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2h ago
GAMABOOKS, an online bookstore operated by PLAN-B LLC, and Gakken will hold the first collaborative streaming event between the Gakken Picture Book LIVE series and academic VTubers. The event consists of four YouTube live streams scheduled for August 2026, during the summer vacation period. Each stream will feature Gakken Picture Book LIVE editor-in-chief Matsubara Yoshiyuki as a guest, alongside a different academic VTuber specializing in the theme of that session. The host will be GAMABOOKS bookstore clerk and VTuber Moroboshi Meguru, who is known for folklore and modernology content and hosts the academic VTuber relay stream School of Tube. The sessions cover the Space, Dinosaurs, Human Body, and Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils editions of the picture book series. The streams aim to present picture books as something to discuss and enjoy together, rather than just read, combining VTuber-friendly talk with specialized knowledge for both children and adults. The first stream is scheduled for August 13, 2026, at 20:00 JST on Moroboshi Meguru's YouTube channel.
13h ago
Gamescom 2026 will run from August 26 to 30 in Cologne, Germany, with the opening night event scheduled for August 25 at 3:00 AM Japan time (August 26 local). The German Games Industry Association (game) and Koelnmesse report that this year's exhibition space sold out entirely through reservations for the first time, despite last year's expansion, making it the largest gamescom to date. Exhibitors include Japanese companies Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Sega, and Konami, alongside EA, Ubisoft, Xbox, CD PROJEKT RED, Deep Silver, Focus Entertainment, KRAFTON, NC, HoYoverse, NetEase, and Tencent Games. Several titles will offer their first public playable demos, including Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, Konami's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and Sega's Stranger Than Heaven. The event will also feature a dedicated Games Done Quick speedrun stage, with live programs running about ten hours daily from Friday to Sunday. Opening Night Live, hosted by Geoff Keighley and Eefje "sjokz" Depoortere, will include new trailers, gameplay reveals, and information on Metro 2039 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt expansion "Melody of Memories."
1d ago
OpenAI detailed the realtime system behind GPT-Live, its voice AI for natural conversation. The system uses full-duplex communication, offloads complex tasks to other models, and a new protocol called WARP that reduces network round trips from six to one. GPT-Live powers ChatGPT Voice, with a future API planned.
1d ago
Rapper Tohji announced a Tokyo Dome concert, "Tohji Last Live 'TOKYO MALL'," on November 17, 2026, during his arena show "Volcanic Summer Chojou Dimension" on August 9. Tohji, who announced his retirement from music in 2025, is spending 2026 as his final year. The fastest lottery ticket application has begun.
1d ago
Paralives Studio will change the baby design in the life sim Paralives with patch 0.1.7, due August 10. The change follows player feedback calling the original look uncanny and middle-aged. Before and after images were shared on the official site and X. Early reactions to the new design are mostly positive.
2d ago
Good Smile Company is releasing 1/7 scale figures of Hololive VTubers Shirakami Fubuki and Ookami Mio under its Good Smile Collection brand. Both figures, priced at 22,000 yen each, are scheduled for September 2027 release.
2d ago
The Japan live show featuring 2NE1 and TEN, previously canceled, is back on. The event, K*Pop Masterz Presents 2NE1 &TEN SPECIAL LIVE in JAPAN 2026, will take place on December 8 and 9 at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY in Chiba. Ticket details and a presale schedule have been announced.
2d ago
LoFi/Chill vocalist Mellow will hold a second live event, "Mellow 2nd LIVE," on October 21 at SHIBUYA TAKE OFF 7. The event runs from 19:00 to 22:00, with free admission and a drink ticket system. Guests ONE×ONE and ALLES will join Mellow for the entertainment exchange event.
2d ago
Koei Tecmo Games released the sixth DLC set for Dead or Alive 6 Last Round on August 6, 2026. The Honoka Secret Sunflower Set includes four swimsuit costumes with summer accessories and color variations. The August 2026 DLC roadmap was also announced, featuring swimsuit costumes for Honoka, Marie Rose, NiCO, and Nyotengu.
3d ago
Livetoon announced Tatara, a service that lets users set a voice, personality, tone, and role for their own 3D character and raise it into an AI character capable of conversation and tasks. The service is currently invitation-based, with invitations sent sequentially to applicants. Official release is scheduled for September 1, 2026. A free early access campaign on the official X account starts August 1, 2026. Tatara builds on technology from Livetoon's kaiwa voice conversation service.
4d ago
Live Another Day Studio is showing a playable demo of text adventure Have a Good Night at ChinaJoy 2026 in Shanghai. Players do not control protagonist Xiao Ye directly, but the determination to go to bed early that grows in her heart. Emotions such as excitement, anxiety, appetite, anger, and sadness attend meetings in her brain, and the player argues with them to get her to sleep.
4d ago
Cover announced that the next in-game event for the rhythm and RPG "hololive Dreams" ("Holodori") will feature the unit miComet, consisting of Sakura Miko and Hoshimachi Suisei. The event, titled "Syncing Summer Sparkle," is scheduled to begin on August 7, 2026, at 12:00. Alongside the event, three songs by the duo will be added to the game, and players can obtain miComet event memories by participating. The announcement follows a teaser on the official X account that hinted at the two talents with an ocean background and icons on their outfits. The first in-game event, "Hello! Brand New Summer!," ended on August 5, and details for the next event were scheduled to be revealed on August 6 at 18:00. "Holodori" is the first official smartphone game for the VTuber group hololive, developed jointly by Cover and QualiArts, and released on July 23. It surpassed 1 million downloads the day after release. The game is available on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam with a free-to-play model.
5d ago
Rafal Jaki, executive producer of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and artist Machine Gamu launched the manga Brain Alive on Kadokawa's KadoComi website on Friday. The pilot chapter is available free in English. The digital English serialization will debut this fall, with the Japanese serialization starting the same day.
5d ago
Hololive English -Myth- talent Ninomae Ina'nis is being made into a 1/7 scale figure as part of the AXGRIT brand project, a collaboration between TSUTAYA IP Bookstore and Design COCO. Pre-orders open at the COCO Store on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, and run through Thursday, November 5, 2026. The figure is the fifth installment in the AXGRIT series, which is set in an original world where characters equipped with anti-gravity units fly and fight in a ruined future world. Ninomae Ina'nis is sculpted in a dignified pose, raising a red star in her left hand as if seizing hope in the devastated setting. The figure's jacket uses clear parts for a light transparency effect, and a unit inspired by her tentacles sits behind her. Her hair is sculpted strand by strand, and the anti-gravity units on her crossed legs feature detailed mechanical design. The dedicated base can hold a separately sold LED light that makes the AXGRIT logo glow. The figure costs 35,970 yen including tax, stands about 296mm tall including the base, and is scheduled to ship in October 2027.
5d ago
The immersive music live event "Animersive Live: Belle" is holding an audition for a single VTuber to appear as an avatar and voice in the production. The event is set in the world of director Mamoru Hosoda's 2021 animated film "Belle," five years after its story, and follows Hiro-chan, the producer of the diva Bell, as he works to produce a new songstress in the virtual world <U>. The audition, announced on the official X account under Hiro-chan's name, seeks one applicant who owns a 3D model and can grant permission for its use in planning, promotional materials, and production. The model must be loadable in Unity and have VRM or VRChat-compliant facial blendshapes. The application deadline is August 8 at 23:59. The event itself runs from October 10 to November 15, 2026, at MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives Box1000 in Tokyo, organized by MoN Takanawa and the Animersive Live "Belle" Production Committee, with cooperation from Studio Chizu. "Belle" marks its fifth anniversary in 2026, and this live is part of that commemoration.
5d ago
At CEDEC 2026, held July 22 to 24 at Pacifico Yokohama North, Bandai Namco Studios producer Takahiro Kakizawa presented a session on the concept development behind THE IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE! THEATER DAYS, known as Mirishita. Kakizawa, who joined the project in March 2016 as the developer-side planning and production producer, said he had never played the iM@S series and had no mobile game experience, which pushed him toward a customer-oriented approach. He defined the target audience by narrowing from broad categories like 2D beautiful girl content fans and smartphone users in their 20s to 40s, to a specific group: people who left games due to lack of skill, lack of time, or mismatched smartphone usage situations. This led to adding the condition of wanting to enjoy games casually. Kakizawa identified core iM@S needs, including adoring idol cuteness, feeling a sense of raising them, and experiencing the joy of being thanked as a producer. He stressed that meeting needs means implementing ideas without excess or deficiency, using two evaluation axes: trial, whether players pick it up, and performance, whether they play repeatedly. Post-release, the team tracked SNS trends, implementing a gentle gyaru trend with events in December 2023, August 2024, and April 2025.
6d ago
QualiArts and Cover have started the first in-game event for the rhythm and RPG "hololive Dreams," titled "Hello! Brand New Summer!," on July 28, 2026, at 12:00. The event runs until August 5 at 19:59 and is a point rally where players complete rhythm game live stages and mini-games to collect Event Pt and Event Badges. Five hololive members appear in the event: Subaru Oozora, Flare Shiranui, Noel Shirogane, Watame Tsunomaki, and Kanade Otonose, each with an original story. Alongside the event, the limited-time "Sunny Summer Vacation! Gacha" runs from July 28 at 11:00 to August 7 at 10:59, introducing five new ★5 members in swimsuit costumes. Obtaining these members grants Park Costumes and Live Costumes based on the swimsuit designs on the cards. The event adds six songs, including the original "Bakunatsu!! Tropical Vacation" and covers such as Flare Shiranui's "UNDEAD" and Watame Tsunomaki's "Renai Circulation." The full-size MV for "Bakunatsu!! Tropical Vacation" is available on the official YouTube channel. The game is available on iOS, Android, and PC.
6d ago
The manga Yang Can't Live Alone is ending its serialization on Square Enix's Manga UP! service, following a public breakdown in trust between creator sooncha and the publisher. sooncha announced the decision on X on Monday, August 3, stating that the series will conclude with the third part of Chapter 15 on August 13. The creator cited a "breakdown in the relationship of trust" with Manga UP! as the reason for the cancellation. sooncha is currently in talks with the editorial department to have the copyright reverted so the story can continue elsewhere. The third compiled volume remains scheduled for release on August 6, and sooncha noted that publication could not be halted in either print or digital format. The creator advised readers uncomfortable with the situation to cancel their pre-orders. Manga UP! issued its own statement on August 4, acknowledging shortcomings in how the assigned editor handled serialization and promotional work, and admitting that attempts to rebuild trust, including changing the editor, were unsuccessful. The publisher apologized to readers and the creator. The series launched on Manga UP! in December 2024, and the second volume shipped on November 7.
6d ago
Modern culture brand VTee, operated by BNN WORKS, will release its first collaboration project, the "VTee x hololive Collection," on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The collection features four hololive members: Houshou Marine, Usada Pekora, Inugami Korone, and Nekomata Okayu. The lineup includes T-shirts and pullover hoodies, with a key visual illustration by Reo Kizumi. Each member's T-shirt is priced at 9,900 yen, while the "VTee x Inugami Korone 'Sonic Costume' TEE" costs 13,200 yen. Pullover hoodies for each member are reservation-only items at 28,600 yen each. A stadium jacket inspired by Houshou Marine, the "Dead Ma'am's Chest" VARSITY JACKET, has been unveiled with details to be announced later. Products will be sold at the VTee Media Store starting August 13, with exact start times to be announced on VTee's official Instagram. To coincide with the release, a display and sales area will be set up within a hololive pop-up event at SHIBUYA TSUTAYA from August 13 to 19, with limited quantities available.
6d ago
Live2D Inc. released new Live2D models of Shikoku Metan and Ankomon for its free online video editor nizima ACTION!! on July 28, 2026. The models, illustrated by Sakamoto Ahiru, follow the Zundamon model added in May of the same year. Each model includes over 50 facial expressions and motions, supports hand tracking, and can be driven in real time through tracking apps such as nizima LIVE and VTube Studio. The editor also integrates with the text-to-speech software VOICEVOX, allowing users to generate character voices and sync them with the models' lip movements entirely within the browser-based tool. The models are available as sample assets in the material collection and are also distributed free on the Tohoku Zunko and Zundamon Project's official site. Live2D plans to add models for Tohoku Zunko, Tohoku Kiritan, and Tohoku Itako, collectively known as the Tohoku Three Sisters, also illustrated by Sakamoto Ahiru. Users must comply with each character's terms of use and include credit notation, such as "VOICEVOX: Shikoku Metan."
Jul 27
Kodansha USA announced eight new manga licenses at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, including Gamon Sakurai's The Pool, Shuuichi Shigeno's Subaru and Subaru, and IZU and Hagane's Kraken Mare. The company also plans a spring 2027 box set for The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity.
Jul 23
QualiArts and COVER Corporation launched "hololive Dreams" (abbreviated as "HoloDori") on July 23, 2026, for iOS, Android, and Steam. The game is the first official smartphone title for the hololive production VTuber group. It is a free-to-play rhythm and RPG set in a theme park, where players raise talents, play rhythm games and mini-games, and build a dream park. Pre-downloads for the smartphone versions began on July 22. The developers announced that cumulative pre-registrations surpassed 1.5 million, triggering in-game rewards for all 54 participating talents, including a "Kawaii Hairpin" accessory and five gacha tickets. To celebrate the launch, a "15-Day 25-Song Addition Campaign" will add 25 songs over 15 consecutive days, and a login bonus will award diamonds equivalent to 10 gacha pulls. Players can also obtain one talent of their choice at the highest rarity at the start of the game.
Jul 22
On July 20, 2026, numerous anime, manga, and game franchises posted Marine Day greetings on social media. The Japanese national holiday, which honors the ocean and marks the end of the rainy season, prompted official accounts and creators to share beach-themed illustrations, character birthday messages, and promotional content. Among the posts, the official Kaiju No. 8 account promoted an upcoming original short anime titled "Narumi's Weekday" with a pun on the character's name and the kanji for sea. The MAPPA studio released a new illustration by Rie Nishimura for the soccer series DAYS, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026. The Sound! Euphonium account reminded followers that the film Sound! Euphonium: The Final Part 2 opens on September 11. Classroom of the Elite noted that July 20 is also the birthday of character Honami Ichinose. The That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime account promoted the streaming of its movie Tears of the Azure Sea on U-NEXT. The Chiikawa movie account promoted the July 24 release of Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu. Voice actor Yuki Kaji posted a personal greeting, and the band Orange Range shared a summer song. The roundup, compiled by Anime News Network, spanned three articles covering dozens of entries.
Jul 21
The official YouTube channel for the live-action Blue Lock film released a new video on Wednesday previewing the entrance exam scene, featuring the insert song "twilight" by Fukase. The video depicts the dormitory entrance test called "Tag," where players must avoid being hit by a ball within a 136-second time limit or face immediate elimination and lose the right to ever join the Japanese national team. The film is based on the manga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, which has surpassed 60 million copies in cumulative circulation. The movie stars Fumiya Takahashi as protagonist Yoichi Isagi, alongside Kaito Sakurai as Meguru Bachira, Kyōhei Takahashi as Hyoma Chigiri, Kōta Nomura as Rensuke Kunigami, and Masataka Kubota as Jinpachi Ego. Yusuke Taki is directing the film, with Tetsuo Kamata writing the screenplay. CREDEUS, the production company behind the live-action Golden Kamuy film, is producing, and TOHO is distributing. The film opens in Japan on August 7. Fukase's song will appear on his first solo album "Circusm," set for release on July 29.
Jul 21
Netflix is streaming the new live-action GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka series in North America with English subtitles. The first episode debuted Monday, with new episodes releasing weekly. Takashi Sorimachi reprises his role as the 52-year-old Onizuka, who now faces a school system driven by rankings, tablets, and social media.
Jul 21
Kiki's Delivery Service, the 1989 Studio Ghibli film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, will screen in IMAX theaters across the UK and Ireland starting August 21, 2026. The release is the first time the film has played on IMAX screens in those territories. Tickets are on sale now for both the original Japanese language with subtitles and the English dubbed version. The film has been newly remastered in 4K. A wider 4K theatrical release follows on August 28, 2026. The IMAX release is the first UK cinema outing for GKIDS after the distributor acquired the rights to the 23-film Studio Ghibli library earlier in July 2026. GKIDS is working with sister company Anime Limited, the Glasgow-based distributor recently acquired by GKIDS' parent company Toho Global. Additional Studio Ghibli titles slated for future IMAX releases in the UK and Ireland include Arrietty and Whisper of the Heart.
Jul 21
The INDIE Live Expo executive committee announced on July 21 that the next broadcast of the indie game showcase, INDIE Live Expo, will take place on December 1. This will be the 15th edition of the program, which began in 2020. The broadcast will include the return of the INDIE Waves segment, where each game gets 15 seconds of screen time; the previous edition featured approximately 160 titles. A general call for submissions for INDIE Waves is planned for around September 2026. The committee also plans to hold the INDIE Live Expo Awards, in which prominent figures from the game industry select their most interesting indie game of the year. Details on broadcast time, content, performers, and participating award judges have not yet been announced and will be released later on the official website and social media channels. The program is broadcast simultaneously in Japanese, Chinese, English, and Korean. The committee has also begun soliciting corporate sponsors for the event.
Jul 20
The live-action film adaptation of Coffee's Wandance manga has revealed Anji Ikehata will play Hikari Wanda, the dancer who inspires protagonist Kaboku. A teaser trailer and character visual were released alongside the announcement. The film opens in Japan on November 27.
Jul 20
Cover announced that 'hololive Dreams' will launch on July 23 for Android, iOS, and PC via Steam. The free-to-play rhythm RPG will offer monthly memberships for each hololive member at 290 yen, providing cosmetic rewards. A create-beatmap feature will include beatmaps made by members themselves. A collaboration event with fireworks and drones is scheduled for October 15 at Saitama Stadium 2002.
Jul 20
ABEMA is streaming three anime set at the sea to mark Marine Day on July 20: ONE PIECE, Love Live! Sunshine!!, and Grand Blue. The feature, titled 'Enjoy the summer vibe of Marine Day! 3 anime set at the sea,' highlights each series' ocean-themed setting and story. ONE PIECE follows Luffy's pirate voyage, Love Live! Sunshine!! is set in the coastal town of Numazu, and Grand Blue is a comedy about diving and college life in Izu.
Jul 19
In a new interview, Paralives developer Jérémie Tessier discussed the life sim's inspirations, citing The Sims, RimWorld, and unexpected influences like Hades and Disco Elysium. He also revealed that the team postponed the early access release by six months just three weeks before the original date, a decision that ultimately benefited the game's polish. The game launched on May 25, 2026, and has received over 350,000 suggestions and bug reports in its first month.
Jul 16
Hololive Production announced a two-day live event, "hololive RECORDS MUSIC STAGE 2027," set for January 9-10, 2027 at K Arena Yokohama. Day 1 features AZKi, Sakura Miko, Hakos Baelz, and ReGLOSS; Day 2 features Shirakami Fubuki, Houshou Marine, Kobo Kanaeru, and FLOW GLOW. A 67-track, 11-CD compilation album, "hololive RECORDS HISTORY COLLECTION," priced at 17,600 yen, is also available for pre-order to mark the label's first anniversary.
Jul 16
Cover Corp, the operator of the VTuber agency Hololive Production, announced on July 16, 2026, that pre-orders have opened for the selection album "hololive RECORDS HISTORY COLLECTION" under its label hololive RECORDS. The company also revealed a real-life live event, "hololive RECORDS MUSIC STAGE 2027," scheduled for January 9 and 10, 2027, at K Arena Yokohama in Yokohama City. The album commemorates the first anniversary of the hololive RECORDS label. It is an 11-CD box set containing 67 songs, including original tracks personally selected by Hololive talents and collaboration songs such as event theme songs that were previously only available through digital distribution. The set costs 17,600 yen (tax included) and comes with 67 special jacket cards, one for each song. It also includes a serial code for advance lottery tickets to the January 2027 live event. The lineup for the two-day event has been announced. Day 1 on January 9 will feature AZKi, Sakura Miko, Hakos Baelz, and ReGLOSS. Day 2 on January 10 will feature Shirakami Fubuki, Houshou Marine, Kobo Kanaeru, and FLOW GLOW.
Jul 16
Shokz Japan will sponsor and exhibit at the outdoor music festival JOIN ALIVE 2026 in Hokkaido on July 18-19. The booth will offer trial listening of the OpenDots 2 and OpenDots Air earphones, a message board for brand ambassador Ichiro Yamaguchi of Sakanaction, and an SNS campaign for prizes.
Jul 16
BilibiliWorld 2026, the three-day ACGN event hosted by Bilibili, concluded on July 12 at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center. The event attracted 400,000 visitors from over 30 countries and regions, with 170 exhibitors participating. For the first time, BilibiliWorld sold tickets to overseas users, drawing fans from the United States, Russia, South Korea, Italy, and elsewhere. The venue featured approximately 1,000 itasha cars and over 60,000 cosplayers. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige attended, marking his first visit to China in seven years. He unveiled the concept poster for Avengers: Doomsday and discussed Robert Downey Jr.'s role as the villain. Other exhibitors included Arknights, Genshin Impact, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The event also had a significant economic impact: overseas flight bookings to Shanghai rose 35% year-on-year, hotel reservations in Shanghai increased 126% month-on-month, and hotel bookings within 5 km of the venue surged 600% month-on-month. Cambodian Princess Norodom Jenna also visited the event.
Jul 15
The manga adaptation of Shinkoshoto's light novel series The Strongest Sage With the Weakest Crest is ending with the 36th volume, which ships on September 11. The adaptation launched in 2017. The 35th volume shipped June 11, while the 21st novel volume shipped in June 2025. The series also had a 2022 anime adaptation.
Jul 14
Pre-orders for the renewal package of the 1/7 scale Yatogami Tohka figure in her full spirit outfit, based on an illustration by Tsunako, are now open at Rakuten Books. The figure is part of the Fantasia 30th Anniversary Project and features Tohka wielding the great sword Sandalphon. The renewal package is priced at 24,200 yen, with a selling price of 21,527 yen at Rakuten Books. Distributor is KADOKAWA.
Jul 13
The TV Tokyo karaoke battle show's YouTube original series VSinger UTAMATSURI will hold its first live event on August 22 at Toyosu PIT. Singers from RK Music and KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO will compete in a 5-on-5 karaoke match with AI scoring. Performers include HACHI, KMNZ, VESPERBELL, Rime, Harusarubi, and others. Comedian duo Nishikigoi will serve as MCs. Tickets go on presale July 13.
Jul 12
Dwango and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks announced on July 12 that Animelo Summer Live, commonly called Anisama, will hold its first event in western Japan. Titled ANISAMA FUKUOKA 2027, the two-day anime song festival is scheduled for March 13 and 14, 2027, at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka. The event is a new expansion for the annual summer concert series, which has been held in the Kanto region since 2005. The 20th edition in 2025 drew a record 87,000 attendees over three days. Organizers said the Fukuoka event aims to make the venue a new "anime song holy land" in western Japan. The usual summer Kanto edition will continue as normal, with Animelo Summer Live 2027 planned for August 27-29, 2027, at GMO Saitama Super Arena. Additional details, including performing artists and ticket information, are expected to be announced around autumn 2026. The event is co-organized by Dwango and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the professional baseball team whose home stadium is Mizuho PayPay Dome.
Jul 11
The live-action adaptation of Honobu Yonezawa's The Samurai and the Prisoner dropped to #4 in its third weekend at the Japanese box office. The 37th Anpanman film held at #5 in its second weekend. The 4K restoration of Kiki's Delivery Service ranked #8 in its third weekend. The new Sgt. Frog film opened at #10.
Jul 10
Cover Corporation announced on July 10, 2026, that the after-screening of the hololive Production all-members live event "hololive 7th fes. Ridin' on Dreams," originally held in March 2026, will be shown at theaters across Japan over four days. The screenings are scheduled for August 29 and 30, and September 5 and 6, 2026, with each day dedicated to one of the event's four stages. Tickets are priced at 4,500 yen for a regular ticket and 5,200 yen for a ticket including a set of silver tape and confetti stickers. A lottery system via Lawson Ticket runs in two rounds, starting July 10, followed by general and theater sales. Each screening will include an exclusive comment video from two talents: for Stage 1, Tsunomaki Watame and FUWAMOCO; Stage 2, Shishiro Botan and Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame; Stage 3, Kikirara Vivi and Pavolia Reine; Stage 4, Todoroki Hajime and Kaela Kovalskia. Attendees may use penlights and cheer vocally, but recording and photography are prohibited. All visitors receive a clear postcard featuring the event's key visual. Original goods will also be sold at the theaters.
Jul 10
The Taiwanese live-action adaptation of the webtoon Itaewon Class, titled Fired Up!, will debut on HBO Max on July 31. The series stars Eric Chou as Luyong Zhou, who fights to uncover the truth behind his father's death while protecting his family's restaurant. The adaptation reimagines the story in a Taiwanese cultural setting, retaining core themes. The original webtoon has over 430 million cumulative views as of January 2025.
Jul 9
Bandai Namco Experience will release a new Personal Pub Mirror featuring Roco from The Idolmaster Million Live! on July 9, 2026. Limited-time pre-orders open at ASOBI STORE until July 27. The mirror, priced at 14,800 yen, depicts Roco as a mermaid princess based on the "Wishing in the Deep Sea" theme. It is part of a premium interior decor series for collectors.
Jul 8
Nippon TV Wands announced a venue advance event lottery for the Liella! no Chutorieraibu!! 2026 live at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY on August 1-2. The lottery offers limited goods with newly drawn illustrations and a 10-draw bonus. Online sales start August 1 at 8:00 AM, with after-sales later delivery from August 6.
Jul 5
Tokyopop announced five new manga licenses during its Anime Expo panel on Sunday, including omnibus editions of How I Attended an All Guy's Mixer, a Hololive comic, and three other titles spanning romance, fantasy, and comedy.
Jul 5
Seven Seas Entertainment announced 16 new licenses at its Anime Expo panel on July 4, 2026. The slate spans multiple imprints and genres, including light novels, manga, manhwa, and audiobooks, with releases scheduled from March through June 2027.
Jul 4
VRChat Inc. announced it will sell Love Live! Sunshine!! Guilty Kiss related items on the VRChat official store, commemorating the streaming of the musical performance Guilty Kiss Musical Performance: Pitch-Black Wanted Ghost on November 22-23, 2026. The performance will be held locally and streamed on VRChat and SPWN.
Jul 4
Singer-songwriter Mahiru has announced additional fall-winter 2026 shows in Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore for her Asia tour "Auralisia," partnering with global promoter Live Nation. The Hong Kong show on October 10 will feature local artist Billy Choi as a guest, with venue capacity tripled from last year. Mahiru also released her first major-label EP "Cinema" on June 24.
Jul 3
Cover Corporation and QualiArts have announced the worldwide release of Hololive Dreams, the first official smartphone game for the Hololive VTuber group, on July 23, 2026. The game is a rhythm & RPG set in a theme park where players build facilities for over 50 Hololive talents. It includes a rhythm game with over 150 songs at launch, including solo, unit, and cover tracks, as well as an original story and a create-beatmap function. A Steam version is also planned, with a wishlist now available. The game is free-to-play with in-app purchases. The release date was revealed during a special YouTube program on July 3. Pre-registrations have already exceeded 1.3 million, triggering milestone rewards such as gacha tickets and cosmetic items. A special event themed around the game is scheduled for October 2026 to celebrate Hololive's 9th anniversary.
Jul 2
Koei Tecmo released the first DLC pack for Dead or Alive 6 Last Round on July 2, 2026. The Marie Rose Knight of Roses Set includes four exclusive color-variant costumes priced at 3,300 yen for the set or 1,320 yen each. A July roadmap promises three more weekly costume packs for Kasumi, NiCO, and Tamaki.