Japan’s next big war-drama anime might not be set in ancient times at all. Nippon Sangoku（日本三國） has officially been announced for April 2026, alongside a teaser visual and the first trailer. If you’ve ever wished for a “Three Kingdoms” style power struggle with a modern edge, this one is worth bookmarking. ⚔️📱
A new Three Kingdoms rises in post-collapse Japan
Nippon Sangoku（日本三國） is based on Ikka Matsuki’s manga, currently serialized on Shogakukan’s Manga ONE app and the Ura Sunday web platform. The series has passed roughly 700,000 copies in circulation, and now it’s heading to TV as an anime. The broadcast window is set for April 2026.
The hook is simple and strong. Imagine Japan after civilization has fallen apart. War, disasters, and failed politics have pushed the country into chaos. Out of that collapse, Japan fractures into three competing powers. History doesn’t “repeat” here in a literal way. Instead, it rhymes—hard.
At the center is Aoteru Misumi（三角青輝）, a low-level local bureaucrat who aims for something huge: reunifying Japan. He doesn’t rise because he’s the strongest fighter. He rises because he’s sharp, well-read, and persuasive. It’s a strategy-forward story with a very modern cadence.
What the teaser visual says about Aoteru’s role
The teaser visual makes a clean first impression. We see Aoteru from behind, standing tall with a war fan in hand. That single prop signals command, strategy, and leadership—like a quiet promise that this story is about brains as much as battles.
The pose feels composed rather than flashy. This doesn’t read as a brute-force power fantasy. It reads like a story that wins through planning, alliances, and words.
Trailer 1 hints at scale, tone, and strategy
The first trailer leans into atmosphere and scope. It’s designed to pull you into the setting fast, rather than fully explain the plot. You can feel the weight of a country breaking into factions, and the sense that the story will move across big political stages, not just small skirmishes.
What feels strikingly modern is the contrast. This is “Three Kingdoms energy,” but filtered through a near-future lens. The world is ruined, yet the characters’ vibe feels current. That tension is the point—it’s not cosplay history, it’s a modern war of ideology, ambition, and survival.
For official visuals and updates, start here: Official website.
Studio Kafka and the core staff behind the anime
The anime is produced by Studio Kafka, with Kazuaki Terasawa directing and Takahiko Abiru handling character design and serving as chief animation director. For a series built on shifting loyalties and big political moves, that kind of focused creative core matters.
The announcement also included celebration illustrations from key staff, a small but telling sign that this is a project the team wants to champion.
Main cast reveals the series’ emotional range
A “war and strategy” story lives or dies on its performances, and the main cast suggests a mix of intensity, warmth, and menace. Kensho Ono voices Aoteru Misumi and has shared that he’s been a fan of the original manga, calling out the satisfaction of watching Aoteru break deadlocks with knowledge and clever speech.
Asami Seto plays Koki Higashimachi（東町小紀）, a key figure who spots Aoteru’s talent early and pushes him forward, while also becoming a place of emotional safety. Takashi Nagasako takes on Heidenki（平殿器）, teasing a character whose unsettling comedy and calculated cruelty can flip the mood in an instant. Megumi Han serves as the narrator, framing the story with the weight of a chronicle—like you’re reading history from the future.
How to follow updates and start the manga today
The most charming detail in the announcement is Ikka Matsuki’s comparison to classic Three Kingdoms tradition: the manga as “official history,” and the anime as a more dramatic “romance.” It’s a smart way to set expectations. The anime can add motion, color, and interpretation that the page can only imply, while still nudging new viewers back toward the original work.
If you want to start the story now, try the manga here: Read the manga on Manga ONE. For quick news drops and reminders as April 2026 approaches, follow: Official X.
Watch the first trailer, then skim the opening chapters of the manga. You’ll know fast whether you’re here for the tactics, the politics, or the characters. Keep an eye out for future announcements on stations and streaming as April 2026 gets closer.
©松木いっか／小学館／日本三國製作委員会
✨✨✨More Anime You’ll Love:
Mamonogurai no Adventurer TV Anime Set for April 2026 on TOKYO MX, Teaser PV Out Now
World of Tanks × Girls und Panzer—Token Shop Guide to Kay’s Voice Pack, Styles, and Firefly
TO Books Launches ‘Muteki no Ansatsu Madoushi’ Manga on Corona EX, Light Novel Drops Jan 15
Iwamoto Senpai no Suisen Anime Announced With PV and Main Cast
