The television anime adaptation of Yuki Domoto’s manga “I Want to End This Love Game” is now confirmed to premiere in April 2026. The main voice cast and a teaser visual were released to accompany the announcement.
“I Want to End This Love Game” is a romantic comedy centered on Yukiya and Miku, childhood friends who have just entered the same high school. Despite harboring mutual, unspoken feelings for each other, neither can be honest. Instead, they are locked in the “Love” they started as children: a contest where the first person to blush after saying “I love you” loses.
Yukiya thinks, “If I can just win, I’ll finally confess.” Miku thinks, “If I win, I’ll make him admit he likes me.” With these secret motives, the two engage in their daily battle of romantic wits.
This new information was released today, November 2nd, timed to coincide with Japan’s “Good Couple Day” (Ii Futari no Hi). Kaito Ishikawa stars as Yukiya, who first became romantically aware of Miku in their second year of junior high and has since been diligently working on his “game” to win their challenge. Miku Ito co-stars as Miku, a bright, charming girl who has matured significantly upon entering high school, constantly making Yukiya’s heart pound. The teaser visual captures the pair on a park bench amid swirling cherry blossoms, showing a teasing Miku and a slightly blushing Yukiya.
Comments from Ishikawa, Ito, and a celebratory illustration from the original author, Domoto, have also been released. The official anime X account (@aishiterugame) is running a promotional giveaway for signed art boards (shikishi) from the three creators, with one winner selected for each. To enter, participants must follow the official account and repost the specified campaign post by November 16.
I Want to End This Love Game Cast Comments
Comment from Kaito Ishikawa (Yukiya Asagi)
Yukiya Asagi (CV: Kaito Ishikawa). A 15-year-old high school freshman and Miku’s childhood friend. He has a bit of a “loner” personality, dislikes trendy social scenes, and avoids social media. He became romantically aware of Miku in junior high and is now focused on “self-improvement” to finally win their game.
On the impression of the work and the role, and enthusiasm for the future:
I’ve been a huge fan of the original manga since it first started serialization; I got chills reading the back-and-forth between the two main characters. They do things that are embarrassing just to watch, and even they are blushing, yet they put their absolute all into it just to make the other’s heart race. You just can’t help but root for them.
On something or someone he “loves”:
The sauna. When I need to get focused, when I’m completely exhausted, when something great has happened, or when I’m sad. The sauna is always there for me, no matter the situation.
Comment from Miku Ito (Miku Sakura)
Miku Sakura (CV: Miku Ito). A 15-year-old high school freshman and Yukiya’s childhood friend. Bright and amiable, she instantly became popular in her class. She has recently adopted a much more mature demeanor, and the gap between this and her older, more childish behavior constantly throws Yukiya off balance. Her specialty is cooking, a skill she learned from her grandmother.
On the impression of the work and the role, and enthusiasm for the future:
I Want to End This Love Game’s story is just so bittersweet and youthful… I’m jealous! I found myself grinning unconsciously while reading it, and sometimes the characters are so pure it makes you want to squeal. The character I’ll be playing, Miku Sakura, actually shares the same first name as me, so I felt a connection to her right from the audition. I will do my absolute best to portray her as appealingly as possible and make the hearts of everyone watching pound! I look forward to it!
On something or someone she “loves”:
I tell my dog I love her every single day. I’m not sure if she understands the words, but when I say “I love you so much!” she seems happy and licks my face, which is just unbearably adorable. I plan to keep telling her forever!
Comment from Yuki Domoto
Celebratory illustration from the original author, Yuki Domoto.
It has been more than a decade since my debut as a manga artist, and now, my dream is coming true. I am overcome with emotion. To everyone who has supported me to this point, thank you so very much.
For me, I Want to End This Love Game’s characters are living, breathing human beings. In my mind, they are always moving, just like in an anime. My constant challenge has been figuring out how to express that movement in manga, how to depict them with vivid life.
To see that become a true anime—to see them actually move, gain voices, and be enveloped by music and ambient sound; to see how the very breath of Yukiya and Miku will be given form… I simply cannot wait…!!
I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing, right alongside all the fans, what they will look like when they finally descend before our very eyes. For another cast announcement don’t forget to take look at this article!
Source: NatalieMu