The World is Dancing (Japanese: ワールド イズ ダンシング, Hepburn: Wārudo Izu Danshingu) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuto Mihara. It was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Morning from March 2021 to October 2022, with its chapters collected in six tankōbon 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 Cypic 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.
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.
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 straightforward one-armed girl who devotes herself in her work at a dumpling shop.
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Kazuto Mihara, The World Is Dancing was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Morning from March 25, 2021, to October 27, 2022.[5][6] It was collected in six tankōbon volumes released from August 23, 2021, to November 22, 2022.[7][8] 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.[1]
An anime television series adaptation was announced on January 21, 2026. The series is produced by Cypic and directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi, with Shūhei 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 on July 2, 2026, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[2][3] The opening theme song is "Shusho" (終宵), performed by Macaroni Empitsu.[4][19]
