Ren Arisugawa Is Actually a Girl is joining the Winter 2026 lineup with a little head start on AnimeFesta. The “monk-slot” romance streams there first in December, letting curious viewers sample episode one before the late-night TV run begins.
A Winter 2026 rom-com built on Ren’s big secret
Based on the adult manga by Norito Asatsuki, the series follows college student Kyohei, whose only claim to fame is being cousins with top male talent Ren Arisugawa—until he discovers that the cool celebrity on TV is actually a woman. From there, the story leans into secret cohabitation, celebrity pressure and gender-bending romance.
AnimeFesta’s exclusive early stream with two different versions
AnimeFesta will stream episode one early on December 12, 2025 at 17:00 JST, offering both a free on-air version that matches the TV broadcast and a premium uncut edition that is exclusive to the service. The on-air cut works as a low-barrier sampler, while the premium version delivers the full “僧侶枠” experience for subscribers.
Key dates for AnimeFesta streaming and TV broadcast
After the early stream, the TV anime is scheduled to air in Japan from January 4, 2026 in a late-night slot on channels such as TOKYO MX and BS11, with AnimeFesta’s premium version continuing as the only uncut release. For Winter 2026 rom-com watchers, it lands right at the start of the season.
Reasons this short AnimeFesta series is easy to try
With short episodes, a simple hook and the first on-air version free to watch on AnimeFesta, Ren Arisugawa Is Actually a Girl looks like an easy Winter 2026 side dish for anyone who enjoys messy celebrity romances and gender-bending drama alongside their bigger-name shows.
（C）浅月のりと／Suiseisha Inc.
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