The world of anime continues to expand with exciting new announcements, and fans of supernatural historical fiction have a treat in store. According to Anime News Network, Hiroshi Shiibashi’s manga Iwamoto-senpai no Suisen (Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto) is receiving a television anime adaptation, bringing the acclaimed creator’s latest work to the small screen. This announcement, made by entertainment company Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures on Friday, January 16, 2026, marks a significant return to anime for the mangaka behind the beloved Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan series.
A New Chapter for Hiroshi Shiibashi
For fans familiar with Shiibashi’s work, this announcement represents an exciting opportunity to see his storytelling prowess brought to life once again through animation. The creator made his mark on the anime world with Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, which ran from 2008 to 2012 with 25 volumes and inspired two television anime seasons produced by Studio DEEN in 2010 and 2011. The series, which followed Rikuo Nura—a boy who is three-quarters human and one-quarter yokai—became a fan favorite for its blend of supernatural action, Japanese folklore, and compelling character dynamics.
After the conclusion of Nura, Shiibashi continued to explore different narrative territories. He launched Yui Kamio Lets Loose in 2019 before beginning serialization of Iwamoto-senpai no Suisen in Shueisha’s Ultra Jump magazine in February 2021. The manga was based on a well-received one-shot published on Shonen Jump+ in March 2020, demonstrating the story’s potential to captivate readers even before its full serialization began.
Setting and Story: A Journey Through 1910s Japan
What sets Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto apart is its unique historical setting and intriguing premise. The story takes place in the 1910s, a transformative period in Japanese history marked by rapid modernization and the tension between traditional beliefs and emerging scientific rationalism. This era provides a rich backdrop for exploring the intersection of the supernatural and the military-industrial complex.
The narrative centers on Kodō Iwamoto, a third-year student at Seihō Middle School, an institution directly controlled by the military. Unlike typical school settings in anime, Seihō is dedicated to the collection and research of supernatural phenomena with the explicit goal of harnessing that power for military use. Under orders from the military, Kodō travels throughout the country to investigate paranormal events and identify individuals with supernatural abilities who might be recruited for the school’s purposes.
This premise offers fascinating possibilities for storytelling, blending historical fiction with supernatural mystery while exploring themes of power, exploitation, and the nature of extraordinary abilities. The concept of a military institution seeking to weaponize the paranormal echoes real historical interests in psychic phenomena and occult research by various governments during the early 20th century, lending the story an air of speculative authenticity.
Voice Cast Brings Characters to Life
The anime adaptation has assembled an impressive voice cast to bring Shiibashi’s characters to life. Leading the ensemble is Taito Ban as Kodō Iwamoto. Ban has become one of the most recognizable voices in contemporary anime, having gained widespread acclaim for his role as Sung Jinwoo in Solo Leveling, one of 2024’s most successful anime adaptations. His other notable roles include Amane Fujimiya in The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten and Ferdinand von Aegir in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Ban’s ability to convey both vulnerability and determination makes him an excellent choice for the protagonist who must navigate the morally complex world of supernatural military research.
Joining Ban is Yuki Sakakihara as Kai Haramachi. Sakakihara has built a solid reputation in the industry with roles in series like Dead Mount Death Play, bringing versatility and emotional depth to his performances. Rounding out the main trio is Kent Itō as Sōichirō Amaha, a veteran voice actor whose extensive career includes work across numerous anime productions.
Studio DEEN Returns to Shiibashi’s Work
In a fitting reunion, Studio DEEN will handle animation production for Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto. The studio, founded in 1975, has a long and storied history in the anime industry, having contributed to over 500 anime projects across its five decades of operation. Studio DEEN was responsible for bringing Shiibashi’s Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan to life, making their involvement in this new project particularly meaningful for fans who appreciated their previous collaboration.
The studio has demonstrated remarkable versatility throughout its history, producing everything from romantic comedies like the original Fruits Basket (2001) to action-packed series like Fate/stay night and comedic gems like KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! Their experience with supernatural and historical settings makes them well-suited to capture the atmospheric blend of period detail and paranormal intrigue that defines Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto.
Creative Team Behind the Adaptation
The anime boasts a talented creative team assembled to translate Shiibashi’s manga to the screen. Toshifumi Kawase will serve as director, bringing his experience from series like Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii and Tenjho Tenge to the project. Kawase’s directorial style should complement the manga’s blend of action, mystery, and character development.
Series composition will be handled by Keiichirō Ōchi, known for his work on The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten and Mononogatari. Ōchi’s experience with character-driven narratives and complex emotional arcs will be valuable in adapting the manga’s intricate storytelling. Atsuko Nakajima takes on character design duties, bringing her considerable talents honed on series like Komi Can’t Communicate and the recent Ranma ½ remake.
The audio production will be guided by sound director Takuya Hiramitsu, while the musical score will be composed by Yoshiaki Dewa and Tōru Ishitsuka. This combination of experienced professionals suggests a production that will honor the source material while bringing fresh creative energy to the adaptation.
The Manga’s Journey to Anime
Since beginning serialization in Ultra Jump in 2021, Iwamoto-senpai no Suisen has steadily built a dedicated following. Shueisha published the manga’s 12th compiled volume in September 2025, with the 13th volume scheduled for release on January 19, 2026—just days after the anime announcement. This steady publication schedule demonstrates the manga’s sustained popularity and commercial viability, factors that undoubtedly contributed to the decision to greenlight an anime adaptation.
The manga represents something of a departure from Shiibashi’s previous work. While Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan focused on yokai folklore and clan politics with a contemporary setting, Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto delves into historical fiction with a darker, more mature tone befitting its seinen demographic. The shift from shonen to seinen allows Shiibashi to explore more complex themes and moral ambiguities, particularly regarding the exploitation of supernatural abilities by institutional power structures.
What This Means for Fans
For longtime fans of Shiibashi’s work, this anime adaptation represents a chance to see the creator’s evolution as a storyteller. The historical setting and military intrigue of Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto showcase a different side of his creative abilities compared to the yokai-focused action of Nura. The 1910s period setting also offers opportunities for rich visual design, from period-appropriate costumes and architecture to the aesthetic representation of supernatural phenomena through the lens of early 20th-century Japanese sensibilities.
The reunion with Studio DEEN adds another layer of anticipation. Fans who appreciated the studio’s handling of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan will be curious to see how they approach this different type of story. The studio’s experience with both action sequences and atmospheric storytelling should serve the material well, particularly in depicting the paranormal investigations that form the core of the narrative.
Looking Ahead
While no premiere date has been announced yet, the reveal of the main cast and creative team suggests that production is well underway. The timing of the announcement—coinciding with the release of the manga’s 13th volume—indicates a coordinated effort to build momentum for both the source material and its adaptation.
The anime industry has shown increasing interest in historical settings with supernatural elements in recent years, from the Taisho-era backdrop of Demon Slayer to various period-piece anime exploring Japanese history. Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto fits into this trend while offering its own unique perspective through the lens of military research into paranormal phenomena.
For those unfamiliar with Shiibashi’s work, this adaptation offers an excellent entry point to discover a creator known for crafting engaging supernatural narratives with strong character development. The historical setting and mystery elements may also appeal to viewers who enjoy series that blend different genres and time periods.
As we await further details about the premiere date and additional cast members, the announcement of Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto‘s anime adaptation stands as one of the most intriguing projects on the horizon. With a proven creator, experienced studio, and talented cast coming together, this series has the potential to become a standout entry in the supernatural historical anime genre.
