On June 14, 2026, Japan's six-member boy group BE:FIRST joins pop icon Janet Jackson at K-Arena Yokohama for a special stage collaboration where they will share vocals on the same song. A look at this historic crossover and BE:FIRST's growing global footprint following their first world tour across 12 cities.
Osaka Ohsho, the 55-year-old Japanese gyoza chain, opens its first North American flagship in Sawtelle (Little Osaka), Los Angeles, on May 8, 2026. We unpack the Mitsubishi Shokuhin joint venture, the SNS-driven distribution strategy, the tableside cooking spectacle, and how the brand plans to flip gyoza from a ramen side dish into a main attraction.
Tokyo-based Minyo Crusaders' third album 'From Japan with Love' arrives June 26, and remarkably, North American release comes via the legendary Blue Note Records. Featuring guest vocalists Chitose Hajime, Saya Asakura, and Colombia's Frente Cumbiero, the album reimagines Japanese folk songs through cumbia, Afrobeat, and salsa. Here's why the world is finally discovering Japan's roots music.
ZETA DIVISION's longtime VALORANT analyst gya9 gives his first major interview to eSports World, revealing how a LINE data scientist took an esports side gig that grew into a 5.5-year career behind Japan's historic Reykjavík 2022 bronze run. A deep look at the invisible role that powers competitive VALORANT, written for international fans who only see the players.
TOBE founder Hideaki Takizawa hinted that 'just one more piece' is needed before a major Number_i announcement after their May Sapporo show. We trace the trio's recent moves since signing with WME and unpack what the missing piece could realistically be.
The 8.5-million-copy biblio-mystery series Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou finally gets a TV anime for 2027, produced by CloverWorks with director Mamoru Kanbe (Elfen Lied). Nearly a decade after an anime film was announced but never materialized, fans' long wait is over. Teaser PV and main cast revealed.
Principal photography on A24's Elden Ring movie has begun in London this week. The production has taken over the historic Greenwich Naval College to recreate the game's Royal Capital Leyndell, with leaked set photos showing medieval market scenes, armored soldiers, and dry-ice atmosphere. Additional shoots are planned in Scotland and Iceland. Budget reportedly well over $100M, A24's most ambitious project ever with ~100 days of principal photography.
Ahead of the April 24 Japan release, Shigeru Miyamoto made a surprise appearance at the Super Mario Galaxy Movie Japanese premiere. With $700M global box office and three straight weeks at #1 in North America, Miyamoto joined Mamoru Miyano and the Japanese dub cast on stage. Plus: the long-running fan joke that Nintendo bans Miyamoto from discussing his hobbies because they become the next game.
The first-ever live-action Gundam film in the franchise's 47-year history has begun filming in Australia. Netflix handles global distribution with Sydney Sweeney, Noah Centineo, and Shioli Kutsuna leading the cast. We break down how it differs from past attempts, where international fans can watch, and the Legendary x Bandai Namco production.
Fujii Kaze's official Coachella 2026 Week 2 performance of 'Prema' is now on YouTube. On the same day, he announced Asian dates for his 'Prema World Tour' (Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Seoul), plus a 2027 summer run through Germany, UK, France, and six North American cities. After calling Week 1 'messy' and bouncing back in Week 2, here's where he goes next.
FromSoftware and Hidetaka Miyazaki's action RPG Elden Ring is getting a live-action movie on March 3, 2028. Alex Garland (Civil War, Ex Machina) directs for A24 (Midsommar, Everything Everywhere All at Once), with Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw, and Cailee Spaeny headlining a star-studded cast. Reportedly A24's most expensive production at $100M+, filmed for IMAX.
Sanrio pivots from licensing to in-house publishing with a new brand, Sanrio Games. First title Sanrio Party Land drops worldwide on Switch in fall 2026, with roughly 10 games planned by 2029. How it connects to the global cozy game boom.
Hideaki Sorachi, creator of Gintama, returned to Weekly Shonen Jump on April 20, 2026 after a 7-year hiatus with Class 2-B Hero Destroyerz. The 66-page opening color chapter has split Japanese fans, while overseas readers on MANGA Plus and Viz have responded more warmly. Will Jump protect its only gag manga, or is it already on the cancellation track?
Japanese R&B and soul singer-songwriter Furui Riho, whose voice is rooted in gospel, will hold her Billboard Live Tour 'The Garden' across Tokyo, Osaka, and Taipei in September 2026. The Taipei show marks her first-ever solo overseas concert. Here's the full schedule, venue access, and how international fans can buy tickets through her official fan club DAYSY.
Bandai Namco has revealed Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 for a 2027 release. The long-awaited sequel takes players to AGE 1000, a future Dragon Ball world featuring original characters designed by the late Akira Toriyama himself. Coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.
YOASOBI announces 'NEVER ENDING STORIES', their biggest-ever North American tour. 8 dates including OSHEAGA and Lollapalooza, closing at LA's 17,500-capacity Hollywood Bowl. Powered by Crunchyroll, with English EP 'E-SIDE 4' dropping alongside. Full dates, venues, and ticket info.
Chuya Koyama's Space Brothers manga concludes June 11, 2026 in Morning issue 28 after 18 years and 432 chapters. We break down the 2-week cover treatment, 35 million copies sold, Crunchyroll anime streaming, and how fans worldwide are saying goodbye.
ONE PIECE characters suit up in NBA team jerseys for a landmark crossover. From Luffy in Lakers purple to Enel defending for the Thunder, here's everything you need to know about the collab T-shirts, towels, stickers, posters, and figures, plus how overseas fans might get their hands on them.
The first teaser for Godzilla Minus Zero has sent Japanese social media into overdrive. Floating debris in a blue light sparked King Ghidorah theories, fans spotted a Type 2 flying boat, and Godzilla's New York landing left viewers stunned. Here's how Japan is reacting to the sequel to the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One.
Sony Pictures officially announced a Bloodborne R-rated animated movie at CinemaCon 2026, produced by YouTuber Jacksepticeye and PlayStation Productions. While fans celebrate the gothic horror IP's return, many still want a PC port, PS5 60fps patch, or sequel that Sony refuses to deliver.