Minami Takayama and Kazuhiko Inoue Join ‘Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori’ as Yuri’s Parents, 30 Years After Drama CD Roles

The TV anime adaptation of Chie Shinohara’s classic manga Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori (Red River) has announced additional cast members. Minami Takayama and Kazuhiko Inoue will voice the parents of the protagonist, Yuri.

The series is a historical fantasy based on Shinohara’s manga, which originally ran in Shogakukan’s Shojo Comic from 1995 to 2002. With over 20 million copies in print (including digital editions), it won the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shoujo category and was adapted into a stage production by the Takarazuka Revue in 2018. This marks the first TV anime adaptation of a work by Shinohara. Directed by Kosuke Kobayashi, the animation is produced by Tatsunoko Production. The lead roles are played by Miku Tachibana as Yuri (Suzuki Yuri) and Wataru Kato as Kail Mursili.

The story follows Yuri, an ordinary modern Japanese girl who is suddenly transported to the Hittite Empire in the 14th century BCE. There she meets Prince Kail, the leading candidate for the imperial succession. Taken in as his concubine, Yuri wins the hearts of the people and becomes known as the goddess of war, Ishtar. As the time limit for her return to modern Japan approaches, she becomes entangled in the schemes of the empress and conflicts with neighboring nations, while her feelings for Kail deepen.

Takayama and Inoue previously voiced Yuri and Kail in the sound theater (drama CD) released during the original manga’s serialization. Now, 30 years later, they return to the franchise as Yuri’s loving parents. Inoue commented, “I never imagined I would be involved with this work again after 30 years. I truly feel the love.” Takayama said, “Suddenly thrown into the vortex of battle, Yuri and Kail uphold love and justice… It’s a spectacular romance. Please support the two as they are tossed around by the quirky characters.”

Full Comments

Yuri’s Mother (Minami Takayama)

“Congratulations on the first anime adaptation of Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori. I’m happy to appear alongside Kazuhiko Inoue, my partner from the sound theater version, as Yuri’s parents. I’m grateful to the staff and the connection. Suddenly thrown into the vortex of battle, Yuri and Kail uphold love and justice… It’s a spectacular romance, truly a shoujo manga epic. Please support the two as they are tossed around by the quirky characters.”

Yuri’s Father (Kazuhiko Inoue)

“I never imagined I would be involved with this work again after 30 years. It’s because this is such a wonderful work that it is loved by so many. This time I play Yuri’s father, and the mother is played by Minami Takayama! Anyone who listened to the CD back then will clap their hands at this casting. I truly feel the love. Please enjoy the anime Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori.”

Broadcast Information

TV anime Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori airs on Nippon TV from July 7, every Tuesday at 25:29 (AnichU slot), and on BS Nittele from July 8, every Wednesday at 24:00. Times are subject to change.

Staff

• Director: Kosuke Kobayashi
• Series Composition: Yoriko Tomita
• Character Design: Kenji Fujisaki (崎 is “tatsusaki”)
• Art Director: Katsumi Saruya
• Color Design: Sachiko Tsuji
• Director of Photography: Masashi Kamiki
• Editor: Yoshihiro Ueno
• Sound Director: Hiroto Morishita
• Music: Yoshihisa Hirano
• Sound Production: Team Kawadon
• Historical Research: Kimihito Matsumura, Daisuke Yoshida (Anatolian Archaeology Institute, Middle Eastern Culture Center)
• Animation Production: Tatsunoko Production

Cast

• Yuri (Suzuki Yuri): Miku Tachibana
• Kail Mursili: Wataru Kato
• Nakia: Aya Uchida
• Zananza Hattushili: Shoya Chiba
• Il-Bani: Tomoaki Maeno
• Urhi: Koji Yusa
• Kikkuri: Tomohiro Ono
• Hadi: Shiki Aoki
• Ryu: Natsumi Kawaiida
• Shala: Misato Matsuoka
• Kash: Haruki Ishiya
• Rusafa: Junya Enoki
• Mittannamwa: Shinichiro Kamio
• Matti Waza (Black Prince): Kosuke Toriumi
• Narration / Himuro: Hiroki Nanami

Theme Songs

• Opening Theme: “Akatsuki no Sora” by Hiroki Nanami (King Records) – Lyrics by Hiroki Nanami, composition/arrangement by YASUHIRO (Yasuhiro)
• Ending Theme: “Reunion” by Mieisa Shimizu (Universal Music)

(C) Chie Shinohara / Shogakukan / Anime “Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori” Production Committee