The latest anime, manga, game, voice actor and movie collab news from Japan.
Pop-up Store
The “Blue Lock POP UP SHOP: Ghost & Fox Collection” is set to open at Links Umeda in Osaka on October 1, 2026! Popular characters dressed in Halloween-themed “Ghost” and “Fox” costumes will make an appearance, with the first Ghost Collection launching on October 1 and the second Fox Collection launching on October 16.
Collaboration Café
Animate’s “Gratte” × “Helva Boss” collaboration will be held at 11 Animate Gratte locations from September 30 to November 6, 2026. Graphic lattes and icing cookies featuring newly drawn maid- and butler-themed illustrations will come with a set of 17 different coasters!
Pop-up Store
An Animate Fair for the manga *The Fate Rewinder* by Futa Kimura will be held starting September 28, 2026, at Animate’s Ikebukuro Main Store, Akihabara Store, Umeda Store, and 10 other locations nationwide!
Pre-release merchandise featuring illustrations from the original manga—such as collectible pin badges and acrylic cards—will be available, and customers who purchase eligible items will receive a free set of “postcards (6 varieties total)” as a bonus.
News
A [Season 2 Highlight Screening Event] commemorating the third anniversary of the TV anime “Freiren: The Funeral” will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at nine theaters nationwide. Eight carefully selected episodes from Season 2 will be screened, and at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya, there will also be a stage greeting featuring Atsumi Tanezaki and four other cast members!
Pop-up Store
Sanrio’s large-scale shopping event, “HELLO KITTY’S SWEETS MARKET -Chocolate lovers-,” will be held at the Daimaru Umeda Store starting September 18, 2026, at the Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro Branch starting October 22, and and at the Daimaru Sapporo Store starting November 18.
The lineup will feature over 2,000 items, centered on event-exclusive merchandise featuring Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, Choco Cat, and Lullaby Lovables dressed in chocolate-colored outfits.
Collaboration Café
A collaboration with TOWER RECORDS CAFE to commemorate the musical *The New Prince of Tennis: The Final Stage* will be held at the Ikebukuro location from October 2 to October 25, 2026, and at the Umeda NU Chayamachi location from October 17 to November 1. The event will feature limited-edition giveaways and merchandise created using newly shot footage, as well as an original collaboration menu inspired by national team representatives.
Pop-up Store
New merchandise featuring the LINE FRIENDS character “Emoji-ko (tentative name)” will go on sale at the dedicated LINE Gift shop starting at 11:00 a.m. on September 10, 2026, and the first pop-up event will be held on the first floor of “LINE FRIENDS SQUARE SHIBUYA” in Shibuya starting September 19.
In addition to the product lineup—which includes plush toys, mascots, 3D mugs, and capsule toys divided into Phases 1 through 3—details have been revealed regarding purchase bonuses such as the “Emoji Child (tentative name) Observation Card,” shopping bags, greeting events, and social media follow-up campaigns.
Pop-up Store
A new collection themed “My Room” from Benesse’s “&Shimajiro” will be available for a limited-time pre-sale from Friday, September 11, 2026, through Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 11 Kiddyland stores nationwide. In addition to a total of 77 items—including plush toys, face-print drawstring pouches, and a secret collection—we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the event dates, prices, and participating stores, featuring exclusive gifts for purchasers such as limited-edition stickers and reusable bags, as well as photo sessions with Shimajiro at the Osaka Umeda and Hiroshima PARCO stores!
Collaboration Café
The café menu for the “Aikatsu!” POP UP SHOP & CAFÉ ~Sweet Restaurant~ has been revealed. The event will be held sequentially at three Tree Village locations starting September 19, 2026, featuring a total of 12 items—6 food items and 6 drinks—as well as a special coaster given with every order!
Original Art Exhibition / Exhibition
The “Sylvanian Families 40th Exhibition,” commemorating the 40th anniversary of Epoch Co., Ltd.’s “Sylvanian Families” series, will be held at the Hankyu Umeda Main Store from Wednesday, September 9, 2026, through Monday, September 28, 2026. The exhibition will feature large-scale dioramas and a complete display of all 100 types in the Baby Collection!
Pop-up Store
The “Moon Viewing Ver. Release Commemoration Fair at Animate” for the TV anime *That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime* will be held from Friday, November 6, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026, at Animate’s Ikebukuro Main Store and other participating locations, as well as through Animate’s online store! During the event period, for every 2,200 yen (tax included) spent on “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” merchandise, customers will receive one bonus postcard (8 varieties total). The lineup will also include “Moon Viewing Ver.” trading pin badges, B2 half-size tapestries, and acrylic stands, as well as “Dot Art Ver.” mini-character goods.
Pop-up Store
The “ONE PIECE CHOPPER’s” pop-up store will tour four Loft locations in Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, and Fukuoka starting September 21, 2026! New merchandise featuring original illustrations and bonus cards will be available!
Collaboration Café
The “Aikatsu!” pop-up event “Sweet Restaurant” will be held sequentially at three Tree Village locations starting September 19, 2026. A total of eight types of limited-edition merchandise featuring newly drawn illustrations will be available!
News
“Ink in Wonderland,” a mystery-solving event hosted by “Ink,” a four-member gaming commentary group affiliated with UUUM, will be held sequentially at the Umeda Sky Building and Tokyo Tower starting September 11, 2026.
Collaboration Café
A collaboration café featuring “JOCHUM,” a character created through a new character development project between the hugely popular idol group “JO1” and “Sanrio,” will open sequentially at BOX cafe & space in Shibuya and Umeda starting July 21, 2023. In addition to collaboration meal sets, limited-edition merchandise featuring original illustrations will be available!
