Dodge Dan-ko: Next-Gen Dodgeball Anime Cast Announced, Featuring Rising Stars, a Veteran's Comeback, and a Name That's Got Fans Talking

The main cast for the upcoming anime "Honoo no Toukyuujo Dodge Dan-ko" has just been announced, quickly generating significant buzz on social media. Particularly, rising rookie voice actress Manaka Nakayama has been selected for the lead role of Danko Ichigeki, with high expectations for her passionate performance.

This series, a legitimate sequel to the legendary anime "Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei," is set to be adapted into a TV anime in 2026, and many fans have been eagerly following its developments. The newly released cast information reveals the voice actors portraying the members of the Tamagawa Dodgeball Club. In addition to Manaka Nakayama as Danko Ichigeki, Kaori Maeda will play Chinko Kobotoke, Akira Sekine as Mochiko Ebukuro, You Taichi as Susan Cannon, and Yu Shinohara as Hanui Otohama.

Among these announcements, what has particularly captivated fans is the character of Chinko Kobotoke, Danko's best friend, and the anticipation for Manaka Nakayama's performance in saying her name. Numerous comments on social media include "I want to hear Manaka Nakayama say 'Chinko'" and "Manaka Nakayama must have really yelled a lot..." The impactful nature of the character's name is drawing much laughter. Nakayama herself commented, "This series has no brakes!", further raising expectations for her full-throttle performance.

Furthermore, Noriko Hidaka, who played the protagonist Danpei Ichigeki in the original "Dodge Danpei," is also confirmed to appear. This time, she will be portraying young Danpei and providing narration, with fans expressing sentiments like, "Noriko Hidaka's appearance is so exciting!" showing their emotion at the collaboration of old and new protagonists. The synergy between veteran and young voice actors is further boosting anticipation for the series.

CUE is in charge of anime production, and preparations seem to be steadily progressing towards the 2026 broadcast. We eagerly await to see how the unique cast of voice actors, including Manaka Nakayama and Kaori Maeda, will bring the passionate world of dodgeball to life.

The context

"Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei" (炎の闘球児 ドッジ弾平), often translated as "Blazing Dodgeball Boy Danpei," was a highly popular Japanese manga and anime series in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was known for its exaggerated, "super-dodgeball" style, featuring special moves and intense competition. "Honoo no Toukyuujo Dodge Dan-ko" (炎の闘球女 ドッジ弾子) is its long-awaited sequel, following the adventures of the original protagonist's daughter. A key point of humor and fan discussion revolves around the character name "Chinko Kobotoke" (小仏珍子). In Japanese, "Chinko" (珍子) is a homophone for a common, somewhat vulgar slang term for male genitalia. This explains why fans are so amused and eager to hear the voice actress, Manaka Nakayama, pronounce the name during her performance, and why the article refers to it as an "impactful nature of the character's name" drawing "much laughter." Noriko Hidaka, a celebrated veteran voice actress, returning to the series adds to the excitement for long-time fans, bridging the gap between the original and the new generation.