The romantic anime series, “The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity” (Japanese: Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku), has begun its highly anticipated run, with its Japanese premiere on July 6, 2025, and a global debut on Netflix starting September 7, 2025. Produced by CloverWorks, the series adapts Saka Mikami’s popular manga, captivating audiences with its heartfelt story of an unlikely romance between students from rival high schools.
An Unlikely Romance Across Rival School Gates
The narrative of “The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity” unfolds in a town sharply divided by two contrasting educational institutions: Chidori Public High School and Kikyo Private Academy Girls’ High School. Chidori is known for housing students with challenging academic records and a reputation for delinquents, while Kikyo is a prestigious academy for wealthy and esteemed families. This long-standing rivalry creates a palpable tension between the two schools, whose students rarely interact.
The story centers on Rintaro Tsumugi, a student from Chidori High who, despite his intimidating appearance, possesses a gentle and kind heart. He often assumes others perceive him as a delinquent, leading him to distance himself from others. His life takes a significant turn when he encounters Kaoruko Waguri, a student from the elite Kikyo Girls’ High, at his family’s bakery. Unlike others, Kaoruko sees past Rintaro’s facade and recognizes his kindness, leading to a blossoming connection. Their budding friendship, however, is complicated by the revelation of Kaoruko’s school affiliation, setting the stage for a poignant tale of overcoming societal barriers and prejudices.
Key Characters and Talented Voice Cast
The core of “The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity” lies in its well-developed characters, brought to life by a stellar Japanese voice cast:
- Rintaro Tsumugi: Voiced by Yoshinori Nakayama, Rintaro is the seemingly tough but kind-hearted Chidori student.
- Kaoruko Waguri: Honoka Inoue lends her voice to Kaoruko, the bright, sweet, and perceptive Kikyo student who sees Rintaro for who he truly is.
Other significant characters include Shohei Usami (voiced by Kikunosuke Toya), Saku Natsusawa (voiced by Koki Uchiyama), Ayato Yorita (voiced by Hiiro Ishibashi), and Subaru Hoshina (voiced by Aya Yamane).
From Bestselling Manga to Anime Adaptation
The anime is an adaptation of the acclaimed manga series written and illustrated by Saka Mikami. The manga, serialized on Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket app since October 2021, has garnered a substantial following, selling over five million copies as of June 2025. Its gentle and sincere storytelling has resonated deeply with manga enthusiasts, building significant anticipation for its anime debut.
The anime adaptation is produced by Studio CloverWorks, known for its quality productions. Miyuki Kuroki directs the series, with Rino Yamazaki handling the series composition and Kohei Tokuoka serving as character designer and chief animation director. Moeki Harada is responsible for the music, further enriching the series’ emotional depth.
Global Release and Streaming Schedule
While the anime premiered in Japan on July 6, 2025, it began streaming globally on Netflix starting September 7, 2025. The international release includes dubbed versions and typically features weekly episode drops after the initial release of the first two episodes. This staggered release allows for localized versions to be prepared for a global audience. Episodes are broadcast on networks such as Tokyo MX, BS11, and others in Japan, with Netflix holding the streaming rights for international viewers.
Critical Acclaim and Anticipation
The manga has received critical acclaim for its writing, characters, art style, and emotional depth, setting high expectations for the anime adaptation. The series is lauded for offering a wholesome and sincere romance, moving away from overly dramatic or toxic dynamics often found in the genre. With an official X (formerly Twitter) account gaining 80,000 followers and its trailer amassing over 2.4 million views even before its premiere, “The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity” is poised to be one of the standout romance anime of 2025.
