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Hikaru
2h ago
The Esports Foundation (EF) announced on August 4, 2026, the six Japanese representatives for the fighting game category at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), a country-versus-country tournament set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The roster includes GO1 and Nemo from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Sahara, Fuudo, Higuchi, and Hikaru from Street Fighter 6. GO1 earned a direct invitation through the SNK World Championship 2026 ranking system, having won the Esports World Cup 2025, EVO 2025, and Combo Breaker 2026, and leads the domestic ranking by over 8,000 points. Nemo secured his slot by winning the East Asia online regional qualifier. Sahara, the 21-year-old Capcom Cup 12 champion, brings experience from Fortnite and VALORANT. Higuchi has competed in the Esports World Cup twice, while Fuudo has been active for about 15 years. Hikaru won the second World Warrior Japan tournament and was runner-up in the first, holding top results among Japanese players in the Capcom Pro Tour World Warrior rankings. ENC is a biennial global tournament where players represent their countries or regions, not clubs.
Jul 19
The 30th volume of Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen manga ranked #1 on Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for June. The chart featured 17 manga volumes, including multiple Jujutsu Kaisen entries, Chainsaw Man volume 21 at #2, Gachiakuta volume 1 at #6, and The Summer Hikaru Died volume 1 at #8. Other titles include Witch Hat Atelier, One Piece, Demon Slayer, Dandadan, Blue Lock, and The Apothecary Diaries.
Jul 13
The visual novel brand OVERLAP GAMES released 'Koi Shikarubeki ~Mayoigoe Kara no Tegami~' on July 10. The Nekoneko Soft-developed title has earned 97% positive reviews from about 50 Steam user ratings. The story is set in 1972 and follows a student who reunites with a supernatural girl. The game is praised for its Showa-era atmosphere, full voice acting, and character writing. Notably, many reviews come from Chinese-speaking regions, aligning with the brand's overseas expansion goals.
Jul 11
Koi Shikarubeki ~Mayoiga Kara no Tegami~, a visual novel set in 1972 Japan by Narcissus writer Tōma Kataoka and developer neko neko soft, has launched on Steam. It is the first title from publisher OVERLAP GAMES' new visual novel brand. The story follows a boy who returns to a forbidden shrine and a girl trapped there. Full voice, chapter-based, 7-10 hours playtime.
Jul 10
The TV anime 'LV999 no Murabito' released advance cuts, a synopsis, and a web preview for Episode 3, titled 'Lv3 Coexistence of Demons and Humans'. Hikaru Midorikawa joins the cast as the demon Esterler. A lottery campaign for autographed color boards and gift cards runs from July 10 to 17.
Jun 28
A collaboration cafe between the TV anime "The Summer Hikaru Died" and Tokyo's Curse Object Cafe Juju will run from June 26 to July 13, 2026. The event features newly drawn illustrations with a test of courage theme, themed menu items, and original goods including glow-in-the-dark can badges and acrylic stands.
Jun 27
McDonald's Japan previewed new commercials for its annual summer Big Mac campaign, using scenes from Mamoru Hosoda's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Wolf Children. Figure skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara and Sakurazaka46 member Hikaru Morita appear in live-action segments. The ads revive the 1980s Coca-Cola jingle "I feel Coke" and begin airing June 30.
Jun 21
Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for May 2026 features 15 manga volumes, with Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen volume 30 at #1. Other ranked titles include Witch Hat Atelier, Gachiakuta, Kagurabachi, One Piece, Steel Ball Run, The Summer Hikaru Died, and Demon Slayer.
May 31
A deep-dive analysis of The Summer Hikaru Died (HikaNatsu) anime by Sakuga Blog examines how series director Ryohei Takeshita conceived the adaptation as an "enshutsu anime"-a work where mise-en-scène and sensory experience take priority. The piece traces the production from initial talks in May 2022 through the October 2023 start of active work, with Kadokawa producer Toshinori Fujiwara contacting studios after the manga's first two volumes released. Takeshita's clear vision gave producers confidence, and he was vocal about staffing toward that enshutsu goal. The analysis notes that Cygames Pictures' productions often cut corners despite the studio's reputation, and HikaNatsu's schedule became problematic toward the end, though the show maintained acceptable quality throughout broadcast. The director's approach was not a response to limitations but reflected his long-standing interest in atmospheric horror. Original author Mokumokuren was unusually involved, attending regular meetings, providing a color script for the opening, and suggesting changes including the early introduction of character Tanaka. The piece details how sound designer Kouji Kasamatsu, credited as ongaku enshutsu, worked on a TV anime for the first time in over a decade, and how Masanobu Hiraoka's morphing animation (dorodoro animation) gives form to the supernatural being's gooey nature.
May 29
Hikaru Utada released the performance video of 'Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-' from the May 11 broadcast of TBS's 'CDTV Live! Live!' on her official YouTube channel. The video is available in full length for four weeks. The song is a special arrangement made for that broadcast. The video trended high on X on the day of broadcast.
May 29
Yuu Watase drew the three-sided case illustration for the Fushigi Yugi Blu-ray BOX, releasing August 26. The image shows Miaka, Tamahome, and the Suzaku Seven Stars. Voice actors Kii Arakawa and Hikaru Midorikawa shared anniversary messages.
May 28
The Gachiakuta stage play canceled its Wednesday and Thursday performances after lead actor Hikaru Imamaki tore his meniscus during Tuesday's evening show. Imamaki will withdraw from the remaining run, and Ryota Kamiya will take over the role of Rudo starting Friday.
May 28
May 27 marked the 40th anniversary of the Dragon Quest series. Creator Yuji Horii, former series director Jin Fujisawa, voice actors, and the official Final Fantasy account posted congratulations. The franchise began in 1986 with a command-based RPG that helped popularize the genre in Japan.
May 20
The official website for the Hell Mode anime announced four new cast members for its second season on May 20, 2026. Reiji Kawashima will voice Keel, a boy with a strong attachment to money. Kiyono Yasuno will play Sophialohne, the princess of an Elven kingdom. Hikaru Midorikawa will voice Volmaar, Sophialohne's guard. Miyu Tomita will play Meruru, a dwarf with exceptional military leadership skills. The second season is scheduled to premiere in Japan in July 2026 on Tokyo MX, MBS, and BS Nippon Television. The staff previously announced that Takahiro Sakurai will join the season as Helmios. Masato Tamagawa directs the anime at Yokohama Animation Lab, with Daishiro Tanimura handling series scripts and Kei Tsushima designing characters. The first season aired 12 episodes in Winter 2026. HIDIVE streamed the first season and is also streaming an English dub. The light novel series by Hamuo and illustrated by Mo began on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in November 2019 and is published in print by Earth Star Entertainment. J-Novel Club licenses the light novel and manga adaptation for digital English release.