The historical classic novel “The Tale of the Heike” will be adopted into TV anime for the first time in its history. In addition, the casts, including Yuuki Aoi and Sakurai Takahiro, and the staff, including director Yamada Naoko, were announced at the same time. Moreover, it was announced that the broadcast begins from January 2022 on Fuji TV “+Ultra” and the advanced exclusive streaming begins on “FOD” from midnight of September 15, 2021. “The Tale of the Heike” is the historical classic novel, which depicted from the rise to the fall of Heike clan. It was told by lute priests, and had a significant effect on various types of literature and stage plays up to this day, and now experiences consecutive TV anime series adaption. The TV anime will be based on the translation by Furukawa Hideo, which was published from Kawade Shobou Shinsha in 2016. The storyteller and the protagonist, a lute priest, will be a girl called Biwa, and the story of "The Tale of the Heike" revolves around the interaction between the people of the Taira clan, including the oldest son of Taira no Kiyomori named Shigemori and his sister Tokuko, and Japanese lutes, depicting not only the epic historical facts but also an ensemble cast of the people who survived through hardship in the era. Casts for this anime are the following: Yuuki Aoi (Biwa), Sakurai Takahiro (Shigemori), Hayami Saori (Tokuko), Genda Tesshou (Taira no Kiyomori), Chiba Shigeru, Inoue Kikuko, Irino Miyu, Kobayashi Yumiko, Okamoto Nobuhiko, Hanae Natsuki, Murase Ayumu, Nishiyama Koutarou, Hiyama Nobuyuki, Kimura Subaru, Miyazaki Yuu, Minase Inori, Sugita Tomokazu, and Kaji Yuuki. The staff information was revealed also at this time. The director is Yamada Naoko, known for “A Silent Voice” and “Keion!” series, scriptwriter is Yoshida Reiko (“A Silent Voice the Movie” and “Violet Evergarden”), the character designer is Takano Fumiko(a manga artist), music is composed by Ushio Kensuke (“A Silent Voice the Movie” and “DEVILMAN crybaby”), animation studio will be Science SARU of “Take Hands off of Eizou-ken!” and “DEVILMAN crybaby”. “The Tale of the Heike” will be broadcast from January 2022 on “+Ultra” and other channels, and the advanced exclusive streaming will be held on “FOD” from midnight of September 15, 2021. The simultaneous streaming will be held overseas, through websites including “Funimation” and “bilibili”. <Full comments are listed below> Director Yamada Naoko I wanted to face honestly with the important stories of those who lived their life. I first thought “The Tale of the Heike” was a story with a limitless scale just as universe, but it was an emotional and colorful story. I hope this will soak into your heart. Please look forward to the release. 【Introduction】 <The sound of the Gion Shouja bells echoes the impermanence of all things: the color of the sala flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline> It was the end of Heian Era. Heike clan dominated the world, through authority, military, and financial powers. Taira no Shigemori, who can see the ghosts, one day meets a young lute priest called Biwa, who can see through the future, and receives a telling that “your family declines soon”. The society gradually begins to change from aristocratic system to samurai’s control… 15 years of magnificent change in Japanese history now begins. 【Broadcast & Streaming Information】 Fuji TV “+Ultra”: From January 2022 FOD: Advanced Exclusive Streaming from Midnight of Wednesday, September 15, 2021 ※Streaming and broadcast dates may change. 【Staff】 Original Work: “Ikezawa Natsuki Personal Edit Japanese Literature Volume 09 ‘The Tale of the Heike’” Translated by Furukawa Hideo and Published form Kawade Shobou Shinsha Director: Yamada Naoko Scriptwriter: Yoshida Reiko Fundamental Character Design: Kouno Fumiko Music: Ushio Norisuke Anime Production: Science SARU Character Design: Kojima Takashi Art Director: Kubo Tomotaka (Deho Gallary) Movie Director: Imai Shoutarou Color Setting; Hashimoto Ken Shooting Director: Izumida Kazuhito Editor: Hirose Kiyoshi Music Director; Kimura Rieko Music Effects: Kurahashi Yuusuke (Otonarium) History Checker: Sata Yoshihiko Biwa(lute) Director: Gotou Sachihiro 【Casts】 Yuuki Aoi Sakurai Takahiro Hayami Saori Genda Tesshou Chiba Shigeru Inoue Kikuko Irino Miyu Kobayashi Yumiko Okamoto Nobuhiko Hanae Natsuki Murase Ayumu Nishiyama koutarou Hiyama Nobuyuki Kimura Subaru Miyazaki Yuu Minase Inori Sugita Tomokazu Kaji Yuuki

Winter anime “The Heike Story” released the storyline and preview cuts for episode 1 ‘If You Don’t Belong to the Heike, You Won’t Be a Person’. The broadcast date is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12th, 2022. “The Heike Story” is a great classic which depicts the glory and downfall of the Heike Clan. This time, the epic will be made into anime for the first time, adopting Hideo Furukawa's translation in 2016 as the framework. Having an original character, Biwa, a biwa-hoshi girl, as the protagonist and storyteller, the anime follows the people in the Heike Clan such as Shigemori, the son of Taira no Kiyomori, and his sister Tokuko. The story is not only based on historical facts but is also an ensemble cast that tells stories of the people who lived in the chaotic era. The whole story depicts a turbulent 15 years from the aristocracy to samurai society, when Japan went through a historic change. Episode 1 ‘If You Don’t Belong to the Heike, You Won’t Be a Person’ The story is set in Kyoto in the late Heian Period. The Heike Clan has prosperity and all the power, authority, military, and finance. While Taira no Kiyomori outdoes the emperor with ambition, his first son Shigemori cannot avoid a sense of apprehension. One night, Shigemori meets a biwa-hoshi Biwa, and she prophesies the fall of the Heike. Shigemori and Biwa share one thing in common– they have “eyes” to see invisible beings. "The Heike Story" episode 1 ‘If You Don’t Belong to the Heike, You Won’t Be a Person’ will be on air on January 12th on Fuji TV Ultra+ and other channels. （C）“The Heike Story” Production Committee