Japanese content sales outfit REMOW has announced that the anime adaptation of Tasokare Hotel will make its official television debut in January 2025, following a screening of the first three episodes at Animate Theater in Tokyo on December 10 (7 p.m.) attended by the main voice cast. The series is based on the popular mystery-solving mobile game of the same name.
“Tasokare” means “Who is that?” — an inquiry when dim light makes it difficult to distinguish a person’s identity — and is similar in pronunciation to the Japanese word for “twilight.” The show centers on a high schooler who, unsure if she is alive or dead, seeks to uncover the truth while working in the mysterious titular hotel.
Ahead of the premiere event, an official trailer for the series has debuted, featuring the new original song “Tasokare” written and performed by Kayoko Yoshizawa to be the show’s opening theme. The musician celebrated the 10th anniversary of her first hit single “Nokotteru” earlier this year, and this month embarks on her “Traveling Witch” tour. She will also have a limited release live performance video debut through Victor Online Story on December 25.
“As the days where I was obsessed with Tasokare came to an end, the song ‘Tasokare’ was inspired by the game’s other ending,” said Yoshizawa. “We hope you enjoy the story that kicks off from an exchange of life, the ashes dark memories that lead the story, and the complex human relationships that go beyond solving mysteries.”
The trailer on the It’s Anime YouTube channel is available with multilingual subtitles including English, Brazilian Portuguese, Mexican Spanish, Traditional Chinese and Korean. (Watch below.)
REMOW additionally revealed the series composers as Yo Tsuji (Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions, live-action dramas The Great Haruko, The last Restaurant, Pure! ~One-day Idol Director’s Case Book~) and Sugarbeans (Tommy & Sammy).
Synopsis: The Tasokare Hotel never sees afternoon, nor does it see night, but rather exists in a state of endless twilight. This hotel exists in a limbo state, as a place that allows souls who have not yet decided if they are meant to pass on to the afterlife, or remain in the world of the living, to rest their wings.
The protagonist, Neko Tsukahara, comes across this Tasokare Hotel with no memory of who she is or how she came to be there. An employee leads the way and shows Neko to her room, explaining, “In these rooms, there should be items that are related to our guests’ memories. These items can also serve as clues to help our guests remember who they were before they arrived here.” As Neko searches for a way to return to this world and remember who she was, a certain incident confronts her…
The anime’s voice cast features Rika Momokawa (Magical Somera-chan; Three Leaves, Three Colors) as Neko, Koudai Sakai (Shadows House, Demon Slayer) as Atori Haruto and Yusuke Shirai (Sasaki and Miyano, Tokyo Mew Mew New) as Masaki Osoto, who will appear in person at the Animate Theater event screening. The roster also includes Kanehira Yamamoto as the Hotel Manager, Yuki Nagano as Ruri, Natsue Sasamoto as Menou and Takashi Narumi as Kiriko.
The series is directed by Kosuke Kosui and features character & costume design by Yuko Hariba, who also acts as one of the show’s chief animation directors alongside Harada Minefumi, Yuki Yabuta and Fumiya Uehara. The team also includes color designer Hiroko Umezaki and art director Scott MacDonald. Animaton production is carried out by P.R.A. (9: Ruler’s Crown, Yuri Yuri, Baka & Test).
The original Tasokare Hotel game was created by Benoma Ray and studio SEEC, released in 2017. Tasokare Hotel Re:newal was released in December of the same year, offering a narrative-driven escape adventure version of the story for fans. A sequel title Tasokare Hotel -Tsubomi- is currently in development and will introduce a brand-new protagonist and cast of characters as well as fresh story and a revamped gameplay system.
