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Xian Skyrider

Manga Anime, News, Shop and Merchandise

Chiikawa Movie UT Tees Drop in Japan Today, Uniqlo Singapore Gets Them Mid-August

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The Chiikawa × Uniqlo movie UT collection went live in Japan today — and Singapore Uniqlo is confirmed to carry it from mid-August.

Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island – tropical island key visual
Key visual for Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island, opening in Japan 24 July 2026. © Nagano / Chiikawa Movie Production Committee

What’s in the collection

Launching today (17 July) at Uniqlo Japan stores and online, the Chiikawa movie UT collection includes eight graphic tees — four women’s cuts at ¥1,500 each and four kids’ sizes at ¥990 — all featuring original artwork drawn from scenes in Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island. The designs lean into the island holiday aesthetic: flower crowns, grass skirts, and all three main characters looking cheerful about whatever the Siren Arc is about to put them through.

Three sweatshirt styles follow on 24 July — the same day the film opens in Japan — rounding out the collection for the Japanese market.

Chiikawa movie goods banner featuring Usagi in island grass skirt and flower crown
The island-themed outfits carry across the full movie merch line. © chiikawa.toho-movie.jp

Singapore: mid-August

Uniqlo Singapore has confirmed the collection is coming in mid-August 2026. No exact date has been announced yet, but the range is already listed on the Uniqlo SG website. Chiikawa UT drops here tend to move quickly, so mid-August is worth marking.

About the film

Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island is the first theatrical film for Nagano’s manga, adapting the Siren Arc — the storyline where Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi head to a mysterious island promising “basically free” food in exchange for some tasks. As you’d expect, it’s not entirely what it seems.

Chiikawa movie limited theater-entry bonus keychains showing characters in island outfits, distributing from 24 July
Limited-quantity theater-entry bonus keychains, distributed from 24 July. The same island outfit aesthetic inspired the UT designs. © chiikawa.toho-movie.jp

Directed by Oikawa Kei with animation by Cygames Pictures, the film opens in Japan on 24 July in IMAX and standard formats. Haruka Aoki, Makoto Tanaka, and Ari Ozawa reprise their roles as Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi respectively. Singapore release date is still TBC.

Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — teaser trailer (via Far East Films)

For the full movie breakdown including the Singapore release situation, see our earlier post: Chiikawa’s First Movie Opens 24 July — Is Singapore Next?

Short version: The UT tees are live in Japan now. Singapore Uniqlo gets them mid-August. Set a reminder.

News, Shop and Merchandise

Godzilla × Sanrio Characters: Hello Kitty Goes Kaiju — Merch Hits Japan 22 July

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Toho and Sanrio have pulled off one of the sweetest cross-franchise collabs of 2026: seven of Sanrio’s most beloved characters are suiting up as Godzillas from five different film eras, and the merchandise arrives at Japanese retailers on 22 July 2026.

Sanrio Characters Dressed Across 70 Years of Godzilla

The lineup draws from the full sweep of the Godzilla franchise rather than sticking to a single era, which is exactly what makes it so nerdy-fun. Each Sanrio character is paired with a specific version of the King of the Monsters:

  • Hello Kitty — the 1954 original, grey-scaled and roaring
  • Cinnamoroll — also the 1954 Godzilla, complete with his floppy ears still visible inside the suit
  • My Melody — the Heisei-era Burning Godzilla, rendered in warm reddish-brown
  • Kuromi — a dark, spiked version drawing on the MechaGodzilla design
  • My Sweet Piano — a creamy beige kaiju variant all her own
  • Pompompurin — a fire-chested Godzilla with glowing orange accents
  • Hangyodon — a sleek dark-blue variant with distinctive shoulder fins

The official key art shows all seven marching side by side, Godzilla footprints and Sanrio motifs — bows, skulls, apples, swirls — scattered across the background. It should not work as well as it does.

Godzilla Sanrio Characters flat merch — stickers, acrylic stands and keychains
Image courtesy of Toho / Sanrio

Full Merch Lineup and Prices

The collection spans a wide range of price points, from affordable flat goods to collectible plush pieces:

  • Plush mascot keychains (マスコット) — ¥3,080 (~S$28) each; Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Kuromi, Pompompurin, Hangyodon, and My Sweet Piano all available, each with a ball-chain and a hidden zip detail at the back
  • 3D rubber keychains (立体マスコットキーホルダー) — seven characters in soft-rubber form on coloured strap clips
  • 3-link acrylic keychains — three characters on a single keychain set
  • Random mini acrylic stands (blind box) — ¥660 (~S$6); 10 types plus one secret variant
  • Die-cut stickers and flake sticker sheets — from ¥660 (~S$6)
  • Embroidered mini towels (刺繍ミニタオル) — ¥990 (~S$9) in three colourways, printed with character motifs and Godzilla footprints
  • Melamine tumbler (メラミンタンブラー) — ¥935 (~S$8.50); features a sweet surprise — once the drink is gone, a hidden Piano-chan illustration appears at the bottom of the cup
Godzilla Sanrio 3D rubber mascot keychains featuring Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Kuromi, Pompompurin and Hangyodon
Image courtesy of Toho / Sanrio

On Sale 22 July at the Godzilla Store, Don Quijote and Bic Camera

The collection hits three retail channels simultaneously across Japan on 22 July 2026: the official Godzilla Store (Tokyo and other locations), Don Quijote branches nationwide, and Bic Camera stores. The wide retail spread gives the collab real reach beyond the niche collector market.

Godzilla Sanrio embroidered mini towels and melamine tumbler with hidden Piano-chan surprise at the bottom
Image courtesy of Toho / Sanrio

No international shipping or online storefront has been confirmed at time of writing, which makes this effectively an import-only line for Singapore fans. If you have a Japan trip planned this summer’s school holidays — and Don Quijote is already on your Tokyo itinerary — this is one more reason to budget some extra baggage space. Proxy and forwarding services are the other obvious route if you cannot make it in person.

Godzilla Sanrio plush mascot keychains — Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Kuromi, Pompompurin and Hangyodon in full kaiju costume
Image courtesy of Toho / Sanrio

Check the official Godzilla website for any additional stockist updates closer to the launch date, and keep an eye on our merch coverage for any word on regional availability.

Game News

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Gets 25+ Hours, Free Patch

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Capcom producer Naoto Oyama has confirmed in a developer interview that Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen will deliver more than 25 hours of new content — and that’s just the paid expansion. A major free update, rolling out to all Dragon’s Dogma 2 owners in August, brings the long-requested multiple save slots, six assignable weapon skills, and a proper cure for Dragonsplague. When Capcom first revealed Dark Arisen at the June Spotlight, we knew it was coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on 9 October alongside PS5 and PC — now we know exactly how much there is to do.

Into Norgan — a New Region Built for Veteran Arisen

Snow-covered castle ruins in the Norgan region of Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Image courtesy of Capcom

The centrepiece of Dark Arisen is Norgan, a frozen northern land described as “the Far North.” Oyama told Video Games Chronicle that “the new story takes place in a new region called Norgan… we expect players to spend around 15 to 20 hours completing that scenario.” That’s already on par with some standalone RPG campaigns.

New character Eir — an enigmatic hunter pursuing the secrets of the Fallen Dragon — plays a central role in the Norgan storyline. Capcom hasn’t shown Eir in detail yet, but the character is described as pivotal to what’s unfolding in the far north. The region is recommended for around Level 40, so this is true endgame content.

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen – Announcement Trailer — via Capcom USA on YouTube

12 Lost Rites Dungeons Across the Existing World

Players battle a massive horned creature in the snowy Norgan wilderness in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Image courtesy of Capcom

Beyond the Norgan story, Dark Arisen scatters 12 Lost Rites dungeons across the existing world map — not hidden inside the new region. Director Kento Kinoshita says each is designed to take around 30 minutes to an hour, putting total dungeon content at over 12 hours on top of the Norgan storyline. Combined, Capcom’s confirmed figure sits at 25-plus hours of new content.

Lost Rites unlock at Level 20, well ahead of when most players will be ready for Norgan itself. The reward loop is the Relic Expedition Cycle: defeat monsters or find hidden caches in Norgan to unearth Relics, then appraise them at the Norgandian Settlement to reveal randomly-enhanced weapons and armour. It’s a deliberate endgame loot layer that brings Dark Arisen structurally closer to what the original expansion did for the first game.

The August Free Patch — Arriving for All Players

A feathered dragon fires an energy beam inside an icy Lost Rites dungeon in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Image courtesy of Capcom

Whether or not you plan to buy Dark Arisen, Title Update 3.2 lands as a free patch for every Dragon’s Dogma 2 owner in late August 2026. The two headline additions are changes the community has been asking for since launch:

  • Multiple save slots — three save types (Autosave, Interim Save, Last Inn Rest Save) replacing the single-slot system. Loading one no longer wipes the others.
  • Six assignable weapon skills — up from four, giving every vocation significantly more flexibility.
  • Dragonsplague cure — a new Dragonsbaulk Draught item clears the affliction outright, and a reworked gauge slows how fast infected pawns deteriorate.
  • Performance and graphics improvements on all platforms, new Pawn commands, and broad vocation rebalancing.

For Singapore players who own Dragon’s Dogma 2 on PS5 or Steam and haven’t returned since launch, Title Update 3.2 removes two of the biggest friction points before October. You can catch up on the base game with a much smoother experience before Dark Arisen drops.

Singapore and Asia: October 9 on Four Platforms

Dark Arisen launches globally on 9 October 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and — for the franchise’s first time on a Nintendo platform — Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 version bundles the base Dragon’s Dogma 2 with the Dark Arisen content. Pricing: expansion standalone is USD 49.99 (bundle with base game) and USD 29.99 (DLC only). Pre-orders are live on Steam. Check out more Game News for upcoming release updates across all platforms.

Game News

The Duskbloods Closed Network Test Opens July 22 — Five Sessions Across 21–24 August

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When FromSoftware and Nintendo revealed The Duskbloods at the Nintendo Direct in June, we got the premise — a competitive, multi-player action RPG set under a blood moon, featuring warriors called Bloodsworn hunting each other across dark, gothic environments. What we didn’t have were actual dates. Now we do.

FromSoftware has confirmed that the Closed Network Test for The Duskbloods runs across four days in August, spanning five separate sessions. Sign-up registrations open on 22 July 2026.

Network Test Schedule (SGT)

Five sessions are confirmed across the test window. All times below are in Singapore Time (SGT, UTC+8):

  • Session 1: Friday 21 August, 11:00 PM – Saturday 22 August, 5:00 AM
  • Session 2: Saturday 22 August, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Session 3: Saturday 22 August, 11:00 PM – Sunday 23 August, 3:00 AM
  • Session 4: Sunday 23 August, 11:00 PM – Monday 24 August, 5:00 AM
  • Session 5: Monday 24 August, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Duskbloods Closed Network Test schedule showing five sessions August 21-24 2026
The official network test schedule for The Duskbloods, August 21–24 2026.

What the Network Test Covers

The Duskbloods puts up to eight Bloodsworn — warriors cursed with immortality — against each other and the environment in a world bathed in a perpetual blood moon. The tone is vintage FromSoftware: heavy armour, stamina management, deliberate combat, and a world soaked in death and mythology. The Switch 2 exclusivity makes this one of the flagship system sellers FromSoftware and Nintendo have been building toward since the hardware reveal.

The closed network test will let participants try an early build of the game across the five sessions above. Each session is time-limited, so you can’t simply log on whenever — you’ll need to plan around the schedule if you want to get hands-on time. Given the late-night timing of several sessions (Sessions 1, 3, and 4 all run after 11pm), FromSoftware appears to be covering different global time zones across the test window rather than running purely Japan-centric hours.

How to Register

Registrations open on 22 July — which is one week away. Spaces in closed network tests are typically limited, so applying early gives you better odds. Check the official Nintendo Switch 2 and FromSoftware channels on July 22 for the sign-up link. We’ll share it here as soon as it goes live.

If you missed our original coverage when the game was revealed, catch up here for the full breakdown of what FromSoftware has shown so far.

Game News

PS Plus Extra & Premium July 2026: Rise of the Ronin Is Live, Avatar Drops 21 July

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If you are a PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium member, your July refresh is already underway. Sony confirmed the full Extra and Premium game catalog additions for July 2026 in a PlayStation Blog post today, and Rise of the Ronin has already dropped into your library as of today — no waiting required.

Rise of the Ronin — Available Right Now

Rise of the Ronin key art — two samurai silhouetted on a stormy coast as black ships loom on the horizon
Image courtesy of Sony Interactive Entertainment / Team Ninja

Team Ninja’s open-world samurai epic is live for Extra and Premium subscribers now (US/UK from today; Japan from 16 July). Set in Japan’s turbulent late-Edo period as Western warships appear on the horizon, Rise of the Ronin blends demanding Soulslike sword combat with an expansive open world packed with side stories and historical figures. It is one of the stronger PS5 exclusives in recent years and was sitting at full price until today — if you held off, this is the moment.

Rise of the Ronin — Available Now Trailer | PS5 Games — via PlayStation Asia on YouTube

21 July: Avatar, Firefighting Simulator and Two PS2 Classics

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite — firefighters tackle a blazing house fire
Image courtesy of astragon Entertainment

The bigger wave lands on 21 July. Ubisoft’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is the headline — a first-person open-world set on a freshly explored corner of Pandora, built in the same visual engine as the James Cameron films and making full use of the PS5’s hardware. Firefighting Simulator: Ignite rounds out the headliners as a detailed co-op firefighting game with campaign and multiplayer modes.

PlayStation Plus Premium members also get two upscaled PS2 classics on 21 July: Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, a 2004 action game where you weaponise telekinesis, mind control and pyrokinesis against military enemies; and Indigo Prophecy (titled Fahrenheit outside North America), the influential David Cage cinematic thriller that helped define the interactive drama genre.

As PlayStation’s Adam Michel wrote on the PlayStation Blog: “This month, journey into the breathtaking open world of Pandora in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, carve your own path through a war-torn 19th-century Japan in Rise of the Ronin.”

28 July: Power Rangers, Dying Light and More

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind key art featuring the full team and Rita Repulsa
Image courtesy of Digital Eclipse

Four more titles follow on 28 July:

  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind (PS5/PS4) — Digital Eclipse’s retro beat-’em-up tribute to the original 1990s series and its SNES/arcade games, supporting up to four-player local co-op
  • Dying Light (PS4) — Techland’s 2015 parkour survival zombie classic, still one of the best co-op open-world experiences on console
  • Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (PS5) — the critically acclaimed narrative RPG sequel where you navigate life as a synthetic being in a precarious corner of space
  • Snow Bros. Wonderland (PS5) — the long-awaited modern revival of the beloved retro arcade classic

Key Dates for Singapore PS Plus Members

All dates in SGT (UTC+8). Rise of the Ronin is available to download now from the PlayStation Store. The 21 July wave typically goes live in the early hours of that morning in SGT, and the 28 July additions follow a week later. The PlayStation Store Summer Sale — up to 75% off — is also running until 12 August, so there are two good reasons to open the PS5 Store this week.

All Game Catalog titles require an active Extra or Premium subscription to access. Once you subscribe and add them to your library, they stay available as long as your subscription is active. For the full rundown of what is leaving the catalog on 21 July — including Risk of Rain 2, Tropico 6 and Cursed to Golf — check the PlayStation Blog directly. Browse all gaming news on GameTrader for more PS5 updates.

Game News

Star Ocean 30th Anniversary: Free Livestream This Sunday at 7pm SGT

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Three decades is a long time to travel the stars. Star Ocean — Square Enix’s space-fantasy JRPG series that blends science fiction and swords-and-sorcery — turns 30 on 19 July 2026, and to mark the occasion the publisher is hosting a free Star Ocean 30th anniversary livestream you can catch from Singapore that same Sunday evening.

スターオーシャン30周年記念公式生放送 ～星の海を駆け抜けろ～ — via Square Enix on YouTube

What’s in the Star Ocean 30th Anniversary Stream

The broadcast — titled Star Ocean 30th Anniversary Official Livestream: Race Across the Sea of Stars — airs on Square Enix’s official YouTube channel on 19 July 2026 at 19:00 SGT (20:00 JST). It will remain available to rewatch after the stream ends.

Square Enix has confirmed the stream will cover the series’ history and behind-the-scenes development stories, and will announce various 30th anniversary initiatives — which the community is hoping could include special merchandise, sale campaigns, or platform re-releases. Hosts Neki Matsuzawa and Susumu Imadachi will be joined by developer guests Yuichiro Kitao from Gemdrops (the studio behind The Second Story R) and Megumi Komaki from Square Enix.

One thing explicitly not in the stream: a new game. Square Enix was upfront with Gematsu that no new game information will be presented. If you’re holding out for a Star Ocean 7 announcement, this isn’t it — but for fans of the series, a proper retrospective with the developers behind its best-regarded modern entry should still be worth a Sunday evening.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - Link Combo Dragon Roar battle on an open field
Image courtesy of Square Enix

30 Years of Space-Fantasy RPGs

The original Star Ocean launched on Super Famicom on 19 July 1996, developed by tri-Ace. It never reached the West in that form, but its sequel — Star Ocean: The Second Story on PlayStation — landed globally in 1999 and built the fanbase many Singapore JRPG veterans grew up with. Claude and Rena’s adventures across Expel and Energy Nede remain the series high point for much of the community.

The franchise continued through Till the End of Time (PS2, 2003), The Last Hope (PS3/360, 2009), Integrity and Faithlessness (PS4, 2016), and The Divine Force (PS5/PS4/Xbox/PC, 2022). The most recent entry, Star Ocean: The Second Story R, arrived in November 2023 — a full remake of the beloved PS1 classic by Gemdrops, blending pixel-art characters with richly detailed 3D environments. It’s currently available on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - story dialogue scene aboard a spaceship
Image courtesy of Square Enix

How to Watch From Singapore

The stream lands at 19:00 SGT (7pm) this Sunday, 19 July — about as convenient as a Japanese anniversary broadcast gets for Singapore. Catch it free on YouTube; no subscription or geo-block applies to the stream.

If you haven’t played the series yet, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is the obvious starting point — it’s on the PlayStation Store Singapore, Nintendo eShop, and Steam. Pick it up ahead of the stream and you’ll have full context for whatever 30th anniversary plans Square Enix unveils on Sunday. We’ll follow up here on GameTrader once the anniversary initiatives are announced.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - party walking through a countryside village
Image courtesy of Square Enix
Star Ocean: The Second Story R - dungeon combat with magical spell effects
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Game News

Fatal Fury CotW Season 3 — Duck King and Kim Kaphwan Return

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SNK closed Season Pass 2 of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves with Kenshiro’s arrival last month — then immediately signalled that South Town is far from done. On 14 July, the official SNK channel posted “The Saga Continues”, an animated teaser that confirms four incoming fighters for Season 3: Duck King, Kim Kaphwan, Rick Strowd and Laocorn Gaudeamus.

The Saga Continues — via SNK OFFICIAL on YouTube

What the Season 3 Teaser Shows

The animated short opens with a recap of the Season 2 cast before cutting to the four new fighters in brief, stylised moments. Duck King grooves on a neon-lit stage; Kim Kaphwan moves through what looks like a training montage; Rick Strowd and Laocorn Gaudeamus each get a moody, dramatic close-up that hints at their darker edge.

SNK has confirmed Season 3 is beginning this month but has not yet announced individual character release dates or Season 3 pass pricing. Season 1 featured five fighters and Season 2 featured six — including Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star, who arrived as Season 2’s final fighter — suggesting Season 3 could run to a similar scale, with one or two names still to be revealed.

Fatal Fury City of the Wolves The Saga Continues animated trailer
Image courtesy of SNK

Duck King and Kim Kaphwan: Series Originals Long Overdue

Duck King is one of the most recognisable faces in Fatal Fury history. He first appeared in the original Fatal Fury: King of Fighters (1991) as a break-dancing hip-hop fighter with a distinctive mohawk and peace-sign pendant — the kind of expressive, unhinged character that made 90s SNK rosters so memorable. His absence from City of the Wolves at launch was one of the more discussed omissions among franchise veterans.

Kim Kaphwan needs even less introduction. The Taekwondo master debuted in Fatal Fury 2 (1992) and has appeared in nearly every SNK fighter since. Singapore players who grew up at the arcades in the 90s almost certainly have a Kim story. He is also the father of Kim Dong Hwan and Kim Jae Hoon — two characters already playable in City of the Wolves — which makes his arrival feel like a missing piece finally clicking into place.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves gameplay screenshot
Image courtesy of SNK

Rick Strowd and Laocorn Gaudeamus Round Out the Four

Rick Strowd appeared in Real Bout Fatal Fury (1995) as a thunder-wielding fighter drawing on Native American tradition — a character beloved by a devoted corner of the fanbase who has long wanted him back. Laocorn Gaudeamus is the more surprising inclusion: the armoured antagonist from Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture and Fatal Fury 3, his addition suggests SNK is leaning into the deeper lore of the franchise rather than limiting Season 3 to crowd-pleasing nostalgia picks alone.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves character art
Image courtesy of SNK

How to Play City of the Wolves in Singapore

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store — all accessible from Singapore. The game has appeared on Steam sale periodically, so it is worth keeping an eye on the Game News feed for any deal alerts. Season 3 release dates and pass pricing have not yet been confirmed by SNK; follow the official Fatal Fury account on X for updates as characters roll out.

Manga Anime

From Far Away Anime Reveals Cast and October 4 Debut

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Thirty-five years after the first chapter appeared in LaLa magazine, the TV anime adaptation of Kyoko Hikawa’s landmark shōjo manga From Far Away (彼方から, Kanata Kara) is officially real. A teaser promotional video released today alongside the full voice cast and a confirmed October 4 premiere — and for anyone who grew up on the Viz Media English volumes, this one lands a little differently.

A Shōjo Classic That Earned Its Reputation the Hard Way

Kyoko Hikawa original manga art of Izark and Noriko from From Far Away
Image courtesy of Kyoko Hikawa / Hakusensha

From Far Away ran in Hakusensha’s LaLa magazine from September 1991 through October 2002, collected into 14 tankōbon volumes. The setup reads deceptively simply: ordinary high schooler Noriko is hurled into a parallel fantasy world and lands near Izark, a formidable young warrior carrying a curse-like destiny. What made the series stand out — and what kept it in readers’ memories long after it ended — is that Noriko arrives unable to speak or understand a single word of the local language. Communication is earned, not handed over. Meanwhile, an ancient prophecy frames her arrival as the trigger for an unstoppable catastrophe.

The series won the 35th Seiun Award for best science fiction comic in 2004 and surpassed four million copies in circulation. Hakusensha licensed the English release to Viz Media, which published all 14 volumes between November 2004 and January 2007 — which means Singapore’s manga community had a very clean window to read it. If you never got around to it, there is now a deadline.

The Teaser PV, Cast and Production Team

TVアニメ『彼方から』ティザーPV | 2026.10.4～ON AIR!! — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

Studio DEEN is producing the anime. The director is Noriyuki Abe — known in Singapore for bringing Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Flame of Recca to the screen — and this marks a notable move into shōjo territory for him. Series composition is by Rika Takasugi; character design by Eiji Abiko; music by Takeshi Hama. Kyoko Hikawa is credited as original work supervisor, keeping the adaptation in close conversation with her vision.

The confirmed main cast, per the Natalie announcement (Japanese):

  • Noriko Tachiki — Tomoyo Kurosawa, best known internationally for her role as Violet in Violet Evergarden
  • Izark Kia Tarj — Kentarō Kumagai
  • Rachef — Yūichirō Umehara, known for Made in Abyss and Black Clover
  • Keimos Lee Goda — Eiji Takeuchi

The teaser leans into atmosphere over action — a close-up of Izark, the alien landscape, a sense of a world that operates by rules Noriko does not yet understand. It reads as faithful to the manga’s tone.

Premiere Date and What Singapore Fans Can Watch

From Far Away Kanata Kara teaser PV still showing Izark close-up, October 2026
Image courtesy of Studio DEEN / 彼方から Production Committee

From Far Away premieres on TOKYO MX on October 4 at 24:00 JST — that is 11 PM SGT on October 4. ABC TV follows on October 10, WOWOW on October 13. No international streaming deal has been announced as of today; we will update this post when a platform confirms rights for Singapore and Southeast Asia. International licensing for Studio DEEN productions has gone various ways in recent years, so it is genuinely to be confirmed.

In the meantime, the full teaser is on NBCUniversal Anime/Music’s YouTube channel, and the official anime site is live with the key visual. For more anime and manga news, browse our full archive.

News

Pokémon’s New Team Rocket Card Game Drops November 2026

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Pikachu isn’t the hero this time. The Pokémon Company and YOKA Games quietly dropped the announcement of 「お前、もしかしてロケット圧？」 — “Are You Perhaps Team Rocket?” in English — on the official @poke_times Pokémon X account (Japanese) today, 14 July 2026. The card-based board game is slated to launch in Japan in November 2026.

A Villain-Themed Pokémon Card Game With a Twist

The key visual says it all: a hooded Rocket Grunt grins in the centre, flanked by a snarling, red-eyed Pikachu and a Koffing sporting a jolly-roger-style logo against a vivid yellow background. Two in-progress card samples appear in the lower corner — the images are explicitly marked “development versions” and subject to change.

Team Rocket Grunt, villainous Pikachu and Koffing from the Pokemon Are You Perhaps Team Rocket key art
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Gameplay details — player count, card mechanics, win conditions — have not been revealed yet. The Pokémon official account simply teased: “續報をお楽しみに” (more information to come). What the key visual does confirm is that this is a card-driven game developed through the “ポケモンボドゲくらぶ” (Pokémon Boardgame Club) label, the same initiative that brought us Pokémon Goita in December 2025 and Pokémon Plakoro, which we covered last week. The Pokémon Company is clearly on a serious analogue-gaming run, with the Boardgame Club label becoming a proper sub-brand.

Who Is YOKA Games?

YOKA Games is a Chinese board game designer and publisher with a global catalogue. Their best-known title in Western tabletop circles is Sanguosha (三国油 / Three Kingdoms Kill), a popular elimination card game that has sold millions of copies across Asia and beyond. More recently, they co-produced the widely praised Slay the Spire: The Board Game. Their involvement signals that “Are You Perhaps Team Rocket?” is aiming for a polished, strategically meaty experience rather than a casual party game — though we’ll have to wait for the full reveal to be sure.

What Singapore Pokémon Fans Need to Know

As of this announcement, the November 2026 release is confirmed for Japan only. No English localisation, no Singapore or Southeast Asia release date, and no price have been disclosed. Given YOKA Games’ international distribution track record, a wider release is plausible — but for now, plan for this to be an import if you want it at launch.

If you’re into importing Japanese analogue games, your usual go-to stops — import retailers that ship from Japan, Japanese online platforms like BOOTH, and local tabletop shops that stock Japanese imports — should be on your watchlist. Pokémon Goita and Plakoro both found their way to local collectors through those channels, and “Are You Perhaps Team Rocket?” should follow the same path. Watch for pre-order windows opening closer to November.

Singapore’s tabletop scene has been in excellent shape — WSBG Asia 2026 just wrapped at Suntec City last weekend — and a Pokémon card game built around playing the bad guys sounds exactly like the sort of title that’ll generate buzz at local game nights. Check out more upcoming gaming events in Singapore while you wait for the full reveal.