Grand Premiere Held in Tokyo for the Finale of the Mononoke Trilogy: "Hebi-gami"
The cinematic journey of the cult anime series Mononoke is nearing its end. A special premiere event for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Hebi-gami (Snake God), the third and final installment of the planned film trilogy, was held on May 16, 2026, at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku in Tokyo. The event was attended by the famous actor Hiroshi Kamiya, who voices the series' mysterious protagonist, the Medicine Seller (Kusuriuri), voice actor Daisuke Hosomi, and general director Kenji Nakamura.
One of the most notable moments of the event was when the team appeared on stage in traditional Japanese clothing (Waso). Hiroshi Kamiya, who was met with intense interest from fans, responded to comments about how well the clothes suited him with a humorous remark, saying, "I think these clothes look good on me because I have sloped shoulders," which made the audience laugh. This intimate atmosphere was a celebration worthy of the finale of a series that has had a loyal fan base since 2007.
The Mononoke series actually began as a spin-off story born from the "Bakeneko" arc of the 2006 anthology Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales. The 12-episode television series, which aired in 2007, became a classic in the anime world with its unique visual style reminiscent of ukiyo-e art and its psychological depth, under the vision of Kenji Nakamura. This new film trilogy was brought to life as part of the series' 15th-anniversary celebrations. The first film of the trilogy, Karakasa, met audiences in July 2024, and the second film, Hinezumi, in March 2025.
The final film, Hebi-gami, takes the story into the depths of the Ooku, the women's quarters of Edo Castle.
