Monday, 5 October 2026
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BLEACH

The Bleach anime run is in its final cour. The last two episodes of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity were delayed to October 19 and October 26, 2026, and a closing event, BLEACH FES., is set for February 27 and 28, 2027 at Makuhari Messe. A smartphone game, Bleach Mirrors High, is scheduled for a 2026 release.

Synthesized from 30 Yomimono stories · updated Sep 24

Bleach is in the last stretch of its anime run. The fourth and final part of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, subtitled The Calamity, premiered on July 25, 2026 and is set for 10 episodes. The production committee delayed episodes 49 and 50 to October 19 and October 26, 2026 on TV Tokyo, citing additional quality improvements. TV Tokyo filled the gap with a selection of earlier episodes, and the committee apologized to viewers.

The anime has moved past the manga. Episodes 45 through 48 included anime-original material: an Orihime Inoue attack, a scene with Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai that was not in the manga, a new Ichigo form called Ketsuzan no Ichigo, and an expanded role for Shuukuro Tsukishima. Tite Kubo is credited as general supervisor, and Masakazu Morita has said the additions are story that existed within Kubo rather than settings invented by the anime staff. Episode 48 aired September 12, 2026, and episode 7 of The Calamity aired September 8.

Outside the TV anime, Bandai Namco Entertainment is showing the smartphone game Bleach Mirrors High at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17 to 21. The game has an original story set after Thousand-Year Blood War, with Tite Kubo credited for original character designs, and pre-registrations opened in August. BLEACH FES., a two-day event marking the completion of the Bleach TV anime, is set for February 27 and 28, 2027 at Makuhari Messe Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba, with 15 voice actors scheduled. Tickets are 11,000 yen for general reserved seats and 15,000 yen for reserved seats with goods.

Merchandise and tie-ins have run alongside the final cour. BANDAI SPIRITS launched Ichiban Kuji BLEACH Stirring Souls vol.5 on September 19, 2026 at 850 yen per draw, with Ichigo, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Yoruichi Shihouin figures and a Kenpachi Zaraki Last One Prize. A Thousand-Year Blood War collaboration cafe opened at Shibuya PARCO on September 18, 2026. MegaHouse Look Up figures of Hitsugaya and Shinji Hirako are set for late February 2027 at 4,730 yen each. The pop-up event BLEACH THE STORIES OF ICHIGO opened at Seibu Shibuya Store on September 4 and moves to Shinsaibashi PARCO on November 28.

Key facts

Final cour
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity is the fourth and final part of the anime, premiered July 25, 2026, set for 10 episodes ↗
Episode delay
Episodes 49 and 50 delayed to October 19 and October 26, 2026 at 24:00 on TV Tokyo, with streaming from October 20 ↗
Creator involvement
Tite Kubo is general supervisor and consults on anime-original scenes; Masakazu Morita said the additions are story that existed within Kubo ↗
Closing event
BLEACH FES. is set for February 27 and 28, 2027 at Makuhari Messe Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba, with 15 voice actors and tickets at 11,000 yen or 15,000 yen ↗
Smartphone game
Bleach Mirrors High is scheduled for release in 2026 with an original story set after Thousand-Year Blood War and Tite Kubo credited for character design and production cooperation ↗
TGS booth
Bandai Namco Entertainment exhibited Bleach Mirrors High at its Tokyo Game Show 2026 booth, September 17 to 21, giving out Zangetsu-shaped balloons ↗
Ichiban Kuji
Ichiban Kuji BLEACH Stirring Souls vol.5 released September 19, 2026 at 850 yen per draw with Ichigo, Hitsugaya and Yoruichi figures and Kenpachi Zaraki as the Last One Prize ↗
Original character designs
Bleach Mirrors High features protagonists Shirin Migishima and Shirane Sanari, with original character designs by Tite Kubo ↗
Collaboration cafe
A Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War collaboration cafe ran at Shibuya PARCO's THE GUEST CAFE BY PARCO from September 18, 2026, with dishes keyed to Ichigo, Hitsugaya, Kenpachi, Yhwach, Uryu and Jugram Haschwalth ↗
Event run
Bleach THE STORIES OF ICHIGO ran at Seibu Shibuya Store from September 4, 2026 and at Shinsaibashi PARCO from November 28, with 19 merchandise items ↗

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

Release
manga · 2001-2016 · 2026-09-12
Release
game · 2026-09-19 · 2026-09-05
Release
tv · 2026-07-25 · JP · 2026-08-06
Release
game · closed beta · 2026-07-27
Release
game · late October 2026 · Japan · 2026-07-08
Release
manga · June 18, 2026 · Japan · 2026-06-17
Release
music_video · 2026-06-13 · JP · 2026-06-12
Release
tv · May 16, 2026 · YouTube · 2026-05-19
Release
tv · 2026-07 · Japan · 2026-05-21
Noted
Prizes include MASTERLISE figures of Ichigo Kurosaki, Toshiro Hitsugaya, Yoruichi Shihoin, and a Kenpachi Zaraki Last One prize, plus metal charms and acrylic goods. · 2026-09-05
Noted
Black Coffin smartphone stand for the BLEACH THE STORIES OF ICHIGO pop-up · 2026-08-29
Noted
The franchise is mentioned as the source of the characters. · 2026-08-22
Noted
included in Manga Million launch lineup · 2026-08-06
Noted
The BLEACH set includes two monochrome designs that use only black and white illustrations from the manga. · 2026-07-19
Noted
featured in Uniqlo Manga UT Shueisha 100th Anniversary T-shirt collection · 2026-06-06
Announced
BLEACH MONOCOLOR POPUP SHOP (popup shop) · 2026-06-09

Connections

Music by
bleach mirrors high, asian kung fu generation
Produces
mirror high
Produces of
bleach thousand year blood war
Voice cast of
dave lanphear

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

Claim activity

When a claim about BLEACH was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

  • Confirmed Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War produces BLEACH Sep 13 · source
  • Confirmed game closed beta Sep 5 · source
  • Confirmed BLEACH produces Mirror High Sep 5 · source
  • Confirmed tv 2026-07 Japan May 28 · source
  • Confirmed tv May 16, 2026 YouTube May 28 · source

All coverage

Sep 21

BLEACH Anime Adds Scenes The Manga Never Showed, Under Tite Kubo

The BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War anime has brought battles and settings not depicted in the original manga to the screen, with original creator Tite Kubo serving as general supervisor. The production team consults Kubo while producing anime-original scenes, and voice actor Masakazu Morita has explained that these additions are not settings the anime side invented but story that existed within Kubo. The source describes Kubo's involvement as rare in depth for a manga-based anime.

Sep 19

Bandai Namco Gives Out Zangetsu Balloons For BLEACH Mirrors High At TGS2026

Bandai Namco Entertainment is exhibiting the smartphone game BLEACH Mirrors High at its booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held from Thursday, September 17 to Monday, September 21. Visitors to the booth receive a Zangetsu-shaped balloon, and the booth also offers novelties obtained through trial play experiences and other activities. BLEACH Mirrors High carries an original story set after BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War.

Sep 18

Bleach Anime Concludes With BLEACH FES In February 2027 And New Ichiban Kuji Lineup

Sony Music Solutions will hold "BLEACH FES.," a two-day event marking the completion of the Bleach TV anime, on February 27 and 28, 2027 at Makuhari Messe Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba. Fifteen voice actors are scheduled across the two days, including Masakazu Morita as Ichigo Kurosaki and Fumiko Orikasa as Rukia Kuchiki, with live voice recording among the programs. A teaser visual by character designer Masashi Kudo was released, referencing the cover of the manga's first volume. Tickets are 11,000 yen for general reserved seats and 15,000 yen for reserved seats with goods, a T-shirt set with embroidered patch and storage box. A lottery pre-sale runs from September 19 to October 31, with results from November 6. Separately, BANDAI SPIRITS revealed the full lineup for "Ichiban Kuji BLEACH Stirring Souls vol.5," released September 19, 2026 at 850 yen per draw, with figures of Ichigo Kurosaki, Toshiro Hitsugaya, Yoruichi Shihouin as prizes and Kenpachi Zaraki as the Last One Prize.

Sep 15

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Puts Aizen Against Yhwach In Half An Episode

The eighth episode of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity brings Aizen out of his prison chair to fight Yhwach, and the confrontation ends within roughly half an episode. Aizen lands a brief beating on Yhwach, gets his moment of misdirection, and is then absorbed by the black ooze form Yhwach has taken. With no one left to stop him, Yhwach's destruction of the three worlds is presented as imminent, and the final two episodes are set to arrive in October.

Sep 15

Stereotype Marks 30 Years With Exhibition At Kaikai Kiki Gallery

Design studio Stereotype will hold a 30th anniversary exhibition at Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo from October 2 to October 24, 2026. Admission is free. The show covers Stereotype's visual work for anime and games including "BLEACH," "Black Clover," and "Pokemon," and displays graphic and video works by founder Daisuke Yamada, who died in 2003, shown for the first time in 23 years.

Sep 13

Bleach Episode 48 Turns Tsukishima's Meme into a Plot Point

Episode 48 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, "THE END TWO WORLD," aired on September 12, 2026. Ichigo's Bankai Tensa Zangetsu was broken by Yhwach, and Orihime Inoue's Event Rejection could not undo damage dealt in the future. Kugo Ginjo and Shuukuro Tsukishima intervened, with Tsukishima's Book of the End inserting a past in which Tensa Zangetsu was never broken. Sosuke Aizen then appeared before Yhwach.

Sep 12

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Delays Final Two Episodes To October

The production committee for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, the fourth and final part of the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime, announced on Saturday that episodes 49 and 50 are delayed to Monday, October 19 and Monday, October 26, airing at 24:00 on TV Tokyo, with BS TV Tokyo following on October 20 and October 27 and streaming starting October 20. The committee said the schedule changed to allow additional quality improvements heading into the climax and apologized to viewers for the wait. Until the main story resumes, TV Tokyo airs a Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War climax selection: episode 7 on September 19, episode 28 on September 26, episode 46 on October 5, and episode 48 on October 12. The Calamity premiered on July 25 and is set to run for 10 episodes. Tite Kubo created Bleach, which ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2001 to 2016 and ended at 74 volumes.

Sep 12

Bleach Collaboration Cafe Opens at Shibuya Parco on September 18

A Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War collaboration cafe will run at Shibuya PARCO's THE GUEST CAFE BY PARCO from Friday, September 18, 2026. The menu includes beef stroganoff for Ichigo Kurosaki, chilled pasta for Toshiro Hitsugaya, lava pasta for Kenpachi Zaraki, pancakes for Yhwach, and a rare cheesecake for Uryu Ishida and Jugram Haschwalth, along with the Gato-den Plate tied to Kirio Hikifune's cooking.

Sep 8

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Episode 7 Ends Gerard's Fight as Collateral

Episode 7 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity has Uryu take on Yhwach with one hand, a fight that lacks the punch of Ichigo's battles. The episode ends Gerard Valkyrie's fight abruptly, with Yhwach killing him as collateral damage. The animation remains the season's best, but the episode feels half-baked.

Sep 6

Bleach Episode 47 Draws Uryu Spotlight and an Emotional Ukitake Return

Episode 47 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, titled THE END 2, aired September 5. Uryu Ishida takes a central role, joining Nelliel and Tier Harribel to fight Yhwach. The episode also features the deceased Jushiro Ukitake appearing before Shunsui Kyoraku, drawing an emotional response from viewers.

Sep 1

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity Episode 6 Pulls a Breaking Dawn Part 2

Episode 6 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity earns a 5-star review. The episode pulls a Breaking Dawn Part 2 style fake-out, showing a vision of a potential but unrealized future that subverts expectations while staying true to the story. The Uryu vs Jugram fight finally gets substantial screen time after weeks of being background material, and Orihime gets time in the spotlight. The community score sits at 4.3.

Aug 31

Ichigo Kurosaki MASTERLISE Figure Leads Ichiban Kuji BLEACH Stirring Souls vol.5

BANDAI SPIRITS has revealed the A prize for Ichiban Kuji BLEACH Stirring Souls vol.5, a MASTERLISE figure of Ichigo Kurosaki in the new Bankai form that appears in the final cour of the TV anime Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Conflict. The image was released early on the official Ichiban Kuji X account. The lottery also includes a B prize Toshiro Hitsugaya figure in his adult form, a C prize Yoruichi Shihouin figure in her Shunko Black Cat Warrior form, and a Last One prize Kenpachi Zaraki figure in his red ogre-like appearance during Bankai. The remaining D through H prizes and the Double Chance Campaign reward are still unannounced. Ichiban Kuji BLEACH Stirring Souls vol.5 will be released sequentially from September 19, 2026, at Seven-Eleven, Ito-Yokado, and Youme Town stores. Each draw costs 850 yen including tax. The series is credited to Tite Kubo, Shueisha, TV Tokyo, dentsu, and Pierrot.

Aug 31

Jump Channel MVs Head to Karaoke on DAM From September 1

Daiichi Kosho announced that, in a joint project with Jump Channel, it will distribute 10 selected JUMP MV videos as karaoke background footage on DAM starting September 1. The MVs combine original manga artwork with anime theme songs. Compatible models are LIVE DAM WAO! and the LIVE DAM Ai series.

Aug 30

Bleach Anime-Original Twist Draws Confusion and Praise From Manga Fans

Episode 46 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, titled "THE END," aired on August 29, 2026, and featured anime-original developments that confused manga readers. After Orihime Inoue's self-destruct attack in Episode 45, Yhwach revives, revealing his power alters the future. Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai are tormented in a scene not in the original manga, prompting surprised reactions online.

Aug 29

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Collab Hits Puzzle & Dragons

A Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War collaboration is now live in Puzzle & Dragons from August 28, 2026. The BLEACH Gacha features new units including Ichigo Kurosaki & Orihime Inoue, Yhwach, and Sternritter "A" Uryu Ishida. Previously released characters like Ichigo and Rukia appear via a bonus gacha. The event runs until September 14 at 9:59 AM.

Aug 29

Comic, Manga Letterer Dave Lanphear Dies at 58

Comic book and manga letterer Dave Lanphear died on August 18 from complications related to diabetes, according to a Bleeding Cool report that his sister Tera Lanphear first shared on Facebook on August 22. He was 58. Lanphear was an award-winning cartoonist, letterer, art director, and story producer. He was born on June 5, 1968, and worked as a newspaper illustrator from 1985 to 1989. He joined Comicraft in 1994, where he helped advance digital lettering techniques, then left in 1999 to lead the lettering department at CrossGen Entertainment. He later co-founded Artmonkeys Studios and worked as a freelance letterer. His comic credits span Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant, Malibu, and Dynamite, with work on titles like Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman '78, Mighty Avengers, and Wonder Woman. In manga, he lettered Beyblade, Bleach, Densha Otoko, and Oyayubihime Infinity. He won two Eisner Awards in 2011 for Return of the Dapper Men and Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, and was nominated for Harvey Awards as Best Letterer in 2012 and 2014. Comic-Con International posted condolences on Thursday, noting his prolific work across major publishers.

Aug 29

Bleach Black Coffin Smartphone Stand Photos Released Ahead of Pop-Up

Cyber Goods Store shared photos of the Black Coffin smartphone stand for the BLEACH THE STORIES OF ICHIGO pop-up. The stand is based on the 90th Hadō used by Sōsuke Aizen and includes a background card with scene visuals and the incantation. It costs 2,750 yen and will be sold at both Tokyo and Osaka venues.

Aug 29

Bleach Mirrors High Opens Pre-Registrations With 2 New Trailers

Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed two new short videos for Bleach Mirrors High on Saturday, announcing that pre-registrations for the mobile game are now open. The game is scheduled for release in 2026. It follows a lone soul awakened in Karakura Town after the Thousand-Year Blood War, with customizable Soul Reaper avatars and card-based three-character battles.

Aug 28

RetroCrush Adds Viz Anime Films and Series Including Naruto Movies

RetroCrush will add several Viz Media anime films and series to its service, including Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse, Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge, Hikaru no Go, Accel World, both Captain Tsubasa series, and Vampire Knight.

Aug 28

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity Episode 5 Diverges From the Manga

Anime News Network's review of episode 5 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity reports the episode substantially diverges from the manga, with new material centered on Orihime and Ichigo's newest form. The reviewer, an anime-only viewer, praises the spectacle and notes the possibility that Orihime may be dead, raising questions about the series' canon.

Aug 28

Bleach: Mirrors High Game Confirms 2026 Release With New Visual

The official X account for the new smartphone action game BLEACH: Mirrors High announced a 2026 release window and shared a new visual. The project was first revealed last December, and a closed beta test ran in July. A playable demo is planned for Tokyo Game Show 2026 in September. The game features an original story set after the events of the BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War anime. The new visual highlights the game's two protagonists, Shirin Migishima and Shirane Sanari, whose original character designs were created by Tite Kubo, the series creator. Kubo is also credited with production cooperation, character concept, and character design. BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War is currently in the middle of its fourth and final cour. The announcement comes as the anime expands the manga's final battles with original material, including a brand-new Ichigo form and an Orihime Inoue scene in the latest episode. BLEACH: Mirrors High is slated to launch on smartphones, with no specific platform exclusivity stated in the sources.

Aug 28

BLEACH Episode 45 Pushes Orihime to a Suicide Attack as Fans Call on Tsukishima

The 45th episode of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War, subtitled DEFEND YOU, aired on August 22, 2026, and drew an intense reaction for an anime-original turn involving heroine Orihime Inoue. In the episode, Orihime takes what viewers describe as a suicide attack to protect Ichigo Kurosaki, collapsing covered in blood. The scene prompted an outpouring on social media, with fans posting lamentations such as Orihimeeeeeeee!!! and Bye-bye, Kurosaki-kun... is not what this is!!! The ending title changed from the usual DEFEND YOU to LIFE TO DEFEND YOU, with the official release pairing the title with Orihime's line, Bye-bye, Kurosaki-kun. I'll take it all in! The scene also caused Shukuro Tsukishima, a Fullbring Arc enemy who does not appear in this episode, to trend on social media. Tsukishima has become an internet meme for his ability to insert himself into a person's past, so fans posted pleas like Do something, Tsukishima-san! and Save us, Tsukishima-san! The episode also introduced a new anime-original form for Ichigo called Ketsuzan no Ichigo, designed and named by original author and general supervisor Tite Kubo.

Aug 22

BLEACH's Hitsugaya and Hirako Get Look Up Figures Despite No On-Screen Pairing

MegaHouse announced Look Up figures of Toshiro Hitsugaya and Shinji Hirako from BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War on August 18. The two captains, who have almost no direct scenes together in the series, appear in the look-up and sitting pose at about 110mm. Release is late February 2027 at 4,730 yen each, with preorders open at AmiAmi. Fans responded warmly, praising the expressions, and international fans joined in.

Aug 19

Yuki Kaji Details Stomachache-Inducing Prep for Adult Toshiro in Bleach TYBW

Yuki Kaji, who voices adult Toshiro Hitsugaya in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, said he spent days with a stomachache from nerves before recording. He prepared two vocal interpretations, reread the manga, and recorded alongside Romi Park, who continues voicing Toshiro's usual form.

Aug 18

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity Casts Yuki Kaji

The staff for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, the fourth and final part of the anime, confirmed on Saturday that Yuki Kaji plays Toshihiro Hitsugaya's Complete Bankai version. Viz Media streamed an English-subtitled clip of the character's first appearance in episode 44.

Aug 17

BLEACH Episode 44 Reveals Hitsugaya's Adult Bankai Form Voiced by Yuki Kaji

The August 15 broadcast of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War episode 44, titled "THE PERFECT CRIMSON," brought two long-awaited bankai reveals. Kenpachi Zaraki unleashed his bankai for the first time, cutting down Gerald Valkyrie in a single strike after a vision of Yachiru Kusajishi urged him to use her power. Toshiro Hitsugaya reached his complete bankai, Daiguren Hyorinmaru, and his body aged into an adult form. The adult Hitsugaya is voiced by Yuki Kaji, replacing Romi Park, who has voiced the character since the original series. Kaji said in a comment that he auditioned multiple times under Tite Kubo's supervision, prepared by rereading the manga and listening to Park's performance, and recorded alongside Park, who told him his performance felt right. Fans on social media praised the visual and vocal shift, with reactions calling the casting luxurious and the transition from Park to Kaji a highlight. Episode 45 airs August 22.

Aug 16

BLEACH Pop-Up Event The Stories of Ichigo Runs in Tokyo and Osaka

A pop-up event titled BLEACH THE STORIES OF ICHIGO will run at Seibu Shibuya Store from September 4 and at Shinsaibashi PARCO from November 28. It celebrates the final TV anime cour, BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War. The event features displays of Ichigo across the series, 19 merchandise items, and a free novelty bookmark set.

Aug 11

2026 Summer Anime: Three Series Chosen for Their Love of the Source Material

Anime Anime writer Kaori Yoneda selected three 2026 summer anime series that show deep respect for their source material. Kore wa Shine conveys passion for manga, Tenmaku no Jadugaru approaches history with thorough research, and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War expands on the original story's untold moments. Each series demonstrates a different form of source material appreciation.

Aug 11

Urahara's Bankai Debuts in BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Episode 42

Episode 42 of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War -Kashin Tan- aired August 1, revealing Kisuke Urahara's Bankai, Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame, which remakes what it touches. Fans praised the animation and direction. Askin Nakk Le Vaar survived, but Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez appeared from behind and pierced Askin's chest, a setup Urahara had planned.

Aug 10

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity Episode 3 Review: Orihime Steps Up

Anime News Network reviews episode 3 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, giving it a community score of 4.0. The review highlights Ichigo's single-minded focus on defeating Yhwach and the series finally addressing his mixed heritage. However, the reviewer considers Orihime the episode's standout, praising her power and role.

Aug 9

Bleach Mirrors High CBT Report Reveals Post-War Story and Soul Reaper Origin

Bandai Namco Entertainment ran a closed beta test for the smartphone game BLEACH Mirrors High, set after the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. The CBT let players experience the early story, battles, and customization of avatars and Zanpakuto. Players create an original Soul Reaper protagonist who loses memories and re-enrolls at the Soul Reaper academy.

Aug 9

BLEACH Graffiti Cafe Menu and Goods Revealed for Share CAFE Collab

The collaboration menu and goods lineup for the BLEACH GRAFFITI cafe, held at Share CAFE locations in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka to commemorate the broadcast of the TV anime BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Conflict-, have been revealed. The event runs from August 26 to September 13, 2026, with the Fukuoka location closing earlier on August 30. Newly drawn chibi character illustrations incorporate graffiti art elements with a street feel, depicting six characters: Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Shinji Hirako, Byakuya Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and Toshiro Hitsugaya. The menu includes drinks inspired by each character, priced at 1,320 yen each, and food items themed around each character's Zanpakuto, priced at 1,430 yen each. Each drink comes with an acrylic charm, and each food item comes with a pick featuring the character's image. Ordering any collaboration menu item grants one random original coaster from 12 types total, with each character having both an illustration and mini character version. Original goods include trading can badges, stickers, acrylic stands, acrylic keychains, acrylic multi clips, T-shirts, and drawstring pouches, sold both at the store and on the Anique Shop EC site.

Aug 6

ABEMA Opens First Free BLEACH Channel Ahead of Final Cour Broadcast

ABEMA will open a special channel broadcasting the entire BLEACH TV anime series free from July 25 at 18:00 through August 15. The channel covers all episodes from the original series through the third cour of Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, marking the first dedicated BLEACH channel on the platform. The final cour, The Conflict, premieres on TV Tokyo July 25 at 23:00. New episodes stream free on ABEMA starting July 30.

Aug 6

Shueisha Launches Manga Million Digital Platform Worldwide With Titles in 100+ Languages

Shueisha announced on Thursday the launch of Manga Million, a global digital manga platform offering over one million pages of translated manga from approximately 400 titles in more than 100 languages. The service is available worldwide for a limited time, free of charge and without registration. The launch lineup includes One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, Kingdom, Oshi no Ko, Spy x Family, Chainsaw Man, Nana, and Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, among others. More than 150 of the titles are shojo manga. According to Shueisha, nearly 300 titles are receiving their first-ever translations, and 50 works have been translated into multiple languages. The platform also includes special chapters and one-shots, such as Tatsuki Fujimoto's Look Back. Shueisha confirmed to Anime News Network that AI translation was not used for the project. The initiative is part of Shueisha's 100th anniversary celebration. Shuhei Hosono, Editor-in-Chief of Manga Plus by Shueisha, initiated the project, which was developed across Shueisha's editorial divisions with support from international licensing partners.

Aug 6

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity Episode 2 Reveals Urahara's Healing Bankai

Anime News Network's review of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity episode 2 focuses on Kisuke Urahara's long-awaited Bankai reveal. The reviewer calls the healing ability underwhelming and muted, contrasting it with the series' usual spectacle. The episode also includes Orihime introspection as Ichigo approaches Yhwach, which the review notes slows the pacing.

Aug 5

Ace Combat 8 Gets First Domestic Showcase at Tokyo Game Show 2026

Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 5 that it will exhibit five titles at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to 21. The main booth in Hall 5 will feature playable demos for 'ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE', 'Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3', 'One Piece: Sea of Delights Restaurant', and 'Bleach Mirrors High'. 'Tales of Eternia Remaster' will be present but only with a reservation campaign, no demo. 'ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE' is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. It is the first in the series to feature a first-person perspective in its drama parts, and this will be its first exhibition at a domestic game event. Public days from September 19 to 21 will require a numbered ticket for the demo, distributed at the booth. Demo participants receive an original sticker. The Family Game Park at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall will offer demos of 'Once Upon a Katamari' and 'Tamagotchi Petit Petit Store: Welcome! Nintendo Switch 2 Edition'. The ASOBI STORE satellite booth in Hall 11 will sell advance merchandise for 'Ace Combat 8', the 'Tales of' series, Katamari, Pac-Man, and Taiko no Tatsujin.

Aug 4

BLEACH Thousand-Year Blood War Gets Ukiyo-E Prints and Traditional Craft Goods

The TV anime "BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War" is releasing a second wave of collaboration goods with Japanese traditional crafts, including ukiyo-e prints, Edo kiriko cut glass, Wakasa lacquered chopsticks, and blotting paper. Sales begin on August 5, 2026, at Kyoto IP Bookstore and other locations. The centerpiece is a ukiyo-e print depicting the battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida, based on Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "Yoshitsune and Benkei on Gojo Bridge." The print is limited to 100 copies, priced at 49,500 yen including tax, and uses giclee printing on handmade Echizen washi paper. The Edo kiriko glasses are limited to 20 pieces per character, priced at 88,000 yen, and feature each character's Zanpakuto expressed through sandblasting. The Wakasa lacquered chopsticks come in 13 types representing the Gotei 13 captains, priced at 5,500 yen. Blotting paper made using Kanazawa's traditional methods costs 1,100 yen, and handkerchiefs cost 1,320 yen. The collaboration commemorates the final cour of the anime, "The Conflict," which began airing on July 25.

Jul 27

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity Episode 1 Review: A Stunning Return

Anime News Network reviews the first episode of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, praising its cinematic visuals and Yoruichi's spotlight. The episode opens with a sweeping shot of ruins and a recap, though some small details may be forgotten. The fight with Askin continues, and the episode sets up the final part's 10-episode run.

Jul 21

Tite Kubo Designs Three New Squad Members for BLEACH Mirrors High

Bandai Namco Entertainment has revealed three new squad members designed by original creator Tite Kubo for the upcoming smartphone game BLEACH Mirrors High. The characters are Naru Jurina, Giro Hando, and Maiko Tokishima. The game is set after the Thousand-Year Blood War arc and features an original story with newly drawn stills. A system trailer has also been released, showing customization options for the protagonist's appearance and name, as well as Zanpakuto customization. The battle system uses a team of three characters and card-based attacks, including a three-character combination move called Soul Drive. BLEACH Mirrors High is scheduled for release on the App Store and Google Play. The final TV anime cour, BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity Arc, begins airing on July 25, 2026.

Jul 20

Bleach Mirrors High Mobile Game Trailer Reveals Three New Characters

Bandai Namco Entertainment released an overview trailer for the upcoming mobile game Bleach Mirrors High on July 18, revealing three new characters designed by series creator Tite Kubo. The characters are Naru Jurinna, voiced by Fuka Izumi; Giro Hando, voiced by Shogo Batori; and Maiko Tokishima, voiced by Yu Sasahara. The trailer shows card-based battles, avatar and Zanpakuto customization, and a cooperative move called Soul Drive. The game is set after the Thousand-Year Blood War arc and follows an original story where players become a Soul Reaper protagonist. A closed beta test will run from July 22 to 29. The game is scheduled for release on iOS and Android via App Store and Google Play.

Jul 19

Uniqlo's Shueisha 100th Anniversary UT Line Adds BLEACH and SPY×FAMILY T-Shirts

Uniqlo is releasing T-shirts from BLEACH and SPY×FAMILY as part of the third installment of its Manga UT Shueisha 100th Anniversary collection. The BLEACH set includes two monochrome designs that use only black and white illustrations from the manga. The SPY×FAMILY set offers four shirts, including a group illustration of the Forger family and a design featuring Anya and Bond. All shirts cost 1,990 yen each (tax included) and come in sizes from XS to 4XL. The third installment will be released sequentially from early August 2026. The collection is part of a larger series of T-shirts that commemorate Shueisha's 100th anniversary, selecting works from magazines like Weekly Shonen Jump and Shonen Jump+. The two articles from Inside Games highlight the BLEACH and SPY×FAMILY designs as particularly stylish examples from the wave.

Jul 15

BLEACH, Tanita Launch Voice Body Composition Scale and 27 Character Pedometers

Tanita has announced a collaboration with the TV anime BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War, producing one voice body composition scale and 27 types of 3D sensor pedometers. The scale, model BC-204L BLEACH Model, features voice navigation and feedback from four characters: Ichigo Kurosaki (Masakazu Morita), Rukia Kuchiki (Fumiko Orikasa), Renji Abarai (Kentaro Ito), and Toshiro Hitsugaya (Romi Park). After measurement, the characters deliver original lines based on the user's body fat percentage, muscle mass, and other results. The scale also includes a communication function, a first for Tanita voice scales, allowing data to sync with the TANITA Record and Health Planet smartphone apps. The pedometer lineup includes 27 designs, each based on a character's color scheme with slash-trail accents. Both products are available for limited reservation at the Tanita Online Shop. The scale costs 24,750 yen, and each pedometer costs 3,520 yen. The reservation period runs from July 10 to August 3, 2026, at 15:00, with shipping scheduled for late November 2026. The collaboration coincides with the broadcast of the final cour, BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Conflict, which begins on July 25, 2026.

Jul 9

Cosmic Princess Kaguya! Novel Tops Oricon Monthly Light Novel Ranking for June 2026

The novel adaptation of Shingo Yamashita's Cosmic Princess Kaguya! anime film topped Oricon's monthly light novel ranking for June 2026, selling 15,049 copies. The film's limited theatrical run ended on June 18, and Netflix began streaming it in January. Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 Vol. 4 dropped to #2, and Ryohgo Narita's DON'T BLEACH MY FIST debuted at #3.

Jul 8

Bandai Turns Bleach's Teatro De Títeres Puppets Into Gashapon Figures

Bandai is releasing a set of gashapon figures based on the puppet forms from Szayelaporro Granz's Teatro De Títeres ability in the Bleach anime. The five figures stand 6.5 cm tall, have a hollow lower half that opens like in the series, and cost 500 yen per play. Pre-orders run July 9-30 on Gashapon Online, with shipping in late October 2026.

Jul 6

Bleach Mirrors High Trailer Reveals Two Original Protagonists by Tite Kubo

Bandai Namco Entertainment unveiled a new trailer for the smartphone game Bleach Mirrors High at Anime Expo 2026 on July 4. The trailer introduces two original player characters, Shirin Migishima and Shirane Sanari, both designed by Bleach creator Tite Kubo. Players will choose one of the two and experience a story set after the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. The trailer also shows the characters in action and includes their voices, though the voice cast has not yet been announced. Alongside the trailer, Bandai Namco opened recruitment for a closed beta test. Applications run until July 13, with approximately 20,000 participants selected. The closed beta test is scheduled from July 22 to 29 according to one source, or July 23 to 30 according to another; data will not carry over to the full release. The game is an action title for iOS and Android, described as a Gotei 13 Experience Action game. Kubo is credited with production cooperation, character concept, and character design. Cast information for the two protagonists is expected at a later date.

Jul 5

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity Final PV Released

On July 5, the final promotional video for the fourth and final cour of the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime, subtitled The Calamity, was released on the official Bleach anime YouTube channel. The broadcast is scheduled to begin on July 25 on TV Tokyo and other stations. The PV also unveiled the audio for the opening theme song jo0ji's "I-BULL" and the ending theme song 9Lana's "Spiral." The first half of the video, set to the opening theme, shows protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki confronting Yhwach alongside Orihime Inoue, as well as battles between the Gotei 13 and the Schutzstaffel. The second half, set to the ending theme, depicts Uryu Ishida in a deadly struggle with Jugram Haschwalth. The PV concludes with Ichigo shouting "Getsuga Tensho." To commemorate the final cour's broadcast, a free simultaneous distribution of the third cour, The Conflict, which aired in October 2024, has been scheduled on platforms including ABEMA, TVer, and Niconico Live Broadcast from July 12 to July 25.