Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Anime, manga, and games, with a take · A Yukimedia publication

← all stories

Kana

Kana is an active licensing imprint and event participant with a six-title English manga slate through 2027, while the MURCIÉLAGO TV anime it is involved with is set for a January 2027 debut.

Synthesized from 30 Yomimono stories · updated 3d ago

Kana's most recent activity centers on licensing and event presence. At Anime NYC, it announced six manga titles for English release through 2027: Children of the Afterlife, Happy at Home, Good Morning Leon, Why We Fall in Love, Pumpkin Night, and Soon the Fog Clears, with release dates from May to November 2027. The slate includes a horror title previously released by Manga Planet, marking a broadening of the imprint's genre reach.

On the anime side, Kana is tied to the MURCIÉLAGO television adaptation. The series, based on Kana Yoshimura's manga, was first announced at Anime Expo in July 2026 with a 2027 release window, and was later confirmed for a January 2027 debut at Anime NYC. HIDIVE will stream the series in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The anime is directed by Matsuo Asami at Satelight and Staple Entertainment, with Takashi Naoya as chief director and series composition lead. The manga has 2.3 million copies in circulation worldwide.

Aside from these two threads, the dossier holds no other stories that establish ongoing Kana activities. The imprint's recent output is defined by the licensing slate and the MURCIÉLAGO premiere date.

Key facts

Licensed six manga titles
Children of the Afterlife, Happy at Home, Good Morning Leon, Why We Fall in Love, Pumpkin Night, and Soon the Fog Clears ↗
Release window for licensed manga
May to November 2027 ↗
MURCIÉLAGO anime debut
January 2027 ↗
MURCIÉLAGO streaming regions
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand via HIDIVE ↗
MURCIÉLAGO director and studio
Matsuo Asami at Satelight and Staple Entertainment ↗
MURCIÉLAGO manga circulation
2.3 million copies worldwide ↗

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Announced
licensing of six manga titles for English release (Anime NYC) · 2026-08-21

Connections

Produces
before dawn and the end of the world

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/kana. CC BY 4.0.

All coverage

18h ago

Yasuharu Takanashi's Far East Groove Sets 10-City European Tour

Composer Yasuharu Takanashi and his band Far East Groove will launch their European tour, The Battle for Glory, on September 30, 2026, with shows in 10 cities across 8 countries through October 14. The tour is an officially licensed concert featuring music from Naruto: Shippuden and Fairy Tail, and it includes the band's UK debut at Dingwalls in Camden, London, on October 2. Dates run through Helsinki, Warsaw, Berlin, Munich, Milan, Yverdon-les-Bains, Paris, Barcelona, and Madrid, with guest bands Night People, Anime Symphony Rock, and Strangers on select dates. In an interview with Anime Corner, Takanashi said he is visiting several countries for the first time and that he adjusted the set so fans of both Naruto and Fairy Tail can enjoy the show. He also confirmed that Reincarnated as a Sword Season 2, due in 2026, will feature more metal tracks to match its increased battle scenes, and that the Naruto 20th-anniversary episodes remain unreleased, telling fans to look forward to it. The tour is presented by Colorless Inc., Team-MAX, MACK PROJECTS, and GoodKabl GmbH, and cosplay is welcome at all shows.

2d ago

Genshin Impact Ver.7.1 Preview Program Set for September 12

HoYoverse announced the Ver.7.1 "Requiem of the Underworld" preview program for Genshin Impact, airing September 12 at 21:00. Kanae Ito (Vozhanitsa), Sumire Uesaka (Odet), and Aoi Koga (Paimon) will appear and introduce the latest information. The program thumbnail depicts characters expected to appear in the story. The game runs on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, and Android.

3d ago

Kana Delays Inio Asano's Before Dawn and the End of the World Manga to March 4

Abrams ComicArts' Kana imprint delayed Inio Asano's short story collection Before Dawn and the End of the World to March 4. The anthology, previously set for November, collects ten stories originally serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits from 2005 to 2008. The stories were previously unpublished in English.

6d ago

Fall Anime From the Other Side Sets October 4 Premiere, Adds Cast and Theme Songs

The TV anime From the Other Side premieres Sunday, October 4, 2026. The announcement came with a key visual, main PV, four new cast members, and theme song details. Kyoko Hikawa's manga ran in LaLa from 1991 to 2002, sold over 4 million copies, and won the Seiun Award. Six authors from LaLa contributed support illustrations.

6d ago

Kanae-sensei Real Event Offers Uncensored Talk as Tickets Go on Sale

The VTuber Kanae-sensei, a former juvenile detention facility instructor and Japan's first former national civil servant male VTuber, will hold a real event on October 11, 2026, at a Tokyo venue with two performances. General ticket sales began August 29. The event features talk not available on YouTube streams, with no censor beeps. Ticket tiers range from a 10,000 yen general seat to a 30,000 yen oil tycoon plan. A streaming ticket is also planned.

Sep 2

Fish Them All! Steam Store Page Opens for 100 Million Fish

Peace opened the Steam store page for Fish Them All! (Umi no Sakana, Zenbu Tsuru) on September 2, 2026. The short incremental fishing action game sets a goal of catching all 100 million fish in the sea. The mobile version, released for iOS and Android in July, had 10 million fish; the PC version multiplies that by ten. Release date and price are undecided. Estimated play time is 4 to 5 hours. The loop: catch fish to earn money, spend money on skills, catch more fish. Skills come in a skill tree and include movement speed boosts, larger hooks, more fish per cast, and automation options like divers, drones, and a UFO with a tractor beam. Dynamite also appears as an automation skill. The sea holds 17 fish types, including teleporting sea urchins, rapidly accelerating squid, and giant sharks. Treasure chests occasionally surface with toys as collectibles, and caught fish can be gathered in a fish sanctuary. The Steam version supports Windows and macOS, with wishlist registration now open.

Sep 1

Nijisanji VTuber Kana Sukuya Joins AED Awareness Live on September 9

Nijisanji VTuber Kana Sukuya, who holds a medical license, will appear as a guest on a YouTube live stream about AED use and first aid on September 9. The stream, titled 'Kana Sukuya and Learning, Talking: AED and Lifesaving,' runs from 20:00 to 21:00 on the Chiba PUSH official YouTube channel. September 9 is Japan's designated Emergency Day, and Chiba Prefecture marks September as its month to encourage AED use. The event is part of a Chiba Prefecture AED and cardiopulmonary resuscitation awareness project run by the nonprofit Chiba PUSH. Sukuya announced her medical license during her sixth anniversary stream in September 2025. She will be joined by Yosuke Homma, chairman of Chiba PUSH and head of emergency medicine at Chiba City Kaihin Hospital, NPO director Kazuko Ishii, and a citizen who has used an AED in a real rescue. The program covers questions like whether anyone can use an AED and what to do when someone collapses, plus Chiba's AED ordinance and the psychological burden rescuers can feel afterward. Mid-stream, viewers can join an online first aid session using a cushion and two cards from home.

Aug 29

Fate/strange Fake New Series Announced at Anime NYC

A new series of the TV anime Fate/strange Fake has been announced at the Fate/strange Fake Panel Stage during Anime NYC in New York on August 22, 2026 JST. A PV and teaser visual were released, featuring Ayaka, Saber, and Sigma. Comments came from creator Ryohgo Narita, character designer Shizuki Morii, and cast members Kana Hanazawa, Yuki Ono, and Gakuto Kajiwara.

Aug 27

MURCIÉLAGO TV Anime Debuts in January 2027

The television anime adaptation of Kana Yoshimura's MURCIÉLAGO manga will debut in January 2027, as announced at Anime NYC by HIDIVE. The streaming service also released a super teaser promotional video for the series, which will be available exclusively in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. HIDIVE describes the story as following Kuroko Koumori, a former death-row inmate chosen through extraordinary legal measures to act as a state-sanctioned executioner, partnered with driver Hinako Tozakura. The anime is directed by Matsuo Asami at Satelight and Staple Entertainment, with Takashi Naoya serving as chief director and handling series composition. Sei Tateishi designs the characters, while Masanori Akita and Yuichi Tsuchiya compose the music. The adaptation was first announced in July during Anime Expo 2026, and this announcement narrows the previously stated 2027 release window. The manga, serialized in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine since 2013, has 2.3 million copies in circulation worldwide.

Aug 27

DRAPLINE Full Release Lands September 24 With New Mode, 25 Endings

The dragon girl raising roguelite DRAPLINE will leave early access and launch its full version on Steam on September 24, 2026. Publisher Vaka announced the release on August 26 alongside a soundtrack containing over 30 tracks composed by developer Kanao. The game, which entered early access in June 2025, carries a 96% positive rating across more than 1,700 Steam user reviews, an Overwhelmingly Positive status, and has sold over 50,000 copies. The full version adds a new mode called DRAGON'S DISCIPLINE, which is unlocked after playing the existing DAYS OF TORNADO mode to a certain point. The new mode leads to the game's true ending and includes 25 new endings, each with its own illustration, that branch based on how the player raised the dragon girl. DRAGON'S DISCIPLINE is described as being so substantial that DAYS OF TORNADO appears to be merely the first half of the overall game. The price rises from 1,200 yen to 1,680 yen at launch, with a 20% off sale running until August 31. The game will also appear at Tokyo Game Show 2026 at the Vaka booth.

Aug 21

Happy Kanako's Killer Life Season 2 Adds Hikaru Takahashi, Aoi Morikawa, Sayu Suzukawa

DMM TV announced three new cast members for the second season of the live-action Happy Kanako's Killer Life series on Friday. Hikaru Takahashi plays Nana, Aoi Morikawa plays Ado, and Sayu Suzukawa plays Yui, all assassin colleagues of Kanako. Non and Taisuke Fujigaya reprise their lead roles, and Tsutomu Hanabusa returns to direct and co-write the scripts.

Aug 21

Kana Licenses Six Manga Titles for English Release Through 2027

Kana announced at Anime NYC on Friday that it licensed six manga titles for English release through 2027. The slate includes Children of the Afterlife, Happy at Home, Good Morning Leon, Why We Fall in Love, Pumpkin Night, and Soon the Fog Clears. Release dates span from May to November 2027.

Aug 18

POKÉTOON Releases Wartortle and the Continuation of Summer With Kana Hanazawa

The latest POKÉTOON short, Wartortle and the Continuation of Summer, is now streaming on the official Pokémon YouTube channel. Kana Hanazawa voices the long-lived Wartortle, with Tasuku Hatanaka as Rikuto's father Gaku. The story follows a boy visiting his grandmother's island and meeting a Wartortle with moss on its shell. Fans are praising Hanazawa's performance, with the work trending on X.

Aug 14

Pokemon Web Anime Kameil to, Natsu no Tsuzuki Premieres on YouTube

The Pokemon official YouTube channel released the new POKETOON short Kameil to, Natsu no Tsuzuki on August 12. The story follows a boy named Rikuto who visits his grandmother on an island and meets a long-lived Kameil whose tail color differs and whose shell has moss. The animation was produced by Studio Colorido and Studio Churutto, with Seigo Yamashita directing.

Aug 14

Live-Action Happy Kanako's Killer Life Season 2 Sets September 17 Debut

DMM TV announced the second season of the live-action Happy Kanako's Killer Life series will debut on September 17. Non and Taisuke Fujigaya reprise their roles as Kanako and Sakurai. Tsutomu Hanabusa returns to direct and co-write the scripts. A new key visual was also unveiled.

Aug 10

Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom Anime Casts Seven Brothers, Premieres October 3

The television anime of Nao Iwamoto's Marronnier Okoku no Shichinin no Kishi manga revealed its first promotional video, main visual, cast, and October 3 premiere on NHK Educational. Kengo Takanashi, Makoto Tanikawa, Haruki Ishiya, Satoshi Inomata, Kiyoto Mizuno, Taishi Murata, and Reiji Kawashima voice the seven knight brothers. Kiyoko Sayama directs at J.C. Staff.

Jul 27

Persona 3 Stage Play Blue Awakening Gets Free Limited YouTube Stream

Atlus announced on July 27 that the stage play "PERSONA3 the Weird Masquerade ~Blue Awakening~" will stream for free on YouTube for a limited time. The production is the seventh installment of the company's End-of-Month Fun Project, timed to the 20th anniversary of Persona 3 and the 30th anniversary of the Persona series. Two versions exist: one starring Kana Asumi as the female protagonist Kotone Shiomi, and one starring Shouta Aoi as the male protagonist Sakuya Shiomi. The female protagonist version goes live on July 31 at 18:00 JST and runs through August 13 at 17:59 JST. The male protagonist version starts August 1 at 18:00 JST and ends August 14 at 17:59 JST. Both are hosted on the official ATLUS GAME MUSIC YouTube channel. Separately, a Persona 3 20th anniversary sale discounts Persona 3 Reload up to 60 percent on the PlayStation Store until July 29 and 40 percent on the Nintendo eShop until August 10.

Jul 27

The World's Strongest Witch Anime Adds Kana Hanazawa, Maria Naganawa, Sets October 7 Debut

The television anime adaptation of Mochimaru Sakaki's light novel series The World's Strongest Witch: I'm Starting My Free Life in a World Where Only I Can See the Online Strategy Guide has revealed two new cast members and an October 7 premiere date. Kana Hanazawa and Maria Naganawa join the previously announced cast, and the anime will air on Tokyo MX, BS11, TV Aichi, and MBS.

Jul 26

Blue Archive ASMR Series Adds Seia and Miyo on July 27

Yostar will release two new ASMR works for the mobile and PC RPG Blue Archive on July 27 at 0:00 JST. The 10th volume, "Sun, Moon, Words, and You (Seia ASMR)," features Seia voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki. The 11th volume, "It's Sensei's Fault, You Know? (Miyo ASMR)," features Miyo voiced by Kana Hanaishi. The announcement was made during the Blue Archive 5.5th Anniversary Live Broadcast on July 26. A 10% discount sale on both new and existing ASMR works will run on DLsite until August 23. The ASMR series has been expanded approximately every six months since its launch.

Jul 26

KonoSuba Season 4 Reveals Staff, 2027 Debut at 10th Anniversary Event

The fourth season of the KonoSuba anime, titled KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! 4, was announced at the "Colorful" 10th anniversary event on July 26, 2026. The season is set to air in 2027. Studio ENGI will handle the animation, taking over from the previous studios that worked on earlier seasons. Takaomi Kanasaki returns as chief director, while Manabu Kurihara, who previously directed The Detective Is Already Dead, steps in as the new director. Makoto Uezu returns to oversee series scripts, Koichi Kikuta returns for character design, Yoshikazu Iwanami returns as sound director, and Masato Kōda returns to compose the music. The event also revealed an "ultra teaser visual" and a 10th anniversary video featuring a new arrangement of Machico's song "fantastic dreamer" from the first season. The third season aired in April 2024, and the sequel was first teased after the Bonus Stage OVA in March 2025.

Jul 19

Ghost Mikawa's Mercenary Sisters Novel Gets Manga Adaptation

Kadokawa's Comic Newtype announced on July 16 that manga artist Ka Sakana will launch the manga adaptation of Ghost Mikawa's novel Mercenary Sisters on Tuesday. The story follows two unrelated sisters, a rookie and a veteran mercenary, surviving in a conflict zone. Mikawa originally published the novel on Kakuyomu in June 2025, with a print edition by Kadokawa in July 2025.

Jul 17

ChroNoiR Celebrates 8th Anniversary with Song, Illustrations by Frieren, FF, NieR Artists

The Nijisanji unit ChroNoiR, composed of VTubers Kuzuha and Kanae, marked its 8th anniversary on July 17, 2026, with a new digital single and a set of commemorative illustrations by three high-profile creators. The song "Endless showtime" was released digitally at midnight, with a music video premiering later that evening at 21:00 JST. The track was written by Penthouse vocalist and guitarist Shintaro Namioka, with lyrics by Takuma Ohara and arrangement by ha-j. The lyrics depict two people in an empty theater who receive a standing ovation, framing the bond between the unit and its fans. Separately, three celebratory illustrations were published by Abetsuka, a manga artist for "Sousou no Frieren"; Toshiyuki Itahana, character designer for the "Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon" series and "Final Fantasy IX"; and D.K, character designer for "NieR Replicant" and "NieR Gestalt." The illustrations drew reactions from fans on social media, who noted the quality of the collaborations. The anniversary marks eight years since the formation of ChroNoiR, a unit that has been active within Nijisanji since 2018.

Jul 16

Koki Kanai of uyet to Speak at Dospara Webinar for VTubers

Koki Kanai, representative producer at IP content trading company uyet Inc., will speak at a free online webinar hosted by PC specialty store Dospara on August 12, 2026. The webinar, titled "Streaming Workshop for Building a Loyal Audience," targets streamers and VTubers and will focus on turning first-time viewers into regular listeners. Kanai, who has produced numerous VTuber talents and agencies, will cover topics including character branding, viewer relationship building, and long-term streaming mindset. The event is part of Dospara's Creative Production (DCP) program, which supports creative activities of Dospara members. Kanai has been involved in the VTuber industry since 2018, when he helped launch the VTuber business at ANYCOLOR Inc., the company behind the Nijisanji project. He currently develops new VTuber-related business at uyet, including promotion, marketing, and support services, and has collaborated with organizations such as JA Zen-Noh and The Asahi Shimbun for live commerce events. The webinar is limited to 500 participants on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration requires a free Dospara membership. Dospara's DCP program also offers archived videos, contests, and a Discord community for participants.

Jul 15

Nyoijizai Launches New Manga Shinkon Dakedo Captain no Kanojo to wa Mada Yarenai

Manga creator Nyoijizai, known for Harukana Receive, launched a new series on Kadokawa's Dra Dra Sharp# magazine. The story follows newlyweds Yuto and Asuka, a professional volleyball player and team captain who agrees to abstain from sex until a tournament ends. The series began last Saturday, shortly after Nyoijizai ended Cinderella Athletes in February.

Jul 13

Criminology Classroom Kanae-sensei Perfumes Now on Sale at Village Vanguard

VTuber Criminology Classroom Kanae-sensei has launched two perfumes, MORNING start and NIGHT cool, now available at the Village Vanguard online store. The fragrances were developed under Kanae-sensei's supervision, with scents designed for different times of day: a floral fruity morning scent and a citrus floral evening scent.

Jul 12

Live-Action Happy Kanako's Killer Life Gets Second Season

DMM TV announced a second season of the live-action series based on Toshiya Wakabayashi's manga Happy Kanako's Killer Life. The new season debuts in September 2026 on DMM TV. Non and Taisuke Fujigaya return as Kanako and Sakurai. Tsutomu Hanabusa returns to direct and co-write the scripts.

Jul 10

ChroNoiR 8th Anniversary Goods Launch July 17 With Pop-Up Store

ANYCOLOR announced on July 9 that the Nijisanji unit ChroNoiR, consisting of livers Kanae and Kuzuha, will release a line of 8th anniversary goods on July 17 at 6 PM JST through the Nijisanji Official Store. The lineup includes 13 types of merchandise: acrylic stands, random can badges, random photo-style cards, charm keychains, mini tin can sets, acrylic magnets, canvas boards, glasses, posing plushie clothes, Nijipa pajama pouches, Kukking! mini figures, and produce goods for each member. The Kanae produce set costs 15,000 yen and includes a pancake maker and Roto plushie; the Kuzuha set costs 13,000 yen and includes a parasol and handy fan. A pop-up store, the ChroNoiR 8th ANNIVERSARY POPUP, will run from July 17 to August 5 at LIGHT BOX ATELIER in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, with free admission via lottery. Online purchases of 3,000 yen or more include a random clear coaster bonus (6 types). At the pop-up, venue-exclusive pancake-style baked sweets (3,300 yen) and an original shopper (550 yen) are available, with a random label-style card bonus per 3,000 yen spent. The pop-up also features key visual reproductions, life-size panels, and a smart photo service. Admission lottery applications are open from July 9 6:30 PM to July 11 11:59 PM via official LINE.

Jul 9

Yog-Sothoth's Garden Switch Pre-Orders Open, New PV Narrated by Kana Asumi

Shochiku Games opened pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch download version of Yog-Sothoth's Garden on July 9, ahead of its July 23 release. The game, a hotel management simulation and romance adventure set in the Cthulhu Mythos, was originally released on Steam in October 2023 in Chinese and English. It has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide and holds a Very Positive rating from more than 10,000 Steam user reviews. The Switch version is priced at 1,980 yen for the download edition, with a 10 percent discount until July 22. Physical editions cost 2,970 yen for the standard version and 4,400 yen for the limited first edition. To mark the pre-order start, a special promotional video narrated by voice actress Kana Asumi was released. The video introduces the game's mix of cute heroines and madness, including the SAN value mechanic that decreases sanity for profit. The PV is available on the Shochiku Games YouTube channel until October 2026. The Steam version will also receive a Japanese language update on the same day.

Jul 7

Seven Sleeping Beauties TV Anime Announced for 2027, Cast and Staff Revealed

Fiok Lee's fantasy romantic comedy manga Seven Sleeping Beauties (Shichinin no Nemuri-hime) is receiving a television anime adaptation scheduled for a 2027 debut. The announcement was made on July 7, 2026, via a new website that also released an ultra teaser visual and a commemorative illustration by Lee. The anime will be produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ SMASH, with Mankyu directing. Keiichiro Ochi is handling series composition and scripts, and Masaru Koseki is designing the characters. The main cast features seven voice actresses portraying the sleeping princesses: Aya Yamane as Flora, Yoshino Aoyama as Kiara, Miku Itō as Claire, Ayasa Itō as Mia, Kana Ichinose as Charlotte, Fūka Izumi as Yūka, and Rina Kawaguchi as Eliza. The story follows Alec, the third prince of the Kingdom of Rudbeckia, who travels to the small kingdom of Amaryllis after a witch's curse puts its people to sleep. He must awaken the seven princesses with a kiss, but when they all wake up, the rest of the kingdom remains asleep, forcing the prince and princesses to live together while searching for a way to break the curse. The manga began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine in March 2023, and its 12th compiled volume is set for release on July 16, 2026.

Jul 7

The Demons Are Planning Something Good Anime Cast, Staff, 2027 TV Debut

The official website for the anime of akuji Katō's The Demons Are Planning Something Good comedy manga revealed the cast, additional staff, a visual, and a 2027 television debut. The cast includes Junichi Suwabe, Wakana Kuramochi, and Haruka Shiraishi. Takuya Asaoka directs at TNK, with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu on series composition and Hiraku Kaneko on character design. Yen Press licenses the manga.

Jul 4

Magical Buffs Anime Trailer Reveals Three New Cast Members

The official website for the television anime adaptation of Haka Tokura's Magical Buffs: The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized! light novel series released a new promotional video on July 4. The video and accompanying announcement revealed three additional cast members: Akeno Watanabe as Camilla, Masaaki Mizunaka as Chronos, and Wakana Kuramochi as Rita Heinkes. They join previously announced leads Reiji Kawashima as Wim Strauss and Hana Hishikawa as Heidemarie. Crunchyroll confirmed at its Anime Expo 2026 panel on July 3 that it will stream the series and also showed an English-subtitled version of the trailer. The anime is set to premiere in January 2027. It will air on Tokyo MX, MBS, BS11, and 17 other channels, and will also be available on Netflix. Hideki Okamoto is directing the series at J.C. Staff. Takao Yoshioka is handling series scripts, Yu Murakami is designing the characters, and Yuki Hayashi, Luke Standridge, and Asa Taylor are composing the music. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the light novel and its manga adaptation for English release.

Jun 27

Hololive English Concerts to Screen at Hyper Japan 2026

COVER Corporation announced the first official concert delay view screening of Takanashi Kiara and Ninomae Ina'nis' "Drawn to Dawn" and a free screening of "hololive English 3rd Concert -All for One- Day 1" at Hyper Japan Festival 2026 in London from July 24-26. Tickets for the paid screening go on sale June 25.

Jun 21

Mistress Kanan Is Devilishly Easy Season 2 Green-Lit

The television anime adaptation of nonco's manga "Mistress Kanan Is Devilishly Easy" has been green-lit for a second season. The announcement was made on the anime's official website on Sunday, June 20, 2026, immediately after the first season's finale aired. Character designer Akari Minagawa drew a commemorative illustration to mark the news. The first season premiered on April 4, 2026, on Tokyo MX and BS11, and is streamed by Crunchyroll with an English dub. The manga, which began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in June 2022, has released 13 compiled volumes in Japan as of April 16, 2026. Seven Seas Entertainment will release the manga in English in omnibus format starting July 2026. The story follows Kanan, a demoness who infiltrates a human high school to feast on souls, but ends up in a relationship with a human boy, experiencing love for the first time. The first season was directed by Yasushi Muroya at Studio KAI, with series scripts by Rintarō Ikeda.

Jun 19

Kana Nishino Performs New Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 Opening Theme

Kana Nishino performs the opening theme song "Power of Love" for the second cour of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke. Moka Kamishiraishi, as adieu, performs the ending theme "Wanna me." The anime premiered on April 4 and airs for two consecutive cours on Yomiuri TV and NTV. Crunchyroll streams the series with subtitles and an English dub.

Jun 19

The Irregular at Magic High School Pop-Up Shop Opens in Tokyo June 2026

KADOKAWA will hold a pop-up shop at Yurakucho Marui in Tokyo from June 20 to July 5, 2026, commemorating the release of Kana Ishida Art Collection 3 graduation. The shop will sell new goods featuring illustrations from the art collection and past light novel covers. Items will also be available on Kadostore after the event.

Jun 16

Dot-Eye Action Game 'Gastova: The Witches of Arkana' Launches on Steam

MechWolf Productions released 'Gastova: The Witches of Arkana,' a dot-eye side-scrolling action game inspired by 'Mega Man,' 'Metroid,' and 'Wonder Boy.' Players control the guardian witch Gastova, defeat corrupted fellow witches, borrow their powers, and collect costumes and wands. The game is available on Steam for 1,700 yen, with a 25% launch discount until June 23.

Jun 14

Sakanaction Wins Best Anime Song at Music Awards Japan 2026

The Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) held the Grand Ceremony for Music Awards Japan 2026 on June 13 at Toyota Arena Tokyo. Sakanaction's "Kaiju," the theme song for the TV anime "Chi: Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite," won Best Anime Song. It was the band's first anime theme song. Lead vocalist Ichiro Yamaguchi said during the ceremony that the manga's author, Uoto, pushed for the band to be involved. Sakanaction also won Song of the Year, Best Rock Song, Best Music Video, and Best Rock Band/Solo Artist, among other awards, totaling eight wins. Kenshi Yonezu's "IRIS OUT" from the "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc" won Best J-POP Song and swept Best Japanese Song in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. Mrs. Green Apple won Artist of the Year for the second consecutive year, plus Best J-POP Artist and the Fandom Special Award. HANA won New Artist of the Year. The Best Original Score for Animation went to the "Lazarus" soundtrack by Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points. Ado won Largest Live Audience (International). The awards event, now in its second year, had over 70 categories voted on by more than 5,000 music industry professionals.

Jun 12

Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2 Main PV Reveals Ending Theme by Kensho Ono

The main promotional video for Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2 features the full cast of the spin-off series and previews the ending theme song "Bokura ~Ryunosuke Akutagawa Ver.~" performed by Kensho Ono. The anime begins airing on TOKYO MX and other channels on July 2, 2026, with streaming on d Anime Store the same day. The first season will also be rebroadcast starting July 2.

Jun 10

CloverWorks' Grotesqqque Film Reveals 14 Cast Members

CloverWorks revealed the cast and characters for its original omnibus anime film Grotesqqque on Saturday. The 14-person cast includes Kana Ichinose, Maaya Uchida, Rie Kugimiya, and four members of Nogizaka46. The film, directed by Atsushi Nishigori, will open in 2026 and comprises three stories with different worldviews.

Jun 5

Blue Archive Nendoroid Takanashi Hoshino (Battle) Opens Pre-Orders on Amazon

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.

Jun 5

Takanori Higuchi Joins Jun Kaname's Agency PLAN-D

Takanori Higuchi, who played Kaoru Kino/Another Agito in Kamen Rider Agito, announced on June 5 via X that he has joined PLAN-D, the agency headed by co-star Jun Kaname. Higuchi recently reprised his role in the anniversary film Agito: Supernatural War, released April 29.

Jun 3

Always a Catch! Anime Casts Kana Hanazawa as Zaira

The anime adaptation of Mayo Momoyo's light novel series Always a Catch! has cast Kana Hanazawa as the mysterious woman Zaira, who appears to hold a grudge against Maria. The character debuted in the 10th episode, which aired on Thursday in Japan.

Jun 1

Kiriwo Fan Club Exhibition to Recreate High School Classroom at Shibuya PARCO

An experiential exhibition for the TV anime "Kiriwo Fan Club" will run from June 26 to July 6, 2026, at GALLERY X BY PARCO in Shibuya PARCO, Tokyo. Titled "Kiriwo Fan Club no Fan Club Kiriwo Fan Club Exhibition," the event lets visitors experience the youth group drama of characters Aimi, Nami, and their friends from a fan's perspective. The space recreates the classroom of Ekoma High School, with installations featuring notable lines from the work. Limited-edition goods available only at the event include an "Oshi-dedicated Gaze Snap," a "Toute Bromide Case," and an "Ema with Things You Want to Do with Kirio-kun" capsule toy. Original collaboration products with creators connected to author Chikyū no Osakana Ponchan will also be sold. Three admission ticket tiers are offered: a basic ticket with a "ticket card," one adding a "serial number membership card," and a 3,000 yen limited ticket (100 available) that includes a "Daifuku Yaro Mascot" in addition to both cards. The exhibition is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00, with last entry 30 minutes before closing; the final day closes at 18:00.

May 31

Mistress Kanan Is Devilishly Easy Episode 1 Review Critiques Age Dynamic

Anime Feminist published a review of the first episode of Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy, a new anime adaptation of the ongoing manga. The review describes the premise: the thousand-year-old Gourmet Devil Kanan comes to Earth to devour souls, targeting high school student Youji Kyougi, but he misunderstands her intentions and declares them boyfriend and girlfriend. The reviewer finds the high school setting uncomfortable given the heavy focus on fan service and teenage sexuality, noting that Kanan looks sixteen despite her age. The review compares the dynamic unfavorably to Kakegurui, calling the execution rote. It also notes that the manga is twelve volumes and counting, localized by Seven Seas, but predicts the anime will not get a second season. The reviewer expresses disinterest rather than hatred, saying the joke grows stale quickly.

May 19

Wakana Yamazaki, Voice of Ran Mori in Detective Conan, Dies at 61

Voice actress Wakana Yamazaki, best known as the voice of Ran Mori in the long-running anime series Detective Conan, died on April 18 at age 61 following an illness. Her talent agency Aoni Production announced in February that she would pause activities for medical treatment. Yamazaki voiced the character since the series premiered in 1996, a role she held for nearly three decades. The Detective Conan production staff confirmed that Akemi Okamura, who had filled in since March 14, will permanently succeed her as the voice of Ran Mori. Creator Gosho Aoyama released a statement saying, "To think I'll never hear that gentle, comforting voice that was always there again... it's so sad." Yamazaki also voiced Meiko Akizuki in Marmalade Boy, Koan in Sailor Moon R, Nene in the Samurai Warriors game series, and Nojiko in One Piece. She received the Kei Tomiyama and Kazue Takahashi Award at the 19th Seiyuu Awards for her contributions to the profession. A funeral was held by close relatives. The cast and staff of Detective Conan, along with figures across the anime and game industries, posted public condolences on social media.