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Honda Unveils the Pokémon Koraidon Motorcycle
Koraidon took to the circuit at Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle endurance race
― Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda debuted its Koraidon motorcycle from the Pokémon Scarlet game at the Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle endurance race on Sunday. The Koraidon motorcycle is built with the Honda Riding Assist system, allowing it to operate independently. Japanese sports satellite TV broadcaster J Sports was on sit...
The Idolm@ster SideM & King of Prism Cross Over With Voice Drama, Screenings, & More
2 current animated male idol groups come together
― The Idolm@ster SideM and King of Prism franchises announced on July 12 that they are collaborating. The announcement featured a 30-second promotional video and the tagline, “'Passion' and ‘sparkle’ come together!”: For two weeks, that was all fans knew about the collaboration. However, the franchises revealed their joint key visual and more on July...
Entertainer Shoko Nakagawa Is Expecting Twins
Multi-talent had announced her pregnancy on her birthday May 5
― Japanese multi-talent Shoko Nakagawa (popularly known as "Shokotan") announced on Saturday that she is expecting twin boys. Nakagawa made the announcement in an X (formerly Twitter) post fetauring an exclusive interview she had with Japanese fashion magazine Numéro Tokyo. In her interview, she spoke about her expected twins, fertility t...
This Is How Nukitashi The Animation Airs in Tokyo With Only the Audio
The credits sequence were spared the audio-only treatment
― ANN's Japan-based staff confirmed how the Tokyo MX1 channel premiered the audio-only broadcast of Nukitashi the Animation on July 22. The premiere ran the episode's entire audio track over the series logo with a beach backdrop. The ending animation sequence of the premiere episode was actually what would become the opening animation sequenc...
Voice Actor Satomi Akesaka Asks Where's the Beef
She has not received her Wagyū beef prize from her appearance on Say You to Yoasobi program
―
Voice actor Satomi Akesaka posted a set of messages on her X (formerly Twitter) account on July 30, joking about the Wagyū beef she has yet to receive from the Japanese net television program Say You to Yoasobi (A Night Out With Voice Actors). In her first post, Akesaka spelled “Beef” using a series of cow ...
Kadokawa Issues Guidelines for Sampling Clips From 4 Summer Anime
How to sample The Rising of the Shield Hero, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Detectives These Days Are Crazy!, See You Tomorrow at the Food Court
― Kadokawa announced guidelines for derivative use of video clips (such as in review and analysis videos) for four summer 2025 anime properties on Monday. The properties are The Rising of the Shield Hero season 4, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt...
Play With Brick Power With Lego Game Boy
Comes with Lego The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Lego Super Mario Land. Batteries not included.
― Nintendo of America announced on July 24 on X (formerly Twitter) that pre-orders for the upcoming Lego Game Boy have begun. The company's post parodies the Game Boy's original tagline, "Now you're playing with power. Portable power," with the caption "Now you're playing with power. Brick power."...
One Piece Café Expands to Los Angeles' Little Tokyo
1st 100 guests in line at grand opening receive special One Piece gifts
― The One Piece franchise announced on Tuesday that the One Piece café is opening a second location in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo on August 2. According to the café's post on Facebook, the location will feature "some exclusive LA-only menu and merch items you won't find anywhere else." The post also includes a teaser video of the ...
Pokémon Collaborates With Shonen Jump on August 4
Collaboration covers include One Piece's Luffy with Pikachu
― Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine announced on Monday that it will collaborate with the massively popular multimedia franchise Pokémon for the combined 36th and 37th issue, which ships on August 4. The Shonen Jump Editorial Team previewed the three Weekly Shonen Jump and Pokémon collaboration illustrations, which include One Piece's L...
LA Dodgers to Host Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Night on August 15
Will Shohei Ohtani take up the mantle of Baseball Hashira?
― The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise announced last Wednesday that it will partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team during the team's home game on August 15. The event will begin at 7:10 p.m. According to a press release by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the partnership will see "a stadium-wide giveaway of co-branded hats celebr...
VShojo Releases Statement Following Talent Exodus
VShojo CEO Justin Ignacio: I am sharing the difficult news that VShojo is shutting down, and I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us to this point.
― VTuber agency VShojo's CEO Justin Ignacio released a statement on Friday following the mass exodus of VShojo talent. Ignacio stated that VShojo is shutting down and he takes full responsibility for “the decisions that led us to this poi...
Odekake Kozame to Take a Trip to Saitama Seibu Lions Baseball Team's Home Stadium
Titular character Kozame-chan, voice actor Kana Hanazawa appear for ceremonial 1st pitch
― The Odekake Kozame series announced on Tuesday that it will collaborate with Japan's Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team on August 14. Series protagonist Kozame-chan and voice actor Kana Hanazawa will appear at the collaboration event. The Seibu Lions' website noted that Kozame-chan and voice actor Kana Hanazawa ...
Nohara Family Finally Reunites in Latest Live-Action Crayon Shin-chan Ad
Only member missing onscreen is family dog Shiro
― Coca-Cola Japan's Yakan no Mugicha (Kettle Barley Tea) brand released the seventh installment in the live-action Crayon Shin-chan short series on Tuesday. The new short stars Fumiya Takahashi as a 25-year-old Shinosuke “Shin-chan” Nohara, Taizo Harada as Shin-chan's father Hiroshi Nohara, Kumiko Aso as Shin-chan's mother Misae Nohara, and Mei Hata as...
VTuber Ironmouse Leaves VShojo, Triggering Exodus of Most of Agency's Talent (Updated)
Exodus follows allegations VShojo owes over US$500,000 to Immune Deficiency Foundation charity
― American virtual VTuber entertainer Ironmouse announced she left her agency VShojo on her YouTube channel on Monday, and most of VShojo's talent lineup have since announced their departures by the following day. Ironmouse's 11-minute announcement video opens with Ironmouse alleging VShojo owes the Immune ...
Cosplay as Gundam's Zaku II With New Hoodie
As Ramba Ral would say, “This is no Zaku, boy. No Zaku.”
― Gundam.info revealed a new hoodie inspired by the Mobile Suit Gundam anime's iconic mobile suit Zaku II on July 11. Japanese clothing and cosplay maker Cospa will release it in early November. In addition to the hood based on the Zaku II head, the hoodie's chest design draws inspiration from the upper body of the mobile suit. The Zaku II hood...
Voice Actor Hina Kino Announces Birth of Son
Voice of Apocalypse Hotel's Tamako shared photo of her family holding each other's hands
― Voice actor Hina Kino announced the birth of her son on July 18. Kino included a photo of her family holding each other's hands and a short message to her colleagues and fans. I recently gave birth to a baby boy.
Both my son and I are in good health.
I would like to thank all my colleagues for adjusting my sche...
Oshi no Ko Franchise Joins Campaign to Prevent Underage Smoking
Characters Ruby Hoshino, Kana Arima, & Memcho say, “Don't smoke in your dream teen years!”
― The Oshi no Ko franchise announced on July 4 that it partnered with the Tobacco Institute of Japan for a campaign to prevent underage smoking. The franchise released the key visual for the campaign and notes the institute runs such a campaign every July. The visual has the franchise's characters Ruby Hoshino,...
80 Years After WWII, Hiroshima Screens Grave of the Fireflies for Free to Anyone Under 25
The Ghibli film will also air on Japanese TV on the anniversary of the war's end
― The Hiroshima City Cinematographic and Audio-Visual Library announced on July 8 that it will screen Isao Takahata and Studio Ghibli's 1988 historical film Grave of the Fireflies. Tickets for the shows are 510 yen for adults and 250 yen for seniors (65 years old and older) (about US$3.50 and US$1.70, respectively), but ...
This Month's Unexpected Collaboration: Naruto x Hard Rock Cafe
Has Naruto betrayed ramen for burgers & fries?
― Hard Rock Café Japan announced a Naruto Shippuden collaboration on its website on June 23. The collaboration this month includes merchandise such as shirts, pin badges, keychains, magnets and tote bags. The merchandise went on sale on July 4 and is available at the restaurant chain's Tokyo, Ueno Station, Yokohama, Kyoto, and Universal Citywalk Osaka lo...
Creators Criticize Japanese Political Party's Plans for Manga, Anime, Games
Sanseitō: Authorize government to ensure manga, anime, games' "healthy development as culture"
― With the Japanese Upper House elections set for Sunday, a new policy platform involving manga, anime, and games from the ultra-conservative Sanseitō party came to light earlier this week. X (formerly Twitter) user @masanews3 posted a screenshot of a Sanseitō's policy measures for these fields and asked, ...
Wear Cardcaptor Sakura's Uniform — as a Tracksuit Jacket
Get Sakura Kinomoto's lace stocking as well
― Japanese anime apparel and merchandise brand Aniga-ter announced on July 4 that it is releasing a series of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card merchandise. The apparel and merchandise include a tracksuit jacket, tights, t-shirt, acrylic frame stands, acrylic trading card cases, acrylic key chains, acrylic clips, and smartphone stickers. Pre-orders began that s...
Sponsors Return for Fuji TV's Summer Anime Season
Chibi Maruko-chan ends 3-month sponsorship drought
― ANN's Japan-based staff confirmed the return of sponsors with the full-fledged start of Fuji TV's summer season for anime, as of Thursday. Specifically, three long-running Fuji TV anime series are airing with full sponsorship: GeGeGe no Kitarō: Watashi no Ai Shita Rekidai GeGeGe (a rerun of selected GeGeGe no Kitarō episodes from the franchise's 6...
How Would Audio-Only Anime Work? Nukitashi Episode 1's Preview Teases How
With dialogue appearing onscreen with the audio
―
The upcoming series Nukitashi The Animation released a new (almost) audio-only preview for its first episode on Wednesday, days before its premiere. The preview features audio from the anime, with the lines appearing on screen: The staff had announced on Monday that the series would have an audio-only broadcast on the Tokyo MX1 channel, althought its...
Megazone 23 Anime Gets Murder Mystery Card Game
Just in time for the pioneering original video anime's 40th anniversary
― Japanese board game and murder mystery game maker Adice announced a murder mystery game based on the 1985 original video anime (OVA) series Megazone 23 (pronounced "two-three") on Monday. Pre-orders have already begun for the Megazone 23 Bahamut no Zanei Murder Mystery (Megazone 23: The Shadow of Bahamut Murder Mystery) game be...
The Summer Hikaru Died Animators Prepped Real Chicken For That Scene
Then they fried & ate it
― Shōji Tsuchiya, the animation production staff runner (watch Animation Runner Kuromi or Shirobako to see what that means) for The Summer Hikaru Died anime episode 2, reported on Sunday about a job requirement that neither Kuromi nor Shirobako's Aoi ever had: the staff prepared marinated chicken for that scene in that episode — and then fried and ate it together. Tsuchiya fu...
Tokyo MX1 Station Will Air the Nukitashi Anime — But Only the Audio
Sister station Tokyo MX2 will air the anime's video & audio, but censored
― The upcoming series Nukitashi the Animation announced on Monday more details on the television channels which will run the series. They include the premium subscription channels AT-X and BS11, plus the local over-the-air stations Gifu Broadcasting, KBS Kyoto, and Mie TV. Tokyo MX1, which serves Japan's most populous area of T...
Giant Demon Slayer Ads at Japan's Busiest Station Tell Folks They're Going to Hell
Thankfully Shinjuku Station patrons won't have to abandon all hope when they enter
― The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle film debuted new advertisements on the various entrances and corridors of Tokyo's Shinjuku Station — the most crowded train station in the entire world — on Monday. The ads feature the franchise's demon characters Muzan Kibutsuji, Kokushibo, Doma, Akaza, and Kaigaku ...
New Yu-Gi-Oh! Time Wizard Clock Wakes You Up (Only Half of the Time)
Will it work when you need it? It's a figurative coin toss
― Japanese plastic model, figure, and toy maker Kotobukiya unveiled a new, functional Yu-Gi-Oh! Time Wizard plush alarm clock on July 12. However, true to the original Time Wizard card, its internal alarm clock mechanism only works half of the time, by design — when you set the voice and vibration alarm, there is a 50% chance it doesn't sound...
Demon Slayer Offers Rengoku's Real-Life (Presumably Umai!) Bentō Box
Enjoy the box lunch in time for the Infinity Castle finale!
― Beef hot pot brand Kakiyasu Honten announced on June 19 that it is partnering with the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise for an original bentō box lunch. The “Unlimited Japanese Black Beef Hot Pot Bentō Box” will be available between July 18-August 17. The box features a meal like the ones enjoyed by Kyōjurō Rengoku during the Demon...
KFC Hong Kong Offers Light-Up Wing Gundam Zero Buckets
It's a Gundam…Chicken Wing!
― The Gundam.info website announced on July 3 that the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing anime is collaborating with KFC restaurants in Hong Kong. The collaboration began that same day and will run until August 13. Those who purchase the collaboration set will also be able to purchase limited-edition collaboration merchandise, such as lanyards, coffee mugs, acrylic character art st...
Spalding Turns One Piece's Devil Fruits Into Basketballs
Suit up with some One Piece basketball gear, too
― Spalding Japan announced between June 28 to July 6 that it is collaborating with popular anime series One Piece for a line of basketball merchandise. The company kicked off the announcements by showcasing these “designs that encapsulate the world of One Piece, such as basketballs and basketball shorts decorated with iconic scenes,” starting with ser...
Samurai Champloo's Shinichiro Watanabe Directs Ghost of Yotei Game's 'Watanabe Mode'
Kurosawa & Miike Modes are also available
― Sony revealed more details on the upcoming PlayStation 5 game Ghost of Yōtei during Thursday's State of Play presentation. Clocking in at over 20 minutes long, the presentation showcased elements of gameplay, story, audio, and subtitle options, plus three newly announced game modes: the Watanabe Mode, Kurosawa Mode, and Miike Mode. The Watanabe Mode includ...
Godzilla vs. Kaiju No. 8 Crossover Poster Revealed at Anime Expo
Shin Godzilla & Kaiju No. 8 monster designer Mahiro Maeda created art piece
― The Kaiju No. 8 franchise posted a Godzilla vs. Kaiju No. 8 crossover poster on July 7. The post noted that the two franchise's influential designer Mahiro Maeda created the art, which has a “dynamic illustration of Godzilla, the symbol of monster movies, facing off against the new-age monster tale, Kaiju No. 8.” Studio Kha...
Kill la Kill Animator Apologizes After Supporting Nationalist Japanese Politician
Sushio endorsed politician Uryū Hirano in a now-deleted X/Twitter post
― Kill la Kill character designer and animator Toshio “Sushio” Ishizaki endorsed nationalist Japanese politician Uryū Hirano for her bid for Japan's upper legislative house in a now deleted X (formerly Twitter) post on July 5. “My current favorite is Uryū Hirano. Her name and way of life are just so cool,” Sushio posted. “I can't...
Anime Expo Panel Sets Guinness Record for Most People Performing One Punch Man's Serious Punch
Record set during July 5 One-Punch Man panel
― The One-Punch Man franchise announced on July 7 it had achieved the Guinness World Records for "the most people performing One-Punch Man's Maji Naguri/Serious Punch." The record was set with 1,107 people during the July 5 One-Punch Man panel at Anime-Expo: ANN was onsite for the Guinness World Records challenge. Makoto Furukawa, the voice of Saitama, fir...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part V
Featuring Haruhi Suzumiya, Macross, My Dress-Up Darling, City the Animation, Mononoke, Isekai Quartet, Marry Me, Let's Have a Baby!, Toei Animation, & more!
― Tanabata on July 7 marks the final Japanese holiday of the year when the day and month are the same numerically (after Hinamatsuri on March 3 and Children's Day on May 5). Both children and adults write wishes on paper slips to decorate bamboo ...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring My Hero Academia, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Kowloon Generic Romance, Kodansha, Okami, My Happy Marriage, Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, & more!
― While many people in Japan make wishes to the stars Vega and Altair on Tanabata, it's said those wishes will only come true if it's a starry night. But with Japan in the middle of its rainy season, it has been many years since it's truly been a starry n...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest, Misia, Re:Zero Starting life in Another World, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Doraemon, & more!
― The days leading up to July 7 in Japan are a sight to behold — similar to, but slightly different from, Christmas decorations. Communities will often set up bamboo shoots and decorate them with children's wishes. It's a colorful display and gives us a look into...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring Naruto, Tales of, Laid-Back Camp, NisiOisin, ChaO, Oishinbo, Natsumi Eguchi, Sega, & more!
― Japan celebrates Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, on July 7. One of the common ways to celebrate the Festival is by making a wish to the stars Vega and Altair. (And with a major election in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, that includes the wishes of politicians.) But, what about the wishes fr...
Happy Tanabata 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Ghost in the Shell, Shangri-La Frontier, Chibi Maruko-chan, Food for the Soul, Miffy, See You Tomorrow at the Food Court, Ami Shibata, & more!
― July 7 marks Tanabata in Japan. where people celebrate the once-a-year meeting of the weaver Orihime and farmer Hikoboshi by making wishes to these star-crossed lovers. As usual, the anime and manga world is full of Tanabata wishes: Ami Shibata (Pa...
Voice Actor Yurika Kubo Announces Marriage
Voice of Classroom of the Elite's Kikyo marries someone outside entertainment life
― Voice actor Yurika Kubo (Classroom of the Elite's Kikyo Kushida) announced on Tuesday she had gotten married. She thanked her supporters and noted her husband is a non-celebrity. To everyone who supports me and everyone who cares about me,
At a time when the summer sky is shining brightly, I apologize for raising a ...
Voice Actors Shizuka Ishigami, Kohei Yanagi Reveal Marriage, Pregnancy
Voices of Nukitashi's Nanase, Junnosuke post joint messages
― Voice actors Shizuka Ishigami and Kohei Yanagi (who happen to co-star in Nukitashi the Animation as Nanase Katagiri and Junnosuke Tachibana, respectively) announced they had married and are expecting their first child on their respective X (formerly Twitter) accounts on Monday. Ishigami stated, “[Kohei] is a very caring person who always ...
Experience Live Boxing Action at Hajime no Ippo's 1st 'Dynamite Glove' Event on November 18
7 live boxing matches to take place at manga's real-life boxing venue Korakuen Hall in Tokyo with appearance by Joji Morikawa
― You have read the manga, watched the anime, and this year, fans can get a chance to experience the world of Joji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga through a live boxing event titled "Dynamite Glove 2025," on November 18 at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall — the real-life venue where many...
Naver Webtoon's AI-Based Character Chat Surpasses 100 Million Messages
Paid messages made up 41% of all interactions in May
― NAVER Webtoon's AI-powered service ‘Character Chat’ has exceeded 100 million messages exchanged as of one year after its launch. The feature allows users to engage in real-time conversations with popular webtoon characters and has proven especially popular among teens and young adults. Launched in June 2024 as an experimental feature within the ...
Cowboy Bebop Director Shinichiro Watanabe Names 100 All Time Best Movies
The #1 spot goes to a martial arts classic
― Anime director Shinichiro Watanabe released a new book, Watanabe Shinichiro no Sekai Cowboy Bebop Kara Lazarus Made (Shinichiro Watanabe's World: From Cowboy Bebop to Lazarus), to chronicle his work on several anime titles on Thursday. Included in the final pages is a list of Watanabe's top 100 movies. Bruce Lee's 1973 classic Enter the Dragon takes the to...
McDonald's Commercials Go Nostalgic With Maison Ikkoku, Macross, Orange Road
Relive iconic romance & dining scenes from 1980s anime
― McDonald's Japan previewed a new set of commercials for its Big Mac “Let's smile tomorrow, then and now” campaign on Friday. The commercials feature iconic scenes from 1980s anime Maison Ikkoku, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?, and Kimagure Orange Road. The commercials also revive Japan's 1980s Coca-Cola jingle “I f...
Western Japan's Biggest Manga/Anime Event Holds Crowdfunding Campaign
Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair supporters get gifts from Nobuhiko Okamoto, Manaka Iwami
― The Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair (KYOMAF) announced on Thursday that it will be running a crowdfunding campaign from July 10 to September 30. The organizers aim to raise 4 million yen (about US$28,000) for the continued growth of the KYOMAF and to support young creators. The theme for the crowdfund...
Crayon Shin-chan's Live-Action Universe Expands with New Set of Shorts
The latest short features Shin-chan's younger sister Himawari, now 20 years old
― Coca-Cola Japan's Yakan no Mugicha (Kettle Barley Tea) brand released the sixth and latest installment in the live-action Crayon Shin-chan short series on Wednesday. The new short stars Fumiya Takahashi as a 25-year-old Shinosuke “Shin-chan” Nohara and Mei Hata as Shin-chan's younger sister, the 20-year-old Himawari. S...
Konami Makes Yu-Gi-Oh! Card of Shohei Ohtani's Dog
Will his dog Decoy be the key to Ohtani's Yu-Gi-Oh! deck?
― Los Angeles Dodgers star hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani revealed on Tuesday that he received a one-of-a-kind Yu-Gi-Oh! game card from Konami. In a video on Instagram, Ohtani opened a box from Konami. Inside was a portrait of his pet dog Decoy, a Yu-Gi-Oh! card of Decoy, and the caption, "First pitch delivered August 28, 2024." Ohtani inclu...
50 Years of Super Sentai Emerges in New Form – As Underwear
Wear your favorite team today!
― Japanese underwear brand Hipshop announced official Super Sentai print underwear on June 18. The lineup celebrates the franchise's 50th anniversary with underwear for all 49 Super Sentai series to date. The underwear comes in both adult and children's sizes. The adult sizes will have 49 sets and feature the respective teams, their main robot, and logo on the front and...
Casetify Turns AirPod Max Headphones Into Dragon Ball's Scouter
Check if your music is over 9,000
― The Dragon Ball franchise announced on June 19 that it has partnered with Hong Kong-based phone case and electronics accessories company CASETiFY for a new series of Dragon Ball smartphone cases and AirPods Max Scouter covers. The collaboration marks Dragon Ball's 40th anniversary with four phone case styles and a AirPods Max Scouter cover as an online exclusive. T...
Oscars' Academy Museum to Hold Ponyo Exhibition Next February
Studio Ghibi hand-picked over 100 pieces to display
― The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (from the folks who hand out the Oscars) announced more materials that Studio Ghibli donated to the Museum will go on display from February 2026 to January 2027. The “Studio Ghibli's Ponyo” exhibition will feature over 100 hand-picked materials by Studio Ghibli, including art boards, posters, a Studio Ghibli a...
Lionsgate Vice-Chairman: We Can Remake a Film as 'Anime' in 3 Hours in AI
Vulture article details how the industry is using generative AI both openly & behind the curtains
― Reporter Lila Shapiro highlighted how generative AI is being used in the film industry, both openly and behind the curtains, in a June 4 article on New York magazine's entertainment news website Vulture. Shapiro spoke with industry insiders, particularly those in Hollywood, for the "Everyone Is Alread...
Gundam's Yoshiyuki Tomino Wants Next Work to Reflect Current Wars Such as Ukraine, Israel
Tomino: “My younger colleagues are making Gundam series today, & I don't feel a sense of experience with war”
― NHK's June 17 edition of News Watch 9, a weeknight news broadcast, featured an interview with Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The “Yoshiyuki Tomino Speaks on the Reality of War” segment focuses on Tomino's experienc...
Kiwoom Heroes Baseball Team Launches Merchandise Collaboration with Chunbae and Friends Webtoon Characters
The collaborative products will be unveiled on June 28 during the "Hero Chunbae Day" pop-up store event
― Korean baseball team Kiwoom Heroes has announced a merchandise collaboration with Chunbae and Friends, the character group from the Naver Webtoon series Meow Man, created by Olso and serialized between 2019 and 2021. Chunbae and Friends features cats that transform into humans. The collaboration...
MAPPA Animates New Citizen Watch Commercial With New B'z Song
Japanese rock duo B'z contributes to Citizen's "Unite with Blue" campaign
― Japanese animation studio Mappa announced on June 6 that it animated a new Citizen Watch commercial. The ad is for Citizen's new "Unite with Blue" collection and is now viewable on YouTube: Yasumoto Okamoto directed the commercial with Yoshiko Matsumura as the main animator. Other staff members includes art director Yuji Kan...
Japan's Media Watchdog Fields Complaint About Teen Gambling in Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Complaints follows episode 4 of latest Gundam series
― In early June, the Japanese non-profit organization Broadcasting Ethics & Programming Improvement Organization (BPO) released its May 2025 Voice from the Audience summary newsletter. Near the bottom of the letter, the organization fielded a comment regarding the latest Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuux. The comment's summary states, “In...
Voice Actor Mamoru Miyano Sells MSG in Online Commercial
Miyano: “I was particularly surprised by the combination of Aji-No-Moto & whiskey”
― Japanese food and biotechnology corporation Ajinomoto released a new online commercial starring voice actor Mamoru Miyano for its popular monosodium glutamate (MSG) brand Aji-No-Moto on Tuesday: The 15-second video features Miyano, with highly exaggerated expressions, trying Aji-No-Moto MSG on several dishes and dri...
ufotable Animates New Demon Slayer Video to Remind Us of Cinema Etiquette
Don't cause a ruckus in movie theaters like Tengen Uzui, Hinatsuru, Suma, & Makio!
― The staff for the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise announced on Tuesday that ufotable and Toho Cinemas have partnered for an upcoming movie theater etiquette short starring Demon Slayer characters. The short will run in Toho Cinemas theaters from this Friday until July 17. (The short may not play during scree...
Be Prepared With Boy Scouts of Japan's Pokémon Trainer Program
Go on foraging, pathfinding, search, rescue, medical missions
― The Pokémon franchise and Boy Scouts of Japan announced a partnership for the new "Aim to Be a Pokémon Trainer!" program on June 13. The program will run in all 47 prefectures of Japan from next month until June 2026. Participants must be around 10 years old and do not have to be members of the Boy Scouts. (The program's name is an appar...
2nd American Manga Awards Announces Nominees
Ceremony celebrating manga creators, publishers slated in NYC on August 21
― Japan Society and Anime NYC announced the nominees for the second American Manga Awards on Monday. This year's awards added a new category, "Best One-Shot Manga," for standalone and anthology manga volumes that contain a full story. The award categories and their respective nominees are as follows: Best New Manga Hikaru in t...
Happy Father's Day 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part IV
Featuring Naruto, Ghost in the Shell, Laid-Back Camp, Like a Dragon, Mononoke, The Beginning After The End, Gre4n Boyz, Kodansha, Toei Animation, & more!
― Among all the family-themed holidays this year, Father's Day happens to land on an ominous day on Japan's traditional six-day lunar calendar. So, let's rid the air of bad luck with some messages to fathers around the anime and manga world! Atashin...
Happy Father's Day 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part III
Featuring My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Dragon Quest, Chibi Maruko-chan, I.Cinnamoroll, Wataru, Sega, & more!
― Fathers come in all sorts of forms. From the men who raised us in the home to those who nurtured us outside of the home, we have more fathers that we may think. So, let's honor all our fathers this Father's Day with some special messages from the anime and manga worlds! Akane Nagano (Mikan ...
Happy Father's Day 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part II
Featuring One Piece, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball, Metal Gear, Gegege no Kitaro, King of Fighters, Tsuburaya Productions, & more!
― After Children's Day on May 5 and Mother's Day on May 11, Japan rounds out the family-themed holidays with Father's Day on June 15. The fathers of the anime and manga worlds are receiving many heartfelt messages: Ami Shibata パパ集合。 柴田亜美#父の日 pic.twitter.com/iVsc7TElmM— 柴...
Happy Father's Day 2025 From Around the Anime World, Part I
Featuring Rilakkuma, Minky Momo, Mika Kanai, Natsuki Hanae, Space Brothers, & more!
― June 15 marks Father's Day, and while there aren't many gift-giving practices tied to the holiday in Japan, heartfelt messages are almost always given. All the children in the anime and manga worlds are sending their fathers a message of thanks: Eiko Kera (Atashin'chi) 今日は父の日 pic.twitter.com/iDPHIGNOmG— あたしンち／けらえいこ公...
Webtoon Characters Now Read Your Fortune with AI-Powered Tarotoon
Tarotoon lets users receive AI-generated fortune reading from popular webtoon characters
― NAVER Webtoon announced on Wednesday it has launched Tarotoon, a new web-based service that lets users receive AI-generated fortune readings from popular webtoon characters. Developed in collaboration with its content subsidiary Studio Rico and AI company Flaps, Tarotoon combines webtoon IP with artificial int...
Blue Archive, VTubers Take Top Spots Among Comic Market 106's Booths
On June 6, the self-described Genre Code Tankentai (Genre Code Lovers or literally, Genre Code Expedition) released the unofficial count of fan circle booths for the next Comic Market, Japan's largest event for selling self-published dōjinshi works. According to the tallies pulled from the event's online catalog, 22,760 circles will participate at Comiket 106 this August. This is about a 26% drop ...
Anya Meets Hello Kitty in Spy x Family x Sanrio Collab
A pop-up store opens in August
― The Spy x Family franchise announced on Tuesday it will be collaborating with popular Japanese entertainment company Sanrio. A pop-up store will open in August, and pre-orders have begun on the Toho Anime Store. The staff also revealed an original illustration of the Spy x Family characters paired with Sanrio characters: Anya Forger with Hello Kitty, Yor Forger with M...
Demon Slayer Characters Appear on Pepsi Bottles in Japan
Just in time for the Infinity Castle movies
― The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise announced on May 19 that it would be partnering with Japanese beverage producer and distributor Suntory for drinks with "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba showdown labels." Seven pairs of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba characters would battle each other on bottles of C.C. Lemon, Chosuppa (Ultra Sour) C.C. Lemon, P...
Tokyo International Shark Film Festival to Screen Odekake Kozame
Movie will be pre-screened as final shark movie at event
― The Odekake Kozame franchise announced on June 4 that Eiga Odekake Kozame Tokai no Otomodachi (Film Little Shark's Outings: The City's Friend), the new anime film of Penguin Box's Odekake Kozame (Little Shark's Outings) manga, will have an advance pre-screening at the Tokyo International Shark Film Festival. It will be the closing movie of th...
Voice Actor Megumi Hayashibara Sparks Controversy With Recent Blog Post
Hayashibara: “Japan's taxes should go 'first' to those who pay them (including foreigners living in Japan who pay taxes, of course)”
― Japanese news outlet Jcast News reported on Monday that voice actor Megumi Hayashibara came under fire for a June 8 blog post. The report said that Hayashibara initially wrote “I had a fun trip to our neighboring country, Korea,” “There were some things Korean and Jap...
Konami Gifts Kaiba Voice Kenjiro Tsuda With Rarest Blue-Eyes White Dragon Card (Sort of)
A one-of-a-kind variant as a jumbo flower bouquet
― Voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda held his 30th Anniversary Dinner Show on Saturday to celebrate his career spanning three decades. As is customary in Japan, several companies sent flower bouquet displays to the celebration, and organizers displayed them at the front of the venue. In particular, several fans and guests posted photos of the bouquet from game...
The Apothecary Diaries' Maomao Now Has Her Own Medicinal Cola Syrup
And she explores Universal Studios Japan's Apothecary Diaries collab in new ad
― Japanese craft syrup maker Chara Syrup announced a cola syrup based on The Apothecary Diaries' character Maomao on Friday. The cola syrup is “a nutritious original medicinal cola made by blending various herbs and spices, going back to the essence of cola.” The Maomao cola syrup bottle is modeled after classical medicine...
Tappytoon Offers Deluxe Postcard Book Set for The Broken Ring Webtoon
Set based on The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway, which topped 8.9 million views
― Contents First, the company behind webtoon platform Tappytoon, has announced the launch of The Broken Ring: Deluxe Postcard Book Set, the newest exclusive release under its official global merchandise shop, Club JEM. The set is based on The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway, Tappytoon's "most suc...
Solo Leveling Trading Cards Among Korea's Top Exports on eBay
Solo Leveling cards were the only non-Pokémon product to break into the top 10 toys ranking
― Trading cards based on the webtoon Solo Leveling have emerged as a standout export item in the global e-commerce market. According to eBay Korea's Q1 2025 report on cross-border sales, Solo Leveling cards were the only non-Pokémon product to break into the top 10 best-selling items in the toy category—highl...
Lego Announces One Piece Sets
The Straw Hat crew must have eaten the Lego Lego Fruit
― The One Piece franchise announced that the iconic manga, anime, and now live-action series will receive the Lego treatment on Thursday, and pre-orders have already begun. Netflix notes that these sets are for the first season of the live-action One Piece series. The set include the Lego One Piece Windmill Village Hut, Buggy The Clown's Circus ...
Megan Thee Stallion Appears at Dream Con in Bleach Cosplay
Rapper appeared on stage as Bleach's Yoruichi
― American rapper Megan Thee Stallion appeared at Dream Con dressed as Bleach character Yoruichi in Houston on May 30. In an Instagram post, the rapper wrote “Yoruichi Thee Stallion at Dream Convention” with several pictures of herself in her Yoruichi outfit. Stallion also posted two photos of her nails, which were painted as Bleach character Kon. Megan T...
Summon Clow Cards & Block UV With Card Captor Sakura's Sealing Wand Umbrella
Sport Sakura Kinomoto's backpack as well.
― The NHK Character shop announced the Card Captor Sakura sealing wand umbrella on May 23. The umbrella goes on sale on June 6 Japan time at the Card Captor Sakura Takarabako Osaka store and NHK Character Shop online store. The umbrella doubles as protection against the rain and sun as it blocks 100% of ultraviolet and visible light. The NHK Character shop al...
LA Dodgers Mark One Piece Night with Game Card With New Oda Art
Fans can also get Dodgers branded One Piece straw hats
― Toei Animation announced on Wednesday that ticketholders for the Los Angeles Dodgers One Piece Night will receive a limited-edition card from the One Piece Card Game. The card features a “one-of-a-kind character art drawn by creator Eiichiro Oda to celebrate this special occasion.” The card is first-come first-served and limited to one per pers...
Walk Down the Aisle in Official Oshi no Ko Wedding Dresses (& Tux)
Cast members Rie Takahashi, Takeo Otsuka model their attire for press conference
― On Monday, the Oshi no Ko staff revealed a collaboration with designer Kiyoko Hata for wedding dresses and tuxedo based on six Oshi no Ko characters. Rie Takahashi and Takeo Otsuka (the voices of Ai Hoshino and Aquamarine Hoshino, respectively) sported the rental attire for the collection's press conference: According ...
Voice Actor Nobunaga Shimazaki Is Now a Dad
Voice of 2019 Fruits Basket's Yuki Sōma announced his 1st child's birth
― Nobunaga Shimazaki, voice of the 2019 Fruits Basket's Yuki Sōma, announced the birth of his first child on Sunday. The voice actor stated, “I am happy to announce a new life has been born.” I am happy to announce a new life has been born.
Thanks to the support of everyone who has been supporting me, Nobunaga Shimazaki, I am ab...
One Piece Creator Comments on 2nd Live-Action Season… & Chopper
Even Tony Tony Chopper himself got a first peek at his live-action counterpart
― One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda posted comments about the second live-action season soon after the season's 2026 premiere announcement and first peek at Chopper on Sunday. Oda stated, “The key to Season 2 is, of course, our weird talking animal. After extensive trial and refinement by the entire team, the day has come to ...
Bandai Has a New Life-Size Gundam — as Unbuilt Plastic Model Parts
The museum is part of Bandai's new plastic model factory
― Bandai Spirits announced the new Bandai Hobby Center Plamo Design Industrial Institute Museum (BHC PDII Museum) in Shizuoka on Thursday. Like earlier Bandai landmarks in the Mt. Fuji area, Tokyo, Yokohama, Shanghai, Fukuoka, Osaka and Shizuoka itself, the museum's entrance features the latest life-size Gundam — well, this time as oversized pl...
Even FF14 Director Naoki Yoshida Gets His Own Magic the Gathering Card (Sort of)
The Wandering Minstrel makes his card debut in 2 weeks
― With Wizards of the Coast's nonstop previews for its upcoming Magic: The Gathering (MTG) Final Fantasy collaboration set, fans couldn't help but notice one iconic character getting his own card — no, not Cloud, not Yuna, and not even Sephiroth. As Japanese Final Fantasy fan YouTuber FF no Koto notes after reviewing the casting cost and effects...
VTuber Usada Pekora Teased in Death Stranding 2 Game
The VTuber will be waiting to greet you after delivering a package
― Popular virtual YouTuber Usada Pekora proclaimed on Thursday that she will collaborate with the upcoming video game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The VTuber states she is happy for the collaboration and included an illustration of herself in an outfit seen in the game and holding a Kojima Productions flag. Kojima Productions also...
Games Strikingly Similar to One Piece Pulled From My Nintendo Store in Japan
Red Fables' Pirate Anime Quest: One Boys' Journey, A Piece of Island Love & Pirate Anime Quest: One Girls' Journey, A Piece of Island Love pulled
― Livedoor News reported on Wednesday that the Nintendo Switch games Pirate Anime Quest: One Boys' Journey, A Piece of Island Love and Pirate Anime Quest: One Girls' Journey, A Piece of Island Love by Red Fables have been removed from the Japanese My Ninte...
Ghibli Co-Founder Isao Takahata's Exhibition to Open in June
Exhibition marks what would have been 90th birthday of legendary director
― Studio Ghibli announced the "Takahata Isao Exhibition: The Man Who Planted Japanese Animation" on March 27. The exhibition commemorates what would have been the 90th birthday of the studio's late co-founder and the 80th anniversary of World War II's end. It will take place at Tokyo's Azabudai Hills Gallery between June 27 to ...
Studio Khara Announces Evangelion 30th Anniversary Festival
3-day event slated for next February
― The anime and live-action studio Khara confirmed its "Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion" festival on May 17. The event will take place at the Yokohama Arena on February 21 to 23, 2026. It will feature an exhibition area, a stage area, merchandise, and other content, and the creators at Studio Khara are directing the event's spatial and layout design...
Sega Announces Racing Around the World Campaign With Red Bull
It's the fastest race of them all.
― Sega announced that its popular Sonic the Hedgehog character has partnered with energy drink and extreme sports brand Red Bull for a “high-octane year of Racing around the world.” The announcement features a two-and-a-half-minute video of Sonic racing Red Bull high-speed stunt driver Brandon Semenuk: Sega's press release notes this is the Sonic Team's brand campa...
All the Winners of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025
Solo Leveling wins 9 awards including Anime of the Year
― The Crunchyroll Anime Awards ceremony streamed worldwide on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. JST (4:00 a.m. EST) on the company's YouTube and Twitch channels. Fans cast a record 51 million votes worldwide for this year's awards. The 10 most engaged countries in this year's voting were (in alphabetical order): Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, ...
Unexpected Frontrunner in Sanrio Character Ranking 2025
Will Cinnamoroll be dethroned after 5 years?
― Popular character brand Sanrio announced the second interim results for its Sanrio Character Ranking 2025 contest on May 13. Leading the votes is Pompompurin in first place, followed by Cinnamoroll in second and Pochacco in third. The fourth and fifth place spots are currently held by Kuromi and Hello Kitty. The Sanrio Character Ranking 2025 website list...
Crunchyroll Research: Over Half of Gen Z Globally Are Anime Fans
Study with National Research Group: anime's fandom in ages 13-28 rivals Beyoncé's, NBA's
― On May 20, anime streaming platform Crunchyroll and the National Research Group (NRG) released a study examining anime and its fandom. Titled “How Anime Became a Worldwide Cultural Force," the study surveyed 29,000 "general entertainment consumers" between ages 13 to 54 from the United States, United Kingdom, I...
Voice Actor Kosuke Kuwano Announces Marriage
Voice of My Hero Academia's Yuga Aoyama marries partner outside entertainment
― Kosuke Kuwano, the voice actor of My Hero Academia's Yuga Aoyama, announced on Friday that he had gotten married. The voice actor thanked his fans and colleagues and noted his wife is a non-celebrity. To everyone,
Thank you for your continued support.
I would like to announce that I, Kosuke Kuwano, have married a non-cel...
Gundam Creator Yoshiyuki Tomino to Speak at Space Business Conference
Director to give presentation at International Space Business Conference Spacetide 2025 on July 8
― Mobile Suit Gundam creator and director Yoshiyuki Tomino will speak at the Spacetide Foundation's Space Business Conference Spacetide 2025 on July 8. The “Questioning the possibility of realizing the 'Universal Century (U.C.)' and the value of space business” seminar will examine how close we are to th...
Pokémon Fossil Exhibition Comes to Chicago's Field Museum in May 2026
Exhibit featuring Pokémon models alongside actual fossils opens on May 22, 2026
― Praise Helix! The official website for the Pokémon franchise announced last week that it is bringing the Pokémon Fossil Museum to Chicago's Field Museum on May 22, 2026. This is the North American debut of the Pokémon Fossil Museum, which is an exhibition that compares fossil Pokémon like Omastar and Aerodactyl to real-...
Universal Studios Japan Details Spy X Family, Apothecary Diaries Attractions
Solve mysteries with SPY×FAMILY & The Apothecary Diaries characters
― Universal Studios Japan (USJ) offered more details in mid-May on the upcoming SPY×FAMILY and The Apothecary Diaries summer attractions. Both will feature a park rally (where visitors hopscotch from one location to another throughout the park on a quest), and SPY×FAMILY will also have an XR ride and story ride. All activities and ri...
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