Animation

When Does March Comes In Like a Lion Season 3 Come Out? Is It Renewed?

March Comes In Like a Lion ended after Season 2.

IMDb

8.2/10

Seasons

2

Episodes

44

March Comes In Like a Lion poster

Diagnostics

Network
NHK G
First aired
2016-10-08
Last aired
2018-03-31
Runtime
25 min

Awards 7 wins & 20 nominations total

Predictive Logic Analysis

March Comes In Like a Lion has concluded its run. Production records list the series as ended, meaning the story has been brought to a planned close rather than left open. Barring a revival, there is no Season 3 in development.

What is March Comes In Like a Lion about?

March Comes In Like a Lion follows Rei Kiriyama, a prodigiously talented shogi player whose mastery of the ancient board game masks a deeper struggle: profound emotional isolation rooted in a childhood tragedy that orphaned him. At seventeen, he moves through Tokyo's world of competitive professional shogi as a distant, melancholic figure, mechanically pursuing victories while wrestling with loneliness and disconnection. The turning point arrives when he encounters three sisters—Akari, Hinata, and Momo—whose warmth and disorder offer something no amount of strategic brilliance could provide. Through their seemingly ordinary domestic moments, Rei begins a gradual, tentative journey toward healing and belonging, discovering that human connection may be the only match worth winning.

The show's greatest strength lies in its refusal to separate the gentleness of everyday life from the intensity of high-stakes competition. Rather than treating shogi as mere backdrop, the series uses the game as a mirror for Rei's inner state: calculated, precise, emotionally guarded. The animation captures both the meditative stillness of a match and the nervous energy of living in the city. Director Akiyuki Shinbo's visual sensibility brings remarkable tenderness to mundane scenes—a shared meal, a walk through autumn streets, the sisters' chaotic kitchen—while also conveying the psychological weight pressing down on Rei with subtle, masterful restraint. The show balances melancholy introspection with genuine humor and moments of unexpected warmth, creating a tonal experience that feels emotionally mature without ever becoming heavy-handed.

Critically, March Comes In Like a Lion established itself as a standout anime that appealed far beyond genre enthusiasts, earning consistent acclaim for its character depth, narrative patience, and artistic accomplishment. Its 8.2 IMDb score reflects strong audience affection for a show willing to spend time on emotional texture rather than plot mechanics. The series found particular resonance internationally, where viewers appreciated its sensitive portrayal of grief, recovery, and the subtle ways human connection can transform a life.

The show operates in a rare space within anime: a character-driven drama that treats its audience with genuine respect, refusing easy answers or melodramatic catharsis. It sits alongside other acclaimed anime dramas that prioritize emotional authenticity and visual storytelling, yet distinguishes itself through its specific fusion of shogi culture, Tokyo atmosphere, and a protagonist's quiet journey toward wholeness. March Comes In Like a Lion became proof that animation could handle intimate, understated storytelling with the same nuance as any live-action drama, leaving a cultural mark on viewers who discovered that the most powerful narratives sometimes move at the speed of falling leaves.

Is March Comes In Like a Lion renewed or cancelled?

Working against it

high

The series is listed as ended

March Comes In Like a Lion Season 3 Release Date

No new season is expected. March Comes In Like a Lion has ended, so there is no upcoming release to anticipate unless a revival is announced.

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Best & worst episodes

March Comes In Like a Lion seasons

Season 12016 · 22 ep
  • 1. Rei Kiriyama / The Town Along the River2016-10-08 · ★ 6.2
  • 2. Akari / Beyond the Bridge2016-10-15 · ★ 5.7
  • 3. Harunobu / Beyond the Night Sky2016-10-22 · ★ 6.0
  • 4. Hina / V.S.2016-10-29 · ★ 6.3
  • 5. Agreement / Over the Cuckoo's Nest2016-11-05 · ★ 7.0
  • 6. Child of God (1) / Child of God (2) / Child of God (3)2016-11-12 · ★ 6.3
  • 7. Child of God (3) (Continued) / Important Things, Important Matters / Teach Me How to Play Shogi2016-11-19 · ★ 5.7
  • 8. Teach Me How to Play Shogi (Continued) / Image / Distant Thunder (1)2016-12-03 · ★ 5.7
  • 9. Distant Thunder (2) / Distant Thunder (3)2016-12-10 · ★ 6.7
  • 10. Something Given (1) / Something Given (2)2016-12-17 · ★ 7.0
  • 11. The Old Year / The New Year2016-12-24 · ★ 6.0
  • 12. What Lies on the Opposite Shore / Black River (1)2017-01-07 · ★ 7.0
  • 13. Black River (2) / Beyond the Door2017-01-14 · ★ 5.0
  • 14. Blinding Darkness / Just a Little Water2017-01-21 · ★ 6.5
  • 15. Moonlight / Lump of Ego2017-01-28 · ★ 6.0
  • 16. Running Through the Night / Middle of the Slope2017-02-04 · ★ 5.5
  • 17. Silver Thread / Water's Surface / Base of the Blue Night2017-02-11 · ★ 5.5
  • 18. Torrent / Passing Time2017-02-18 · ★ 5.5
  • 19. Passing the Night / Kyoto (1)2017-02-25 · ★ 5.5
  • 20. Kyoto (2) / Kyoto (3)2017-03-04 · ★ 5.5
  • 21. When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom / Small Murmur2017-03-11 · ★ 5.0
  • 22. New School Term / Fighter2017-03-18 · ★ 5.0
Season 22017 · 22 ep
  • 1. Setting Sun / Ramune2017-10-14
  • 2. Chaos / Kumakura2017-10-21
  • 3. June / Ladybug Bush (1)2017-10-28
  • 4. Ladybug Bush (2) / Ladybug Bush (3) / Feelings2017-11-04
  • 5. Feelings (Continued) / Confession2017-11-11
  • 6. Small World / Letter2017-11-18
  • 7. Start of the Rainy Season / Hachiya2017-11-25
  • 8. Midday Moon / Adventurers2017-12-02
  • 9. Kingdom (1) / Kingdom (2)2017-12-09
  • 10. Silver Wings / River Scenery2017-12-16
  • 11. Where the Sun Shines / Small World2017-12-23
  • 12. Black Mist / Light2018-01-06
  • 13. Small Palm / In the Sun2018-01-13
  • 14. Flowing Away / White Storm (1)2018-01-20
  • 15. White Storm (2) / White Storm (3) / White Storm (4)2018-01-27
  • 16. White Storm (4) (Continued) / White Storm (5) / Restart2018-02-03
  • 17. Burnt Field (1) / Burnt Field (2)2018-03-03
  • 18. Burnt Field (3) / Burnt Field (4)2018-03-10
  • 19. Being Here / Summer Vacation (1)2018-03-17
  • 20. Summer Vacation (2) / New Year2018-03-24
  • 21. Passing Time / Spring Comes2018-03-31
  • 22. The Other House / Children of March Town2018-03-31

March Comes In Like a Lion trailer

March Comes In Like a Lion cast

View all cast →
Kengo Kawanishi

Kengo Kawanishi

Rei Kiriyama (voice)

Where to watch March Comes In Like a Lion

AI Verdict

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Verdict history0% → 0%
May 16May 31

March Comes In Like a Lion has ended. Its final season has already aired and no further seasons are expected.

Verdict updated 4 weeks ago

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    Frequently asked

    When does March Comes In Like a Lion Season 3 come out?
    March Comes In Like a Lion ended after Season 2.
    Is March Comes In Like a Lion renewed or cancelled?
    March Comes In Like a Lion has ended. Its final season has already aired and no further seasons are expected.
    How many seasons of March Comes In Like a Lion are there?
    March Comes In Like a Lion has aired 2 seasons so far.
    How many episodes of March Comes In Like a Lion are there?
    There are 44 episodes of March Comes In Like a Lion across 2 seasons.
    Where can I watch March Comes In Like a Lion?
    March Comes In Like a Lion is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll Amazon Channel.
    What is March Comes In Like a Lion's IMDb rating?
    March Comes In Like a Lion holds an IMDb rating of 8.2/10 from 4,028 votes.