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Hirai
Facts
- Noted
- will be featured at the opening ceremony on July 18 · 2026-07-17
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3d ago
Seiichi Yukimura, the Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High tennis captain known as the "Child of God," appears solo on the cover of the special edition of anan issue 2518, which Magazine House puts on sale Wednesday, November 4. The back cover carries Yukimura plus Renji Yanagi, Kuranosuke Shiraishi, and Kintaro Toyama in black suits. Placed beside the back cover of anan issue 2514, released October 7, the two halves form one gravure with eight characters, two each from Seishun Academy, Hyotei Academy, Rikkai University Affiliated, and Shitenhoji. Issue 2514 gave its solo cover to Keigo Atobe and its back cover to Ryoma Echizen, Syusuke Fuji, Keigo Atobe, and Yushi Oshitari. The 2518 special edition costs 1,100 yen including tax and sells at bookstores, convenience stores, and online bookstores. Inside, the issue runs gravures and messages from the four back-cover characters, plus interviews with voice actors Sachiko Nagai, Eiji Takemoto, Yoshimasa Hosoya, and Yu Sugimoto.
4d ago
The stage adaptation of Spirited Away announced its cast on Thursday. Kanna Hashimoto, Mone Kamishiraishi, and Momoko Fukuchi return as Chihiro, with Marina Mori as understudy and Nagi Inoue, Hana Toyoshima, and Kokoro Hirasawa joining in unannounced roles. John Caird directs and co-adapts with Maoko Imai. The world tour has stops in Toronto, Los Angeles, London, Taipei, and Tokyo through 2028.
Oct 11
A Real Sound Anime interview gathers Jun Furukawa, Konomi Inagaki, Anna Nagase, and Haruka Shiraishi to discuss the TV anime When I Woke Up, I Had the Strongest Equipment and a Spaceship, So I Want to Live Freely as a Mercenary Aiming for a Detached House. They describe the mix of isekai reincarnation and sci-fi, hard-to-read star and country names, and the dubbing sessions they worked through together.
Oct 6
Hypnosis Mic held its 12th live concert, MIC AS ONE, on October 3 and 4, 2026 at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama. All 21 cast members from seven divisions performed, including the six male divisions plus Chuou Division. The show was shown via live viewing at cinemas across Japan and streamed live on ABEMA. Subaru Kimura, Shintaro Asanuma, Yusuke Shirai, Sho Hayami, Ryota Iwasaki, Shota Hayama and Yuu Kobayashi were among the cast.
Sep 16
Bandai Namco Filmworks released a full promotional video and two new teaser visuals for the television anime of Kaeru Chohokiteki's Witch and Mercenary light novel series. The video confirms an April 2027 premiere on NTV and 29 affiliated channels, plus the satellite channel BS NTV, and names three more cast members: Yuri Noguchi as the rank 2 swordmaster Isana Gihon, nicknamed Snow White; Hiromu Mineta as Alan Clows, a rank 4 swordmaster and party leader; and Haruka Shiraishi as Elicia Armel, a rank 3 staff-wielding adventurer. Saori Hayami voices Siasha and Taito Ban voices Zig Crane, both heard in the trailer. Shinpei Ezaki directs at 8-Bit, with Taishirou Tanimura on series scripts, Keita Matsumoto designing characters, Akiko Fujita as sound director, and Rei Ishizuka composing at Lantis. One teaser visual focuses on Siasha, the other on Zig.
Sep 8
The new trailer for the anime film Bokura wa Uchujin is out, built around the theme song "Sasakure" by adieu, the artist name of actress Moka Kamishiraishi. Yaffle wrote, composed, and arranged the track. The trailer reveals a previously unseen section of the song. The film is Kouhei Kadowaki's first feature-length anime, produced by the 2022-founded label NOTHING NEW, and follows the 30-year friendship of Tsubasa and Kyotaro. It premiered at Cannes and was selected for Annecy's feature competition.
Sep 8
Asuka Publishing will release AI Doga Saizensen, a magazine dedicated to AI video creation, at bookstores nationwide on October 6. Supervised by AICU Japan representative Akihiko Shirai, the 96-page issue carries interviews with 12 figures and companies, including KLab, director Kumiko Endo, and Nippon Columbia Group. It covers production methods, tools, and copyright guidance from lawyer Kengo Yabuki. The publisher plans to grow it into a periodical.
Sep 8
Asuka Publishing will release AI Doga Saizensen, a magazine for AI video creators, at bookstores nationwide on October 6, 2026. Supervised by AICU Japan head Akihiko Shirai, it carries exclusive interviews with 12 key figures and companies, including KLab, which announced the AI anime film The Celebrity Secret, and director Kumiko Endo, whose all-AI feature Matilda: Devil's Gene drew international attention. The 96-page issue covers production methods, costs, and copyright guidance from lawyer Kengo Yabuki.
Sep 6
Motoki Omori will appear in the TBS October Tuesday drama "Iroha no Koi wa Toki o Kakeru," starring Mone Kamishiraishi. It is his first TBS drama. His role is described as important and central to the story, but details stay under wraps until the first episode. Omori also recently made his film debut and appeared in the NHK morning drama "Anpan."
Sep 5
Kadokawa announced a promotional video, key visual, new cast members, theme song artists, and an October 4 debut for the anime of Hiro Oda's Yowaki MAX Reijo light novel series. Konomi Suzuki performs the opening theme "Goki MAX Sengen," and Miku Ito performs the ending theme "Yoake Made ni." The anime airs on AT-X and other channels, and streams on d Anime Store, Hulu, U-NEXT, and Anime Hodai.
Sep 3
Bandai Namco Filmworks revealed on Thursday that the second cours of Magical Sisters Lulutto Lilly will debut on October 4 on Tokyo MX and other channels. Yusuke Shirai and Yūko Natsuyoshi join the cast as Felix Star residents. K-pop group ILLIT and the idol unit Lulutto Lilly return to perform the new opening and ending theme songs.
Aug 18
The voice comic adaptation of the BL manga End Roll wa Jigoku made will begin distribution on August 25, 2026, on the new Tunco Voice Theater channel. Fumiya Imai joins previously announced Yusuke Shirai as the double lead, with Takara Inoue and Shinsuke Tachibana also appearing.
Aug 18
The Liar Game anime announced four new cast members on Tuesday. Daisuke Namikawa plays Solario, a masked dealer overseeing the next Revival Round. Yūya Uchida, Hiroko Ushida, and Minoru Shiraishi join as participants Sho Kikuchi, Tadako Kosaka, and Yuichi Nishida. The anime is currently airing its second part, which began on July 7.
Aug 8
The Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. anime announced Yusuke Shirai will play Shō Manao, a mysterious but gentle man without a past, in season 2. The season premiered on NTV on July 4. Riki Fukushima directs at J.C.STAFF, with Michiko Yokote as script supervisor. The manga ended in July 2025.
Aug 6
The live-action series based on Keiko Kinoshita's boys-love manga confirmed two more returning cast members for its second season. Aloha Takamatsu returns as Yuto Shiriashi and Junya Shiraishi returns as Kyosuke Sugimoto. The season is an original story set two years after the first season's ending, premiering September 1 on the Dramaism block.
Jul 18
The anime adaptation of Muchimaro's four-panel manga 'Even the Student Council Has Its Holes!' has added two new cast members. Haruka Shiraishi will voice Hisako Kotobuki and Miyu Tomita will voice Komaro Michinoku. The series is set to premiere in October 2026, with Shōgo Sakata starring as protagonist Mizunoe Ume.
Jul 17
The experience-based living creature encyclopedia app Earth Saver Quest was released on July 11. The app uses AI scanning to identify creatures and allows users to build a personal encyclopedia. A creature-hunting event using the app, Earth Saver Project in Tottori, runs from July to November at eight facilities in Tottori Prefecture. An opening ceremony on July 18 at the Tottori Prefectural Museum will feature Governor Hirai and animation director Shoji Kawamori.
Jul 7
The official website for the anime of akuji Katō's The Demons Are Planning Something Good comedy manga revealed the cast, additional staff, a visual, and a 2027 television debut. The cast includes Junichi Suwabe, Wakana Kuramochi, and Haruka Shiraishi. Takuya Asaoka directs at TNK, with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu on series composition and Hiraku Kaneko on character design. Yen Press licenses the manga.
Jun 28
Rapper Kamui and TikToker Poser Shiraishi have launched RAF Studio, a streaming channel on Twitch and YouTube that reacts to new hip-hop releases, hosts talk and music production sessions with rappers, and provides commentary on the RAPSTAR audition project. The channel began after a collaborative stream in June 2025 and has grown to include an ABEMA show, Kamui's HYPE THE HOPE.
Jun 27
Actor Amon Hirai visited the Kinkuma Perfume booth at the Oshi-Katsu EXPO in Tokyo on June 25 and spent about an hour blending an original fragrance. Orders open in mid-July, with a feature article detailing the perfume's name, package design, and Hirai's thoughts to follow on Natalie's film section.
May 30
Singer adieu, also known as actress Moka Kamishiraishi, performs the ending theme song "Wanna me" for the second cour of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3. Satoko Shibata wrote the lyrics and music. The CD single releases July 29 with a limited first pressing bundling a Blu-ray of adieu's 2025 concert.
May 16
The Days of Diamond manga by Ōhashi Hirai will resume serialization in Shueisha's Young Jump on June 4, 2026, after a hiatus that began in January. The series has experienced multiple breaks since 2024, often tied to volume preparation or personal reasons. MANGA Plus publishes the series digitally.