The World Is Dancing

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuto Mihara. It was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Morning from March 2021 to October 2022, with its chapters collected in six volumes.

Set during the Muromachi period, the story follows Zeami Motokiyo (known in his youth as Oniyasha), a pivotal figure in the development of Noh drama. An anime television series adaptation produced by CygamesPictures is scheduled to premiere in July 2026.

Plot

The story follows Oniyasha (the childhood name of Zeami) during the 14th century. In an era defined by political instability and social upheaval, Oniyasha struggles to find his own voice within his father Kan'ami's performance troupe. Rather than just following tradition, Oniyasha seeks to capture the "rhythm of the world" through dance. The series explores his journey of artistic awakening, his relationship with the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and the philosophical evolution of Noh theater.

Characters

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The protagonist, a young prodigy obsessed with finding a new way to express human emotion through movement.

Oniyasha's father and the leader of the Sarugaku troupe. He is a master of his craft but represents the traditional standards Oniyasha seeks to expand.

The young, powerful Shogun who becomes a patron of the arts and takes a special interest in Oniyasha's talent.

A kind-hearted member of the Sarugaku troupe who does not perform onstage due to a leg condition though is skilled at chanting. He is one of Oniyasha's closest friends and often helps him with his practice.

A dependable boy who spends time with his friend Oniyasha outside of practice. Although rough around the edges, he holds an interest in dance.

The strict, young leader of the Dengaku Shinza troupe serving as the driving force behind the troupeÃ¢ÂÂs morale. He is also critical towards Oniyasha.

A serious and well-mannered member of the Kanze troupe who is skilled with the kotsuzumi.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Kazuto Mihara, The World Is Dancing was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Morning from March 25, 2021, to October 27, 2022. It was collected in six tankÃÂbon volumes released from August 23, 2021, to November 22, 2022. The manga is licensed for English-language release in North America by Kodansha USA, which published the series digitally from August 1, 2023, to August 27, 2024.

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on January 21, 2026. The series is produced by CygamesPictures and directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi, with ShÃÂ«hei Fuchimoto as assistant director, Sawako Kawamitsu supervising the scripts, Keigo Sasaki and Iori Hisatake designing the characters, Daisuke Shinoda composing the music, Tsumura Reijiro handling Noh choreography, Kohei Kawaguchi handling Noh supervision, and Satoshi Nemoto handling the calligraphy and title lettering. It is set to premiere in July 2026, on Tokyo MX and other networks.