Harry Potter merchandise and events in Japan are centered on the 25th anniversary of the first film, with Right-on's apparel line and a McDonald's USJ toy promotion running in October 2026. A new HBO original series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is scheduled to premiere at Christmas.
Across the stories, the most consistent thread is merchandise and retail tie-ins timed to the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (titled Philosopher's Stone in some stories). Universal Studios Japan ran a Back to Hogwarts event from September 1 to September 30, 2026, with the Wizarding World area rented exclusively for fans on the opening night, and the Hogwarts Castle Walk attraction returned through January 17, 2027. In October, Right-on released a Harry Potter apparel range including four-house knit cardigans, sweatshirts, and accessories, with cardigans rolling out ahead of the October 9 date at some stores.
Other retail and product stories cluster around the same period. TOHO Cinemas sold a Hogwarts Express popcorn box from August 26 alongside a limited screening of the first film in premium formats. Bandai released a gashapon line of flocked magical creature charms in the fifth week of August, and niko and ... launched a second Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts collaboration on August 21. Amazon Japan's Merch on Demand began selling Harry Potter T-shirts in June. A Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo event, Dark Magic Halloween, opened with a Death Eater demonstration on September 9.
On the screen side, HBO Max launched in Japan on October 1 through Prime Video and Hulu Japan, and the first season of the new HBO original Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is scheduled to premiere at Christmas. Outside official products, a Belarus-based developer announced Hemlotrion: Broken Mirror, described as carrying on the legacy of early 2000s Harry Potter-style games. Coverage also includes a VIVANT side story whose producer cited Harry Potter as its motif, and comments from actress Jessie Cave about her income from OnlyFans.
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GU's official X account posted a "#GU Collab Quiz" image on October 21 showing Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw motifs, suggesting a Harry Potter collaboration. The post carries the message "Welcome to winter's XXX-X!" and points toward a winter item lineup. GU has not posted an official collaboration announcement, and the store asks followers to watch its X account for one.
McDonald's Japan released the Happy Meal "USJ All Stars" at restaurants nationwide on October 16, 2026, priced from 510 yen including tax. The lineup has ten character toys tied to Universal Studios Japan, which opened in Osaka on March 31, 2001 and marks its 25th anniversary this year. Wave one runs October 16 to October 22 with five toys: Minion Mayhem Ride Wobble Car, Hello Kitty Cupcake Dream accessory case, Playing with Curious George, Jaws Tooth Mark Stamp, and Back to the Future Double Door Car. Wave two runs October 23 to October 29 with five more: Minion Mini Halloween Bucket, Minion Vampire Keychain, Curious George Pumpkin Hide-and-Seek, Jurassic World Surprise Box, and Kuromi Live Wristband. From October 30, wave three offers one of the ten types again. Toy boxes are blue for wave one and orange for wave two. McDonald's Japan says the toys are built around physical movement, imagination, and expressiveness. Each toy is compact and includes its own gimmick, and the chain notes that out-of-stock items may be replaced with toys sold in the past.
Right-on will release new Harry Potter items starting October 9 at its official online store, at Right-on stores nationwide and online stores, sequentially. The lineup includes unisex four-house knit cardigans at 6,990 yen, unisex sweatshirts at 5,990 yen and kids sweatshirts at 4,990 yen, plus poncho stoles, pouch charms, pouches, socks, logo mats and blankets. Knit cardigans go on sale ahead of time at some stores, with other stores rolling them out from October 16 onward.
Travis Japan members Shizuna Yoshizawa and Kaito Matsukura performed a one-night-only "Death Eater Demonstration" at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo on September 9. The special show opened the "Dark Magic Halloween" event, which runs from September 10 to November 8 at the Great Hall.
Belarus-based developer Frogstorm announced Hemlotrion: Broken Mirror on September 8. The action-adventure game casts players as a student at a secret magic school, learning spells and exploring to uncover mysteries. Frogstorm says it carries on the legacy of early 2000s Harry Potter-style games, drawing reactions of nostalgia and concern over similarities.
Warner Bros. Discovery is bringing its HBO Max streaming service to Japan as add-on subscriptions inside two existing platforms. On September 1, Prime Video announced a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery that puts HBO Max inside the Prime Video app from October 1. Hulu Japan, owned by Nippon Television, announced the same day that it will launch a new brand, HBO Max on Hulu, also on October 1. The Prime Video offering has two plans: Standard at 1,000 yen per month with up to 1080p, and Premium at 1,400 yen per month with 4K UHD. At launch, subscribers can watch all seasons of House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City, and Euphoria, along with films such as Barbie and One Battle After Another. Season 1 of the new HBO original Harry Potter series, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is scheduled to premiere at Christmas. The Hulu Japan deal also includes exploring international distribution of Nippon Television and Hulu Japan content on HBO Max.
Dengeki Hobby Web's TOKYO Toy Show 2026 breaking reports covered a wide range of first-time displays and new items across multiple manufacturer booths. Studio Sota showed its official mascot character "Bani Pockle" collection figure (tentative) for the first time, alongside a miniature tooth model, "Ketsurikuko -Arachne- Rebirth," and more. Toho's Godzilla booth featured new items centered on 'Godzilla -0.0', including five new DESKTOP MONSTER series figures and SPLASH MONSTER items. MegaHouse displayed Godzilla Petit Rama DX and One Piece Petit Rama figures, plus "Tobimasu" from Dragon Ball and Jujutsu Kaisen. Hot Toys unveiled its original brand Lab C's new "UFO" and "Bubble B" items, along with a voice-functioning Stitch puppet. HAPPINET showed an RC Godzilla with moving parts and smoke-blowing gimmick, a JGSDF Type 10 tank, and "Gulliver Adventure." Kawada featured nanoblock sets for Pokemon, Moomin, Tamagotchi, and Evangelion. SOOTANG HOBBY displayed Wuthering Waves figures for Japan and keycaps with Sanrio and Harry Potter designs. Re-Ment showed miniature figures collaborating with Pokemon, Sanrio, Animal Crossing, and Kura Sushi.
Bandai is releasing a gashapon line of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts magical creatures as flocked charms. The set includes Dobby, Hedwig, Pygmy Puff, Niffler, and Demiguise, five types total. Dobby's outfit is reproduced in flocked specification. Each play costs 400 yen including tax. Release is scheduled for the fifth week of August 2026, with timing varying by region and store.
Jessie Cave, the British actress who played Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter films, told the talk show "This Morning" that she started an OnlyFans account because acting alone could not support her four children. She films hair-fetish content, not sexual material, and was banned from Harry Potter fan events. Cave said the income saved her family and that she earned more in one year than in her entire acting career.
The second installment of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts collaboration with fashion brand niko and ... goes on sale August 21, 2026, at the official web store and niko and ... stores nationwide. New items include Hogwarts house knit cardigans, a trunk case, and a Newt-inspired apron. Product pages preview August 12.
Universal Studios Japan announced new goods and menus for the Back to Hogwarts event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, starting September 1. The event celebrates the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Butterbeer with a commemorative mug, collectible pouches, robes, wands, and digital badges are among the offerings. Hogwarts Castle Walk returns for a limited run.
TOHO Cinemas will release a popcorn box modeled after the Hogwarts Express on August 26, tied to the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The product, called The Prime Collection Hogwarts Express Popcorn Box, is priced at 9,800 yen including tax. It measures approximately 54 centimeters in length and has a special design where steam rises from the chimney when water is added. The item will be available at 43 theaters, including locations in Tokyo such as Hibiya, Nihonbashi, and Ueno, as well as Susukino, Akita, Utsunomiya, and Sannomiya. Sales will begin at the opening of each participating theater, and the item will also be sold on the official TOHO Cinemas online store the same day. The online purchase does not include popcorn. Sales methods and the full list of theaters will be announced on the official TOHO Cinemas page once decided. The release coincides with a limited-time screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone starting August 28, which will include premium formats such as IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and 4D, plus a previously unreleased making-of video after the main feature.
A four-episode side story centered on Drum, the smartphone-voiced partner from TBS drama VIVANT, will stream exclusively on U-NEXT starting July 12. The origin story reveals Drum's harsh past and features new cast members Ryohei Otani and Ginji Watanabe. Producer Kazutaka Iida said the story's motif is Harry Potter.
Amazon Japan's on-demand print service Merch on Demand has begun selling a line of Harry Potter short-sleeve T-shirts. The shirts feature designs including house prefect badges, the Hippogriff Rider, and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, priced at ¥2,500 each. Sizes range from men's XS to 3XL, women's M to L, and kids' 100 to 150, with multiple color options per design.
Universal Studios Japan will host a Back to Hogwarts event from September 1 to September 30, 2026, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. On September 1, the Wizarding World area will be rented exclusively for fans after park closing, from 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM, with advance lottery entry required. The Hogwarts Castle Walk attraction returns for a limited run through January 17, 2027.