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T O P
2h ago
T.O.P held a fan meeting 'RE:UNION' at Yokohama Pia Arena MM on July 9, 2026, with an all-seat free invitation format for members of his official Japanese fan community 'TOPSX JAPAN'. He read a personal letter, discussed his past decade including 'Squid Game', and thanked fans for waiting. The event featured a music video premiere for 'After the Play Ends' from his April album 'ANOTHER DIMENSION', and he announced that work on a new album is already completed. A brand tour 'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026' begins in Hong Kong on August 15, with a Japan performance on November 6 at Toyota Arena. The event footage will be broadcast on TV Asahi on September 12.
2d ago
Anime News Network published a five-part roundup of Tanabata greetings from across the anime, manga, and video game industries on July 7, 2026. The collection includes wishes and illustrations from official accounts for series such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Detective Conan, My Hero Academia, Sakamoto Days, Doraemon, Chibi Maruko-chan, Hell's Paradise, and Dragon Quest. Video game franchises like Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, and Like a Dragon also participated, alongside creators including Hideo Kojima, Yuki Kaji, and Shoko Nakagawa. Several series tied their posts to new releases: the second season of Yoroi Shin Den Samurai Troopers premiered on July 7, My Happy Marriage released a special Tanabata illustration and announced a three-episode special for 2026, and My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked began airing on July 8. The roundup also features greetings from manga titles like Chiikawa, MARRIAGETOXIN, and Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, as well as from studios Tatsunoko Production and Square Enix.
2d ago
The second cour of the sequel series Yoroi Shinden Samurai Trooper has begun airing. Hina Naota joins the cast as Kaede Narumi, the new DST commander appearing in episode 13. The non-credit opening and ending videos for the second cour have also been released, and Blu-ray BOX volumes 3 and 4 are confirmed.
2d ago
The Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers sequel anime has cast Hina Suguta as Kaede Narumi, the newly appointed DST commander, who appears in the second cour starting with episode 13. The second part of the series debuted on July 7, with new theme songs by Dannie May and karanoah. The anime streams on Crunchyroll.
3d ago
Astro Production officially announced MoonHack on July 7, 2026, as the first title under its new indie game brand ASTRA. The game is an emotional cyber noir adventure with rhythm action elements, set in the year 2125 in a society where emotions, love, and creativity are managed by AI. Players follow Tsukuyomi Kaguya, an illegal old-style AI girl, and other characters branded as criminals for their humanity, as they rebel by rewriting the world's rules through song. MoonHack is scheduled for release on PC via Steam in 2027. The character design is handled by illustrator Noyu, and the music is produced by Ukiyone. A teaser promotional video featuring the song 'DANCE ALL NIGHT' was released alongside the announcement. The voice cast includes Ariyo Hanami as Tsukuyomi Kaguya. The scenario is written by Shin Kedōin, known for the Corpse Party series. The game was previously teased under the working title 'Humanity Optimization Plan Eden Protocol - Order of 2125' before an in-universe hack of its official X account led to the MoonHack reveal.
4d ago
Hasegawa is reissuing the VR-747 Temjin Type a8 White Knight Order 1/100 scale plastic model kit to mark the 30th anniversary of Cyber Troopers Virtual-On. The kit, designed by Hajime Katoki, features four-color molded parts, a Sleipnir Mk.6/w weapon, and White Knight Order decals. It is priced at 5,280 yen and ships October 1, 2026.
Jun 22
Sega announced on June 22, 2026, that Two Point Studios' "Two Point Hospital: Heartful Collection" will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The release date and price have not been set. This definitive edition includes the 2018 base game and all seven paid DLC packs-"Bigfoot," "Pebberley Island," "Close Encounters," "Off the Grid," "Culture Shock," "Stitch in Time," and "Speedy Recovery"-plus all free updates released to date. The collection marks the 10th anniversary of Two Point Studios, founded in 2016 by veterans of "Fable" and "Black & White." The original PC version holds a 92% positive rating on Steam from roughly 26,000 reviews and has sold over 3 million units. A previous console port, the Jumbo Edition, included only four DLC packs. The Heartful Collection brings the full PC DLC lineup to current-generation consoles for the first time. Alongside the announcement, Sega launched the "Two Point Cinematic Universe" animated series and released a free "Two Point Museum" collaboration with "Dave the Diver."
Jun 20
Two Point Studios celebrated its 10th anniversary on June 20 with a live stream that announced Two Point Hospital: Heartful Collection, a complete console edition of the first game, and a Dave the Diver collaboration DLC for Two Point Museum. In a joint interview, studio director Gary Carr and technical director Ben Hymers reflected on the studio's first decade and the pressures of developing the Two Point series.
Jun 19
The staff for the sequel anime Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers released a second promotional video on Friday previewing the ending theme song for the second cours. The second part debuts July 7. New cast members include Tomoaki Maeno, Aya Endō, Hiroshi Shirokuma, Maaya Sakamoto, and Takehito Koyasu.
Jun 17
Ryuichi Hoshino's comic adaptation of Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, originally serialized in Comic BonBon, is now available as e-books on Kindle. Volumes 1 and 2 were released on June 17, 2026, priced at 594 yen each. The manga offers a different take from the original anime.
Jun 16
Astro Production, a video production company, announced the establishment of a new indie game brand called ASTRA on June 16, 2026. The brand plans to develop experience-based action adventure games that emphasize story immersion, emotional music, and integrated visual direction. Titles will launch primarily on Steam, targeting audiences in Japan and Asia.
Jun 13
The original anime Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus Troupe (Grow Up Show: Himawari no Circus-dan) will premiere on July 4 at 24:00 on Tokyo MX, BS11, and other channels, effectively July 5 at midnight. Aniplex, A-1 Pictures, and Psyde Kick Studio released a new main visual and two television commercials on Saturday that preview the opening theme song "Yurari Yureru" by NOMELON NOLEMON and the ending theme song "DAYS!" by Aooo. The series is set in the late 1950s to early 1960s, during Japan's economic boom when traveling circuses were a major form of entertainment. The story follows the Sunflower Circus troupe, led by ringmaster Maria, as they travel Japan despite financial struggles. Their fortunes change when circus prodigy Mizuka Tsurumaki arrives under mysterious circumstances. Tomoka Noda voices Mizuka, and Shiori Kurosaki plays Oka Kawasumi. Kanta Kamei directs, Kurehito Misaki provides original character designs, and Takeshi Kikuchi writes and oversees the series scripts. A-1 Pictures and Psyde Kick Studio are producing. The anime will stream first on ABEMA and d Anime Store in Japan before other platforms.
Jun 1
The staff for the sequel anime Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers announced the second part's theme songs, additional cast, and a July 7 premiere date in a new promotional video. Dannie May performs the opening "Bad Idenshi" and karanoah performs the ending "Bakemon." New cast includes Tomoaki Maeno, Aya Endo, and Hiroshi Shirokuma.
May 30
The original anime "Grow Up Show: The Sunflower Circus Troupe" has released a set of character trailers. The promos focus on the acrobat twins Aoi and Akane Yura, illusionist Imari Ogano, acrobat Isuzu Ikazuchi, flyer Oka Kawasumi, and protagonist Mizuka Tsurumaki. The series is set in 1950s Japan, during the economic boom, when circus troupes travel the country competing for a spot in the "Circus Collection" festival. The story follows Mizuka, a circus prodigy who joins the financially struggling Himawari Circus, led by ringmaster Maria. Kanta Kamei, director of the "Saekano" series, is directing the anime. Takeshi Kikuchi is the series composer and scriptwriter, and Kurehito Misaki is the original character designer. The animation is produced by A-1 Pictures and its Psyde Kick Studio label. The cast includes Tomoka Noda as Mizuka, Rie Kugimiya as Maria, and Shiori Kurosaki as Oka Kawasumi. The anime was announced in July 2025 and is set to premiere in July 2026.
May 16
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced that Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Graue Hexe will reach Japanese theaters as a two-part film series. The first part opens on November 20, 2026. The date arrived with a new trailer and key visuals. Original Votoms creator Ryōsuke Takahashi returns as supervising director. Kenji Kawai, known for his work on Mobile Suit Gundam 00, is composing the score. Mechanical design duties go to Yoshihiro Sono, who worked on Votoms: AT Stories, and Shinobu Tsuneki, whose credits include Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These. The project was first revealed in January 2026. The second film does not yet have a date. Bandai Spirits and Megahouse, two Bandai Namco subsidiaries, will produce merchandise tied to the films. Bandai Spirits plans a High Grade model kit and a Hi-Metal R figure of the Scopedog in a desert color scheme. Megahouse will release 8cm model kits in its VA-KIT Platoon line. More merchandise details are expected at the 64th Shizuoka Hobby Show, which runs May 16 and 17 at Twin Messe Shizuoka.