Aoashi Season 2 Begins in October: New Visual, Theme Songs, and Anime Expo Panel Announced
The long-awaited news for football enthusiasts regarding Aoashi has finally arrived! The second season of the series will premiere on the NHK E TV channel on October 4, 2026. With the official announcement, an exciting main visual for the first part (cour) of the new season and the theme songs that will complement the series' atmosphere have been unveiled to fans.
The new season features some highly ambitious names in music. The opening theme will be performed by the famous rock band 10-FEET, who left a lasting impression with their performance in the The First Slam Dunk film. The ending theme is entrusted to Ai Higuchi, known for her emotional contributions to Attack on Titan. The second season, which will consist of a total of 24 episodes, will be broadcast in two parts of 12 episodes each. In the shared main visual, alongside Ashito Aoi, key players from the Tokyo City Esperion A-Team, such as Nagisa Akutsu and Haruhisa Kuribayashi, stand out.
One of the biggest surprises this season is the change in the production studio. Production I.G, which produced the first season, has handed over the reins to TMS Entertainment (Sakamoto Days, Dr. Stone). Kazuki Yokoyama will sit in the director's chair. However, fans can rest easy; key figures such as series screenwriter Masahiro Yokotani and music composer Masaru Yokoyama are continuing their roles. This change in staff is seen as a search for a fresh breath in the visual language of the series.
Another significant development for international fans is the Anime Expo 2026 panel taking place in Los Angeles on July 3rd. At this event titled "AOASHI Panel: Changing the Game of Sports Anime!", producer Junichi Katsutani will take the stage, and exclusive scenes from the new season will be shown for the first time in the world. Information also suggests that a "special announcement" awaits fans at the panel. This is the clearest indicator of the massive global anticipation the series has generated.
The manga, written by Yugo Kobayashi and concluded in 2025 with its 40th volume, has become a phenomenon among modern sports series, exceeding 25 million copies sold worldwide. Aoashi is not just a football story; it is known for its tactical depth, the struggles of young talents transitioning into the professional world, and its realistic portrayal of Ashito's evolution as a 'Playmaker'. With Ashito's promotion to the A-Team in the new season, we expect the intensity of the competition to reach a professional level and to see much tougher matches.
