Keigo Higashino's novel “Campus Keeper” (published by Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha Bunko), which has sold over 1 million copies, has been made into an animated film. It will be released nationwide from Friday, January 30, 2026.
In addition to releasing the visual and trailer video, it has been decided that Yugo Kanno, who has been involved in numerous works regardless of genre, will be participating as a music staff member! Information on additional voice actors, including Asuka Saito, Ryuya Miyaze, and Takao Osawa, has also been announced.
Preview video and main visual released!
Reito Naoi, a young man who lost his job due to an unreasonable dismissal, is cornered and arrested for his mistake. Resigning himself to luck, he had no vision for the future or the will to make his own life choices. Then an encounter comes that changes his fate.
If he follows his client's instructions, he will be released. Reito accepts the condition of a lawyer who suddenly appears and tells him that Chifune Yanagisawa appears in front of him. She is a person who has contributed greatly to the development of the large company Yanagisawa Group, and is said to be her late mother's half-sister. “I have something to command you.'' That is to become the guardian of the camphor tree that stands at Tsukigo Shrine.
Reo, who is confused but becomes the guardian, encounters people who visit the shrine grounds for various reasons. Toshiaki Saji is a man who continues to visit camphor trees on a regular basis. His daughter, Saji Yumi, is a college student who is suspicious of her father's actions. As he interacts with Soki Oba, a young man who struggles to inherit the family business, and Chifune, Reito's world gradually takes on a new color.
–But Reito didn't know it yet. The true power of camphor tree.
Eventually, the mystery involves Reito's life and leads him to an unexpected truth.
The latest trailer video has now been released. In this video, Reto is ordered to be the keeper of the camphor tree, which is said to make your wishes come true if you pray to that tree.Hisaki Saji goes to the camphor tree to pray while keeping it a secret from his family, and Toshiaki, who is suspicious of Toshiaki's actions, visits the camphor tree to find out its secret. The story depicts Yumi Saji, the daughter of the Ming Dynasty, and Soki Oba, the heir to a long-established Japanese confectionery maker, who prays for the inheritance of the family business, as they approach the mysteries hidden in the camphor tree while being at the mercy of the people who visit it for various reasons.
What is the secret of camphor tree? What is the meaning of the line “Prayer is not about fulfilling other people's wishes'' uttered by Chifune, the aunt who ordered Reo to guard the camphor tree? The preview video has been completed, which combines the grandeur and beauty of the mysterious development, the overwhelming presence of camphor trees, the lighting of candles, and the light of the moonlit night, making the viewers' hearts even more excited.
At the same time, this visual has also arrived. The design depicts a camphor tree with a mystical appearance as its trunk glows with light under a full moon, creating a sense of the relationship between the moon and the camphor tree. Also, under the camphor tree are depicted the figures of Toshiaki, Yumi, and Sotaka, each of whom visit the camphor tree for some reason.
The world view of camphor tree is beautifully drawn with a delicate touch, and the result is a powerful visual that makes you want to think about the fate of the story.
Yugo Kanno has been selected as the music staff!
As previously reported, this work will be directed by Tomohiko Ito, and the screenplay will be written by Takashi Kishimoto, who has adapted the original work with works such as “Haikyu!!'', “Blue Rock'' series, and “The Town Where I Dake Dake ga Inai'' (2016). The character design is a collaboration between Tsubasa Yamaguchi, the original author of “Blue Period,'' and Akiko Itagaki, who collaborated on the character design for “Kagami no Solitary Castle'' (22).
The art director is Hiroshi Takiguchi, who has worked on “Weathering With You'' (2019) as well as “Chao'' (25), which won the jury award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 and is a hot topic, and has assembled a talented staff. It has recently been announced that Yugo Kanno will be in charge of the music.
In addition to live-action works such as Keigo Higashino's original “Galileo'' series, Kanno has also worked on the “JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' series (2nd and later) and “Detective Conan the Movie: One-Eyed Afterimage'' (25), which was a huge hit exceeding 10 billion yen. He is one of the most popular musicians active in a wide range of genres, including movies, TV dramas, animation, documentaries, and commercials.
In “The Mysterious Story of the Camphor Tree,” I would like to pay attention to the music and see how it is performed.
It has also been decided that an original soundtrack for the film will be released, which includes the music for this work by Kanno. The release date is scheduled for January 30th (Friday), the same day the movie is released. We hope you enjoy the movie and music together.
■Name: Camphor Tree Keeper Original Soundtrack
■Release date: Friday, January 30, 2026
■Contents: 1 CD, sticker included only in first edition limited edition
Asuka Saito, Ryuya Miyase, and Takao Osawa have been confirmed as additional voice actors!
Asuka Saito, who was chosen through an audition, will play the role of Yumi Saji, a college student who suspects her father, Toshiaki, of going to camphor trees without telling her family, and asks Reo to cooperate with the investigation to find out his father's secret.
He made his first full-fledged appearance in a movie in “That Time, I Chased You'' (2018), appeared in popular works such as the TV drama “Lion's Lair'' (24/TBS), and won the 48th Japan Academy Award for Best New Actor in “The Final Act'' (24), making him a remarkable success as an actor.
Saito, who was cast as a voice actor for a feature-length animated film after auditioning for the first time, reflected on his voice acting, saying, “The days I spent trying to express my feelings by just using my voice were very refreshing, and it was an irreplaceable time for me.During the dubbing, I received various directions from Director Ito, and I think I was able to gradually get closer to the role.''
Saito also revealed his own wishes for this work, saying, “I felt a simple yet very powerful message in the fact that when you pray for someone, your feelings are certainly heard.I hope that the “prayers'' contained in this work will also reach the hearts of those who watch it.''
The role of Soki Oba, the heir to a long-established Japanese confectionery manufacturer, who reluctantly decides to attend a shrine, will be played by Ryuya Miyaze, who was also selected through an audition.
Debuted as an actor in 2019, starred in “Ellie Love” (24) for the first time in a movie (*double starring with Nanoka Hara), “Under Ninja” (25), and “Will” released. ” (25), and made her first leading role in a movie in “I Don't Love You Just by Your Face'' (25).
He was recently selected as one of the “faces of next year” announced by Nikkei Trendy, and is expected to continue to make great strides. Miyayo said, “Although it was difficult to perform a play that conveys emotions only with voice, I think I was able to realize and learn a lot by facing the role of Soki Ohba head-on.'' Miyayo revealed his response to this work in which he participated as a voice actor.
“Some people may think it looks difficult based on the image of the work, but I think it is a work that even small children can enjoy. I would be happy if you could feel the warmth of someone's memories and feelings being gently passed on to the people living today through the screen. '', he said, expressing his hope that a wide range of people could see it.
Takao Osawa, who has a unique presence in many of his works, will play the role of Toshiaki Saji, a person who regularly comes to the camphor tree to pray, and whose actions other than praying are kept secret from his family, and who is deeply involved in the story.
He won the Japan Academy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for “The Return of the Great General'' (24), and in addition to starring in the “Silence of the Fleet'' series (23 and 25), he also participated as a producer.He has a brilliant career as an actor, and is always enthusiastically involved in the creation of works.
Osawa, who will be acting as a voice actor for an animated work since Wolf Children (2012), talked about his thoughts on the character he played, saying, “At first glance, he may seem like a normal father.However, within that “normal'' character, there is a deep feeling for his family and a conflict that cannot be put into words, and he is oozing with humanity.I am sure that many people will feel the same way as him or someone they care about.''
When asked about the appeal of this work, he said, “The original work carefully depicts an adult's perspective, and that view is clearly reflected in the anime.The themes of entrusting your feelings to someone and quietly looking back on what you have received so far – these themes gently touch your heart.I think a big appeal of this work is that it has a deep heart that can easily relate to people of any generation.''
A gorgeous cast that combines top-notch creators and talent and popularity gathers together.
Please look forward to the movie “Campus Keeper,” which tells the epic story of the mysterious “camphor tree.”
Work information
Synopsis
If he follows his client's instructions, he will be released – Reo accepts the condition of the lawyer who suddenly appears and tells him that Chishu Yanagisawa appears in front of him.
She is a person who has contributed greatly to the development of the large company Yanagisawa Group, and is said to be her late mother's half-sister. “I have something to command you.'' That is to become the guardian of the camphor tree that stands at Tsukigo Shrine.
Reo, who is confused but becomes the guardian, encounters people who visit the shrine grounds for various reasons. Toshiaki Saji is a man who continues to visit camphor trees regularly. His daughter, Yumi Saji, is a female college student who is suspicious of her father's actions. As he interacts with Soki Oba, a young man who is struggling to inherit the family business, and Chifune, Reito's world gradually takes on a new color.
–But Reito didn't know it yet. The true power of camphor tree.
Eventually, the mystery involves Reito's life and leads him to an unexpected truth.
cast
Chishu Yanagisawa: Yuki Amami
(C) Keigo Higashino/Anime “Campus Tree Keeper” Production Committee
