Akane-banashi TV Anime Announced Global Streaming Details For Upcoming April 4, 2026 Premiere

©Yūki Suenaga, Takamasa Moue / SHUEISHA, Akane-banashi Committee
Tokyo, Japan (March 27, 2026): During a YouTube live stream on the official Akane-banashi Global YouTube channel, TV Asahi revealed the global streaming platforms and details for Akane-banashi anime, based on the authentic Rakugo-theme series written by Yūki Suenaga and illustrated by Takamasa Moue and currently serialized in the Weekly Shonen Jump (SHUEISHA). The anime will premiere on April 4, 2026 on respective streaming platforms and channels at least one hour after the end of TV broadcast in Japan. TV Asahi also revealed that while Netflix would simulcast in Asia, for other territories, the streaming would happen from May with the subs and dubs together.

Streaming and broadcasting to start accordingly in the following countries and regions from April 4th 12:00 p.m. ET (UTC-5)

Worldwide: Netflix (territories outside of Asia will begin from May)
North and South America: Akane-banashi Global YouTube channel (free)
Germany, Austria, Switzerland: aniverse
France, Monaco, Andorra, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg: ADN
Spain: Anime Box
Italy: Anime Generation
Asia Pacific (excluding Korea and China): Ani-One YouTube
Taiwan: Bahamut, ChungHwa Telecom MOD & Hami Video, LiTV & Ofiii, Line TV, My-Video, Catchplay, friDay
Hong Kong, Macao: Bahamut
Indonesia: Catchplay
Thailand: TrueID
Mongolia: playmax.mn STAR TV
South Korea: Laftel, Aniplus Channel

Recently announced:
Akane-banashi world premiere event in New York will be hosted at Japan Society (333 East 47th St) on April 1, 2026, at 8 PM ET and feature Rakugo master Katsura Sunshine, a Canadian-born Rakugo performer and one of the leading international figures in the art of traditional Japanese storytelling. Attendees will be the first in the world to watch episode 1 of Akane-banashi, along with rare behind-the-scenes footage offering insight into the anime's production, followed by a special Rakugo performance and talk by Katsura Sunshine. Tickets are $22 for Japan Society members and $28 for nonmembers. Ticket sales will begin March 2 on the Japan Society website. All attendees will be given an original tenugui (hand towel), which are exclusive items available only at this event.

In Boston, Akane-banashi Special Screening presented by TV Asahi, will be held at Anime Boston at the Hynes Convention Center on April 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET. Katsura Sunshine will also be in attendance with a special Rakugo performance and talk sharing cultural insights and more about Rakugo. Anime Boston attendees will have the opportunity to attend this special screening, subject to panel room capacity and availability. All attendees will get an original button badge.

Production Credits:
Original Work: Yūki Suenaga, Takamasa Moue
Director: Ayumu Watanabe
Assistant Director: Yu Harima
Series Composer: Michihiro Tsuchiya
Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Kii Tanaka
Sub Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Yasunari Nitta
Chief Animation Director: Hisashi Kagawa
Costume Design: Noriko Shimazawa
Prop Design: Yoshinori Iwanaga
Art Design: Shūhei Tada
Art: Takumi Sakurada
Color Design: Saori Goda
Photography Director: Yūta Nakamura
Editor: Kiyoshi Hirose
Sound Director: Noriyoshi Konuma
Music: Akio Izutsu
Rakugo Supervision: Kikuhiko Hayashiya
Animation Studio: ZEXCS

Cast:
Akane Osaki: Anna Nagase
Karashi Nerimaya: Takuya Eguchi
Hikaru Koragi: Rie Takahashi
Shinta Arakawa (Tohru Osaki): Jun Fukuyama
Maikeru Arakawa: Nobunaga Shimazaki
Koguma Arakawa: Chiaki Kobayashi
Kyoji Arakawa: Yōhei Azakami
Guriko Arakawa: Seiichirō Yamashita

For more information, please see below:
Official X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Akane-banashi_en
Official TikTok: https://www.TikTok.com/@Akane-banashi_en
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Akane-banashi_en/
Official Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Akane-banashi.en
Official Website: https://Akane-banashi.com/

When using assets, please use the copyright:
©Yūki Suenaga, Takamasa Moue / SHUEISHA, Akane-banashi Committee

About TV Asahi:

TV Asahi Corporation is a national commercial broadcaster in Japan, leading the Japanese content industry and having 23 network affiliate stations covering the nation. TV Asahi produces and airs animation such as "Doraemon" from 1979, "Shin-chan" from 1992, and the more recent "The Dangers in My Heart" and “SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary”. TV Asahi is also actively expanding into new businesses, including the production of original anime series in India and collaborative projects with partnering studios in Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the US.