Mitsutaka Oji has a problem. The 43-year-old sales manager at a top interior design firm is respected by his boss, adored by his team, and seen as the definition of cool professionalism. He also cannot walk past a Pug Taro plushie without his heart melting. The anime adaptation of Tsutomu’s comedy manga Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki (known in English as Uncle’s Obsession with Cute Things) premieres October 4, 2026, and Crunchyroll is streaming it for audiences across the globe. This is the story of a grown man hiding his love for cute things from everyone he knows, and it is about to get a lot harder for him to keep that secret.
Release Date and Exact Streaming Times for Every Major Region
The first episode of Uncle’s Obsession with Cute Things debuts in Japan on Tokyo MX on October 4 at 10:00 p.m. JST. Crunchyroll will stream the episode for international audiences in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and the Indian Subcontinent. The anime also airs on BS Asahi and YTV on October 5, and on AT-X on October 8, with FOD handling streaming inside Japan.
For viewers outside Japan, Crunchyroll typically makes new episodes available shortly after the Japanese broadcast. Based on the 10:00 p.m. JST airtime, here is when episode 1 arrives in major time zones:
- USA (Eastern Time): October 4, 9:00 a.m. ET
- USA (Pacific Time) / Canada (Vancouver): October 4, 6:00 a.m. PT
- Canada (Toronto): October 4, 9:00 a.m. ET
- United Kingdom (London) / Portugal (Lisbon) / Ghana (Accra): October 4, 2:00 p.m. BST
- Central Europe / Spain / Italy / Poland / France / Germany: October 4, 3:00 p.m. CEST
- India (IST): October 4, 6:30 p.m. IST
- Japan / South Korea: October 4, 10:00 p.m. JST / KST
- Australia (Sydney) / Melbourne: October 4, 11:00 p.m. AEDT
- Australia (Perth): October 4, 8:00 p.m. AWST
- Brazil (São Paulo): October 4, 10:00 a.m. BRT
Viewers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, India, Germany, France, and across Europe can all watch the episode on Crunchyroll with subtitles. The series has also been confirmed for a broadcast on YTV and BS Asahi in Japan, but international audiences will rely on Crunchyroll for simulcast access.
Where to Watch and How to Stream Episode 1
Crunchyroll is the primary platform for international viewers. The service confirmed at AnimagiC 2026 in Germany that it will stream Uncle’s Obsession with Cute Things as it airs in Japan. Fans in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and dozens of other countries can access the episode through the Crunchyroll app or website.
Inside Japan, the episode will also be available on FOD, a Japanese streaming service. The FOD release will happen alongside the Tokyo MX broadcast. For viewers in Japan who prefer streaming over broadcast, FOD is the go-to option.
A Crunchyroll subscription is required to watch the episode. The platform offers a free trial for new users, and the episode will be available with subtitles in multiple languages. The anime is being produced by LIDENFILMS, the studio behind several well-known titles, with Tomoe Makino directing.
Episode 1 Story Breakdown: Mitsutaka Oji and His Hidden Life
Since Uncle’s Obsession with Cute Things is a brand-new anime, episode 1 is the series premiere. There is no previous episode to recap. Instead, the first episode introduces viewers to Mitsutaka Oji and the double life he leads.
Mitsutaka Oji is a 43-year-old division manager at COTRI, a publicly listed company that handles office interior design. He is handsome, well-mannered, and stylish. His superiors trust him. His subordinates admire him. Women find him charming. By every outward measure, he is the picture of a successful, put-together adult man.
What his colleagues do not know is that Mitsutaka is a devoted fan of Pug Taro, a rotund yellow pug mascot. He collects Pug Taro merchandise. He visits capsule toy machines to win rare Pug Taro figures. His happiest moments are spent at home, surrounded by Pug Taro plushies and goods. He has kept this secret for years, terrified that his love for cute things would undermine the professional image he has built.
The premiere episode follows Mitsutaka as he navigates the everyday struggle of hiding his obsession. A simple act of picking up a Pug Taro capsule toy nearly exposes him when he meets the gaze of a stranger. That stranger turns out to be Kenta Kawai, a man who shares his secret passion. Their meeting sets off a chain of events that slowly pulls Mitsutaka out of his isolation.
At the same time, Mitsutaka’s nephew, Masumi Nii, moves into his apartment. Masumi is a university student who needs a place to stay, and Mitsutaka cannot say no. The problem is that Masumi’s presence means Mitsutaka can no longer freely indulge in his Pug Taro collection. His secret is now one accidental closet door away from being discovered.
Episode 1 also introduces Wataru Naruto, a manager from a neighboring department who becomes Mitsutaka’s rival. Wataru is confident, competitive, and seems to have a hidden soft spot of his own. The dynamic between Mitsutaka and Wataru adds tension and comedy to the premiere as the two men clash at work while circling around the same unspoken truth.
Character Guide for Episode 1
Mitsutaka Oji (voiced by Kazuyuki Okitsu) is the heart of the series. A divorced man living alone, he finds comfort in cute things, especially Pug Taro. His childhood love for a soft toy given to him by his older sister grew into a lifelong passion. He dreams of sharing his secret with someone but fears judgment.
Pug Taro (voiced by Miyu Tomita) is the in-universe mascot that Mitsutaka adores. Pug Taro is a rotund yellow pug character who appears on merchandise, capsule toys, and promotional materials. Miyu Tomita brings the mascot to life with a voice performance that captures the character’s charm.
Kenta Kawai (voiced by Takuya Eguchi) is the first person who shares Mitsutaka’s interest in cute things. Their meeting is a turning point for Mitsutaka, who has spent years believing he is alone in his passion. Kenta is warm, open, and unapologetic about his love for cute characters.
Wataru Naruto (voiced by Yuki Kaji) is a manager in a neighboring department and Mitsutaka’s rival at work. He is confident and competitive, but he also carries his own secret. Yuki Kaji described his character as someone he grew very fond of during recording.
Masumi Nii (voiced by Ayumu Murase) is Mitsutaka’s nephew who moves into his apartment. Masumi is a university student, and his presence forces Mitsutaka to be more careful about hiding his Pug Taro collection. Ayumu Murase said he was impressed by how the original manga balances warmth and comedy.
The supporting cast includes Fuka Izumi as Bosskichi, Yurie Funato as Anne, Asami Tano as Carrie, Hinata Sato as Greapy, and Kaori Maeda as Rio Shigeoka.
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Cast and Staff Behind the Anime
The anime is directed by Tomoe Makino, with Yutaka Sato handling series composition and scripts. Yumi Kimura serves as character designer, and Arisa Okehazama composed the music. LIDENFILMS is producing the animation. YTE Ltd. is producing the series.
The main cast includes Kazuyuki Okitsu as Mitsutaka Oji, Miyu Tomita as Pug Taro, Takuya Eguchi as Kenta Kawai, Yuki Kaji as Wataru Naruto, and Ayumu Murase as Masumi Nii.
Takuya Eguchi shared his thoughts on working with Kazuyuki Okitsu: “Kazuyuki Okitsu’s portrayal of Mitsutaka Oji is truly remarkable. His energy brought incredible enthusiasm to every recording session, and I hope audiences enjoy the lively performances that came from such a fun production.”
Yuki Kaji added: “I was already a fan of Pug Taro, so I was excited to join the project. Since I rarely have the opportunity to play a character in this age range, I initially approached the audition as a valuable challenge. After being cast and completing the recordings, I’ve grown very fond of Naruto and his character.”
Ayumu Murase said: “I was impressed by how the original manga balances warmth and comedy. We worked hard to preserve that charm in the anime, and I hope fans enjoy the series.”
Theme Songs and Music
The opening theme song is “LIKE³” performed by Yūsei Yagi. The ending theme song is “Tōtoi♡Kaiwai” (meaning “Precious Neighborhood”) performed by Kaori Maeda, who also voices Rio Shigeoka in the series. The second promotional video for the anime previewed the opening theme and revealed the ending theme artist.
The music for the series is composed by Arisa Okehazama. The soundtrack blends lighthearted comedy with moments of genuine emotion, matching the tone of the source material.
Manga Background and Previous Adaptation
Tsutomu’s manga Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki has been serialized on the COMIC Polaris website since July 2017. It has been collected into twelve volumes so far. A live-action drama adaptation aired on Yomiuri TV in 2020, starring Hidekazu Mashima as Mitsutaka Oji. The live-action version ran for five episodes.
The anime adaptation was announced in November 2025 and is produced by LIDENFILMS. The series is part of the Fall 2026 anime season.
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