The TV anime Hotaru no Yomeiri is set to begin airing on October 9, 2026, every Friday at 23:30 on Fuji TV’s noitamina block. On September 6, a preview screening was held at United Cinemas Toyosu, where episodes 1 through 3 were shown ahead of the broadcast. After the screening, the cast members Lynn (Kirigaya Satsuko), Uchiyama Kouki (Goto Shinpei), and Ito Kento (Ogawa Koutarou) took the stage, dressed in elegant kimono.
Cast in Kimono
When asked about their kimono, Lynn expressed delight: “I was able to wear such a beautiful furisode, it’s so cute and the obi at the back is wonderful… I’m in a dream.” Uchiyama noted, “I rarely get to wear kimono, so I feel a bit breathless, but Shinpei kills people while wearing such clothes… I’m impressed.” Ito said solemnly, “The meaning of kimono in this work is quite different from other works, so it makes me feel more serious.”
Audition Stories
Reflecting on the audition process, Lynn shared, “My manager is a fan of the original manga and told me to win the role. I approached it with even more passion because I found the work interesting. When I got the part, I was happy and grateful, but also felt tension and pressure because the original has many fans.”
Uchiyama, who was cast as Shinpei after an audition, following his role in the voice comic version, said, “Shinpei is a complex character, so I thought the recording would be difficult, but the staff told me I was a perfect fit. I’m happy, but it’s also complicated.” Ito also received staff approval during recording, but added with a sly smile, “While I’m glad, Koutarou is also a character with a complex personality.”
Impressions of the Anime
Since episodes 1 through 3 were specially screened, the cast shared their thoughts. Lynn praised the anime, saying, “Shinpei’s madness and cute aspects are fully depicted, and the scenes that were impressive in the original are even more expressed in the anime. It’s a work that draws you into a vivid world. I told the director how wonderful it was after watching.”
Uchiyama commented, “With the sound effects, it’s more horror than I expected. This is what an anime adaptation should be.” Ito was also satisfied, saying, “The horror direction makes your blood run cold. The gruesome scenes are properly gruesome. The action, movement, and voice are all excellent, and I enjoyed watching it.”
Mero Scene Prediction Challenge
In a segment titled “Can you read a woman’s heart? Mero scene prediction challenge,” Uchiyama and Ito guessed which scene from episodes 1-3 Lynn found “mero” (heart-melting). Ito drew a picture of Shinpei’s scarred back and guessed, “The scene where Satsuko washes Shinpei’s back in the bath. Lynn must have read various aspects of Shinpei’s background from that back.” Uchiyama guessed, “The end of episode 3!” predicting the scene where Shinpei tries to save Satsuko while being shot.
The correct answer was the scene at the end of episode 2, where Shinpei shows Satsuko fireflies and says “I love you.” Lynn explained, “Showing the fireflies to make Satsuko happy is the first mero, letting her touch Shinpei is the second, and directly saying ‘I love you’ is the third.” She was smitten with Shinpei’s romanticism. She added, “People who watched up to episode 3 will probably recall that scene.”
Fateful Encounter Sketch
In the “Fateful encounter sketch” segment, the cast drew items representing fateful encounters that changed their lives, inspired by the story’s theme of two people who were not supposed to meet. Lynn drew a bear necklace, saying, “I saw it in a TV drama a few years ago and wanted it, and then I happened to find it in a shop.” However, Uchiyama and Ito teased her, saying it looked like a grapefruit, causing laughter. Uchiyama, who got into watching European soccer after Kagawa Shinji’s overseas transfer, drew a soccer ball, but Lynn retorted, “Is that an onigiri?” leading to more laughter.
Ito, on the other hand, drew an acoustic guitar in careful detail, avoiding any teasing. He explained, “In high school, my baseball coach told me to choose between baseball and guitar, and I chose guitar. If I had chosen baseball, I wouldn’t have become a voice actor. That was my first step into entertainment, my fateful item, and my fateful crossroads.”
Key Visual and Closing Comments
Later in the event, the key visual was revealed for the first time. In closing, Ito said, “We will continue to promote the show and build excitement for the broadcast. Please keep supporting Hotaru no Yomeiri.” Uchiyama added, “Even those who know the original can enjoy the anime’s unique charm with a fresh feeling. Please look forward to the broadcast.”
Lynn concluded, “Adapting a work drawn with delicate touch into animation might be a high hurdle, but this anime is beautifully depicted, and with the addition of anime-only direction and music, it has become a wonderful work with great depth. I hope viewers can enjoy the anime with the same excitement, heart-pounding, and thrill as Satsuko.”
Event Details
The preview screening took place on September 6 (Sunday) at United Cinemas Toyosu Screen 10 (2-4-9 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo). The stage guests were Lynn (Kirigaya Satsuko), Uchiyama Kouki (Goto Shinpei), and Ito Kento (Ogawa Koutarou).
The TV anime Hotaru no Yomeiri will begin airing on October 9, 2026, every Friday at 23:30 on Fuji TV’s noitamina block.
(C) Tachibana Oreko / Shogakukan / Anime “Hotaru no Yomeiri” Production Committee
Written by Nakase Koutarou
