A new promotional video for the Kaguya-sama: Love is War -The Stairway to Adulthood-(JP: かぐや様は告らせたい 大人への階段) television special has been released, confirming its premiere on December 31. The video also unveiled the special’s opening theme song, “Abunai Kioku,” performed by Masayuki Suzuki featuring Aoi Koga.
The announcement comes with anticipation for fans of the romantic comedy series, which has garnered a significant following across its anime seasons and a previous theatrical film.
New Promotional Video Showcases “Abunai Kioku”
The recently dropped promotional video offers a glimpse into the upcoming TV special, featuring new footage and highlighting the energetic opening theme. Veteran Japanese singer Masayuki Suzuki returns to contribute to the Kaguya-sama franchise for the fifth consecutive time, this time in a duet with Aoi Koga, the voice actress for Kaguya Shinomiya herself. Suzuki expressed his excitement about his continued involvement, noting his upcoming 70th birthday and how the collaboration with Koga felt natural and perfectly captured the essence of the series.
December 31 Premiere Confirmed for “The Stairway to Adulthood”
The Kaguya-sama: Love is War -The Stairway to Adulthood- TV special is officially set to air on December 31 at 10 p.m. on TOKYO MX and other networks. This special follows the previously released Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -The First Kiss That Never Ends- film, which also received a subsequent four-episode TV broadcast.
Returning Staff and Cast for the Special
The production of the special sees the return of key staff members, including director Mamoru Hatakeyama and character designer Yuko Yahiro, with A-1 Pictures animating the production. The main cast members are also reprising their roles, with Aoi Koga as Kaguya Shinomiya and Makoto Furukawa as Miyuki Shirogane, alongside Konomi Kohara as Chika Fujiwara, Ryouta Suzuki as Yu Ishigami, Miyu Tomita as Miko Iino, Yumiri Hanamori as Ai Hayasaka, and Yutaka Aoyama as the narrator.
The Legacy of Kaguya-sama: Love is War
The Kaguya-sama: Love is War anime series began in 2019, with subsequent seasons airing in 2020 and 2022. The franchise is based on Aka Akasaka’s manga, which started serialization in 2015 and concluded in 2022 with 28 volumes. The manga has surpassed 22 million circulating copies worldwide. Viz Media licenses the manga in English, describing the plot as a romantic mind game between two highly prideful student council leaders, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, who are both desperately trying to get the other to confess their love first. The series has also inspired live-action film adaptations.
