hilarious’ were read aloud, leading to reactions on social media like ‘Grass (laugh) still exists in this era?’, ‘The wording is too funny’, ‘The comments (letters) are messy lol’, and ‘The level of criticism is too modern lol’, turning the internet into a field of laughter.
春アニメ『日本三國』第9話「泣いて弥々吉を斬る」場面写真（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
Ryumon, who successfully executed the ’empty city stratagem,’ returned safely. Although he had an arrow in his shoulder and burns, he smiled and said, ‘It’s thanks to Kaku sending me off,’ which drew relieved reactions like ‘Glad you’re safe!’, ‘Welcome back!!’, and ‘This bond between them is heartbreaking.’
春アニメ『日本三國』第9話「泣いて弥々吉を斬る」場面写真（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
春アニメ『日本三國』第9話「泣いて弥々吉を斬る」場面写真（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
Kaku, relieved with teary eyes, collapsed as soon as he saw Ryumon off. His haggard face and repeated coughing had already worried viewers, and the sight of him finally reaching his limit prompted comments such as ‘Kaku—!!’, ‘No, not Kaku the strategist…’, and ‘Overwork or serious illness…’
春アニメ『日本三國』第9話「泣いて弥々吉を斬る」場面写真（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
Meanwhile, Sakura Tiger apologized to strategist Hei Iyayoshi for his own mistakes, bowing in tears and saying, ‘I am not fit to be a leader.’ Seeing this, Iyayoshi encouraged him by moving a doll made from gloves. This scene was an anime-original addition not in the manga, and original readers praised the deep master-servant relationship, with comments like ‘A strategist, a caretaker, a parent figure. This makes me cry’ and ‘He must have made that doll to play with him when he was little.’
春アニメ『日本三國』第9話「泣いて弥々吉を斬る」場面写真（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
It seemed that the two would work together to restore prestige and correct the law, but Iyayoshi said, ‘I have a great idea,’ and took a shocking action. He decided to take full blame for the recent incident, distributing a false accusation letter claiming that ‘Iyayoshi had been manipulating Sakura Tiger and intended to seize all power.’
春アニメ『日本三國』第9話「泣いて弥々吉を斬る」場面写真（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
As Iyayoshi intended, military officials who held a grudge against him drafted a petition demanding his removal. When his sons Daikichi and Yusuke urged him to defend himself, Iyayoshi said, ‘Retiring from office is not death,’ but viewers suspected, ‘Will he really not die?’, ‘He’s not going to disappear, is he?’
春アニメ『日本三國』第9話「泣いて弥々吉を斬る」場面写真（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
As predicted, Iyayoshi led several soldiers to surround the Supreme Leader’s temple, staging a coup. The soldiers, unaware of the alleged assassination target, quickly surrendered, and Iyayoshi was arrested as a rebel. Social media buzzed with surprise: ‘He went that far…’, ‘His resolve is too strong’, ‘After this, there’s no forgiving him’, and ‘All according to plan.’
春アニメ『日本三國』第9話「泣いて弥々吉を斬る」場面写真（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
In the end, Sakura Tiger decided to execute Iyayoshi by crucifixion. After a narration recounting his life, Iyayoshi left the words, ‘Even if my body perishes, my wish will not die,’ and was pierced by Sakura Tiger’s spear. By punishing even a trusted confidant according to the law, Sakura Tiger’s prestige was restored, and having lost a father figure, Sakura Tiger resolved to become a true leader.
Viewers expressed grief: ‘Even if it was necessary to break the current situation, it’s too painful’, ‘Too sad… I’m running out of tears…’ At the same time, the crucifixion scene drew comparisons to the 2017 Taiga drama ‘Onna Jōshu Naotora,’ with comments like ‘This reminds me of the life of the hated Masatsugu’, ‘It’s like Naotora and Masatsugu’, and ‘The author must have watched that Taiga drama.’
＜配信情報＞
2026年4月5日（日）21:00よりPrime Videoにて世界最速配信
2026年4月6日（月）21:00よりU-NEXTにて地上波先行配信開始
＜放送情報＞
2026年4月6日（月）24:00よりTOKYO MX・ＢＳ日テレほか各局にて放送開始
＜キャスト＞
三角青輝：小野賢章
阿佐馬芳経：福山潤
東町小紀：瀬戸麻沙美
龍門光英：山路和弘
賀来泰明：中村悠一
平殿器：長嶝高士
藤3世：木村太飛
輪島桜虎：津田美波
閉伊弥々吉：堀内賢雄
長尾武兎惇：梅田修一朗
九羅亜輝威：咲野俊介
平殿継：村瀬歩
ナレーション：潘めぐみ
＜原作＞
原作：松木いっか「日本三國」(小学館「マンガワン」連載)
＜スタッフ＞
監督：寺澤和晃
シリーズ構成：内海照子
キャラクターデザイン / 総作画監督：阿比留隆彦
美術監督：田村せいき
色彩設計：小針裕子
撮影監督：木舩颯人
2D/特効:加藤楓菜
筆文字：桐山琴羽
編集：今井大介(JAY FILM)
3D監督：小川耕平
音響監督：はたしょう二
音響効果：出雲範子
音響制作：サウンドチーム・ドンファン
音楽：Kevin Penkin
制作：スタジオカフカ
製作：日本三國製作委員会 Co-produced with Amazon MGM Studios
＜音楽＞
オープニング・テーマ：キタニタツヤ「火種」
エンディング・テーマ：Leina「誓い」
（C）松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
