The anime adaptation of Kusunoki no Bannin is officially scheduled for a 2026 theatrical release, as revealed on April 8, 2025, at 7 am JST through the production team’s post on X. The project brings Keigo Higashino’s acclaimed novel to animation for the first time, following over a million copies sold since its publication in 2020.
A-1 Pictures will animate the film under the direction of Tomohiko Ito, known for his work on Erased, Sword Art Online, and The Millionaire Detective – Balance: UNLIMITED. This collaboration hints at a production aiming for emotional weight and atmospheric depth, in line with the tone of Higashino’s novel.
The Visual Tease and Story’s Symbolism
The official announcement also revealed a key visual: a lone camphorwood tree on a pale off-white background. This imagery is no coincidence. The tree plays a central symbolic role in the story, acting as both a physical and emotional anchor for the protagonist.
The minimalistic design echoes the introspective nature of the narrative. Readers of the original book will recognize the visual as a subtle nod to the novel’s quieter themes of remorse, responsibility, and redemption.
What the Plot Covers
↟⍋↟ ──────────
映画『#クスノキの番人』
2026年劇場公開決定
─────────── ↟⍋↟累計発行部数100万部突破の人気作#東野圭吾 原作作品を
初のアニメーション映画化！#伊藤智彦 監督とA-1 Picturesが
卓越した映像美で物語を描きます。公開までお楽しみに 𓂃𓂂 pic.twitter.com/NcNLiA4uig
— 映画『クスノキの番人』公式 (@movie_kusunoki) April 7, 2025
Kusunoki no Bannin follows Reito Naoi, a man whose life falls apart after being unfairly dismissed from his job. In a fit of anger, he commits a crime that leads to his arrest. After a failed appeal to the investigator and court proceedings underway, a lawyer offers him a bizarre way out: become the guardian of a sacred camphorwood tree.
Reito accepts, and what follows is a quiet transformation as he lives near the Tsugiko Shrine. Here, he begins encountering people from all walks of life—pilgrims, skeptics, and fellow seekers of peace. Each interaction nudges him toward introspection, change, and reconciliation with the path his life has taken.
Though calm on the surface, the narrative steadily examines guilt, forgiveness, and the slow reshaping of one’s identity in the aftermath of crisis. The shift from urban chaos to shrine solitude sets a reflective tone, with Higashino’s signature storytelling underpinning each moment.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Debut
No exact release date has been provided beyond the 2026 window. However, further updates are expected throughout 2025 as production progresses. With A-1 Pictures’ track record of visual precision and Ito’s reputation for emotionally charged direction, expectations are already building around the film’s ability to capture the novel’s gravity.
For now, all signs point to a restrained but powerful adaptation of one of Higashino’s most contemplative works. Fans of literary anime cinema should keep an eye on this project as more information becomes available.
