The live-action omnibus series Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights has adjusted its premiere episode order just days before its July 3rd debut. Originally slated to be the second episode, "Lovesickness" (Part 1) will now kick off the series. The broadcast order for "The Mansion of Phantom Pain," which was intended as the premiere, has not yet been announced.
This change comes as the series prepares for a screening at Anime Expo 2026, where both "The Mansion of Phantom Pain" and "Lovesickness" (Part 1) were scheduled to be shown. It remains unclear if the convention's screening lineup will be updated to reflect the new episode order.
The series draws from 13 of Junji Ito's unsettling tales, including "Lovesickness," "The Mansion of Phantom Pain," "The Rib Woman," and "Tomio: Red Turtleneck." Notable cast members include Nijirō Murakami as Koseki in "The Mansion of Phantom Pain," Kanata Hosoda as Ryusuke Fukuda in "Lovesickness," and Yōko Maki as Kuriko in "The Bully." Directing duties are shared by Atsuhiro Yamada, Yūta Shimotsu, and Ryōta Kondō, with scripts overseen by Daisuke Hosaka.
Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights is set to premiere on TV Tokyo on July 3rd at 12:12 a.m. JST, followed by a broadcast on BS TV Tokyo on July 12th. The series features an opening theme by South Korean group IVE titled "Jigsaw," and an ending theme by 10CM called "The Darkest Night."
Source: Comic Natalie(https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2026-06-28/live-action-strange-junji-ito-tales-for-sleepless-nights-series-rearranges-episode-order/.239063)
