Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Anime, manga, and games, with a take · A Yukimedia publication

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Shochiku

Shochiku is a film studio whose games arm, Shochiku Games, publishes and co-publishes indie and mid-size titles across PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, while the parent company also backs anime productions and participates in IP licensing events.

Synthesized from 11 Yomimono stories · updated 4d ago

Shochiku's games division, Shochiku Games, is the most active part of the company in recent coverage. It co-publishes and publishes titles from overseas and domestic developers. The hotel management and romance simulation Yog-Sothoth's Garden, developed by Bone Nail, launched on Switch and added Japanese on Steam in July 2026. The game had sold over 500,000 copies on Steam since its October 2023 Chinese and English release. Shochiku Games then released a free trial version on PC and Switch in August 2026, responding to Japanese players who wanted to recommend the game to others. Shochiku Games also co-publishes OKU, a haiku adventure by Irox Games, which passed 300,000 Steam followers by August 2026. The company will publish Estella, a 3D rhythm game from Taiwan's Imanity, with a demo at Tokyo Game Show 2026 and Steam early access planned for winter.

On the anime side, Shochiku confirmed the Kagurabachi TV anime for April 2027, in production at Cypic with Tetsuya Takeuchi directing. The company also backs the Draw This, Then Die! anime, which premiered July 3 on NTV. Shochiku participates in business matching at Tokyo Game Show through MeetToMatch, where its Hiroaki Ishige said the service is a common way people find him. Shochiku is also one of eight IP holders named for the second Tokyo IP Market at TIFFCOM 2026, offering live-action adaptation and remake rights.

Key facts

Yog-Sothoth's Garden release
Nintendo Switch version launched July 23, 2026; Japanese language added to Steam same day. ↗
Yog-Sothoth's Garden sales
Sold over 500,000 copies worldwide on Steam since October 2023 Chinese and English release. ↗
Yog-Sothoth's Garden trial
Free trial released August 13, 2026 for Switch and PC via Steam. ↗
OKU co-publisher
Shochiku Games co-publishes OKU with Irox Games; Steam followers passed 300,000 as of August 2026. ↗
Estella publishing
Shochiku Games will publish Estella, a 3D rhythm game developed by Taiwan's Imanity; Steam early access planned for winter with about 40 songs. ↗
Kagurabachi anime
Shochiku confirmed a TV anime adaptation for April 2027, in production at Cypic, directed by Tetsuya Takeuchi. ↗
Draw This, Then Die! anime
Anime premiered July 3 on NTV's Friday Anime Night block; Shochiku is involved as producer. ↗
Tokyo IP Market participation
Shochiku is one of eight IP holders for the second Tokyo IP Market at TIFFCOM 2026, offering adaptation and remake rights. ↗

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

Announced
participation in the second Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, held at TIFFCOM 2026 · 2026-08-29

Connections

Produces
algorithm prescription

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

All coverage

5h ago

REKA Version 1.0 Lands on Steam October 26

Shochiku Games announced September 9 that REKA, the witch exploration adventure from Berlin-based Emberstorm Entertainment, will leave early access and release version 1.0 on Steam October 26. The game costs 2,300 yen. Early access began September 12, 2024. The full release was originally planned for August 18 but was pushed back because playtests and third-party feedback surfaced bugs and performance issues that a small indie team needed time to fix. At 1.0, the game will add Japanese language support. A free demo arrives September 29, and a hands-on preview runs at the Shochiku booth during Tokyo Game Show 2026 at Makuhari Messe, September 17-21. Players control Reka, apprentice of the legendary witch Baba Yaga, and travel a procedurally generated 19th century Europe-inspired autumn world with a walking magic house on giant bird legs. The game has character creation, housing and decoration, animal taming, and quests where choices shape the player's identity as a witch. Shochiku Games publishes in Asia; Fireshine Games handles global publishing.

1d ago

MONOPHOBIA Story Demo to Debut at Tokyo Game Show 2026

Shochiku Games announced on September 8, 2026 that MONOPHOBIA, the 2.5D urban legend adventure it publishes, will be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. The exhibition marks the first public showing of the game's story demo. The game follows two contrasting high school girls, the always mysterious Kirihara Konoka and the gal classmate Nakano Shino, who form a buddy pair to investigate eerie supernatural phenomena in a modern city rendered in nostalgic 2.5D pixel art inspired by 32-bit era adventure games. Light novel author Mikami Teren wrote the scenario, and illustrator Wata handled character design and the main visual. Developer Dendrobium, an indie team established in 2022, calls MONOPHOBIA its first independent development project. Japanese voice support is planned. The game is slated for PC via Steam with the price undecided.

5d ago

Shochiku Games to Publish 3D Rhythm Game Estella With TGS 2026 Demo

Shochiku Games will publish Estella, a 3D music rhythm game developed by Taiwan's Imanity. Players steer an octagonal interface with mouse and keyboard while 3D effects unfold in sync with the music, a play experience the studio compares to traveling through space as a comet. Each planet is a chapter told in visual novel format. Steam early access is planned for this winter with about 40 songs. A limited demo will be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026 from September 17 to 21.

Aug 29

UniJapan Names Eight IP Holders for Second Tokyo IP Market

UniJapan announced on August 20, 2026 the first batch of IP holders for the second Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, held at TIFFCOM 2026. Eight publishing and film companies, including KADOKAWA, Shochiku, Toei, and Square Enix, will meet film producers from Europe, the U.S., and Asia seeking live-action adaptation and remake rights for Japanese IP. The event runs October 28-30 in Tokyo.

Aug 28

MeetToMatch Business Matching Event Returns for Tokyo Game Show 2026

MeetToMatch will hold its sixth annual Tokyo Edition from September 17 to 20, 2026, during the Tokyo Game Show 2026 period. The event connects Japanese game companies with overseas counterparts through pre-arranged business meetings. Japan-based companies can participate free of charge, with registration available on the dedicated website. Last year, 571 companies from 45 countries took part, including 120 Japanese firms, and 93% of meetings involving Japanese companies were with overseas partners. So far in 2026, 361 companies have registered on the platform, among them Bandai Namco Entertainment, Sega, Kodansha, Shochiku, Colopl, Drecom, G-mode, Kotobuki Solution, Crunchyroll K.K., 505 Games Japan, Active Gaming Media, Toylogic, and Chorus Worldwide. Meetings can be held at Makuhari Messe booths, public spots, rented rooms, restaurants, or online via Zoom, Google Meet, or a proprietary time-zone-adjusting system. Shochiku's Hiroaki Ishige noted that the most common contact he receives at conferences is from people who found him through MeetToMatch. The service is independent of Tokyo Game Show and not an official TGS offering.

Aug 13

Yog-Sothoth's Garden Trial Version Launches on PC and Switch

Shochiku Games released a free trial version of Yog-Sothoth's Garden on August 13, 2026, for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The game is a hotel management simulation and romance adventure set in the Cthulhu mythos. Players inherit a debt-ridden, dilapidated mansion and hire non-human girls, including artificial maids, apprentice grim reapers, and dragon girls, to renovate it into a luxury hotel. The trial covers the early hotel management and adventure segments, and includes a special scene featuring Tripoka, the grim reaper girl who is a key character. The full version has been on sale since July 2026, when the Japanese localization and Switch port launched. The English and Chinese versions first appeared on Steam in October 2023 and have sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. The trial was released in response to Japanese users who said they wanted to recommend the game to acquaintances. Steam reviews exceed 10,000, with a recent rating above 95%.

Aug 6

Algorithm Prescription Gets AGF2026 Stage With Cast Talk

Shochiku announced that the visual novel Algorithm Prescription will hold a special stage on November 7, the opening day of Animate Girls Festival 2026. The event takes place at Sunshine City Fountain Square in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, featuring voice actors Toshinari Fukamachi, Haruki Ishiya, and Junichi Toki.

Jul 23

Yog-Sothoth's Garden Launches on Nintendo Switch, Adds Japanese on Steam

Shochiku Games released the Nintendo Switch version of "Yog-Sothoth's Garden" on July 23, 2026. The hotel management simulation and romance adventure game, inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos, also received a Japanese language update for its existing Steam version on the same day. The game was originally released on Steam in Chinese and English in October 2023. It has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. Players inherit a debt-ridden mansion and hire non-human staff including an artificial maid, a reaper apprentice, a dragon girl, and a spirit slayer. The story's ending changes based on hotel management decisions and bonds with the heroines. The Nintendo Switch download version is priced at 1,980 yen, the standard physical edition at 2,970 yen, and the first limited edition at 4,400 yen. The Steam version costs 1,300 yen. A launch trailer featuring new illustrations has also been released. The game is developed by Bone Nail and published by Bone Nail and Shochiku.

Jul 9

Yog-Sothoth's Garden Switch Pre-Orders Open, New PV Narrated by Kana Asumi

Shochiku Games opened pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch download version of Yog-Sothoth's Garden on July 9, ahead of its July 23 release. The game, a hotel management simulation and romance adventure set in the Cthulhu Mythos, was originally released on Steam in October 2023 in Chinese and English. It has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide and holds a Very Positive rating from more than 10,000 Steam user reviews. The Switch version is priced at 1,980 yen for the download edition, with a 10 percent discount until July 22. Physical editions cost 2,970 yen for the standard version and 4,400 yen for the limited first edition. To mark the pre-order start, a special promotional video narrated by voice actress Kana Asumi was released. The video introduces the game's mix of cute heroines and madness, including the SAN value mechanic that decreases sanity for profit. The PV is available on the Shochiku Games YouTube channel until October 2026. The Steam version will also receive a Japanese language update on the same day.

May 17

Draw This, Then Die! Anime Reveals July 3 Premiere, Opening Theme

The television anime adaptation of Minoru Toyoda's manga Draw This, Then Die! will premiere on July 3. The first promotional video, released on Friday, reveals and previews the opening theme song "Isho" by Tatsuya Kitani. The series will air on NTV's "Friday Anime Night" programming block at 11:30 p.m. JST. The anime is directed by Hiroaki Akagi at Shinei Animation, with series scripts overseen by Hiroko Fukuda. The cast includes Akira Sekine as Ai Yasumi, Saori Hayami as Rei Teshima, and Inori Minase as Hikaru Sekiryū, among others. The manga, which launched in Shogakukan's Monthly Shonen Sunday in November 2021, won an award at the 70th Shogakukan Manga Awards in January 2025 and the 16th Manga Taisho awards in 2023. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the manga for English release.

May 16

Kagurabachi TV Anime Confirmed for April 2027 With Cypic Directing

Shochiku confirmed that Takeru Hokazono's Kagurabachi manga will receive a television anime adaptation in April 2027. The series is in production at Cypic, the studio previously known as CygamesPictures, with Tetsuya Takeuchi directing. Takeuchi's past work includes key animation on the Rock Lee versus Gaara fight in Naruto, a sequence Hokazono cited as a reason for his excitement about the adaptation. Keigo Sasaki is handling character designs, and Taihi Kimura, winner of the 2025 Seiyu Awards Best New Actor prize, will voice protagonist Chihiro Rokuhira. Shochiku and CyberAgent sit on the production committee. The announcement arrived during the fifth Jump Press program and was accompanied by a trailer, a teaser visual, and a commemorative illustration from Hokazono. A world tour starting in summer 2026 will screen 20 minutes of the first episode at events worldwide, culminating in a full first-episode screening in Japan in spring 2027 before the broadcast. The manga has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since September 2023 and has over 4 million copies in circulation.