The staff for the Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden television anime announced that VTuber Tsunomaki Watame will perform the opening theme song "Respawn!!". The anime debuts on October 6 on Tokyo MX, BS NTV, and MBS, with HIDIVE streaming as it airs. A new situation visual was also revealed.
Sega and Colorful Palette released the full-size 2DMV for Hana ni Kaze (SEKAI ver.) on the official Project Sekai YouTube channel on August 4, 2026. The track, written and composed by Balloon, is sung by Hatsune Miku and Vivid BAD SQUAD. It is available for the iOS and Android rhythm and adventure game Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku.
Bandai Spirits announced a new S.H.Figuarts action figure of Minato Namikaze in his Kurama Link Mode from the anime Naruto Shippuden. The figure recreates the Fourth Hokage's appearance during the Fourth Shinobi World War, when he channeled the Nine-Tails' power. It stands approximately 150mm tall and is made of PVC and ABS. The set includes the main body, seven interchangeable hand parts (four left, three right), three interchangeable expression parts, a kunai, and a Giant Rasengan. A bonus part is an interchangeable expression piece compatible with the separately sold S.H.Figuarts Uzumaki Naruto figure titled "Power That Connected Countless Feelings in His Heart." Pre-orders open on July 28, 2026, at 4:00 PM JST through the Premium Bandai Tamashii Web Store. The figure is priced at 11,000 yen (tax included) and is scheduled to ship in February 2027. The product is intended for ages 15 and up and is initially released in Japan.
Ai Mikami and Juri Kosaka, the double leads of the continuing TV novel 'Kaze, Kaoru,' appear on the cover of the September 2026 issue of fashion magazine 'SPUR.' The cover shows them in a modern, light blue coordination with jewelry and cool expressions, a contrast to their period drama roles. Fans have commented on the drastic transformation, calling the duo powerful and noting the change in atmosphere. The issue releases July 23.
Honoka Murakami, who played Setsu Uozumi (Yūnagi) in the NHK morning drama 'Kaze, Kaoru,' posted a close-up photo on Instagram on June 30. The photo was taken by video director Tomokazu Saito, leading fans to speculate she may be appearing in a new project by Saito. Murakami has not confirmed wrapping filming for the drama, and viewers hope for Setsu's return.
With the Sagrada Familia's main tower recently completed, a Game Spark feature looks back at the 1992 adventure game 'Gaudi: The Wind of Barcelona,' developed by Nippon Telenet / Wolf Team for the PC-88 and MSX2. The game, set against the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, follows former detective Henry Howard in a point-and-click adventure with a branching story and a unique rewind system called the HRS.
The collaboration between the theatrical film Uta no Prince-sama Taboo Night XXXX and the brand MAYLA will start accepting preorders for four shoe models on June 12, 2026. The pumps are inspired by Reiji Kotobuki, Ranmaru Kurosaki, Ai Mikaze, and Camus, priced at 30,800 yen each.
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026, Japan's largest international music awards, will hold its Grand Ceremony on June 13, 2026, at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO. The event announced 12 performing artists including Fujii Kaze, Kenshi Yonezu, Sakanaction, Sam Smith, and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra with special guests LiSA, TAKUMA, and Aina the End. The ceremony will be broadcast live on NHK and streamed worldwide via YouTube.