diff --git a/changes/jimaku-auto-open-missing-subtitle.md b/changes/jimaku-auto-open-missing-subtitle.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..42a7e9cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/jimaku-auto-open-missing-subtitle.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+type: added
+area: jimaku
+
+- Added `jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing` (off by default). When a local video loads without a Japanese (primary-language) subtitle track, SubMiner pauses playback and opens the Jimaku modal; playback resumes when the modal closes.
+- Opening Jimaku while it is already open now reloads the title and episode if the video changed, instead of keeping the previous episode's search.
diff --git a/config.example.jsonc b/config.example.jsonc
index 5a3999e3..067e6de1 100644
--- a/config.example.jsonc
+++ b/config.example.jsonc
@@ -992,7 +992,8 @@
     "apiKey": "", // Jimaku API key. Optional but recommended for higher rate limits. Get one for free at https://jimaku.cc.
     "apiKeyCommand": "", // Shell command that prints the Jimaku API key to stdout. Used instead of apiKey to avoid storing the key in plain text.
     "languagePreference": "ja", // Preferred language used in Jimaku search. Values: ja | en | none
-    "maxEntryResults": 10 // Maximum Jimaku search results returned.
+    "maxEntryResults": 10, // Maximum Jimaku search results returned.
+    "autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing": false // Pause playback and open the Jimaku modal when a local video has no subtitle track in youtube.primarySubLanguages (Japanese by default). Values: true | false
   }, // Jimaku API configuration and defaults.
 
   // ==========================================
diff --git a/docs-site/configuration.md b/docs-site/configuration.md
index 936aabf6..bd0693c9 100644
--- a/docs-site/configuration.md
+++ b/docs-site/configuration.md
@@ -471,13 +471,14 @@ When SubMiner fills the sentence on a word card, it sets one card-type flag and
 
 Search and download Japanese subtitles from [Jimaku](https://jimaku.cc). See [Jimaku integration](/jimaku-integration).
 
-| Key                         | Default               | What it does                                               |
-| --------------------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `jimaku.apiKey`             | `""`                  | API key. Optional, but raises your rate limit              |
-| `jimaku.apiKeyCommand`      | `""`                  | Shell command that prints the key. Use instead of `apiKey` |
-| `jimaku.apiBaseUrl`         | `"https://jimaku.cc"` | API base URL                                               |
-| `jimaku.languagePreference` | `"ja"`                | Preferred language: `ja`, `en`, or `none`                  |
-| `jimaku.maxEntryResults`    | `10`                  | Maximum search results                                     |
+| Key                                         | Default               | What it does                                                                      |
+| ------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `jimaku.apiKey`                             | `""`                  | API key. Optional, but raises your rate limit                                     |
+| `jimaku.apiKeyCommand`                      | `""`                  | Shell command that prints the key. Use instead of `apiKey`                        |
+| `jimaku.apiBaseUrl`                         | `"https://jimaku.cc"` | API base URL                                                                      |
+| `jimaku.languagePreference`                 | `"ja"`                | Preferred language: `ja`, `en`, or `none`                                         |
+| `jimaku.maxEntryResults`                    | `10`                  | Maximum search results                                                            |
+| `jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing` | `false`               | Pause and open the Jimaku modal when a local video has no Japanese subtitle track |
 
 ### TsukiHime
 
diff --git a/docs-site/jimaku-integration.md b/docs-site/jimaku-integration.md
index 51af5f7a..03c2acda 100644
--- a/docs-site/jimaku-integration.md
+++ b/docs-site/jimaku-integration.md
@@ -37,17 +37,32 @@ The file is saved next to the video (or to a temp directory for streams) and loa
 
 You can also open the modal with `subminer app --open-jimaku`, or change the shortcut with `shortcuts.openJimaku`.
 
+### Open automatically when a video has no Japanese subtitles
+
+Set `jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing` to `true` to skip the shortcut. When a local video loads without a subtitle track in `youtube.primarySubLanguages` (Japanese by default), SubMiner pauses playback about a second after the video loads and opens the Jimaku modal, so you can pick a subtitle before watching. Playback stays paused while the modal is open and resumes when it closes, whether or not you picked a subtitle. On a cold start it resumes once subtitle processing is ready, as usual, and a pause you made yourself before the modal opened is kept.
+
+A single unlabeled sidecar file (such as `episode.srt` next to the video) counts as a Japanese track, matching how SubMiner auto-selects local subtitles. An embedded track with no language tag does not, so the modal still opens for it. Audio files, streams, YouTube, and Jellyfin playback are not checked.
+
+```jsonc
+{
+  "jimaku": {
+    "autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing": true,
+  },
+}
+```
+
 The file name parser understands `S01E03`, `1x03`, `E03`, `EP03`, and `Title - 03 -` patterns, and reads the season from a parent folder such as `Season 2`. It ignores bracket tags like `[SubGroup]` and year tags like `(2024)`.
 
 ## Options
 
-| Key                         | What it does                                                        |
-| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `jimaku.apiKey`             | API key in plain text.                                              |
-| `jimaku.apiKeyCommand`      | Shell command that prints the API key.                              |
-| `jimaku.languagePreference` | Sorts files tagged with this language first: `ja`, `en`, or `none`. |
-| `jimaku.maxEntryResults`    | Maximum entries per search.                                         |
-| `jimaku.apiBaseUrl`         | API address. Change only for a mirror.                              |
+| Key                                         | What it does                                                         |
+| ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `jimaku.apiKey`                             | API key in plain text.                                               |
+| `jimaku.apiKeyCommand`                      | Shell command that prints the API key.                               |
+| `jimaku.languagePreference`                 | Sorts files tagged with this language first: `ja`, `en`, or `none`.  |
+| `jimaku.maxEntryResults`                    | Maximum entries per search.                                          |
+| `jimaku.apiBaseUrl`                         | API address. Change only for a mirror.                               |
+| `jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing` | Pauses and opens the modal when a local video has no Japanese track. |
 
 See [Configuration](/configuration#jimaku) for defaults.
 
diff --git a/docs-site/public/config.example.jsonc b/docs-site/public/config.example.jsonc
index 5a3999e3..067e6de1 100644
--- a/docs-site/public/config.example.jsonc
+++ b/docs-site/public/config.example.jsonc
@@ -992,7 +992,8 @@
     "apiKey": "", // Jimaku API key. Optional but recommended for higher rate limits. Get one for free at https://jimaku.cc.
     "apiKeyCommand": "", // Shell command that prints the Jimaku API key to stdout. Used instead of apiKey to avoid storing the key in plain text.
     "languagePreference": "ja", // Preferred language used in Jimaku search. Values: ja | en | none
-    "maxEntryResults": 10 // Maximum Jimaku search results returned.
+    "maxEntryResults": 10, // Maximum Jimaku search results returned.
+    "autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing": false // Pause playback and open the Jimaku modal when a local video has no subtitle track in youtube.primarySubLanguages (Japanese by default). Values: true | false
   }, // Jimaku API configuration and defaults.
 
   // ==========================================
diff --git a/src/config/definitions/defaults-integrations.ts b/src/config/definitions/defaults-integrations.ts
index 5d60cef5..9cded309 100644
--- a/src/config/definitions/defaults-integrations.ts
+++ b/src/config/definitions/defaults-integrations.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ export const INTEGRATIONS_DEFAULT_CONFIG: Pick<
     apiKeyCommand: '',
     languagePreference: 'ja',
     maxEntryResults: 10,
+    autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing: false,
   },
   tsukihime: {
     apiBaseUrl: 'https://api.tsukihime.org/v1',
diff --git a/src/config/definitions/options-integrations.ts b/src/config/definitions/options-integrations.ts
index d0840ba9..43312262 100644
--- a/src/config/definitions/options-integrations.ts
+++ b/src/config/definitions/options-integrations.ts
@@ -467,6 +467,13 @@ export function buildIntegrationConfigOptionRegistry(
       defaultValue: defaultConfig.jimaku.maxEntryResults,
       description: 'Maximum Jimaku search results returned.',
     },
+    {
+      path: 'jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing',
+      kind: 'boolean',
+      defaultValue: defaultConfig.jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing,
+      description:
+        'Pause playback and open the Jimaku modal when a local video has no subtitle track in youtube.primarySubLanguages (Japanese by default).',
+    },
     {
       path: 'tsukihime.apiBaseUrl',
       kind: 'string',
diff --git a/src/config/resolve/integrations.test.ts b/src/config/resolve/integrations.test.ts
index 377e4e78..1deb1f63 100644
--- a/src/config/resolve/integrations.test.ts
+++ b/src/config/resolve/integrations.test.ts
@@ -57,3 +57,18 @@ test('resolveConfig warns for invalid mpv launch mode', () => {
     message: "Expected one of: 'normal', 'maximized', 'fullscreen'.",
   });
 });
+
+test('resolveConfig parses the Jimaku auto-open toggle and warns on non-boolean values', () => {
+  const enabled = resolveConfig({ jimaku: { autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing: true } });
+  assert.equal(enabled.resolved.jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing, true);
+  assert.deepEqual(enabled.warnings, []);
+
+  const invalid = resolveConfig({
+    jimaku: { autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing: 'sometimes' as never },
+  });
+  assert.equal(invalid.resolved.jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing, false);
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    invalid.warnings.map((warning) => warning.path),
+    ['jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing'],
+  );
+});
diff --git a/src/config/resolve/subtitle-domains.ts b/src/config/resolve/subtitle-domains.ts
index 0c92e882..1148d648 100644
--- a/src/config/resolve/subtitle-domains.ts
+++ b/src/config/resolve/subtitle-domains.ts
@@ -90,6 +90,18 @@ export function applySubtitleDomainConfig(context: ResolveContext): void {
         'Expected positive number.',
       );
     }
+
+    const autoOpen = asBoolean(src.jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing);
+    if (autoOpen !== undefined) {
+      resolved.jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing = autoOpen;
+    } else if (src.jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing !== undefined) {
+      warn(
+        'jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing',
+        src.jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing,
+        resolved.jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing,
+        'Expected boolean.',
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   const currentTsukihimeSource = isObject(src.tsukihime) ? src.tsukihime : null;
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 13d54621..7257c908 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ import {
 } from './main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate';
 import { isVisibleOverlayAutoplayTargetReady } from './main/runtime/visible-overlay-autoplay-readiness';
 import { createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime } from './main/runtime/local-subtitle-selection';
+import { createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime } from './main/runtime/jimaku-auto-open';
 import { createWindowsMpvPluginDetectionRuntime } from './main/runtime/windows-mpv-plugin-detection';
 import { refreshManagedCommandLineLauncher } from './main/runtime/command-line-launcher';
 import { applyLoginShellPath } from './main/runtime/login-shell-path';
@@ -739,6 +740,8 @@ const autoplayReadyGate = createAutoplayReadyGate({
   },
   // Deferred: isTokenizationWarmupReady is assigned during composeMpvRuntimeHandlers below.
   isTokenizationReady: () => isTokenizationWarmupReady(),
+  // Deferred: jimakuAutoOpenRuntime is created right after this gate.
+  isPlaybackHeld: () => jimakuAutoOpenRuntime.isHoldingPlayback(),
   requestOverlayPointerRecovery: () => {
     if (process.platform !== 'darwin' || !overlayManager.getVisibleOverlayVisible()) {
       return;
@@ -785,6 +788,29 @@ const managedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime = createManagedLocalSubtitleSelection
   schedule: (callback, delayMs) => setTimeout(callback, delayMs),
   clearScheduled: (timer) => clearTimeout(timer),
 });
+const jimakuAutoOpenRuntime = createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime({
+  isEnabled: () => configService.getConfig().jimaku.autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing,
+  getCurrentMediaPath: () => appState.currentMediaPath,
+  getMpvClient: () => appState.mpvClient,
+  getPrimarySubtitleLanguages: () => configService.getConfig().youtube.primarySubLanguages,
+  isPlaybackPaused: () => appState.playbackPaused,
+  pausePlayback: () => {
+    sendMpvCommandRuntime(appState.mpvClient, ['set_property', 'pause', 'yes']);
+  },
+  holdPluginAutoplayGate: () => {
+    sendMpvCommandRuntime(appState.mpvClient, ['script-message', 'subminer-autoplay-hold']);
+  },
+  endHold: ({ undoPause }) => {
+    // Readiness deferred during the hold goes through the normal release (plugin + unpause).
+    autoplayReadyGate.flushPendingAutoplayReadySignal();
+    if (undoPause) {
+      sendMpvCommandRuntime(appState.mpvClient, ['set_property', 'pause', 'no']);
+    }
+  },
+  openJimaku: () => overlayModals.openJimakuOverlay(),
+  schedule: (callback, delayMs) => setTimeout(callback, delayMs),
+  clearScheduled: (timer) => clearTimeout(timer),
+});
 
 const {
   resolveBundledMpvRuntimePluginEntrypoint,
@@ -1034,6 +1060,7 @@ const overlay = createOverlayAssembly({
   getOverlayNotifications: () => overlayNotificationsRuntime,
   getOverlayVisibilityComposer: () => overlayVisibilityComposer,
   getMediaTimingReviewRuntime: () => mining.mediaTimingReviewRuntime,
+  getJimakuAutoOpenRuntime: () => jimakuAutoOpenRuntime,
   getSubtitleProcessingController: () => subtitleProcessingController,
   getAutoplaySubtitlePriming: () => autoplaySubtitlePrimingRuntime,
   ensureOverlayMpvSubtitlesHidden: () => ensureOverlayMpvSubtitlesHidden(),
@@ -1768,6 +1795,7 @@ const playback = createPlaybackAssembly({
   currentMediaTokenizationGate,
   startupOsdSequencer,
   managedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime,
+  jimakuAutoOpenRuntime,
   mediaTimingReviewRuntime: mining.mediaTimingReviewRuntime,
   discordPresenceRuntime,
   immersionMediaRuntime: stats.immersionMediaRuntime,
diff --git a/src/main/assemblies/overlay-modals.ts b/src/main/assemblies/overlay-modals.ts
index bd1b5bbf..59078232 100644
--- a/src/main/assemblies/overlay-modals.ts
+++ b/src/main/assemblies/overlay-modals.ts
@@ -69,20 +69,22 @@ export function createOverlayModalsAssembly(deps: OverlayModalsAssemblyDeps) {
     openModal: (deps: ReturnType<typeof createOverlayHostedModalOpenDeps>) => Promise<boolean>,
     unavailableMessage: string,
     failureLogMessage: string,
-  ): void {
-    void openModal(createOverlayHostedModalOpenDeps())
+  ): Promise<boolean> {
+    return openModal(createOverlayHostedModalOpenDeps())
       .then((opened) => {
         if (!opened) {
           deps.getOverlayNotifications().showConfiguredStatusNotification(unavailableMessage, {
             variant: 'warning',
           });
         }
+        return opened;
       })
       .catch((error) => {
         logger.error(failureLogMessage, error);
         deps.getOverlayNotifications().showConfiguredStatusNotification(unavailableMessage, {
           variant: 'error',
         });
+        return false;
       });
   }
 
@@ -94,8 +96,9 @@ export function createOverlayModalsAssembly(deps: OverlayModalsAssemblyDeps) {
     );
   }
 
-  function openJimakuOverlay(): void {
-    openOverlayHostedModalWithOsd(
+  /** Resolves to whether the modal acknowledged opening; failures are already reported. */
+  function openJimakuOverlay(): Promise<boolean> {
+    return openOverlayHostedModalWithOsd(
       openJimakuModalRuntime,
       'Jimaku overlay unavailable.',
       'Failed to open Jimaku overlay.',
diff --git a/src/main/assemblies/overlay.test.ts b/src/main/assemblies/overlay.test.ts
index 76f8356d..d41e58b9 100644
--- a/src/main/assemblies/overlay.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/assemblies/overlay.test.ts
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ function makeDeps(recorder: Recorder, state: FixtureState) {
     getMediaTimingReviewRuntime: spy('getMediaTimingReviewRuntime', () => ({
       dispose: spy('mediaTimingReview.dispose', resolved),
     })),
+    getJimakuAutoOpenRuntime: spy('getJimakuAutoOpenRuntime', () => ({
+      handleJimakuModalOpened: spy('jimakuAutoOpen.handleJimakuModalOpened', noop),
+      handleJimakuModalClosed: spy('jimakuAutoOpen.handleJimakuModalClosed', noop),
+    })),
     getSubtitleProcessingController: spy('getSubtitleProcessingController', () => ({
       refreshCurrentSubtitle: spy('subtitle.refreshCurrent', () => true),
     })),
diff --git a/src/main/assemblies/overlay.ts b/src/main/assemblies/overlay.ts
index 86e78594..5cb9db9e 100644
--- a/src/main/assemblies/overlay.ts
+++ b/src/main/assemblies/overlay.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { createLinuxOverlayModeRuntime } from '../runtime/linux-overlay-mode-run
 import { shouldRunLinuxOverlayZOrderKeepAlive } from '../runtime/linux-overlay-zorder-keepalive';
 import { focusMacOSOverlayWindow } from '../runtime/macos-overlay-window-focus';
 import type { createMediaTimingReviewRuntime } from '../runtime/media-timing-review';
+import type { createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime } from '../runtime/jimaku-auto-open';
 import type { createOverlayModalInputState } from '../runtime/overlay-modal-input-state';
 import type { createOverlayGeometryRuntime } from '../runtime/overlay-geometry-runtime';
 import type { createOverlayNotificationsRuntime } from '../runtime/overlay-notifications-runtime';
@@ -125,6 +126,10 @@ export interface OverlayAssemblyDeps {
     ReturnType<typeof createMediaTimingReviewRuntime>,
     'dispose'
   >;
+  getJimakuAutoOpenRuntime: () => Pick<
+    ReturnType<typeof createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime>,
+    'handleJimakuModalOpened' | 'handleJimakuModalClosed'
+  >;
   getSubtitleProcessingController: () => Pick<
     PlaybackAssembly['subtitleProcessingController'],
     'refreshCurrentSubtitle'
@@ -331,6 +336,8 @@ export function createOverlayAssembly(deps: OverlayAssemblyDeps) {
               return;
             }
             void deps.getMediaTimingReviewRuntime().dispose();
+            // A destroyed modal window never reports its modals closed.
+            deps.getJimakuAutoOpenRuntime().handleJimakuModalClosed();
             overlayManager.setModalWindow(null);
           }
         },
@@ -506,6 +513,9 @@ export function createOverlayAssembly(deps: OverlayAssemblyDeps) {
       if (modal === 'media-timing-review') {
         void deps.getMediaTimingReviewRuntime().dispose();
       }
+      if (modal === 'jimaku') {
+        deps.getJimakuAutoOpenRuntime().handleJimakuModalClosed();
+      }
       if (modal === 'subtitle-sidebar' && senderWindow === overlayManager.getMainWindow()) {
         deps.setSubtitleSidebarRequestedOpen(false);
       }
@@ -525,6 +535,9 @@ export function createOverlayAssembly(deps: OverlayAssemblyDeps) {
       if (modal === 'subtitle-sidebar' && senderWindow === overlayManager.getMainWindow()) {
         deps.setSubtitleSidebarRequestedOpen(true);
       }
+      if (modal === 'jimaku') {
+        deps.getJimakuAutoOpenRuntime().handleJimakuModalOpened();
+      }
       deps.overlayModalRuntime.notifyOverlayModalOpened(modal);
     },
     onOverlayMouseInteractionChanged: (active, senderWindow) => {
diff --git a/src/main/assemblies/playback.test.ts b/src/main/assemblies/playback.test.ts
index 9287da3b..a6051f94 100644
--- a/src/main/assemblies/playback.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/assemblies/playback.test.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ function makeDeps(recorder: Recorder): PlaybackAssemblyDeps {
       handleMediaPathChange: spy('localSubtitles.handleMediaPathChange', noop),
       handleSubtitleTrackListChange: spy('localSubtitles.handleSubtitleTrackListChange', noop),
     },
+    jimakuAutoOpenRuntime: {
+      handleMediaPathChange: spy('jimakuAutoOpen.handleMediaPathChange', noop),
+    },
     mediaTimingReviewRuntime: {
       deferPlaybackResume: spy('timingReview.deferPlaybackResume', () => false),
       cancelPlaybackResume: spy('timingReview.cancelPlaybackResume', noop),
diff --git a/src/main/assemblies/playback.ts b/src/main/assemblies/playback.ts
index e13138e3..ae2a52e4 100644
--- a/src/main/assemblies/playback.ts
+++ b/src/main/assemblies/playback.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ import type { createDiscordPresenceRuntime } from '../runtime/discord-presence-r
 import type { createImmersionMediaRuntime } from '../runtime/domains/startup';
 import type { loadSubtitleSourceText } from '../runtime/internal-subtitle-extraction';
 import type { createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime } from '../runtime/local-subtitle-selection';
+import type { createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime } from '../runtime/jimaku-auto-open';
 import type { createMediaTimingReviewRuntime } from '../runtime/media-timing-review';
 import type { createOverlayNotificationsRuntime } from '../runtime/overlay-notifications-runtime';
 import type { createStartupOsdSequencer } from '../runtime/startup-osd-sequencer';
@@ -122,6 +123,10 @@ export interface PlaybackAssemblyDeps {
     ReturnType<typeof createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime>,
     'handleMediaPathChange' | 'handleSubtitleTrackListChange'
   >;
+  jimakuAutoOpenRuntime: Pick<
+    ReturnType<typeof createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime>,
+    'handleMediaPathChange'
+  >;
   mediaTimingReviewRuntime: Pick<
     ReturnType<typeof createMediaTimingReviewRuntime>,
     'deferPlaybackResume' | 'cancelPlaybackResume'
@@ -240,6 +245,7 @@ export function createPlaybackAssembly(deps: PlaybackAssemblyDeps) {
     currentMediaTokenizationGate,
     startupOsdSequencer,
     managedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime,
+    jimakuAutoOpenRuntime,
     mediaTimingReviewRuntime,
     discordPresenceRuntime,
     immersionMediaRuntime,
@@ -683,6 +689,7 @@ export function createPlaybackAssembly(deps: PlaybackAssemblyDeps) {
         }
         currentMediaTokenizationGate.updateCurrentMediaPath(path);
         managedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime.handleMediaPathChange(path);
+        jimakuAutoOpenRuntime.handleMediaPathChange(path);
         startupOsdSequencer.reset();
         subtitlePrefetchRuntime.clearScheduledSubtitlePrefetchRefresh();
         if (!preserveParsedSubtitleCues) {
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate.test.ts
index acf997a6..953370c7 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate.test.ts
@@ -260,3 +260,69 @@ test('autoplay ready gate releases tokenized signals while tokenization warmup i
 
   assert.deepEqual(h.pluginSignals(), [PLUGIN_READY]);
 });
+
+test('autoplay ready gate defers readiness while held and releases it when flushed after the hold', async () => {
+  let held = true;
+  const h = createGate({ isPlaybackHeld: () => held });
+
+  // The one-shot warm release: nothing re-sends it, so it must survive the hold.
+  await h.signal('__warm__');
+  await h.runScheduled();
+  assert.deepEqual(h.pluginSignals(), []);
+  assert.equal(h.unpauseCount(), 0);
+
+  held = false;
+  h.gate.flushPendingAutoplayReadySignal();
+  await settle();
+  assert.deepEqual(h.pluginSignals(), [PLUGIN_READY]);
+  assert.equal(h.mpv.paused, false);
+});
+
+test('autoplay ready gate stops pending release retries once playback becomes held', async () => {
+  let held = false;
+  let connected = false;
+  const commands: MpvCommand[] = [];
+  const h = createGate({
+    isPlaybackHeld: () => held,
+    getMpvClient: () => ({
+      connected,
+      requestProperty: async () => true,
+      send: ({ command }) => {
+        commands.push(command);
+      },
+    }),
+  });
+
+  await h.signal('字幕');
+  held = true;
+  connected = true;
+  await h.runScheduled();
+
+  assert.equal(commands.filter(isUnpause).length, 0);
+});
+
+test('autoplay ready gate does not unpause when a hold starts while the pause read is in flight', async () => {
+  let held = false;
+  let resolvePauseRead: (paused: boolean) => void = () => {};
+  const commands: MpvCommand[] = [];
+  const h = createGate({
+    isPlaybackHeld: () => held,
+    getMpvClient: () => ({
+      connected: true,
+      requestProperty: () =>
+        new Promise<unknown>((resolve) => {
+          resolvePauseRead = resolve;
+        }),
+      send: ({ command }) => {
+        commands.push(command);
+      },
+    }),
+  });
+
+  await h.signal('字幕');
+  held = true;
+  resolvePauseRead(true);
+  await settle();
+
+  assert.equal(commands.filter(isUnpause).length, 0);
+});
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate.ts b/src/main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate.ts
index 704c8f90..e3cdbb1e 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/autoplay-ready-gate.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ export type AutoplayReadyGateDeps = {
   getMpvClient: () => MpvClientLike | null;
   signalPluginAutoplayReady: () => void;
   isTokenizationReady?: () => boolean;
+  /** True while another feature keeps playback paused on purpose; readiness must not resume it. */
+  isPlaybackHeld?: () => boolean;
   requestOverlayPointerRecovery?: () => void;
   onAutoplayReadyReleased?: (signal: AutoplayReadySignal) => void;
   isSignalTargetReady?: (signal: AutoplayReadySignal) => boolean;
@@ -169,6 +171,13 @@ export function createAutoplayReadyGate(deps: AutoplayReadyGateDeps) {
         if (!shouldUnpause) {
           return;
         }
+        // Checked after the pause read: a hold can start while that request is in flight.
+        if (deps.isPlaybackHeld?.()) {
+          deps.logDebug(
+            `[autoplay-ready] stopped release retries while playback is held for media ${mediaPath}`,
+          );
+          return;
+        }
 
         mpvClient.send({ command: ['set_property', 'pause', false] });
         releaseUnpauseSent = true;
@@ -193,6 +202,16 @@ export function createAutoplayReadyGate(deps: AutoplayReadyGateDeps) {
       pendingAutoplayReadySignal = null;
       return;
     }
+    if (deps.isPlaybackHeld?.()) {
+      // Deferred, not dropped: readiness may never be signalled again (the warm release fires
+      // once, and a video without subtitles emits nothing), so the hold's owner flushes it after.
+      if (setPendingAutoplayReadySignal(signal)) {
+        deps.logDebug(
+          `[autoplay-ready] deferred while playback is held for media ${signal.mediaPath}`,
+        );
+      }
+      return;
+    }
     if (!isSignalTargetReady(signal)) {
       const pendingSignalChanged = setPendingAutoplayReadySignal(signal);
       schedulePendingAutoplayReadyRetry();
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/jimaku-auto-open.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/jimaku-auto-open.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9fb2c0b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/runtime/jimaku-auto-open.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import test from 'node:test';
+
+import { createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime } from './jimaku-auto-open';
+
+const videoTrack = { type: 'video', id: 1, selected: true };
+const englishOnlyTrackList = [
+  videoTrack,
+  { type: 'sub', id: 1, lang: 'eng', title: 'English', external: false, selected: true },
+];
+const japaneseTrackList = [
+  ...englishOnlyTrackList,
+  { type: 'sub', id: 2, lang: 'jpn', title: 'Japanese', external: false },
+];
+const unlabeledSidecarTrackList = [
+  ...englishOnlyTrackList,
+  { type: 'sub', id: 2, title: 'srt', external: true },
+];
+
+const settle = () => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+
+function makeHarness(
+  overrides: {
+    enabled?: boolean;
+    mediaPath?: string | null;
+    trackList?: unknown;
+    trackListError?: boolean;
+    primaryLanguages?: string[];
+    openJimaku?: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  } = {},
+) {
+  const state = {
+    enabled: overrides.enabled ?? true,
+    mediaPath: overrides.mediaPath === undefined ? '/videos/episode-01.mkv' : overrides.mediaPath,
+    trackList: 'trackList' in overrides ? overrides.trackList : englishOnlyTrackList,
+    paused: false as boolean | null,
+  };
+  const events: string[] = [];
+  const scheduled: Array<() => void> = [];
+
+  const runtime = createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime({
+    isEnabled: () => state.enabled,
+    getCurrentMediaPath: () => state.mediaPath,
+    getMpvClient: () => ({
+      connected: true,
+      requestProperty: async (name: string) => {
+        if (name !== 'track-list' || overrides.trackListError) {
+          throw new Error(`Unexpected property: ${name}`);
+        }
+        return state.trackList;
+      },
+    }),
+    getPrimarySubtitleLanguages: () => overrides.primaryLanguages ?? ['ja', 'jpn'],
+    isPlaybackPaused: () => state.paused,
+    pausePlayback: () => {
+      state.paused = true;
+      events.push('pause');
+    },
+    endHold: ({ undoPause }) => {
+      events.push('end-hold');
+      if (undoPause) {
+        state.paused = false;
+        events.push('resume');
+      }
+    },
+    holdPluginAutoplayGate: () => events.push('plugin-hold'),
+    openJimaku: () => {
+      events.push('open');
+      return overrides.openJimaku?.() ?? Promise.resolve(true);
+    },
+    schedule: (callback) => {
+      scheduled.push(callback);
+      return scheduled.length as never;
+    },
+    clearScheduled: (timer) => {
+      scheduled[(timer as unknown as number) - 1] = () => {};
+    },
+  });
+
+  const runScheduled = async (): Promise<void> => {
+    for (const callback of scheduled.splice(0)) {
+      callback();
+    }
+    await settle();
+  };
+  // Reports a media load and runs the delayed check to completion.
+  const load = async (mediaPath = state.mediaPath): Promise<void> => {
+    state.mediaPath = mediaPath;
+    runtime.handleMediaPathChange(mediaPath);
+    await runScheduled();
+  };
+  const count = (event: string) => events.filter((entry) => entry === event).length;
+
+  return { runtime, state, events, load, runScheduled, count };
+}
+
+test('jimaku auto-open pauses, then opens the modal, for local video with no Japanese track', async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness();
+
+  await h.load();
+
+  assert.ok(h.events.indexOf('pause') < h.events.indexOf('open'));
+  assert.equal(h.state.paused, true);
+  assert.equal(h.count('plugin-hold'), 1);
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), true);
+});
+
+for (const c of [
+  { name: 'a Japanese track exists', overrides: { trackList: japaneseTrackList } },
+  {
+    name: 'a single unlabeled sidecar subtitle exists',
+    overrides: { trackList: unlabeledSidecarTrackList },
+  },
+  { name: 'the configured primary language matches', overrides: { primaryLanguages: ['eng'] } },
+  { name: 'the toggle is off', overrides: { enabled: false } },
+  { name: 'media is remote', overrides: { mediaPath: 'https://example.com/episode-01.mkv' } },
+  { name: 'the track list cannot be read', overrides: { trackListError: true } },
+  { name: 'mpv returns no track list', overrides: { trackList: null } },
+  {
+    name: 'the file is audio with cover art',
+    overrides: {
+      trackList: [
+        { type: 'audio', id: 1, selected: true },
+        { type: 'video', id: 1, albumart: true },
+      ],
+    },
+  },
+]) {
+  test(`jimaku auto-open does nothing when ${c.name}`, async () => {
+    const h = makeHarness(c.overrides);
+
+    await h.load();
+
+    assert.deepEqual(h.events, []);
+    assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), false);
+  });
+}
+
+test('jimaku auto-open checks each media load once and skips media that changed before the check', async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness();
+
+  h.runtime.handleMediaPathChange('/videos/episode-01.mkv');
+  await h.load('/videos/episode-02.mkv');
+  await h.load('/videos/episode-02.mkv');
+
+  assert.equal(h.count('open'), 1);
+});
+
+test('closing the auto-opened modal ends the hold and undoes its pause', async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness();
+  await h.load();
+
+  h.runtime.handleJimakuModalClosed();
+
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), false);
+  assert.equal(h.count('end-hold'), 1);
+  assert.equal(h.state.paused, false);
+});
+
+test('a pause that was already there is left to autoplay readiness when the modal closes', async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness();
+  h.state.paused = true; // e.g. the plugin's pause-until-ready gate, or the user
+
+  await h.load();
+  assert.equal(h.count('pause'), 0);
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), true);
+
+  h.runtime.handleJimakuModalClosed();
+  assert.equal(h.count('end-hold'), 1);
+  assert.equal(h.state.paused, true);
+});
+
+test('changing media ends the hold without resuming the new media', async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness();
+  await h.load();
+
+  h.state.trackList = japaneseTrackList;
+  await h.load('/videos/episode-02.mkv');
+
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), false);
+  assert.equal(h.count('resume'), 0);
+});
+
+for (const c of [
+  { name: 'resolves false', openJimaku: () => Promise.resolve(false) },
+  { name: 'rejects', openJimaku: () => Promise.reject(new Error('overlay gone')) },
+]) {
+  test(`when opening ${c.name}, jimaku auto-open undoes its own pause and leaves the plugin gate alone`, async () => {
+    const h = makeHarness({ openJimaku: c.openJimaku });
+
+    await h.load();
+
+    assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), false);
+    assert.equal(h.state.paused, false);
+    assert.equal(h.count('plugin-hold'), 0);
+  });
+}
+
+test('a failed open keeps a pause that was already there', async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness({ openJimaku: () => Promise.resolve(false) });
+  h.state.paused = true;
+
+  await h.load();
+
+  assert.equal(h.count('resume'), 0);
+  assert.equal(h.state.paused, true);
+});
+
+test('a modal that acknowledges after the open timed out re-applies the hold', async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness({ openJimaku: () => Promise.resolve(false) });
+  await h.load();
+  assert.equal(h.state.paused, false);
+
+  h.runtime.handleJimakuModalOpened();
+
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), true);
+  assert.equal(h.state.paused, true);
+  assert.equal(h.count('plugin-hold'), 1);
+});
+
+test("a Jimaku modal opened after the late-ack window is the user's own and does not hold", async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness({ openJimaku: () => Promise.resolve(false) });
+  await h.load();
+  await h.runScheduled(); // the late-ack window expires
+
+  h.runtime.handleJimakuModalOpened();
+
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), false);
+  assert.equal(h.count('plugin-hold'), 0);
+});
+
+test('a Jimaku modal opened without a pending auto-open does not hold playback', async () => {
+  const h = makeHarness({ trackList: japaneseTrackList });
+  await h.load();
+
+  h.runtime.handleJimakuModalOpened();
+
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), false);
+  assert.deepEqual(h.events, []);
+});
+
+test('jimaku auto-open ignores a late open result for media that already changed', async () => {
+  const pendingOpens: Array<(opened: boolean) => void> = [];
+  const h = makeHarness({
+    openJimaku: () =>
+      new Promise<boolean>((resolve) => {
+        pendingOpens.push(resolve);
+      }),
+  });
+
+  await h.load();
+  await h.load('/videos/episode-02.mkv');
+  const resumesBefore = h.count('resume');
+
+  pendingOpens[0]?.(false);
+  await settle();
+
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), true);
+  assert.equal(h.count('resume'), resumesBefore);
+});
+
+test('a close reported before the auto-open is acknowledged belongs to the previous modal', async () => {
+  const pendingOpens: Array<(opened: boolean) => void> = [];
+  const h = makeHarness({
+    openJimaku: () =>
+      new Promise<boolean>((resolve) => {
+        pendingOpens.push(resolve);
+      }),
+  });
+  await h.load(); // open sent, not yet acknowledged
+
+  h.runtime.handleJimakuModalClosed();
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), true);
+  assert.equal(h.count('end-hold'), 0);
+
+  h.runtime.handleJimakuModalOpened();
+  pendingOpens[0]?.(true);
+  await settle();
+  h.runtime.handleJimakuModalClosed();
+  assert.equal(h.runtime.isHoldingPlayback(), false);
+  assert.equal(h.state.paused, false);
+});
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/jimaku-auto-open.ts b/src/main/runtime/jimaku-auto-open.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c32c9817
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/runtime/jimaku-auto-open.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+import {
+  normalizeLocalMediaPath,
+  resolveManagedLocalSubtitleSelection,
+} from './local-subtitle-selection';
+
+// mpv lists sidecar and embedded subtitle tracks right after the file loads; the delay lets that
+// track list settle before deciding nothing matches.
+const DEFAULT_CHECK_DELAY_MS = 1000;
+// How long after a failed open a late modal ack still counts as the auto-open showing up.
+const LATE_OPEN_ACK_WINDOW_MS = 10_000;
+
+// Audio files report cover art as a video track; only real video means there is something to watch.
+function hasVideoTrack(trackList: unknown[]): boolean {
+  return trackList.some((entry) => {
+    if (!entry || typeof entry !== 'object') {
+      return false;
+    }
+    const track = entry as { type?: unknown; albumart?: unknown; image?: unknown };
+    return track.type === 'video' && track.albumart !== true && track.image !== true;
+  });
+}
+
+type PlaybackHold = {
+  pausedByHold: boolean;
+  // Set once the renderer acknowledges this hold's open. The renderer reports closes and opens in
+  // order, so a close arriving before that acknowledgement belongs to an earlier modal session.
+  acknowledged: boolean;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Opens the Jimaku modal for local media that has no subtitle track in the primary subtitle
+ * languages (Japanese by default), checking once per media load.
+ *
+ * While the auto-opened modal is up, playback is held: paused, and autoplay readiness is deferred
+ * instead of resuming it (`isHoldingPlayback`). Closing the modal, or failing to open it, ends the
+ * hold: deferred readiness is released and a pause this runtime added is undone, so playback
+ * resumes whether or not a subtitle was picked, but a pause made by someone else is kept. A modal
+ * that acknowledges shortly after a failed open re-applies the hold.
+ */
+export function createJimakuAutoOpenRuntime(deps: {
+  isEnabled: () => boolean;
+  getCurrentMediaPath: () => string | null;
+  getMpvClient: () => {
+    connected?: boolean;
+    requestProperty?: (name: string) => Promise<unknown>;
+  } | null;
+  getPrimarySubtitleLanguages: () => string[];
+  isPlaybackPaused: () => boolean | null;
+  pausePlayback: () => void;
+  /** Releases readiness deferred during the hold, and unpauses when `undoPause` is set. */
+  endHold: (options: { undoPause: boolean }) => void;
+  /** Keeps the mpv plugin's pause-until-ready timeout from resuming playback. */
+  holdPluginAutoplayGate: () => void;
+  /** Resolves to whether the modal acknowledged opening. */
+  openJimaku: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  schedule: (callback: () => void, delayMs: number) => ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
+  clearScheduled: (timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>) => void;
+  delayMs?: number;
+}) {
+  const delayMs = deps.delayMs ?? DEFAULT_CHECK_DELAY_MS;
+  let currentMediaPath: string | null = null;
+  let pendingTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+  // Media whose auto-opened modal has not closed yet; a late modal ack only counts for it.
+  let autoOpenedMediaPath: string | null = null;
+  // A fresh object per hold, so a late open failure only ends the hold it started.
+  let activeHold: PlaybackHold | null = null;
+  let lateAckTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+
+  const clearPendingTimer = (): void => {
+    if (!pendingTimer) {
+      return;
+    }
+    deps.clearScheduled(pendingTimer);
+    pendingTimer = null;
+  };
+
+  const clearLateAckTimer = (): void => {
+    if (!lateAckTimer) {
+      return;
+    }
+    deps.clearScheduled(lateAckTimer);
+    lateAckTimer = null;
+  };
+
+  const endHold = (hold: PlaybackHold): void => {
+    activeHold = null;
+    deps.endHold({ undoPause: hold.pausedByHold });
+  };
+
+  const startHold = (): PlaybackHold => {
+    const hold = { pausedByHold: deps.isPlaybackPaused() !== true, acknowledged: false };
+    activeHold = hold;
+    if (hold.pausedByHold) {
+      deps.pausePlayback();
+    }
+    return hold;
+  };
+
+  const openForMedia = async (mediaPath: string): Promise<void> => {
+    autoOpenedMediaPath = mediaPath;
+    const hold = startHold();
+    const opened = await deps.openJimaku().catch(() => false);
+    if (activeHold !== hold) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (opened) {
+      hold.acknowledged = true;
+      // Only once the modal is up: if opening fails, the plugin's own timeout must still resume.
+      deps.holdPluginAutoplayGate();
+      return;
+    }
+    endHold(hold);
+    // A modal that loads slowly can still show up; past this window an open is the user's own.
+    lateAckTimer = deps.schedule(() => {
+      lateAckTimer = null;
+      if (!activeHold) {
+        autoOpenedMediaPath = null;
+      }
+    }, LATE_OPEN_ACK_WINDOW_MS);
+  };
+
+  const checkMediaPath = async (mediaPath: string): Promise<void> => {
+    const client = deps.getMpvClient();
+    if (!client?.connected || !client.requestProperty) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let trackList: unknown;
+    try {
+      trackList = await client.requestProperty('track-list');
+    } catch {
+      // Never open the modal on an unreadable track list; a missing track is not proven.
+      return;
+    }
+    if (
+      mediaPath !== currentMediaPath ||
+      normalizeLocalMediaPath(deps.getCurrentMediaPath()) !== mediaPath ||
+      !deps.isEnabled() ||
+      !Array.isArray(trackList) ||
+      !hasVideoTrack(trackList)
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const { hasPrimaryMatch } = resolveManagedLocalSubtitleSelection({
+      trackList,
+      primaryLanguages: deps.getPrimarySubtitleLanguages(),
+      secondaryLanguages: [],
+    });
+    if (!hasPrimaryMatch) {
+      await openForMedia(mediaPath);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return {
+    handleMediaPathChange: (mediaPath: string | null | undefined): void => {
+      const normalizedPath = normalizeLocalMediaPath(mediaPath);
+      if (normalizedPath === currentMediaPath) {
+        return;
+      }
+      clearPendingTimer();
+      clearLateAckTimer();
+      // The gate drops readiness for the old media on its own; the new media is not paused by us.
+      activeHold = null;
+      autoOpenedMediaPath = null;
+      currentMediaPath = normalizedPath;
+      if (!normalizedPath || !deps.isEnabled()) {
+        return;
+      }
+      pendingTimer = deps.schedule(() => {
+        pendingTimer = null;
+        void checkMediaPath(normalizedPath);
+      }, delayMs);
+    },
+    /** The renderer acknowledged the Jimaku modal; re-holds when a timed-out auto-open shows up late. */
+    handleJimakuModalOpened: (): void => {
+      if (activeHold) {
+        activeHold.acknowledged = true;
+        return;
+      }
+      if (!autoOpenedMediaPath || autoOpenedMediaPath !== currentMediaPath) {
+        return;
+      }
+      clearLateAckTimer();
+      startHold().acknowledged = true;
+      deps.holdPluginAutoplayGate();
+    },
+    /** The Jimaku modal closed, or the window hosting it went away. */
+    handleJimakuModalClosed: (): void => {
+      if (activeHold && !activeHold.acknowledged) {
+        // A previous modal's close (e.g. the last episode's, reported just as this one opens).
+        // If this open never lands, its failure path ends the hold.
+        return;
+      }
+      clearLateAckTimer();
+      autoOpenedMediaPath = null;
+      if (activeHold) {
+        endHold(activeHold);
+      }
+    },
+    isHoldingPlayback: (): boolean => activeHold !== null,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/local-subtitle-selection.ts b/src/main/runtime/local-subtitle-selection.ts
index 53e389ef..42d10d43 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/local-subtitle-selection.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/local-subtitle-selection.ts
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ export function resolveManagedLocalSubtitleSelection(input: {
   };
 }
 
-function normalizeLocalMediaPath(mediaPath: string | null | undefined): string | null {
+export function normalizeLocalMediaPath(mediaPath: string | null | undefined): string | null {
   if (typeof mediaPath !== 'string') {
     return null;
   }
diff --git a/src/renderer/modals/jimaku.test.ts b/src/renderer/modals/jimaku.test.ts
index e8e59ed7..4dc1a727 100644
--- a/src/renderer/modals/jimaku.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/modals/jimaku.test.ts
@@ -573,3 +573,166 @@ test('media info arriving after the modal closed does not fill inputs or search'
     Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'document', { configurable: true, value: previousDocument });
   }
 });
+
+type MediaInfoFixture = { filename: string; season: number; episode: number };
+
+const mediaInfo = (info: MediaInfoFixture) => ({
+  ...info,
+  title: 'Show',
+  confidence: 'medium',
+  rawTitle: info.filename,
+});
+
+// A Jimaku modal whose media-info replies are either immediate (`current`) or held until a test
+// resolves them (`deferReplies`), to drive re-open and reply-ordering races.
+async function withReopenHarness(
+  run: (h: {
+    modal: ReturnType<typeof createJimakuModal>;
+    episodeInput: { value: string };
+    setCurrent: (info: MediaInfoFixture) => void;
+    deferReplies: () => void;
+    pendingReplies: Array<(info: MediaInfoFixture) => void>;
+    pressEnter: () => void;
+  }) => Promise<void>,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const globals = globalThis as typeof globalThis & { window?: unknown; document?: unknown };
+  const previousWindow = globals.window;
+  const previousDocument = globals.document;
+
+  let current = mediaInfo({ filename: '01.mkv', season: 1, episode: 1 });
+  let deferred = false;
+  const pendingReplies: Array<(info: MediaInfoFixture) => void> = [];
+  const electronAPI = {
+    getJimakuMediaInfo: () =>
+      deferred
+        ? new Promise((resolve) => pendingReplies.push((info) => resolve(mediaInfo(info))))
+        : Promise.resolve(current),
+    jimakuSearchEntries: async () => ({ ok: true, data: [] }),
+    notifyOverlayModalClosed: () => {},
+  } as unknown as ElectronAPI;
+  Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'window', { configurable: true, value: { electronAPI } });
+  Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'document', {
+    configurable: true,
+    value: { activeElement: null, createElement: () => createElementStub() },
+  });
+
+  try {
+    const episodeInput = { value: '' };
+    const ctx = {
+      dom: {
+        overlay: { classList: createClassList() },
+        jimakuModal: { classList: createClassList(['hidden']), setAttribute: () => {} },
+        jimakuTitleInput: { value: '' },
+        jimakuSeasonInput: { value: '' },
+        jimakuEpisodeInput: episodeInput,
+        jimakuSearchButton: { addEventListener: () => {} },
+        jimakuCloseButton: { addEventListener: () => {} },
+        jimakuStatus: { textContent: '', style: { color: '' } },
+        jimakuEntriesSection: { classList: createClassList(['hidden']) },
+        jimakuEntriesList: createListStub(),
+        jimakuFilesSection: { classList: createClassList(['hidden']) },
+        jimakuFilesList: createListStub(),
+        jimakuBroadenButton: { classList: createClassList(['hidden']), addEventListener: () => {} },
+        jimakuTabAnimeButton: { classList: createClassList(['active']), setAttribute: () => {} },
+        jimakuTabLiveActionButton: { classList: createClassList(), setAttribute: () => {} },
+      },
+      state: createRendererState(),
+    };
+    const modal = createJimakuModal(ctx as never, {
+      modalStateReader: { isAnyModalOpen: () => false },
+      syncSettingsModalSubtitleSuppression: () => {},
+    });
+
+    await run({
+      modal,
+      episodeInput,
+      setCurrent: (info) => {
+        current = mediaInfo(info);
+      },
+      deferReplies: () => {
+        deferred = true;
+      },
+      pendingReplies,
+      // Enter with no results and no focused input starts a search with the current inputs.
+      pressEnter: () => {
+        modal.handleJimakuKeydown({ key: 'Enter', preventDefault: () => {} } as KeyboardEvent);
+      },
+    });
+  } finally {
+    Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'window', { configurable: true, value: previousWindow });
+    Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'document', { configurable: true, value: previousDocument });
+  }
+}
+
+for (const c of [
+  {
+    name: 'reloads media info when the video changed',
+    next: { filename: '02.mkv', season: 1, episode: 2 },
+    reloads: true,
+  },
+  {
+    name: 'reloads media info for the same file name in another season',
+    next: { filename: '01.mkv', season: 2, episode: 1 },
+    reloads: true,
+  },
+  {
+    name: 'keeps the current search for the same video',
+    next: { filename: '01.mkv', season: 1, episode: 1 },
+    reloads: false,
+  },
+]) {
+  test(`re-opening the open Jimaku modal ${c.name}`, async () => {
+    await withReopenHarness(async (h) => {
+      h.modal.openJimakuModal();
+      await flushAsyncWork();
+      h.episodeInput.value = '7'; // the user's own edit
+      h.setCurrent(c.next);
+      h.modal.openJimakuModal();
+      await flushAsyncWork();
+      await flushAsyncWork();
+
+      assert.equal(h.episodeInput.value, c.reloads ? String(c.next.episode) : '7');
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+test('a search started during a changed-video refresh does not cancel the refresh', async () => {
+  await withReopenHarness(async (h) => {
+    h.modal.openJimakuModal();
+    await flushAsyncWork();
+    h.deferReplies();
+
+    h.modal.openJimakuModal(); // refresh request now pending
+    h.pressEnter();
+    await flushAsyncWork();
+    h.pendingReplies.shift()?.({ filename: '02.mkv', season: 1, episode: 2 });
+    await flushAsyncWork();
+    h.pendingReplies.shift()?.({ filename: '02.mkv', season: 1, episode: 2 }); // the reload
+    await flushAsyncWork();
+
+    assert.equal(h.episodeInput.value, '2');
+  });
+});
+
+test('a stale media-info reply from an earlier open does not make the current video look changed', async () => {
+  await withReopenHarness(async (h) => {
+    h.deferReplies();
+    h.modal.openJimakuModal(); // load for episode 1 stays pending
+    h.modal.closeJimakuModal();
+    h.modal.openJimakuModal(); // load for episode 2
+    h.pendingReplies[1]?.({ filename: '02.mkv', season: 1, episode: 2 });
+    await flushAsyncWork();
+    h.pendingReplies[0]?.({ filename: '01.mkv', season: 1, episode: 1 }); // stale
+    await flushAsyncWork();
+    h.episodeInput.value = '7'; // the user's own edit
+
+    h.modal.openJimakuModal(); // same video: must keep the user's search
+    h.pendingReplies[2]?.({ filename: '02.mkv', season: 1, episode: 2 });
+    await flushAsyncWork();
+    h.pendingReplies[3]?.({ filename: '02.mkv', season: 1, episode: 2 }); // a reload, if any
+    await flushAsyncWork();
+
+    assert.equal(h.pendingReplies.length, 3);
+    assert.equal(h.episodeInput.value, '7');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/renderer/modals/jimaku.ts b/src/renderer/modals/jimaku.ts
index 086baf92..552901f3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/modals/jimaku.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/modals/jimaku.ts
@@ -294,15 +294,46 @@ export function createJimakuModal(
     return tag === 'input' || tag === 'textarea';
   }
 
+  // Identity of the video this modal session was opened for, so a re-open can tell whether the
+  // video changed. The file name alone repeats across seasons (`Season 2/01.mkv`).
+  let loadedMediaKey: string | null = null;
+  const mediaKey = (info: JimakuMediaInfo): string =>
+    JSON.stringify([info.filename, info.title, info.season, info.episode]);
+  // Media-info replies are tracked apart from searchGeneration: a search the user starts must not
+  // cancel a changed-video refresh or let an older load overwrite loadedMediaKey.
+  let modalSession = 0; // bumped on open and close
+  let mediaLoadToken = 0; // bumped per media-info load; only the latest load records its key
+
   function openJimakuModal(): void {
-    if (ctx.state.jimakuModalOpen) return;
+    if (ctx.state.jimakuModalOpen) {
+      refreshMediaInfoIfChanged();
+      return;
+    }
 
     ctx.state.jimakuModalOpen = true;
     options.syncSettingsModalSubtitleSuppression();
     ctx.dom.overlay.classList.add('interactive');
     ctx.dom.jimakuModal.classList.remove('hidden');
     ctx.dom.jimakuModal.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'false');
+    modalSession += 1;
+    loadMediaInfo();
+  }
 
+  // An open request while already open (e.g. the next episode auto-opening Jimaku) must not
+  // leave the previous episode's search on screen. The same video keeps the user's search.
+  function refreshMediaInfoIfChanged(): void {
+    const session = modalSession;
+    window.electronAPI
+      .getJimakuMediaInfo()
+      .then((info: JimakuMediaInfo) => {
+        if (session !== modalSession || !ctx.state.jimakuModalOpen) return;
+        if (mediaKey(info) === loadedMediaKey) return;
+        loadMediaInfo();
+      })
+      .catch(() => {});
+  }
+
+  function loadMediaInfo(): void {
     setJimakuStatus('Loading media info...');
     resetJimakuLists();
     renderTabs();
@@ -310,9 +341,13 @@ export function createJimakuModal(
     // Media info can resolve after the user already closed the modal or
     // started their own search; a stale reply must not touch the inputs.
     const generation = searchGeneration;
+    const loadToken = ++mediaLoadToken;
     window.electronAPI
       .getJimakuMediaInfo()
       .then((info: JimakuMediaInfo) => {
+        if (loadToken !== mediaLoadToken) return;
+        // Recorded even when the user already started their own search, which skips the fill.
+        loadedMediaKey = mediaKey(info);
         if (generation !== searchGeneration) return;
         ctx.dom.jimakuTitleInput.value = info.title || '';
         ctx.dom.jimakuSeasonInput.value = info.season ? String(info.season) : '';
@@ -337,6 +372,7 @@ export function createJimakuModal(
     if (!ctx.state.jimakuModalOpen) return;
 
     ctx.state.jimakuModalOpen = false;
+    modalSession += 1;
     options.syncSettingsModalSubtitleSuppression();
     ctx.dom.jimakuModal.classList.add('hidden');
     ctx.dom.jimakuModal.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
diff --git a/src/types/config.ts b/src/types/config.ts
index 419d6dd1..9b9ec482 100644
--- a/src/types/config.ts
+++ b/src/types/config.ts
@@ -353,6 +353,7 @@ export interface ResolvedConfig {
     apiBaseUrl: string;
     languagePreference: JimakuLanguagePreference;
     maxEntryResults: number;
+    autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing: boolean;
   };
   tsukihime: TsukihimeConfig & {
     apiBaseUrl: string;
diff --git a/src/types/integrations.ts b/src/types/integrations.ts
index c028c974..c8db34dd 100644
--- a/src/types/integrations.ts
+++ b/src/types/integrations.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ export interface JimakuConfig {
   apiBaseUrl?: string;
   languagePreference?: JimakuLanguagePreference;
   maxEntryResults?: number;
+  autoOpenWhenPrimarySubtitleMissing?: boolean;
 }
 
 export type AnilistCharacterDictionaryProfileScope = 'all' | 'active';