We have some exciting news for fans of Keigo Higashino! His novel Kusunoki no Bannin (The Camphorwood Custodian) is getting an anime film adaptation. Wondering when you can expect it? It's set to premiere in 2026. Here's what we know about it so far.
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Kusunoki no Bannin Anime
We don't know much about the upcoming Kusunoki no Bannin anime, but it has been announced that the film will be directed by Tomohiko Ito. The Japanese director is known for his work on Sword Art Online and ERASED, and produced by A-1 Pictures. Aniplex will handle the distribution of the Kusunoki no Bannin movie.
No official date has been announced, but we know the premiere will be in 2026. A teaser visual for the upcoming film has also been revealed, and it looks promising. Check it out above!
Kusunoki no Bannin Story Overview
The main character is Reito, a young man who is unfairly fired from his job. He decides to get revenge and ends up getting arrested. While waiting for his indictment, a lawyer appears and offers him a chance to be released if he follows a specific task. Of course, Reito is ready to do everything to avoid jail time.
He accepts and discovers that the order comes from his late mother's half-sister, Senshu Yanagisawa. She asks him to become the custodian of the camphorwood tree at Tsukigō shrine.
As Reito takes on this role, he meets various people who visit the shrine for different reasons. It's an exciting and deep story that will take you on a journey.
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Publication History
Kusunoki no Bannin was first published by Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha in 2020 in hardcover and released in paperback in 2023. The novel is quite popular worldwide, selling over 1 million copies.
Other Works by Keigo Higashino
Higashino's hit The Miracles of the Namiya General Store was serialized in Kadokawa's Shosetsu Yasei Jidai magazine in 2011 and published in one volume in 2012. Yen Press released the English version 8 years later, in 2019. The novel was so popular that it even inspired stage plays in 2013 and 2016, musical adaptations in 2017 and 2023, and a live-action film in 2017.
His 1998 novel Himitsu (Secret) was turned into a live-action film in 1999 and a drama series in 2010. Vertical published the English version titled Naoko: A Novel in 2004.
Conclusion
Fans of Keigo Higashino's work will be looking forward to the anime film adaptation of Kusunoki no Bannin in 2026. The project sounds very promising, especially keeping in mind that Tomohiko Ito is directing and A-1 Pictures is producing.
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