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Koto

Kotobukiya is actively expanding its plastic model and figure lines, with new releases and reissues scheduled through early 2027, alongside a new manga adaptation for its Arcana Dia series.

Synthesized from 30 Yomimono stories · updated Aug 15

Kotobukiya's recent output spans its core plastic model lines and a growing figure business. The company announced a plastic model version of the Durga I Bunny Style kit for January 2027, updating resin parts with new hair, bunny ears, and body options, plus three chest sizes and three printed faces. A 2/1 scale figure of PUNI☆MOFU Mao from Megami Device, based on an illustration by BLADE, is set for March 2027 as a KOTOBUKIYA SHOP exclusive. The HMM series returns with the ZOIDS Salamander F2 Fighting Falcon, a shop-exclusive kit with gold-plated parts and a removable Zoid core, releasing in November 2026. A reissue of the Dark Horn Harry Special from Zoids: New Century/ZERO updates the 2001-era kit with anime-accurate mold colors and a new decal, also in November 2026.

The figure side of the business expanded at Anime Expo 2026, where Kotobukiya showed prototypes and color samples across multiple franchises, including a new OSHI WORKS Mini line with color samples for The Apothecary Diaries, Trigun Stargaze, Persona 3 Reload, and Persona 5 The Royal. The main OSHI WORKS line added Legato Bluesummers from Trigun Stampede and Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan: The Final Season, both due in February 2027. The Bishoujo series applied its aesthetic to Hasbro's Furby, with a gal-style design by Shunya Yamashita shipping in March 2027.

On the media side, Kotobukiya's plastic model series Arcana Dia received a manga adaptation, Arcana Dia Cross Connect, launching on e-book sites on August 14, 2026. The spin-off centers on Yukumo and Verrutta, mixing battles with comedy. The smartphone RPG Arcanadea - Gleam Gatherers - revealed two new characters, Arla and Marula, during an August 2026 talk stream.

Key facts

Arcana Dia manga adaptation
Arcana Dia Cross Connect launched on e-book sites on August 14, 2026, with the first episode free at about 45 pages.
Durga I Bunny Style plastic model
Plastic model version of Durga I Bunny Style scheduled for January 2027, with new hair, bunny ears, and body parts.
PUNI☆MOFU Mao figure
2/1 scale figure of PUNI☆MOFU Mao, based on an image rough by BLADE, priced at 22,000 yen, releasing March 2027 as a KOTOBUKIYA SHOP exclusive.
HMM Salamander F2 Fighting Falcon
Kotobukiya Shop exclusive HMM kit with gold-plated Falcon Wing parts, two gold-plated pilot figures, and a removable Zoid core, releasing November 2026 at 32,780 yen.
Dark Horn Harry Special reissue
Reissue of the 1/72-scale Zoids kit with anime-accurate mold colors and a new decal for Linon Tros, releasing November 2026 for 14,300 yen.
OSHI WORKS Mini debut
New OSHI WORKS Mini line debuted at Anime Expo 2026 with color samples for The Apothecary Diaries Maomao and Trigun Stargaze Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood.
OSHI WORKS February 2027 figures
Legato Bluesummers (Trigun Stampede) and Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan: The Final Season) figures both release in February 2027.
Furby Bishoujo figure
Bishoujo series figure of Furby, designed by Shunya Yamashita, priced at 25,300 yen, shipping March 2027.
Arcanadea new characters
Arcanadea - Gleam Gatherers - revealed characters Arla and Marula during the Arcanadea August 2026 Talk Live stream on August 3.

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

Noted
Koto handles speech recognition, synthesis, and speech-to-speech translation for East Asian languages. · 2026-08-10

Connections

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

All coverage

2d ago

New Sgt. Frog TV Anime Sets October 3 Debut With New Cast

Bandai Namco Pictures unveiled the first main promotional video for Keroro Gunsō, an all-new Sgt. Frog television anime, revealing its new cast, full staff, and October 3 debut on TV Tokyo and affiliates. The series features an all-new cast, including Makoto Koichi as Sergeant Keroro, and will air at 9:30 a.m.

Sep 2

Arcanadia Adds Twin Demon Diars Enil With Large Xeno Alma

Kotobukiya announced Enil, a twin demon-type Diars for its Arcanadia model kit series, with character design by illustrator Nidy-2D-. The kit releases in March 2027 for 12,100 yen including tax. Parts swapping reproduces normal mode and Will Rise mode, and the kit includes a large dog-type Xeno Alma that transforms into an arm unit. A Kotobukiya Shop order bonus adds special color hair parts.

Aug 29

TV Anime Arcadia Set for January 2027 on NUMAnimation Slot

Kotobukiya announced that the TV anime Arcadia will air from January 2027 on the TV Asahi network NUMAnimation slot and BS Asahi. The story follows college student Shogo Kuga, whose life changes when a palm-sized girl named Lumitia falls from the sky. Nobunaga Shimazaki and Kaede Hondo lead the cast.

Aug 29

Arcanadea - Gleam Gatherers - Shows Gameplay, Casts Saori Onishi as Refilka

Kotobukiya released new details for Arcanadea - Gleam Gatherers -, the first smartphone game in its bishoujo plastic model series Arcanadea. Footage from the in-development game was shown at a trial session during Arcanadea Engage Fest 2026 on August 29. Voice actress Saori Onishi will play the heroine Refilka. The game is scheduled for release in 2026, and the TV anime Arcanadea is set to air from January 2027.

Aug 27

Kotobukiya Launches OSHI WORKS Mini Figures With Maomao and Persona Heroes

Kotobukiya has introduced OSHI WORKS Mini, a new chibi figure line designed as a sister brand to its OSHI WORKS series, with a focus on affordable pricing and a global lineup. The first wave includes two versions of Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries, one in her everyday clothes and one in her garden party outfit, as well as the protagonist from Persona 3 Reload and Joker from Persona 5 Royal. Each figure is about 100 millimeters tall, priced at 1,980 yen including tax, and scheduled for release in February 2027. The figures feature a neck ball joint so collectors can adjust the face direction. They come with no accessories, which the sources say maximizes focus on sculpting and painting. The base and package sizes are uniform across the line, allowing figures to be displayed together neatly. Pre-orders for the first wave opened on August 25, 2026, across retailers including Amazon and Rakuten, as listed in one of the articles.

Aug 14

Arcana Dia Cross Connect Manga Adaptation Launches on E-book Sites

Kotobukiya's plastic model series Arcana Dia gets a manga adaptation titled Arcana Dia Cross Connect, releasing Friday, August 14, 2026, on comipo and other e-book stores. The first episode is free at about 45 pages. The spin-off centers on Yukumo and Verrutta, mixing battles with comedy.

Aug 14

Chiikawa Movie Opening Video Features Hachiware Song

The official X account for 'Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island' released the non-credit opening video on August 13. Nagano, who handles the original work and screenplay, conceived the composition. The video pairs the original opening theme 'Kutsuzure' sung by Hachiware (CV: Seijin Tanaka) with scenes of daily life for Chiikawa and friends, including Chiikawa, Hachiware, Usagi, Momonga, Kurimanju, Rakko, Shisa, and Furuhonya, plus characters like Yoroi-san, 'Anoko,' and 'Dekatsuyo.'

Aug 14

Altair Creator Kotono Kato Launches New Manga Set Match!

Kotono Kato, creator of Altair: A Record of Battles, launched a new manga titled Set Match! in Kodansha's Comic Days app on August 7. The manga debuted with two chapters and follows Haruha, a timid girl who joins her school's soft tennis club after seeing an upperclassman she likes, only to face a strict teacher.

Aug 14

Chogen Market Heroes: Menko Reverser Kakeru Manga Ends

Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comic website published the final chapter of Makoto Fukami and Shusaku Namikawa's Chogen Market Heroes: Menko Reverser Kakeru manga. The final chapter will be free to read on August 22. The manga, an adaptation of the board game by Creatures, launched on March 28.

Aug 12

Crunchyroll Acquires Global Rights to Makoto Shinkai's New Film

Crunchyroll announced it acquired most worldwide distribution rights to Makoto Shinkai's new feature film, excluding almost all of Asia but including India. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures will co-distribute. No title or details were revealed. Shinkai said in November 2025 he was working on a new film with dependable companions.

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

Glasses With a Chance of Delinquent Anime Teaser Reveals Staff, 2027 TV Debut

The anime adaptation of Naruki's Glasses With a Chance of Delinquent manga is set for a 2027 television premiere. Makoto Hoshino directs at Studio Flad and Wao World, with Megumi Shimizu on series scripts and Ruriko Watanabe on character designs. Seven Seas Entertainment releases the manga in English.

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

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.

Aug 10

Kotoba's Koto Powers Salesforce Agentforce Voice in Japanese

Kotoba Technologies announced that its speech foundation model Koto has been adopted for Japanese support in Salesforce's Agentforce Voice. The feature, which enables AI agents to handle phone calls, begins availability in Japan on August 7. Koto handles speech recognition, synthesis, and speech-to-speech translation for East Asian languages.

Aug 8

Frame Arms Girl Durga I Bunny Style Plastic Model Set for January 2027

Kotobukiya announced a plastic model version of the Durga I Bunny Style kit, updating the resin cast parts previously sold as a shop. The model includes new parts for hair, bunny ears, and body, with three chest sizes and three printed face options. It is scheduled for release in January 2027.

Aug 8

Megami Device PUNI☆MOFU Mao Gets 2/1 Scale Figure

Kotobukiya announced a 2/1 scale figure of PUNI☆MOFU Mao from the Megami Device series. Based on an image rough by illustrator BLADE, the figure stands about 180mm tall and features soft sculpting on the belly and thighs. It is a KOTOBUKIYA SHOP exclusive, priced at 22,000 yen, and scheduled for release in March 2027.

Aug 6

Arcanadea - Gleam Gatherers - Reveals New Characters Arla and Marula

Kotobukiya revealed new characters Arla and Marula for the smartphone RPG Arcanadea - Gleam Gatherers - during the Arcanadea August 2026 Talk Live stream on August 3. Character designs show demon-like wings and horns. The stream also released new illustrations of existing characters such as Veruruta, plus gameplay footage from the development environment.

Aug 6

Atari Katagiri and Makoto Kisaragi Launch New Romantic Drama Manga

Atari Katagiri and Makoto Kisaragi launched the manga Watashi-tachi no Koto wa Nanto Yobeba on Square Enix's Manga UP! service on Sunday. Katagiri draws the art and writes the story, while Kisaragi handles composition. The story follows Mineko and Sunao, high school lovers whose single parents remarry, making them siblings.

Aug 5

Future GPX Cyber Formula 35th Anniversary Festival Set for January 2027

Bandai Namco Filmworks announced the 35th anniversary festival "Glory Winners" for the Future GPX Cyber Formula series, scheduled for January 9, 2027, at Misato City Cultural Hall in Saitama. The event will feature daytime and evening sessions with cast members Junichi Kanemaru, Kotono Mitsuishi, Sho Hayami, and Toshihiko Seki, plus session-specific guests. Theme song artists Hironobu Kageyama, Aki Misato, and Dynamite Shige will perform live. Tickets cost 9,800 yen for all reserved seats, with the fastest advance reservation period running from August 5 at 5:00 PM to August 23 at 11:59 PM. MegaHouse will release two new products: the Cyber Formula Collection -Heritage Edition- DX, reproducing the rollout set of the new machine Zenis Asurada AKF-S0/G, and the Super Asurada 01 Circuit Mode NEON Ver. in cyber colors. The new short anime, a direct sequel to the 1998 OVA SIN, is directed by Mutsumi Fukuda and features machine design by Shoji Kawamori. A life-size Zenis Asurada model will be displayed at MegaHobby EXPO2026 on September 26, 2026, with a riding experience featuring Asurada's voice actor Kenichi Ono.

Jul 27

Yuzu Soft's Senren * Banka Visual Novel Gets Anime in 2027

Visual novel developer Yuzu Soft announced during its Yuzu Soft Songfes 2026 event on July 26 that its 2016 visual novel Senren * Banka will receive an anime adaptation premiering in 2027. The game's original voice cast will reprise their roles: Sora Haruka as Yoshino Tomotake, Yuki Kotorii as Mako Hitachi, Mikan Sato as Murasame, and Sawa Sawawa as Lena Liechtenauer. Singer KOTOKO, who performed the visual novel's opening theme, will also perform the anime's opening song. The announcement did not specify the anime's format or episode count. The visual novel, released in Japan in July 2016 for Yuzu Soft's 10th anniversary, has sold over 1 million units worldwide as of February 2026. It received a Steam release in English and Chinese in 2020 via NekoNyan and HIKARI FIELD, and a Nintendo Switch version in May 2022. The game has accumulated over 30,000 'Very Positive' user reviews on Steam, with approximately 92.65 percent of reviews written in Simplified Chinese, according to Steam Scout data cited by Game Spark. The copyright for the anime lists wwwave, a studio known for producing shorter-format anime episodes.

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 23

Kotobukiya Adds Legato Bluesummers, Mikasa Ackerman to Oshi Works Line

Kotobukiya announced two new figures in its Oshi Works series, both scheduled for release in February 2027. Legato Bluesummers from Trigun Stampede joins the lineup as a 1/8 scale painted PVC finished product, priced at 9,350 yen (tax included) and standing approximately 235mm tall including the base. The figure aims to capture the character's "abnormal sense of intimidation" and fanatical obsession with Vash. Separately, Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan: The Final Season appears in a non-scale painted PVC finished product, priced at 11,000 yen (tax included) and standing approximately 245mm tall including the base. The Mikasa figure recreates an iconic scene from The Final Season, depicting her determined gaze and unwavering back. Both figures use magnets for attachment to their bases, allowing position adjustments and display alongside other figures from the same series. Kotobukiya noted that both the Trigun and Attack on Titan Oshi Works lines are planned to expand further.

Jul 20

Kamen Rider and Kotodaman 8th Collaboration Brings Over 100 Characters

MIXI launched the 8th collaboration between Kotodaman and Kamen Rider on July 19, running until August 12. The event reruns all previous rounds and adds characters from Kamen Rider Zeztz, including Zeztz, Nox, and Dawn. A special Kotodaman for Kamen Rider Agito's 25th anniversary and Kamen Rider Zi-O Ohma Form are also available.

Jul 19

Word Game 'The Farthest Word' Now Free on Unityroom

Independent developer Reinvented Wheel released 'The Farthest Word' on unityroom on July 19, playable on PC and smartphones. Players answer words as unrelated as possible to a given theme. The relevance is displayed as a 'word distance' in kilometers, calculated using an AI model that converts words to vectors. The game has Normal and Endless modes; some players have submitted answers over 1,000 km away.

Jul 11

BL Manga Rainen no Koto o Ie, Ore ga Warau Ends With Volume 2, Voice PV Released

The BL manga "Rainen no Koto o Ie, Ore ga Warau" concluded with the release of its second volume on July 10, 2026. To mark the occasion, a voice PV featuring Ryota Iwasaki and Reiji Kawashima was released. The story follows a hikikomori NEET who lives for sending postcards to his favorite comedian's radio show, until the comedian suddenly appears at his home. The series began in 2024 in the digital BL magazine Honey Milk.

Jul 11

Kotodaman Summer Event Turns X Polls Into a Romance Story With Sunshine Ikezaki

KAYAC and MIXI have launched a social media campaign for the mobile game Kotodaman, using X poll features to let users vote on story choices in a romance narrative featuring comedian Sunshine Ikezaki as a classmate. The interactive content runs on the official Kotodaman X account starting July 11, as part of the larger three-phase summer event.

Jul 9

Live-Action Love is Better the Second Time Around Gets Second Season

The live-action series of Keiko Kinoshita's BL manga 'Koi o Suru Nara Nidome ga Jōtō' (Love is Better the Second Time Around) will return for a second season on September 1. Makoto Hasegawa and Robin Furuya reprise their roles. The new season is an original story set two years after the first season, with the couple living together. Returning and new directors, a composer, and an LGBTQ advisor are attached.

Jul 6

Kotobukiya Turns Furby Into a Bishoujo Figure

Kotobukiya announced a Bishoujo series figure of Hasbro's Furby, designed by Shunya Yamashita. The figure depicts Furby as a gal-style character with a fluffy jacket, platform boots, and removable sunglasses. A mini Furby figure with blinking eyes is included. It is priced at 25,300 yen and ships in March 2027.

Jul 3

Kotobukiya Reveals Figure Prototypes and Color Samples at Anime Expo 2026

Kotobukiya announced a wide range of new figure prototypes and color samples at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on July 2. The company revealed supervising prototypes for "Super Kaguya-hime!" figures of Kaguya, Tsukimi Yachiyo, and Sayori Sakayori, as well as a prototype for "Magic Knight Rayearth" Hikaru Shidou. Under the OSHI WORKS line, prototypes were shown for "Attack on Titan The Final Season" characters Mikasa, Armin, Levi, and Sasha. The new OSHI WORKS Mini brand debuted with color samples of "The Apothecary Diaries" Maomao and "TRIGUN STARGAZE" Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood. For game-related figures, Kotobukiya showed the first color sample of a 1/4 scale "Goddess of Victory: NIKKE" Anis figure. OSHI WORKS Mini color samples were also displayed for "Persona 3 Reload" and "Persona 5 The Royal" protagonists, plus prototypes for "Trails" series characters Estelle Bright and Joshua Bright, and SNK characters Mai Shiranui, Angel, and Kula Diamond. Additional figures included "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" Rebecca and "Snowball Earth" Tetsuo Yabusame and Ao Nogi.

Jul 2

Kotobukiya Reissues Dark Horn Harry Special With Anime-Accurate Colors

Kotobukiya announced a reissue of its Dark Horn Harry Special plastic model from Zoids: New Century/ZERO. The 1/72-scale kit uses new mold colors to match the anime appearance, includes gold armament in two gold tones, clear parts in green and colorless, and adds a new decal for Linon Tros. It releases in November 2026 for 14,300 yen.

Jul 1

FGO Event Offers Free Gray Lily as Saber or Lancer Choice

Fate/Grand Order will hold a new limited-time event, "Waiting for You at the End of Spring," starting July 1 at 20:00 JST. The event features a scenario by Makoto Sanda, known for The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II. Players who complete the main quests will receive a free 4-star servant, Gray Lily, but must choose between two class versions: Saber or Lancer. The two versions have different designs, Noble Phantasms, and parameters. The event also introduces a new 5-star Alter Ego servant, Ascalaphus, available through the gacha. The story is set in a singularity styled as a job experience amusement park where characters can become the self they want to be. Gray appears in a younger form, and Director Olga Marie also becomes younger. Participation requires clearing the main story chapter "The Beginning of Aftertime." The event runs until July 22. FGO is a free-to-play RPG for iOS and Android developed by TYPE-MOON, with Lasengle handling development and operations.

Jun 27

Kotobukiya HMM Series Salamander F2 Fighting Falcon Plastic Model Announced

Kotobukiya announced a plastic model kit of the ZOIDS Republic Air Force Salamander F2 Fighting Falcon in its HMM series. The Kotobukiya Shop exclusive kit features gold-plated Falcon Wing parts, two gold-plated pilot figures, clear parts, and a removable Zoid core. It is scheduled for November 2026 release at 32,780 yen.

Jun 27

You, Fireworks, and Our Promise Film Clip Shows Protagonist Makoto Natsume

The staff for the anime film of Kaori Mado's You, Fireworks, and Our Promise novel series released a new clip featuring protagonist Makoto Natsume. The film opens July 17. Shōri Satō of timelesz voices Makoto, Nanoka Hara plays Aki Hayama, and Rie Takahashi plays Haru. Kei Suzuki directs at Synergy SP and The Answer Studio.

Jun 27

The Fledgling Demon Lord's Starter Shop TV Anime Debuts in January 2027

A television anime adaptation of Makoto Morishita's manga The Fledgling Demon Lord's Starter Shop has been announced for a January 2027 premiere. The cast includes Reiji Kawashima and Rumi Ōkubo, with Jun Hira directing at studio project No.9. A teaser video and visual were released alongside the announcement.

Jun 23

Sunrise and Shaft's Fool Night Anime Debuts on Netflix in 2026

The manga Fool Night by Kasumi Yasuda will receive a television anime adaptation produced by Sunrise and Shaft, the first collaboration between the two studios, Netflix announced on June 23 during its Anime Studio Focus panel at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. The series will stream worldwide on Netflix in 2026. Director Atsuyuki Yukawa, who worked as a unit director on Suzume, will helm the project, with Jin Tanaka handling series composition, Tatsuya Kato composing the music, and Yota Tsuruoka directing sound. The cast includes Koki Uchiyama as protagonist Toshiro Kamiya and Minako Kotobuki as Yomiko Horai. A teaser trailer and visual were also released. Yasuda's manga, which launched in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior in November 2020, has 12 compiled volumes and a cumulative print run of approximately 600,000 copies across 17 countries. It ranked 12th in the male reader list of Kono Manga ga Sugoi 2023.

Jun 23

Kotobukiya Announces Front Mission Zenith Girl Gray Ver. Plastic Model

Kotobukiya is releasing a new version of its Front Mission Zenith Girl plastic model, the "Gray Ver.," featuring a gray color scheme, three new expressions, new weapons including the Keen Saber and Firewall, and compatibility with Square Enix's Structure Arts series. Pre-orders are open, with a November 2026 release date and a limited bonus of special color hair parts from the Kotobukiya Online Shop.

Jun 16

Kotobukiya Oshi Works Line Adds Eren Yeager Attack on Titan Final Season Figure

Kotobukiya's Oshi Works figure brand is releasing a scale figure of Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan The Final Season. The figure captures Eren with eyes hiding his resolve to start the Rumbling and his lonely back. It uses magnets for positioning and stands about 230mm tall. Pre-orders are open at 8,800 yen for a December 2026 release.

Jun 16

Trigun Stampede's Livio the Double Fang Joins Oshi Works Figure Line

Kotobukiya's Oshi Works brand announced a 1/8 scale figure of Livio the Double Fang from Trigun Stampede. Priced at 8,800 yen, the figure stands 220mm tall and uses magnets for positioning. It is scheduled for release in December 2026. Previous Oshi Works figures of Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood are already available, with more Trigun series figures planned.

Jun 11

Kotobukiya Re-Releases Ariga Hitoshi-Designed Touko and Tepig Figure

Kotobukiya is re-releasing its ARTFX J figure of Touko and Tepig from Pokémon Black and White. Based on a newly drawn illustration by artist Ariga Hitoshi, the 1/8 scale PVC figure features Touko in her signature hot pants and ponytail, with Tepig posed on flame-effect clear parts. It is priced at 15,400 yen and ships in November 2026.

Jun 10

UtaPri Taboo Night XXXX and MAYLA Open Preorders for Four Shoe Models

The collaboration between the theatrical film Uta no Prince-sama Taboo Night XXXX and the brand MAYLA will start accepting preorders for four shoe models on June 12, 2026. The pumps are inspired by Reiji Kotobuki, Ranmaru Kurosaki, Ai Mikaze, and Camus, priced at 30,800 yen each.

Jun 4

The Cat and the Dragon Anime Reveals First Promo, July 4 Premiere, Three New Cast Members

The television anime adaptation of Amara's light novel series The Cat and the Dragon has announced its July 4 premiere date, along with a first promotional video and three additional cast members. The series will debut on Tokyo MX on July 4 at 9:00 p.m. JST, followed by broadcasts on BS NTV, Yomiuri TV, Nagasaki Culture Broadcasting, and AT-X throughout the following week. Streaming will be available on d Anime Store in Japan. The newly announced cast includes Yu Serizawa as Haneko, a well-behaved cat who assists a prince struggling with magic; Makoto Koichi as the kind-hearted prince; and Kazuya Ichijo as the king, who must negotiate with the dragon. The first PV shows the dragon visiting a human town and requesting an audience with the king, along with glimpses of Haneko teaching magic to a child. The anime is directed by Jin-Koo Oh at OLM, with series composition by Mitsutaka Hirota, character designs by Rie Nishino and Chiaki Kurakazu, and music by Takahiro Obata. The original web novel debuted on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in September 2013, and the series has sold over 1.4 million copies across its light novel and manga editions.

Jun 2

Danganronpa 1-2 Reload New Merchandise Lineup Announced

Tapioca announced a new lineup of Danganronpa 1-2 Reload merchandise on June 2, including cat-costume plushies, a cape-wearing plush series, a clear pouch based on the class trial, and a "Waiwai" series of badges and acrylic keyholders featuring characters chatting. The items are scheduled for release in mid-October 2026.

Jun 1

Chiikawa Anime Film Trailer Reveals Cast, Opening Theme Song

The first anime film adaptation of Nagano's Chiikawa manga, Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu, has a new trailer that reveals additional cast members and the opening theme song. Makoto Tanaka, who voices Hachiware, performs the opening theme 'Kutsuzure,' with lyrics by series creator Nagano. The film opens in Japan on July 24.

May 31

Yoshitoshi Shinomiya's 'A New Dawn' Premieres at Berlin Film Festival

Yoshitoshi Shinomiya, a traditional Japanese-style painter who worked on flashback sequences for Makoto Shinkai's 'Your Name.' and contributed to 'In This Corner of the World,' has made his feature directorial debut with 'A New Dawn.' The film had its world premiere this week in the main competition of the Berlin International Film Festival. Set in a rural town, the story follows Keitaro, the son of a vanished fireworks artisan, who seeks a mythical firework called 'Shuhari' as a typhoon approaches and redevelopment threatens his home. Shinomiya said the project was triggered around 2016 when a field in front of his atelier was suddenly covered with solar panels, and his daughter asked if it was the sea. The film explores themes of inheritance, environmental change, and the erosion of traditional Japanese communal life. Shinomiya described the concept of 'Shuhari' as a three-stage process of mastery: follow the rules, break them, then transcend them. He said the ending is intentionally open, inspired by American New Cinema, and meant to leave audiences wondering about the characters after the film ends.