"Ojikaw": Second Trailer for Anime Adaptation Brings Together All Main Characters – Theme Music by Yūsei Yagi and Kaori Maeda

Good three weeks before the planned broadcast start, the TV anime "Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki." – known online as "Ojikaw" – has released its second trailer. The video shows for the first time the most important characters of the series together: the office worker Kōji Mitsuki as well as his colleagues Kenta Kawai, Wataru Naruto, and Masumi Nii. Pugtarō, the mascot secretly adored by Kōji above all, is also shown with his companions. The clip also contains a first sample of the new opening theme.

With the release, the theme songs have also been confirmed. The opening "LIKE³" (pronounced: "Like Like Like") is sung by Yūsei Yagi, a member of FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE. The song deliberately sets a counterpoint to Yagi's rather dark solo debut "GAME CHANGER" and instead thrives on positive energy. In terms of content, it addresses the desire many people carry within them: to be their own hero – a motif that also runs through the anime. Together with producer A.G.O., Yagi developed the piece, as he states, so that it reaches everyone who is ashamed of their preferences or hides them. One should stand by what one loves, emphasizes the singer, who already knew the manga source material and is pleased that his mother – who had seen the earlier live-action adaptation – also rejoiced with him over the assignment.

The ending theme is provided by voice actress Kaori Maeda with "Toutoi♡Kaiwai". In the series, Maeda also lends her voice to the capable colleague Rio Shigenari, who secretly harbors feelings for Kōji behind her professional facade. She describes her song as a rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs, intended to give listeners good spirits for the next day.

The source material is the manga by Tsutomu, which is published by Flex Comix in the magazine "Comic Polaris"; the series currently comprises twelve volumes, with the latest volume released in August 2026. The story follows Kōji Mitsuki, a successful and handsome office worker who harbors a secret: he loves cute things above all, from Pugtarō to various collectibles. Based on small everyday occurrences, his life gradually changes as a result. The anime adaptation was already announced in November 2025; in June of this year, the first trailer and the casting of Kōji (Ryōtarō Okiayu) and Pugtarō (Miyu Tomita) followed, and in July, Takuya Eguchi (Kenta Kawai), Yūki Kaji (Wataru Naruto), and Ayumu Murase (Masumi Nii) were added. Further roles have been taken on by Fūka Izumi, Yurie Funato, Asami Tano, and Hinata Satō.

Direction is by Tomoe Makino, series composition by Yutaka Satō, character design by Tomomi Kimura; the animation is produced at Liden Films. The premiere will be on TOKYO MX on October 4, 2026, Sundays at 10 p.m.; further broadcast slots are planned on ytv, BS Asahi, and AT-X. In Japan, the series will be available exclusively on the streaming service FOD as part of the flat-rate offering.