#Rinkai! Women’s Cycling Anime Project & Manga Unveiled at AnimeJapan 2023

Japanese social media service mixi held a special panel at AnimeJapan 2023 to announce the production of the Rinkai! mixed-media project. Plans for an anime adaptation and manga series have been green-lit by the company, with more information about the premiere date, animation staff and studio to be announced later on. 

A 37-second PV trailer of the anime has also been released on the project’s official YouTube channel. 

The main voice cast is headlined by Umino Kawamura as Izumi Itou and Azusa Aoi as Nana Hiratsuka, who are both highlighted in their own character PV trailers. More characters will be revealed by the project’s production team at a future streaming program in April 2023. 

Meanwhile, the manga series will launch on Amazia’s Manga Bang! app service later this year. 

Rinkai! focuses on the sport of women’s cycling, which debuted in Japan shortly after the second World War. However, organized professional competitions ended after just 15 years of operation and remained dormant for decades. The story follows two girls hoping to revive the sport, as they compete in the newly formed Rinkai League.

Mixi promoted the Rinkai! project at its AnimeJapan 2023 booth, which features real racing bicycles and stands of the two main characters. 

#AnimeJapan2023
1日目が終了しました！
明日もよろしくお願いします！#リンカイPJ #女子競輪 #競輪 pic.twitter.com/naMOZGuQFJ

— リンカイ！Project【公式】AnimeJapan2023出展中！ (@rinkai_pj) March 25, 2023

Attendees visiting the booth also received special bath salts, designed with the project’s heroines. 

#AnimeJapan2023 開場しました！
本日もよろしくお願いします！
MIXI_ANIMEブースでは伊東・平塚の入浴剤を配布中です✨#リンカイPJ #女子競輪 #競輪 #AJ2023 pic.twitter.com/fEkJPDM4JL

— リンカイ！Project【公式】AnimeJapan2023出展中！ (@rinkai_pj) March 26, 2023

Voice actresses Umino Kawamura and Azusa Aoi also made an appearance at the AnimeJapan booth. They engaged in a special panel with former Japanese cyclist Makibi Takagi and Rinkai! project’s producer. 

声優のお2人と…！
プロデューサーさんと…！
MCさんと…！

☺️📸💞#AnimeJapan2023 #リンカイ pic.twitter.com/fHHJqTU0wc

— たかぎ まきび (@g_mkb) March 25, 2023

リンカイ! の声優さん！

伊東泉役　川村海乃さん🤍
平塚ナナ役　葵あずささん🤍

可愛くて…🫶

アニメ化のサプライズ発表では涙ぐんでいるようにも見えて、心から応援したくなりました🥹

ちなみに葵さんはお父さんが現役競輪選手…！

お2人のこと、今後も応援します❤️‍🔥#AnimeJapan2023 #リンカイ pic.twitter.com/xJH35MePrW

— たかぎ まきび (@g_mkb) March 25, 2023

Source: Rinkai! Official Anime Twitter, Rinkai! Official Website