The highly anticipated final arc of the Golden Kamuy anime is officially set to premiere in January 2026, promising a climactic conclusion to the beloved series. Ahead of the television broadcast, fans will be treated to two prologue anime films in October 2025, which will feature the theme song “Kogane no Kanata” performed by Awich × ALI.
The announcement brings the long-running saga of Saichi Sugimoto and Asirpa closer to its animated finale, following the successful run of its previous seasons and a burgeoning live-action universe.
The Grand Finale Approaches: January 2026 Debut
The television anime adaptation of Satoru Noda’s historical adventure manga, Golden Kamuy, will launch its ultimate storyline in January 2026. This final arc will air on Tokyo MX and other channels, bringing to a close the intense hunt for Ainu gold across Hokkaido. The production will see the return of key staff members who have guided the series through its thrilling journey. Shizutaka Sugahara will continue as chief director, with Noboru Takagi overseeing the scripts and Takumi Yamakawa handling character designs. Brain’s Base remains the animation studio responsible for bringing the concluding chapters to life.
The anime’s fourth season initially premiered in October 2022 and concluded in June 2023, experiencing a temporary delay due to the passing of a main staff member. The upcoming final arc is expected to deliver on the series’ reputation for combining historical drama, intense action, and unique humor.
Prologue Films Set the Stage with “Kogane no Kanata”
Before the final television arc commences, two cinematic prologue films titled Golden Kamuy: Sapporo Beer Kōjō-hen (Golden Kamuy: Sapporo Beer Factory Arc) will be released. These films are scheduled to hit Japanese theaters on October 10 and October 31, 2025. These films will adapt the penultimate arc of the manga, leading directly into the television finale.
The theme song for these prologue films, “Kogane no Kanata” (Beyond the Gold), will be performed by the collaborative talents of Awich and ALI. This musical contribution is set to enhance the atmosphere of the films, which will see protagonists Sugimoto, Asirpa, and Shiraishi venture into Sapporo to continue their perilous quest for the hidden gold, intertwining with the pursuits of other factions.
A Rich History: The Golden Kamuy Legacy
Golden Kamuy is based on the highly acclaimed manga series written and illustrated by Satoru Noda. The manga was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump from August 2014 to April 2022, culminating in 31 tankōbon volumes. By July 2024, the series boasted over 29 million copies in circulation, a testament to its widespread popularity.
The story is set in the turbulent late Meiji Era in Hokkaido, Japan, and follows Saichi “Immortal” Sugimoto, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese War, as he seeks a vast fortune of gold belonging to the indigenous Ainu people. His journey is inextricably linked with that of Asirpa, a young Ainu girl, who seeks revenge for her father’s murder and holds a key to deciphering the tattooed map to the treasure. The series is lauded for its historical accuracy, cultural representation of the Ainu people, survival elements, and dark humor.
Beyond the Anime: Live-Action Adaptations Expand the Universe
The Golden Kamuy franchise has also expanded into live-action adaptations, further solidifying its presence in popular culture. A live-action film adaptation premiered in Japanese theaters in January 2024, followed by a live-action television series that debuted in October 2024. Following the finale of the live-action series, a sequel movie for the live-action adaptation was announced on December 1, 2024. Additionally, another live-action film, Golden Kamuy: Abashiri Prison Arc, is slated for a theatrical release in Japan on March 13, 2026. These adaptations feature a star-studded cast and aim to continue the narrative threads established in the original manga.
