“Sasaki and Miyano” is a popular Japanese romance manga series from Sho Harusono focusing on the relationship between two teenage boys, Sasaki and Miyano. Now, fans around the globe are excited that this poignant and touching story of their relationship is being made into an anime adaptation.
We’ll walk you through the beloved manga books and everything you need to know about the upcoming anime series.
When Will the Sasaki and Miyano Anime Premiere?
The wait is nearly over for fans of the seven-volume manga series “Sasaki and Miyano.” The highly anticipated anime series of the same name, which is being produced by Studio Deen, was first announced to fans in November 2020. The launch of the show is just weeks away with the series release date set in Japan for Jan. 9, 2022.
Where Can You Watch the Sasaki and Miyano Anime?
If you want to watch the new “Sasaki and Miyano” series, be sure to check out Crunchyroll, the world’s largest collection of streaming anime. Anime episodes are available just one hour after they’ve aired in Japan and you can watch them anytime, anywhere. The platform lets you stream shows on your desktop computer or laptop, mobile phone, gaming console, and other streaming devices.
In Japan, where the anime is called “Sasaki to Miyano,” the series will air on several networks, including Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, SUN, TV Aichi, BS NTV, and AT-X.
In the meantime, you can check out the official teaser for the anime here.
Who Will Produce the Sasaki and Miyano Anime?
Studio Deen, a major Japanese animation studio, has been a stalwart in the anime genre since its founding in 1975. Among the many titles this influential studio has released over the decades are “Higurashi: When They Cry,” “Fate Stay Night,” “You’re Under Arrest,” “Kono Subarashii,” and “Sankarea: Undying Love.”
Shinji Ishihira, known for his work on “Fairy Tail,” “Log Horizon,” and “Talentless Nana,” is directing “Sasaki and Miyano” for the studio. Maki Fujii, who’s worked on “I’ve Always Liked You,” “The Moment You Fall in Love,” and “Our Love Has Always Been 10 Centimeters Apart,” is handling character design for the show. Meanwhile, Yoshiko Nakamura is handling the series’ composition and Kana Shibue is composing the music.
What Is Sasaki and Miyano About?
The manga series “Sasaki and Miyano,” written and illustrated by Harusono, launched on the Pixiv official website in 2016. Kadokawa released the seventh volume of the series in November 2020, while an English-language graphic novel version of the manga is also available from Yen Press in North America.
It also inspired a two-volume novel written by Kotoko Hachijo and published by Media Factory.
The original book series led to the creation of a spin-off manga series, “Hirano to Kagiura,” which is published in Media Factory’s Monthly Comic Gene. This series, in turn, inspired its own novel version.
As for the original “Sasaki and Miyano” manga, this charming romantic comedy follows the budding relationship between two teenage boys. The animated version of the series will follow the storyline, tone, and theme of the manga closely.
In both the manga and the anime, underclassman Miyano and senior Sasaki — two very different people who attend the same all-boys high school — have a fateful encounter that brings them together unexpectedly.
Miyano is an avid reader of Boys’ Love comics. While the awkward and adorable young teen considers himself an expert on the genre, he’s never experienced it for himself in real life, though. That is until he meets the older Sasaki, who is a bit of a troublemaker.
The two get into a scuffle after school but find a way to connect despite this. Although Miyano doesn’t appear as tough as the older student, when he shows his feisty side during this skirmish, Sasaki becomes intrigued by him. The senior tries to get closer to Miyano by borrowing Boys’ Life manga, eventually becoming attracted to the teen.
As their relationship grows in this sweet story, Miyano is clueless about Sasaki’s interest in him, and the senior does everything he can to move the two toward a happy ending.
The Sasaki and Miyano Main Characters
Cast members from the manga’s audio drama recordings are reprising their roles for the “Sasaki and Miyano” anime series. Here are all the characters you need to know about before watching the new show when it premieres:
Shumei Sasaki:
Voiced by Yusuke Shirai, this high school senior and rough-and-tumble tough guy has a surprisingly sweet side that comes out when he meets Miyano. He’s one of the two main characters of the series. Physically, he’s tall with bleached hair and numerous ear piercings. He’s a bit of a loner who can be introspective and gloomy one minute and bright and cheerful the next. He’s also known for making rash decisions and acting impulsively, sometimes leading to trouble. Miyano brings out a softer side of him.
Yoshikazu Miyano:
The other main character in the series, Miyano, voiced by Soma Saito, is shorter than Sasaki and more feminine. He’s also obsessed with Boys’ Love comics and can talk about them at length. While he isn’t shy, he’s a sensitive boy who has a handful of close friends and is respectful of those older than him, including senior students at the high school.
Taiga Hirano:
This senior student and member of the school’s disciplinary committee is voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka. Miyano feels awkward around him because he imagines the older teen in Boys’ Life situations. He eventually talks to Hirano about it and the two form a friendship. Hirano even becomes protective over the underclassman. Hirano is also a longtime friend of Sasaki, although they aren’t especially close, and they hang out when they’re not in school.
Masato Hanzawa:
This senior student and president of the school’s disciplinary committee is voiced by Yuma Uchida. He likes to tease Miyano and has taken the younger student under his wing, helping whenever he can.
Jiro Ogasawara:
Another senior student and member of the school’s disciplinary committee, Ogasawara is voiced by Yuki Ono. Initially, he doesn’t get along with Miyano as well as some of the other older students because he has prejudices against Boys’ Life manga. Eventually, their relationship improves, and the younger student even gives Ogasawara advice on his relationship with his girlfriend. Ogasawara is also a longtime friend of Sasaki and even visits his house. They also share a similar interest in music.
Tasuku Kuresawa:
Another student at the all-boys school, Kuresawa, voiced by Ryohei Arai, is a perceptive teen. He becomes aware of Sasaki’s and Miyano’s feelings for each other even before they do. He never lets on that he knows, though, and instead patiently lets them figure it out for themselves. He’s also known for being polite and respectful and has a girlfriend that he’s dedicated and loyal to. He became friendly with Miyano after nearly getting beaten up at school. He also looks up to Sasaki, who helped him not get beaten up.
Gonsaburo Tashiro:
Voiced by Mitsuhiro Ichiki, Tashiro is a friend of Miyano who likes to tease him about his feminine appearance and slight stature. He’s also aware of his friend’s interest in Boys’ Life manga. Although he doesn’t understand the appeal, he doesn’t judge Miyano for it.
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Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
