By Kadokawa revealed two more cast members on Thursday for the television anime of Rinne Ishida and Izumi’s Matsurika Kanriden (The Tale of the Scholar-Official Matsurika) light novel series. Takuya Satō will voice Akatsuki, the emperor of the country of Sekisō, while Hiyori Kōno plays his empress, Lian Lo.
Akatsuki and Lian Lo (Credits: Kadokawa)
The Chinese-inspired fantasy romance centers on the titular Matsurika, a court lady serving at the emperor’s inner palace who is renowned for her extraordinary memory.
A Marriage Meeting That Wasn’t What It Seemed
The story begins when Matsurika is asked to serve as a practice partner for a marriage meeting for the son of a certain noble house. But when she arrives to meet this noble scion, it turns out to be none other than Emperor Hakuyō himself. The emperor falls in love with her at first sight — but tells her to come to him only once she passes the state’s scholar-official civil service exam.
Takeshi Mori (Vandread, Gunsmith Cats) is the supervising director, with Yūichi Nakazawa directing at Maho Film. Tōko Machida (Lucky Star, The IDOLM@STER) handles series composition, Manami Inose (Blue Miburo) designs the characters, and Takurō Iga composes the music. KANA-BOON performs the opening theme “Hana Hanashi” (Flower Talk).
A Hit Franchise With 2.68 Million Copies in Circulation
Ishida published the first light novel in July 2017, and the 19th volume shipped on October 15 — the same day as the cast announcement. The manga adaptation by Takase, which launched in Akita Shoten’s Monthly Princess magazine in August 2018, published its 12th volume in October 2025; its first part ended that month and the second part began in May.
The franchise has over 2.68 million copies in circulation, including digital editions.
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Source: Anime News Network — read the full story there.
