Voice Actor Bill Wise Dies at 61
anime 1 sources · May 18

Voice Actor Bill Wise Dies at 61

Wise was a familiar voice in several key English dubs of the 1990s and 2000s, and his death removes a veteran performer from the small pool of actors who worked across both anime and live-action Texas film production.

Anime News Network
KIWI Design Launches VR Creator Support Program in Japan
vtuber 2 sources · May 18

KIWI Design Launches VR Creator Support Program in Japan

A hardware manufacturer is moving beyond product sales to directly fund and promote individual VR creators, signaling a shift toward platform-level ecosystem investment in the Japanese market.

PR TIMES, ASCII.jp
Co-Op Stealth Game Thick As Thieves Launches May 21
games 1 sources · May 18

Co-Op Stealth Game Thick As Thieves Launches May 21

The launch date and gadget-focused gameplay confirm Thick As Thieves as a budget-priced co-op stealth title, a niche that has seen few new releases in recent years.

Denfaminicogamer
Leafborn Goes Viral, Japanese Cover Art Released
games 3 sources · May 18

Leafborn Goes Viral, Japanese Cover Art Released

The viral response to Leafborn in Japan prompted the developer to create and release region-specific cover art, a rare and direct reaction to audience demand from an independent developer.

Game Spark
Nijisanji 8th Anniversary Live Concerto Day1 Report
vtuber 1 sources · May 18

Nijisanji 8th Anniversary Live Concerto Day1 Report

The live's setlist, heavy on Heisei-era covers and idol-style staging, signals Nijisanji leaning into nostalgia and pop-culture touchstones for its anniversary event.

4Gamer.net
Number_i Signs With US Label Atlantic Records
music 1 sources · May 18

Number_i Signs With US Label Atlantic Records

The deal places a Japanese pop group that originated from the post-Johnny's talent ecosystem on a major US label, signaling a rare direct pipeline from the Japanese idol industry to Western mainstream distribution.

Nikkan Sports via Yahoo News Japan, Sponichi Annex via Yahoo News Japan, Real Sound via Yahoo News Japan
Former BiS Member Peri Ubu Joins Girls Rock Group LUCY
music 1 sources · May 18

Former BiS Member Peri Ubu Joins Girls Rock Group LUCY

Peri Ubu, who previously worked as LUCY's choreographer, returns to the stage as a member, continuing the thread of former BiS members regrouping in new projects.

Yahoo! News Japan (Entertainment)
Jon Favreau Discusses The Mandalorian and Grogu Film's Appeal
other 2 sources · May 18

Jon Favreau Discusses The Mandalorian and Grogu Film's Appeal

Favreau's framing of the film as a standalone parent-child story signals an intent to draw in general audiences beyond the existing Star Wars fanbase, a strategy that could broaden the film's commercial reach.

Yahoo! News Japan (Entertainment)
Kobayan Wins DreamHack Atlanta 2026 Street Fighter 6 Tournament
games 3 sources · May 18

Kobayan Wins DreamHack Atlanta 2026 Street Fighter 6 Tournament

Kobayan's run from the losers bracket to defeat a top American player and secure an Esports World Cup spot highlights the growing competitiveness of Japanese Street Fighter 6 players on the international stage.

GAME Watch (Impress)