Sparks of Tomorrow (also known as Nijuuseiki Denki Mokuroku) releases its twelfth episode worldwide on Netflix on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 23:00 Japan Standard Time (JST). The episode is the penultimate chapter of the Kyoto Animation series’ first season, following Kihachi Sakamoto and Inako Momokawa as they close in on the truth behind the missing 20th Century Electrical Catalog. Viewers outside Japan can stream the episode at the same moment as the Japanese broadcast, with the exact local time depending on their time zone. The season is scheduled to run for 13 episodes in total, making episode 12 a critical turning point before the finale.
Key Facts
- Episode 12 release date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Japan broadcast time: 23:00 JST
- Streaming platform: Netflix (worldwide exclusive)
- Total episodes this season: 13
- Studio: Kyoto Animation
- Director: Minoru Ota
- Series composition: Tatsuhiko Urahata
- Original light novel: 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku by Hiro Yuki
When Does Sparks of Tomorrow Episode 12 Release Worldwide?
The episode arrives on Netflix at the same moment for every region, tied to the Japanese broadcast time of 23:00 JST on September 20, 2026. Below are the exact streaming times for major locations and time zones.
United States (Pacific Time) / Canada (Pacific Time):
Sunday, September 20 at 7:00 AM PDT
United States (Eastern Time) / Canada (Eastern Time):
Sunday, September 20 at 10:00 AM EDT
United Kingdom / Portugal / Ghana (GMT+1):
Sunday, September 20 at 3:00 PM BST
Central Europe / Spain / Italy / Poland / France / Germany (CEST):
Sunday, September 20 at 4:00 PM CEST
Japan / South Korea (JST/KST):
Sunday, September 20 at 11:00 PM JST
Australia (Australian Eastern Standard Time):
Monday, September 21 at 12:00 AM AEST
India (IST):
Sunday, September 20 at 7:30 PM IST
Brazil (BRT):
Sunday, September 20 at 11:00 AM BRT
Netflix has held worldwide exclusive streaming rights for Sparks of Tomorrow since the series premiered on July 5, 2026, with new episodes arriving every Sunday. The original domestic broadcast runs on Tokyo MX, BS11, ABC TV, and TV Aichi, but international viewers access the episode through Netflix at the same time as the Japanese airing.
What Happens in Sparks of Tomorrow Episode 11?
Episode 11, titled “Inviting Circuit” (Sasou Kairo), aired on September 13, 2026, and set up the central conflict heading into episode 12. The episode focused on two parallel searches: Inako sneaking into Mizoe’s shop with Saki to track down the “Denki Nishiki” recorded in the Electrical Catalog, while Kihachi devoted himself entirely to deciphering a riddle sent to him by his late brother, Seiroku.
The episode revealed a major connection: the coordinates recorded in a diary that Inako’s sister gave to Seiroku before he left for war were the key reason Seiroku was able to complete the electric diary in the first place. This revelation tied Inako’s family directly to Kihachi’s brother’s work, deepening the emotional stakes for both leads.
The episode also featured a critical moment for Kengo Kuga, who broke down and confessed a secret he had been carrying for three years before Kihachi could figure out how to fix the electric key. Kihachi made what appeared to be a shocking decision to protect Inako, but she took matters into her own hands rather than waiting for him to act on her behalf. The episode ended with Yosuke Mizoe reminiscing about his first meeting with Seiroku, adding another layer to the tangled history between the characters.
How Episode 12 Affects the Story
Episode 12 is the penultimate episode of the season, meaning it carries the weight of resolving major threads before the finale. With only one episode remaining after this one, the story is expected to deliver answers about the Electrical Catalog’s final location, the truth behind Seiroku’s wartime secrets, and the future of Kihachi and Inako’s partnership.
The episode arrives after a season-long build-up that has moved from the initial meeting between Kihachi and Inako in Fushimi, Kyoto, to a complex web of family obligations, lost dreams, and the pursuit of a future powered by electricity. Inako, the second daughter of a sake brewer, originally sought the Catalog to escape an arranged marriage. Kihachi, a young man who rejected tradition, wrote the Catalog as a child and saw it as a blueprint for the Age of Electricity. By episode 12, the search has become far more than a means to an end—it has become the foundation of their bond.
The season has also expanded its cast and emotional scope through episodes focused on Kengo’s backstory, Yosuke’s history with Seiroku, and the girls’ talent show training that dipped into a distinctive gekiga animation style. Episode 12 is positioned to bring these character threads together as the season approaches its conclusion.
Things You Might Not Know About Sparks of Tomorrow
The light novel won a Kyoto Animation Award in 2017. The original novel 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku by Hiro Yuki received an honorable mention in the full-length novel category at the 8th Kyoto Animation Awards in May 2017. It was the only entry to win any award that year, and it was later published under Kyoto Animation’s KA Esuma Bunko imprint in August 2018.
Production was delayed for years. The anime was originally announced in 2018, but no updates followed until 2025. Production halted as a result of the arson attack at Kyoto Animation’s studio in 2019. The series eventually premiered on July 5, 2026, marking a significant milestone for the studio’s recovery and return to original television animation.
The series is set in an alternate 1907. The story takes place in the 40th year of the Meiji era in an alternate version of early 20th-century Japan where steam power still dominates and electricity is a dream rather than a reality. Kyoto is covered in constant smoke, and the visual palette for the city uses muted, dark, and brown tones to reflect this atmosphere.
The director’s debut was years in the making. Minoru Ota joined Kyoto Animation in 2009 and worked as an animator before making his directorial debut with Sparks of Tomorrow. He described the series as a “new era” for the studio, with a visual style that combines grimy, gritty backgrounds with intentional stylistic shifts.
Ginger Root contributed to the music. Musician Ginger Root (Cameron Lew) was involved in the series’ music and attended an Anime NYC panel where he praised the show’s punk rock performance scene, saying the generator overdrive and crunch immediately told him where the music was going.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does Sparks of Tomorrow episode 12 come out?
Episode 12 releases on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 23:00 JST on Netflix worldwide.
Where can I watch Sparks of Tomorrow episode 12?
Netflix is the exclusive worldwide streaming platform for Sparks of Tomorrow. The episode is not available on any other streaming service outside Japan.
How many episodes does Sparks of Tomorrow season 1 have?
The first season is scheduled for 13 episodes, with episode 12 serving as the penultimate installment.
What time does episode 12 drop in the USA?
The episode arrives at 7:00 AM PDT and 10:00 AM EDT on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Who are the main voice actors in Sparks of Tomorrow?
Yuma Uchida voices Kihachi Sakamoto, and Sora Amamiya voices Inako Momokawa. The series also features Koki Uchiyama as Yosuke Mizoe.
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