Cyborg 009 Nemesis Anime Reveals Yūki Kaji as Joe Shimamura and Full Nemesis Group Cast

The staff of Cyborg 009: Nemesis, the new anime based on Shōtarō Ishinomori’s legendary manga, has revealed that Yūki Kaji will voice the iconic Joe Shimamura (Cyborg 009) — the first returning character from the classic series to be announced. The announcement also unveiled the complete Nemesis group, a cast of nine new characters with an absolutely star-studded voice actor lineup.

The Cast

Yūki Kaji — best known as Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan, Meliodas in The Seven Deadly Sins, and Shoto Todoroki in My Hero Academia — takes on the mantle of Joe Shimamura, the leader of the original Cyborg 009 team and arguably the most recognizable character from Ishinomori’s universe.

The nine Nemesis members, who have been revealed weekly over the past two months on the anime’s website, boast an extraordinary lineup:

• Yūichi Nakamura (Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen, Gray in Fairy Tail) as Graviton
• Ayane Sakura (Ochaco in My Hero Academia, Yotsuba in The Quintessential Quintuplets) as Deps
• Maaya Uchida (Rikka in SSSS.Gridman, Yuno in Mirai Nikki) as Morphone
• Shion Wakayama (Momo in Dan Da Dan, Marin in My Dress-Up Darling) as Blitz
• Tetsu Inada (Kamina in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, All Might’s buff form) as Aspida
• Kikuko Inoue (Belldandy in Ah! My Goddess, Lusamine in Pokémon) as Opro
• Hiroshi Kamiya (Levi in Attack on Titan, Yato in Noragami) as Crack
• Yoshimasa Hosoya (Reiner in Attack on Titan, Asahi in Haikyuu!!) as Blizzard
• Rina Hidaka (Kobeni in Chainsaw Man, Renge in Non Non Biyori) as Mu

The sheer density of A-list talent here is remarkable — with Kaji, Kamiya, Nakamura, and Hosoya alone, the cast reads like a who’s-who of modern anime voice acting.

What Is Cyborg 009: Nemesis?

Unlike a simple reboot, Cyborg 009: Nemesis appears to be a new story set in the Cyborg 009 universe. While Joe Shimamura (009) returns as a familiar face, the nine Nemesis characters — Graviton, Deps, Morphone, Blitz, Aspida, Opro, Crack, Blizzard, and Mu — represent a new cast of cyborgs with their own unique abilities and roles.

The original Cyborg 009 manga, first published in 1964, follows a global organization known as Black Ghost that captures nine individuals from around the world and transforms them into cyborg soldiers. The cyborgs rebel against their creators and fight to dismantle Black Ghost’s plan to plunge the world into eternal war. The original 009 team each possessed unique superhuman abilities — Joe Shimamura, for example, has super speed.

Production Team

The anime is directed by Hideki Ambo at studio Arect, with screenplay duties handled by Atsuhiro Tomioka (known for his work on Pokémon) and CHARATEX. Character designs come from sanorin.

The theme song, “Taga Tame ni” (For Whom), will be performed by Kyōko from the rock band Barbee Boys. The song holds special significance — it was originally used for the 1979 Cyborg 009 television series, with lyrics written by Ishinomori himself. Bringing back this classic track for the new series serves as a powerful homage to the franchise’s roots.

Legacy of a Legend

Cyborg 009 holds a unique place in manga and anime history. Ishinomori’s original work predates his other legendary creation Kamen Rider and established many of the tropes that would go on to define the super sentai and transformation hero genres. The franchise has inspired multiple anime adaptations — in 1968, 1979, and 2001 — as well as films and OVAs including the 009 Re:Cyborg movie (2012) and Cyborg 009 Call of Justice (2016).

The fact that a new anime is being produced in 2026 — over 60 years after the manga’s debut — speaks to the enduring power of Ishinomori’s creation and its themes of identity, humanity, and resistance against oppression.

J-Hub’s Take

The casting announcement for Cyborg 009: Nemesis immediately signals that Ishimori Production and Arect are treating this project seriously. A voice cast of this caliber — with headliners like Kaji, Kamiya, and Nakamura — suggests a significant budget and a desire to attract both nostalgic fans and a new generation of viewers.

The decision to bring back the classic “Taga Tame ni” theme song is a particularly smart touch. In an era where many legacy franchise revivals struggle to balance nostalgia with modern appeal, using the original theme — written by Ishinomori himself — as the series’ musical identity creates an immediate emotional connection for long-time fans.

What remains to be seen is how closely Nemesis connects to the original 009 storyline. Joe Shimamura’s presence suggests some continuity with the classic series, but the nine Nemesis members appear to be entirely new characters rather than the original 009 team. This opens up intriguing possibilities — could Nemesis be set in the same universe but following a new generation of cyborgs? Or a parallel timeline where a different group of individuals are transformed?

What’s Next

Cyborg 009: Nemesis is slated to stream this summer (2026). With the full cast now revealed, fans can expect a trailer, additional promotional materials, and a specific premiere date in the coming weeks. The official website at cyborg009.jp will be the primary source for updates.