Agents of the Four Seasons

Agents of the Four Seasons (Japanese: 春夏秋冬代行者, Hepburn: Shunkashūtō Daikōsha) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki (author of Violet Evergarden) and illustrated by Suoh. It began publication under ASCII Media Works' light novel imprint Dengeki Bunko in April 2021. A manga adaptation of the first part illustrated by Nappa Komatsuka began serialization in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine LaLa in July 2022. An anime television series adaptation of the first part produced by Wit Studio is set to premiere in March 2026.

In the beginning there was only Winter, who, unable to bear the loneliness, chose to cut off part of his essence and give birth to Spring. By Mother Earth's wish, he cut off part of his essence again to give birth to Summer and Autumn, thus beginning the cycle of the four seasons. The deities decided to entrust their roles to Mother Earth's creatures, but none were able to fulfill the task. Mankind stood before their desperation, willing to perform their duty in exchange for peace, prosperity, and stability in its lands. The Four Seasons then granted their powers to a small group of humans: the Agents of the Four Seasons.

Each country has its own version of the origin of the world, however each one agrees on the nature of seasons, day and night.

The seasons are brought by the Agents, humans entrusted with this task by the homonymous deities, while day and night are induced by the arrows shot into the sky by the Archers of Dawn and Twilight.

Their safety is put at risk by the "Rebels", individuals who detest the seasons or the alternation of day and night. For this reason, Agents and Archers are respectively protected by Guards and Custodians. The management and protection of these figures is carried out by both autonomous and governmental institutions.

The story is set in the present day in the Far East, in the Yamato archipelago, also known as the "Cherry Tree of the East", given the cherry blossom branch arrangement of its islands (Enishi, Teishu, Iyo, Tsukushi and Ryugu), each with its own peculiarities.

The novel series begins on February 10, Year 20 of the Reimei Era, with the return of Hinagiku Kayo, the Agent of Spring, after being kidnapped by the Rebels for almost ten years, during which the corresponding season has not manifested. Alon her Guard, Sakura Himedaka, she heads towards the shrine of Ryugu Peak, where the two secretly want to perform the ritual to bring their season back. Their destination changes after meeting a little girl who was alone on the path to the top, however the ritual is still performed with full success: Spring has returned.

The continuation of the story focuses on the other Agents and their Guards, ranging between their stories and the new developments of events after Hinagiku's return.

The story, as a whole, does not feature a single character who constantly plays the leading role. Each major narrative arc (e.g., Dance of..., The Archer of...) features its corresponding Agent and Guard or Archer and Custodian.

Hinagiku Kayō (花葉 雛菊, Kayō Hinagiku)

Voiced by: Yuka Nukui^[3]

The Agent of Spring, possesses the ability of "Vital Energy Acceleration". She was kidnapped by the "Rebels", natural enemies of the Agents of the Four Seasons, disappearing for almost ten years, during which the Spring did not appear. She has had feelings for Rousei since she was little.

Sakura Himedaka (姫鷹 さくら, Himedaka Sakura)

Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa (PV),^[4] Yoshino Aoyama (anime)^[3]

The Agent of Spring's Guard. She is an attendant who has never stopped looking for Hinagiku, a victim of regret for not being able to protect her Lady. The love she felt for Itechou surpassed the adoration of a student towards her master, but due to a certain event she hates him deeply.

Rōsei Kantsubaki (寒椿 狼星, Kantsubaki Rōsei)

Voiced by: Shogo Sakata^[3]

The Agent of Winter, possesses the ability "Vital Energy Freezing". Being the cause of the kidnapping of his first love, Hinagiku, torments him.

Itechō Kangetsu (寒月 凍蝶, Kangetsu Itechō)

Voiced by: Satoshi Hino (PV, anime)^[4][3]

The Agent of Winter's Guard. He has been Rosei's servant since he was a child, and was also Sakura's sword master. Like Rosei, he condemns himself for failing to protect the Spring maidens.

Ruri Hazakura (葉桜 瑠璃, Hazakura Ruri)

Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka^[3]

The Agent of Summer, possesses the ability of "Vital Energy Manipulation". She has a sunny and kind nature, but she can't be honest with her older twin sister Ayame, because she doesn't want her to give up her role as her Guard.

Ayame Hazakura (葉桜 あやめ, Hazakura Ayame)

Voiced by: Ranko Baba^[3]

The Agent of Summer's Guard. She is Ruri's older twin sister and her attendant. She plans to leave her post as a Guard on the occasion of her wedding. Despite being a victim of her sister's whims, she wishes for her happiness.

Nadeshiko Iwaizuki (祝月 撫子, Iwaizuki Nadeshiko)

Voiced by: Hime Sawada^[3]

The Agent of Autumn, possesses the ability of "Vital Energy Decomposition". She is the youngest and the shortest-serving deity. She has immense trust and affection for Rindou.

Rindou Azami (阿左美 竜胆, Azami Rindō)

Voiced by: Taku Yashiro^[3]

The Agent of Autumn's Guard. He treats his job like a "business", without letting his emotions get in the way. Those around him don't see it that way. He doesn't realize it, but he's overprotective of Nadeshiko.

Kaya Fugeki (巫覡 花矢, Fugeki Kaya)

The Archer of Dawn, her task is to bring the Day to Yamato. She is a 16 y/o high school student with a masculine way of speech, but no one knows she's the Goddess of the Day, except Yuzuru. She deeply cares for Yuzuru. She tries to force him to abandon his role as Guardian so that he can gain the freedom she lacks.

Yuzuru Fugeki (巫覡 弓弦, Fugeki Yuzuru)

The Archer of Dawn's Custodian. He decided to serve Kaya in place of his father. He is proud of his work and is fond of Kaya, but is annoyed that she is trying to force him to abandon his role as her Custodian.

Kaguya Fugeki (巫覡 輝矢, Fugeki Kaguya)

The Archer of Twilight, his task is to bring Night to Yamato. He fell into depression after his wife and his custodian, Eken, suddenly ran away from home. His feelings for Tsukihi are difficult to explain in words.

Eken Fugeki (巫覡 慧剣, Fugeki Eken)

The Archer of Twilight's Custodian. He respects Kaguya and they once lived together as father and son, but one day, he ran away.

Birthplaces of the Agents of the Four Seasons. They represent autonomous institutions tasked with procreating, training, and protecting the Agents of the Four Seasons.

Birthplace of the Agents of Spring, located on the island of Teishu.

Kobai Yukiyanagi (雪柳 紅梅, Yukiyanagi Kōbai)

Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa^[5]

Former Agent of Spring and Hinagiku's mother. She fell in love with Shungetsu, with whom she had Hinagiku, but this gave rise to a series of disagreements within the village. She died of a serious illness, perhaps.

Shungetsu Kayo (花葉 春月, Kayō Shungetsu)

Head of the Kayo family. He's the father of Hinagiku and Zansetsu. He is as cold as Winter, probably the reason Kobai fell in love with him. His beloved's death has sparked an aversion to Hinagiku, who he ignores even though he officially acknowledged her.

Zansetsu Kayo (花葉 残雪, Kayō Zansetsu)

Spring Village Administrator. He's Hinagiku's half-brother. He's a wealthy boy, and his mother's a prosperous landowner. He knows Sakura and asks her to keep her sister unaware of the financial support he is providing to the two girls.

Tsubame Aboshi (阿星 燕, Aboshi Tsubame)

Zansetsu's servant. She grew up in the same orphanage as Sakura before being taken in by Zansetsu, whom she worships almost religiously. Despite her age, she performs her duties better than most adults in the village.

Birthplace of the Agents of Winter, located on the island of Enishi.

Yukimi Todo (藤堂 雪見, Tōdō Yukimi)

Member of the Town of Winter's élite security. He's a kind and caring agent who guards Hinagiku and Sakura on Rousei and Itechou's orders. He monitored Rousei and Hinagiku's relationship during the month of the Summoning of the Four Seasons.

Rintaro Shimotsuki (霜月 倫太郎, Shimotsuki Rintarō)

Member of the Town of Winter's élite security. Along with Todo, he guards the two girls on Rousei and Itechou's orders. He holds Itechou in high regard.

Birthplace of the Agents of Summer, located on the island of Iyo.

Raicho Kimigake (君影 雷鳥, Kimigake Raichō)

Agent of Summer's Guard Candidate, Ruri's fiancé. He's a confident, sometimes arrogant man. Most people consider him weird, but he's kind and devoted to those he respects. He's madly in love with Ruri.

Renri Roo (老鶯 連理, Rōō Renri)

Town of Summer doctor and Ayame's fiancé. He is a doctor affiliated with the town's medical practice. Despite his playboy appearance, he is kind and gentle. He wishes to marry Ayame, but there is a big secret between them.

Birthplace of the Agents of Autumn, located on the island of Tsukushi.

Miyabi Sanekazura (真葛美 夜日, Sanekazura Miyabi)

Head maid of the Town of Autumn Domestic Affairs Department. She is Nadeshiko's maid and works at the village's main shrine. She is strong-willed, caring, and skilled at her job. She can't help but love Nadeshiko and is happy to have been chosen as her head maid. Her family situation is a bit complicated.

Koyoi Shirahagi (白萩 今宵, Shirahagi Koyoi)

Member of the Town of Autumn's security. He is one of Rindo's closest subordinates and associates. He is a quiet, simple, and kind boy who takes care of Nadeshiko, but the little girl's guard dog does not seem to appreciate him and he often ends up being the victim of its pranks.

It is a NGO that manages the duties of the Agents of the Four Seasons, allocating funds to them and their corresponding towns.

Reiko Nagatsuki (長月 礼子, Nagatsuki Reiko)

Member of the Agency Autumn Division's Security Department. She is responsible for the Town of Autumn's security system. She is an intelligent woman with a career that allows her to operate flexibly. She considers Rindo a little brother.

Ishihara (石原, Ishihara)

An employee of the Agency of the Four Seasons' Security Department. She is assigned to the Agent of Winter's security and also serves as Rousei's psychologist. She is a calm woman with excellent qualities in her duties.

It's a government national defense organization that protects peace and security in Yamato.

Tsuhiki Aragami (荒神 月燈, Aragami Tsuhiki)

Special Agent of National Security. She's the captain of Kaguya's security. She was only appointed to this role temporarily, but she has deep respect and affection for him. She grew up in a family devoted to the gods.

Natural enemies of the Agents of the Four Seasons. They are divided into Reformists, whose goal is to threaten the Agents' safety to pressure institutions into changing the laws governing their divine powers, and Defeaters, whose goal is to eliminate the Agents out of hatred for the seasons.

Misuzu Henderson (観鈴・ヘンダーソン, Misuzu Hendaason)

Leader of the "Kasai" Reformist group. She's called "Gozen" and is the woman who organized the attack on the Town of Winter where Hinagiku was kidnapped. She's obsessed with Hinagiku, whom she has begun to recognize as her daughter.

Mikami (美上, Mikami)

Misuzu's right-hand man. He wants to leave the group and start a new life, but he's in love with her.

Nazuna (薺, Nazuna)

Voiced by: Nao Toyama^[5]

A little girl Hinagiku and Sakura meet while climbing Ryugu Peak. Her dramatic story prompts Hinagiku to perform the ritual of the Spring Manifestation. The little girl thus becomes the first witness of the return of Spring.

Kana Akatuski reported that Agents of the Four Seasons was born while she was in charge of the scenario for the Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris DLC.^[6][7] Initially intended to be a self-contained volume, due to the large number of scenes to be represented, at the publisher's suggestion, it was intended to be released in two volumes, however this led the author to integrate many battle developments with frequent scene changes, which brought the work to its current state.^[8]

Akatsuki had always found some phenomena mysterious, leading her to ask "Why does the moon chase me?" and "Why do the seasons change?", but instead of seeking a scientific basis, she took pleasure in imagining them in a fantasy world. The work was created using the sensitivity of her childhood.^[9]

Written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Suoh, Agents of the Four Seasons began publication under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko light novel imprint on April 9, 2021. Eight volumes have been released as of December 2024.^[10]

During their panel at MCM Comic Con London 2023, Yen Press announced that they licensed the series for English publication.^[11]

A collection of spin-off novels written by Kana Akatsuki is available for free on the Kakuyomu website (Kadokawa Co. & Hatena Co.).^[24] Some spin-offs from the "Dance of Spring" arc have received a manga adaptation in the spin-off Agents of the Four Seasons: One Hundred Songs and One Hundred Pages (春夏秋冬代行者 百歌百葉, Shunkashūtō Daikōsha Hyakka Hyakuyō).

A manga adaptation of the first part illustrated by Nappa Komatsuda began serialization in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine LaLa on July 23, 2022.^[25] Its chapters have been collected into six tankōbon volumes as of August 2025.^[26] The manga adaptation is also licensed in English by Yen Press.^[27]

A spin-off manga illustrated by Yuriko Asami, titled Agents of the Four Seasons: One Hundred Songs and One Hundred Pages (春夏秋冬代行者 百歌百葉, Shunkashūtō Daikōsha Hyakka Hyakuyō) began serialization in the Dengeki G's Comic section of both ComicWalker and Nico Nico Seiga websites on May 15, 2023.^[28][29] Its chapters have been collected into two tankōbon volumes as of December 2024.^[30] The spin-off is published in English on Kadokawa's BookWalker website.^[31]

An anime television series adaptation of the first part was announced on April 10, 2025. The series will be produced by Wit Studio and directed by Ken Yamamoto, with Kazuhiro Furuhashi serving as animation adviser, Ayumu Hisao handling series composition, Namiko Torii designing the characters, and Kensuke Ushio composing the music.^[42][43] It is set to premiere on March 29, 2026 on Tokyo MX and other networks. An advance screening was held on March 15, 2026 at Shinjuku Wald 9 in Tokyo.^[44] The opening theme song is "Petals" (ペタルズ, Petaruzu), while the ending theme song is "Hana Ikada" (花筏), both performed by Orangestar featuring Kase.^[3][44] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.^[45] The anime will air on digital platforms, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.^[46]

The series topped the New Title category of the 2022 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook.^[47]

By December 2024, the series had over 750,000 copies in circulation.^[48]

• Violet Evergarden, another light novel series by Kana Akatsuki

• Light novel official website (in Japanese)
• Spin-off manga official website at Nico Nico Seiga (in Japanese)
• Spin-off manga official website at ComicWalker (in Japanese)
• Anime official website (in Japanese)
• Agents of the Four Seasons (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia