The main key visual for the TV anime "Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You," based on the manga by Jinushi currently serialized in the manga magazine "Big Gangan" (Square Enix), has been released. It depicts Sasaki smoking a cigarette with a gentle smile in a smoking area behind a supermarket, while Tayama smokes a cigarette while looking at Sasaki. The tagline reads, "Tonight, too, with you in this place." It was also announced that an ABEMA-exclusive pre-release version will be available from June, ahead of the broadcast in July.
The first main promotional video has also been released, depicting the encounter between Sasaki and Tayama in the smoking area behind the supermarket. Tayama correctly guesses that Sasaki always lines up at the register where his favorite cashier, Yamada, is working, and Sasaki, unable to hide his embarrassment, is told by Tayama, "Come again." The video shows Sasaki wondering how Tayama knew his name, even though they had only just met, Yamada smiling meaningfully at the oblivious Sasaki, and then Tayama suddenly leaning closer to Sasaki and saying, "I'm not telling you." Yamada makes his first appearance in the PV.
Information about the theme songs has also been announced, revealing that the band "Zutto Mayonaka de Ii no ni." will perform the opening theme, and singer-songwriter imase will perform the ending theme. The ending theme is a newly written song by imase titled "Fiction," which was unveiled in the first promotional video.
ACAne from "Zutto Mayonaka de Ii no ni." commented, "I've had the pleasure of interacting with the original author, Jinushi, who has come to our live shows many times, so I was truly, truly happy to be invited this time. I don't smoke, but I like looking at smoke regardless of whether it's cigarettes or not, and I often draw graffiti of women smoking. Will I be able to capture that smoky, frustrating feeling? Or is it okay if I can't? Is that just right? I wonder..."
Imase said, "I'm so happy to be involved in a work that I've been reading since I was little. I was thrilled by the small but important moments in the lives of Sasaki, who is busy with his daily work at the company, and Yamada, who works at a supermarket, as they share a secret. Because they don't know each other's true identities, they can talk honestly with each other and look forward to tomorrow because they are curious about each other. I created this song with a pop but slightly mature image to represent their relationship. I hope you enjoy listening to it along with the work!"
The series began serialization on Jinushi's Twitter account (now X) in March 2022, and the first chapter garnered approximately 280,000 likes. It was selected as the number one web manga in the "Next Manga Award 2022" and has become a hot topic, with the total number of comic book copies sold exceeding 3 million. The story follows Sasaki, a middle-aged man, and Tayama, a woman with somewhat eccentric clothing whom Sasaki meets at his regular supermarket, as they have a casual conversation in the smoking area behind the supermarket.
The anime will be directed by Rihito Suzuki and Aoi Mori, and produced by Asahi Production. Takuya Sato will voice Sasaki, and Seina Hoshiki will voice Yamada/Tayama. It will be broadcast nationwide simultaneously on 28 TBS network stations every Thursday at 11:56 PM starting in July.
◇Staff (titles omitted)
Directors: Rihito Suzuki, Aoi Mori; Series Composition: Mio Inoue; Character Design: Naka Otaki; Music: Shin Kono, Sayaka Aoki; Sound Director: Kohei Yoshida; Production: Asahi Production
