Chibi Maruko-chan is an active franchise with a new ending theme by Hikaru Utada and a first-ever joint pop-up shop with Crayon Shin-chan in Tokyo.
Chibi Maruko-chan, the long-running family comedy series, has been active in 2026 with two notable developments. In May, Hikaru Utada released a performance video of 'Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-' from a TBS broadcast, which drew attention to her song 'Pappa Paradise' as the new ending theme for the series. The video was posted on Utada's official YouTube channel and trended on X the day of its broadcast.
Later that month, the franchise partnered with fellow iconic comedy Crayon Shin-chan for their first joint pop-up shop. The shop, named Okiraku Shoten, opened at Tokyo Solamachi from June 4 to June 21, 2026, selling stationery, household goods, and event-exclusive items. It also featured a photo spot and a lottery prize for purchases over 2000 yen.
In July, the series participated in a Tanabata roundup published by Anime News Network, sharing a seasonal greeting alongside other major properties like Doraemon, Detective Conan, and My Hero Academia. The greeting was part of a wider industry tradition of using the holiday for fan engagement and marketing.
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Anime News Network published a five-part roundup of Tanabata greetings from across the anime, manga, and video game industries on July 7, 2026. The collection includes wishes and illustrations from official accounts for series such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Detective Conan, My Hero Academia, Sakamoto Days, Doraemon, Chibi Maruko-chan, Hell's Paradise, and Dragon Quest. Video game franchises like Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, and Like a Dragon also participated, alongside creators including Hideo Kojima, Yuki Kaji, and Shoko Nakagawa. Several series tied their posts to new releases: the second season of Yoroi Shin Den Samurai Troopers premiered on July 7, My Happy Marriage released a special Tanabata illustration and announced a three-episode special for 2026, and My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked began airing on July 8. The roundup also features greetings from manga titles like Chiikawa, MARRIAGETOXIN, and Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, as well as from studios Tatsunoko Production and Square Enix.
May 30
A pop-up shop selling collaboration merchandise for Chibi Maruko-chan and Crayon Shin-chan will open at Tokyo Solamachi from June 4 to June 21, 2026. The shop, called Okiraku Shoten, will carry stationery, household goods, and event-exclusive items, with a photo spot and a lottery prize for purchases over 2000 yen.
May 29
Hikaru Utada released the performance video of 'Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-' from the May 11 broadcast of TBS's 'CDTV Live! Live!' on her official YouTube channel. The video is available in full length for four weeks. The song is a special arrangement made for that broadcast. The video trended high on X on the day of broadcast.