In a thrilling announcement that bridges six decades of anime history, Ishimori Production has revealed that Cyborg 009: Nemesis, a brand-new anime adaptation of Shōtarō Ishinomori’s legendary 1964 manga, will stream in 2026. According to Anime News Network, the project comes with a special nostalgic touch: rock singer Kyoko from the band Barbee Boys will perform a reimagined version of “Taga Tame ni” (For Whom), the iconic theme song from the 1979 anime series. The announcement, made on what would have been creator Shōtarō Ishinomori’s birthday, has ignited excitement among longtime fans and newcomers alike as one of Japan’s pioneering superhero teams prepares to take “another step forward” into the modern era.
A Legacy Six Decades in the Making
When Cyborg 009 first debuted in Shonengahosha’s Weekly King magazine in July 1964, it revolutionized the landscape of Japanese manga and anime. Created by the visionary Shōtarō Ishinomori—who would later become known as the “King of Manga” for his prolific output—the series introduced audiences to Japan’s first team of superpowered heroes. The story’s premise was both timely and timeless: during the height of the Cold War, a shadowy organization called Black Ghost kidnaps nine individuals from around the world and forcibly transforms them into cyborg soldiers, intending to sell them as weapons to fuel eternal warfare. Instead, these nine cyborgs rebel against their creators and dedicate themselves to fighting for peace and justice.
The franchise’s influence cannot be overstated. Cyborg 009 predated many of the ensemble superhero teams that would become staples of anime and manga, establishing narrative conventions that would echo through countless works. Its multinational cast—featuring heroes from Japan, the United States, France, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, Africa, and Russia—was groundbreaking for its time, presenting a vision of global cooperation and diversity that resonated with audiences worldwide. The series would go on to span 27 volumes in its main run, with an additional five volumes completing the story posthumously in 2014, based on Ishinomori’s notes and concepts.
The Nemesis Announcement: What We Know
The teaser video released by Ishimori Production offers tantalizing glimpses of what fans can expect from Cyborg 009: Nemesis. While details about the plot, cast, and full production team remain under wraps, the brief footage showcases protagonist Joe Shimamura—Cyborg 009 himself—confronting an unseen threat. In a moment that will thrill longtime fans, Joe activates his signature “Acceleration Mode,” the superhuman ability that allows him to move at speeds exceeding Mach 5, making him one of the most formidable members of the cyborg team.
The choice to title this new adaptation “Nemesis” suggests a darker, more antagonistic focus than some previous iterations. While Ishimori Production has not revealed specific plot details, the name implies that the cyborgs will face a particularly formidable enemy—perhaps one that challenges them in unprecedented ways. This approach would align with the franchise’s history of exploring complex themes including the nature of humanity, the ethics of warfare, and the cost of technological advancement.
A Musical Bridge Between Past and Future
One of the most emotionally resonant aspects of the Cyborg 009: Nemesis announcement is the decision to feature Kyoko performing “Taga Tame ni.” This isn’t just any theme song—it’s a piece of anime history. Originally performed by Ken Narita and Koorogi ’73 for the 1979 television anime adaptation, the song’s lyrics were penned by Shōtarō Ishinomori himself, making it a deeply personal expression of the creator’s vision for his cyborg warriors.
The lyrics of “Taga Tame ni”—which translates to “For Whom”—capture the existential struggle at the heart of the Cyborg 009 narrative. These nine individuals, stripped of their humanity and transformed into living weapons against their will, must grapple with questions of identity, purpose, and sacrifice. For whom do they fight? What does it mean to be human when your body has been replaced by machinery? These philosophical questions have given the franchise depth that extends far beyond typical action-adventure fare.
Kyoko, the legendary rock vocalist from Barbee Boys—one of Japan’s most influential rock bands of the 1980s—brings both gravitas and contemporary energy to this classic song. In a statement about the project, Kyoko expressed her deep honor at being chosen to perform the theme, noting that Cyborg 009 has been familiar to her since childhood. Her involvement represents a passing of the torch, connecting the franchise’s storied past with its future while respecting both the original work and the world of the song itself.
The Franchise’s Rich Animation History
For those new to the franchise, Cyborg 009: Nemesis represents the latest chapter in a remarkably diverse animation legacy. The property has been adapted numerous times over the decades, each iteration reflecting the aesthetic and storytelling sensibilities of its era. The first animated adaptation arrived in 1966 with a theatrical film directed by Yugo Serikawa, followed by a sequel in 1967. These early films introduced audiences to the cyborgs’ visual designs and established the template for future adaptations.
The first television series premiered in 1968 on NET (now TV Asahi), running for 26 episodes in striking black and white. This series, also directed by Serikawa, adapted the early manga storylines and helped cement Cyborg 009 as a household name in Japan. A decade later, the 1979 series—the source of the theme song being revived for Nemesis—brought the franchise into the color television era with 50 episodes that expanded the cyborgs’ adventures and introduced new storylines.
The franchise continued to evolve with the times. In 2001, Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier offered a comprehensive retelling of the original manga for a new generation, running for 51 episodes and featuring updated animation techniques. More recently, the 2012 film 009 Re:Cyborg, directed by Kenji Kamiyama (known for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and produced by Production I.G, reimagined the cyborgs in stunning 3D CGI for a contemporary audience. This was followed by the 2016 Cyborg 009: Call of Justice trilogy, which continued exploring the team’s struggles in the modern world.
Ishinomori’s Enduring Impact
Understanding Cyborg 009: Nemesis requires appreciating the monumental legacy of its creator. Shōtarō Ishinomori, who passed away in January 1998 at age 60, holds the Guinness World Record for most published manga pages by a single author—over 128,000 pages across more than 770 titles. His influence extends far beyond Cyborg 009, encompassing the entire tokusatsu (special effects) genre that has become synonymous with Japanese pop culture.
Ishinomori created or contributed to some of Japan’s most iconic franchises, including Kamen Rider, Super Sentai (which was adapted as Power Rangers in the West), and Kikaider. His work established narrative and visual conventions that continue to define Japanese superhero media. As a protégé of the legendary Osamu Tezuka—creator of Astro Boy and often called the “God of Manga”—Ishinomori carried forward a tradition of socially conscious storytelling that used science fiction and action as vehicles for exploring deeper human concerns.
The fact that Ishimori Production, the company founded by the creator in 1967 to manage his literary estate, is directly producing Cyborg 009: Nemesis suggests a commitment to honoring Ishinomori’s original vision while adapting it for contemporary audiences. The announcement’s timing—on Ishinomori’s birthday—further emphasizes this dedication to preserving and extending his creative legacy.
What Nemesis Could Mean for Modern Audiences
While specific plot details remain scarce, the announcement of Cyborg 009: Nemesis arrives at a fascinating cultural moment. The themes that made the original manga compelling in 1964—questions about the militarization of technology, the ethics of human enhancement, the tension between individual identity and collective purpose—have only grown more relevant in our current era of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and global conflict.
The cyborg concept itself, once purely science fiction, now intersects with real-world developments in prosthetics, neural interfaces, and human augmentation. The Black Ghost organization’s goal of perpetuating endless warfare for profit resonates uncomfortably with contemporary concerns about the military-industrial complex and privatized conflict. The multinational composition of the cyborg team offers a hopeful counter-narrative of international cooperation in an increasingly polarized world.
For longtime fans, Nemesis represents an opportunity to revisit beloved characters and see how they’ve been reimagined for a new era. For newcomers, it offers an entry point into one of anime’s most historically significant franchises—a series that helped define what anime could be and influenced generations of creators. The decision to stream the series rather than pursue traditional broadcast or theatrical distribution also reflects changing consumption patterns and could help the franchise reach a global audience more effectively than ever before.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we await more details about Cyborg 009: Nemesis—including information about the director, animation studio, voice cast, and specific release date—the announcement itself serves as a reminder of anime’s remarkable ability to reinvent and preserve its history simultaneously. The choice to feature Kyoko’s rendition of “Taga Tame ni” exemplifies this balance, honoring the 1979 series while bringing fresh vocal interpretation and production values to a classic song.
The teaser’s promise that the cyborg soldiers will “take another step forward” after the franchise’s 60th anniversary year suggests that Nemesis won’t simply be a nostalgic retread but rather a genuine continuation of the story that respects what came before while charting new territory. Whether that means exploring uncharted storylines from Ishinomori’s notes, creating entirely new narratives, or offering a fresh perspective on classic arcs remains to be seen.
What’s certain is that Cyborg 009: Nemesis represents more than just another anime adaptation. It’s a testament to the enduring power of Shōtarō Ishinomori’s vision—a vision of heroes who fight not because they were born special, but because they chose to use their unwanted transformations for good. In an age where superhero media dominates global entertainment, it’s fitting that one of the genre’s pioneers is returning to remind audiences where many of these ideas began. For whom do the cyborgs fight? In 2026, we’ll discover the answer anew.