BODY: The cats are heading back to the kitchen. "Ramen Akaneko," the gentle workplace comedy about a ramen restaurant staffed entirely by cats and one very patient human employee, will return for a second season under the title "Ramen Akaneko: Sono Ni" ("Ramen Akaneko: Part Two") in January 2027.
The announcement confirms what fans have hoped for since the first season charmed viewers in 2024: the entire original voice cast is returning. That continuity matters for a show built on the easy chemistry between its feline staff and human hire Tamako Sahara, whose deadpan acceptance of working alongside talking cats anchored the series' warm, low-stakes humor.
The headline addition is a new character named Jewel, voiced by Tasuku Hatanaka. Hatanaka, known for roles like Denki Kaminari in "My Hero Academia" and Yuga Ohdo in "Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens," brings a recognizable, energetic presence to the cast. Details about Jewel's role at the restaurant — or whether the newcomer is cat or human — were kept under wraps in the initial reveal.
Based on Angyaman's manga serialized on Shueisha's Shonen Jump+, the franchise has quietly become one of the platform's reliable comfort hits, blending food-anime appetite appeal with an absurd premise played completely straight.
The insider take
In Tokyo's crowded seasonal anime calendar, "Ramen Akaneko" occupies a valuable niche: the "iyashikei," or healing, slot. While streaming algorithms chase loud isekai and battle spectacle, Shonen Jump+ has steadily proven that low-temperature, character-driven comedies travel well overseas. Casting Hatanaka — a bankable name whose voice instantly signals "fun" to domestic audiences — for a brand-new character suggests the production wants Season 2 to feel like an expansion, not just a continuation. A January 2027 slot also gives the team a comfortable runway, a sign of confidence rather than a rushed sequel.
Originally reported by GAME Watch (Japanese).