The highly anticipated fourth season of the anime Rent-a-Girlfriend is making its streaming debut on July 1st, and fans are buzzing with excitement. Alongside the streaming announcement, a new “date” visual featuring Mini Yaemori has been revealed, adding to the anticipation for the upcoming season. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the return of this popular rom-com.
Streaming Details and Premiere Date
Mark your calendars! Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 will begin streaming on July 1, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. JST on DMM TV and d Anime Store in Japan. For those waiting to watch on television, the series will premiere on July 4th at 26:23 (effectively, July 5th at 2:23 a.m.) in the “Animeism” programming block on MBS, TBS, and BS-TBS channels.
Fans outside of Asia can rejoice as Crunchyroll will be streaming the series as it airs. Get ready to dive back into the chaotic and heartwarming world of Kazuya and his rental girlfriend, Chizuru!
New “Date” Visual: Mini Yaemori Takes the Spotlight
To further fuel the hype, the anime’s official X (formerly Twitter) account unveiled the fifth “date” visual, this time featuring the energetic and tech-savvy Mini Yaemori. This visual follows previous releases showcasing Chizuru, Mami, Ruka, and Sumi, each with their unique charm. The “date” visuals offer a glimpse into the character-focused moments fans can expect in the new season.
What to Expect in Season 4: The Hawaii Trip Arc
Season 4 of Rent-a-Girlfriend will adapt the Hawaii Trip arc from the manga. This means viewers can expect a change of scenery as the characters embark on a tropical getaway filled with romance, rivalry, and plenty of awkward situations.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store, according to Crunchyroll:
Kazuya’s ready to confess with the lush paradise of Hawaii as a backdrop. But renting Chizuru for the dream trip turns into a war zone of love due to Ruka’s aggressive advances and Mami’s scheming. Despite the chaos, this is Kazuya’s moment to bare his heart. Will his words reach Chizuru? And if they do, what will she even say?
Production Team and Cast
The staff from the third season at TMS Entertainment are returning for Season 4. However, there’s a change in the director’s chair. Kazuomi Koga, who directed the first two seasons, is taking over from Shin’ya Une, who directed Season 3.
The main cast members are also reprising their roles:
- Shun Horie as Kazuya Kinoshita
- Sora Amamiya as Chizuru Mizuhara
- Aoi Yūki as Mami Nanami
- Nao Tōyama as Ruka Sarashina
- Rie Takahashi as Sumi Sakurasawa
- Yū Serizawa as Mini Yaemori
Theme Songs
Adding to the excitement, the opening and ending theme songs for Season 4 have been revealed:
- Opening Theme: “&Umitsuki” by ClariS
- Ending Theme: “Boku no Vega” (My Vega) by Regal Lily
A Quick Recap: What is Rent-a-Girlfriend About?
For those new to the series, Rent-a-Girlfriend follows the story of Kazuya Kinoshita, a college student who gets dumped by his girlfriend, Mami Nanami, after only a month of dating. Heartbroken and desperate, he turns to a rental girlfriend service and meets Chizuru Mizuhara, a beautiful and seemingly perfect girl.
To keep up appearances with his family and friends, Kazuya continues to rent Chizuru, leading to a complicated web of lies and misunderstandings. As they spend more time together, Kazuya begins to develop genuine feelings for Chizuru, but their “rental” relationship and the presence of other girls complicate his pursuit of true love.
Where to Watch Past Seasons
If you need to catch up on the previous seasons before July 1st, you can stream Rent-a-Girlfriend on Crunchyroll.
Split Cours: What Does That Mean?
It’s been announced that Season 4 will run for two cours with a break in between. In anime terminology, a “cour” refers to a three-month broadcast period, typically corresponding to a season of the year (e.g., Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter). This means that Season 4 will be split into two parts, with the first part airing in July 2025 and the second part likely to air in January 2026.
The Road So Far: A Look Back at the Previous Seasons
Rent-a-Girlfriend has captured the hearts of many anime fans with its relatable characters, comedic situations, and will-they-won’t-they romance. Here’s a brief overview of the previous seasons:
- Season 1: Introduced Kazuya and Chizuru, setting the stage for their complicated relationship.
- Season 2: Explored the backstories and motivations of the other rental girlfriends, further complicating Kazuya’s love life.
- Season 3: Focused on Chizuru’s dream of becoming an actress, with Kazuya supporting her along the way.
Manga Origins and Other Adaptations
Rent-a-Girlfriend is based on a manga series written and illustrated by Reiji Miyajima. It has been serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine since July 2017 and has been compiled into numerous volumes.
In addition to the anime, Rent-a-Girlfriend has also inspired a live-action television drama series and a visual novel game, showcasing the franchise’s widespread popularity.
Potential Story Arcs for Season 4
While the Hawaii Trip arc is confirmed, fans are speculating about which other manga arcs might be adapted in Season 4, considering it will be split into two cours. Possible candidates include:
- The Movie Arc: This arc delves deeper into Chizuru’s acting aspirations as she works on an independent film.
- The Paradise Arc: Following the Hawaii trip, this arc could further explore the evolving relationships between the characters.
Given the pacing of the anime, it’s speculated that Season 4 could adapt up to Volume 30 or 31 of the manga.
Recent Controversies and Fan Reactions
Rent-a-Girlfriend hasn’t been without its share of controversies. Some fans have expressed frustration with the slow pace of the romantic development between Kazuya and Chizuru. Recently, a major plot twist in the manga, where Chizuru rejects Kazuya’s confession, sparked heated debate among fans.
Despite these controversies, the series maintains a dedicated fanbase eager to see how the story unfolds.
Final Thoughts: Get Ready for More Romance and Chaos!
With its streaming debut just around the corner, Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4 promises to deliver another dose of romance, comedy, and drama. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to the series, get ready for a wild ride as Kazuya and Chizuru navigate their complicated relationship amidst the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii. Don’t miss the streaming premiere on July 1st!