Developer Aladdin X announced on August 27 that the DLC Miracle Circus for the Nintendo Switch version of Suika Game is now available at 180 yen. The new mode splits the box into four colored areas, with a random spotlight granting combo bonuses, and adds a Fire Ring, a random-effect Magic Hat, and a Durian Bomb for one-shot comebacks.
Director Sunao Katabuchi, known for In This Corner of the World and Mai Mai Miracle, said the anime industry's expansion is not good for its human workers. He cited heavy freelance outsourcing, unknown conditions for freelancers, and a weak yen that makes overseas outsourcing difficult. He warned the industry cannot train new talent or preserve skills, and that AI may lower budgets.
TOKYO MX will broadcast 'Eiga Yes! Pretty Cure 5: Kagami no Kuni no Miracle Daibouken!' on August 9 at 19:00. The 2007 film introduced the Miracle Light support item and the dark warrior team Dark Pretty Cure 5, whose members were voiced by actors later cast in other Pretty Cure series.
ABEMA will launch a limited-time Black Jack anime channel on August 8, 2026, airing all four series for a total of 94 episodes free daily. The lineup includes the 2004 TV anime, the OVA, Black Jack 21, and Black Jack: The 4 Miracles of Life. Episodes remain free to view for one week after broadcast.
TVer began a limited free streaming run of three Precure films on August 2: Hugtto! Precure, Star Twinkle PreCure, and Healin' Good PreCure. The end date is not yet announced. The lineup includes the 15th anniversary crossover film featuring 55 Precure characters with original voice casts.
Keigo Higashino, the award-winning mystery novelist behind The Devotion of Suspect X, The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, and The Camphorwood Custodian, died on July 23 due to colon cancer. He was 68. His family held a private funeral. Higashino debuted in 1985 and his works inspired numerous film, stage, and anime adaptations.
Tsunku, the composer and producer behind the Rhythm Heaven series, published a free note on July 22 detailing the 11-year gap between the fourth and fifth entries, Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars, which launched on July 2 for Nintendo Switch. In the note, he admitted he wondered if the series would continue and that spreading rhythm was harder than he imagined. He revealed that fans who played the games as children grew up to work at game software companies and offered to create a similar but different series. Tsunku declined those offers out of loyalty to Nintendo, believing a proper sequel would eventually come. He also discussed his serious illness during the development period, saying Nintendo continued working on the game without stopping, which became a ray of hope. He mentioned former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, speculating that Iwata may have been battling illness around the same time, and offered his condolences. The note also covers the so-called "curse of Rhythm Heaven," where new hardware releases have historically coincided with new Rhythm Heaven games. Tsunku noted that Miracle Stars works on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, which he takes positively.
Kei Sanbe, creator of ERASED, launched a new manga titled Aria's Adventures in Miracleland on Friday. The story follows a girl who trusts only her father. After she is tasked as a lookout during a crime that turns into robbery and murder, she is taken away and wakes up on an uninhabited island. The first chapter is available on the KadoComi website.
Singer Ado streamed the Nintendo Switch game Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars on her YouTube channel on July 15, 2026. She titled the stream "I'll play Rhythm Heaven (includes non-blind play at the beginning)" and admitted she had played a little before going live, calling it "the worst start for a first-time Rhythm Heaven streamer" and asking for forgiveness with a laugh. Despite the early play, she cleared the opening stages with the highest rating, saying she "basically cleared them in one try." During the stream, she exclaimed that the game was as nerve-wracking as a live concert but maintained perfect control, clearing the first stage with no mistakes and earning top ratings on subsequent stages. Viewers commented on her skill, rhythm, and ability to play while talking. At the end of the approximately four-hour stream, she performed a live rendition of the new song "Love me forever!," which was recorded for the game. As of July 16, the video had surpassed 1 million views and ranked first in trending game videos. Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars is available for the Nintendo Switch at 6,500 yen and is also playable on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo's new Rhythm Heaven game for Switch launches with over 80 new rhythm games, high difficulty, and a new Night Mode that darkens the screen. The review finds the game's difficulty among the highest in the series, with off-beats and irregular rhythms appearing from the start. Familiar musicians like Oohashi Hikaru and Hotzmic return, and the Perfect Challenge mode is back.
Sunao Katabuchi and Madhouse's Mai Mai Miracle anime film aired on NHK Educational on June 20 and earned a 0.6% household rating in Japan's Kanto region. The rating is based on Video Research data and does not include later recordings.
Nintendo has added seven tracks from the newly released Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars to its Nintendo Music streaming app. The songs are available as a special playlist starting July 2, the same day the game launched. A Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to use the app.
Nintendo revealed new footage of Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars during a June 9 Direct broadcast, confirming over 80 all-new rhythm games, an RPG-style mode unlocked through single-player, and multiplayer for up to four players. The game launches July 2 on Switch at 6,500 yen.
7ORDER released their new song 'Miracle' on June 7. The track is the group's most aggressive uptune to date, produced by Takamichi Tsugai with Nob from MY FIRST STORY on bass. Member Yuma Sanada wrote lyrics and music. The song debuted at the group's 7th anniversary live on May 22 and is part of their current nationwide tour 'ROMAN'.