20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku
Japanese light novel
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20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku (Japanese: 二十世紀電氣目録, Hepburn: Nijuuseiki Denki Mokuroku; transl. '20th Century Electricity Catalog') is a Japanese light novel written by Hiro Yūki and illustrated by Kazumi Ikeda, 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, titled in English as Sparks of Tomorrow, premiered in July 2026.
| 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku | |
Cover of the novel | |
| 二十世紀電氣目録 (Nijuuseiki Denki Mokuroku) | |
|---|---|
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Hiro Yūki |
| Illustrated by | Kazumi Ikeda |
| Published by | Kyoto Animation |
| Imprint | KA Esuma Bunko |
| Published | August 10, 2018 |
| Anime television series | |
| Sparks of Tomorrow | |
| Directed by | Minoru Ōta |
| Written by | Tatsuhiko Urahata |
| Music by | Hitomi Koto |
| Studio | Kyoto Animation |
| Licensed by | Netflix (streaming rights) |
| Original network | Tokyo MX, BS11, ABC TV, TV Aichi |
| Original run | July 5, 2026 – present |
| Episodes | 2 |
Synopsis
The series takes place in an alternate reality where the innovators of electricity died before they could realize their accomplishments, causing steam power to become the dominant energy source. Set in Meiji era Japan, two individuals meet in Kyoto and uncover the secret of the 20th Century Electrical Catalog, allowing them the potential to realize the dreams they once had.
Characters
- Kihachi Sakamoto (坂本 喜八, Sakamoto Kihachi)
- Voiced by: Yuma Uchida[1] (Japanese); Hunter McCoy, Anjali Kunapaneni (young)[2] (English)
- 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.
- Inako Momokawa (百川 稲子, Momokawa Inako)
- Voiced by: Sora Amamiya[1] (Japanese); Audrey Hsieh[2] (English)
- 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.
- Yosuke Mizoe (三添 洋輔, Mizoe Yōsuke)
- Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama[3] (Japanese); Paul Castro Jr.[2] (English)
- 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. A dashing, handsome man who wears his hair long and tied back, sports eyeshadow, and wears heeled, women's-style long boots.
- Seiroku Sakamoto (坂本 清六, Sakamoto Seiroku)
- Voiced by: Daisuke Ono[3] (Japanese); John Choi[2] (English)
- 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.
- Kengo Kuga (陸 健吾, Kuga Kengo)
- Voiced by: Shunsuke Takeuchi[3] (Japanese); Jonathon Ha[2] (English)
- A former soldier and schoolmate 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.
- Noriko Momokawa (百川 規子, Momokawa Noriko)
- Voiced by: Minako Kotobuki[3] (Japanese); Courtney Lin[2] (English)
- 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.
- Suzu Harashima (原島 すず, Harashima Suzu)
- Voiced by: Yō Taichi[4] (Japanese); Cherami Leigh[2] (English)
- Inako and Kate's witty and cunning classmate who keeps a variety of tools.
- Kate Okura (大倉 ケイト, Okura Keito)
- Voiced by: Natsumi Kawaida[4] (Japanese); Cassandra Lee Morris[2] (English)
- Inako and Suzu's British-Japanese classmate who is full of energy.
- Yajiro Yagura (矢倉 弥治郎, Yagura Yajiro)
- Voiced by: Kazuki Ura[4] (Japanese); Caleb Yen[2] (English)
- Kihachi's shy cousin who is talented at drawing and is the heir to the boarding house which housed Kihachi.
- Izo Masubuchi (鱒淵 伊蔵, Masubuchi Izo)
- Voiced by: Daisuke Hirakawa[4] (Japanese); Jason Griffith[2] (English)
- Yosuke's loyal secretary and bodyguard who mainly serves as his guardian.
- Jinemon Momokawa (百川 甚右衛門, Momokawa Jinemon)
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Yanaka[5] (Japanese); William Salyers[2] (English)
- Inako and Noriko's father.
- Naeko Momokawa (百川 苗子, Momokawa Naeko)
- Voiced by: Mayumi Asano[5]
- Inako and Noriko's deceased mother.
- Bunshichi Yagura (矢倉 文七, Yagura Bunshichi)
- Voiced by: Daichi Endō[5] (Japanese); Brent Mukai[2] (English)
- Yajiro's father and the uncle of Kihachi and Seiroku.
- Tome (とめ)
- Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki[5] (Japanese); Debi Derryberry[2] (English)
- A maid in the service of the Momokawa family.
- Inari (イナリ)
- Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki[5]
- The pet ermine of Inako.
Media
Light novel
Written by Hiro Yūki and illustrated by Kazumi Ikeda with art and backgrounds by Momoka Nagatani, Kyoto Animation published the novel under their KA Esuma Bunko imprint on August 10, 2018 (ISBN 978-4-907064-88-4).[6][7]
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.[7][8]
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 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku Eureka Evrika (二十世紀電氣目録-ユーレカ・エヴリカ-) and known in English as Sparks of Tomorrow. it is directed by Minoru Ōta, with series composition handled by Tatsuhiko Urahata, characters designed by Kohei Okamura, who will also serve as chief animation director, worldview setting handled by Takaaki Suzuki, and music composed by Hitomi Koto. The series premiered on July 5, 2026, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[1][9] An advance screening for the first episode was held at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.[10] The opening theme song is "Eureka Evrika", performed by Luna Goami, while the ending theme song is "Soarin'", performed by Ginger Root.[4][11] Netflix is streaming the series globally.[12]
Episodes
| No. | Title [13][14] | Directed by [13] | Written by [13] | Storyboarded by [13] | Animation directed by [13] | Original release date [15] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Electric Boy" Transliteration: "Denki Shōnen" (Japanese: 電氣少年) | Minoru Ōta | Tatsuhiko Urahata | Minoru Ōta | Kohei Okamura | July 5, 2026 | |
|
In 1903, Seiroku Sakamoto encourages his brother Kihachi to come up with ideas to usher in an "Age of Electricity" amid society's reliance on steam power, showcasing him a light show with electric bulbs. Kihachi assists Seiroku through the 20th Century Electrical Catalog until Seiroku and the Catalog disappeared without a trace. Four years later, a disillusioned Kihachi resents Seiroku for abandoning him. He crosses paths with Inako Momokawa, the devout yet clumsy daughter of sake brewers who is skeptical of electricity. Inako returns home as Yosuke Mizoe, the heir of a major steam engine firm, demands for her marriage as leverage over her family's debt. Inako's father Jinemon is forced to accept, and Yosuke uses it as pretext to ransack the Momokawa estate in search of the Electrical Catalog. Inako's sister Noriko urges her to meet with Kihachi and gives the Catalog to her, much to her confusion. Inako heads to Kihachi's shop and witnesses his slide projector creation. Kihachi briefs Inako on the potential of electricity, leaving her in awe. Inako hands the Catalog to Kihachi when they are disturbed by Yosuke, who followed Inako to the shop. | |||||||
| 2 | "The Mysteries of the Catalog" Transliteration: "Mokuroku no Nazo" (Japanese: 目録の謎) | Ryo Miyagi | Tatsuhiko Urahata | Minoru Ōta | Kayo Hikiyama & Nobuaki Maruki | July 12, 2026 | |
|
A struggle ensues for possession of the Electrical Catalog until Yosuke's butler Izo Masubuchi subdues Kihachi and Inako. Yosuke leaves with Inako and the Catalog, but Inako conceals it in her robes and throws its storage case into a river. While Yosuke tries to retrieve the case, Inako is taken back to the Momokawa estate and locked in their storehouse. Noriko protests Inako's forced marriage, though Jinemon will not budge. Kihachi heads to the storehouse where Inako gives him the Catalog. While happy, Kihachi grows suspicious on the Catalog's missing second half and how Noriko acquired it. Kihachi encourages Inako to escape with him after noticing her disapproval for her marriage to Yosuke, and they flee on a kite he developed. Yosuke realizes the ruse and chases after the duo with Noriko's fiancée, Kengo Kuga, revealing they are Seiroku's former assistants. They recapture Kihachi and Inako before returning to the estate. Yosuke obtains the Catalog and tries to read it, only to see it being filled with Kihachi's drawings and writings. Believing it is fake, a furious Yosuke demands Kihachi on the location of the real Catalog. | |||||||