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Crunchyroll Confirms Hana-Saku Iroha Simulcast
posted on by Gia Manry
The media-distribution site Crunchyroll announced on Monday that it would simulcast Hanasaku Iroha, anime studio P.A. Works' 10th anniversary project. According to the announcement, the series' episodes will be made available on Crunchyroll 90 minutes after their original broadcast in Japan, on Sundays at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). The series is scheduled to premiere in Japan on Sunday, April 3.
Crunchyroll's simulcast license includes the following regions: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Netherlands, Brazil, and Portugal. Paid subscribers can access the episodes on the simulcast date; free users will be able to watch the episodes for free one week later.
The project features original character designs by Mel Kishida (So-Ra-No-Wo-To) and an image song, "Patricia," sung by nano.RIPE. The story centers around Ohana Matsumae, a 16-year-old Tokyo native who ends up working with her grandmother at an onsen ryokan (hot spring inn). Matsumae has yet to decide her future.
Crunchyroll's lineup page indicates that 13 series may be announced for the spring anime season, including Hanasaku Iroha and Gintama'. Crunchyroll's application for the iPhone and iPad listed Hanasaku Iroha under its "Manage Notifications" feature earlier this month.
Update: Added background information, image, and press release.
Update 2: Added app listing information.
Update 3: Added lineup page information.
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