Skip to content 
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War will return at the end of the year with a new television special titled The Stairway To Adulthood, which is set to air on Dec 31, as revealed by the anime’s official X account.
The announcement arrived alongside a new trailer and confirmation that Masayuki Suzuki will once again perform the opening theme, this time collaborating with Aoi Koga on the track “Abunai Kioku” (Dangerous Memory).
This marks Suzuki’s fifth consecutive opening theme for the series since the anime debuted in 2019.
The special will broadcast on multiple Japanese networks on Dec 31 at 10 p.m. JST on TOKYO MX, BS11 and Tochigi TV.
Suzuki, reflecting on his long-running collaboration with the franchise, noted that working on the fifth theme song has renewed his appreciation for the series and his 45-year music career.
“I’m Suzuki Masayuki, a major newcomer to the anime song world, returning after a three-year hiatus. Since the start of the Kaguya-sama: Love is War anime in 2019, this marks my fifth consecutive time performing the opening theme. I will be turning 70 next year, and being able to continue walking alongside such a wonderful work makes me truly feel the meaning of having sung for 45 years.
Aoi Koga, my duet partner for the latest song ‘Abunai Kioku,’ is someone I have met several times at Kaguya-sama events. But this was our first time recording together. The way she understood and immersed herself in the world we wanted to express through the music was truly impressive. I think it captures the new romantic mind games between the two protagonists, now three years later.
First, please listen to the song—and let’s all look forward to the new year-end romantic battle.”
Koga expressed excitement and disbelief at performing an opening theme alongside Suzuki, describing the opportunity as an honor for a series she views as deeply personal.
“From the very first season of Kaguya-sama: Love is War until now, Masayuki Suzuki has supported and colored the series through the opening themes, walking alongside it all this time. I never imagined I would get to sing the opening with him this time! I am still shaking all over.
It’s an incredible honor, and because it’s the opening for a series that is so special to me, a lot of emotions have been going through me. Recording ‘Abunai Kioku’ made me very nervous, but I thought about the subtitle ‘The Steps to Adulthood’ and reflected on everything Kaguya and the others have gone through. I put every bit of feeling I could into my performance.
I hope everyone listens to the song a lot and enjoys expanding the world of Kaguya-sama. Thank you so much.”
The special is helmed by returning director Shinichi Omata at A-1 Pictures, with Yuko Yahiro in charge of character design and Kei Haneoka serving as the composer.
The first season of the TV anime, produced by A-1 Pictures, aired in 2019. It was followed by a second season in 2020 and an OVA episode in 2021. The third season premiered in 2022. An anime film, titled The First Kiss That Never Ends, premiered in theaters in December 2022.
Originally written and illustrated by Aka Akasaka, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War began serialization in Miracle Jump in 2015 before moving to Weekly Young Jump, where it ran until November 2022.
The manga concluded with the 28th volume and has been published in English by Viz Media.
