ABEMA's First Acquisition! Fantasy Swordmaster Series 'A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes the Sword Saint' Season 1 to Premiere Free in Full on ABEMA, June 22 (Mon)!

ABEMA, the 'New Future Television,' announces the first-time acquisition of the TV anime 'A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes the Sword Saint' Season 1, with a full free broadcast launching on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Based on the light novel by Shiguru Sagazaki, originally serialized on the novel platform 'Shousetsuka ni Narou' and published under 'SQEX Novel' (SQUARE ENIX), the fantasy series follows Beril, an unremarkable middle-aged swordsman running a dojo in a rural town. After reuniting with a former student who has risen to become the kingdom's knight captain, Beril is appointed as a special sword instructor for the royal knight order. Unaware of his own strength, he gradually reveals his unmatched swordsmanship to the world. Celebrated for its exhilarating sword action led by the 'strongest middle-aged man,' deep master-student bonds, and rags-to-riches narrative, the series has captivated a wide fanbase.

The first season of 'A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes the Sword Saint' will be available on ABEMA starting June 22, 2026, at 12:00 AM JST, exclusively for 'ABEMA Premium' and 'Ad-Supported ABEMA Premium' subscribers (※1).

Additionally, a full free broadcast of all episodes will begin on the same day, June 22 (Mon), at 3:30 PM JST. All episodes will remain free to watch for one week following the broadcast.

Don’t miss the thrilling sword fantasy of 'A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes the Sword Saint,' available for free on ABEMA.

※1 By subscribing to 'ABEMA Premium' (¥1,180/month, tax included), users can enjoy exclusive content and premium features such as 'Catch-up Playback' and 'Download Function.' 'Ad-Supported ABEMA Premium' (¥680/month, tax included) offers access to ABEMA Premium-exclusive content with advertisements.

First Acquisition on ABEMA! 'A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes the Sword Saint' Season 1 Overview

(C) Shiguru Sagazaki, Tetsuhiro Nabejima / SQUARE ENIX · 'A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes the Sword Saint' Production Committee

Streaming Start Date and Time: June 22, 2026 (Mon), 12:00 AM JST onwards

※ Available anytime for 'ABEMA Premium' and 'Ad-Supported ABEMA Premium' subscribers.

・ Full Free Broadcast!

(C) Shiguru Sagazaki, Tetsuhiro Nabejima / SQUARE ENIX · 'A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes the Sword Saint' Production Committee

<Broadcast Schedule & Program URL>

Broadcast Date and Time: June 22, 2026 (Mon), 3:30 PM JST onwards

Program URL: https://abema.tv/channels/abema-anime/slots/DLFurpi59iiXdh

※ All episodes will be free to watch for one week after broadcast.

[Work Overview]

〈INTRODUCTION〉

Beril Gardenant, a middle-aged, unremarkable sword instructor running a dojo in a remote countryside.

His days striving for the pinnacle of swordsmanship are long behind him, and he has made peace with his modest skills, living a quiet life—until one day, a former student, Alucia, now the captain of the royal knight order, returns after ten years.

"I’ve recommended you as the special sword instructor for the knight order, and it’s been officially approved."

Beril, who had resigned himself to a peaceful life in the countryside, finds his fate dramatically changing—!

City life. Reunions with former students who have grown stronger. New allies and powerful enemies.

"This is way too much for an old man like me who’s past his prime..."

Though Beril feels overwhelmed, his swordsmanship—forged through years of honest, relentless training—has quietly reached a level worthy of being called the "Sword Saint of the Countryside."

〈CAST〉

Beril Gardenant: Hiroaki Hirata

Alucia Citrus: Nao Tōyama

Srena Risandera: Hitomi Ueda

Kuruni Kurushier: Yūki Hirose

Fissel Haberla: Hinaki Yano

Mui Freya: Arisa Nakata

Lucy Diamond: Chiwa Saitō

Henbritz Drought: Kaito Ishikawa

Shupuul: Ryōta Ōsaka

〈STAFF〉

Original Work: Shiguru Sagazaki, Tetsuhiro Nabejima (SQEX Novel / Published by SQUARE ENIX)

Director: Akio Kachisu

Series Composition: Kunihiko Okada (Script: Kunihiko Okada / Satoshi Ozaki)

Character Design & Chief Animation Director: Satsuki Hayasaka

Assistant Directors: Nozomu Koga / Masaru Kawashima

Concept Design: Suzume Shima / Rei Yumeno

Color Design: Sakié Suzuki

Art Director: Taiki Yamashita

Photography Director: Ken'ichi Ikeda

3D Animation Production: YAMATOWORKS

Editing: Ayako Tani

Sound Director: Hisayoshi Hirazawa

Sound Production: Hayabusa Film

Music: Kōji Takagi

Music Production: NBCUniversal Entertainment

Animation Production: Passione × Hayabusa Film

Production: 'A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes the Sword Saint' Production Committee

About ABEMA

ABEMA, celebrating its 10th anniversary on April 11, 2026, is a video streaming service aiming to innovate television as the 'New Future Television.' Since launch, ABEMA has offered a registration-free, free-to-use internet TV experience, broadcasting around 25 channels 24/7, including 24-hour news, original dramas, romance reality shows, variety programs, anime, and sports—all pursuing 'highest quality or one-of-a-kind' content.

Boasting the largest number of original episodes among Japanese-origin video services (※), ABEMA also offers a rich lineup of new movies, popular domestic and international dramas, trending anime, live sports, and online concerts. With flexible viewing across TV, on-demand, smartphones, PCs, tablets, and TV devices, ABEMA continues to serve diverse lifestyles.

Additionally, 'ABEMA Premium' (¥1,180/month, tax included) offers exclusive content and features, while 'Ad-Supported ABEMA Premium' (¥680/month, tax included) provides access to premium content with advertisements.

(※) As of March 2026, based on internal research

For the latest updates, please follow ABEMA’s official SNS.

The 'New Future Television' ABEMA — Enjoy free videos and trending content at https://abema.tv/

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, ABEMA will launch special programs and the 'ABEMA 10th Anniversary Free Grand Festival,' among other year-long campaigns. Stay tuned for ABEMA’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

ABEMA 10th Anniversary Site URL: https://contents-abema.com/10th/