Kotoba Technologies announced that its speech foundation model Koto has been adopted for Japanese support in Salesforce's Agentforce Voice. The feature, which enables AI agents to handle phone calls, begins availability in Japan on August 7. Koto handles speech recognition, synthesis, and speech-to-speech translation for East Asian languages.
Kotobukiya announced a plastic model version of the Durga I Bunny Style kit, updating the resin cast parts previously sold as a shop. The model includes new parts for hair, bunny ears, and body, with three chest sizes and three printed face options. It is scheduled for release in January 2027.
Kotobukiya announced a 2/1 scale figure of PUNI☆MOFU Mao from the Megami Device series. Based on an image rough by illustrator BLADE, the figure stands about 180mm tall and features soft sculpting on the belly and thighs. It is a KOTOBUKIYA SHOP exclusive, priced at 22,000 yen, and scheduled for release in March 2027.
Kotobukiya revealed new characters Arla and Marula for the smartphone RPG Arcanadea - Gleam Gatherers - during the Arcanadea August 2026 Talk Live stream on August 3. Character designs show demon-like wings and horns. The stream also released new illustrations of existing characters such as Veruruta, plus gameplay footage from the development environment.
Atari Katagiri and Makoto Kisaragi launched the manga Watashi-tachi no Koto wa Nanto Yobeba on Square Enix's Manga UP! service on Sunday. Katagiri draws the art and writes the story, while Kisaragi handles composition. The story follows Mineko and Sunao, high school lovers whose single parents remarry, making them siblings.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced the 35th anniversary festival "Glory Winners" for the Future GPX Cyber Formula series, scheduled for January 9, 2027, at Misato City Cultural Hall in Saitama. The event will feature daytime and evening sessions with cast members Junichi Kanemaru, Kotono Mitsuishi, Sho Hayami, and Toshihiko Seki, plus session-specific guests. Theme song artists Hironobu Kageyama, Aki Misato, and Dynamite Shige will perform live. Tickets cost 9,800 yen for all reserved seats, with the fastest advance reservation period running from August 5 at 5:00 PM to August 23 at 11:59 PM. MegaHouse will release two new products: the Cyber Formula Collection -Heritage Edition- DX, reproducing the rollout set of the new machine Zenis Asurada AKF-S0/G, and the Super Asurada 01 Circuit Mode NEON Ver. in cyber colors. The new short anime, a direct sequel to the 1998 OVA SIN, is directed by Mutsumi Fukuda and features machine design by Shoji Kawamori. A life-size Zenis Asurada model will be displayed at MegaHobby EXPO2026 on September 26, 2026, with a riding experience featuring Asurada's voice actor Kenichi Ono.
Visual novel developer Yuzu Soft announced during its Yuzu Soft Songfes 2026 event on July 26 that its 2016 visual novel Senren * Banka will receive an anime adaptation premiering in 2027. The game's original voice cast will reprise their roles: Sora Haruka as Yoshino Tomotake, Yuki Kotorii as Mako Hitachi, Mikan Sato as Murasame, and Sawa Sawawa as Lena Liechtenauer. Singer KOTOKO, who performed the visual novel's opening theme, will also perform the anime's opening song. The announcement did not specify the anime's format or episode count. The visual novel, released in Japan in July 2016 for Yuzu Soft's 10th anniversary, has sold over 1 million units worldwide as of February 2026. It received a Steam release in English and Chinese in 2020 via NekoNyan and HIKARI FIELD, and a Nintendo Switch version in May 2022. The game has accumulated over 30,000 'Very Positive' user reviews on Steam, with approximately 92.65 percent of reviews written in Simplified Chinese, according to Steam Scout data cited by Game Spark. The copyright for the anime lists wwwave, a studio known for producing shorter-format anime episodes.
The original television anime Vertex Force, directed by Strike Witches and Vividred Operation creator Kazuhiro Takamura, will premiere on October 3 at 11:30 p.m. on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, with streaming on U-NEXT and other services in Japan. The announcement came on July 24 via the anime's official website, which also released a main promotional video, key visual, and the full main cast. Makoto Koichi voices protagonist Akira Todo, a 13-year-old middle school student living in Okinawa who feels inferior for lacking the "Engine" power his older sister Haruka inherited from their father. Kaede Hondo plays Haruka Todo, a cheerful 16-year-old high school girl who hides her power. Ami Koshimizu voices Eleanor Northbrook, an 18-year-old from the United States; Megumi Han plays Lala Zudenstein, a 16-year-old from Switzerland; and Rie Takahashi voices Yoko Nishina, a 16-year-old from Hokkaido. The story follows Akira and his family as strange events begin occurring worldwide, with unidentified enemies approaching. Takamura is directing at SMDE, with Gorō Kuji as assistant director. Kanetake Ebikawa handles engine design, and JNTHED handles ENIA design.
Kotobukiya announced two new figures in its Oshi Works series, both scheduled for release in February 2027. Legato Bluesummers from Trigun Stampede joins the lineup as a 1/8 scale painted PVC finished product, priced at 9,350 yen (tax included) and standing approximately 235mm tall including the base. The figure aims to capture the character's "abnormal sense of intimidation" and fanatical obsession with Vash. Separately, Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan: The Final Season appears in a non-scale painted PVC finished product, priced at 11,000 yen (tax included) and standing approximately 245mm tall including the base. The Mikasa figure recreates an iconic scene from The Final Season, depicting her determined gaze and unwavering back. Both figures use magnets for attachment to their bases, allowing position adjustments and display alongside other figures from the same series. Kotobukiya noted that both the Trigun and Attack on Titan Oshi Works lines are planned to expand further.
MIXI launched the 8th collaboration between Kotodaman and Kamen Rider on July 19, running until August 12. The event reruns all previous rounds and adds characters from Kamen Rider Zeztz, including Zeztz, Nox, and Dawn. A special Kotodaman for Kamen Rider Agito's 25th anniversary and Kamen Rider Zi-O Ohma Form are also available.
Independent developer Reinvented Wheel released 'The Farthest Word' on unityroom on July 19, playable on PC and smartphones. Players answer words as unrelated as possible to a given theme. The relevance is displayed as a 'word distance' in kilometers, calculated using an AI model that converts words to vectors. The game has Normal and Endless modes; some players have submitted answers over 1,000 km away.
A special talk video for 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' features Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Japanese band Mrs. GREEN APPLE, who wrote the theme song 'Brand New.' Holland nearly spoils a scene inspired by the song before Zendaya and Batalon stop him. The band is invited to the Los Angeles world premiere.
The BL manga "Rainen no Koto o Ie, Ore ga Warau" concluded with the release of its second volume on July 10, 2026. To mark the occasion, a voice PV featuring Ryota Iwasaki and Reiji Kawashima was released. The story follows a hikikomori NEET who lives for sending postcards to his favorite comedian's radio show, until the comedian suddenly appears at his home. The series began in 2024 in the digital BL magazine Honey Milk.
KAYAC and MIXI have launched a social media campaign for the mobile game Kotodaman, using X poll features to let users vote on story choices in a romance narrative featuring comedian Sunshine Ikezaki as a classmate. The interactive content runs on the official Kotodaman X account starting July 11, as part of the larger three-phase summer event.
The live-action series of Keiko Kinoshita's BL manga 'Koi o Suru Nara Nidome ga Jōtō' (Love is Better the Second Time Around) will return for a second season on September 1. Makoto Hasegawa and Robin Furuya reprise their roles. The new season is an original story set two years after the first season, with the couple living together. Returning and new directors, a composer, and an LGBTQ advisor are attached.
Kotobukiya announced a Bishoujo series figure of Hasbro's Furby, designed by Shunya Yamashita. The figure depicts Furby as a gal-style character with a fluffy jacket, platform boots, and removable sunglasses. A mini Furby figure with blinking eyes is included. It is priced at 25,300 yen and ships in March 2027.
Kotobukiya announced a wide range of new figure prototypes and color samples at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on July 2. The company revealed supervising prototypes for "Super Kaguya-hime!" figures of Kaguya, Tsukimi Yachiyo, and Sayori Sakayori, as well as a prototype for "Magic Knight Rayearth" Hikaru Shidou. Under the OSHI WORKS line, prototypes were shown for "Attack on Titan The Final Season" characters Mikasa, Armin, Levi, and Sasha. The new OSHI WORKS Mini brand debuted with color samples of "The Apothecary Diaries" Maomao and "TRIGUN STARGAZE" Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood. For game-related figures, Kotobukiya showed the first color sample of a 1/4 scale "Goddess of Victory: NIKKE" Anis figure. OSHI WORKS Mini color samples were also displayed for "Persona 3 Reload" and "Persona 5 The Royal" protagonists, plus prototypes for "Trails" series characters Estelle Bright and Joshua Bright, and SNK characters Mai Shiranui, Angel, and Kula Diamond. Additional figures included "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" Rebecca and "Snowball Earth" Tetsuo Yabusame and Ao Nogi.
Kotobukiya announced a reissue of its Dark Horn Harry Special plastic model from Zoids: New Century/ZERO. The 1/72-scale kit uses new mold colors to match the anime appearance, includes gold armament in two gold tones, clear parts in green and colorless, and adds a new decal for Linon Tros. It releases in November 2026 for 14,300 yen.
Fate/Grand Order will hold a new limited-time event, "Waiting for You at the End of Spring," starting July 1 at 20:00 JST. The event features a scenario by Makoto Sanda, known for The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II. Players who complete the main quests will receive a free 4-star servant, Gray Lily, but must choose between two class versions: Saber or Lancer. The two versions have different designs, Noble Phantasms, and parameters. The event also introduces a new 5-star Alter Ego servant, Ascalaphus, available through the gacha. The story is set in a singularity styled as a job experience amusement park where characters can become the self they want to be. Gray appears in a younger form, and Director Olga Marie also becomes younger. Participation requires clearing the main story chapter "The Beginning of Aftertime." The event runs until July 22. FGO is a free-to-play RPG for iOS and Android developed by TYPE-MOON, with Lasengle handling development and operations.
Kotobukiya announced a plastic model kit of the ZOIDS Republic Air Force Salamander F2 Fighting Falcon in its HMM series. The Kotobukiya Shop exclusive kit features gold-plated Falcon Wing parts, two gold-plated pilot figures, clear parts, and a removable Zoid core. It is scheduled for November 2026 release at 32,780 yen.
The staff for the anime film of Kaori Mado's You, Fireworks, and Our Promise novel series released a new clip featuring protagonist Makoto Natsume. The film opens July 17. Shōri Satō of timelesz voices Makoto, Nanoka Hara plays Aki Hayama, and Rie Takahashi plays Haru. Kei Suzuki directs at Synergy SP and The Answer Studio.
A television anime adaptation of Makoto Morishita's manga The Fledgling Demon Lord's Starter Shop has been announced for a January 2027 premiere. The cast includes Reiji Kawashima and Rumi Ōkubo, with Jun Hira directing at studio project No.9. A teaser video and visual were released alongside the announcement.
The manga Fool Night by Kasumi Yasuda will receive a television anime adaptation produced by Sunrise and Shaft, the first collaboration between the two studios, Netflix announced on June 23 during its Anime Studio Focus panel at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. The series will stream worldwide on Netflix in 2026. Director Atsuyuki Yukawa, who worked as a unit director on Suzume, will helm the project, with Jin Tanaka handling series composition, Tatsuya Kato composing the music, and Yota Tsuruoka directing sound. The cast includes Koki Uchiyama as protagonist Toshiro Kamiya and Minako Kotobuki as Yomiko Horai. A teaser trailer and visual were also released. Yasuda's manga, which launched in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior in November 2020, has 12 compiled volumes and a cumulative print run of approximately 600,000 copies across 17 countries. It ranked 12th in the male reader list of Kono Manga ga Sugoi 2023.
Kotobukiya is releasing a new version of its Front Mission Zenith Girl plastic model, the "Gray Ver.," featuring a gray color scheme, three new expressions, new weapons including the Keen Saber and Firewall, and compatibility with Square Enix's Structure Arts series. Pre-orders are open, with a November 2026 release date and a limited bonus of special color hair parts from the Kotobukiya Online Shop.
The staff for The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King anime released a new visual and promotional video on Saturday previewing the show's climax. The final episode will air on June 25. The series debuted on April 9 after a delay from October 2025.
Taku Kawamura, creator of My Clueless First Friend, will launch a new romantic comedy manga titled Roku-nensei to Shitai Koto in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine on July 30. The story follows a precocious sixth-grade girl and a fourth-grade boy.
Kotobukiya's Oshi Works figure brand is releasing a scale figure of Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan The Final Season. The figure captures Eren with eyes hiding his resolve to start the Rumbling and his lonely back. It uses magnets for positioning and stands about 230mm tall. Pre-orders are open at 8,800 yen for a December 2026 release.
Kotobukiya's Oshi Works brand announced a 1/8 scale figure of Livio the Double Fang from Trigun Stampede. Priced at 8,800 yen, the figure stands 220mm tall and uses magnets for positioning. It is scheduled for release in December 2026. Previous Oshi Works figures of Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood are already available, with more Trigun series figures planned.
Kotobukiya is re-releasing its ARTFX J figure of Touko and Tepig from Pokémon Black and White. Based on a newly drawn illustration by artist Ariga Hitoshi, the 1/8 scale PVC figure features Touko in her signature hot pants and ponytail, with Tepig posed on flame-effect clear parts. It is priced at 15,400 yen and ships in November 2026.
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.
The television anime adaptation of Amara's light novel series The Cat and the Dragon has announced its July 4 premiere date, along with a first promotional video and three additional cast members. The series will debut on Tokyo MX on July 4 at 9:00 p.m. JST, followed by broadcasts on BS NTV, Yomiuri TV, Nagasaki Culture Broadcasting, and AT-X throughout the following week. Streaming will be available on d Anime Store in Japan. The newly announced cast includes Yu Serizawa as Haneko, a well-behaved cat who assists a prince struggling with magic; Makoto Koichi as the kind-hearted prince; and Kazuya Ichijo as the king, who must negotiate with the dragon. The first PV shows the dragon visiting a human town and requesting an audience with the king, along with glimpses of Haneko teaching magic to a child. The anime is directed by Jin-Koo Oh at OLM, with series composition by Mitsutaka Hirota, character designs by Rie Nishino and Chiaki Kurakazu, and music by Takahiro Obata. The original web novel debuted on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in September 2013, and the series has sold over 1.4 million copies across its light novel and manga editions.
Tapioca announced a new lineup of Danganronpa 1-2 Reload merchandise on June 2, including cat-costume plushies, a cape-wearing plush series, a clear pouch based on the class trial, and a "Waiwai" series of badges and acrylic keyholders featuring characters chatting. The items are scheduled for release in mid-October 2026.
Cocofolia released a promotional video for Table Game World CCFOLIA for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 2, 2026. The software supports up to eight players online, includes titles like Tonton Reversi and The Words I Just Thought of for a Proposal I Dedicate to You., and is set for a November 2026 release.
The first anime film adaptation of Nagano's Chiikawa manga, Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu, has a new trailer that reveals additional cast members and the opening theme song. Makoto Tanaka, who voices Hachiware, performs the opening theme 'Kutsuzure,' with lyrics by series creator Nagano. The film opens in Japan on July 24.
Yoshitoshi Shinomiya, a traditional Japanese-style painter who worked on flashback sequences for Makoto Shinkai's 'Your Name.' and contributed to 'In This Corner of the World,' has made his feature directorial debut with 'A New Dawn.' The film had its world premiere this week in the main competition of the Berlin International Film Festival. Set in a rural town, the story follows Keitaro, the son of a vanished fireworks artisan, who seeks a mythical firework called 'Shuhari' as a typhoon approaches and redevelopment threatens his home. Shinomiya said the project was triggered around 2016 when a field in front of his atelier was suddenly covered with solar panels, and his daughter asked if it was the sea. The film explores themes of inheritance, environmental change, and the erosion of traditional Japanese communal life. Shinomiya described the concept of 'Shuhari' as a three-stage process of mastery: follow the rules, break them, then transcend them. He said the ending is intentionally open, inspired by American New Cinema, and meant to leave audiences wondering about the characters after the film ends.
The staff for the Victoria of Many Faces television anime announced eight additional cast members on May 29, 2026. The new additions include Kenji Nojima as Lancome, Daisuke Ono as Edward Asher, Saeko Akiho as Yolana Haynes, Hiroshi Yanaka as Bernard Fitcher, Makoto Furukawa as Zaharo, Kensho Ono as Cedric Ashbury, Ryota Osaka as Conrad Ashbury, and Megumi Han as Clark Anderson. They join previously announced leads Chika Anzai as Victoria, Shion Wakayama as Nonna, and Yohei Azakami as Jeffrey. The anime is scheduled to premiere in July 2026 on TV Tokyo and its affiliates. Nobukage Kimura directs the series at Studio DEEN, with Naohiro Fukushima handling series composition and Mina Osawa designing the characters. The light novel series by writer Syuu and illustrator Nanna Fujimi began on the Shosetsuka ni Narou website in December 2021. Kadokawa has published three novel volumes in print as of January 2024, with a fourth volume scheduled for June 25, 2026. A manga adaptation by Komo Ushino launched in December 2022 and has six compiled volumes. Yen Press publishes both the light novel and manga in English.
The TV anime adaptation of the manga "Iwakoto-senpai no Suisen" will premiere on July 4, 2026. The opening theme is performed by THE JET BOY BANGERZ and the ending theme by WOLF HOWL HARMONY. Gen Sato and Shinnosuke Tokudome join the cast as Sazame Ryūu and Awadama Mizuhi, respectively.
The July issue of Kadokawa's Comic Alive magazine announced that Yu Hibari's light novel Kokō na Kanojo to, Kanojo no Heya de Shiteru Koto is getting a manga adaptation by Mugiko. The manga will launch in the magazine's next issue on June 27. The story follows opposites Kotori Nabata and Takumi Hashio, who share a secret routine.
Ririko Tsujita's one-shot manga 'To what lady Amane says.' will become a serialized series in Hakusensha's LaLa magazine starting June 24. The story follows Amane Hoshino, a first-year middle school student from a wealthy family who hides a secret side. Tsujita previously created the 'Koi da no Ai da no' sequel manga.
Writer Mujirushi Shimazaki and artist Rika Kamiyoshi have launched a new manga titled Yami Ochi Reijō wa Maō no Musume Alice ni Tenseishita no de Ōto de Anyaku suru Koto ni Shimashita. The series debuted on Square Enix's Gangan Online app on May 6 and centers on a noblewoman reincarnated as the Demon King's daughter seeking revenge.