The fall 2026 anime season is here, with more than 70 new titles. Among them, one standout is Hotaru no Yomeiri, a dark love story set in the Meiji era.
A Meiji-Era Contract Marriage with a Dangerous Twist
Based on the manga by Tachibana Oreko, Hotaru no Yomeiri is serialized on Shogakukan’s Manga One and published under Manga One Comics. The story takes place during the Meiji era, as civilization and enlightenment swept through Japan. It follows a count’s daughter with little time left to live and a hitman who becomes dangerously devoted to her, bound by a forbidden contract marriage.
The original manga has surpassed 5 million copies in circulation and won the Grand Prize at the Electronic Comic Award 2024. It concluded in January 2026 with all 12 volumes released. Tachibana Oreko is also known as the author of Promise Cinderella and for handling character original design for the TV anime Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de.
In the Meiji era, women were still treated as “property of the house.” Kirigaya Satoko, a count’s daughter, was blessed with family name and beauty, but born with a heart condition. A doctor told her she would not live long. After losing her mother, she lives with her father, stepmother, and half-sister. Her one dream is to marry into a prestigious family, protect the Kirigaya household, and become the pride of her beloved father. Despite her limited time, she works hard to acquire the accomplishments expected of a bride.
One night, Satoko is taken away by someone’s plot. The job was accepted by Saegusa, a yakuza from Tennyojima. Also present is Gotou Shinpei, a young man born and raised on Tennyojima who makes his living as a killer. In a desperate situation, Satoko quickly lies: “If you marry me, you can have everything.” It is a contract marriage proposal meant only to save her life.
But Shinpei takes her words seriously. He believes Satoko is his “destined partner” and begins pouring out a direct, somewhat abnormal love. Satoko soon finds herself torn between her duty to live for her family and her growing feelings for Shinpei. A young lady with little time left and a hitman whose love is too heavy. Though their status and worlds differ, the two weave a single-minded, forbidden form of love.
Cast, Staff, and Theme Songs
The anime is directed by Kamei Takahiro, with animation production by david production, known for the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series. Lynn voices Kirigaya Satoko, and Uchiyama Kouki voices Gotou Shinpei. Itou Kento plays Ogawa Koutarou, Tsuda Kenjirou plays Saegusa, Amami Yurina plays Dr. Radio, and Satou Gen plays Uzu. The opening theme is iri’s “Period,” and the ending theme is TOOBOE’s “Yumegokochi.”
Main Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Kirigaya Satoko | Lynn |
| Gotou Shinpei | Uchiyama Kouki |
| Ogawa Koutarou | Itou Kento |
| Saegusa | Tsuda Kenjirou |
| Dr. Radio | Amami Yurina |
| Uzu | Satou Gen |
Staff
| Role | Name / Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Kamei Takahiro (Urusei Yatsura, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind) |
| Character Design | Aikyou Yukiko (Cider no You ni Kotoba ga Wakiagaru, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso) |
| Series Composition / Scripts | Kakihara Yuuko (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, Urusei Yatsura) |
| Music | NOGRID (composed theme and insert songs for Netflix film Zon100: Zombi ni Naru made ni Shitai 100 no Koto, composed King & Prince “Mazy Night”) |
| Animation Production | david production |
Why the Relationship Is the Hook
The biggest draw is the abnormal relationship between a hitman whose love is too heavy and a young lady with little time left. What begins as a lie to survive turns into a contract marriage that the other party takes completely seriously. That starting point becomes the story’s tension. In the teaser PV, Shinpei says, “I’m a bit heavy with love, but I’ll make you happy.” The line captures the mix of madness and pure love that defines the series.
Reviews of the original manga repeatedly praise its pacing, balance of serious and comical moments, and distinct character writing. Mentions of Gotou Shinpei stand out in particular. His presence, often discussed through keywords like “obsession,” “yandere,” and “heavy love,” sits at the center of the series’ fan popularity.
The series can be positioned as “Meiji romance × dark love,” but it is not limited to romance. Shinpei’s sword-fighting scenes are also highly regarded in the original. Since david production has made action depiction one of its strengths in the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series, expectations are high for a production that delivers both romance and action.
Broadcast and Streaming
The TV anime Hotaru no Yomeiri begins in October 2026. It airs every Friday from 23:30 to 24:00 on Fuji TV’s Noitamina block.
Original: Tachibana Oreko’s Hotaru no Yomeiri (Shogakukan Manga One Comics / 11 volumes published so far).
The series will be available on DMM TV, DMM’s general video streaming service. DMM Premium, which includes unlimited viewing of eligible titles, costs 550 yen per month including tax (650 yen per month when registering through the App Store or Google Play). A 14-day free trial is available, and users can receive 550 points usable across DMM services such as DMM Books, DMM GAMES, and DMM Onkure. The service supports multiple devices, including smartphones, PCs, TVs, and game consoles, allows up to four users without additional charge, and offers offline viewing through downloads.
(C) Tachibana Oreko/Shogakukan/Anime “Hotaru no Yomeiri” Production Committee.
