TV anime ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Episode 7, ‘Kanazawa Night Raid’, aired on Monday, May 18, 2026. The emotional scene of Sugou and Tonotsugu in a life-or-death crisis drew many reactions from viewers, with comments like ‘Emoi’ and ‘What is this? These two are the best.’
‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Special Visual
‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ is a manga by Ika Matsuki, serialized in Shogakukan’s comic app ‘Manga One’ and web comic site ‘Ura Sunday’. The story is set in a near-future Japan where civilization has collapsed due to nuclear war, natural disasters, and misrule, leading to a revolution. The country has split into three, entering an era of warring states. It follows Mikado Seiki, a lowly local official, who aims to ‘reunify Japan’ by rising through the ranks with his vast knowledge and eloquent speech.
* The following text contains spoilers for those who have not watched the series. Please be careful when reading.
Even Kuzuryu Castle, which faced the great army with desperate resolve, fell seven hours after the battle began. It was revealed that many soldiers, including castle lord Sato Yoshinaga and assistant castle lord Hiraizumi Hina, died in action. On social media, comments like ‘It hurts…’, ‘They fought to the very end…’, ‘What a waste of good people…’ poured in, mourning the strongest of the mob characters.
Spring anime ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Episode 7 ‘Kanazawa Night Raid’ scene photo (C) Ika Matsuki / Shogakukan / Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee
Upon learning that all the branch castles of Okuetsu had fallen, Ryumon said, ‘You can reclaim lost territory, but people can never come back to life.’ Viewers sympathized, with comments like ‘Once someone dies, it’s over,’ ‘That’s a heavy statement,’ and ‘There are things worth protecting even if you have to abandon territory.’
Spring anime ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Episode 7 ‘Kanazawa Night Raid’ scene photo (C) Ika Matsuki / Shogakukan / Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee
Meanwhile, in Kanazawa where Taira Tonotsugu and Sugou Tsuyoshi were located, something suspicious was afoot. Nagao Takenobu Atsushi, learning that Ryumon had retreated and that Nagamine Shiro (leading the central army) had not crossed the Tedori River, plotted a night raid without orders from Sakura Tiger. He thought it was a good chance to kill Sugou and the others. However, viewers were overwhelmingly negative. Many felt it was not a good strategy, with comments like ‘He’s rushing for glory,’ ‘He’s too much of a troublesome otaku,’ ‘Will it be lucky or unlucky?’ and ‘It looks like it’s going to fail.’
Spring anime ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Episode 7 ‘Kanazawa Night Raid’ scene photo (C) Ika Matsuki / Shogakukan / Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee
Meanwhile, Sugou was still tied up and unable to move. A brief heartwarming conversation unfolded between him and Tonotsugu’s subordinate, Tamaoki Junichi. During that conversation, various facts came to light: Sugou is a father of four children, and that non-yellow race people cannot hold important government positions. On social media, comments like ‘Four kids! Congratulations!’ and ‘Tama-chan has been through a lot too’ appeared, but also worried remarks like ‘Talking about family at a time like this…’, ‘Will they survive?’, and ‘That sounds like a death flag.’
Spring anime ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Episode 7 ‘Kanazawa Night Raid’ scene photo (C) Ika Matsuki / Shogakukan / Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee
Immediately after, viewers’ fears came true: Tama-chan was instantly killed by a sudden attack from Seihei soldiers. Sugou, still tied up and facing a hopeless 4-on-1 situation, overpowered the enemies with his extraordinary physical skills, shocking viewers with comments like ‘He’s insanely strong,’ ‘Even while tied up?!’ and ‘He’s practically superhuman.’
Spring anime ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Episode 7 ‘Kanazawa Night Raid’ scene photo (C) Ika Matsuki / Shogakukan / Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee
Just when it seemed Sugou was doomed with a gun pointed at him by the Seihei, it was Tonotsugu who pulled the trigger first. In front of the body of Tama-chan, whom he trusted, Tonotsugu confessed that the guard had died using himself as a shield. Viewers sympathized, with comments like ‘He really cared about his subordinates,’ ‘Maybe Tama-chan was like a big brother to him,’ and ‘Sorry for thinking you were just a brat.’
Spring anime ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Episode 7 ‘Kanazawa Night Raid’ scene photo (C) Ika Matsuki / Shogakukan / Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee
Tonotsugu, perhaps shocked by his subordinate’s death, initially tried to kill Sugou, but then realized he couldn’t return to Yamato alive alone and untied Sugou. He apologized for his past rudeness and bowed his head, taking full responsibility. This moved viewers, who commented ‘He did it!’, ‘Good job apologizing properly!’, ‘You… you can be reasoned with!’, ‘Shedding his spoiled brat skin’, and ‘Please keep growing like this.’ The scene where Sugou, accepting his sincerity, carried the wounded Tonotsugu on his back to escape prompted comments like ‘Ah~ Emoi’, ‘He’s like a dad…’, ‘This pair is the best’, and ‘Somehow, Tonotsugu might become his right-hand man.’
However, as the two were escaping, they were shot by Takeobu Atsushi, who was waiting for them. Sugou shielded Tonotsugu, and at the moment everyone thought ‘Is this the end?’, gunshots rang out, but it was Takeobu Atsushi who fell, not them. The one who shot Takeobu Atsushi was Nagamine Shiro, the Left Lieutenant-General, who had been lying low in Kanazawa on Kaku’s orders. He had appeared in Episode 3, and his name had come up before, but viewers reacted with ‘Who?!’, ‘Long hair but not Kaku-san… no’, ‘Another cool old guy showed up’, revealing that he hadn’t made much of an impression on viewers. Also, many were surprised to realize that he was the same person who had been reported as a suspicious person before the night raid began but was dismissed as a thief, with comments like ‘He’s the suspicious person they missed at first!’ and ‘So that was Nagamine-san!’
「さらばムートン…」「なんでだろ…めっちゃ好きだった」と惜しまれつつ武兎惇が退場してから5日。青輝と芳経は活発化するデモを見ながら、異常な早さで戦争の話が広まったことに疑問を抱く。青輝が考えを巡らせる中で、賀来に言われた「薪に臥して天を諭すべし これ則ち雌雄を決する鍵と為る」の言葉を思い出し、何かに気づいて走り出したところで第7話は終了した。
Spring anime ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ Episode 7 ‘Kanazawa Night Raid’ scene photo (C) Ika Matsuki / Shogakukan / Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee
Episode 7 was a hit with many highlights, including Sugou’s exploits, Tonotsugu’s change of heart, and Takeobu Atsushi’s exit, with viewers saying ‘It felt like seconds’, ‘Too interesting’, ‘Every week hits too hard’. Was it Minister of Internal Affairs Taira no Tonoki who stirred up the people of Yamato? What did Seiki realize? The intriguing Episode 8 is scheduled to air on Monday, May 25. (World’s fastest distribution every Sunday at 21:00 on Prime Video.)
Distribution Information
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
Broadcast Information
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
Cast
Mikado Seiki: Kensho Ono
Asama Yoshitsune: Jun Fukuyama
Higashimachi Koyuki: Asami Seto
Ryumon Mitsuhide: Kazuhiro Yamaji
Kaku Yasuaki: Yuichi Nakamura
Taira no Tonoki: Takashi Nagasako
Fuji Sansei: Taiki Kimura
Wajima Sakura Tiger: Minami Tsuida
Heiya Miyakichi: Kenyu Horiuchi
Nagao Takenobu Atsushi: Shuichiro Umeda
Kura Aiki: Shunsuke Sakuya
Taira no Tonotsugu: Ayumu Murase
Narration: Megumi Han
Original Work
Original: Ika Matsuki ‘Japan Three Kingdoms’ (Shogakukan ‘Manga One’ serialization)
Staff
Director: Teruzawa Kazuaki
Series Composition: Ushio Utsumi
Character Design / Chief Animation Director: Takahiko Abiru
Art Director: Seiki Tamura
Color Design: Yuko Kohari
Photography Director: Hayato Kibune
2D/Special Effects: Funa Kato
Brush Characters: Kotoba Kiriyama
Editing: Daisuke Imai (JAY FILM)
3D Director: Kohei Ogawa
Sound Director: Shoji Hata
Sound Effects: Noriko Izumo
Sound Production: Sound Team Don Juan
Music: Kevin Penkin
Production: Studio Kafka
Production: Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee Co-produced with Amazon MGM Studios
Music
Opening Theme: Tatsuya Kitani ‘Hi no Tane’
Ending Theme: Leina ‘Chikai’
(C) Ika Matsuki / Shogakukan / Japan Three Kingdoms Production Committee
