M.A.O is attached to four 2026 anime roles, including Nanami in Magical Explorer, Dike in Tensei Goblin dakedo Shitsumon Aru?, Mitsuya in The Stepmother and Stepsisters Who Don't Bully Me, and Celene Yang in Iron Wok Jan!, and she is cast as Reiko Akimoto in the New Kochikame anime set for 2027 on Fuji TV.
M.A.O has been announced in five anime roles across the past year, four of them for series premiering in 2026 and one for a 2027 revival. Her earliest 2026 credit is Celene Yang in the Iron Wok Jan! television adaptation, which premieres July 5 on TV Tokyo and its affiliates. She then appears as Mitsuya in The Stepmother and Stepsisters Who Don't Bully Me, premiering July 8, and as Dike in Tensei Goblin dakedo Shitsumon Aru?, airing in October. She is also cast as Nanami in Magical Explorer, debuting in fall 2026 at WHITE FOX, a role she first voiced in a promotional video for the original light novel series.
The Kochikame announcement is the outlier in format. The new adaptation, titled New Kochikame: Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo, is set for a 2027 airing on Fuji TV and streaming across multiple platforms, with animation production by Gallop and Akitaro Daichi directing. M.A.O joins Fukushi Ochiai as Ryotsu Kankichi, Shouta Aoi as Keiichi Nakagawa, and Raiko Sakamoto as Daijiro Ohara, a cast announced during a live-streamed event on September 5 on the Jump Channel. The project marks the 50th anniversary of the original manga's serialization, and a character PV and key visual were released alongside the announcement.
Coverage of the casting announcement diverged on one staff detail: one report names Jiro Akatsuki as director. The most detailed account of the event names Akitaro Daichi. Other than that discrepancy, the four principal roles and the 2027 Fuji TV window are consistent across the stories.
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When a claim about M・A・O was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
Glacier Bay Books said on Bluesky on Friday that its manga are being added to Sweet Shop, a new digital comics platform. Available now on the app are Pandora, Dream Another Dream, Mothers, Red Riding Hood's Wolf Apprentice, Red Riding Hood's Wolf Apprentice II, Rabbit Game, Children of Mu-Town, and Ripples. More titles are on the way.
Kadokawa announced five additional cast members for the television anime of Kureha's Bride of the Barrier Master light novel series on Monday, alongside a new teaser promotional video and third teaser visual. Kanon Takao joins as Hazuki Ichise, Hana's twin sister. Hiroto Shimizu plays Nozomi Ichinomiya, Saku's younger brother. Yuzuki Tamukai voices Azuha, Hana's shikigami that rests on her hair like an ornament. Taihi Kimura and M.A.O play Aoi and Miyabi, two shikigami in human form created by Hana. They join previously announced leads Akari Kito as Hana Ichise and Kikunosuke Toya as Saku Ichinomiya. The anime debuts in January 2027. TROYCA animates the series, with Toru Kitahata directing, Yuko Kakihara handling series scripts, and Minami Murayama on character designs. Yen Press publishes the light novels and manga adaptation in English.
Strange Scaffold developed Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?!, a driving, auto-battler, and visual novel hybrid published by Frosty Pop and Strange Scaffold. It launched July 29, 2026 on PC via Steam and Xbox Series X|S at 2,300 yen. The player drives a truck at 120 km/h through a city, running over pedestrians; those souls become monsters in another world, where a reincarnated office worker levels up by defeating them.
The new anime adaptation of Osamu Akimoto's long-running comedy manga Kochikame, titled New Kochikame: Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo, will air on Fuji TV and stream across multiple platforms in 2027. The project marks the 50th anniversary of the original manga's serialization. The main cast was announced during a live-streamed event on September 5 on the Jump Channel, with Fukushi Ochiai voicing protagonist Ryotsu Kankichi, Shouta Aoi as Keiichi Nakagawa, M·A·O as Reiko Akimoto, and Raiko Sakamoto as Daijiro Ohara. Akitaro Daichi directs the series, with animation production by Gallop, the studio behind the earlier Kochikame TV anime. A character PV, which reveals the new cast's voices for the first time, and a key visual were released alongside the announcement. Original creator Osamu Akimoto expressed delight at hearing the characters again, noting the art has evolved to a modern style while remaining impactful and funny. The cast announcement event, titled "Start! Reiwa Kochikame Grand Strategy," remains available as an archive on YouTube.
A livestream for Shin Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo revealed the main cast and staff, plus a promotional video and visual. The new Kochikame anime will debut in 2027 on Fuji TV and stream on various platforms. Fukushi Ochiai stars as Kankichi Ryotsu, with Shota Aoi as Keiichi Nakagawa, M.A.O as Reiko Akimoto, and Raiko Sakamoto as Daijiro Ohara.
The cast and staff for New Kochikame, the 50th anniversary anime project based on Osamu Akimoto's Kochikame, have been revealed. Fukushi Ochiai voices Kankichi Ryotsu, with Shouta Aoi, M·A·O, and Raiko Sakamoto in supporting roles. Jiro Akatsuki directs. The series airs on Fuji TV in 2027 and will stream on various platforms.
Strange Scaffold released Truck-kun is Supporting Me From Another World?! for PC and Xbox Series X|S on July 29. Players drive a truck that runs over townspeople, turning them into monsters sent to Carissa, who defeats them for experience points. The goal is to obtain the Scroll of Resurrection from the Skeleton King. The game does not support Japanese and costs 2,300 yen.
D3 Publisher announced on August 25 that Earth Defense Force 6.2 INVADERS FROM ANOTHER WORLD, a powered-up version of Earth Defense Force 6, will launch for PlayStation 5 in 2027. The price is undecided. The game is a major renewal of the 2022 title, modified to take advantage of PS5 specifications with visual evolution and new elements. The number of enemies has been increased to approximately double that of the original at maximum, which sources describe as the largest swarm in series history. More than half of the existing missions have been renewed, and enemies that previously appeared only in Earth Defense Force 6's additional DLC will now appear in the main game. A weapon customization system has been added, allowing players to obtain enhancement devices from item boxes dropped by defeated enemies, such as custom bullets that add a burning effect to assault rifles or rocket rounds with a freezing effect. A new species of giant mushroom-shaped enemies has also been revealed, with mushroom towns serving as stages. The game will be playable at the D3 Publisher booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held from September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe, where part of the weapon customization experience will be available.
The Tottoko Hamtaro collaboration cafe Tottoko Hamchanzu CAFE runs August 28 to September 29 at THE CHARA CAFE in Shibuya. All 15 characters appear in strawberry-themed artwork, with 15 types of acrylic stands, coasters, and other goods. Food and dessert menus start at 1,800 yen, drinks at 900 yen.
The indoor theme park NAMJATOWN will host the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba event Demon Dwelling Town from August 21 to October 4, 2026. ufotable drew new illustrations of eight characters, including Akaza, Rui, Daki, and Gyutaro. The venue will sell original goods, offer mini-games and a rally, and serve themed food.
The July 31, 2026 Amazon Kindle Manga Best Seller Ranking is led by Ramen Revisited Volume 15, with The Apothecary Diaries Volume 17 and Villainess Level 99 Volume 6 also popular. Pre-orders for upcoming volumes, including Isekai Izakaya Nobu Volume 22, dominate the list. The ranking reflects recent releases and sale items as of 5:00 PM on July 31.
Bandai Namco Experience announced that Nyanja Town, the cat interaction facility inside the indoor theme park NAMJATOWN, will close on September 30. Operations end with the contract expiration, and the cats will move to P2 Pet World Torias Kuyama Store in Fukuoka Prefecture, managed by P2 and Associates.
Strange Scaffold and Frosty Pop released Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! on July 29, 2026, for PC via Steam and Xbox Series X|S. The driving action game casts the player as a truck driver who accidentally reincarnates an elf girl named Carissa into another world. To help her return, the player drives around the American rural town of Wenvaile, running over pedestrians who transform into monsters and are sent to Carissa to defeat for experience points. The goal is to steal the Scroll of Resurrection from the Skeleton King. Police pursue the player, and the game includes package delivery and star-based objectives tied to a Galactic Gate. The Steam price is 2,300 yen, with a 20 percent discount to 1,840 yen until August 13. The game does not support Japanese. The soundtrack is by David Mason, known for Dredge. Early reviews on Metacritic give the PC version a score of 68 across 13 reviews, with praise for the premise and criticism of repetition.
OceanVeil announced it will stream English dubs for the anime Overflow and Love from Above. Overflow's dub has no release date yet, while Love from Above's dub debuts August 8 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. Cast and staff details for both dubs were revealed.
Meadow is a 2016 MMO from Might and Delight in which players become animals and explore an open world with no combat, no chat, and no survival pressure. Communication is limited to emotes. The only cooperative activity is gathering at obelisks to destroy them together. The article makes the case that the game's real draw is aimless wandering and the ephemeral, once-in-a-lifetime encounters with strangers.
The official website for the television anime adaptation of Iris and Noboru Kannatsuki's Magical Explorer light novel series announced on Friday that M.A.O will voice the character Nanami. M.A.O previously voiced Nanami in a promotional video for the original light novel series. The anime is set to debut in fall 2026. The cast includes Nobunaga Shimazaki as Kōsuke Takioto, Ai Kakuma as Ludie, and Saori Ōnishi as Yukine Mizumori. Kazuki Ohashi is directing the anime at WHITE FOX, with Satoko Sekine handling series composition, Ryosuke Kimiya designing characters, and Kenichiro Suehiro composing the music. Yen Press publishes the light novel series and the manga adaptation. The story follows a protagonist reincarnated as the unlucky friend character in a legendary eroge who uses his game knowledge to lead heroines to happy endings. The light novel series began in February 2018 on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, and Kadokawa published the 13th volume on April 1. The manga adaptation launched in August 2020.
Strange Scaffold announced its new action game Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! will launch on Steam on July 30, 2026. Players drive a magical truck, reincarnating pedestrians into another world where protagonist Carissa Ward fights them as monsters. A demo is available during Steam Next Fest.
The TV anime The Stepmother and Stepsisters Who Don't Bully Me, based on the original work by Otsuji, will premiere on July 8. The main PV, additional cast, and theme song information have been revealed. Miyari Nemoto, Yumi Uchiyama, and M·A·O join the cast as Yaeko Kōzō, Nagomi, and Mitsuya respectively. Lia performs the opening theme Amakage no Akogare, and AVAM performs the ending theme Clair.
Frosty Pop announced that the isekai reincarnation truck rampage simulator 'Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?!' will launch on PC via Steam and Xbox Series X|S on July 29. A demo arrives during Steam Next Fest starting June 16. Players drive a runaway truck marked with a '異' symbol, run over townspeople to turn them into monsters, and send them to the other world to help the reincarnated protagonist Carissa gain experience and defeat the Skeleton King.
The TV anime Tensei Goblin dakedo Shitsumon Aru? has announced four new cast members: Banjo Ginga as Count Simon, Sayumi Suzushiro as Eirene, M·A·O as Dike, and Wakana Kuramochi as Eunomia. The series is set to air in October.
The television anime adaptation of Shinji Saijyo's cooking manga "Iron Wok Jan!" has revealed five new cast members, a July 5 premiere date, and a main promotional video. The seven-member dance vocal group Genin wa Jibun ni Aru. performs the opening theme song "Hien" (Fire Banquet). New cast additions include Masuo Amada as Nichido Otani, M.A.O as Celene Yang, Takahiro Sakurai as Kei Sawada, Taishi Murata as Tomohide Jun, and Yusuke Kobayashi as Yuji Kawahara. Previously announced lead cast members are Kikunosuke Toya as Jan Akiyama, Ikumi Hasegawa as Kiriko Gobancho, Kohei Amasaki as Takao Okonogi, and Kenjiro Tsuda as narrator. Ei Aoki (Fate/Zero, Aldnoah.Zero) directs the series at studio TROYCA, with Makoto Uezu handling series scripts and Masako Matsumoto designing characters. The anime will air Sundays at 5:30 p.m. JST on TV Tokyo and its affiliates. The original manga ran in Weekly Shonen Champion from 1995 to 2000 across 27 volumes, and the franchise has over 10 million copies in circulation.