{"rewrite":{"id":"r_d7962fbe065f269cf8a6d6da","clusterId":"c_4db9c3455a112e74bd9cb758","slug":"grow-up-show-sunflower-circus-casts-yoshiyuki-yamaguchi-as-black-lotus","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus Casts Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi as Black Lotus","summary":"Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi has joined the cast of the original anime Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus as Black Lotus, the father of protagonist Mizuka and former leader of the Lotus Circus. The series debuted on July 4 on Tokyo MX, BS11, and other channels, with Crunchyroll streaming it and an English dub.","whyItMatters":"The casting of Yamaguchi as Black Lotus adds a key supporting character whose backstory as a legendary circus leader and Mizuka's teacher deepens the show's family and mentorship dynamics.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe official X/Twitter account for the original anime project Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus announced on Saturday that Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi will voice Black Lotus, the father of protagonist Mizuka and former leader of the Lotus Circus. Black Lotus taught Mizuka her circus acrobatics and is now wandering the world. The series, set in late 1950s to early 1960s Japan, premiered on July 4 on Tokyo MX and BS11, with Crunchyroll streaming it and an English dub. Tomoka Noda stars as Mizuka Tsurumaki, and Shiori Kurosaki plays Oka Kawasumi. Kanta Kamei directs, with Kurehito Misaki as original character designer and Takeshi Kikuchi handling series scripts. A-1 Pictures and Psyde Kick Studio produce the anime.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi joins Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus as Black Lotus, father of protagonist Mizuka and former Lotus Circus leader. The anime debuted July 4 on Tokyo MX and BS11, streaming on Crunchyroll with an English dub.","twitterPost":"Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi joins Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus as Black Lotus, father of protagonist Mizuka and former Lotus Circus leader. The anime debuted July 4 on Tokyo MX and BS11, streaming on Crunchyroll with an English dub.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi has been cast as Black Lotus in the original anime Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus. The character is the father of protagonist Mizuka and former leader of the Lotus Circus. The series premiered on July 4 and is streaming on Crunchyroll.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-04/grow-up-show-sunflower-circus-anime-casts-yoshiyuki-yamaguchi/.239312\",\"title\":\"Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus Anime Casts Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4339,"outputTokens":615,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1783222599,"createdAt":"2026-07-05T03:24:09.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-05T03:28:32.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-05T03:24:09.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_4db9c3455a112e74bd9cb758","canonicalTitle":"News\nGrow Up Show: Sunflower Circus Anime Casts Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi","representativeArticleId":"a_a0b6154c0a6679d0169bc86c","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[\"Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus\"],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-05T02:45:45.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-05T02:45:45.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-05T03:28:32.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-04/grow-up-show-sunflower-circus-anime-casts-yoshiyuki-yamaguchi/.239312","title":"News\nGrow Up Show: Sunflower Circus Anime Casts Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":["Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus"],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi"],"type":"news","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}