A popular manga about a detective hunting serial killers is becoming a live-action TV show. Fuji TV announced the adaptation of Tonight, I Have a Date with a Serial Killer on May 28, 2026. The Japanese drama will premiere on July 1, 2026. The show stars You Yokoyama from the idol group Super Eight and actress Nagisa Sekimizu.
The original manga, written by Kon Iguchi and illustrated by Yūji Nakamura, started in Kodansha’s Good! Afternoon magazine in June 2024. The series already has four volumes in Japan. The English version is available from Seven Seas Entertainment, with the first volume released on March 17, 2026.
The Story Follows a Detective and a Woman with a Deadly Sixth Sense
The plot centers on Shiro Isogai, a police detective who has lost everything. His fiancée Azusa Kawada disappeared, and he believes a serial killer murdered her. Isogai moved from the Detective Division to the Community Safety Division. He uses this position to access missing person records and track the killer himself. The character does not care about justice anymore. He only wants revenge. Isogai has stated openly, “If I find the person who killed Azusa, I will kill them.”
You Yokoyama plays Shiro Isogai. This marks his sixth time playing a detective and his first leading role in a Fuji TV drama. Yokoyama is best known for his work with Super Eight and movies like Eight Ranger and Kasane.
The female lead is Kuroi Hinata, played by Nagisa Sekimizu. Hinata has a strange power. When she touches a person, she can see the number of victims that person has killed. This “sixth sense” is both a gift and a curse. It makes it hard for her to trust anyone. She uses this ability for one purpose: to find the serial killer who murdered someone close to her.
“Many serial killers commit crimes based on their own unique obsessions and preferences. Hinata takes advantage of this characteristic, analyzing the commonalities among past disappearances,” the production team explained.
Hinata changes her appearance to attract killers. She pretends to be their ideal target. These disguises range from a tissue distributor on the street to a nightclub hostess. The show calls these her “seven transformations.” The contrast between her cute outfits and the dark subject matter is a key part of the series.
The Show Airs in a New Late-Night Time Slot
Tonight, I Have a Date with a Serial Killer will air on Kansai TV and other Fuji TV affiliated channels. The time slot is called “Suidora Eleven.” It airs on Wednesdays at 11:00 p.m. in Japan.
For viewers in the United States, that translates to 10:00 a.m. EDT on the same day. The show will have a total of 11 episodes. There is no official word yet on international streaming. But given Fuji TV’s partnerships with platforms like Netflix and Viki, an international release is likely in the coming months.
The Directors and Writers Have Strong Track Records
Three directors are working on the series. Hidetaka Sakamoto, Hiroki Inoue, and Toshimitsu Iizuka are sharing the job. The scripts come from Norikatsu Kodama and Kōta Edatsune. Music is by Licaxxx, a producer known for blending dark electronic sounds with pop melodies.
The production team has promised to keep the dark, tense feel of the manga. But they are also adding original elements. Since the manga is still being published, the live-action series will have its own ending. The show will focus on the back-and-forth banter between Isogai and Hinata to balance the heavy subject matter.
The Manga Is Still New but Already Popular
Tonight, I Have a Date with a Serial Killer is a recent hit. It only launched in June 2024. But it quickly gained a following for its unique premise. The story does not just focus on catching killers. It asks whether revenge can ever be justified.
In the manga, Hinata’s power shows her graphic images of the murders. This makes her ability painful to use. Readers have compared the dynamic between Isogai and Hinata to classic detective duos like Hannibal or Mindhunter. Both characters are broken. Neither trusts the other completely. But they need each other to succeed.
The second English volume of the manga comes out on August 18, 2026. Fans who watch the show first can then catch up on the source material right after.
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Why This Show Stands Out from Other Crime Dramas
Crime shows are common in Japan. But Tonight, I Have a Date with a Serial Killer mixes suspense with visual style. The “seven transformations” of Hinata bring a fashion element rarely seen in detective stories. The show also does not hide the fact that its hero is morally gray. Isogai is not a good person. He is a man who threw away his badge and his ethics for revenge.
The title itself is clever. It refers to Hinata going on dates with men she suspects are killers. Each episode may feature a new potential suspect. Viewers will have to guess along with her whether the man sitting across the table is a monster.
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Sources: Suidora Eleven X/Twitter account, Comic Natalie
