The upcoming anime series The World Is Dancing, based on Kazuto Mihara’s historical manga, will premiere on July 2. This new adaptation aims to explore the dramatic origins of Japan’s classical Noh theater. A main promotional trailer, key visual, and additional cast members have been revealed, generating significant anticipation for this deep dive into traditional performing arts.
The story is set in the turbulent 14th century during the Northern and Southern Courts period. It follows a young boy named Oniyasha, born into a family of sarugaku performers, who is haunted by a fundamental question: why do people dance? His journey of discovery upon witnessing a transformative performance will chart his path to becoming Zeami, the legendary figure who shaped Noh into a refined art form. This narrative promises to blend historical drama with a personal coming-of-age story.
Production for The World Is Dancing places a strong emphasis on cultural authenticity. The animation is handled by studio Cypic, with Toshimasa Kuroyanagi directing. To ensure accurate depictions, the production has enlisted renowned experts. Reijiro Tsumura, a Kanze-school Noh performer designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property holder, supervises the Noh choreography. Additionally, dancer Kaiji Moriyama, who directed the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Opening Ceremony, and choreographer Mikiko Kawamura are contributing to the movement and dance sequences. The opening theme song, “shusho,” is performed by the Japanese rock band Macaroni Empitsu.
The voice cast features both previously announced actors and new additions, including Takahiro Sakurai as Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Nobuo Tobita as Nijo Yoshimoto, Mamiko Noto as Nariko, Inori Minase as Chiharu, and Hazuki Seto as Satsuki. The series is a co-production between Shochiku and CyberAgent. For international audiences interested in the source material, the six-volume manga is available in English via Kodansha‘s official platform.
