Autumn anime Ao Ashi Season 2 has released the story summary and advance scene cuts for episode 1, ‘Start Line,’ which begins airing Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The new season opens with Aoi Ashito, the protagonist known as Ashito, having earned promotion to the strongest A Team. The A Team features Kuribayashi Haruhisa, called the ‘youth’s greatest masterpiece,’ and Akutsu Nagisa, who possesses overwhelming physicality. From his first day of practice, Ashito is overwhelmed by everything and receives a baptism of fire.
Set in the Premier League, Japan’s highest-level high school-age league, the story follows Ashito as he faces fierce competition against powerful teams. What kind of evolution will he undergo? The season is directed by Yokoyama Kazuki, with animation production by TMS Entertainment. Oosuzu Kouki voices Aoi Ashito.
Episode 1 ‘Start Line’ Story and Preview Cuts
Tokyo City Esperion Youth is the youth team of a professional soccer club said to be the strongest in the high school generation.
Ashito, also known as Aoi Ashito, has successfully been promoted to the A Team. However, what awaits him is an overwhelming difference in skill, on a completely different level from the B Team. Even simple passing drills show a gap worthy of being called a baptism, and Ashito desperately tries to keep up.
Ao Ashi Season 2 episode 1, ‘Start Line,’ will air on NHK E Tele from October 4, 2026.
About the Ao Ashi Series
Ao Ashi is a soccer manga by Kobayashi Yuugo. It has been serialized in Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits since 2015 and concluded with the 40th collected volume released in August 2025. The series has surpassed 26 million copies in circulation and continues to receive strong support even after its serialization ended.
The first TV anime season aired from April to September 2022. Its realistic soccer depiction and the story of protagonist Aoi Ashito’s relatable growth became a talking point, capturing the hearts of not only anime fans but also sports fans and a wide range of viewers.
Staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Original Work | Kobayashi Yuugo, Ao Ashi (Shogakukan ‘Big Spirits Comics’) |
| Director | Yokoyama Kazuki |
| Series Composition | Yokotani Masahiro |
| Soccer Supervisor | Iizuka Kenji |
| Character Design / Chief Animation Director | Nakatake Manabu, Taguchi Asami, Yamanaka Junko |
| Action Animation Director | Okumura Tadami, Kubo Satoshi |
| Art Setting | Shigekawa Yuuki |
| Art Director | Higaki Hitomi |
| Color Design | Miyawaki Hiromi |
| CG Director | Iwata Kaito |
| Director of Photography | Tazawa Jirou |
| Editing | Yoshitake Masato |
| Sound Director | Hata Shouji |
| Music | Yokoyama Masaru |
| Animation Production | TMS Entertainment |
Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Aoi Ashito | Oosuzu Kouki |
| Ootomo Eisaku | Tachibana Ryuumaru |
| Tachibana Souichirou | Yamashita Seiichirou |
| Togashi Keiji | Yashiro Taku |
| Kuroda Kanpei | Horie Shun |
| Asari Marchis Jun | Katou Wataru |
| Motoki Yuuma | Enoki Junya |
| Takeshima Ryuuichi | Kumagai Kentarou |
| Akutsu Nagisa | Takeuchi Shunsuke |
| Kuribayashi Haruhisa | Umehara Yuuichirou |
| Nakamura Taira | Ono Kenshou |
| Kiriki Youichi | Uchiyama Kouki |
| Takasugi Eita | Furukawa Makoto |
| Yoshitsune Kenta | Okitsu Kazuyuki |
| Akiyama Enshin | Tezuka Hiromichi |
| Ichijou Hana | Kawase Maki |
| Kaidou Anri | Ueda Reina |
| Fukuda Tatsuya | Kobayashi Chikahiro |
| Date Nozomu | Yasumoto Hiroki |
Broadcast and Streaming
NHK E Tele will air the first cour, the first 12 of 24 episodes, starting Sunday, October 4, 2026. The series is scheduled to air every Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
Subscription streaming
From Sunday, October 4, 2026, episodes will begin streaming every Sunday at 23:00 on Hulu, Netflix, U-NEXT, and Anime Times.
From Thursday, October 8, 2026, streaming will begin sequentially every Thursday at 19:30 on ABEMA, d Anime Store, DMM TV, FOD, J:COM STREAM, milplus, Prime Video, TELASA, Anime Houdai, Bandai Channel, and Furatto Douga.
Pay-per-view streaming
From Thursday, October 8, 2026, pay-per-view streaming will begin sequentially every Thursday at 19:30 on FOD, HAPPY! Video, J:COM STREAM, milplus, music.jp, Prime Video, TELASA, YouTube (Rental), Bandai Channel, Video Market, and Movie Full Plus.
Streaming start dates and times are subject to change. Distribution may also end without notice.
Music
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| First Cour Opening Theme | ‘Fortress Defense’ by 10-FEET (UNIVERSAL MUSIC / BADASS) Lyrics and Composition: TAKUMA Arrangement: 10-FEET Vo.&Gt. TAKUMA Ba.&Vo. NAOKI Dr.&Cho. KOUICHI |
| First Cour Ending Theme | ‘Triangle’ (PONY CANYON) Vocals: Higuchi Ai Lyrics: Higuchi Ai Composition: Higuchi Ai Arrangement: Ishizaki Hikaru |
©Kobayashi Yuugo・Shogakukan／’Ao Ashi Season 2′ Production Committee
Manga Listings
The source article also lists Ao Ashi (1) (Big Comic) at ¥227 and Ao Ashi (40) (Big Comic) at ¥759. Prices and availability are as of the article’s publication.
