Kitaro Special Airs on TV July 12

“GeGeGe no Kitaro” will be broadcast on terrestrial TV for the first time! (C) Mizuki Pro, Toei Animation

The animated film “Kitaro Birth: The GeGeGe Mystery” will be broadcast on terrestrial TV for the first time on July 12th at 9:30pm on Fuji TV’s “Saturday Premium”. The full film will be aired uncut. In addition, the episodes to be broadcast in July of the “GeGeGe no Kitaro” TV series selection broadcast “My Beloved GeGeGe” have also been announced.

“Kitaro Birth: The Mystery of Gegege” is a completely new work produced in 2023 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Shigeru Mizuki, the original author of “Gegege no Kitaro”. The story uncovers the secret of the birth of the main character, Kitaro, and depicts Kitaro’s father (formerly known as Medama Oyaji) visiting the village of Nakukura in search of his missing wife, where he meets Mizuki, a salaryman working at a blood bank, and together they approach the dark side of the village. The film has received high praise both at home and abroad, winning the Outstanding Animation Award at the 47th Japan Academy Awards and being nominated for the Contrechamp category at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, and in 2024, a “real version” was released, which was polished up by retaking 327 cuts.

“My Favorite GeGeGe Series,” which began in April, features celebrities with a close connection to the series choosing their favorite episodes from the TV series, which aired for a total of six seasons from 1968 to 2020, and broadcasting one episode every week.

Episode 14 of the 6th season, “The Pillow Turning and the Phantom Dream”

In the 14th episode, which aired on July 6th, Toshihiko Seki, who played Kitaro’s father in “The Mystery of Gegege,” and Hidenobu Kiuchi, who played Mizuki, chose the 14th episode from the 6th season, “The Pillow Turning and the Phantom Dream.” In the story, Medama Oyaji (Kitaro’s father) appears in his younger days, played by Masako Nozawa.

Episode 32 of Season 3 “Kitaro in Danger! The Great Yokai Trial”

The 15th episode on July 13th was the episode 32 of Season 3 “Kitaro in Danger! The Great Yokai Trial”, chosen by Wentz Eiji, who starred in the live-action film. Wentz explained the reason for his choice, saying, “There aren’t many battle scenes, but you can see a lot of different characters, and their personalities and characteristics are scattered throughout, so it’s my favorite episode.” He also said, “The trial scene was also used in the film, and the scene where the yokai friends that we’ve helped up until now turn against us makes you understand their feelings and makes you feel sad at the same time.”

Episode 34 of season 4 “Wandering! The Monster Azukitogi”

The 16th episode on July 20th will feature episode 34 of season 4 “Wandering! The Monster Azukitogi”, chosen by Yoko Matsuoka, who voiced Kitaro in season 4, and the 17th episode on July 27th will feature episode 54 of season 6 “Dorotabo, Life and the Earth”, chosen by Miyuki Sawashiro, who voiced Kitaro in season 6 and “GeGeGe no Nazo”.

Episode 54 of Season 6 “Dorotabo, Life and the Earth”

In addition, a new video was released using the new theme song “Yami ni Goyoujin” by Yamauchi Keisuke (vocals) and Shiina Ringo (lyrics, composition, arrangement), which will be the ending theme from the 14th episode. The content incorporates the characteristics of each season, such as the mood reminiscent of Kitaro from Season 1 and the appearance of “Yokai Yokocho” from Season 5. Yamauchi also mentioned the unreleased music video, saying, “It’s dramatic and I valued the spirit of acting. Shiina-san has come up with various ideas, and I think we will be able to show a side of Yamauchi Keisuke that is different from the image we have had up until now. I put a lot of effort into the music video, so I hope that both fans and those who are seeing it for the first time will be interested.” The song will be available for streaming from July 2nd.

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Yamauchi Keisuke “Beware of the Darkness” | Ending video for “GeGeGe no Kitaro: My Favorite GeGeGe”

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Terrestrial Premiere of “The Birth of Kitaro” and Special Episode Selections by Famous Voice Actors

The long-awaited terrestrial TV debut of The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe marks a significant moment for fans of the GeGeGe no Kitaro universe. Not only does it bring the darker and more emotional origin story of Kitaro to a broader audience, but it also reignites interest in the cultural legacy of yokai-themed storytelling in Japan. The special feature “All-time GeGeGe,” with episodes curated by renowned voice actors Toshihiko Seki and Hidenobu Kiuchi, adds a personal and nostalgic touch. This blend of new and classic content is a clever strategy to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers.