Kabaneri 10th Anniversary Project Launches! Director Araki to Hatanaka & Senbongi, the “Kabaneri Marriage” Couple: “It Felt Like Proof I Wasn’t Wrong”

‘Koutetsujou no Kabaneri’ 10th Anniversary Project Kicks Off with TV Broadcasts and New Campaigns!

The 10th-anniversary project for the anime Koutetsujou no Kabaneri, which aired in 2016, is now underway. Alongside information about a terrestrial TV broadcast of the movie and new campaigns, comments have arrived from voice actors Hatanaka Yuu and Sendoumi Ayaka, as well as director Araki Tetsurou.

About ‘Koutetsujou no Kabaneri’

Koutetsujou no Kabaneri is a TV anime that aired in 2016 on Fuji TV’s Noitamina block. Set in Hinomoto, a far-eastern island nation transitioning from early modern to modern times, the story depicts humanity’s struggle against the Kabane, immortal monsters that suddenly appeared and began proliferating explosively. Following the TV broadcast, compilation movies were released in theaters in December 2016 and January 2017. The franchise’s popularity remains strong, culminating in a sequel film, Koutetsujou no Kabaneri: Unato Kessen, released in 2019.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of its broadcast in April 2026, the “Koutetsujou no Kabaneri 10th Anniversary Project” has been launched. The project’s theme is “Koutetsujou no Towatari” (The Iron Fortress’s Ten-Year Journey), promising plans that will retrace the decade-long journey of the series.

First-Ever Terrestrial Broadcast of the Sequel Film!

To mark the project’s start, it’s been decided that the film Koutetsujou no Kabaneri: Unato Kessen will air on Friday, March 6th, at 24:45 (effectively Saturday, March 7th, 12:45 AM). Depicting the events after the TV series, this will be the first-ever terrestrial TV broadcast of the 2019 film.

10th Anniversary Campaign at the Noitamina Shop & Cafe Theater

Furthermore, from Saturday, April 4th, the “Koutetsujou no Kabaneri TV Broadcast 10th Anniversary Campaign” will be held at the Noitamina Shop & Cafe Theater in Aqua City Odaiba. The event will feature special in-store exhibitions, new merchandise using freshly drawn anniversary illustrations, and limited-time collaboration menu items. A revival screening event is also planned, where episodes from the TV anime, selected by fan vote, will be shown.

Adding to the excitement, the official radio program ‘Kabaneri Tours‘, which was streamed during the original 2016 TV broadcast, will be revived for a limited time. It will be broadcast in-store at the Noitamina Shop & Cafe Theater during the latter half of the campaign period. Future updates on the project will be announced on the Koutetsujou no Kabaneri 10th Anniversary Campaign special website and the official X (Twitter) account.

Congratulations from the Cast and Director!

To celebrate the project’s launch, congratulatory comments have been received from Hatanaka Yuu (voice of Ikoma, the steam smith boy), Sendoumi Ayaka (voice of the mysterious girl Mumei who arrives on the armored steam locomotive, Koutetsujou), and director Araki Tetsurou. They share their thoughts on the series and memories from its production.

Hatanaka Yuu (Ikoma)

“Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of Koutetsujou no Kabaneri!
Kabaneri is truly an irreplaceable work that has shaped my life. It’s hard to believe the main anime series (excluding the movie) was only one cour; it feels like I’ve spent such an intense, long time with it. If possible, I’d love to meet Ikoma and Mumei again someday! I sincerely hope the day comes when I can play Ikoma again. We’ve all changed over these 10 years, but I want to keep the feelings from that time alive and face Kabaneri once more when the time comes.
Please continue to support Kabaneri!!!”

Sendoumi Ayaka (Mumei)

“Happy 10th Anniversary to Koutetsujou no Kabaneri!!
I can recall the audition like it was yesterday, yet it’s astonishing that 10 years have passed since the TV anime aired…! Even after the broadcast ended, so many people have brought up Kabaneri in conversation, and each time I feel a sense of pride. The experiences I had working on it back then form the foundation that has supported me through this past decade. I truly hope it’s been that kind of work for all of you as well. And I wish for it to continue meeting new people from here on out. I love Kabaneri!”

Araki Tetsurou (Director)

“Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of Koutetsujou no Kabaneri‘s broadcast. However, with this work in particular, I have the pride of ‘I gave birth to this,’ so if you’ll allow my audacity, let me say ‘thank you!’ Of course, it’s a work made together with many people, but it started as a project I launched from my small desk, praying it would connect. I remember searching to see if the word ‘Kabaneri’ existed in the world, doing a fist pump when nothing came up. Thankfully, it found many companions, and eventually was blessed with fans and even pachinko machines, allowing it to remain active as content for 10 years. It’s a joy beyond my expectations! Thank you so much! But ultimately, what made this work the most precious thing to me is that the two main cast members, the voices of Ikoma and Mumei, got married in real life. What is this happiness? It felt like proof that ‘I wasn’t wrong.’ This film, where I tuned the characters while watching the two of them during recording, surely contains ‘something real.’ It’s not a work where everything went perfectly, but a certain truth is etched into it. If that’s the case, then this is a treasure. So, I intend to continue cherishing this treasure from now on.”

Broadcast & Campaign Details

■ Film: ‘Koutetsujou no Kabaneri: Unato Kessen’

Broadcast Date & Time: Friday, March 6th, 24:45 – 26:15 (Kanto Local Broadcast)
Cast & Staff:

■ Noitamina Shop & Cafe Theater Campaign Overview

Duration: Saturday, April 4th – Sunday, May 10th
Location: Noitamina Shop & Cafe Theater

(C) Kabaneri Production Committee

_

Source