Image: Chie Shinohara / Shogakukan / Anime „Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori“ Produktionskomitee
AMBot | 06/19/2026 | Reading Time: 4 Min.
The highly anticipated TV anime "Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori" (Red River), based on the manga of the same name by Chie Shinohara, has released a new main PV as well as the first summary and first scene images for the first episode "Farewell and the Kiss of Encounter." The series will premiere on July 7, 2026, on Japanese television on NTV's AnichU programming slot (Tuesdays at 25:29) and one day later on BS NTV (Wednesdays at 24:00).
The main PV begins directly with the start of the story: High school student Yuri (voiced by Mirai Tachibana) wants to kiss her boyfriend Himuro in the park, but is suddenly grabbed by a woman's hand from a plant at her ankle and pulled into the water. When she wakes up, she finds herself in the 14th century BC in the Hittite Empire. There she meets the third prince Kail (Wataru Kato), who takes her as a concubine, the ice-cold empress Nakia (Aya Uchida), her mysterious advisor Urhi (Koji Yusa), Kail's trusted brother Zananza (Shoya Chiba), and the crown prince of Mitanni, Mattiwaza (Kosuke Toriumi). The PV shows both romantic moments between Yuri and Kail as well as Yuri's determination in battle, as she raises a sword at the end and shouts: "To fight... a sword!"
The first episode is titled "Farewell and the Kiss of Encounter" and introduces Yuri's fate: After the mysterious incident, she is summoned by Empress Nakia as a sacrifice for a curse, but Prince Kail saves her. The episode lays the foundation for the historical fantasy journey that will tear Yuri between the fronts of the Hittite court and her longing for the modern world.
Before the series premiere, a special program will be broadcast on July 4, 2026, at 17:00 (Japan time) on VAP's official YouTube channel. Under the title "Anime 'Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori' – Broadcast Commemoration Special – In the Wind of Anatolia," the main voice actors Mirai Tachibana (Yuri), Wataru Kato (Kail), Aya Uchida (Nakia), and Shoya Chiba (Zananza) will appear. The program offers not only conversations about the series but also a quiz about the ancient Near Eastern world, a presentation of the Oriental Culture Center exhibition, which was also involved in the historical consultation for the anime, and a workshop on writing cuneiform tablets. The recording will be available until July 31, 2026.
The manga "Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori" was serialized from 1995 to 2002 in Shogakukan's magazine "Shōjo Comic" and is considered a milestone of the historical fantasy genre. With over 20 million copies sold (including digital editions) and winning the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shōjo category, the series has a loyal fan base worldwide. In 2018, the story was adapted as a stage play by the Takarazuka Revue. The anime adaptation is being directed by Kosuke Kobayashi ("Alice or Alice") at Studio Tatsunoko Productions. The series composition is handled by Yoriko Tomita ("My Dress-Up Darling"), character design by Kenji Fujisaki, and music by Yoshihisa Hirano. The opening "Akatsuki no Sora" is sung by Hiroki Nanami, who wrote the lyrics himself and voices the narrator as well as Yuri's boyfriend Himuro in the anime.
With a broad ensemble of voice actors – including Tomoaki Maeno, Shiki Aoki, Natsumi Kawaida, and many more – the anime promises a faithful yet fresh adaptation of the epic material. Initial reactions on social media already show great anticipation for the broadcast.
The main PV begins directly with the start of the story: High school student Yuri (voiced by Mirai Tachibana) wants to kiss her boyfriend Himuro in the park, but is suddenly grabbed by a woman's hand from a plant at her ankle and pulled into the water. When she wakes up, she finds herself in the 14th century BC in the Hittite Empire. There she meets the third prince Kail (Wataru Kato), who takes her as a concubine, the ice-cold empress Nakia (Aya Uchida), her mysterious advisor Urhi (Koji Yusa), Kail's trusted brother Zananza (Shoya Chiba), and the crown prince of Mitanni, Mattiwaza (Kosuke Toriumi). The PV shows both romantic moments between Yuri and Kail as well as Yuri's determination in battle, as she raises a sword at the end and shouts: "To fight... a sword!"
The first episode is titled "Farewell and the Kiss of Encounter" and introduces Yuri's fate: After the mysterious incident, she is summoned by Empress Nakia as a sacrifice for a curse, but Prince Kail saves her. The episode lays the foundation for the historical fantasy journey that will tear Yuri between the fronts of the Hittite court and her longing for the modern world.
Before the series premiere, a special program will be broadcast on July 4, 2026, at 17:00 (Japan time) on VAP's official YouTube channel. Under the title "Anime 'Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori' – Broadcast Commemoration Special – In the Wind of Anatolia," the main voice actors Mirai Tachibana (Yuri), Wataru Kato (Kail), Aya Uchida (Nakia), and Shoya Chiba (Zananza) will appear. The program offers not only conversations about the series but also a quiz about the ancient Near Eastern world, a presentation of the Oriental Culture Center exhibition, which was also involved in the historical consultation for the anime, and a workshop on writing cuneiform tablets. The recording will be available until July 31, 2026.
The manga "Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori" was serialized from 1995 to 2002 in Shogakukan's magazine "Shōjo Comic" and is considered a milestone of the historical fantasy genre. With over 20 million copies sold (including digital editions) and winning the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shōjo category, the series has a loyal fan base worldwide. In 2018, the story was adapted as a stage play by the Takarazuka Revue. The anime adaptation is being directed by Kosuke Kobayashi ("Alice or Alice") at Studio Tatsunoko Productions. The series composition is handled by Yoriko Tomita ("My Dress-Up Darling"), character design by Kenji Fujisaki, and music by Yoshihisa Hirano. The opening "Akatsuki no Sora" is sung by Hiroki Nanami, who wrote the lyrics himself and voices the narrator as well as Yuri's boyfriend Himuro in the anime.
With a broad ensemble of voice actors – including Tomoaki Maeno, Shiki Aoki, Natsumi Kawaida, and many more – the anime promises a faithful yet fresh adaptation of the epic material. Initial reactions on social media already show great anticipation for the broadcast.
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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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