A new Shin Kochikame anime and video game are slated for release in 2027, marking the manga's 50th anniversary.
The new Shin Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo anime, based on Osamu Akimoto’s Kochikame manga, is scheduled for a 2027 release. This announcement was made during a livestream event, which also revealed the main cast, staff, a promotional video, and a visual. The series will air on Fuji TV and be available on various streaming platforms.
Akitarō Daichi, known for Fruits Basket (2001) and Me & Roboco, is directing the new series at Gallop. Script duties are handled by Shuichi Kamiyama and Yoshifumi Fukushima. Kenichi Hara and Gil-Bo Noh serve as character designers and chief animation directors, while Toshihiko Sahashi composes the music. Kazuya Tanaka is the sound director, Masato Yokoi the color designer, Ayumi Saitō the director of photography, and Yuka Hirama the art director.
This new anime production coincides with the 50th anniversary of Akimoto’s Kochikame manga, a significant institution in Japanese comics. The original manga began its run in 1976 and concluded its regular serialization in September 2016 after 40 years. Akimoto has since released occasional extra chapters, maintaining the series' presence.
Beyond the anime, a new Kochikame video game is also in development. Titled Kochikame: Ryo-san’s Billion-yen Beat, it is a collaboration between Shueisha Games and Kairosoft. The simulation game will launch on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, Android, and PC via Steam. Players will guide Ryo-san in revitalizing a struggling shopping district.
The Kochikame franchise boasts a long and varied history, including previous television anime, films, specials, live-action adaptations, and stage productions. The first television anime premiered in 1996 and ran for over 300 episodes until 2004. The manga itself had approximately 150 million copies in print by June 2016, with its 201st volume released in October 2021.
Half a century after its inception, Kochikame continues to demonstrate its enduring appeal. With a new anime, a new game, and a golden anniversary celebration, the famously unruly policeman, Ryo-san, is poised to create more trouble, suggesting that audiences are far from ready to see him retire.
