The TV anime adaptation of Marimo Ragawa’s Tsugaru-jamisen manga “Mashiro no Oto” (ましろのおと) reveals a key visual, 1st PV and the main cast. The series is set to premiere in April 2021.
The story follows Sawamura Setsu, who was raised by his grandfather, one of the greatest Tsugaru-jamisen players in Japan. Since his grandfather’s death, Setsu finds his way to rediscover the passion for Tsugaru-jamisen. Nobunaga Shimazaki plays the protagonist Setsu Sawamura.
▍PV
▍Characters and Cast
■ Wakana Sawamura (澤村若菜) – CV: Yoshimasa Hosoya (細谷佳正)
Wakana is Setsu’s older brother. He looks old but is actually 19 years old. He learns Tsugaru-jamisen with Setsu from their grandfather. Although he has the ability to win in tournaments, he feels that he doesn’t have the talents that Setsu has.
■ Shuri Maeda (前田朱利) – CV: Yume Miyamoto (宮本侑芽)
Shuri is a student of Umezono Gakuen where Setsu was transferred. She is not good at men, and until Setsu came, she was the only member of the Tsugaru-jamisen Lovers Association. For some reason, she knows “Spring Akatsuki,” an impromptu song created by Setsu’s grandfather.
■ Yui Yamazato (山里 結) – CV: Reina Kondō (近藤玲奈)
Yui is a childhood friend of Shuri, an otaku who loves anime and games. She happened to see the live stream where Setsu appeared and knew his talent on shamisen. Invited by Shuri, she joins the Tsugaru-jamisen Lovers Association with Kaito.
■ Kaito Yaguchi (矢口海人) – CV: Nobuhiko Okamoto (岡本信彥)
Kaito is a second year student, one grade higher than his childhood friend of Shuri and Yui. He used to make fun of Shuri when he was a kid. But the truth is that he has been fond of Shuri since then. He doesn’t like Setsu, who becomes close to Shuri through shamisen.
■ Rai Nagamori (永森 雷) – CV: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (鈴木達央)
Rai is a student of Umezono Gakuen and has experience with Shamisen. Although he belongs to the handicraft club, he has been practicing shamisen following his mother since he was a child.
■ Umeko Sawamura (澤村梅子) – CV: Takako Honda (本田貴子)
Umeko is the mother of Setsu and Wakana, the female president of a large company that spans the globe. The care of his sons was left to his father, Matsugoro. She finds that Setsu came to Tokyo without any plan and forced him to transfer to Umezono Gakuen.
▍Staff and Production
Original Works: Marimo Ragawa (羅川真里茂) [Serializing in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Magazine]
Director: Hiroaki Akagi (赤城博昭)
Series Composition: Yoichi Kato (加藤環一)
Character Designer: Jiro Mashima (真島ジロウ)
Tsugaru-jamisen Supervisor: The Yoshida Brothers
Animation: Shin-Ei Animation
▍Cast
■ Setsu Sawamura (澤村雪) – CV: Nobunaga Shimazaki (島崎信長)
■ Wakana Sawamura (澤村若菜) – CV: Yoshimasa Hosoya (細谷佳正)
■ Shuri Maeda (前田朱利) – CV: Yume Miyamoto (宮本侑芽)
■ Yui Yamazato (山里 結) – CV: Reina Kondō (近藤玲奈)
■ Kaito Yaguchi (矢口海人) – CV: Nobuhiko Okamoto (岡本信彥)
■ Rai Nagamori (永森 雷) – CV: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (鈴木達央)
■ Umeko Sawamura (澤村梅子) – CV: Takako Honda (本田貴子)