The upcoming anime adaptation of Tatsurō Suga’s “Catch Me at the Ballpark!” (ボールパークでつかまえて！, Bōrupāku de Tsukamaete!) manga has announced two new additions to its voice cast: Jun Fukuyama and Daiki Yamashita. This heartwarming comedy, set in a professional baseball stadium, is scheduled to premiere on April 1, 2025, on TV Tokyo and affiliated channels, with Crunchyroll streaming the series as it airs.
New Cast Members Announced
The official X/Twitter account for the “Catch Me at the Ballpark!” anime revealed the new cast members on Thursday, March 20, 2025:
- Jun Fukuyama will voice Ken Nokogirimiya, a member of the Motorsuns baseball team. Fukuyama is well-known for his roles in anime such as “Code Geass” (Lelouch Lamperouge) and “Assassination Classroom” (Koro-sensei).
- Daiki Yamashita will play Wataru Ichinomiya, another Motorsuns player who is sensitive about his weak batting skills. Yamashita is best known for voicing Izuku Midoriya in “My Hero Academia” and Sakamichi Onoda in “Yowamushi Pedal”.
These additions promise to bring even more depth and humor to the series, enhancing the already vibrant cast of characters. Both characters are members of the Motorsuns.
Premier Date and Streaming Information
“Catch Me at the Ballpark!” is set to premiere on April 1, 2025, at 24:00 (effectively April 2 at midnight JST), which translates to April 1 at 11:00 a.m. EDT.
The anime will be broadcast on:
- TV Tokyo and five affiliated channels
- AT-X
- BS NTV
Streaming services in Japan:
- ABEMA
- Lemino
- Anime Times
Crunchyroll will stream the anime internationally as it airs in Japan, making it accessible to a global audience.
Plot Overview
“Catch Me at the Ballpark!” revolves around Murata, an office worker who finds solace in attending baseball games after work. He becomes a regular customer of Ruriko, a beer vendor who resembles a gyaru (a Japanese fashion subculture characterized by tanned skin and brightly colored hair and clothing).
- Ruriko, despite her gyaru appearance, is actually innocent and kind-hearted.
- The story follows the interactions between Murata and Ruriko, along with the various people who work at and frequent the baseball stadium.
The anime’s official website describes the story as: “Am I your type, Onii-san~?”. One day at a baseball stadium, a gyaru selling beer approaches!? But she’s actually a super innocent and kind-hearted girl…♡. The setting is a pro-league baseball stadium! Many people gather there every day to work and laugh together, and human drama is born there — it’s almost like a town! So, why not become a “resident” of that town?! A romantic-comedy full of laughs and tears, dedicated to all those involved in professional baseball!”
The series is a heartwarming baseball love comedy, dedicated to everyone involved in professional baseball, and is filled with smiles and tears!
Key Staff and Production
The anime is being produced by EMT Squared, a studio known for series such as “Fluffy Paradise”. The key staff members include:
- Director: Junichi Kitamura (“Fluffy Paradise”)
- Series Composition: Shigeru Murakoshi (“I Parry Everything”)
- Character Designs: Fumio Iida
- Music: MONACA (“Shangri-La Frontier”)
Additional Cast Members
Besides Jun Fukuyama and Daiki Yamashita, the previously announced cast includes:
- Fairouz Ai as Ruriko
- Satoshi Inomata as Murata
- Ikumi Hasegawa as Aona
- Satoshi Tanaka as Omatsu
- Yōji Ueda as Nakaizumi
- Ayumi Mano as Natsuno
- Momoko Seto as Kokoro
- Jin Urayama as Ryuichi Igarashi
- Chiharu Sawashiro as Takimoto
- Hiroki Tōchi as Kojiro
- Rika Tachibana as Yuki Takino
- Kentarō Tone as Dennis
- Kō Bonkobara as Brian
- Mayu Sagara as Sara
- Kazuhiro Nakaya as Mitsui
- Wakana Kuramochi as Kisa
- Kiyono Yasuno as Nagisa
- Atsuki Nakamura as Hotaru
- Maaya Uchida as Kohinata
- Chiaki Kobayashi as Shishio
Music
The opening theme song, titled “Hurray!!”, is performed by the Japanese pop group GENIC.
Manga Details
The original manga by Tatsurō Suga began serialization in Kodansha’s Morning magazine in September 2020. As of March 16, 2025, sixteen compiled book volumes have been released. The manga is ongoing, with new chapters continuing to be published.
Expert Analysis
Tatsurō Suga’s “Catch Me at the Ballpark!” is a slice-of-life sports series that blends romance and comedy within the setting of a professional baseball stadium. Junichi Kitamura, with his experience directing “Fluffy Paradise,” is well-suited to capture the series’ heartwarming and comedic elements. Shigeru Murakoshi’s series composition promises a cohesive and engaging narrative. The casting of Fairouz Ai and Satoshi Inomata as the main leads, Ruriko and Murata, respectively, has already generated excitement among fans.
Expert Opinion: Given Daiki Yamashita’s history in voice acting, most notably as Izuku Midoriya in “My Hero Academia,” his capacity to express vulnerability and determination will allow him to provide depth to Wataru Ichinomiya. Meanwhile, Jun Fukuyama’s versatility lends itself to the eccentric Ken Nokogirimiya, adding another interesting layer to the cast.
Why This Anime Could Be a Hit
“Catch Me at the Ballpark!” has several elements that suggest it could become a popular anime series:
- Unique Setting: The professional baseball stadium provides a vibrant backdrop for the story, offering a fresh perspective on slice-of-life anime.
- Relatable Characters: The characters, from the hardworking Murata to the kind-hearted Ruriko, are relatable and endearing.
- Heartwarming Story: The blend of romance, comedy, and human drama promises to create a heartwarming and engaging viewing experience.
- Strong Production Team: With EMT Squared at the helm and a talented team of directors, writers, and composers, the anime is in good hands.
- Popular Voice Cast: The addition of Jun Fukuyama and Daiki Yamashita to the already stellar cast further increases the anime’s appeal.
With its premiere just around the corner, “Catch Me at the Ballpark!” is poised to be one of the standout anime of the Spring 2025 season.
