The Music Awards Japan 2026 ceremony on June 13 featured a red carpet event with numerous anime theme song artists. Hitsujibungaku won two awards in the alternative category. Aina the End will perform the theme for the upcoming TV anime One Piece Heroines. LiSA, Gen Hoshino, and others also attended.
Eiga Natalie's Heisei Drama Committee column, written by Terebi no Sukima, revisits the 2006 late-night drama Akihabara@Deep. The piece calls it a symbolic work of the era and a turning point for Gen Hoshino, who met his best friend Toma Ikuta and ally Bananaman through the production. The drama featured Shunsuke Kazama, Toma Ikuta, Gen Hoshino, and Yuki Himura before their major breakthroughs.
Ryuichi Hoshino's comic adaptation of Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, originally serialized in Comic BonBon, is now available as e-books on Kindle. Volumes 1 and 2 were released on June 17, 2026, priced at 594 yen each. The manga offers a different take from the original anime.
The live-action film adaptation of Mika Yamamori's manga In the Clear Moonlit Dusk revealed a new trailer on Monday, announcing five additional cast members. The film stars Shunsuke Michieda and Seira Anzai, opens in Japan on October 23, and is directed by Kentarō Takemura.
Good Smile Company has opened pre-orders for a Nendoroid of Takanashi Hoshino in her battle form from the game Blue Archive. The figure, listed on Amazon.co.jp at 7,130 yen, includes a shotgun, shield, auxiliary pistol, and three face plates: composed, serious, and embarrassed. It stands about 100 mm tall and is scheduled for release on November 30, 2026. The prototype was handled by Hora with production cooperation from Nendoron. Separately, Good Smile also began pre-orders for a Nendoroid Surprise trading figure set featuring six Blue Archive characters: Shiroko, Hoshino, Nonomi, Serika, Ayane, and Shiroko*Terror. That set costs 10,450 yen for a box of six, with a release date of January 31, 2027. Both items are available through Amazon.co.jp as of June 5, 2026.
Good Smile Company streamed its 'Nendoroid FUNS Good Smile Fest 2026' on June 4, 2026, unveiling a wide range of new Nendoroid figures. The event showcased colored samples and prototypes for numerous upcoming releases. Highlights included a 2.0 version of Mio Akiyama from 'K-On!', Saber in casual wear from 'Fate/stay night', and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon from 'Yu-Gi-Oh!'. Vocaloid characters such as Neru Akita and Haku Yowane also received new Nendoroid forms. Newly announced figures span multiple franchises: from 'Final Fantasy XIV', characters Alphinaud, Yotsuyu, and Emet-Selch were confirmed; from 'Goddess of Victory: NIKKE', Velvet; and from 'Danganronpa 1·2 Reload', Celestia Ludenberg. The 'Super Kaguya-hime!' series added Kaguya, Sakayori Iroha, and Tsukimi Yachiyo. Other reveals included Femto from 'Berserk', Godzilla (2023) from 'Godzilla Minus One', and Magolor from 'Kirby of the Stars'. The 'Nendoroid Surprise' blind-box line will feature sets for 'Blue Archive', 'The Apothecary Diaries', and 'Natsume's Book of Friends'. Pre-orders opened for several items immediately after the stream.