Putting this on your radar now so you're not the one playing catch-up in week three: Mao drops April 4, 2026. Sunrise handles the production, ongoing run, and the manga it adapts has a reputation worth taking seriously.
The premise
Nanoka passes through a portal into the Taisho era, where exorcist Mao reluctantly rescues her from the jaws of a grotesque yokai. When Nanoka gets back to the present, she discovers she has some new, incredible abilities. She returns to the past looking for answers, only to get caught up in Mao's investigation of a series of gruesome murders. As her questions about herself multiply, Nanoka learns that Mao is cursed by a cat demon named Byoki—and so is his sword. If anyone but Mao attempts to wield it, they are doomed. It's the kind of premise that sounds tidy in two sentences and gets weirder on screen — in a good way. Stick around past the cold open.
Studio side
Sunrise's on the line, with Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Rakuonsha, Shogakukan on the committee. Their recent ledger is the thing flagging this as more than spring filler — the storyboards on the opener show actual budget, not contractual minimum.
Broadcast
Saturdays at 23:45 (JST). Ongoing run, episode count TBC. Same-day simulcast windows are on the usual Western streamers — check your local Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, or Hulu listing for the timed slot.
Verdict
Sitting at 7.07 with 3,215 early scorers. The signal isn't peak hype — it's retention, which is the metric that actually matters when you're picking what survives your rotation. Worth the time. The season has louder names; this is the one you'll be quoting in August.