The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Shinsuke Kondo’s “Ninja vs. Gokudo” (Ninja to Gokudō) manga officially premiered in October 2025, bringing its intense action and modern Tokyo setting to screens. While the series boasts a strong lineup of voice talent and production staff, popular voice actor Nobunaga Shimazaki is not listed among the announced cast members for the series.
A Clash of Eras: The Premise of “Ninja vs. Gokudo”
“Ninja vs. Gokudo” plunges viewers into a centuries-old conflict between ninjas and yakuza, reimagined in contemporary Tokyo. The story centers on Shinoha Tanaka, a ninja burdened by past trauma, and Kiwami Kimura, a yakuza boss who appears to be an ordinary office worker. Their fateful encounter reignites the ancient rivalry, leading to a brutal and action-packed narrative that has captivated manga readers since its serialization began on Kodansha’s Comic Days website in January 2020. The manga has garnered significant recognition, including being ranked in various manga awards and polls.
The Confirmed Voice Cast Bringing the Feud to Life
The anime adaptation features a robust cast of voice actors tasked with embodying the series’ complex characters. Chiaki Kobayashi, known for roles like Gabimaru in Hell’s Paradise and Mash Burnedead in Mashle, takes on the leading role of Shinoha Tanaka, the ninja protagonist. Opposite him as the yakuza boss Kiwami Kimura is Katsuyuki Konishi, celebrated for his performances as Diavolo in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind and Uzui Tengen in Demon Slayer.
Further strengthening the cast, Sumire Uesaka voices the character Gamute, described as a wild card who injects significant excitement into the narrative. Other notable voice actors include Mamiko Noto as Maya Kohara, Kana Hanazawa as Shiki Yamada, and Tomokazu Sugita as Anatomi Kurita.
Production Details and Streaming Availability
Studio Deen, known for its work on action-oriented shows like Fate/stay night and Rurouni Kenshin, is producing the “Ninja vs. Gokudo” anime. Toshinori Watanabe directs the series, with Keiichiro Ōchi handling series composition and Toshiyuki Matsutake designing the characters. Keita Takahashi and Harikemu Wata are composing the music.
The series premiered on October 7, 2025, on NTV in Japan, and is also streaming worldwide on Amazon Prime Video. MIYAVI performs the opening song, “Sweet Disaster,” while Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas contribute the ending theme, “Until You Die Out”.
Nobunaga Shimazaki’s Prominent Career
While Nobunaga Shimazaki is a highly respected and prolific voice actor in the anime industry, his name does not appear on the official cast lists for “Ninja vs. Gokudo”. Shimazaki has voiced numerous iconic characters across a wide range of popular anime series, demonstrating his versatility and vocal prowess. His notable roles include Haruka Nanase in the Free! series, Yuno in Black Clover, Shinichi Izumi in Parasyte, Yuki Sohma in Fruits Basket (2019), and Eugeo in Sword Art Online: Alicization. He has received critical acclaim for his work, including the Best New Actor Award at the 7th Seiyu Awards and the Best Actors in Supporting Roles at the 15th Seiyu Awards. His extensive career spans anime, films, and video games, making him a recognizable and beloved figure among fans.
