Nobunaga Shimazaki will voice protagonist Oniyasha in the anime adaptation of 'The World is Dancing', marking a significant casting announcement.
Shochiku announced on Monday, September 8, 2026, that acclaimed voice actor Nobunaga Shimazaki has been cast as Oniyasha, the young adult protagonist in the upcoming anime adaptation of the manga The World is Dancing. This casting comes after a glimpse of the character was shown in the recent episodes.
In the anime, the young adult Oniyasha was briefly introduced at the conclusion of its 10th episode, and he is expected to take a more central role in the 11th episode. The anime is based on Kazuto Mihara's manga, which explores the origins of Noh theater through Oniyasha's journey of self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of the historical Northern and Southern Courts conflict in 1374, the character of Oniyasha navigates his life's questions about dance, ultimately shaping the art form.
The adaptation of The World Is Dancing premiered on July 2, 2026, on Tokyo MX and KBS Kyoto in Japan. Ahead of its television broadcast, the first episode debuted on HIDIVE on June 29, along with a world premiere screening of the second episode at Anime Expo on the same day. The series is also available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and includes an English dub via HIDIVE.
The manga, which originally launched in Kodansha’s Morning magazine in March 2021, concluded in October 2022 after compiling six volumes of content. Kodansha USA Publishing has since licensed the series to publish these volumes digitally in English.
The announcement of Nobunaga Shimazaki’s involvement as Oniyasha is significant for fans of both the manga and anime. Shimazaki is a renowned voice actor known for his dynamic performances, which could greatly enhance the character's portrayal as he explores deeper themes tied to art and identity. As the anime continues to unfold, audiences will likely be eager to see how Oniyasha's character evolves in upcoming episodes, particularly in light of Shimazaki's critical role in bringing him to life.
For fans looking forward to more anime content, other recent announcements include the Marriage Toxin Anime Season 2 Promo and the Genshin Impact x Baskin-Robbins Collaboration highlighting the vibrant landscape of anime adaptations and tie-ins.
The casting of Nobunaga Shimazaki as Oniyasha is a noteworthy development in The World is Dancing anime, punctuating the importance of character voice and development in anime adaptations. Viewers can anticipate how this skilled voice actor will breathe life into the story, enhancing the connection to the themes of art and personal discovery. Fans will have to tune in for the 11th episode to see how Shimazaki’s performance unfolds in the narrative context and whether it aligns with their expectations.
Entertainment news
EpisodeBreakdown may use automated tools to assist research, drafting, and formatting. Published pages are governed by our editorial and corrections policies, and source links are shown when they are available in the article record.
Discovery source: Anime News Network. The source identifies where the topic was discovered; EpisodeBreakdown is responsible for the commentary published on this page.
Reader response
Reactions and poll results are based on real reader responses. No account is required.
