The Prince of Tennis Characters Appear on anan Back Cover
The anan back cover marks a rare cross-promotion between a lifestyle magazine and a long-running shonen franchise, timed to the conclusion of the manga's sequel and the 25th anniversary of the anime.
Key Facts
- The Prince of Tennis characters appear on the back cover of anan issue 2504, released July 15, 2026.
- The back cover features Ryoma Echizen, Kunimitsu Tezuka, Syusuke Fuji, and Ryoga Echizen in casual summer clothing.
- The remastered games are compatible with Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam.
- The New Prince of Tennis manga will conclude in the September 2026 issue of Jump SQ., released August 4, ending 27 years of serialization.
Reporting from 3 sources: KAI-YOU, Nijimen, Anime Anime.
Four characters from the manga and game franchise The Prince of Tennis will appear on the back cover of the July 15, 2026 issue of the magazine anan (issue 2504). The cover features Ryoma Echizen, Kunimitsu Tezuka, Syusuke Fuji, and Ryoga Echizen in casual summer clothing, described as an anan-exclusive special gravure. The collaboration promotes the July 30 release of two remastered romance adventure games: The Prince of Tennis: Motto Gakuen-sai no Ouji-sama ♡ -40 and more... and The Prince of Tennis: Gyutto! Doki Doki Survival Tie break ♡ game. These are updated versions of PlayStation 2 titles originally released between 2005 and 2007, and they will be compatible with Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam. The magazine's back reading pages will include a report on the games. The Prince of Tennis manga by Takeshi Konomi began serialization in 1999, and its sequel The New Prince of Tennis will conclude in the September 2026 issue of Jump SQ. on August 4, ending a 27-year run. The anime adaptation, which started in 2001, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with projects planned through December 2027. A fan event called Tenipuri Surprise Summit is scheduled for July 19 at Tokyo International Forum Hall A, featuring Konomi and voice actors.
The back cover image, released on July 7 via the anan official X account, shows the four characters in casual summer outfits that Nijimen describes as an "off" atmosphere, different from their serious expressions on the tennis court. The anan account's post read: "Their casual outfits, only seen here, and the back page will report in detail on the games releasing July 30."
Fan reactions on social media included comments such as "Too good," "Is this the Tenipuri anan debut?! Should I buy it as a memento?", and "These are my absolute favorite four, I'm holding my head," according to Anime Anime and Nijimen.
The Tenipuri Surprise Summit event on July 19 will feature author Takeshi Konomi and voice actors Junko Minagawa (Ryoma Echizen), Ryotaro Okiayu (Kunimitsu Tezuka), Takayuki Kondo (Syusuke Fuji), Yuki Kaida (Ryoga Echizen), and Junichi Suwabe, as reported by KAI-YOU.
The remastered games, set at a school festival and a deserted island, include remastered graphics, remade stills, and new illustrations. The Prince of Tennis anime, which began airing in October 2001, has projects planned through December 2027 as part of its 25th anniversary year. The New Prince of Tennis U-17 WORLD CUP Finals Member Selection Match is set to air in fall 2026.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.