Suikoden II anime adaptation airing in 2026 will have a new name for the protagonist

During Tokyo Game Show 2025, Konami published more details about the upcoming anime adaptation of Suikoden II, which will be titled Suikoden: The Anime. The stream mostly revealed the Japanese voice cast behind the main characters. However, it more notably revealed Riliu as a new name for the protagonist, whose canon name had been widely regarded as Riou.

The event also divulged the background behind the name Riliu. It is taken from the Japanese version of the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi's line: Riryou Ganka no Tama (Pearl Under the Chin of the Black Dragon), which also means "An important thing that can only be obtained by risking your life".

In addition, Konami revealed the Japanese voice cast for the five main characters in Suikoden: The Anime, which is scheduled to air in 2026. As a side note, Katsuyuki Konishi and Yuichi Nakamura are also consistently voicing Viktor and Flik in Suikoden Star Leap.

• Riliu: Toshiki Kumagai
• Jowy: Shimba Tsuchiya
• Nanami: Ayumi Hinohara
• Viktor: Katsuyuki Konishi
• Flik: Yuichi Nakamura

As another note, the Suikoden II hero will not be the only one to have an alternate canon name. The first Suikoden entry is separately slated to have a live-action stage play set to run in Tokyo and Kyoto this December. While Tir McDohl has been widely regarded as the hero's canon name, the new stage play will have an alternate name in Rean McDohl.