Sparks of Tomorrow, originally titled as , is a Japanese light novel written by Hiro Yūki and illustrated by , with art and backgrounds by Momoka Nagatani. Kyoto Animation published the novel under their KA Esuma Bunko imprint in August 2018. An anime television series adaptation also produced by the studio aired from July to September 2026.
Plot The novel takes place in the summer of 1907, the 40th year of the Meiji era in an alternate version of the 20th century Japan. Instead of the advancement of electrical power and innovations, technological progress was delayed and both was shaped by and relied on steam power—blanketing Kyoto in the resulting heavy smog.
15-year-old Inako Momokawa is the second daughter of a sake brewer in Fushimi, Kyoto. Deep within her heart hide the dreams and regrets over the loss of her mother and the overbearing nature of her father. Nothing she does ever comes out right, and she receives a scolding from her father every day. A deeply devout Shinto practitioner, her only relief is the trust she places in her prayers to the gods for salvation.
On one of her regular visits to the Fushimi Inari shrine, she met a free-spirited young man named Kihachi Sakamoto. Due to the loss of his older brother, Seiroku, he became distrustful and rejected the gods. Their vision of an electrical revolution crumbled with his brother's disappearance—along with Kihachi's "Electrical Catalog," a work of concepts about electricity he wrote as a child but that his brother took with him when he vanished. At the shrine, he boasted to Inako that he had no belief in gods and told her of his dream of the incoming "Age of Electricity," and told her to "believe in things you cannot see."
Inako suddenly brought up the topic of her forced arranged marriage, telling Kihachi that her father was one-sidedly making all decisions for her, and that she was about to give up hope. She told Kihachi that she gave up resisting her father's decision to marry her off because of how worthless she felt. Kihachi drew out her true feelings of wanting to be free of her family, and he resolved to help take her away from her confining home and father.
They decided that the only way to stop her forced marriage was to find Kihachi's "Electrical Catalog." With its current whereabouts unknown, they followed clues in their search that led to Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, all while fleeing Inako's marriage arrangement. As his innovations were revealed, they set about exploring the secrets of the catalog and got a glimpse into the future they were longing for.
Characters
A timid boy who has a knack of inventing machines. He originally dreamed of ushering in an age of electricity with his older brother Seiroku using the 20th Century Electrical Catalog, but was forced to repress it following the disappearance of Seiroku and the Catalog.
A trustworthy yet unassertive girl who is part of a family of sake brewers. She dreams of following her deceased mother's footsteps of becoming a sake brewer. She has unwavering faith in the gods and Buddhas, and frequently visits shrines whenever she is troubled.
A talented engineer and scion of a steam engine firm who aims to obtain the 20th Century Electrical Catalog by any means necessary, including an engagement to Inako. He once worked as a devoted assistant to Seiroku. A dashing, handsome man who wears his hair long and tied back, sports eyeshadow, and wears heeled, women's-style long boots.
Kihachi's older brother, who has a passion for electricity and aims to help usher a new age with Kihachi before mysteriously disappearing with the 20th Century Electrical Catalog during a war.
A former soldier and assistant of Seiroku who has imposing physical strength and is familiar with the 20th Century Electrical Catalog carried by Seiroku. He is also Noriko's fiancée.
Inako's older sister and Kengo's fiancée, who is skilled in martial arts and watches over Inako's growth, while also secretly possessing the 20th Century Electrical Catalog.
Inako and Kate's witty and cunning classmate who keeps a variety of tools.
Inako and Suzu's British-Japanese classmate who is full of energy.
Kihachi's shy cousin who is talented at drawing and is the heir to the boarding house which housed Kihachi.
Yosuke's loyal secretary and bodyguard who mainly serves as his guardian.
Inako and Noriko's father.
Inako and Noriko's deceased mother.
Yajiro's father and the uncle of Kihachi and Seiroku.
A maid in the service of the Momokawa family.
The pet ermine of Inako.
A university student who has a crush on Suzu.
Kate's British father and the mentor of Seiroku, Yosuke, and Kengo.
Media Light novel Written by Hiro Yūki and illustrated by with art and backgrounds by Momoka Nagatani, Kyoto Animation published the novel under their KA Esuma Bunko imprint on August 10, 2018 ().
Anime On July 27, 2018, KA Esuma Bunko's Twitter account announced that an anime adaptation of the novel would be produced and animated by Kyoto Animation, but the project's status remained unknown for years following the arson attack the following year, which destroyed Kyoto Animation's main production office.
On October 25, 2025, Kyoto Animation announced during its "KyoAni no Sekai-ten" ("Meet the Worlds of KyoAni") event that the anime adaptation would be a television series, titled and known in English as Sparks of Tomorrow. It is directed by Minoru Ōta, with series composition handled by , characters designed by Kohei Okamura, who will also serve as chief animation director, worldview setting handled by , and music composed by Hitomi Koto. The series aired from July 5 to September 27, 2026, on Tokyo MX and other networks. An advance screening for the first episode was held at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The opening theme song is "Eureka Evrika", performed by Luna Goami, while the ending theme song is "Soarin'", performed by Ginger Root. Netflix is streaming the series globally.
Episodes
Reception Sparks of Tomorrow won an honorable mention in the full-length novel category at the 8th Kyoto Animation Awards in 2017. The entry was the only one to win any of the awards available that year.
References
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