The upcoming TV anime Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia announced that active sumo wrestlers Tamawashi and Tamashoho will join the cast, marking their first-ever voice-acting roles in a TV anime.
In conjunction with the announcement, a special comment video has been released. The video features the two wrestlers sharing their thoughts on taking on voice acting for the first time, as well as their candid reactions upon receiving the offer.
The original work, A Witch’s Life in Mongol, serialized in Japan on AKITASHOTEN’s Souffle website and written by Tomato Soup, is a historical court drama set in the 13th-century Mongol Empire.
It depicts the story of Sitara, a young girl who strives to survive a harsh fate by using knowledge as her weapon. The series has drawn significant attention, securing 1st place in Takarajimasha’s Kono manga ga sugoi! 2023 (Women’s Category) and placed in the Manga Taisho for two consecutive years, in 2023 and 2024.
Animation production will be handled by Science SARU, the internationally acclaimed studio behind works such as DAN DA DAN, The Heike Story, and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!.
Most recently, the manga was also awarded the Grand Prize in the Comic Division at the 55th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards.
Active Sumo Wrestlers Tamawashi & Tamashoho to Appear in TV Anime
The TV anime Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia is set to premiere on Saturday, July 4, 2026, with a special 1-hour broadcast featuring both episodes 1 and 2 starting at 11:00 PM JST. As the highly anticipated premiere approaches, it has been officially announced that active Sekitori (professional sumo wrestlers) Tamawashi-zeki and Tamashoho-zeki from the Kataonami stable will be joining the cast!
Tamawashi-zeki will voice Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, while Tamashoho-zeki will play a resilient Mongol soldier. Both Sekitori, who are originally from Mongolia, will also be lending their voices to various other characters in the series, so please look forward to the upcoming premiere!
Reflecting on his first-ever voice acting session, Tamawashi-zeki expressed a strong sense of accomplishment, saying,
“It was difficult at first, but I gradually got the hang of it, and I think it went well overall.” Meanwhile, Tamashoho-zeki, a self-proclaimed anime fan, commented, “I’ve always wanted to try a challenge like this. I realized I couldn’t do it well at all! It was so much fun and a truly great experience. “
When asked about their reactions to receiving the offer, Tamawashi-zeki looked back on his thoughts at the time, sharing,
“At first, I wondered what it would be like, but I was just so happy to be given the opportunity.” Tamashoho-zeki also revealed his excitement, saying, “I’ve loved anime and manga for a long time, so I was thrilled from the very start and became incredibly interested in the project.”
Anticipation continues to build for the upcoming broadcast as fans look forward to seeing how Tamawashi-zeki and Tamashoho-zeki—who usually captivate audiences with their thrilling performances on the sumo ring—will bring their characters to life in their very first voice acting roles!
Furthermore, to ensure fans can enjoy the series anytime and anywhere, the anime will also begin rolling out on streaming platforms starting Saturday, July 4, alongside the TV broadcast.