Kingdom Season 5 Episode 1 Postponed by a Week

The premiere of Kingdom season 5 episode 1, originally set for this week, has been rescheduled to January 13, 2024, following a significant earthquake on the western shores of Honshu, Japan. This season, based on Yasuhisa Hara's original manga, was among the many anticipated anime sequels set to make a comeback in the Winter 2024 season. The original air date for Kingdom was scheduled for January 7, 2024, at 12 am JST in Japan.

Why has the release of Kingdom season 5 episode 1 been delayed?

However, the premiere has been delayed by a week due to the NHK national broadcasting channel's shift in focus to covering earthquake-related news.

A devastating 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's western shores of Honshu on January 1, 2024, resulting in severe shaking and claiming more than 100 lives. As a result of this tragic event, it was inevitable that the production or release of several upcoming anime series would be disrupted.

Given the current recovery efforts in Japan from the recent tragic disaster, it has been decided that the release of Kingdom season 5 episode 1 will be postponed until January 13, 2024.

NHK, the national broadcaster where the season 5 premiere was set to air, is currently providing ongoing coverage of the earthquake. The delay is just for a week, so fans of the series won't have to wait too long.

The first episode of Kingdom season 5 is expected to launch the highly anticipated Koku You Campaign arc, which is one of the most significant storylines of the series. Kenichi Imaizumi will be directing the episodes for this season, with the rest of the cast also returning.

The return of Kingdom in season 5 episode 1 comes after a 2-year hiatus (image via Studio Pierrot, Studio Signpost)

It will once again be animated by Studio Pierrot and Studio Signpost, both of whom collaborated on the fourth season. Hisashi Abe will be returning to handle the character designs. Furthermore, Kohta Yamamoto will be in charge of composing the music for the anime, with series composition duties falling to Noboru Takagi.

To help fans catch up on the Kingdom anime, Crunchyroll is currently streaming all four seasons, with the fifth season set to air soon. The series follows war-orphans Shin and Hyou in the kingdom of Qin as they strive to prove themselves on the battlefield. When Hyou is captured by a minister and returns to the village injured, Shin encounters a mysterious youth who bears a striking resemblance to Hyou - a youth who is destined to become emperor. Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2006, Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga has since expanded into a successful franchise, including three live-action films and upcoming fifth season set to premiere on January 13, 2024.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I'm disappointed about the delay of Kingdom season 5 episode 1. I've been eagerly waiting for the continuation of this epic anime series, and the news of its postponement due to the earthquake in Japan is disheartening. My heart goes out to those affected by this natural disaster, and I understand the need to prioritize news coverage and recovery efforts. However, I can't help but feel a sense of frustration as a fan who was looking forward to the new season.

Despite the delay, I appreciate the transparency and prompt communication from the production team. It's evident that they are putting the well-being of those affected by the earthquake first, which is commendable. I hope that the situation in Japan improves quickly and that the release of Kingdom season 5 episode 1 can proceed as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed and sending positive thoughts to everyone involved.