Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu


The Summer Hikaru Died

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Hikanatsu
Japanese: 光が死んだ夏
English: The Summer Hikaru Died
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Information

Type: TV
Episodes: 12
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jul 6, 2025 to Sep 28, 2025
Premiered: Summer 2025
Broadcast: Sundays at 00:55 (JST)
Licensors: None found, add some
Studios: CygamesPictures
Source: Web manga
Genres: HorrorHorror, MysteryMystery, SupernaturalSupernatural
Duration: 22 min. per ep.
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)

Statistics

Score: 8.021 (scored by 9306393,063 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #6892
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #1040
Members: 265,901
Favorites: 3,505

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8.02
Ranked #689Popularity #1040Members 265,901
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Episodes: /12

Synopsis

It has been six months since Yoshiki Tsujinaka's best friend, Hikaru Indou, went missing in the mountains and returned a week later with no recollection of what had transpired. Certain that it is not the Hikaru he knows who came back, Yoshiki finally asks Hikaru about it. Suddenly, "Hikaru" reveals his true monstrous form and begs Yoshiki to keep it a secret, as he does not want to kill him.

Despite his paranormal nature, "Hikaru" seems almost innocent, full of childlike wonder and eager to experience the summer heat, the countryside, and all kinds of other things in a human body for the first time. And for Yoshiki, it matters little if "Hikaru" is a fake relying on stolen memories—as long as he never leaves again. As Yoshiki desperately clings to "Hikaru" in his intense grief, it becomes increasingly clear that something dangerous and supernatural may have descended from the mountains into their village.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Characters & Voice Actors


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Opening Theme

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"Saikai (再会)" by Vaundy
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Ending Theme

1: "Anata wa Kaibutsu (あなたはかいぶつ)" by TOOBOE (eps 2-6)
2: "Hibi no Kage (日々の影)" by Yoshiki Tsujinaka (CV: Chiaki Kobayashi), Hikaru (CV: Shuuichirou Umeda) (eps 7)




Reviews

Sep 27, 2025
There’s no question in my mind that if not for homophobia, The Summer Hikaru Died would’ve been much more popular and in anime of the year discussions. The ratings show that for people who did go in with an open mind, this was incredible, but the fact the story is an analogy for repressed homosexuality and conforming to societal norms turned a lot of people off. Sadly, we as a society have began to accept yuri stories much more, but there’s still a stigma about a love story with two boys, especially one that acts as a social commentary like TSHD does. It’s a shame ...
Sep 27, 2025
Mixed Feelings
Summer Hikaru Dies – my rollercoaster of feelings 🌞💀

Episodes 1–3 had me thinking this was a solid 10/10 – the start is so haunting and beautiful that I was completely hooked. But as I kept watching… my score slowly slipped down to around 7/8.

It’s not bad at all – there are genuinely moving moments that almost make you cry and remind you why you started watching. But then there are stretches that feel a bit draggy and slow. (I kind of expected that after reading reviews of the manga – people did warn it can feel a bit meandering.)

Some scenes really hit; others feel like ...
Oct 16, 2025
FunnyFunny
ANTI VILLAGE PROPAGANDA! In a country like japan where villages are getting empty and everyone is going to cities to collect cash and make capitalists rich and destroy there traditions which was followed for thousands of years, series like this are one of the reasons for it.

Villagers are shown dumb, selfish, homophobic, patriarchal, superstitious, demon worshiping and human sacrificing people, seriously fells like manga author is some sort of missionary or something, he even added that in ancient time people who didn't like all of above mentioned stuff converted to Christianity.

Taking about technical stuff, brilliant animation and music, the only reason i could complete this ...

Interest Stacks

13 Entries · 20 Restacks
26 Entries · 2 Restacks
10 Entries · 5 Restacks

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Recent News

'Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu' Second Season in Production

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The 12th and final episode of Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu (The Summer Hikaru Died) ended with an announcement on Sunday that a second season is in production. The officia...read more

Summer 2025 Simulcast List [Update 8/7]

Summer 2025 Simulcast List [Update 8/7]

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Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 3 )
Stark700 - Aug 9, 2025
103 repliesby Vysarine »»
Jan 23, 9:53 PM
Poll: Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu Episode 10 Discussion ( 1 2 )
Stark700 - Sep 13, 2025
65 repliesby ceniceroconpatas »»
Jan 23, 7:11 PM
Poll: Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 )
Stark700 - Jul 12, 2025
220 repliesby Vysarine »»
Jan 23, 6:34 PM
Poll: Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 )
Stark700 - Sep 27, 2025
188 repliesby removed-user »»
Jan 18, 12:57 AM
Poll: Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu Episode 3 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 )
Stark700 - Jul 19, 2025
167 repliesby Treyv0n »»
Jan 14, 11:53 PM