The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Shinsuke Kondō’s Ninja vs. Gokudo officially premiered on October 7, 2025, with Amazon’s Prime Video offering a simultaneous English-dubbed version for its global audience. This allows fans worldwide to experience the clash between ninjas and yakuza immediately upon its Japanese broadcast.
Global Premiere Details and Streaming Platform
The Ninja vs. Gokudo anime made its debut in Japan on Nihon TV (NTV) on October 7, 2025, with subsequent episodes airing weekly. For international viewers, Prime Video is the exclusive streaming platform, making the series accessible worldwide. This global release strategy, including the same-day English dub, underscores a growing trend in anime distribution to cater to a broader, immediate audience.
The first episode, titled “SHINOHA VS KIWAMI,” became available on Prime Video shortly after its Japanese premiere.
English Dub Cast and Production Team
Amazon Prime Video confirmed the release of a same-day English dub for the series. The English voice cast features:
- Conradie van Heerden as Shinoha
- Nate Prentice as Kiwami
- Gordon van der Spuy as Kaiza
- Rob Coutts as Yuzawa
- Gavin Gomes as Zanzo
- Daniel Levi as Nagashima and Ichimaru
- Chris Van Rensburg as the Male Narrator
Chris Van Rensburg is also directing the English dub at Transperfect Media, with Azelle le Roux adapting the script.
Japanese Voice Cast and Key Staff
The Japanese cast includes Chiaki Kobayashi as Shinoha Tanaka, Katsuyuki Konishi as Kiwami Kimura, and Sumire Uesaka as Gamute. Additional Japanese voice actors have also been announced for various roles.
The anime is directed by Toshinori Watabe, known for his work on Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest and Tokyo Ghoul:re, at Studio DEEN. Keiichirō Ōchi (The Quintessential Quintuplets, Go, Go, Loser Ranger!) is overseeing the series scripts, and Tokuyuki Matsutake (Dimension W) is responsible for character designs.
Synopsis: A Battle Forged in Blood
Based on Shinsuke Kondō’s action manga, Ninja vs. Gokudo delves into an age-old conflict between two opposing forces: the shadowy ninjas and the crime-syndicate yakuza (gokudo). Kodansha USA, the official English publisher of the manga, describes the story as a “coarse and manly manga” where two members from these warring tribes meet in modern Tokyo.
The narrative centers on Shinoha, a ninja who has lost the ability to laugh, and Kiwami, a gokudo with a business-like demeanor. Unaware of each other’s true identities, they initially bond over shared interests, particularly anime. However, their destined encounter reignites the centuries-old feud, leading to intense action and drama. The series promises a brutal struggle to determine which “elemental force will reign supreme.”
Musical Contributions
The anime features “Sweet Disaster” by Japanese guitarist MIYAVI as its opening theme song. The ending theme song, “Until You Die Out,” is performed by Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas.
The Manga’s Journey
Shinsuke Kondō launched the Ninja vs. Gokudo manga on Kodansha’s Comic Days website in January 2020. The manga’s 16th compiled book volume was published in Japan on the same day the anime premiered, October 7. Kodansha USA Publishing has been releasing the manga digitally in English, with the ninth volume released on September 16. Additionally, a smartphone game based on the manga, titled Ninja to Gokudō Bukkoro Festa (Ninja vs. Gokudo Battle Festival), is slated for release this fall.
