Hikuidori: Ushuu Boro Tobi-gumi Anime 2026 ? Release Date, Episode Guide, and Cast

The winter 2026 anime season has delivered a fiery masterpiece with the premiere of Hikuidori: Ushuu Boro Tobi-gumi (officially titled in English as Oedo Fire Slayer: The Legend of Phoenix). Based on the award-winning historical novel by Shogo Imamura, this series brings the high-stakes world of Edo-period firefighting to life with a blend of intense action and deep character drama.

Release Date and How to Watch

The Hikuidori: Ushuu Boro Tobi-gumi anime officially began airing on January 11, 2026. It occupies the prestigious "Agaru Anime" programming block across all JNN affiliates in Japan, including TBS and CBC.

• Simulcast Platform: Crunchyroll (North America, Europe, Oceania).
• Southeast Asia: Streaming on the Ani-One Asia YouTube channel (licensed by Medialink).
• Broadcast Time: Sundays at 23:00 JST.

Episode List and Schedule (Winter 2026)

As of late February 2026, the series is in full swing. Below is the episode schedule for the first half of the season:

1. Episode 1: "Sparks of Rebirth" (January 11)
2. Episode 2: "Rikishi in the Edge of the Ring" (January 18)
3. Episode 3: "Handsome Man Flies Through the Sky" (January 25)
4. Episode 4: "A Solitary Astronomer" (February 1)
5. Episode 5: "Like a Twinkling Star" (February 8)

The Story: The Legend of the Phoenix

Set in the late Edo period, the story follows Matsunaga Gengo, a legendary firefighter once feared and respected as the "Phoenix." After a tragic incident caused him to leave the profession, he is recruited by the Shinjo Domain to lead a ragtag, underfunded brigade known as the Boro Tobi-gumi (The Ragged Fire-Slayers).

Mocked by other elite brigades for their worn-out equipment and misfit members, the Boro Tobi-gumi must prove their worth by solving a series of mysterious suspicious fires known as Kitsunebi (Foxfire) that threaten to turn all of Edo to ash.

Main Voice Cast and Staff

The series features a powerhouse cast of voice actors and veteran production staff:

Cast

• Matsunaga Gengo: Yuichiro Umehara
• Torigoe Shinnosuke: Shuichiro Umeda
• Torajiro (Tora-san): Subaru Kimura
• Hikoya: Nobunaga Shimazaki
• Kaji Seijuro: Kensho Ono
• Oto Kankuro: Junichi Suwabe

Production Team

• Animation Studio: SynergySP (A Couple of Cuckoos).
• Head Director: Hajime Kamegaki (Naruto Shippuden).
• Director: Hiroshi Yasumi.
• Music: Yasuharu Takanashi (Naruto, Fairy Tail).
• Opening Theme: "Hamidashi Gomen" by Porno Graffitti.
• Ending Theme: "Kager?" by Yo Oizumi.

Manga and Source Material

If you can't wait for the next episode, the story is available in other formats:

• Novel: The original series by Shogo Imamura began in 2017 and is a bestseller in Japan.
• Manga: A manga adaptation illustrated by Shinobu Seguchi (author of Prisoner Riku) began serialization in Weekly Shonen Champion in April 2025.

Why It's Ranking as a Top Winter 2026 Anime

Oedo Fire Slayer stands out because it treats firefighting like a tactical battle. With the "wind-reading" strategies of Kaji Seijuro and the acrobatic heroics of Hikoya, the series offers a unique historical perspective that combines "Jidaigeki" (period drama) with modern shonen energy. Fans of Fire Force or Golden Kamuy will find the technical detail and historical grit particularly appealing.