Wednesday, 9 September 2026
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UTA

UTA is an actor who made his debut as the Gas Man in the Netflix series Gas Man. He is the eldest son of actor Masahiro Motoki and Yayako Uchida.

Synthesized from 30 Yomimono stories · updated 1d ago

UTA is the eldest son of actor Masahiro Motoki and Yayako Uchida. He made his acting debut as the Gas Man in the Netflix series Gas Man. His father spoke about him at a stage greeting for the film The Man Who Carries the Voice of August in Tokyo on August 22.

Motoki said he left UTA's education to Uchida, but hopes UTA learns about history and humanity through his roles. He framed acting as a path to understanding history and people, and said he wants UTA to gain that same understanding through his own work.

Key facts

Family
UTA is the eldest son of actor Masahiro Motoki and Yayako Uchida. ↗
Acting debut
UTA made his acting debut as the Gas Man in the Netflix series Gas Man. ↗
Education
Motoki left UTA's education to his mother, Yayako Uchida. ↗
Father's hopes
Motoki hopes UTA learns about history and humanity through his roles. ↗

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
plays Yusaku · 2026-09-08
Noted
first commercial broadcast drama appearance · 2026-09-08
Noted
attended the Kabukicho event for Netflix series 'Gas Man' · 2026-07-09
Noted
revealed he binge-watched the show with his parents · 2026-07-09
Noted
kept his role a secret for three years · 2026-07-09
Noted
aims for international recognition as an actor · 2026-07-09
Noted
appears in an interview segment on A-Studio+ · 2026-06-18
Noted
UTA made his acting debut as the Gas Man in the Netflix series Gas Man. · 2026-08-28
Noted
Masahiro Motoki hopes UTA broadens his humanity through acting. · 2026-08-28
Noted
Motoki hopes UTA learns about history and humanity through his roles. · 2026-08-28
Announced
acting debut in Netflix series Gas Human · 2026-06-29

Connections

Voice cast
gas man

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

All coverage

11h ago

UEC Game Research Center CEREC Sets September 29 Opening Ceremony

The University of Electro-Communications will hold the opening ceremony for its Entertainment Creation Research and Education Center (CEREC) on September 29, 2026. The event features a panel between university president Masakazu Muramatsu and special visiting professor Ken Kutaragi, the engineer known as the father of PlayStation, moderated by CEREC center director Takuya Nojima. A second panel has young graduates from Sony Interactive Entertainment and Koei Tecmo Games discussing what UEC students bring to the industry. Admission is free.

14h ago

Kodansha Confirms Gachiakuta Hiatus, Offers No Return Date

Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine confirmed on Sep 9 that Gachiakuta is on hiatus, after chapter 174 missed its Aug 25 release with no word from the staff. The magazine apologized for the concern the unannounced delay caused but gave no cause and no resumption date. The confirmation follows weeks of silence after author Kei Urana and graffiti artist Hideyoshi Andou stepped back from X following a public fallout with toxic fans.

1d ago

UTA Makes First Commercial Broadcast Drama Appearance in Akato Elegy

TV Tokyo announced nine new cast members for its October drama Akato Elegy, the live-action adaptation of Kira Takashi's manga. UTA, who debuted in Netflix's Gas Human, plays Yusaku, the missing ex-boyfriend of heroine Chiko, in his first commercial broadcast drama appearance. Mari Hamada, Sarina Suzuki, and Yuichi Kimura also join, along with five more actors. Kōyo Kurosaki and Yui Narumi lead the cast. The drama premieres October 8.

2d ago

Uta Macross Rhythm Game Revival Heads to iOS, Android, Steam

AUGUST Inc. announced it is developing a revival version of the Macross rhythm game Uta Macross: Smartphone De Culture for release on iOS, Android, and Steam next spring. A crowdfunding campaign launches on Campfire Thursday with a 30 million yen goal to fund development and additional content.

4d ago

New Kochikame Anime Sets 2027 Fuji TV Airing With Fresh Cast

The new anime adaptation of Osamu Akimoto's long-running comedy manga Kochikame, titled New Kochikame: Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo, will air on Fuji TV and stream across multiple platforms in 2027. The project marks the 50th anniversary of the original manga's serialization. The main cast was announced during a live-streamed event on September 5 on the Jump Channel, with Fukushi Ochiai voicing protagonist Ryotsu Kankichi, Shouta Aoi as Keiichi Nakagawa, M·A·O as Reiko Akimoto, and Raiko Sakamoto as Daijiro Ohara. Akitaro Daichi directs the series, with animation production by Gallop, the studio behind the earlier Kochikame TV anime. A character PV, which reveals the new cast's voices for the first time, and a key visual were released alongside the announcement. Original creator Osamu Akimoto expressed delight at hearing the characters again, noting the art has evolved to a modern style while remaining impactful and funny. The cast announcement event, titled "Start! Reiwa Kochikame Grand Strategy," remains available as an archive on YouTube.

4d ago

New Kochikame Anime Cast Announced, Ochiai Voices Ryotsu

The cast and staff for New Kochikame, the 50th anniversary anime project based on Osamu Akimoto's Kochikame, have been revealed. Fukushi Ochiai voices Kankichi Ryotsu, with Shouta Aoi, M·A·O, and Raiko Sakamoto in supporting roles. Jiro Akatsuki directs. The series airs on Fuji TV in 2027 and will stream on various platforms.

5d ago

QUARTET NIGHT Cast Reunion in Live Costumes Stirs Fan Speculation

The four voice actors behind QUARTET NIGHT, Shouta Aoi, Shoutarou Morikubo, Tatsuya Suzuki, and Tomoaki Maeno, posted a photo together on X on September 4. The shot shows them in costumes from the June 2026 live event QUARTET NIGHT LIVE ENDLESS JEWELS, with a bracelet from the event merchandise visible. The reason for the gathering is unconfirmed, and fans are speculating about a new project or bonus footage.

5d ago

Arc System Works Releases Alien Inspection Adventure Donutal on Steam

Arc System Works released the alien inspection adventure game Donutal on Steam on September 4. The player is an immigration inspector who wakes from 150 years of cryosleep at an international space port in 2206 and must inspect visiting aliens to pay off a debt they do not remember incurring. Inspections run in groups of up to eight, with two called in at a time. The game costs 1,000 yen.

5d ago

Shiraku Utano Acoustic Live at Yamaha Sound Crossing Set for October 10

UniVIRTUAL virtual singer Shiraku Utano will hold "Shiraku Utano ACOUSTIC SPECIAL LIVE at Yamaha Sound Crossing" on October 10 at Yamaha Sound Crossing Shibuya STAGE. The event runs in two parts, at 13:00 and 17:00, with free admission. Each part offers 20 reserved seats through a lottery open from September 3 to September 6. The second part will stream on her YouTube channel.

5d ago

The Tenth Mosaic Festival Lines Up Kodaka, Mizuguchi, Toyama Talks

Archipel will hold The Tenth Mosaic, a two-day game culture festival, on September 22-23 at Tokyo Nichi-Futsu Gakuen. The lineup includes talks with Kazutaka Kodaka and Masafumi Takada, a Rez 25th anniversary session with Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Ken Ishii, a horror panel with Keiichiro Toyama and Frederic Raynal, and a Persona 30th anniversary talk. Shuhei Yoshida curates an indie legacy showcase with 15-plus titles, and music sets include Yuzo Koshiro and Saori Kobayashi. Several talk sessions have already sold out.

5d ago

Macross Rhythm Game Uta Macross Returns as Buy-to-Play Title for 2027

AUGUST Inc. announced on September 3 that it is developing Uta Macross, a buy-to-play rhythm game based on the smartphone title Uta Macross: Smartphone De Culture, which ended service in 2022. The game is planned for Steam, iOS, and Android with a release around spring 2027. A crowdfunding campaign on CAMPFIRE runs from September 10 at 20:00 through October 31 at 23:59, with funds going toward platform expansion and new song additions via DLC. The base package includes roughly 50 songs, more than 1,000 plates of rarity ★4 or higher, and over 20 costumes per singer, all available from the start. The gacha for raising plate rarity is free with unlimited pulls, switched to a box gacha type for easier completion. Development is handled by xeen, which worked on the original service version, with Big West and DeNA cooperating. Producer Hiroshi Hirono said the project began from fan requests for a revival after service ended. Macross series creator Shoji Kawamori also commented on the project's start.

Sep 2

Kato Junichi to Face Senior Pro Team Matagi Snipers in VALORANT

Streamer Kato Junichi will face the senior pro gaming team Matagi Snipers in VALORANT on September 13 at 19:00. Kato proposed the matchup during his September 1 Twitch stream. His team currently includes Yuyuta, Koku-nii, and Daso, with remaining slots to be filled by beginners to balance against the seniors' Iron to Silver ranks. Matagi Snipers' players for the match are not yet announced.

Sep 2

Yutaka Matsushige Writes and Directs Gourmet Drama for Prime Video

Yutaka Matsushige plans, produces, writes, and directs the drama "The Way to Make Delicious Food," which streams on Prime Video starting October 3 at midnight. Yukiya Kitamura plays the lead, with Non and Mariko Kaga in supporting roles. The original script follows a chef, his granddaughter, and her grandmother connected through cooking.

Aug 30

Sayonara no Iikata Nante Shiranai Novel Series Gets Manga by Yukiko Seike

Yutaka Kōno announced on X that his Sayonara no Iikata Nante Shiranai novel series will get a manga adaptation by Yukiko Seike on Kodansha's Comic Days platform in fall. The novels are part of the overall Kamisaki series, which Kōno relaunched as a solo author in 2019. Shinchosha published the 11th volume on August 28 with illustrations by Hagu Koshijima.

Aug 29

MIRU-e Backs VTuber eSports Event Tenkahai -UTAGE- at Tokyo Venue

Tweet Inc.'s eSports-focused VTuber project MIRU-e is fully supporting Tenkahai -UTAGE-, an eSports event hosted by affiliated VTubers. The festival-style offline event takes place Saturday, August 29, 2026, at eSports Field in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo. MIRU-e handles event planning, performer casting, production management, venue experience design, and on-site operations. The event combines game tournaments with spectating, interaction, festival stalls, photo spots, and food and drink. Teams are joined by coaches with competitive experience, and matches get live commentary and analysis.

Aug 29

Futari wa Pretty Cure Collaborates With Wacoal Innerwear Brand AMPHI

The TV anime Futari wa Pretty Cure and Wacoal innerwear brand AMPHI are collaborating for the first time. The Glamarich Volume UP Type bra and three types of shorts will be available at the Wacoal Web Store from August 27 and at select stores and EC sites from August 28. The collaboration includes lace designs inspired by Cure Black and Cure White.

Aug 29

Kabutack Joins MODEROID Plastic Model Line With Full Super Change Gimmick

Good Smile Company announced a MODEROID plastic model of Kabutack from the 1997 Toei special-effects series 'Beetleborgs Kabutack.' The kit fully recreates the Super Change transformation from Normal Mode to Super Mode without replacement parts. It stands about 140mm tall in Normal Mode and about 170mm in Super Mode. The weapon Billit Stick and a purchase bonus Star Piece are included. Release is scheduled for May 2027 at 8,700 yen.

Aug 29

Aibou Season 25 Sets Record as Longest-Running Current Drama in Japan

TV Asahi will air Aibou season 25 for two consecutive seasons starting in October, starring Yutaka Mizutani and Yasufumi Terawaki. The series, which began in 2000, sees the Sugishita Ukyo and Kameyama Kaoru duo enter their 12th year together, setting a new record as the longest-running current drama series in Japan.

Aug 28

Masahiro Motoki Hopes Son UTA Broadens His Humanity Through Acting

Masahiro Motoki appeared at a stage greeting for the film The Man Who Carries the Voice of August in Tokyo on August 22. He spoke about his eldest son UTA, who made his acting debut as the Gas Man in the Netflix series Gas Man. Motoki said he left UTA's education to his mother, Yayako Uchida, but hopes UTA learns about history and humanity through his roles.

Aug 28

Dead Account: Two Blue Flames Gets PV, OST, and Pre-Registration

Smilegate and Megaport opened the brand site for Dead Account: Two Blue Flames on August 26, releasing the first promotional video and the official theme song. The game, developed by IAN Games, adapts the manga Dead Account into a team-based roguelite action title. Players form parties of up to five characters, each with unique psychic abilities called den'no, and battle ghost accounts, the revived SNS profiles of the dead. The PV covers protagonist Enjo Aoshi's awakening and his transfer to Yaden Academy. Pre-registration is now live on iOS, Android, and PC via STOVE. Participants receive the SSR character Kie Urushigawa, a profile frame, and a title. Milestone rewards include 10 character recruitment tickets for every 100,000 registrants, up to 50 tickets at 500,000. The game will also be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026 from September 19 to 21. The theme song is by Haru Igarashi, who also worked on the anime's music.

Aug 28

Arc System Works' Donutal Alien Immigration Sim Hits Steam September 3

Arc System Works announced Donutal, an alien immigration simulation game, will launch on PC via Steam on September 3 (September 4 in Japan). A new character overview trailer is streaming. Buyers between September 3 and November 30 get future access to a 13-track soundtrack. Players act as a Chief Extraterrestrial Counselor, screening aliens for Earth entry, with gameplay similar to Papers, Please.

Aug 28

Twin Live Tour Finale Sees the Futami Twins Close With Trouble and Love

The Idolmaster's dual twin live tour wrapped its Tokyo leg on August 27 at Zepp Haneda (TOKYO), with twin idols Ami Futami and Mami Futami performing the final show of "Futagoboshi no Tsubasa" [KIRAKIRA FUTARIBOSHI]. The event was streamed via ASOBI STAGE alongside the in-person audience. The performance featured a special fusion of the sisters' solo songs, "On Stage Player!" and "Unique Star Player!", combined into "Unique Stars On Stage!!", a number the report notes was performed on stage for the first time in this merged dance form. Technical troubles hit the show, including a lighting failure early on and a microphone issue during the song "Tsubasa", which left Ami's voice inaudible. The pair returned after the credits to perform two encores, "Start Star" and "Tsubasa", with the crowd joining in. The show closed with the pair declaring that love lets them fly without wings, a theme echoed in the picture-book story that framed the concert's narrative.

Aug 28

Aeruta Console Versions Launch December 10

Gravity Game Arise announced on August 27 that the Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4 versions of the bakery management and dungeon exploration action RPG Aeruta will be released on December 10, 2026. The game, developed by FromDawn, is available as a download for all three platforms at 1,980 yen, with physical standard editions and a limited Collector's Box for Switch and PS5. The standard edition costs 3,850 yen, and the Collector's Box, which includes an acrylic diorama stand, an 80-page art book, and a 28-track soundtrack CD, is priced at 8,778 yen. The PS4 version is download-only. Pre-orders for the physical editions began the same day. Aeruta follows a fox-eared girl named Chaya who breaks a bakery's oven during an adventurer guild mission and works at the bakery to repay the damage. Gameplay alternates between dungeon exploration with weapons like a whip, rolling pin, and rapier, and running the bakery by stocking shelves, operating the register, and cleaning. The game first launched on Steam in early access in May 2024, with a full release in November 2025, and holds a 'Very Positive' rating from over 2,400 user reviews.

Aug 28

Taito Announces Arcade Collection PART2 for Egret II Mini

Taito announced on August 27 that it will release "Arcade Collection PART2," the fifth additional SD card for the tabletop arcade cabinet Egret II Mini, on March 25, 2027. The announcement came during a Famitsu LIVE broadcast. The card includes 10 games released between 1980 and 1993 by Universal (now Universal Entertainment) and Irem (Irem Software Engineering), such as "Lady Bug," "Undercover Cops," and "Cheeky Mouse." With this addition, the total number of playable titles across the Egret II Mini series reaches 100. The card sells for 9,878 yen and bundles a 32-page strategy guide, "Dengeki TAITO STATION VOLUME 6," plus an Instruction Card Mini for each of the 10 titles. Pre-orders have begun. On December 17, 2026, Taito will release three dedicated peripherals in a Violet Color: the Paddle & Trackball Controller, the Control Panel, and the Control Pad. Connecting the Paddle & Trackball Controller adds 10 titles such as "Arkanoid" and "Cybattler" without needing an SD card. A set bundling the Egret II Mini Violet Color body with Arcade Collection PART2 is set for March 25, 2027 at 31,856 yen.

Aug 27

Robot Girl Novel Game COCORO Launches on PC

Good Smile Company and Front Wing released the PC novel game COCORO on August 27. The game is available as a download only, priced at 3,800 yen, with a 20 percent off launch sale on Steam through September 8. A demo version is also on Steam. COCORO is set in Tsukumishi, a former utopia destroyed by a global AI rampage. The story follows Hinata Mimine, a boy who lost his hometown, and Cocoro, a humanoid girl who wishes to become human and dreams of marriage. Hinata returns to the ruined city during summer vacation and reunites with Cocoro at a botanical garden, where she tends flowers and awaits a fiance she does not realize is him. The game features full voice acting except for the protagonist. Hina Yumiya voices Cocoro, with a cast including Hikaru Tohno, Yasuaki Takumi, Riona Imaizumi, Maaya Uchida, and Shuta Morishima. Planning and scenario are by Asta Konno of ATRI -My Dear Moments-, character design by Akio Watanabe of the Grisaia series, and music by Fuminori Matsumoto. The game supports Japanese, English, and Chinese.

Aug 27

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Launches on Switch 2

FromSoftware released ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28, 2026, at a price of 9,020 yen. This all-in-one version bundles the base 2022 action RPG with the SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE DLC from June 2024, four new armor sets, two new origins, and a feature to change the appearance of the spectral steed Torrent across three types. The new content is also available as the Tarnished Pack for 550 yen on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam, requiring the separately sold base game. A preview by GAME Watch's Yuta Yashiro reported that the Switch 2 version runs comfortably in handheld mode with comparable graphical detail, and that the new Knight of Ides origin suits beginners due to its light greatsword with fast animations and long reach. The Heavy Knight origin offers high defense and poise, though starting equipment makes rolling a slow heavy roll unless pieces are removed. Nintendo's official YouTube channel published a seven-minute introductory video titled ELDEN RING for Beginners on August 27.

Aug 21

Pig Pearl Short Animation Released After TTFF 2024 Grand Prix Win

The Grand Prix winning commemorative work "Pig Pearl" by director Issun Saki wa Oji has been released on the official TikTok of "TikTok TOHO Film Festival" and the official YouTube of "TikTok Japan". The vertical short animation stars actress Kyoko Saito as Chika, a girl navigating life with her mother and her idealized future. The work was produced under Toho's talent support project "GEMSTONE Creative Label".

Aug 21

Smoking Behind the Supermarket Episode 7 Brings a New Chief and a Shared Keepsake

Episode 7 of the TV anime Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You aired August 20, 2026. Sasaki writes a support message for Yamada, passes her promotion exam, and the pair exchange keepsakes: his letter to her and the ashtray she carries. New character Chief Maezawa, voiced by Yoko Hikasa, debuts and draws strong viewer reactions.

Aug 20

Uta no Princess-sama 3rd Anniversary Concert Canceled

The official website for Uta no Princess-sama, the female idol counterpart to Uta no Prince-sama, announced last Saturday that the project's third anniversary concert has been canceled due to "various circumstances." The concert was announced in December without a date or venue. The project launched in March 2023 and features two trio groups, Flower Candy and Silent Queen.

Aug 20

Good Smile Company Adds Saya, Dorothy Haze, Daiwa Scarlet to POP UP PARADE L Size

Good Smile Company has announced three new figures in its POP UP PARADE L size series, a line known for scale-figure-level detail and satisfaction. The first is Saya from the visual novel 'Saya no Uta', a long-awaited re-release based on the game's package illustration. She is sculpted in a seated pose with a voluminous design, featuring a fleeting expression and clear parts for her wings. Saya is priced at 8,800 yen and is scheduled for release in January 2027. Also announced is Dorothy Haze from 'VA-11 HALL-A', a girl-type android and regular at the game's bar. Her figure stands approximately 220mm tall and exposes mechanical structures at the joints, a charm noted by the sources. Both a normal color and an Another Skin Ver. with white skin will be released in March 2027, each priced at 8,800 yen. Reservations for the Dorothy Haze figures are open until September 23. The third figure is Daiwa Scarlet from 'Uma Musume Pretty Derby', depicted in her race outfit at approximately 225mm tall. She is scheduled for February 2027 release and is priced at 9,800 yen.

Aug 18

Uta no Prince-sama 15th Anniversary Goods Open for Preorder

Broccoli Online began accepting preorders on August 18 for Uta no Prince-sama 15th anniversary merchandise featuring Chinatsu Kurahana's visuals from the UTA☆PRI WONDERLAND event. The lineup includes customizable visual cards in SHINING and RAGING variants, big can badges, cloth posters, acrylic stands, holographic clear files, clear sticker sets, and art boards for ST☆RISH, QUARTET NIGHT, and HE★VENS. Preorders run through September 8.

Aug 15

Shouta Aoi Birthday Poll Puts UtaPri's Mikaze Ai at No. 1 for 7th Year

A Nijimen reader poll marking Shouta Aoi's birthday ranks his most iconic roles. Uta no Prince-sama's Mikaze Ai tops the list with 357 votes, holding the No. 1 spot for seven consecutive years. The 2026 results show notable movement, with KING OF PRISM's Kazuki Rui appearing twice in the top 10.

Aug 14

Metal Hero Pop Up Store in Sendai Brings Three B-Fighter Series Together

The Metal Hero Pop Up Store in Sendai will run from August 29 to September 25, 2026, at TSUTAYA Sendai Ekimae store. The event gathers three Toei tokusatsu series: Juukou B-Fighter, B-Fighter Kabuto, and B-Robo Kabutack. The store will sell new merchandise including T-shirts, caps, acrylic stands, keychains, stickers, and badges focused on each series. The Juukou B-Fighter line marks the series' 30th anniversary since its broadcast began. Apparel items include a Daikessen T-shirt featuring Blue Beet, B-Fighter Kabuto, and Kabutack, plus individual T-shirts for Blue Beet, B-Fighter Kabuto, and Kabutack. A B-Fighter work shirt is priced at 8,470 yen, while most T-shirts cost 5,500 yen. Acrylic stands are available in sets of four for Juukou B-Fighter, three for B-Fighter Kabuto, and ten for Kabutack, each priced at 1,375 yen. Hologram stickers, postcards, a metal keychain shaped like the Input Magnum weapon, and a stacking mug are also part of the lineup. Purchases of 5,000 yen or more during the event include a free rental video-style sticker.

Aug 11

Uta no Prince-sama Marks 15 Years With Free Streams, New Single, and Live

The Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love anime franchise opened a 15th anniversary site on July 31, 2026. The celebration includes free limited-time streaming of all four TV series on YouTube, encore screenings of three theatrical films, a ST☆RISH cast live in January 2027, the new single PRISM FOREVER! on October 21, and a pop-up store.

Aug 11

Yani Suu Futari Episode 4 Gags Draw Laughs as Sasaki Goes Smartphone

Episode 4 of the TV anime Super no Ura de Yani Suu Futari aired July 30, 2026, showing Sasaki struggling with a smartphone, falling for a dubious cigarette-brand fortune, and reacting with unexpected excitement to Yamada's short sleeves. Viewers online laughed at his obliviousness and cheered the show's gags, with the next episode set for August 6.

Aug 11

Belle Immersive Live Casts Five Singers as New Diva LAYRA

The immersive music live 'Belle' has revealed its protagonist LAYRA, a new virtual artist debuting under Sony Music's Echoes label. Five vocalists, miwa, Konomi Suzuki, Natsumi Kon, ASCA, and Maria Miki, will play the role. Rira Ikuta and Tomoyo Kurosawa join the cast, and the opening song is previewed.

Aug 10

Sefure Creator Ryuta Amazume Reveals Cancer Diagnosis, Takes Hiatus

Manga creator Ryuta Amazume announced on August 6 that they have been diagnosed with cancer. Amazume will undergo treatment and aim for a complete recovery, but will pause commercial manga serialization for a while. The announcement follows the recent conclusion of their Sefure series.

Aug 10

Danganronpa Creator Jokes GTA 6 Delay Is His Fault

Super Danganronpa 2×2 was delayed from 2026 to early 2027. At Anime Expo 2026, producer Shohei Sakakibara and creator Kazutaka Kodaka discussed the delay with Crunchyroll. Kodaka joked that playing GTA 6 leaves no time for making games, a quip he repeated on X. The new Kyoki Mode adds about 20 percent more content.

Aug 8

Hellsing Jackal and 454Casull Become Cosplay Prop Guns

Argosha is releasing prop gun replicas of Alucard's Jackal and 454Casull from Hellsing, available for preorder on Amazon Japan. Both are ABS plastic, painted, and designed for cosplay rather than airsoft. A two-gun set in an MDF case is also offered.

Aug 8

Patlabor Shibashigeo Pia Book Released to Mark EZY

Pia Corporation released Mobile Police Patlabor: Shibashigeo Pia on August 5 to commemorate Mobile Police Patlabor EZY. The book focuses on Shibashigeo, with interviews with voice actor Shigeru Chiba and director Yutaka Izubuchi, plus a new cover by Akemi Takada. It includes bonuses like an A3 poster and postcards.

Aug 7

Hana no Keiji Teams With FUFUTIETIE for Myo-o Series Art Figures

FUFUTIETIE JAPAN announced a collaboration between its Myo-o series art figures and the manga Hana no Keiji. The special collection launches August 7, Hana Kei Day, with reservations opening the same day. Fighter and entertainer Nobuo Kakuta has been named official ambassador for the Myo-o series.

Aug 6

Sentenced to Be a Hero Season 2 Adds More Characters and Chaos

In an interview with Anime Herald, producer Masashi Masuo and assistant director Yoshiki Nakakoji discussed the upcoming second season of Sentenced to Be a Hero. Masuo said the new season will feature more characters and more unreasonable, chaotic situations than the first. Nakakoji credited the director's vision and talent for the success of season one.

Aug 5

Hana Ikuta Launches New Manga Noraware Yusha to Tokitai Seijo

The September issue of Kadokawa's Comic Cune magazine announced that Hana Ikuta will launch a new manga titled Noraware Yūsha to Tokitai Seijo (The Cursed Hero and the Saint Who Wants to Free Him) in the magazine's next issue on August 27. The fantasy romance follows hero Mikage, who is cursed with petrification after defeating the dark lord, and his wife Crane, a saint curious about curses.

Aug 5

Adult Game Developer Says Bank Refused Steam Sales Deposit

Nupu Ryu, the developer of the adult doujin game 'Yariste Mesubuta', revealed on August 4 that Rakuten Bank refused to accept an overseas transfer of Steam sales revenue. The funds were to be sent by a Taiwanese publisher, 072 Project, to his Rakuten Bank account. The bank requested documents proving his relationship with the sender and the nature of the transaction. Even after he submitted contracts and answered questions, the deposit was refused, with the bank stating it could not disclose the reason. Nupu Ryu noted that he still faces tax obligations on the sales amount even though the money has not arrived. He plans to seek alternative banks or transfer methods and will report progress on his Ci-en page. 'Yariste Mesubuta' is an adult monster-raising RPG released in 2023 by his circle New Koubou, featuring over 150 monsters. It reached the top of DLsite's all-time doujin game sales ranking, and the Steam version, titled 'Yarimono', surpassed 200,000 copies sold as of July 2025. This is not the first such case; in April 2026, the developer of 'Shubunigurasu no Yoru' also had Steam revenue refused by Resona Bank.

Aug 4

Aeruta Bakery Dungeon RPG Comes to Switch, PS5, PS4

Gravity Game Arise announced on July 30, 2026 that Aeruta, a bakery management and dungeon exploration action RPG developed by FromDawn Games, will be released for Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. The release date is undecided. The game first launched in early access on PC via Steam in May 2024, with the full version following in November 2025. The story follows Chayachaya, a fox-eared girl who breaks a bakery's oven and works there to repay the damage, alternating between dungeon exploration and bakery management. In dungeons, she uses weapons like a whip, rolling pin, and rapier to fight cute but dangerous monsters and bosses, gathering bread ingredients. At the bakery, she bakes and sells bread, develops new recipes, repairs the store, and boosts her stats for future dungeon runs. Companions appear as the story progresses, with affection levels unlocking character episodes. Additional features include Patty Farm, where a dough monster named Patty can be raised to help with tasks, plus mini-games like a run game and rhythm game. The Steam version has received a 'Very Positive' rating, with 94% of about 2,300 user reviews positive. Physical editions and a Collector's Box with bonuses are planned for Switch and PS5.

Aug 4

Gachiakuta Season 2 First Look Video Reveals New Footage

The official website for the television anime of Kei Urana's Gachiakuta manga streamed a new first look promotional video for the second season on Wednesday. The video, which was initially shown at Anime Expo 2026 and the 25th Taipei International Comics & Animation Festival earlier this month, is now available to audiences outside those events for the first time. It features new scenes from the upcoming season, including the first footage of new and returning characters, and teases the Information Broker arc from the manga. Alongside the trailer, the website released illustrations of Enjin and Zanka, which were distributed as limited-edition postcards at the two events. The first season, directed by Fumihiko Suganuma at BONES FILM, aired in 2025 and ran for 24 episodes. It won Best New Series at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards. A release window for the second season has not been confirmed. In addition to the second season, a survival action RPG titled Gachiakuta The Game (tentative) and a stage adaptation were also announced.

Jul 27

Jujutsu Kaisen Stage Play Adapts Shibuya Incident Arc in November

The official website for the Jujutsu Kaisen stage plays announced a new production titled Butai Jujutsu Kaisen -Shibuya Jihen Zenpen-, adapting the Shibuya Incident arc. The play runs November 14-23 in Tokyo and November 28-29 in Osaka. Cast and staff details were revealed, including returning and new performers.

Jul 27

Persona 3 Stage Play Blue Awakening Gets Free Limited YouTube Stream

Atlus announced on July 27 that the stage play "PERSONA3 the Weird Masquerade ~Blue Awakening~" will stream for free on YouTube for a limited time. The production is the seventh installment of the company's End-of-Month Fun Project, timed to the 20th anniversary of Persona 3 and the 30th anniversary of the Persona series. Two versions exist: one starring Kana Asumi as the female protagonist Kotone Shiomi, and one starring Shouta Aoi as the male protagonist Sakuya Shiomi. The female protagonist version goes live on July 31 at 18:00 JST and runs through August 13 at 17:59 JST. The male protagonist version starts August 1 at 18:00 JST and ends August 14 at 17:59 JST. Both are hosted on the official ATLUS GAME MUSIC YouTube channel. Separately, a Persona 3 20th anniversary sale discounts Persona 3 Reload up to 60 percent on the PlayStation Store until July 29 and 40 percent on the Nintendo eShop until August 10.