Bilibili World 2026 ran July 10-12 in Shanghai with a significantly larger game area, while Tokyo Game Show 2026 announced its first five-day format for September 17-21, including a 3.3 million yen 30th anniversary ticket. The Hayabusa2 probe also performed a sharp flyby of asteroid Trifune.
Netflix announced it will add the television anime of Akimi Yoshida's Banana Fish manga in select regions on August 12. The series previously streamed on Amazon Prime Video with subtitles, but left that service recently. The 2018 MAPPA adaptation updates the setting to modern day New York.
Sakurazaka46 member Karin Fujiyoshi has joined the cast of the upcoming film Odoru Daisousasen N.E.W.: Metropolis o Kakenukero! as mysterious high school student Kiiko Murashita. Fujiyoshi, who made her film debut in 2024, shared her excitement about joining the long-running series and described the set as a warm, supportive environment.
Tomofumi Ogasawara launched the official crossover manga between Code Geass and Gundam Wing, titled Shin Kidō Senki Gundam W x Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch: Minuet Zero, on Kadokawa's KadoComi platform on Friday. Kōjirō Taniguchi from Sunrise is credited with the scenario.
The Nontan children's book franchise will receive a new 3D CG-animated work to mark its 50th anniversary, as announced on the official X account. An interactive exhibit will also run at Tokyo's PLAY! MUSEUM from July 18 to September 27. The series, created by the late Sachiko Kiyono, debuted in 1976 and has sold over 35 million copies worldwide.
The non-credit opening video for the original TV anime Goodbye Lara, Kinema Citrus's 15th anniversary project, has been released. The opening uses cel animation, a traditional hand-drawn technique, and features handwritten staff credits. The series is based on The Little Mermaid and follows mermaid princess Lara reviving in Lake Biwa 200 years after her original story.
The Visual Effects Society will posthumously induct Godzilla director Ishirō Honda and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka into its Hall of Fame at the 2026 VES Honors Celebration on September 4 in Los Angeles. Honda directed the 1954 Godzilla and eight total films in the series, while Tanaka produced the original and many Akira Kurosawa films.
A new original anime short for Mob Psycho 100 was released on July 12, 2026, to celebrate the franchise's 10th anniversary. The short debuted at the "Mob Psycho 100 Anime 10th Anniversary Event: Reunion" held at Fukagawa Mirai Hall in Kawaguchi City, Saitama. It is now streaming online with English subtitles. The story is set at the Spirits and Such Consultation Office and features Reigen Arataka, Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama, Dimple, and Tome Kurata. Yuzuru Tachikawa directed, wrote, storyboarded, and served as technical director for the short. Yoshimichi Kameda, the original anime's character designer, worked as animation director and also drew a commemorative illustration. Kameda noted that nearly all of the original production team reunited to produce the short. The first season of the Mob Psycho 100 anime premiered in July 2016, and the franchise has been marking its 10th anniversary throughout the year, starting with projects on Mob's birthday, May 12. The series is based on the manga by ONE and was produced by Studio Bones.
Dwango and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks announced on July 12 that Animelo Summer Live, commonly called Anisama, will hold its first event in western Japan. Titled ANISAMA FUKUOKA 2027, the two-day anime song festival is scheduled for March 13 and 14, 2027, at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka. The event is a new expansion for the annual summer concert series, which has been held in the Kanto region since 2005. The 20th edition in 2025 drew a record 87,000 attendees over three days. Organizers said the Fukuoka event aims to make the venue a new "anime song holy land" in western Japan. The usual summer Kanto edition will continue as normal, with Animelo Summer Live 2027 planned for August 27-29, 2027, at GMO Saitama Super Arena. Additional details, including performing artists and ticket information, are expected to be announced around autumn 2026. The event is co-organized by Dwango and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the professional baseball team whose home stadium is Mizuho PayPay Dome.
Darkroom, a streaming service specializing in independent and cult classic content, has added several classic anime titles to its library, including the 1983 film Crusher Joe and its OVAs, Simoun, and Haré+Guu Deluxe. The additions expand the platform's catalog of older, less mainstream anime.
Virtual talent agency Re:AcT will release new EPs from Kanau Yumekawa, Kumori Anya, Lisa Makou, and Anna Kannagi on four consecutive Sundays starting August 23, 2026. The EPs include original songs, self-covers, covers of labelmates, and remastered tracks. A live event, Re:AcT LIVE "BRIGHT NOTES," will follow on September 20 at GRIT Shibuya, split into two performances with two talents each. Tickets go on sale July 25.
In an interview published on July 12, 2026, REJECT's Euriece reflected on the team's 11th-place finish at the Apex Legends Global Series: 2026 Split 1 Playoffs at the Esports World Cup in Paris. The tournament marked the first time a Japanese-majority team, UNLIMIT, won an international Apex Legends tournament. Euriece discussed the gap between ranked play and ALGS competition, noting that gunfight strength differs vastly. He described REJECT as being in a "growth phase" where the team has moved past basic requirements and can now focus on continuous improvement. Euriece set a personal goal to "play beyond my role," aiming to add extra value beyond assigned tasks. He plans to test his limits in scrims by making mistakes and learning from them. He acknowledged room for improvement in consistency and decision-making under pressure. The interview also touched on language barriers, mental and physical management during overseas tournaments, and team cohesion with coach Wabu.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, a new HD-2D action RPG from the creators of Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default, has been released for Nintendo Switch 2. The game follows hero Elliot and his fairy sidekick Faie across four ages. The review praises the superb English performances and theatrical tone but notes the cast is archetypal and chatty, with puzzles that are often too easy and backloaded character depth.
Bandai Namco announced a summer 2026 update for Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Versus 2 Infinite Boost, including the new unit ∫ (Integral) Extreme Gundam, a 15th anniversary campaign for Gundam EXA, balance changes for 12 units, and the series' first shuffle online tournament.
Game Spark published a photo tour of the indie game 'nophenia,' a liminal space exploration game inspired by 'Yume Nikki.' The game features a wolf girl wandering through empty, nostalgic environments with no set objective. The article highlights several stages, including train_station, snowy_residence, depths, and astral_frequency, noting the game's mix of unsettling atmosphere, internet meme sampling, and mild horror elements. 'nophenia' is available on PC via Steam.
An Inside article highlights how the 1990 RPG Ganbare Goemon Gaiden: Kieta Golden Kiseru, included in the July 2 Ganbare Goemon Daishūgō! collection, established the series' signature blend of Edo period settings with modern technology. The game features phone booths, a "Linear Basket" railway, and fast food shops, making the historical world accessible to 1990s children. It also avoids color-variant monsters, giving each enemy unique animations.
Shika, known for her figure and photo session popularity, released her 8th DVD 'Reincarnation' on July 4 at a Sofmap event in Akiba. She had graduated from image DVDs with her February 2024 work 'There's a Limit to Being Scandalous' but restarted after the director's persuasion. The 134-minute disc includes a school uniform scene and a competitive swimsuit she tears.
A gamer whose Microsoft account was hacked in April 2026 was told by customer support the account could not be recovered and they would need to repurchase all their digital games. The gamer sued Microsoft in a Brazilian court and won, with the court ordering Microsoft to restore the account within 15 days and pay approximately $400 in moral damages.
A new feature on Game Spark revisits Blue Stinger, a 1999 Dreamcast sci-fi action adventure from Climax Graphics. The article highlights how the game broke from the Resident Evil horror formula by using the Dreamcast's power for a Hollywood-style, B-movie experience, and notes character designs by Basilisk's Masaki Segawa.
UNIQLO will release a collaboration UT collection with music unit YOASOBI on July 17, 2026. The lineup includes four graphic T-shirt designs created by four artists who have built YOASOBI's visual world. Each shirt costs 1,990 yen and is available in sizes XS to 4XL. The collaboration is the first between YOASOBI and UNIQLO's UT line in about five years.
Kao's premium fabric softener brand IROKA has launched a collaboration with four Nijisanji VTubers: Ibrahim, Kaisei, Fuyuki Hakase, and Furen E. Lustario. A web commercial began streaming July 9, and a special YouTube live stream on Ibrahim's channel is set for July 16 at 8:00 PM JST, where campaign details will be announced.
Bandai Namco and Game Studio released an 18-minute original anime promo made solely for the action RPG Echoes of Aincrad, set in the Sword Art Online universe. The promo will be removed from the internet on July 6, after which it will be unviewable. The game launches globally July 9/10 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.
From July 10 to October 26, 2026, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo in Akihabara is hosting the Tamashii Nations Live Action Figure Expo 2026, a store event focused on action figures of live-action characters. Dengeki Hobby Web is publishing a series of breaking news reports covering the event, with the first installment dedicated to Kamen Rider figures. The Kamen Rider edition reports the first exhibition of several items: the Henshin Sober Kamen Rider Kuuga Mighty Form and the S.H.Figuarts (Shinkocchou Seihou) Kamen Rider Kuuga Mighty Form Henshin Sober Color; the Popy-nica Cyclone (Kamen Rider 1) and Popy-nica Cyclone (Kamen Rider 2); and the S.H.Figuarts Manzumo from Kamen Rider Zetts. Subsequent reports cover the Ultraman edition, with first displays of S.H.Figuarts Ultraman Victory Knight and S.H.Figuarts Ultraman (A-Type) - Birth of Ultraman -, as well as a "COMING SOON" box. The Godzilla edition features first displays of S.H.MonsterArts Kaiser Ghidorah from Godzilla: Final Wars, Godzilla (2003) and MFS-3 Kiryu from Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS, plus reference displays of Evangelion Unit-01 'G' Awakened Form and Biollante Wakasa Bay Battle Ver.
Pre-orders have opened for a 1/7 scale figure of Hestia from the fifth season of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? The figure reproduces the secret ritual scene from Episode 9, stands 24 cm tall, and is priced at 28,050 yen. Release is scheduled for May 2027.
A pop-up shop for the smartphone game Mahoyaku will run at select Loft stores from August 1, 2026. The event theme is everyday life, with new full-body illustrations of the magicians eating (Happy Mealtime) and mini-character art (Goku Goku Time!). A collaboration with hairbrush brand Tangle Teezer is also part of the lineup.
Mega Cat Project has released cat versions of One Piece characters as diner staff figures. The six-figure set includes Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Sanji, Chopper, and Trafalgar Law, each with food accessories. Pre-orders are open now for a late December 2026 release at 6,600 yen per box.
Aegis-Link's new VTuber generation COALESCE debuts this weekend with four members: Veilyn, Kyuru Rin, Kumisa Umare, and Eru Erudite. The group is on the hunt for a mischievous group called REM:NANT in the Aegis-Link universe. Each member shared their self-descriptions and challenges ahead of debut.
Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, Qzil.la, and ARCH released a new trailer for the Sekiro: No Defeat anime adaptation and began ticket presales in Japan. The series premieres in Japanese theaters on September 4 for a three-week run, with a worldwide Crunchyroll stream planned later in 2026.
The 7-member virtual idol group FouRTe Project will digitally release their 7th single 'Melo Sapiens' on July 10, 2026, under JOI MUSIC. The hyper pop eurobeat track was produced by ☆Taku Takahashi of m-flo and Kanata Okajima. A campaign for member voice lines runs through July 26. The group's first offline live, 'ALL IN,' is set for August 14 at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo.
Anime! Anime!'s annual reader survey asked which female character looks best in a yukata. Ran Mouri from Detective Conan took first place with about 20% support, followed by Hinata Hyuga from Naruto at about 13% and Mahiru Shiina from The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten at about 4%. The poll ran from June 9 to June 17 and received 434 responses.
ZEROTOKYO, a night entertainment facility in Shinjuku Kabukicho, will host its flagship roaming club event Gold Disc on September 18, 2026. The first lineup announcement includes virtual artist IA and virtual singer RIM. The event uses all six floors of the venue, each decorated with a different worldview.
The synopsis and preview cuts for Episode 3 of Mushoku Tensei III: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu have been released. The episode, titled The Return of Everyday Life, shows Rudeus settling into domestic life with his second wife Roxy, first wife Sylphiette, and their family, and returning to Ranoa Magic University. Cliff reacts negatively to Rudeus introducing Roxy as his wife due to religious beliefs. The episode airs July 12.
A limited edition Zippo lighter inspired by the manga "Initial D" has been released through the goods brand CAMSHOP.JP. Only 50 units are available at 27,500 yen each. The lighter features a black nickel finish with laser-engraved mountain pass battle scenes and a serial number.
Legendary jockey Yutaka Take achieved his 5,000th career win on July 12, 2026, at Hakodate Racecourse. Riding Hitomi Etoile in the 7th race, he won by a neck. The total includes wins from JRA, local, and overseas races, marking a milestone in his 40th year as a jockey.
CQ LABS released Crusader Quest: Heroes Town on March 31 for PC and Mac. The idle RPG lets players collect pixel-art heroes, rebuild Hero Village, and rescue goddesses. Developer Alan discussed the game's origins, its busier-than-typical idle gameplay, and a tough post-launch period where update-and-hotfix cycles became routine.
Independent VTuber Satou Sugu announced she will join the newly formed agency Realize Production as its 26th member, effective June 1. The announcement came during a stream commemorating her fifth debut anniversary on July 10. Satou Sugu debuted independently in 2021 and has built a following through game streams and role-playing content.
San-X character Ishiyowa-chan has announced its first collaboration with fashion brand Maison de FLEUR. Six limited-edition items featuring the character dressed in blue flowers will launch July 18, 2026, including bags, charms, a plush toy, and a towel handkerchief. Purchasers receive an original postcard as a gift.
Office THC announced auditions for its 2nd generation VTubers on July 11, seeking new members for official YouTube and Nico Nico paid channel projects, collaborations, and program appearances. Applications run July 18 to August 2, with a public online interview event where 1st generation members act as interviewers. The agency will not collect revenue from applicants' own channels.
Game Spark's weekly roundup for July 5-11, 2026 covers a dozen game announcements and updates, including Elite MMA Manager, The Exorcist's Apprentice, Fright Train's release date, GERONIMO early access, Former Dawn development, Quake Champions' limbo, Tempest Rising DLC, Unturned source code release, Citizen Vigilante PS5 game, and Dwarf Fortress 20th anniversary collector's edition pre-orders.
The Ichiban Kuji "Tamagotchi ~Guruguru Discovery! Tamagotchi Paradise!~" will be released sequentially from July 25, 2026 at Lawson and other stores. The kuji features 10 prize grades from A to Last One, with each draw costing 750 yen. Prizes include a Tamagotchi Paradise-shaped alarm clock, a Deka Babymarutchi blanket-in-cushion, a UFO light, and other decorative and practical items.
The synopsis and advance cuts for Episode 2 of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha EXCEEDS Gun Blaze Vengeance have been released. The episode, titled "United Nations Investigation Organization EXCEEDS / Demon Hunter," shows Shina Kuse being scouted by Nanoha Takamachi and hearing from EXCEEDS Governor-General Hayate Yagami about "the way to save the world." Meanwhile, a dangerous group called "Demon Hunter" is active in the underworld. The episode airs July 11 on TOKYO MX and BS11.
The anime "One Piece Heroines" collaborated with shoe brand Diana to reproduce Nami's "battle-ready shoes" as wearable sandals. The sandals feature ocean-blue satin, a heel silhouette, and stones. They are available from July 6, 2026, for 25,300 yen at Diana stores and the web shop. A newly drawn Nami illustration is the collaboration visual.
Pre-orders for the Danganronpa 1・2 Reload and Thank You Mart collaboration merchandise open July 10 at the official online shop. The 17-item lineup, all priced at 390 yen, includes tote bags, eco bags, keytop keychains, and other daily-use goods featuring Monokuma designs. Store sales begin in late October 2026.
Illustrator and animator Yoneyama Mai will hold her solo exhibition Arc at Kyoto Tsutaya Books from July 24 to August 18, 2026. The Kyoto edition of the show, which first ran in Ginza in 2025, adds new works including a piece titled Piéces and sells limited-edition silk-screen reproductions.
The Bun development team has finished rewriting all 530,000 lines of Zig code into Rust using the AI coding assistant Claude Code. The rewrite took 11 days with one engineer, a task the team estimated would take a full year by hand. The move aims to reduce memory-related bugs and improve long-term maintainability.
The music unit MyM, formed by Morisanchu's Oshima and Gambareluya members Yoshiko and Mahiru, will release a collaboration song with the classic magical girl anime Magical Angel Creamy Mami on July 29, 2026. The track, "Delicate ni Suki Shite ~Creamy Maimu Ver.," features guest vocals from Takako Ota, the original voice of Creamy Mami. Pop-up stores in Tokyo and Osaka are planned for August.
MiliPro talent Nonono Otono released her sixth single 'Princess Viral' under the agency's in-house label Million RECORDS on July 10-11, 2026. The move marks her departure from Universal Music. The song was produced by VOCALOID creator yowanecity, with animation by Ichimaru.
Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, its hardware head Tang Tan, and employee Chang Liu, alleging theft of trade secrets related to hardware development. The suit claims OpenAI poached Apple employees and stole confidential files. Apple seeks damages and an order to stop OpenAI from using the secrets.
Tokito Hatena, a VTuber from the group AlmaZarQ and a junior member of QuizKnock, appeared as a guest at a June 26, 2026 event celebrating the release of Volume 1 of the Kimi no Quiz manga adaptation. She joined manga artist Ayako Noda and writer Da Vinci Kyoyama for a three-part talk and quiz competition.
HIKKY announced the VketReal 2026 Summer Akihabara walking event, featuring a record 29 participating stores and projects, roughly double the previous event. The collaboration, called Town-wide JOIN Operation!, includes restaurants, karaoke, body care, live houses, and shisha bars offering limited menus, novelties, and benefits. A stamp rally is also planned.