Manga 'Nippon Sangoku' Gets TV Anime in Spring 2026

by Syureria
Jan 27, 2:28 AM | 27 Comments

Production company Twin Engine opened an official website for a television anime adaptation of Ikka Matsuki's Nippon Sangoku manga on Tuesday, revealing the main cast, staff, first promotional video, and a teaser visual (pictured above). The anime series will premiere in April 2026.

Cast
Aoteru Misumi: Kensho Ono (Owari no Seraph)
Saki Higashimachi: Asami Seto (Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai)
Denki Taira: Takashi Nagasako (Hoozuki no Reitetsu)
Narrator: Megumi Han ([Oshi no Ko])

Staff
Director: Kazuaki Terasawa (Mahoutsukai no Yome Season 2)
Character Design, Chief Animation Director: Takahiko Abiru (Vinland Saga)
Studio: Studio Kafka

Matsuki began serializing the post-apocalyptic drama manga on the MangaONE app and website in November 2021. Shogakukan published the sixth volume in November 2024. The manga has a cumulative 700,000 copies of its volumes in circulation.

Nippon Sangoku was nominated for the 16th Manga Taisho awards in 2023.

Synopsis
In the near future, Japan has completely collapsed due to a mix of nuclear warfare, natural disasters, and widespread corruption that sparked a revolution.

The country is now split into three warring superpowers. This new era of the Three Kingdoms Period sees diplomacy vanish, replaced by a harsh, relentless fight for power. Each territory is using its military strength and resources against the others in a desperate attempt for total control over the remnants of Japanese land.

Aoteru Misumi is a low-ranking official who has stayed in the background for most of his life. He does not come from a prestigious military background or aristocracy, but Misumi has a strong ambition: to end the pointless bloodshed that afflicts the nation. He seeks to unify the fractured country, armed only with sharp insight and a persuasive voice that can rally the people.

The legend of the man who will become a brilliant military strategist starts now.

PV 1

Official site: https://www.nipponsangoku.com/
Offcial X: @sangoku_PR

Source: PR Times

Nippon Sangoku on MAL

20 of 27 Comments Recent Comments

This is one pretty obscure manga, and might be a very interesting one. Art looks good, it's got a military theme, and Studio Kafka seems capable - and as hipster/artsy as their name and few works suggest.

Jan 28, 10:20 PM by RenaPsychoKiller

ZXEAN said:
@EcchiGodMamster Preferences explain taste, not entitlement. Liking something doesn’t mean it has to be everywhere. Anyway, have a nice day.

I NEVER argued it had to be "everywhere"

I said "lemme guess, violence but no boobs" again, meaning that REGARDLESS OF CONTEXT, sexual content tends to get nerfed more so than violence, which IS a double standard

I just don't' believe in restricting where it can be (yes ofc that is partially do w how much i personally like it) but because i want people to be able to cook however they choose

AND

my defense of freedom of expression is also freedom to NOT put fanservice in your work, so yes, i also believe that adding fanservice to a work where an author didn't want it is just as unfair

Jan 28, 12:30 AM by EcchiGodMamster

@EcchiGodMamster Preferences explain taste, not entitlement. Liking something doesn’t mean it has to be everywhere. Anyway, have a nice day.

Jan 28, 12:01 AM by ZXEAN

ZXEAN said:
@EcchiGodMamster You’re stuck on calling it a “double standard” without actually engaging with why those choices are made. Repeating “violence stays, sexual content goes” over and over doesn’t magically make context irrelevant.

Violence and sexualization serve very different functions in media, even for adult audiences. One is often tied to plot, stakes, and conflict; the other is frequently ornamental. That’s why studios, broadcasters, and creators treat them differently. You don’t have to like that, but pretending it’s arbitrary is lazy.

sexualization can also be tied to plot, stakes and conflict, yet it'll still get nerfed more so than violence... hows that not a double standard?

also i said "boobs"... boobs =/= fanservice... i didn't even originally say "fanservice"... i said boobs... YOU said fanservice

ZXEAN said:
And yes, you brought up tone, intent, audience, and framing

when????

ZXEAN said:
The disagreement is about whether those standards are automatically wrong or meaningless, which you haven’t actually argued, you’ve just complained about.

because whats important and whats not is all a matter of opinion and i can't say anything thats not?

ZXEAN said:
“I want sexual content everywhere and I don’t care why it’s cut,” then just say that and be done with it.

if you haven't figured that out by now then idk why you wasted your time

every single one of us is arguing for our own personal preferences, are we not?

whotf doesn't prefer their own personal preferences to be prioritized in the entertainment they watch?

do your own personal preferences not make you enjoy something more?

saying "a good story carries itself, therefore it doesn't need X" implies that a good story automatically makes people like something more than something without one

at the end of the day NOTHING MATTERS MORE THAN WHAT?

PERSONAL ENJOYMENT

Jan 27, 11:06 PM by EcchiGodMamster

@EcchiGodMamster You’re stuck on calling it a “double standard” without actually engaging with why those choices are made. Repeating “violence stays, sexual content goes” over and over doesn’t magically make context irrelevant.

Violence and sexualization serve very different functions in media, even for adult audiences. One is often tied to plot, stakes, and conflict; the other is frequently ornamental. That’s why studios, broadcasters, and creators treat them differently. You don’t have to like that, but pretending it’s arbitrary is lazy.

And yes, you brought up tone, intent, audience, and framing, congrats, that’s literally what people mean when they talk about story and context. Acting annoyed because the conversation went exactly where your own points lead doesn’t strengthen your argument.

You keep saying “double standards exist” like it’s some mic drop. No one denied that. The disagreement is about whether those standards are automatically wrong or meaningless, which you haven’t actually argued, you’ve just complained about.

At this point you’re not making new points, you’re just looping. If all you’re saying is “I want sexual content everywhere and I don’t care why it’s cut,” then just say that and be done with it.

Jan 27, 10:55 PM by ZXEAN

ZXEAN said:
That’s not what I said, and you know it. I’m not arguing “violence good, boobs bad.” I’m saying context matters. Violence and sexual content aren’t interchangeable just because both are “content.”

You brought up double standards, I brought up why people react differently, tone, intent, audience, and how it’s framed. That’s where story and context come in whether you like it or not.

If you want to pretend every scene should allow everything equally, that’s your view. But people criticizing unnecessary sexualization isn’t hypocrisy, it’s engaging with the work.

Reducing my argument to “violence but no boobs” is just dodging the point.

my first comment was "lemme guess, violence, but no boobs" to point out the double standard against sexual content EVEN IF something is aimed at adults

what do many anime adaptations do? they show shit like heads rolling, people being split in half, etc, BUT they'll then remove things like cleavage or pantyshots, EVEN IF its in the source material

anime remakes will do this too, they'll completely nerf all the sexual content but then keep the violence

WHAT THE FUCK does that have to do with story? the story argument was 100% started by you

I brought up why people react differently, tone, intent, audience, and how it’s framed. That’s where story and context come in whether you like it or not.

is this supposed to be something i haven't heard 250452432545290358430 times?

no fucking shit people react to things differently, that doesn't mean double standards don't exist

Jan 27, 10:39 PM by EcchiGodMamster

EcchiGodMamster said:

i compared the double standard of violence vs sexual content and you came in with the story shit... and here we are, i never said anything about story

That’s not what I said, and you know it. I’m not arguing “violence good, boobs bad.” I’m saying context matters. Violence and sexual content aren’t interchangeable just because both are “content.”

You brought up double standards, I brought up why people react differently, tone, intent, audience, and how it’s framed. That’s where story and context come in whether you like it or not.

If you want to pretend every scene should allow everything equally, that’s your view. But people criticizing unnecessary sexualization isn’t hypocrisy, it’s engaging with the work.

Reducing my argument to “violence but no boobs” is just dodging the point.

Jan 27, 10:34 PM by ZXEAN

ZXEAN said:
I’m saying fan service isn’t a substitute for good writing

when the fuck did i say it was?

ZXEAN said:
nor is it automatically justified just because something is animated.

if the creators want it, then its justified... the ONLY justification a creator needs to add ANYTHING to their work is that its part of their vision and they wanted to do it

ZXEAN said:
Yes, people watch plenty of bad media with or without sexual content, that’s not the point. The point is whether fan service adds anything meaningful or just exists to compensate for weak storytelling or cheap engagement.

fanservice BY DEFINITION is nothing more than something that is there to be pleasing, its not supposed to "add to the story"

"exists to compensate for weak storytelling or cheap engagement."

how is this an argument against sexual fanservice? one could and people do argue that flashy colors and amazing animation do this as well (which can also technically be fanservice)

ZXEAN said:
If it’s thrown in regardless of context

again, this is literally the point

if you don't like things that are thrown or done regardless of context well then you obviously don't like "fanservice"

fanservice = for the sake of doing it/because i can/want to/ and or because the fans will like it

ZXEAN said:
So no, this isn’t about “good vs bad stories.” It’s about whether a choice serves the work, or just exists because someone insists it should.

welcome to freedom of expresion, art and anime, enjoy your stay

Jan 27, 10:19 PM by EcchiGodMamster

EcchiGodMamster said:
does a "bad story" "need" fanservice to get people to watch it? whats your point? why does it matter if the story is good or bad? arent theres tons of of media w no sexual content with shitty stories and people still watch them?

You’re missing the distinction I’m making. I’m not saying bad stories need fan service, or that good stories can’t have it. I’m saying fan service isn’t a substitute for good writing, nor is it automatically justified just because something is animated.

Yes, people watch plenty of bad media with or without sexual content, that’s not the point. The point is whether fan service adds anything meaningful or just exists to compensate for weak storytelling or cheap engagement.

If a creator includes sexual content because it fits their vision, tone, or audience, fine. If it’s thrown in regardless of context, people are also allowed to criticize it. That’s not policing art, that’s engaging with it.

So no, this isn’t about “good vs bad stories.” It’s about whether a choice serves the work, or just exists because someone insists it should.

Jan 27, 10:02 PM by ZXEAN

ZXEAN said:
@EcchiGodMamster You’re reading way too much into “stands on its own.” I never said visuals don’t matter or that animation is pointless. I said a strong story doesn’t need fan service to hook people. Those aren’t the same thing. Visual expression ≠ mandatory sexualization.

What you’re really arguing is that artists should always push sexual content because they can. That’s not artistic freedom, that’s just projecting your own preference onto every creator. Not every mangaka is thinking about fan service 24/7, and not every story is trying to “push boundaries” in that way.

Risk-taking doesn’t only mean sex. Some take risks with themes, structure, pacing, or restraint. Acting like anime’s identity depends on horny bait is honestly reductive.

If you want fan service everywhere, that’s fine. But stop pretending that’s some universal artistic truth or that stories are weaker without it.

does a "bad story" "need" fanservice to get people to watch it? whats your point? why does it matter if the story is good or bad? arent theres tons of of media w no sexual content with shitty stories and people still watch them?

ZXEAN said:
or that stories are weaker without it.

did i say this? i never said anything about story, YOU did

EcchiGodMamster said:
lemme guess... violence, but no boobs

i compared the double standard of violence vs sexual content and you came in with the story shit... and here we are, i never said anything about story

Jan 27, 8:59 PM by EcchiGodMamster

@EcchiGodMamster You’re reading way too much into “stands on its own.” I never said visuals don’t matter or that animation is pointless. I said a strong story doesn’t need fan service to hook people. Those aren’t the same thing. Visual expression ≠ mandatory sexualization.

What you’re really arguing is that artists should always push sexual content because they can. That’s not artistic freedom, that’s just projecting your own preference onto every creator. Not every mangaka is thinking about fan service 24/7, and not every story is trying to “push boundaries” in that way.

Risk-taking doesn’t only mean sex. Some take risks with themes, structure, pacing, or restraint. Acting like anime’s identity depends on horny bait is honestly reductive.

If you want fan service everywhere, that’s fine. But stop pretending that’s some universal artistic truth or that stories are weaker without it.

Jan 27, 8:54 PM by ZXEAN

your argument started off with this

ZXEAN said:
A strong story doesn’t need fan service to attract viewers, it stands on its own.

"it stands on its own" implies that story doesn't need anything but words and a persons imagination... so i gave an example by saying that reading a book can give you story that stands on its own

once you get into visual territory, technically ANYTHING is subjective and im saying that once you get into the artistic territory well an artist should be able to express themselves however they choose as thats kinda the point of the medium

why should someone have the power to write anything they want but not have the power to visually express what they wrote however they want?
because someone on the internet might disagree with it?

if entertainment mediums never take risks, push boundaries or make potentially questionable choices, then it slowly becomes overly safe corporate product slop

anime has ALWAYS been known for being "different/weird".. thats kinda why its taken over

Jan 27, 8:32 PM by EcchiGodMamster

@EcchiGodMamster You’re still missing what I’m saying. Yeah, art is self-expression, but that doesn’t mean context, tone, or audience suddenly stop mattering. Demographics aren’t just about laws, they exist because different stories are made with different intentions.

Whether Japan officially uses the word “ecchi” or not is just semantics. We use labels to describe patterns in content, not to limit artists. Sexualization is a choice, not some default state of art.

You’re free to want fan service in everything, that’s your preference. But preference doesn’t make it automatically fit every story, and it doesn’t make it immune to criticism when it clashes with the tone or breaks immersion.

Wanting something doesn’t mean it belongs everywhere.

Jan 27, 8:24 PM by ZXEAN

ZXEAN said:
@EcchiGodMamster You’re oversimplifying art. Anime isn’t a single genre or intent, it’s created for many different demographics and age groups. Sexual expression is just one artistic choice.

If you’re looking for ecchi, there are plenty of anime specifically made for that.

i am not "oversimplifying art" art IS self expression, its just that people have to follow "rules" because laws or w/e exist, which is partially why theres even targeted demographics in the first place.

when artists/story tellers don't have to follow "rules", well what tends to happen?

also ecchi isn't a genre and Japan doesn't call anime ecchi, its up to whoever is making it to decide how much sexual content is in it or not. its us westerners who call anime ecchi. so theres no actual reason for a story to affect the amount of fanservice/ecchi a series has and i don't care what an anime is "made for"

if i like something im going to want it regardless or w/e

ZXEAN said:
it’s that fan service shouldn’t be a crutch when it doesn’t serve the scene or story.

oh and fanservice by definition doesn't, fanservice is about doing something because you have the freedom to add something pleasing

Jan 27, 7:56 PM by EcchiGodMamster

@EcchiGodMamster You’re oversimplifying art. Anime isn’t a single genre or intent, it’s created for many different demographics and age groups. Sexual expression is just one artistic choice.

If you’re looking for ecchi, there are plenty of anime specifically made for that.

Jan 27, 7:35 PM by ZXEAN

@ZXEAN

i'd hate to break it to you, but theres this thing called ART... idk if you've ever heard of it but its about self expression, not what some random guy on the internet thinks is important or not

anime is not just a story, its also art and art has ALWAYS been sexual or had sexual themes/content

but ofc, people like you only believe in arbitrary "rules" even when it comes to the creative field, well fuck that, let people cook how they choose, were in the arguable "slop era" in large part because people won't just allow people to cook

Jan 27, 7:25 PM by EcchiGodMamster

@EcchiGodMamster That’s a false comparison. Animation adds atmosphere, emotion, and visual storytelling, not random sexualization. My point isn’t that visuals are useless, it’s that fan service shouldn’t be a crutch when it doesn’t serve the scene or story.

Jan 27, 7:15 PM by ZXEAN

ZXEAN said:
@EcchiGodMamster A strong story doesn’t need fan service to attract viewers, it stands on its own.

a "strong story" doesn't "need" to be animated either, don't books without pictures exist? do you NEED pictures to enjoy a story? wtf is your point?

tired of this dumbass safe spot, middle ground ass argument.. if story is all that matters when its strong, go read a fucking chapter book

if i want fanservice then i want fanservice, idgas how good the story is

Jan 27, 6:27 PM by EcchiGodMamster

@EcchiGodMamster A strong story doesn’t need fan service to attract viewers, it stands on its own.

Jan 27, 5:09 PM by ZXEAN

MichaelJackson said:
@EcchiGodMamster some nudity would be nice, but you can always rewatch Ninja Scroll or the devilman OVAs for that

or they can... idk? add boobs to this too lol

Jan 27, 12:32 PM by EcchiGodMamster

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