Overview
Aoashi adapts Yugo Kobayashi's manga of the same name about Ashito Aoi, a young striker from the countryside who scores freely but has almost no tactical discipline. After one match he catches the eye of coach Tatsuya Fukuda and is invited to try out for the youth team of Tokyo City Esperion, a professional club in Tokyo. The 24-episode first season was produced by Production I.G, directed by Akira Sato and aired on NHK E-Tele from April to September 2022.
OtaHub's take
What sets Aoashi apart from many football anime is the near absence of special moves or supernatural elements. The story revolves around positioning, reading the game, the space between lines and communication between players. Ashito has a rare ability to see the whole pitch, but in a professional environment he has to relearn football from the basics, which keeps the series easy to follow even for viewers who rarely watch the sport.
Season 2 premieres on 4 October 2026 at 17:00 on Sundays on NHK E-Tele, with 24 episodes and a 12-episode first cour. TMS Entertainment takes over the animation from Production I.G with Kazuki Yokoyama directing, while Masahiro Yokotani returns as series writer and Masaru Yokoyama again composes the music. Ashito is promoted to Esperion's A team and enters the U-18 Premier League, where speed, physicality and tactical thinking are all a level higher. Crunchyroll streams the new season in many regions, including Southeast Asia.
Verdict
Aoashi suits fans of realistic sports anime and anyone who wants to understand football from a tactical angle. Watch season 1 before season 2, since the new season continues Ashito's development and his relationship with coach Fukuda directly. Season 2 is also a test of whether TMS Entertainment can keep the tactical movement as readable as the first season did, from player positioning to the space between lines.
