The Mononoke franchise has concluded its theatrical trilogy with Chapter 3 - Snake God, which opened in Japan on May 29, 2026, and has expanded into novels and a third Medicine Seller character.
The Mononoke franchise concluded its theatrical trilogy with the release of Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God on May 29, 2026. The film opened at number six at the Japanese box office, earning 117 million yen in its first three days. The trilogy began with Chapter 1 - The Umbrella in July 2024 and Chapter 2 - The Fire Rat in March 2025, both of which won the Audience Award for Best Animated Feature at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada. The first two chapters are streaming on Netflix.
The third film centers on the Medicine Seller confronting a giant snake-shaped mononoke called the Snake God, with the conflict rooted in events 150 years in the past. Kenji Nakamura returned as general director from the second film, while Tomoaki Koshida directed at Studio Kafka and EOTA. New cast members included Miyuki Sawashiro as the Third Empress, Fumi Hirano as Tokiwai, Mariko Honda as Kawa, Yukana as Amanotsubone, and Eiji Takemoto as Saku Mizorogi. Aina The End performed the theme song "No Epilogue."
Shortly after the film's release, Twin Engine announced a new Mononoke project on July 5, revealing a third Medicine Seller named Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by Hironori Araki. Three new novels featuring each of the three Medicine Sellers-Ri no Tsurugi, Kon no Tsurugi, and Ken no Tsurugi-will be published by Kadokawa Bunko. The franchise also faced controversy when planning producer Koji Yamamoto announced his retirement on June 5, apologizing for the handling of Takahiro Sakurai's unannounced cameo in the third film. Sakurai, who was replaced after a 2022 scandal, reprised the original Medicine Seller role without prior disclosure, sparking fan backlash.
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Happinet will exhibit three titles for trial play at the indie game exhibition Tokyo Game Dungeon 13 on August 8, 2026. The adventure game 'Tokyo Stories', developed by Dricom, uses pixel art and 3D visuals and is set in a deserted Tokyo. Also playable are the RPG 'Artis Impact' and the action ADV 'Mononoke no Kuni'. 'Artis Impact' launches on Switch on September 17, 2026, while 'Mononoke no Kuni' is planned for Steam in 2027.
Twin Engine announced a new Mononoke project on July 5, revealing the third Medicine Seller Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by Hironori Araki, in a new PV. Three new novels featuring each of the three Medicine Sellers-Ri no Tsurugi, Kon no Tsurugi, and Ken no Tsurugi-will be published by Kadokawa Bunko.
Akihiro Miwa, the singer, actor, and voice actor known for roles as the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle and Moro in Princess Mononoke, died on June 20 of old age. He was 91. His agency announced his passing on Sunday, stating he had been convalescing at home after his health declined three months ago.
Fashion brand MAYLA has released a skirt collaboration for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God, with two designs inspired by the Medicine Seller and Shingi. Reservations opened June 16 at 17:00 and run through July 16. The skirt costs 28,600 yen.
Manga Up! Global released Haru Ogawa's Venus in December on Thursday and Kiri Wazawa's Paranormal Agent Adashino on Friday. Venus in December is a completed two-volume BL series about an illustrator and a novelist. Paranormal Agent Adashino, a supernatural action manga, finished at three volumes. Wazawa also created The Morose Mononokean.
Koji Yamamoto, planning producer for the Mononoke film trilogy, announced his retirement from producing on Friday and apologized for the handling of Takahiro Sakurai's unannounced cameo in the third film. Sakurai, who was replaced after a 2022 scandal, reprised the original Medicine Seller role without prior disclosure, sparking controversy among fans.
In its sixth weekend, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie remained at #2 at the Japanese box office, earning 205 million yen. Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi held at #4 in its eighth weekend, while the third Mononoke film, Gekijōban Mononoke Dai-San-Shō: Hebigami, opened at #6 with 117 million yen in its first three days.
The weekend box office rankings for May 29-31, 2026, show 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu' retaining the top spot with 243,000 admissions and 425 million yen. Three new entries debuted in the top 10: Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'The Sheep in the Box' at No. 5, the final 'Mononoke' film at No. 6, and 'TOKYO BURST - Crime City -' at No. 8.
A web lottery for the third and final chapter of the theatrical Mononoke trilogy, "Mononoke: Chapter 3 - Snake Goddess," launched on May 29, 2026, the same day the film opened in Japanese theaters. The lottery, offered through the online service "WEB Kuji" and at physical storefronts under the "WEB Kuji Shucchojo" banner, features prizes made from newly commissioned illustrations. The artwork includes two full-body depictions of the Medicine Seller and Kamiyori holding cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, as well as chibi-style character art paired with Japanese sweets. Prize tiers include a large wall hanging (A prize), an A3 clear poster (B prize), an acrylic stand (C prize), a wood key holder (D prize), an A5 illustration board (E prize), a shikishi board collection (F prize), and a large can badge (G prize). Store-exclusive last-win prizes include a large acrylic stand set. Online-exclusive last-win prizes are acrylic visual panels. Each lottery ticket costs 770 yen, and the sale period runs through July 10, 2026. The film series began with "Mononoke: The Phantom Chapter 1 - The Umbrella" in 2024, followed by "Chapter 2 - The Fire Rat" in March 2025. Both earlier films won the Audience Award for Best Animated Feature at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada.
Twin Engine released the final PV for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God on May 19, condensing the Ooku's karma and horror from the trilogy's first two chapters. The concluding film opens nationwide in Japan on May 29, centering on the Ooku's greatest secret and the series' most terrifying mononoke.
The Super Kabuki stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke has released a video ad showing the main cast in costume. The play stars Danko Ichikawa V as Ashitaka, Kazutaro Nakamura as San, and Tokizo Nakamura VI as Eboshi Gozen. It runs from July 3 to August 23 at Tokyo's Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre, directed by Kensuke Yokouchi with a script co-written by Ghibli veteran Keiko Niwa.
Twin Engine released a new trailer for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3: Snake God on Thursday, ahead of its May 29 theatrical debut in Japan. The trailer shows more of the supernatural chaos in the inner palace, with the emperor and priest Hokuto Mizorogi playing larger roles. Aina The End performs the theme song "No Epilogue." New cast members include Miyuki Sawashiro as the Third Empress, Fumi Hirano as Tokiwai, Mariko Honda as Kawa, Yukana as Amanotsubone, and Eiji Takemoto as Saku Mizorogi. Kenji Nakamura returns as general director from the second film, while Tomoaki Koshida directs at Studio Kafka and EOTA. The story follows the Medicine Seller confronting a giant snake-shaped Mononoke called the Snake God. He must discover its three characteristics-form, truth, and reason-before he can slay it. The roots of the conflict lie 150 years in the past, in the true story of the inner palace's birth. The first two films in the trilogy, Phantom in the Rain and The Ashes of Rage, premiered in July 2024 and March 2025 respectively, and are streaming on Netflix.