When the second promotional video for the upcoming anime adaptation of "Sūpā no Ura de Yani Suu Futari" ("Two People Who Smoke Behind the Supermarket") dropped on June 11, 2026, it brought with it the first listen to a brand-new ZUTOMAYO track we've all been waiting for. The song, titled "Ichijiku Kemuri" ("Fig Smoke"), serves as the television broadcast opening theme, and fans of both the manga and the enigmatic music unit are already trying to parse what the atmospheric new track brings to this quiet, adult slice-of-life story.
What we know so far paints an intriguing picture of how this anime will arrive in our lives over the coming weeks. Let's walk through the details—when and where you can watch, what makes this collaboration special, and why the choice of ZUTOMAYO feels so fitting for a series about two people finding brief respite in cigarette breaks behind their workplace.
The Quick Version
- The TV broadcast opening theme is "Ichijiku Kemuri" by ZUTOMAYO (stylized as ずっと真夜中でいいのに。), unveiled in the second main promotional video released June 11, 2026
- The anime premieres on July 9, 2026 at 23:56 on TBS (28 stations nationwide), with streaming on ABEMA and Netflix starting July 10, 2026 at 00:30
- A different ZUTOMAYO song, "Kuzuri Nen," will serve as the opening for the early ABEMA streaming version
- The series runs for 12 episodes and will be available on Prime Video, WOWOW On Demand, and other platforms beginning July 16, 2026 at 00:30
- A special pre-broadcast program featuring the voice cast is scheduled for July 4, 2026 at 20:30 on ABEMA
What "Ichijiku Kemuri" Brings to the Anime
The opening theme starts playing from the very first seconds of the new promotional video, immediately establishing the mood we can expect when the show begins airing. According to the official announcement, scenes of the main characters Sasaki (voiced by Takuya Satō) and Yamada (voiced by Kanata Hoshiki) in their "work mode" are set to the music, showing us the everyday supermarket life that forms the backdrop for their brief escapes.
"Ichijiku Kemuri" is a previously unreleased track, making this reveal particularly exciting for ZUTOMAYO fans who follow the unit's every release. The title itself—"Fig Smoke"—carries that same blend of the mundane and the poetic that characterizes both ZUTOMAYO's lyrical approach and the source manga's quiet observations about adult life. Figs are ordinary, even humble; smoke is ephemeral. Together, they suggest fleeting moments of sweetness in otherwise routine days.
The promotional video gives us our first glimpse of how the song's atmosphere will frame the series. Beyond the opening sequence, the trailer also introduces other characters with their voices and hints at the "adult drama" that unfolds in the smoking area behind the supermarket—a space that becomes unexpectedly intimate when people let their professional facades slip during their breaks.
Two Opening Themes for Two Versions
Here's something interesting that might confuse viewers if they're not paying attention: the anime will actually have two different opening themes depending on how you watch it. The TV broadcast version—the one airing on TBS and its affiliated stations—will feature "Ichijiku Kemuri." But if you're among the early viewers catching the ABEMA streaming version, you'll hear a different ZUTOMAYO song called "Kuzuri Nen" as the opening.
This dual-opening approach isn't unheard of in anime, but it's uncommon enough to be noteworthy. It suggests that the production committee sees value in offering something special to the streaming audience while maintaining a separate identity for the traditional broadcast. Both songs come from the same artist, ensuring tonal consistency, but viewers who follow both versions will get to experience two different musical interpretations of the same story.
The decision to work with ZUTOMAYO for both versions makes a certain kind of sense. The music unit, led by the mysterious ACAね (known as ACA-ne in romanization), has built a reputation for songs that feel simultaneously contemporary and emotionally resonant, often exploring themes of isolation, connection, and the small rebellions of everyday life. That sensibility aligns naturally with a story about two people who find unexpected understanding during cigarette breaks.
When and Where You Can Watch
The anime makes its television debut on July 9, 2026 at 23:56—just four minutes before midnight on a Thursday—on TBS's network of 28 stations nationwide. That late-night timeslot is typical for anime aimed at adult audiences, and it fits the show's mature, contemplative tone.
If you prefer streaming or don't have access to TBS, you won't have to wait long. ABEMA and Netflix will both begin streaming episodes starting July 10, 2026 at 00:30, just after the TV broadcast concludes. This early streaming window gives viewers outside Japan and those who prefer on-demand viewing nearly simultaneous access to the series.
For viewers using other streaming services, the wait extends just a bit longer. Prime Video, WOWOW On Demand, and several other platforms (the full list is available on the official anime website) will begin streaming from July 16, 2026 at 00:30 onward. The series is planned for 12 episodes total, giving us a full season to spend with these characters.
AT-X will also broadcast the series, starting July 12, 2026 at 21:00, with repeat broadcasts every Wednesday at 04:30 and every Sunday at 06:00 for those who need multiple viewing opportunities or work unusual schedules.
Getting to Know the Cast Before the Premiere
If you want to hear the voice actors discuss the series before it airs, ABEMA has scheduled a special program for July 4, 2026 from 20:30 to 21:30 on the ABEMA Anime Channel. The hour-long special, titled "Two People Who Smoke Behind the Supermarket Special Program ~Three People Talking at ABEMA's Special~," will feature Takuya Satō (Sasaki), Kanata Hoshiki (Yamada/Tayama), and Shinya Takahashi (Suzuki).
The cast will discuss the work and their characters in depth, and there's a themed segment involving "cocoa cigarettes"—the chocolate novelty treats shaped like cigarettes that many of us remember from childhood. It's a playful nod to the series' central motif while keeping things family-friendly and nostalgic. The special will remain available for free on ABEMA through August 31, 2026, giving latecomers plenty of time to catch up.
Why This Pairing Works
ZUTOMAYO's involvement in this project feels like a natural fit when we consider what both the music unit and the source manga bring to the table. The manga, which has been serialized in Shonen Jump+, isn't your typical Jump title—there are no battles, no superpowers, no world-ending stakes. Instead, it observes two people who work at a supermarket and smoke together during their breaks, gradually revealing the complexity of their inner lives through small, quiet moments.
ZUTOMAYO has built their reputation on songs that explore similar emotional territory. Their music often examines the spaces between people, the things left unsaid, and the small ways we try to connect in a world that doesn't always make connection easy. The unit's visual presentation—enigmatic, animated music videos that feel both polished and personal—has resonated with audiences who appreciate art that doesn't explain itself too directly.
The title "Ichijiku Kemuri" already hints at the kind of imagery we might expect. Figs ripen and spoil quickly; smoke dissipates almost as soon as it forms. Both evoke impermanence, the fleeting nature of the moments we're watching. These are people whose meaningful conversations last only as long as a cigarette break, who return to their ordinary lives once the smoke clears, yet somehow those brief intervals matter enormously.
What People Are Saying
One fan commented on social media that hearing ZUTOMAYO's new track in the promotional video immediately sold them on the anime, even though they hadn't read the manga. The atmospheric quality of the song, they noted, promised exactly the kind of adult, introspective mood they'd been hoping for in a summer season often dominated by flashier action series.
Another viewer expressed excitement about the dual-opening approach, saying they planned to watch both versions just to experience how each ZUTOMAYO song colors the viewing experience differently. They appreciated that the production recognized streaming and broadcast as distinct viewing contexts worthy of unique musical framing.
A manga reader mentioned that "Ichijiku Kemuri" captures something essential about the source material that they'd worried might get lost in adaptation—that sense of beautiful melancholy, of finding meaning in spaces society tells us are meaningless (like a smoke break in an alley). The song choice, they felt, showed the anime staff understood what makes the manga special.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the anime premiere?
The first episode airs on July 9, 2026 at 23:56 on TBS (28 stations nationwide). Streaming begins on ABEMA and Netflix from July 10, 2026 at 00:30, immediately after the TV broadcast.
Where can I watch the series?
ABEMA and Netflix will stream episodes starting July 10, 2026 at 00:30. Prime Video, WOWOW On Demand, and other platforms begin streaming from July 16, 2026 at 00:30. AT-X broadcasts starting July 12, 2026 at 21:00 with repeats on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Why are there two different opening themes?
The TV broadcast version uses "Ichijiku Kemuri" while the ABEMA early streaming version uses "Kuzuri Nen," both by ZUTOMAYO. This gives each version a distinct musical identity while maintaining the same artist for tonal consistency.
How many episodes will there be?
The series is planned for 12 episodes total, running through the summer 2026 season.
Can I watch the cast special before the anime airs?
Yes, ABEMA is broadcasting a one-hour special program on July 4, 2026 from 20:30 to 21:30 featuring the main voice cast. It will remain available for free on ABEMA through August 31, 2026.
Looking Ahead to July
We're now less than a month away from seeing how "Ichijiku Kemuri" functions within the actual anime, rather than just in a promotional video. The second PV has given us our first taste, but the real test comes when we experience a full episode—when we see how the opening sequence sets the tone for each installment, how the song's mood carries through the storytelling, and whether ZUTOMAYO's atmospheric approach enhances the manga's quiet observations about adult life and fleeting connection.
What we know for certain is that the pieces are in place for something thoughtful and distinctive. An anime adaptation that trusts its source material's understated approach, a music unit whose sensibilities align with that quietness, and multiple ways to access the series when it begins airing on July 9, 2026. For those of us who appreciate anime that operates at a lower volume—emotionally, not literally—this collaboration between "Two People Who Smoke Behind the Supermarket" and ZUTOMAYO promises exactly the kind of summer viewing we've been craving.
