The upcoming TV anime adaptation of Tsuyoshi Takaki’s popular manga series Black Torch has announced that veteran voice actors Junichi Suwabe and Reina Ueda will be joining its cast. The announcement was made during the Jump Festa 2026 stage event for the series. The anime is slated to premiere in July 2026.
Esteemed Voice Actors Take on Key Roles
Junichi Suwabe will lend his voice to the character Ryosuke Shiba, while Reina Ueda will portray Hana Usami. Both characters are part of the Bureau of Espionage, a crucial organization in the Black Torch narrative dedicated to combating formidable spirits known as mononoke. Alongside the casting news, the event also provided a first look at the anime character designs for Shiba and Usami, and manga creator Tsuyoshi Takaki released a special illustration commemorating their inclusion.
Junichi Suwabe’s Extensive Career
Junichi Suwabe is a highly recognized Japanese voice actor with a prolific career spanning numerous popular anime and video game titles. Born on March 29, 1972, in Tokyo, he is affiliated with Haikyō. Some of his most iconic roles include Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez in Bleach, Keigo Atobe in The Prince of Tennis, Victor Nikiforov in Yuri!!! on ICE, Yami Sukehiro in Black Clover, Archer in Fate/stay night, and Ryomen Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen. His distinctive voice and versatile acting have earned him multiple accolades, including Best Supporting Actor awards at the Seiyu Awards.
Reina Ueda’s Versatile Performances
Reina Ueda, born on January 17, 1994, is a talented Japanese voice actress and singer from Toyama Prefecture, affiliated with 81 Produce. She gained early recognition for her main role as Naru Sekiya in the 2014 anime series Hanayamata and has since taken on a wide array of roles. Her notable performances include Mira Yurizaki in Dimension W, Hane Sakura in Bakuon!!, Mallow in Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Akane Shinjō in SSSS.Gridman, Kanao Tsuyuri in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and Reze in Chainsaw Man. Ueda was honored with the Best New Actress Award at the 9th Seiyu Awards in 2015.
The World of Black Torch
Black Torch is based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsuyoshi Takaki. It was originally serialized in Shueisha’s Jump Square from December 2016 to March 2018, before moving to the digital platform Shōnen Jump+ until July 2018, concluding with five tankōbon volumes. Viz Media has licensed the manga for English release in North America.
Plot Summary
The story centers on Jiro Azuma, a teenage ninja with the unique ability to communicate with animals. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a gravely injured cat named Rago, who reveals himself to be an immortal mononoke—a powerful evil spirit. After Jiro is mortally wounded while protecting Rago, the mononoke fuses with him, granting Jiro immense supernatural powers and a second chance at life. This fusion draws the attention of the Bureau of Espionage, an organization dedicated to fighting aggressive mononoke, which Jiro and Rago subsequently join. Together, they embark on a journey to stop other mononoke and protect humanity, igniting a new era of ninja battles against dark spirits.
Anime Production and Expectations
The anime adaptation is produced by 100studio and directed by Kei Umabiki. Gigaemon Ichikawa is responsible for the series composition and scripts, Gō Suzuki for character designs, and Yutaka Yamada is composing the music. Manga creator Tsuyoshi Takaki has expressed his excitement for the adaptation, stating his involvement in supervising the settings and storyboards to ensure the anime respects the original story while bringing a new dimension with voices, sounds, movement, and color. Fans are eagerly anticipating how the anime will expand upon the manga’s narrative, especially given that Takaki had outlined additional backstories and potential story arcs in the manga’s final volume. The anime’s release in July 2026 is expected to deliver a thrilling adaptation of the beloved action-fantasy series.
