Kaya-chan Isn't Scary
| Kaya-chan Isn't Scary | |
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Kaya Satou | |
| カヤちゃんはコワくない (Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Tarō Yuri |
| Published by | Shinchosha |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Bunch Comics |
| Magazine | Kurage Bunch |
| Original run | April 1, 2022 – present |
| Volumes | 8 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Hiroshi Ikehata |
| Written by | Shigeru Murakoshi |
| Music by |
|
| Studio | East Fish Studio |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TXN (TV Tokyo), AT-X, WOWOW |
| Original run | January 11, 2026 – present |
| Episodes | 9 |
Kaya-chan Isn't Scary (Japanese: カヤちゃんはコワくない, Hepburn: Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai) is a Japanese supernatural horror manga series written and illustrated by Tarō Yuri. It began serialization on Shinchosha's Kurage Bunch manga website in April 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by East Fish Studio premiered in January 2026.
Plot
Kaya is an infamous problem child in her kindergarten, always causing trouble for her friends and teachers. However, when teacher Chie is put in charge of her, she discovers that Kaya is actually protecting the children from evil spirits that wish to bring harm to others. A story of a misunderstood hero follows.
Characters
Main characters
- Kaya Satō (佐藤 神八, Satō Kaya) / Kaya-chan (カヤちゃん)
- Voiced by: Azusa Tachibana[3]
- A 5-year-old kindergartener with powerful psychic abilities, which she uses to defend her classmates from evil spirits. However, since ordinary people cannot perceive these specters, she gets misunderstood as a problem child. It is later revealed that she is the result of her mother's failed attempt to give birth to an evil spirit, causing her soul to be infused with the spirit of the ancestor of the Ebisumori clan.
- Chie Hasumi (蓮見 千枝, Hasumi Chie) / Chie-sensei (チエ先生)
- Voiced by: Maaya Uchida[3]
- A young caretaker and teacher at the kindergarten Kaya attends. She is the only faculty member who knows that Kaya is actually protecting the other children from evil spirits and defends her whenever her colleagues scold her.
- Osamu Mob (百武 治, Mob Osamu) / Mobuo (モブオ)
- Voiced by: Fukushi Ochiai[4]
- A supernatural enthusiast who takes an interest in Kaya and the Ebisumori clan. However, this often causes him to get mistaken for a child stalker.
- Namu Hirukomori (蛭子守 南無, Hirukomori Namu) / Nam (ナム)
- Voiced by: Yuki Kaji (Japanese); Connor Fogarty[4] (English)
- Mobuo's partner and a distant relative of the Ebisumori clan. Like Kaya, he possesses psychic powers that allow him to see and destroy evil spirits. This made him grow up as an outcast until he met Mobuo, causing him to be very protective of him. He is also wary of Kaya, perceiving the spirit of the Ebisumori clan's ancestor within her.
Kaya's family
- Shizuo Satō (佐藤静夫, Satō Shizuo) / Kaya-Papa (カヤパパ)
- Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa[5] (Japanese); Kevin Andrew Rivera[6] (English)
- Kaya's father. He is an ordinary man without psychic powers who remains unaware of the existence of evil spirits. Though often having to work long hours, he still tries his best to be there for his daughter and pick her up from kindergarten whenever possible.
- Mirai Satō (佐藤未来, Kaya-Mama) / Kaya-Mama (カヤママ)
- Voiced by: Mamiko Noto[5]
- Kaya's mother and the main antagonist. A seemingly ordinary woman with no psychic powers, she is later revealed to be pregnant with a powerful evil spirit. Growing up within the Ebisumori clan, she went mad upon discovering their practice of having non-psychics like her birth evil spirits to eliminate their enemies, prompting her to flee and plot to destroy her extended family using their own dark rituals.
- Nana Ebisumori (戎杜七奈, Ebisumori Nana)
- Voiced by: Haruka Tomatsu[5]
- Kaya's aunt and the current head of the Ebisumori clan. Like her niece, she possesses psychic powers that allow her to perceive evil spirits, though not destroy them. After learning of Kaya's existence, she confronted and quickly bonded with her, picking her up from kindergarten whenever her father was unavailable. She wishes for Kaya to live an ordinary life, far away from evil spirits and the Ebisumori clan.
- Mutsu Ebisumori (戎杜 睦, Ebisumori Mutsu)
- Voiced by: Yoshiko Sakakibara[5]
- Kaya's grandmother and the former head of the Ebisumori clan. Like her granddaughter, she possessed psychic powers that allowed her to perceive and destroy evil spirits. Though once an advocate for her family's dark practices, she grew to regret her actions and allowed her second daughter, Mirai, to leave the clan. She is later killed by the unborn demon that Mirai is pregnant with.
Kindergarten
- Akira-sensei (アキラ先生)
- Voiced by: Azusa Tadokoro (Japanese); Allegra Clark[4] (English)
- Chihiro-sensei (チヒロ先生)
- Voiced by: Shiori Izawa[4]
- Sakuya Maenuma (まえぬま さくや, Maenuma Sakuya) / Saku-chan (サクちゃん)
- Voiced by: Misaki Kuno (Japanese); Stephanie Southerland[7] (English)
- Kentarō Ise (いせ けんたろう, Ise Kentarō) / Kenken (ケンケン)
- Voiced by: Mutsumi Tamura[7]
- Yuzu Tachibana (たちばな ゆず, Tachibana Yuzu) / Yuzu-chan (ユズちゃん)
- Voiced by: Chiemi Tanaka[7]
- Masaru (まさる, Masaru) /
Ma-chan (まっちゃん)
- {{Voiced by|[[Fujiwara Natsumi][7]}}
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Tarō Yuri, Kaya-chan Isn't Scary began serialization on Shinchosha's Kurage Bunch manga website on April 1, 2022.[8][9] The series' chapters have been collected into eight tankōbon volumes as of January 2026.[10]
In November 2024, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they had licensed the series for English publication beginning in April 2025.[11]
Volumes
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 8, 2022[1] | 978-4-10-772520-2 | April 29, 2025[12] | 979-8-89373-154-5 |
| 2 | December 8, 2022[13] | 978-4-10-772549-3 | July 15, 2025[14] | 979-8-89373-155-2 |
| 3 | May 9, 2023[15] | 978-4-10-772596-7 | October 28, 2025[16] | 979-8-89373-537-6 |
| 4 | October 6, 2023[17] | 978-4-10-772655-1 | January 6, 2026[18] | 979-8-89373-538-3 |
| 5 | April 9, 2024[19] | 978-4-10-772702-2 | May 5, 2026[20] | 979-8-89373-646-5 |
| 6 | November 9, 2024[21] | 978-4-10-772763-3 | — | — |
| 7 | June 9, 2025[22] | 978-4-10-772842-5 | — | — |
| 8 | January 8, 2026[10] | 978-4-10-772903-3 | — | — |
| 9 | April 9, 2026[23] | 978-4-10-772929-3 | — | — |
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on November 1, 2024.[24] It is produced by East Fish Studio and directed by Hiroshi Ikehata, with series composition handled by Shigeru Murakoshi, characters designed by Taro Yamada and Hiroyuki Moriguchi, and music composed by Kohta Yamamoto and Shun Narita.[3] The series premiered on January 11, 2026, on TV Tokyo and its affiliates, and other networks.[4] The opening theme song is "Maboroshi no Yukue" (まぼろしの行方; 'The Phantom's Destination'), performed by Isekaijoucho, while the ending theme song is "Playmour", performed by Sak and Tao featuring Azusa Tachibana as her character Kaya-chan.[5] Crunchyroll is streaming the series.[25] Medialink licensed the series in Southeast Asia and Oceania (except Australia and New Zealand) for streaming on Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel.[26] An English dub provided by Kadokawa premiered on the same day as the sub version.[27]
Episodes
| No. | Title [28][29][30] | Directed by [28] | Written by [28] | Storyboarded by [28] | Original release date [31] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary?" Transliteration: "Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai?" (Japanese: カヤちゃんはコワくない?) | Hitsuchisei | Shigeru Murakoshi | Hiroshi Ikehata | January 11, 2026 | |
| 2 | "Invisible Things Aren't Scary/Parks Aren't Scary/Strangers Aren't Scary?" Transliteration: "Mietari mono wa Kuwakunai/Kōen wa kowakunai/Shiranai hito wa kowakunai?" (Japanese: 見えたりものはコワくない / 公園はコワくない / 知らない人はコワくない?) | 西村大樹 (Daiki Nishimura) | 涼村千夏 (Chika Suzumura) | 博史池畠 (Hiroshi Ikehata) 中村欣也 (Nakamura Kinya) | January 18, 2026 | |
|
Rumors began spreading about a suspicious person lurking around the kindergarten. | ||||||
| 3 | "Mirrors Aren't Scary/The Pool Isn't Scary/Uncle Mob Isn't Scary?" Transliteration: "Kagami wa kowakunai/Pūru wa kowakunai/Mobu-ojisan wa kowakunai?" (Japanese: 鏡はコワくない / プールはコワくない / モブおじさんはコワくない？) | 毛応星 (Mao Yingxing) | 渡邉悠生 (Yūki Watanabe) | 高嶋友也 (Tomoya Takashima) アオヤマユミカ (Aoyama Yumika) | January 25, 2026 | |
|
Mob shows up out of nowhere and approaches Chie, saying he wants to talk about Kaya. | ||||||
| 4 | "Lost Kids Aren't Scary/Dolls Aren't Scary/Home Visits Aren't Scary?" Transliteration: "Maigo wa kowakunai/O-ningyō wa kowakunai/Katei hōmon wa kowakunai" (Japanese: 迷子はコワくない / お人形はコワくない / 家庭訪問はコワくない？) | 佐々木良宏 (Yoshihiro Sasaki) | 村越繁 (Shigeru Murakoshi) | 高嶋友也 (Tomoya Takashima) アオヤマユミカ (Aoyama Yumika) | February 1, 2026 | |
|
Chie hears from Mob that something is inside Kaya’s house, and it’s time for her to do home visits. | ||||||
| 5 | "Trains Aren't Scary/Grandma Isn't Scary?" Transliteration: "Densha wa kowakunai/Obāchan wa kowakunai?" (Japanese: 電車はコワくない / おばあちゃんはコワくない？) | 劉陽 (Yang Liu) | 誌村宏明 (Hiroaki Shimura) | 涼村千夏 (Chika Suzumura) | February 8, 2026 | |
|
Chie hears from Mob that something is inside Kaya’s house, and it’s time for her to do home visits. | ||||||
| 6 | "Shopping Malls Aren't Scary/Punishment Room Isn't Scary?" Transliteration: "Shoppingu sentā wa kowakunai/O-shioki-beya wa kowakunai?" (Japanese: ショッピングセンターはコワくない / お仕置き部屋はコワくない？) | 青山未里 (Miri Aoyama) 戚業輝 (Romanji unknown) | 渡邉悠生 (Yūki Watanabe) | 小坂春女 (Harume Kosaka) | February 15, 2026 | |
|
Kaya visits a shopping mall with her father, and Mob casually follows them. | ||||||
| 7 | "Hospitals Aren't Scary/Playground Equipment Isn't Scary/Staying Home Alone Isn't Scary?" Transliteration: "Byōin wa kowakunai/Yūgu wa kowakunai/O-rusuban wa kowakunai?" (Japanese: 病院はコワくない / 遊具はコワくない / お留守番はコワくない？) | 木邑優斗 (Yūto Kimura) | 村越繁 (Shigeru Murakoshi) | 大原実 (Minoru Ōhara) | February 22, 2026 | |
|
Kaya's dad asks Nana to step in when he can't pick her up. | ||||||
| 8 | "Backwards Isn't Scary/The Sandbox Isn't Scary/Nice People Aren't Scary?" Transliteration: "Sakasama wa kowakunai/O-sunaba wa kowakunai/Yasashii hito wa kowakunai?" (Japanese: 逆さまはコワくない / お砂場はコワくない / 優しい人はコワくない？) | 内堀 雅人 (Masato Uchibori) | 涼村千夏 (Chika Suzumura) | 大原実 (Minoru Ōhara) | March 1, 2026 | |
|
Chie-sensei gets a call that Mob has suddenly gone missing. | ||||||
| 9 | "People Who Can See Them Aren't Scary?/Chie-sensei Isn't Scary" Transliteration: "Mieteru Hito wa Kowakunai?/Chie-sensei wa Kowakuna" (Japanese: みえてる人はコワくない？ / チエ先生はコワくない) | 毛応星 (Mao Yingxing) | 渡邉悠生 (Yūki Watanabe) | もり たけし (Mori Takeshi) | March 8, 2026 | |
|
Namu attempts to kidnap Kaya. | ||||||
References
- ^ a b カヤちゃんはコワくない 1巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Tachibana, Momo (March 15, 2024). 開かずのトイレの秘密、ママそっくりのママではないもの… 怪異と戦う園児に中毒者続出！ ホラーマンガ『カヤちゃんはコワくない』. Da Vinci (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dempsey, Liam (June 6, 2025). "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Anime Reveals Main Cast, Staff in 1st Trailer". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 6, 2025). "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Anime Reveals January Debut, More Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Cayanan, Joanna (November 20, 2025). "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Anime's 2nd Promo Video Unveils More Cast, Staff, Theme Song Artists, January 11 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ https://x.com/KevinARiveraVO/status/2011909534965743642
- ^ a b c d Cayanan, Joanna (December 10, 2025). "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Anime Announces 3 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ 最強の霊能幼女が幼稚園に蔓延る怪異を退治、新連載「カヤちゃんはコワくない」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ 第1話 ブランコはコワくない. Kurage Bunch (in Japanese). Shinchosha. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ a b カヤちゃんはコワくない 8巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ Tai, Anita (November 14, 2024). "Seven Seas Licenses Contrast, Kaya-chan Isn't Scary, 6 Other Titles". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Vol. 1". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ^ カヤちゃんはコワくない 2巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Vol. 2". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ カヤちゃんはコワくない 3巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Vol. 3". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ カヤちゃんはコワくない 4巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Vol. 4". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
- ^ カヤちゃんはコワくない 5巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Vol. 5". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ カヤちゃんはコワくない 6巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ カヤちゃんはコワくない 7巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ カヤちゃんはコワくない 9巻 (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 31, 2024). "Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (December 16, 2025). "Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Winter 2026 Season". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 5, 2026). "Ani-One Asia Streams Tamon's B-Side, Trigun Stargaze, MHA: Vigilantes Season 2, More". Anime News Network.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 14, 2026). "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary Anime Gets Same-Day English Dub". Anime News Network.
- ^ a b c d "Episodes｜Terebi Anime『Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai』Koshiki Saito" EPISODES｜TVアニメ『カヤちゃんはコワくない』公式サイト [Episodes｜TV Anime『Kaya-chan Isn't Scary』Official Site]. kayachan.com (in Japanese). Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ^ "Watch Kaya-chan Isn't Scary - Crunchyroll". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ^ "Kaya-chan Isn't Scary". imdb.com. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ^ "On Air｜Terebi Anime『Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai』Koshiki Saito" ON AIR｜TVアニメ『カヤちゃんはコワくない』公式サイト [On Air｜TV Anime『Kaya-chan Isn't Scary』Official Site]. kayachan.com (in Japanese). Retrieved January 11, 2026.
External links
- Official manga website at Kurage Bunch (in Japanese)
- Official anime website (in Japanese)
- Kaya-chan Isn't Scary (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia