The World Is Dancing


The World is Dancing is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuto Mihara. It was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Morning from March 2021 to October 2022, with its chapters collected in six volumes.
Set during the Muromachi period, the story follows Zeami Motokiyo, a pivotal figure in the development of Noh drama. An anime television series adaptation produced by CygamesPictures is scheduled to premiere in Q3 2026.

Plot

The story follows Oniyasha during the 14th century. In an era defined by political instability and social upheaval, Oniyasha struggles to find his own voice within his father Kan'ami's performance troupe. Rather than just following tradition, Oniyasha seeks to capture the "rhythm of the world" through dance. The series explores his journey of artistic awakening, his relationship with the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and the philosophical evolution of Noh theater.

Characters

;Oniyasha / Zeami Motokiyo
;Kan'ami
;Ashikaga Yoshimitsu

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Kazuto Mihara, The World Is Dancing was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Morning from March 25, 2021, to October 27, 2022. It was collected in six tankōbon volumes released from August 23, 2021, to November 22, 2022. The manga is licensed for English-language release in North America by Kodansha USA, which published the series digitally from August 1, 2023, to August 27, 2024.

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on January 21, 2026. The series is produced by CygamesPictures and directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi, with Keigo Sasaki designing the characters and Satoshi Nemoto handling the calligraphy and title lettering. It is set to premiere in Q3 2026.