Hikui Tori: Ushūboro Tobigumi Anime (2026) – Edo-Era Firefighters Ignite a New Winter Anime Hit

The Winter 2026 anime season is heating up fast, and one of its most intriguing newcomers is Hikui Tori: Ushūboro Tobigumi — also known internationally as Oedo Fire Slayer: The Legend of Phoenix. Based on the bestselling historical novel series by Shogo Imamura, this anime blends samurai-era grit, brotherhood, fire, and honor into a powerful period action drama.

If you’re craving something different from the usual fantasy or isekai wave, Hikui Tori might be your next obsession.

What Is Hikui Tori: Ushūboro Tobigumi?

Originally published in 2017, Ushūboro Tobigumi is a Japanese historical novel series set in Edo-period Japan, focusing on elite fire brigades known as tobigumi. These men didn’t just fight flames — they battled corruption, social injustice, and deadly conspiracies in a city built of wood and secrets.

The story has already proven its staying power:

• 12 novel volumes + short story collection

• Manga adaptation launched in 2025

• Anime adaptation officially confirmed for January 2026

This isn’t nostalgia bait — it’s prestige historical storytelling.

Anime Release Details (Confirmed)

• Anime Title: Oedo Fire Slayer: The Legend of Phoenix

• Japanese Title: 火喰鳥 羽州ぼろ鳶組

• Studio: SynergySP

• Director: Hiroshi Yasumi

• Head Director: Hajime Kamegaki

• Series Composition: Ryūsuke Mori

• Music: Yasuharu Takanashi

• Premiere Date: January 11, 2026

• Broadcast Block: Agaru Anime (JNN / TBS network)

With SynergySP at the helm and a seasoned creative team behind it, expectations are quietly high.

Story Overview: Fire, Loyalty, and Survival in Edo

Set in a volatile Edo-era city constantly threatened by infernos, the anime follows a rough-edged group of firefighters who risk their lives charging toward flames while everyone else runs away.

At the center is Gengo Matsunaga, a fearless and stubborn fire slayer whose crew — the Ushūboro Tobigumi — becomes entangled in political power struggles, class warfare, and secrets buried beneath the ashes of burned districts.

This isn’t a heroic fairy tale.

It’s mud, smoke, blood, and brotherhood.

Main Characters & Voice Cast Highlights

The series boasts a stacked voice cast, adding weight and gravitas to its historical tone:

• Gengo Matsunaga – voiced by Yūichirō Umehara

• Shinnosuke Torigoe – voiced by Shūichirō Umeda

• Torajiro – voiced by Subaru Kimura

• Hikoya – voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki

• Seijuro Kaji – voiced by Kensho Ono

• Rokuemon Hōjō – voiced by Naoya Uchida

• Samon Orishimo – voiced by Kōji Yusa

• Kankurō Ōto – voiced by Junichi Suwabe

This lineup alone signals a serious, adult-leaning anime, not a throwaway seasonal title.

Why Hikui Tori Could Be a Sleeper Hit

Here’s why anime fans should keep this on their radar:

• 🔥 Rare Edo-period focus instead of fantasy kingdoms

• 🔥 Firefighters as warriors — visually intense and symbolic

• 🔥 Themes of duty, class divide, and sacrifice

• 🔥 Grounded action with emotional weight

• 🔥 Perfect for fans of historical anime like Golden Kamuy

It’s gritty, human, and unapologetically old-school.

From Novel to Manga to Anime: A Natural Evolution

The franchise’s steady rise — novel ➝ manga ➝ anime — suggests long-term confidence in the story. With the manga currently running in Weekly Shōnen Champion, new audiences are discovering the world just in time for the anime premiere.

If Season 1 performs well, this could easily grow into multiple cours or sequels, adapting later novel arcs.

Final Verdict: A Must-Watch for Historical Anime Fans

Hikui Tori: Ushūboro Tobigumi isn’t chasing trends — it’s carving its own path with smoke-stained hands and burning resolve. For viewers tired of recycled tropes, this anime promises authentic atmosphere, sharp writing, and real stakes.

Come January 2026, don’t be surprised if this becomes one of the most talked-about sleeper anime of the season.