The Dark Hero Legend Returns This October!
Get ready, anime fans! The dark fantasy sensation is back. The upcoming television anime Tougen Anki: Nikko Kegon Falls Arc (Tougen Anki: Nikko Kegon-no-Taki Hen) has officially released its first wave of preview screenshots and the synopsis for Episode 1, titled “Training Begins” (Shugyou Kaishi). Scheduled to premiere on October 2, 2026, this new arc promises to elevate the stakes and push our favorite Rasetsu Academy students to their absolute limits.
Based on the hit manga by Yura Urushibara, which is currently serialized in Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shonen Champion and boasts over 6.5 million copies in circulation, Tougen Anki puts a modern, dark-hero spin on the classic Japanese folklore of Momotaro. It features an intense, blood-soaked conflict between those who inherit the blood of the Oni (demons) and those who carry the blood of Momotaro.
Episode 1 Synopsis: A Cold Welcome to the Mountains
Following the fierce battles of the “Kyoto & Nerima Arc” that aired in 2025, Shiki Ichinose and his classmates at Rasetsu Academy have steadily grown stronger. However, ideological rifts have begun to tear them apart. Disagreeing with their instructor Mudano’s teachings on the importance of comrades, Yagurashi defected to join the Kikokutai, a faction that believes in the complete eradication of the Momotaro—even civilian targets.
Determined to bring his friend back and stop the Kikokutai’s extreme methods, Shiki and the rest of the academy track Yagurashi to Nikko. There, near the mysteriously stopped Kegon Falls, a massive laboratory has been constructed, harboring terrifying experiments.
But before they can face these new threats, the students must undergo a brutal new training regimen in Episode 1:
Episode 1: “Training Begins”
Shiki and his fellow Rasetsu Academy students are tasked with a daunting new training exercise: climbing a treacherous mountain. Trapped in a freezing blizzard, the entire class must reach the finish line together within a strict 24-hour time limit. To make matters worse, part-time instructors Hakure Nekosaki and Yu Inami are brought in to actively obstruct their path and test their resolve.
Production & Broadcast Details
The series is directed by Ato Nonaka with animation production handled by the renowned studio Lerche (Studio Hibari). High-profile voice actors are returning to bring these beloved characters to life once again:
- Shiki Ichinose: Kazuki Ura
- Mujin Mudano: Hiroshi Kamiya
- Jin Kujasaka: Kotaro Nishiyama
- Hakure Nekosaki: Nobuhiko Okamoto
- Yu Inami: Kento Ito
The opening theme song, “BACKLASH,” is performed by Hiromitsu Kitayama, while the ending theme, “Te to Te” (Hand to Hand), is performed by TRACK15, setting the perfect mood for this action-packed, emotional ride.
Tougen Anki: Nikko Kegon Falls Arc will air in Japan on the NTV “FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT” block starting Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:30 PM JST. It will also be available on various global streaming platforms, including Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu. Stay tuned to A.N.I.Z for more updates as the battle between the Oni and Momotaro heats up!
Source: Yahoo News Japan