A full rundown of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 winners. My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON took Anime of the Year over Dandadan, the most-nominated title of the night. Here is how Japanese fans reacted to a result they call both fair and surprising.
Kenshi Yonezu's 'Peace Sign'—the My Hero Academia Season 2 opening theme—was certified Gold by the RIAA in May 2026. Following 'KICK BACK' (Gold + Platinum), this is his third RIAA certification, making him the only artist ever to receive three certifications for Japanese-language songs. We unpack the milestone, its overlap with MHA's 10th anniversary, and the 2025 JUNK world tour that drew 440,000 fans.
LINE Manga celebrated its 13th anniversary with a 'Favorite Manga Election,' drawing 2.89 million votes. One Piece took 5 categories, while Demon Slayer and Korean webtoon Teenage Mercenary scored 2 each. The poll reveals how Japan's manga market now blends domestic shonen classics with Korean webtoons — and how international readers can access these titles abroad.
MAN WITH A MISSION announces their 2026 world tour "MARKING NEW GROUND," spanning 10 cities across 7 countries. The wolf-headed rock band will make their first-ever appearances in Chile and Brazil, share the main stage with Iron Maiden at Spain's Resurrection Fest, and perform at Zipangu — the largest Japanese music festival ever held in the US. A deep dive into how anime theme songs built their global fanbase and what this tour means for Japanese rock worldwide.
Detective Conan cosplay and merchandise have been banned at anime events across China. The trigger: a collaboration with My Hero Academia, a manga boycotted in China over a character name linked to Japan's wartime Unit 731. With state media joining the backlash and even traditional Japanese clothing banned at events, we explore how anime culture collides with historical tensions between China and Japan.