Pon no Michi Drops Mahjong-Themed 2nd Visual, Nashiko Shines in New Character PV 593x61
January 2024 sees the debut of the sports anime original first key visual focused more on the camaraderie of the group, the second key visual leans more into its mahjong theme. The tight-knit group of friends Nashiko, Pai, Izumi, Riche, and Chonbo all hold mahjong pieces indicating the first syllable of their names. See if you can tell who’s who: 44j3
A character trailer for the outgoing Nashiko also debuted:
As previously announced, the cast for the anime include:
Nashiko Jippensha: Kaori Maeda
Pai Kawahigashi: Iori Saeki
Izumi Tokutomi: Shion Wakayama
Riche Hayashi: Yui Kondou
Chonbo: Akio Otsuka
Haneru Emi: Hibiku Yamamura
The staff for the anime were also previously announced:
Original work: IIS-P
Original character draft: Negi Haruba
Direction/Screenplay: Tatsuma Minamikawa
Character design: Kenji Ota (Lance N’ Masques)
Color design: Emi Kadono (Eureka Seven Ao)
Art direction: Scott MacDonald (The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent 2)
Sound direction: Tsuyoshi Takahashi (The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent 2)
Sound production: Bit Groove Promotion (The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent 2)
Director of photography: Miyabi Amada (The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen)
Editing: Yoshiaki Kimura (Sabikui Bisco)
Music production: SUPA LOVE
Animation studio: OLM
The opening theme song “Pon ponopon” will be performed by Kana Nakada alongside the anime cast, known as the Pon no Michi All Stars.
The official website for the anime teases the anime as:
Set in the picturesque streets, historic shrines and temples, beautiful sea, and rich nature of Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, the characters’ slow but sparkling days begin.
Chike Nwaenie is a news writer, interviewer, and reviewer with bylines at CBR and Anime Corner. He covers anime, manga, webtoons, and other adjacent media. You can follow him on Twitter at @chike_writes for the latest info, memes, and general thoughts. Forever grateful to the world of fiction, he hopes his future novel is the first step in showing some gratitude. South London born and raised.