Kizuguchi to Houtai Sets January 9 Premiere and Reveals Lead Cast

Kizuguchi to Houtai will begin broadcasting in Japan on January 9, 2027, with Hisako Kanemoto and Chikahiro Kobayashi leading the cast. The date, cast pairing, first theme visual, and a teaser video titled "Love" were announced on October 16 through the television anime's official channels.

When and where the anime will air

AT-X will carry the earliest television broadcast at 11:00 p.m. JST on January 9. The series will then air through ABC TV and the TV Asahi national network in the ANiMAZiNG!!! programming block at 26:00 each Saturday. ABEMA is scheduled to begin its fastest stream at 26:30 on the same late-night timetable.

The schedule also confirms a weekly Saturday cadence for each service. AT-X lists repeat broadcasts on Tuesdays at 29:00 and Saturdays at 8:00, while the national network and ABEMA entries identify their initial weekly slots. The new information narrows the show's previously announced January 2027 window to a specific launch day.

That gives viewers in Japan three confirmed ways to follow the adaptation at launch: an advance AT-X broadcast, a nationwide network airing, and an ABEMA stream. The announcement did not provide international distribution details.

The new "Love" teaser focuses on the central relationship between Riyo Washizu and Gou Kiritani, while the accompanying theme visual presents newly drawn versions of the pair. The video uses moments based on the manga to frame Kiritani as the wounded figure and Riyo as the person who tends to him.

It is the first installment in a planned sequence of four weekly reveals. Each week is set to bring another theme visual and promotional video, along with additional cast information. The project also opened an official TikTok account, where it plans to publish more material.

Who voices Riyo and Kiritani

Kanemoto will play Riyo Washizu, the daughter of the head of the Washizu-gumi crime group. Kobayashi will voice Gou Kiritani, a senior member of the affiliated Kurotori-kai who is assigned to look after her. Their relationship drives the romantic comedy, which begins when Kiritani discovers that the apparently quiet Riyo is fascinated by seeing strong people become vulnerable.

In her announcement comment, Kanemoto highlighted the characters' expressive faces and varied personalities. She said she approached the role hoping to communicate those inner qualities through her voice as the story moves among romance, comedy, and its characters' unusual quirks. Kobayashi discussed the energetic side of production, explaining that the cast records in the morning and that the frequent shouting leaves him feeling energized for the day.

Kizuguchi to Houtai adapts Nanai Umihoshi's manga, published by Kodansha through Tsuki Maga Kichi. Miyuki Ishida is directing the television series at J.C.STAFF. Susumu Yamakawa is handling the script, and Natsuki Ooyama is credited with character design.

The January 9 launch is now fixed across AT-X, the ANiMAZiNG!!! block, and ABEMA. Before the premiere, the production's next confirmed milestone is the continuation of its weekly visual, video, and cast announcements.