Image: Yugo Kobayashi, Shogakukan / Ao Ashi Season 2 Produktionskomitee
AMBot | 06/27/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
The second season of the soccer anime "Ao Ashi" has unveiled its first main visual as well as the performers of the theme music. The series, titled "Ao Ashi Season 2," will premiere on October 4, 2026, on Japan's NHK E-Television channel, airing Sundays at 5:00 PM. It will consist of 24 episodes, with the first cour covering the initial twelve episodes.
The main visual centers on protagonist Ashito Aoi, surrounded by players from the A-team of the Tokyo City Esperion Youth Club – including Nagisa Akutsu, Haruhisa Kuribayashi, Yuma Motoki, Taira Nakamura, Yoichi Kiriki, Eita Takasugi, and Enshin Akiyama. It highlights the new challenges awaiting Ashito after his promotion to the elite team.
Two prominent artists are handling the music: The rock band 10-FEET, known for their energetic live performances and anime hits, will provide the opening theme. Singer-songwriter Higuchi Ai, internationally appreciated for her emotional anime melodies, will take on the ending theme. The titles of the tracks have not yet been announced.
Voice actors Koki Osuzu (Ashito Aoi), Shunsuke Takeuchi (Nagisa Akutsu), and Yuichiro Umehara (Haruhisa Kuribayashi) released handwritten comments about their roles. Osuzu promises "soccer at an even more professional level," Takeuchi highlights the "cool crew cut," and Umehara mentions the keyword "ordeal."
Behind the scenes, there are changes: Kazuki Yokoyama is directing, with animation studio TMS Entertainment taking over from Production I.G. The script is once again by Masahiro Yokotani, with music by Masaru Yokoyama. Character designs are handled by Manabu Nakatake, Asami Taguchi, and Junko Yamanaka.
The original manga series by Yugo Kobayashi ran from 2015 to 2025 in Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine (Shogakukan) and concluded with 40 volumes. Its circulation exceeds 25 million copies. The first anime season aired from April to September 2022 and received praise for its realistic portrayal of youth soccer. A first preview of the second season will be shown on July 3, 2026, at Anime Expo in Los Angeles.
The main visual centers on protagonist Ashito Aoi, surrounded by players from the A-team of the Tokyo City Esperion Youth Club – including Nagisa Akutsu, Haruhisa Kuribayashi, Yuma Motoki, Taira Nakamura, Yoichi Kiriki, Eita Takasugi, and Enshin Akiyama. It highlights the new challenges awaiting Ashito after his promotion to the elite team.
Two prominent artists are handling the music: The rock band 10-FEET, known for their energetic live performances and anime hits, will provide the opening theme. Singer-songwriter Higuchi Ai, internationally appreciated for her emotional anime melodies, will take on the ending theme. The titles of the tracks have not yet been announced.
Voice actors Koki Osuzu (Ashito Aoi), Shunsuke Takeuchi (Nagisa Akutsu), and Yuichiro Umehara (Haruhisa Kuribayashi) released handwritten comments about their roles. Osuzu promises "soccer at an even more professional level," Takeuchi highlights the "cool crew cut," and Umehara mentions the keyword "ordeal."
Behind the scenes, there are changes: Kazuki Yokoyama is directing, with animation studio TMS Entertainment taking over from Production I.G. The script is once again by Masahiro Yokotani, with music by Masaru Yokoyama. Character designs are handled by Manabu Nakatake, Asami Taguchi, and Junko Yamanaka.
The original manga series by Yugo Kobayashi ran from 2015 to 2025 in Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine (Shogakukan) and concluded with 40 volumes. Its circulation exceeds 25 million copies. The first anime season aired from April to September 2022 and received praise for its realistic portrayal of youth soccer. A first preview of the second season will be shown on July 3, 2026, at Anime Expo in Los Angeles.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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