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Kazu

1d ago

Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Anime Reveals New Cast and Half-Year Run

The staff for the television anime of Umikaze Minamino's Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden light novel series revealed the second promotional video on Tuesday, along with four new cast members and confirmation that the series will run for two consecutive cours. The new video previews the opening theme song "Respawn!!" by VTuber Tsunomaki Watame. The four new cast members are Kōichi Sakaguchi as Bendelio, Junichi Suwabe as Hyurence Altoire, Maaya Uchida as Sharro White, and Kazuyuki Okitsu as Asuma. The anime premieres October 6 on Tokyo MX at 9:25 p.m. JST, followed by BS NTV and MBS, and will stream on ABEMA, d Anime Store, and U-NEXT after broadcast. HIDIVE will stream the series as it airs. An advance screening of the first three episodes is set for September 22 at the esports TOKYO BAY studio. Motoki Nakanishi directs at KONAMI animation, with Haruta Segi as assistant director, Gigaemon Ichikawa on series scripts, and Naoki Endō composing the music. The cast includes Honoka Inoue as Nia Liston, Fūka Izumi as Rinokis Funk, Rina Honnizumi as Hildetora Altoir, Rina Hidaka as Reliared Silver, Taku Yashiro as Anzel, Yōko Hikasa as Fressa, and Satoshi Hino as Gandolf Rogen.

2d ago

Madoka Magica Film Gets NYLON JAPAN Cover Visual

NYLON JAPAN unveiled on September 7 the cover visual for the special edition of its November issue, featuring Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi in newly drawn illustrations tied to the film 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis no Kaiten,' which has been in theaters since August 28. The special edition is scheduled for release on September 28 and is available for pre-order on Amazon and other retailers. The cover art, created under the fashion theme 'fairytale x street,' depicts the two characters leaning together like models, described as an edgy and cute world view with a sentimental yet dark atmosphere. The issue includes a long interview with Kazuki Kawada, who handles visual concept design, where he answers exclusive fashion-related questions. It also features a fashion shoot with Eiko Kano, known from the series' audio commentary projects, presenting a visual themed around 'God and demon Kano' in a dark and aesthetic style. Kano discusses his love for the Madoka Magica series and his 'aesthetics of love.' The special edition includes a two-page spread on thick paper, and merchandise using the new illustration is planned, with details to be announced later.

4d ago

Fullmetal Alchemist Dot Art Goods Set for Tokyo Game Show Release

Square Enix announced Fullmetal Alchemist merchandise featuring dot art by Kazuko Shibuya, creator of dot characters for games including the Final Fantasy series. Items go on sale October 1 at TSUTAYA IP bookstores and October 14 at the Fullmetal Alchemist x Yomi no Tsugai Exhibition Hokkaido venue, with early release at Tokyo Game Show 2026.

5d ago

New Kochikame Anime Sets 2027 Fuji TV Airing With Fresh Cast

The new anime adaptation of Osamu Akimoto's long-running comedy manga Kochikame, titled New Kochikame: Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo, will air on Fuji TV and stream across multiple platforms in 2027. The project marks the 50th anniversary of the original manga's serialization. The main cast was announced during a live-streamed event on September 5 on the Jump Channel, with Fukushi Ochiai voicing protagonist Ryotsu Kankichi, Shouta Aoi as Keiichi Nakagawa, M·A·O as Reiko Akimoto, and Raiko Sakamoto as Daijiro Ohara. Akitaro Daichi directs the series, with animation production by Gallop, the studio behind the earlier Kochikame TV anime. A character PV, which reveals the new cast's voices for the first time, and a key visual were released alongside the announcement. Original creator Osamu Akimoto expressed delight at hearing the characters again, noting the art has evolved to a modern style while remaining impactful and funny. The cast announcement event, titled "Start! Reiwa Kochikame Grand Strategy," remains available as an archive on YouTube.

5d ago

New Votoms Anime Films Reveal Cast, Character Designs, Trailer

The official website for Sunrise and Production I.G's Sōkō Kihei Votoms Haiiro no Hexe revealed the cast, character designs, and a 30-second trailer for the two new Armored Trooper Votoms films. Shinichirō Miki, Yūki Kaji, Yūichi Nakamura, and others join the cast. Miyuki Sawashiro plays the feared AT pilot Ash Vamps, known as the Grey Witch.

6d ago

KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI Steam Version Ends Devil May Cry Collab

Colopl will end the Devil May Cry collaboration content in the Steam version of KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI after finding that internal confirmation procedures were deficient. Steam store sales paused on September 4, 2026. Players who already bought the game can keep playing during the pause. A patch expected around late September will remove the collab content. Refund handling is still being confirmed. The Switch version is unchanged and keeps the collaboration.

6d ago

Armored Trooper Votoms: The Grey Witch Casts Miki, Kaji, Nakamura, Sugita

Sunrise's 50th anniversary Armored Trooper Votoms film The Grey Witch, directed by Mamoru Oshii, revealed its full main cast. Shinichiro Miki, Yuki Kaji, Yuichi Nakamura, Tomokazu Sugita, Takahiro Sakurai, and Sumire Uesaka join previously announced Miyuki Sawashiro and Mafumi Ando. Set at the end of the Hundred Years War, the film opens nationwide November 20, 2026, and a 30-second trailer was shown.

6d ago

The Tenth Mosaic Festival Lines Up Kodaka, Mizuguchi, Toyama Talks

Archipel will hold The Tenth Mosaic, a two-day game culture festival, on September 22-23 at Tokyo Nichi-Futsu Gakuen. The lineup includes talks with Kazutaka Kodaka and Masafumi Takada, a Rez 25th anniversary session with Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Ken Ishii, a horror panel with Keiichiro Toyama and Frederic Raynal, and a Persona 30th anniversary talk. Shuhei Yoshida curates an indie legacy showcase with 15-plus titles, and music sets include Yuzo Koshiro and Saori Kobayashi. Several talk sessions have already sold out.

Sep 3

Yu-Gi-Oh! Exhibition Offers Egyptian God Cards as Bonus Merch

The Kazuki Takahashi: Yu-Gi-Oh! Art Works Exhibition announced that purchases of its Ticket with Exclusive Merch bundle will include the three Egyptian God cards, Slifer the Sky Dragon, Obelisk the Tormentor, and The Winged Dragon of Ra, with a special finish based on their original manga designs. The cards cannot be used in the trading card game.

Sep 2

VALTRA Marks First Anniversary with Seven September Projects

VALTRA, the VTuber agency operated by GSC, will run seven projects in September 2026 as all four of its talents reach their first anniversary. The slate includes anniversary and birthday streams, three continued collaborations with HUK, the official channel of the Hyogo Prefecture Horse Racing Association, and a commentary appearance at a Line Strike community tournament. The September 25 HUK stream is the 10th total, marked by a commemorative naming race.

Sep 2

Jujutsu Fest 2026 Closes 5th Anniversary with Full Cast Finale

Jujutsu Fest 2026, the finale event closing the Jujutsu Kaisen anime's fifth anniversary, ran August 29-30 at K Arena Yokohama. Day 2 brought the full cast on stage, ALI opening with 'LOST IN PARADISE,' a Takada-chan live set, the Demmy Awards, and a music relay through the Culling Game. In closing remarks, Yuji Itadori voice actor Junya Enoki said he wants to deliver the animation's continuation soon.

Sep 2

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 4 Teaser Visual Revealed at 5th Anniversary Fest

The Jujutsu Kaisen anime closed its 5th anniversary with Jujutsu Fest 2026 at K Arena Yokohama on August 29 and 30. Day 1 brought the main cast on stage, live songs from Who-ya Extended, KITANI TATSUYA and jo0ji, a fan-voted awards corner, and a new super teaser visual for TV anime Season 4, the Culling Game Part 2, centered on Ryomen Sukuna. Yuichi Nakamura told the crowd to wait for the next season to begin.

Aug 29

BL Manga Ao to Ao Gets Live-Action Drama With Double Lead

The BL manga Ao to Ao by Roji is being adapted into a live-action drama starring Naoya Kusakawa (ONE N' ONLY) and Hidekazu Chinen in double lead roles. It airs on BS Asahi and other channels from October 5, with early streaming on Lemino starting at 10:00 the same day. The story follows two high school friends who become adults with mutual unrequited love over eight years.

Aug 29

Kazuki Kawamura Joins Runvox Q&A App as Respondent

Regit One announced that Kazuki Kawamura, the men's 1500m Japanese record holder, has joined the marathon and track and field Q&A app Runvox as a respondent. Kawamura will answer questions from runners on training, speed, race management, conditioning, and form. He set the Japanese record in 2021 and won the 2023 Japan Championships.

Aug 28

Ninomiya Kazunari Says Nokoru Has More Screen Time in VIVANT Season 2

Ninomiya Kazunari, who plays Nokoru in VIVANT Season 2, spoke at the Sunday Theater VIVANT PREMIUM SUMMER PARTY event on August 23 at the National Yoyogi Stadium First Gymnasium before 11,000 fans. Asked whether his screen time was reduced from Season 1, he asked producer Iida Kazutaka directly, who confirmed Nokoru appears more in Season 2. Iida added that based on Ninomiya's social media posts and the number of times he has eaten Midoriyama's tantanmen, there is still more to come.

Aug 28

The Last Blossom Hits U.S. Theaters for Two Nights

The Last Blossom, the first original feature-length anime from Odd Taxi director Baku Kinoshita, opens in select U.S. theaters this weekend. GKIDS, the film's North American distributor, is releasing it for two nights only, August 30 and 31, in Japanese with English subtitles. The film premiered in competition at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival before opening in Japan last October under the title Housenka. The story follows Akutsu, a former yakuza serving a life sentence, who recounts his life to a sarcastic talking flower growing from a tin can. Kinoshita directed and designed the characters, reuniting with Odd Taxi writer Kazuya Konomoto, who wrote the original story and screenplay. Animation was handled by Studio CLAP, known for Pompo the Cinephile. In an interview with Anime Herald, Kinoshita discussed his interest in criminals as people who live in the moment, the Balsam flower as a wiser-than-human philosopher, and why the song Stand By Me appears in the film. He also noted that he currently leans toward television work because it offers more room to develop stories.

Aug 28

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Director Talks Season 2 Themes

Director Kazumi Akio spoke with Anime Expo about the second season of From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman. He said the season's theme is that people can always develop and move forward even as they age. He also discussed the relaxed recording environment, his path into anime via CG work, and his study of Western swordsmanship.

Aug 28

New Fairy Princess Minky Momo OVA Adds Four Cast Members

The official website for the new Fairy Princess Minky Momo OVA announced four more cast members on Friday: Show Hayami as the King of Diginarsa, Kikuko Inoue as the Queen, Kazuyuki Okitsu as Momo's father, and Mie Sonozaki as her worrywart mother. The OVA opens in Japanese theaters on November 13.

Aug 28

Kazuki Takahashi Yu-Gi-Oh! Art Exhibition Opens December 12

The official account for the 'Kazuki Takahashi Original Art Exhibition YU-GI-OH! ART WORKS' announced on August 28 that the exhibition will run from December 12, 2026, to February 21, 2027, at CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO. The event presents more than 370 original manuscripts and color illustrations by Kazuki Takahashi, spanning his roles as manga artist, illustrator, designer, and game creator. The display is organized into five chapters: CHARACTER DESIGNER, GAME CREATOR, MONSTER DESIGNER, STORYTELLER, and Journey's End. Each chapter highlights different aspects of Takahashi's work, from iconic characters and weekly game concepts to monster designs from the Duelist Kingdom and Battle City arcs, and materials from the 2016 film 'Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions,' for which he served as original author, scriptwriter, character designer, and executive producer. Some works will be shown for the first time. The venue will also sell merchandise, including relief plates of Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician, and cushions featuring the Stone Tablet of the Lost King's Memories. Admission is by reserved time slot with a cap per session, and tickets go on sale via E-Plus on September 14, 2026. General admission costs 2,200 yen, with reduced prices for students. A special ticket with the bonus item 'Proof of the Duel King' is available for 3,900 yen.

Aug 25

MARVEL Tokon Devs Detail 4v4 Design and PC Fixes

Arc System Works producer Takeshi Yamaguchi and director and lead battle designer Kazutoshi Sekine gave interviews about MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls, the Marvel fighting game published by Sony Interactive Entertainment and released in August 2026 on PS5 and PC. The game uses a 4v4 tag battle system, and Sekine said the format was chosen to express the Marvel team-up world and to deepen team tactics through many character combinations. The game supports both traditional command inputs and simple one-button controls such as Quick Skills and Link Attacks, so players can start with a single character. The team confirmed Phoenix Cyclops as the first Year 1 DLC character, currently in development. The interview also covered Deadpool's parody easter eggs, which Sekine said are not all discovered yet, and PC performance. Yamaguchi said two emergency patches were released on August 10 and August 21 to reduce CPU load and frame drops, and the team considers the CPU load now comparable to or lighter than other Arc System Works fighting games.

Aug 14

Drifting Classroom Horror Event Adds Scariest Version With New Staging

NO MORE Inc. and Coamix Inc. will run 'UMEZZ HORROR HOUSE ~Drifting Classroom and Thought Experiment Exhibition~ Scariest ver.' from August 19 at GALLERY ZENON in Kichijoji. The limited-time version adds new cast horror performances and enhanced spatial staging to the immersive event based on Kazuo Umezz's manga. Tickets go on sale August 14 at 20:00.

Aug 14

SF Adventure Platonica Space Launches on Steam, Switch Version Set for August 27

KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO and Kazuhide Oka's ANMC project released the Steam version of Platonica Space on August 14, 2026, priced at 1,200 yen with a 17% discount until August 27. The Switch version launches August 27 at the same price, with a discount until September 9. The game follows five amnesiacs exploring an endless room-filled space, recovering fragmented memories through memory spots.

Aug 11

Makoto-chan Pop Up Store Opens at Hakaba no Garou in August

A Makoto-chan pop up store will run at Hakaba no Garou in Nakano and online from August 20 to September 15, 2026. The event sells original apparel and goods, including T-shirts, a hoodie, jersey, cap, waist bag, handkerchief, pouch, tenugui, tumbler, plate, pin badge, stickers, and a poster. The store also features photo spots and a message board.

Aug 11

Blue Lock Live-Action Cast Takes Over Weekly Shonen Magazine Covers

The Weekly Shonen Magazine 36-37 combined issue will feature the live-action Blue Lock cast on both front and back covers, timed to the film's August 7 release. The movie's official YouTube channel also posted a special talk between Fumiya Takahashi and Ura Kazuki, who play and voice Yoichi Isagi respectively.

Aug 10

Socrates in Love Artist Kazumi Kazui Launches New Manga

The September issue of Shogakukan's Petit Comic magazine announced that Kazumi Kazui will launch the new manga Anata no Koto ga Ki ni Iranai in the next issue on September 8. The story follows a girl who wants a normal life but is chased by a suspicious journalist. The first chapter runs 54 pages with a color opening page.

Aug 10

Danganronpa Creator Jokes GTA 6 Delay Is His Fault

Super Danganronpa 2×2 was delayed from 2026 to early 2027. At Anime Expo 2026, producer Shohei Sakakibara and creator Kazutaka Kodaka discussed the delay with Crunchyroll. Kodaka joked that playing GTA 6 leaves no time for making games, a quip he repeated on X. The new Kyoki Mode adds about 20 percent more content.

Aug 8

Pokemon Origins Streams Again on TVer

Pokemon Origins, the original anime based on Pokemon Red and Green, is now streaming on TVer. The broadcast from August 2 on BS12 TwellV is available to watch. The series follows Red's journey from receiving Charmander to battling rival Green and Team Rocket.

Aug 7

Zenless Zone Zero Male Cast Sings Moe Chaka Fire in Maid Outfits

HoYoverse released a male-cast version of the song Moe Chaka Fire for Zenless Zone Zero on July 25. Hugo, Komata Masato, Light, and Severian, voiced by Jun Fukuyama, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Hiroki Takahashi, and Toshiyuki Morikawa, perform the track. The song debuted at Dream Electro Fest, part of the second anniversary HoYoFair event. The video includes a dance segment with 3D models in maid outfits.

Aug 7

Kamen Rider Zetts Movie Director Reveals Daydream Theme and 8-Minute Chase

Director Kazuya Kamihoriuchi discussed the upcoming film Kamen Rider Zetts: Mission of Farewell, which caps off the TV series. The story centers on Mitsugu and Takanori Kokage, with a theme of daydreams encroaching on reality. Kamihoriuchi aimed for unprecedented motorcycle action, including an 8-minute chase scene.

Aug 6

Kazuma Kaneko's Tsukuyomi Launches on Steam With Second DLC

Colopl released KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI on Steam for PC on July 24, 2026. The deck-building roguelike, designed by Kazuma Kaneko, is priced at 3,960 yen, with a 10 percent discount until August 8. The second DLC, Painter K's Divine Brush: Manifestation of Truth Set - Part 2, also launched today for PC and Switch.

Aug 6

My Happy Marriage Author Akumi Agitogi and Fiancée of the Wizard Artist Launch New Manga

Akumi Agitogi, author of My Happy Marriage, and Masaki Kazuka, artist of Fiancée of the Wizard, have launched a new manga titled Miko to Yashayome. Kadokawa's B's-LOG COMIC published Chapter 0 on July 24, and serialization began Wednesday. The story follows sorceress Miyabi Mori, who marries into the Koiwai family and tries to save her cursed husband Kuon.

Jul 27

Titan Manga Licenses LastBoss LoveDeath and The Rabbit Circle

Titan Manga announced it will publish two new manga series in 2027: LastBoss LoveDeath, a magical girl/idol hybrid by Yoshikazu Kuwajima and Takahiro Seguchi, and The Rabbit Circle, a supernatural horror story by Sanada Shiro. Both titles are set for release in April 2027.

Jul 26

Vertex Force Original Anime Sets October 3 Debut, Reveals Cast

The original television anime Vertex Force, directed by Strike Witches and Vividred Operation creator Kazuhiro Takamura, will premiere on October 3 at 11:30 p.m. on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, with streaming on U-NEXT and other services in Japan. The announcement came on July 24 via the anime's official website, which also released a main promotional video, key visual, and the full main cast. Makoto Koichi voices protagonist Akira Todo, a 13-year-old middle school student living in Okinawa who feels inferior for lacking the "Engine" power his older sister Haruka inherited from their father. Kaede Hondo plays Haruka Todo, a cheerful 16-year-old high school girl who hides her power. Ami Koshimizu voices Eleanor Northbrook, an 18-year-old from the United States; Megumi Han plays Lala Zudenstein, a 16-year-old from Switzerland; and Rie Takahashi voices Yoko Nishina, a 16-year-old from Hokkaido. The story follows Akira and his family as strange events begin occurring worldwide, with unidentified enemies approaching. Takamura is directing at SMDE, with Gorō Kuji as assistant director. Kanetake Ebikawa handles engine design, and JNTHED handles ENIA design.

Jul 24

Stray Children Treasure Box Edition Launches December 10 With Art Book, Lost RPG Music CD

Onion Games has announced a premium physical edition of its RPG "Stray Children" for Nintendo Switch, set for release on December 10, 2026, at 10,978 yen. The "Stray Children TREASURE BOX" is a limited first-print run produced only for pre-orders, with no additional manufacturing planned after the order period ends. The box includes the game cartridge with all updates applied, the "Stray Book" development archive spanning approximately 160 pages of sketches and setting art by character designer Kazuyuki Kurashima, background artist Satoshi Katsuta, and director Yoshiro Kimura. Also included is an experience music CD for the in-game fictional RPG "Mikazuki," described in the game as a title canceled in 1997, featuring chiptune music by the group Thelonious Monkeys. A cloth antique map titled "The Night Before the World's Collapse" and an acrylic keychain featuring the protagonist and his companion complete the set. Pre-orders opened on July 24. A talk show to commemorate the announcement is scheduled for July 25 at 20:30 JST on Kimura's X account, featuring Kimura, Kurashima, and Thelonious Monkeys members Masanori Adachi and Hiroshi Taniguchi, hosted by Yamaguchi Quest.

Jul 23

Pokémon: The Origin Rebroadcast Announced on BS12

Free-to-air broadcaster BS12 Twelvi announced on July 23 that it will rebroadcast the 2013 original anime special Pokémon: The Origin. The four-episode series originally aired on TV Tokyo to commemorate the release of Pokémon X and Y for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the first anime to adapt the story of the original Pokémon Red and Green games, with protagonist Red voiced by Junko Takeuchi rather than the long-running Satoshi of the main anime series. The cast also includes Takuya Eguchi as Green, Katsuji Mori as Professor Oak, and Tomokazu Sugita as Brock, replacing Yuji Ueda from the Satoshi-era show. The rebroadcast begins August 2 at 19:00 on BS12. The special is notable for featuring the first animated appearance of Mega Charizard X, a form that did not exist in the original games and was kept secret until the episode aired. At the time, only Mega Charizard Y had been announced under the generic name Mega Charizard, making the reveal of the black-and-blue variant a surprise for fans.

Jul 21

Live-Action Kaiji Film Reveals Trailer, Cast, and January 29 Release Date

TOHO Movies has unveiled the first full trailer, teaser, cast, and character visuals for the new live-action Kaiji film, titled Kaiji: Jinsei Revenge Game. Tatsuya Fujiwara returns as Kaiji, with Kazuya Kamenashi, Mahiro Takasugi, Sara Minami, and Susumu Terajima joining the cast. The film opens in Japanese theaters on January 29.

Jul 20

Splatoon Raiders, DragonSword: Awakening Lead This Week's Game Releases

Game Spark and Inside published their weekly roundups of new game releases for the week of July 20-26, 2026, covering both Japan and North America. The most prominently highlighted titles include Splatoon Raiders for Nintendo Switch 2, DragonSword: Awakening for Windows PC, and KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI for Windows PC. Splatoon Raiders and DragonSword: Awakening are both scheduled for July 23, while KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI launches July 24. Other notable releases mentioned in the opening of the Inside article are FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster (Nintendo Switch 2, July 23), SD Gundam G Generation Eternal (Windows PC, July 22), and Vampire (Windows PC, July 22). The lists also include dozens of smaller indie titles across multiple platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Both outlets note that release dates are subject to change.

Jul 20

Otomate's Basketball Romance 'MIX DUNK' Launches November 26

Otomate announced that its new otome game 'MIX DUNK -KING OF BASKETBALL-' will release on November 26, 2026, for Nintendo Switch. The game is a romance adventure set in a mixed-gender pro basketball league, supervised by the Kawasaki Brave Thunders team and AKB48. The cast includes Chiharu Sawashiro, Tomokazu Sugita, Junya Enoki, Takuma Terashima, and Yoshiki Nakajima.

Jul 17

Seven Seas Licenses Ultraman by Kazuo Umezz: The Classic Manga Collection

Seven Seas Entertainment announced on July 17, 2026, that it has acquired the license for Kazuo Umezz's Ultraman manga. The publisher will release the series as a large-trim hardcover edition titled Ultraman by Kazuo Umezz: The Classic Manga Collection in July 2027. The collection will be priced at $42.99 in the United States and $57.99 in Canada. This marks the first English-language release of the manga, which originally ran in Japan from 1966 to 1967 alongside the debut of the Ultraman tokusatsu television series. Umezz, best known for horror manga such as The Drifting Classroom and Reptilia, adapted the sci-fi hero's battles with kaiju for the page. Seven Seas described the release as timed to the franchise's 60th anniversary. A documentary film titled The Origin of Ultraman, produced by Tsuburaya Productions, opened in Japanese theaters on July 3, 2026, also celebrating the anniversary.

Jul 17

Six More Cast Members Announced for NHK Zenigata Heiji

NHK has added six actors to the cast of its special period drama "Zenigata Heiji" starring Kazuya Kamenashi. The newcomers portray members of the traveling troupe Hanakage-sha and shogunate officials who hold the key to the story. The 89-minute special airs August 21 on NHK One and will be streamed on NHK Plus.

Jul 14

Otakon to Host Background Art Director Kazuki Higashiji

Otakon announced it will host background art director Kazuki Higashiji at its 2026 event. Higashiji has worked on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Maquia, Angel Beats!, Hanasaku Iroha, and Charlotte. The convention also announced a policy change banning fan art sales in the dealers room, directing dealers to the artist alley instead.

Jul 13

World Is Dancing Casts Yuusuke Kobayashi

The TV anime World Is Dancing has released advance cuts and the ending video for episode 3, and announced Yuusuke Kobayashi will join the cast as Shin'emon, a bodyguard. The episode, titled 'You Have Your Own Good Points,' sees the Kanze troupe perform at a historic festival. The ED theme 'Namae no Nai Hana' by hockrockb is also out. A collaboration event with the Kanze Noh Theater is scheduled for late July.

Jul 10

Kamen Rider Kabuto 20th Film Theme Song Performed by Original Cast Trio

The main poster visual, main trailer, and story for V Cinema Next 'Kamen Rider Kabuto: 20th - Heir to the Sky' have been unveiled. The theme song 'NEXT LEVEL Pass the tofu Version' is performed by Yuki Sato, Hidenori Tokuyama, and Kazuki Kato, their first vocal collaboration in 20 years. The film will screen in theaters from November 6, 2026, with a Blu-ray/DVD release on February 10, 2027. An experiential event 'Kamen Rider Kabuto World 20th CAST OFF' will be held starting September 19, 2026.

Jul 10

Kazuya Kamenashi's 'Zenigata Heiji' Gets NHK Terrestrial Broadcast in August

Kazuya Kamenashi stars in the period drama 'Zenigata Heiji,' which previously aired on BS8K in March. The drama will have its terrestrial premiere on NHK General TV on August 21. The cast includes Tomoya Oku, Erika Ikuta, Takenori Goto, and Katsumi Takahashi. The script is by Junpei Yamaoka, music by Akio Izutsu, and direction by Keisuke Toyoshima. Kamenashi expressed honor and pressure in taking on the role.

Jul 8

All 16 Volumes of Ultraman STORY 0 Manga Go Digital on July 9

Kazuo Mafune's Ultraman STORY 0 manga, which depicts the early battles of Ultraman characters from their youth, has been digitized. All 16 volumes are now available as Kindle comics on Amazon.co.jp, priced at 792 yen each. The series, supervised by Tsuburaya Productions, follows Zoffy and other Ultraman brothers in original stories.

Jul 8

Red River Anime Casts Minami Takayama, Kazuhiko Inoue as Yuri's Parents

The Red River television anime has added Minami Takayama as Yuri's mother and Kazuhiko Inoue as her father. Both actors previously voiced the protagonist Yuri and co-lead Kail in a drama CD for the manga. The anime premiered on NTV and BS NTV on July 7-8 and streams on Crunchyroll.

Jul 6

Hetalia 20th Anniversary Exhibition WorldFesta Set for Tokyo and Osaka in Autumn 2026

Frontier Works announced a large-scale exhibition, "Hetalia 20th Anniversary Original Art Exhibition WorldFesta," for Tokyo and Osaka in autumn 2026. A key visual of Italy in a white prince outfit, newly drawn by Hidekazu Himaruya, was released. The event will display original pencil drawings and color illustrations, plus a life-sized Italy figure and photo spots.