An anime adaptation of The Keeper of the Camphor Tree (Japanese title: Kusunoki no Bannin), based on Keigo Higashino’s 2020 novel, has been officially announced. The film is slated for release in Japan in 2026. Directed by Tomohiko Ito, known for his work on Sword Art Online, the project will be produced by A-1 Pictures, with Aniplex handling distribution.
The novel’s English translation is also in the works, with Little, Brown Book Group planning a November 2025 release.
The story follows Reito Naoi, a young man in his 20s who is wrongfully dismissed from his job. Fueled by anger and a desire for revenge, Reito attempts to steal a valuable device from his workplace but is caught and arrested. While in jail, a lawyer visits him with an unusual proposition: if Reito agrees to fulfill the lawyer’s client’s request, he will be released. Left with few options, Reito accepts. He soon learns that his aunt is the lawyer’s client and that she has a peculiar task for him: to guard a camphor tree on the grounds of a local shrine, a tree with a mysterious legend tied to it. Thus begins Reito’s journey as the keeper of the camphor tree.
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