Sae Okamoto’s Mecha-Ude project has attracted worldwide attention, and now, a full anime and manga series have been announced! Okamoto’s up-and-coming anime production company TriF Studio, located in Fukuoka, will work on the series, which follows Hikaru, a normal student, and Alma, a Mecha-Ude wielder who can be activated when he bonds with a human. 

Yoshino Koyoka has also started publishing a manga adaptation of the series on LINE Manga and other ebookjapan services. Three free chapters were published on September 15, and the series will run bi-weekly. TriF Studio will supervise and provide the story.

A documentary video teasing the anime series and giving more information about TriF Studio has also been uploaded to YouTube. The video shows that the pilot’s theme song was written by Eve with a music video produced by Masayoshi Oishi. Hiroshi Matsuyama, the CEO of CyberConnect2, serves as the general supervisor of the series. Terumi Nishii, the chief animation director for the popular series Jujutsu Kaisen, worked on character designs for Mecha-Ude. 

The average staff age at TriF is 25, which is incredibly young for an animation studio. What can we expect from such a unique collection of creators? 

Be sure to keep an eye on this new anime and manga project!

(C)TriF/「メカウデ」製作委員会

Azur Lane has become a popular mobile game worldwide, and to celebrate its continued success, Pony Canyon will release a 1/7 scale figure of the character Noshiro in 2023. Preorders will open simultaneously worldwide on September 8, 2022 at 11:00.

Noshiro has been a popular character since the game was released, ranking highly in the 2021 Character Popularity Pill. This will be her first figure, and fans will adore her expression and coloring. Her glossy black hair, powerful eyes, and slender legs are gorgeous, and this large figure will become the focal point of any room. 

Pre-orders are now open in Japan at Pony Canyon’s official online anime shop Canime and Amiami. In addition, Canime will be offering an acrylic stand and Amiami will be offering an A2-sized clear poster as store perks, both of which will be based on original illustrations from the game!

©2017 Manjuu Co., Ltd. & Yongshi Co., Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.
©2017 Yostar, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

To celebrate the release of KISS xxxx Collector’s Edition, the compilation of Maki Kusumoto’s classic manga series, a collaboration cafe will be held at Ginza’s Zikkai Library Bar from August 2 until September 28, 2022.

KISS xxxx, the second installment of the Kusumoto Maki Collection, a series of beloved editions of Maki Kusumoto’s works published by Shogakukan Creative, includes illustrations that have never been included in the previous books, as well as spin-off works published or announced outside the serialized magazines, for a total of three volumes. An original postcard will also be included in each volume. 

KISS xxxx Collector’s Edition Collaboration Menu

KISS xxxx Collectors Edition Volume 1 Cover

About KISS xxxx

Kameno and Kanon. These mysterious lovers live simple lives, and each day is standard. 

This landmark work tells an immortal love story, impacting a generation of readers. This reprint brings the story back to life in higher quality, so why not jump in?

A limited-time pop-up shop for the manga series The Summer Hikaru Died will be held at TLC RECORDS at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro from October 8 until October 23, 2022.

Manga Synopsis

Yoshiki and Hikaru are two boys who live in a certain village. They’re the same age and have always been together growing up. But one day, Yoshiki noticed that “something else” has taken Hikaru’s place. Even after learning of this, Yoshiki still wants them to be together. And so, his life with the “something” that looks like his friend begins.

The first volume of The Summer Hikaru Died was released this year by Kadokawa and managed to sell over 200,000 copies in under three months. The series has also been nominated for the Next Manga Awards 2022.

Fans of mystery and boys’ love won’t want to miss out on this series. The pop-up shop will feature new merchandise including newly-drawn images by the manga’s creator Ren Mokumoku.

©モクモクれん/KADOKAWA

Tokyo City View, an incredible venue on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, will hold the first large-scale exhibition of GeGeGe no Kitaro creator Shigeru Mizuki’s works from July 8 to September 4, 2022. The event marks the creator’s 100th birthday, though Mizuki himself passed away in November 2015 at 93 years old.

During “The Yokai of Shigeru Mizuki: Nightly Procession of Monsters ~This is How the Monsters were Born~,” guests will be able to step into Mizuki’s world while also enjoying a breathtaking view of Tokyo. The exhibition will unravel how many of the manga creator’s monsters came to be, and a number of yokai-related books from Mizuki’s personal collection will be on display including The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons (Gazu Hyakki Yagyo) by Sekien Toriyama and A Discourse on Yokai (Yokai Dangi) by Kunio Yanagita. Over 100 of Mizuki’s yokai drawings will be on display.

Items at a Glance

Exclusive merchandise will be able to purchase on-site at the special shop ‘Nekoya.’ These items are only available during the exhibition!

From mugs and keychains to T-shirts and sweets, fans of Mizuki’s works will find something to love!

Visitors will be able to use the AR camera in the Street Museum XR sightseeing app to take photos with five yokai hidden within the venue. Using a smartphone, scanning certain key visuals will summon monsters, so don’t miss this neat addition to the event!

At the entrance, visitors will be greeted by bronze statues inspired by the yokai statues that line Sakaiminato City in Tottori Prefecture, Mizuki’s birthplace, as well as windows decorated with lanterns bearing the names of different yokai. Using the AR camera, a giant Gashadokuro will appear (basically a huge and terrifying skeleton). In the final area of the exhibition, guests can snap a picture with the yokai they found along the way!

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How to Access the AR ‘Youkai Camera’
After installing the Street Museum XR sightseeing app, select ‘The Yokai of Shigeru Mizuki: Nightly Procession of Monsters” on the map of Tokyo and activate the AR camera.

*Guests must download the Street Museum app.
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/machikadowomyujiamuni-sutoritomyujiamu/id1151091144
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.toppan.streetmuseum.android

(C)水木プロダクション

MEDICOM TOY’s iconic BE@RBRICK block figure is getting a BAPE®︎ CAMO makeover! The collaborative figures will come in two colors–gold and silver–and two sizes. They will be released on June 4, 2022. 

BE@RBRICK BAPE®︎ CAMO SHARK 100% & 400% GOLD / SILVER

Don’t miss out on these special collector’s items!

An anime adaptation of the Nitroplus, Good Smile Company, and NextNinja mobile RPG Smile of the Arsnotoria will premiere on July 6 on TOKYO MX and BS Nippon TV.

The main cast will include Misaki Kuno as Arsnotoria, Miharu Hanai as Mel, Miyu Tomita as Petit Albert, Eri Yukimura as Picatrix, and Eriko Matsui as Abramelin. The teaser visual also features original characters made specifically for the anime adaptation. More information will be released in June, so stay tuned!

Teaser Trailer

The RPG will also receive a manga adaptation in Kadokawa’s Monthly Dragon Age magazine starting June 9. Drawn by Hattori Masaki, the series will follow the events of the anime. 

The series will also receive a spin-off story centered on a character original to the anime. Details surrounding this still remain a mystery.

Be sure to tune in when the anime premieres in July!

Summary

“Welcome to our secret academy.” 

In the magical boarding school city of Ashram, girls known as Pentagramas live their lives and study to become “real ladies.” It’s time for you to experience the friendly, fun, and fascinating atmosphere of the campus while living alongside these girls in the school dorm!

©NITRO PLUS/GOOD SMILE COMPANY, Inc.
©Smile of the Arsnotoria the Animation Partners

Tokyo’s Sumida Aquarium welcomed three new baby Magellanic penguins on April 14! This marks the 10th year in a row that the location has seen new baby penguins born. 

Magellanic penguins start their breeding season in March each year, finishing in May. The first baby born this year, Daifuku, hatched on April 14, becoming Sumida Aquarium’s first second-generation penguin. Komari hatched on April 20 and Shiratama hatched on April 30.

The penguins were given names signifying good luck and joy. Komari and Shiratama both evoke images of ‘circles’ in Japanese, with the aquarium hoping that the penguins will sever as a link to guests.

All three babies will make their public debut towards the end of June in the designated penguin pool. The Sumida Aquarium Twitter feed will provide updates about how the babies are progressing, so be sure to keep an eye out!

The second volume of the CLAMP PREMIUM COLLECTION will feature the popular series Tokyo Babylon! The manga group has begun re-releasing their most famous works in gorgeous new editions, so fans won’t want to miss adding these to their shelves. 

Tokyo Babylon is one of CLAMP’s masterpieces, serialized from 1990 until 1993. The volumes will be released in order starting June 3, and each will feature new cover art. Those purchasing a complete set will receive an acrylic stand inspired by the original release.

Recently, CLAMP has begun releasing original art reproductions from 32 of their most famous works. The second round of illustrations has been announced, pulling from Tokyo Babylon, X, Wish, Kobato, Clamp School Detectives, Man of Many Faces, and RG Veda. Preorders open June 1.

(C)CLAMP・ShigatsuTsuitachi CO.,LTD.

Shueisha is currently offering a ton of manga for free as part of Haruman!! 2022. The campaign is running until May 15 at participating locations and tons of digital manga series are available for download.

©Shueisha

During Haruman!! 2022, users can read over 305 digital titles for free. This year’s theme is ‘Manga Festival,’ and manga fans can find both recent and classic titles. Why not catch up on some manga history while you can?

A collaboration with the popular VTuber agency Hololive is also underway. One of the group’s manga-loving members will be chosen each day to serve as Editor-in-Chief of an original manga magazine.

Popular authors are also commemorating the occasion with new illustrations. Eleven artists from Shueisha’s manga department have drawn popular VTubers, and these awesome images are available exclusively on the Haruman!! website.

Stream Date: April 23, 2022

Participants: Shueisha x Hololive Traveling Editorial Department

Streaming Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJFZiqLMntJufDCHc6bQixg

©Shueisha

In collaboration with puzzle game creators RIDDLER, ‘The Search for the Great Manga King’s Treasure’ will be held. Pulling inspiration from One Piece, which is currently celebrating 25 years of serialization, fans will have to find clues to solve a massive mystery.

Find your new favorite manga series during Haruman!! 2022.

Dead Dead Demon’s De De De De Destruction, a popular series by Inio Asano, is about to come to its big conclusion in Weekly Big Comic Spirits. To coincide with the climax, the Tower Records Cafe Omotesando store will hold a collaboration cafe for a limited time, from February 3 until February 27, 2022.

Menu

Round 1 Exclusives

Round 2 Exclusives

Available During Round 1 & Round 2

Collaboration Bonuses

Bonus Postcard (Top 4 limited to Round 1, Bottom 4 limited to Round 2, Right available during both Rounds)

Bonus Poster

Bonus Sticker

Merchandise

Acrylic Keychain (6 varieties)

Pin (6 varieties)

2-pack Clear Folder Set

Towel

Mug

Tote Bag

T-shirt

Hoodie

Original menu items inspired by the characters from Dead Dead Demon’s De De De De Destruction, such as Kadode and Ouran, will be available. The Tower Records exclusive illustration of the two was made for the event and will be distributed to cafe visitors while supplies last. New collaborative merchandise will also be available at Tower Records Abeno Hoop and Tower Records Online.

©浅野いにお／小学館

From December 11, 2021 until January 30, 2022, a large-scale exhibition paying tribute to Kentaro Miura’s Berserk was held at Hirakata Park Event Hall in Osaka. The special merchandise released for the event is now available again, this time on the ARTIMATION online shop.

ARTIMATION x Berserk

Unreleased Items from the Berserk Exhibition (Only available at the ARTIMATION Online Shop)

This lineup is sure to please not only Berserk fans but those overseas who were unable to attend the event. Certain items not sold at the venue are also available exclusively on the ARTIMATION online store, so check it out!