MEGUMI has three upcoming projects in 2026: the film 'Beasts That Cling to Straws' opening September 25, the Prime Video drama 'Criminal' premiering July 17, and the film 'Nameless' currently in theaters.
MEGUMI is active across multiple live-action projects in 2026. In the film 'Beasts That Cling to Straws', directed by Hideo Josho and based on the novel by Keisuke Sone, she plays Mami Shoda, a housewife burdened with massive debts after suffering losses in currency exchange. The non-stop suspense thriller follows characters entangled over a found 100 million yen and opens nationwide on September 25.
She also appears in the Prime Original drama 'Criminal', a live-action adaptation of Ai Ota's novel directed by Daishi Matsunaga. The crime suspense series stars Issei Takahashi, Takumi Saito, and Koshi Mizukami and premieres worldwide on Prime Video on July 17. MEGUMI is among six additional cast members announced for the series.
Earlier in 2026, MEGUMI was part of the cast for the film 'Nameless', appearing at a Tokyo stage greeting on May 23 alongside Jiro Sato, Ryuhei Maruyama, Kuranosuke Sasaki, and director Hideo Josho. The film is an original story written and co-written by Sato, who also stars as a mass murderer with a hidden power.
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The Pokemon Company will release the board game "Are You Perhaps Team Rocket?" on November 12. It costs 2,200 yen, supports 4 to 6 players, is aimed at ages 10 and up, and runs 30 minutes or more. It is co-developed by YOKA Games. The TV commercial features Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki, and Inuko Inuyama, the Team Rocket voices from the Pokemon anime.
The second PV for the TV anime SSS-Class Hunter Who Dies to Live names new cast: Toshiki Masuda as Flame Emperor, Megumi Han as the Black Witch, Sayaka Kinoshita as the Holy Knight, Risa Shimizu as the Count, Makoto Furukawa as the Poison Snake, Natsumi Fujiwara as the Inquisitor, Yuka Iguchi as the Alchemy Minister, and Shunsuke Sakuya as the Sword Saint. THE SPELLBOUND x BOOM BOOM SATELLITES handle the ending theme. Broadcast begins January 2027 on Fuji TV's +Ultra and other channels.
The SSS-Class Revival Hunter anime added eight cast members and unveiled a second promotional video, its ending theme performers, and its composers. Takeo Otsuka plays Gongja Kim, with Satoshi Hino as the Sword Emperor, Toshiki Masuda as the Flame Emperor, Megumi Han as the Witch of the Black Dragon, Sayaka Kinoshita as the Paladin, Risa Shimizu as the Countess, Makoto Furukawa as the Poisonous Viper, Natsumi Fujiwara as the Inquisitor, Yuka Iguchi as the Master Alchemist, and Shunsuke Sakuya as the Blade Saint. The anime debuts in January on Fuji TV's +Ultra block, with Crunchyroll streaming worldwide excluding Asia.
Yamaha Corporation announced VOCALOID7 on October 9. The VOCALOID7 Editor is scheduled for release on November 11 at 16,500 yen including tax. Users of VOCALOID3 through VOCALOID6 can buy an upgrade version for 8,580 yen including tax, and from November 11 to December 20 that upgrade costs 5,500 yen including tax. All voicebanks from VOCALOID3 through VOCALOID6 remain usable, and both the standard and upgrade versions include the voicebank asa. Buyers who purchase VOCALOID6 Editor on or after October 9 receive a 5,500 yen coupon for the VOCALOID SHOP. Internet Co., Ltd. will release VOCALOID7 Voicebank AI Megpoid the same day at 16,500 yen including tax, or 13,200 yen when bought with the editor. That voicebank is produced based on the voice of singer and voice actor Megumi Nakajima and is optimized for VOCALOID7's AI technology.
Junko Yagami sings the ending theme for "Yamato yo Towa ni REBEL3199 Chapter 7: Rainbow-Colored Reincarnation," the final chapter of the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 series. The song, "Haruka e, Towa e," has lyrics by Yohei Matsui, music by Hiroshi Miyagawa and Akira Miyagawa, and arrangement by Akira Miyagawa. Yagami last performed a Yamato theme in 1983 with "Love Supreme ~Shijou no Ai~" for Space Battleship Yamato: Final Chapter. The music video is out on the official YouTube channel. Seven character visuals on rainbow-colored backgrounds also released, covering figures including Susumu Kodai, Yuki Mori, and Sasha. The chapter begins screenings on Friday, October 30, 2026. General director and scriptwriter Harutoshi Fukui leads the production, with Naomichi Yamato directing and Satelight on animation. The cast includes Daisuke Ono, Houko Kuwashima, Megumi Han, and Koichi Yamadera.
The official X account for Bayside Shakedown N.E.W.: Race Through the Metropolis! announced two more cast members on September 18, the film's opening day. Megumi Hayashibara narrates the in-film footage Seven Bear: The Movie. Takahiro Yamamoto, known for impressions of star Yuji Oda and a longtime fan of the series, has a scene with Oda, with his role kept under wraps.
Bandai Namco Filmworks released the second main promotional video for the Tank Chair anime and confirmed Megumi Ogata as the voice of Sensei, described as the founder of the Academy. Ogata will appear at an advanced screening at Ikebukuro HUMAX Cinemas on September 24. The series premieres October 4 on Tokyo MX, then BS11, CBC, and MBS, with Kodansha USA Publishing handling the license.
The TV anime Chi Fuyo will premiere October 6 at midnight on the TV Tokyo network, with ABEMA and d Anime Store streaming. The main visual and main PV are out, sumika performs the opening theme 'Ember Torch', and Daisuke Kusunoki, Megumi Toyoguchi, and Takumi Yamazaki join the cast as Balios, Grenda, and Donguri. The anime follows the manga version, which author Asa Rokushima says differs from the novel by about 99 percent.
The Fake It to Break It! I Faked Amnesia to Break off My Engagement and Now He's All Lovey-Dovey?! manga will change artists. Megumi Dorokawa, known for Share House Nile, takes over from Yone starting with the 17th chapter on September 10, as announced on Kotoko's X account on September 1.
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.
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.
The staff for The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Finals Members Decisive Match, the sequel anime to The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Semifinal, unveiled a new promotional video, key visual, four additional cast members for Spain's national team, and a September 30 premiere on Friday. The anime will premiere on TV Tokyo on September 30 at 12:00 a.m. JST (effectively October 1) and will also air on TV Osaka and TV Aichi. The sequel depicts the battle to decide who will represent Japan in the finals match against Spain. The newly announced cast includes Tasuku Hatanaka as Julio Roman, Reiji Kawashima as Mars de Colón, Ryūho Nagaoka as Silva Serra Banbieri, and Megumi Han as Sedah. Film actor Yū Shirota voices Romeo Fernandez from Spain. The four-member unit Aozu, composed of Ryōma Echizen (voiced by Junko Minagawa), Kunimitsu Tezuka (voiced by Ryōtarō Okiayu), Syusuke Fuji (voiced by Yuki Kaida), and Shuichiro Ōishi (voiced by Takayuki Kondō), performs the opening theme song "Walls And Bridges." Keigo Atobe (voiced by Junichi Suwabe) and Yūshi Oshitari (voiced by Hidenobu Kiuchi) perform the ending theme song "Kinkanshoku phenomenal."
Ahead of the November 13 release of the new OVA Magical Princess Minky Momo: Toward the Yearning Dream - Duet of Sincerity, the KAC official YouTube channel will stream both TV seasons free for a limited time starting August 10. Season 1 airs in five weekly blocks through September 14.
Miho Okasaki and Megumi Toyoguchi, the voices of Rimuru and Raphael in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, spoke at Anime Expo 2026 about how their characters have grown together. The two actors still find the roles challenging after four seasons, and they deliberately do not discuss their approach before recording, discovering each other's choices at the test recording instead.
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.
Netflix's love reality show Love Jōtō returns for a second season on August 4, streaming 10 episodes over three weeks. Rapper Awich joins as a new MC alongside returning hosts MEGUMI and Nagano, replacing AK-69. The season moves to an Okinawa marine academy setting with nine participants.
Aoki Munetaka, MEGUMI, Maggie, Duncan, Sano Reo, and Iwaki Seina have joined the cast of the Prime Original drama Criminal, a live-action adaptation of Ai Ota's novel directed by Daishi Matsunaga. The crime suspense series stars Issei Takahashi, Takumi Saito, and Koshi Mizukami and premieres worldwide on Prime Video on July 17.
Seven additional cast members have been announced for the film 'Beasts That Cling to Straws', starring Oji Suzuka. The non-stop suspense thriller, directed by Hideo Josho and based on the novel by Keisuke Sone, follows characters who become entangled over a found 100 million yen. MEGUMI plays Mami Shoda, a housewife burdened with massive debts after suffering losses in currency exchange. Oshiro Maeda plays Shinaya Muto, a persistent customer at the nightclub where Mami works. Aoki Matcho appears as Erringi, a yakuza with immense strength who also practices flower arrangement. Ryo Iwamatsu plays Iwao Gota, the boss of the Gota group who pressures corrupt police officer Ryosuke Ebato (Hiroki Narimiya) to repay a debt. Ryutaro Ninomiya plays Demekin, a thug belonging to the Gota group. Shinya Kote plays detective Katsuji Higo, who partners with Ebato to investigate a massive fraud case. Jun Fubuki plays Tomiko Sato, the grandmother of Suzuka's character Kanji, whose actions may influence the fate of the money. The film opens nationwide on September 25. The screenplay was co-written by Yasuko Kobayashi and Hideo Josho.
The staff for Clevatess II announced the anime's third promotional video, two additional cast members (Megumi Han as Zavthier and Tomokazu Sugita as Laswell), and a July 8 premiere. The video previews the opening theme "Foreshadow" by Mayu Maeshima. MYTH & ROID performs the ending theme "Awake Anew." Crunchyroll will stream the season as it airs.
At a stage greeting for the film 'Fujiko' in Tokyo, director Kimura Taichi revealed he practiced the tea-throwing technique about 40 times with actress Kishimoto Kayoko before filming a fight scene between her and YOU. The film, set in 1970s-80s Shizuoka, follows a single mother raising her daughter alone.
The staff for the Victoria of Many Faces television anime announced eight additional cast members on May 29, 2026. The new additions include Kenji Nojima as Lancome, Daisuke Ono as Edward Asher, Saeko Akiho as Yolana Haynes, Hiroshi Yanaka as Bernard Fitcher, Makoto Furukawa as Zaharo, Kensho Ono as Cedric Ashbury, Ryota Osaka as Conrad Ashbury, and Megumi Han as Clark Anderson. They join previously announced leads Chika Anzai as Victoria, Shion Wakayama as Nonna, and Yohei Azakami as Jeffrey. The anime is scheduled to premiere in July 2026 on TV Tokyo and its affiliates. Nobukage Kimura directs the series at Studio DEEN, with Naohiro Fukushima handling series composition and Mina Osawa designing the characters. The light novel series by writer Syuu and illustrator Nanna Fujimi began on the Shosetsuka ni Narou website in December 2021. Kadokawa has published three novel volumes in print as of January 2024, with a fourth volume scheduled for June 25, 2026. A manga adaptation by Komo Ushino launched in December 2022 and has six compiled volumes. Yen Press publishes both the light novel and manga in English.
Jiro Sato, who wrote, starred in, and co-wrote the film Nameless, appeared at a Tokyo stage greeting on May 23 alongside cast members Ryuhei Maruyama, MEGUMI, Kuranosuke Sasaki, and director Hideo Josho. Sato discussed the origin of the story and his role as a mass murderer with a hidden power.