The upcoming music drama Scenes from Awajima has revealed a second character visual and confirmed the casting of Ai Kayano as Ryoko Ueda, a quiet classmate of Kinue Takehara who followed a very different path after junior high. The series is scheduled to air in April 2026 and continues building anticipation with each new reveal.

NEW VISUAL AND CHARACTER POST

The visual shows Ryoko and Kinue walking barefoot through a shaded path, water pooling around their feet as filtered light touches their uniforms. The moment, quiet and intimate, reflects the tone of the series and hints at unresolved emotions between former classmates.

MAIN CAST AND TEAM

Previously announced cast includes:

• Niina Nakabayashi as Wakana Tabata

• Yo Taichi as Kinue Takehara

• Ai Kayano as Ryoko Ueda

The anime is directed by Morio Asaka (Chihayafuru) at Studio MADHOUSE, with:

• Series Composition: Yasuhiro Nakanishi (My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999)

• Character Designs: Kunihiko Hamada (NANA)

• Music: Takahiro Obata (The Promised Neverland)

A STORY OF DREAMS, DISTANCE, AND RIVALRY

Adapted from the manga by Takako Shimura, the anime explores the lives of students at Awajima Opera School, a training ground for aspiring stars across Japan. Though the goal is to stand on the grand stage, each student’s path is shaped by fragile friendships, competition, and personal insecurities.

Yen Press, which recently licensed the manga, describes it as a story that captures the shifting dynamics of girls learning to shine while standing in each other’s shadows.

The series features a large ensemble cast and blends subtle emotional storytelling with dramatic tension, offering a grounded, character-first approach to the performing arts genre.