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News

Fitness Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition Launches Tomorrow at S$68.50

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Singapore Switch 2 owners get their next workout companion tomorrow: Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition hits the Singapore eShop on 16 July 2026 at S$68.50. Developer Imagineer has rebuilt the rhythm-boxing series from the ground up for Nintendo’s new hardware, adding a handful of features that are exclusive to the Switch 2 — and the result is a meaningful upgrade over the original Switch release that launched in December 2024.

Fitness Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition – CameraPlay gameplay showing trainer and player camera feed
Image courtesy of Imagineer

What’s New in the Switch 2 Edition

The headlining addition is CameraPlay: plug in a compatible USB-C camera and the game overlays your real-time silhouette on screen so you can check your form as you punch. It’s the kind of feature that turns a solo workout into something closer to a mirror session with a trainer, and it’s only possible because of the Switch 2’s expanded connectivity.

Two new scoring modes raise the difficulty ceiling for veterans. Advanced Judgment evaluates not just whether you hit the beat but how accurately your speed and direction match the target, making it a sharper test of your technique than the original’s timing window. Boost Up Mode ramps the BPM up to 200 across the session, so each round gets progressively more intense until you’re punching at a flat sprint.

Work Out With Friends — GameShare and Multiplayer

Fitness Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition – lounge menu showing GameShare Matches and workout calendar
Image courtesy of Imagineer

The other big Switch 2-exclusive feature is GameShare, which lets up to four players exercise together over local wireless using a single copy of the game. For a household that’s been debating whether to buy multiple copies, this changes the maths considerably. The lobby screen also tracks your workout streak on a calendar — useful for those of us who need to see a growing chain of ticked boxes to stay motivated.

Six Trainers, 30 Songs, and Every Workout Style

Fitness Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition – Tai Chi mode with two trainers performing a Heel Kick
Image courtesy of Imagineer

Beyond the Switch 2 additions, the base game arrives with six fully-voiced personal trainers and 30 new instrumental tracks. Workout modes range from the standard daily boxing routines to Sit Fit Boxing (designed for seated play), Mitt Drills (targeted punch combinations), Tai Chi, and a Quick Workout option for when you only have ten minutes. A Personal Programme adjusts the day’s routine to your current condition, which is a thoughtful touch for players whose energy levels vary.

The series has surpassed three million units sold across its history, so Imagineer clearly knows the formula. The Switch 2 edition is the definitive version of that formula so far.

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Official Trailer — via Imagineer Co., Ltd. on YouTube

Upgrading from the Original Switch Version

If you already own Fitness Boxing 3 on Switch, you can upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition for 1,100 yen via a separate Upgrade Pack on the Nintendo eShop. The Singapore eShop pricing for the upgrade has not been separately listed at time of writing, but the base new purchase is set at S$68.50. For Switch 2 owners who are new to the series, that price is in line with other first-party and publisher Switch 2 titles on the local eShop.

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is available on the Singapore Nintendo eShop from 16 July 2026. For more Nintendo Switch 2 game news, check our dedicated coverage.

Manga Anime, News

The Vermilion Mask Anime Debuts on Crunchyroll in October 2026

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The Vermilion Mask, a dark action-fantasy manga that has been quietly building a following since its debut in Young King OURs, is getting its anime adaptation this October 2026 — and it is streaming on Crunchyroll. At its Anime Expo 2026 panel, Crunchyroll revealed the first main trailer and confirmed the full Japanese voice cast — a lineup that will make longtime anime fans do a double-take.

The Vermilion Mask teaser key visual featuring Peru, Sonarue and Mok
Image courtesy of The Vermilion Mask Production Committee

What Is The Vermilion Mask?

The manga is written by Dr. Poro and illustrated by Nabana Naba, serialised in Shonengahosha’s Young King OURs magazine. With eight collected volumes now in print — Volume 8 landed on shelves just this month on 7 July 2026 — the series has built a devoted readership on the strength of its sharp character work and its willingness to go genuinely dark.

The premise: in a world where mysterious masks grant extraordinary power at a terrifying cost, Peru d’Arrest is an apprentice to the legendary craftsman Gaston Roux. One night, possessed by Gaston’s most fearsome creation — the Mask of the Warrior God — Peru loses himself entirely, slaughtering his master and his fellow apprentices. Haunted by what the mask forced him to do, Peru dedicates himself to a single grim mission: hunt down and destroy every cursed mask Gaston ever made, before they claim any more lives.

Think of it as a story about guilt, atonement, and the impossible weight of surviving what you should not have. If you have a soft spot for morally tortured leads and dark-fantasy action in the vein of early Claymore or Dororo, this one is worth clearing space for in your autumn watch-list.

Watch the First Main Trailer

【First Main PV】TV Anime The Vermilion Mask | Streaming on Crunchyroll in October — via 【ytv animation】読売テレビ アニメ公式 on YouTube

A Star-Studded Voice Cast

The Vermilion Mask full voice cast visual with all eight main characters
Image courtesy of The Vermilion Mask Production Committee

The confirmed cast reads like a who’s who of anime voice acting:

  • Peru d’Arrest — Taihi Kimura
  • Sonarue Maywood (Sona) — Yuuki Yamamoto
  • Mok Sharib — Kazuki Ura
  • Gouon — Takanori Hoshino
  • Totoque — Wataru Komada
  • Zent — Junya Enoki (Yuji Itadori in Jujutsu Kaisen)
  • Gaston Roux — Kazuhiko Inoue (Kakashi Hatake in Naruto)
  • The Mask of the Warrior God — Akio Otsuka (Big Boss in the Metal Gear Solid series)

Having Junya Enoki, Kazuhiko Inoue and Akio Otsuka in the same cast is not a subtle signal. The production stacks generational talent alongside rising voices — and the character pairings are pointed: Otsuka voices the force that breaks Peru, while Inoue plays the master Peru loses. There are going to be some heavy scenes.

Who Is Making the Anime?

The series is produced by One Double-O and directed by Tetsuaki Watanabe, best known for directing Blue Lock Season 1. Series composition is handled by Daisuke Ohigashi, with Hisashi Higashijima as character designer and chief animation director. Music is by Alisa Okehazama. The series airs in Japan on ytv (Yomiuri TV).

When Can Singapore Fans Watch The Vermilion Mask?

The anime premieres in October 2026 as part of the autumn season and streams on Crunchyroll, which is available here in Singapore. The series is structured as a split-cour two-part production — so the October run covers the first half of the story, with a second part to follow in 2027 to complete it.

For more autumn 2026 anime worth adding to your list, head over to our Manga Anime section.

Game News, News

Arknights 6.5th Anniversary: PC Client Arrives 13 August, “First of a Thousand Autumns” Starts Tomorrow

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Arknights is marking its 6.5th Anniversary with two pieces of news Singapore players will want to know: the game is getting a dedicated PC client on 13 August, and the “First of a Thousand Autumns” story event kicks off tomorrow (16 July) with a fresh limited 6-star Operator joining the pool.

The floating Yan nation city, a key setting in Arknights’ 6.5th Anniversary event ‘First of a Thousand Autumns’
The Yan nation takes centre stage in the “First of a Thousand Autumns” story event.

PC Client Launches 13 August

The official Arknights PC client — separate from emulator workarounds — is set to launch on 13 August 2026. It supports full cross-save with your existing mobile account, meaning your operators, progression, and resources carry over with no loss. If you have been grinding on mobile for years, nothing disappears when you make the switch to PC.

The PC client also conveniently aligns with the close of the anniversary period, so you will have a fresh platform ready to jump into whatever content follows.

“First of a Thousand Autumns” Story Event — 16 July

The anniversary’s centrepiece event takes Operators deeper into the lore of Yan, the game’s Chinese-inspired nation. The event runs from 16 July 08:00 (SGT) and brings new story stages and Proofreading missions. Complete those missions to earn the five-star Operator Ju for free — no pulls required.

Limited Banners: Wang and Ch’en the Dawnstreak

Festival Limited Headhunting banner showing Wang (left) and Ch’en the Dawnstreak (right) with dates 07/16 08:00 to 07/30 03:59
Wang and Ch’en the Dawnstreak on the “Ashes to Ashes / Ages on Ages” Festival Limited Headhunting banner.

Two 6-star Operators are available on the Festival Limited Headhunting banner from 16 July 08:00 to 30 July 03:59 (SGT):

  • Wang (★★★★★★, Limited) — a brand-new Caster making their debut this anniversary. Wang is a first-time addition to the pool, so this is the only window to get them until a future rerun.
  • Ch’en the Dawnstreak (★★★★★★) — a fan-favourite returning limited Operator, back for a rerun alongside the Yan celebrations. If you missed her the first time, this is your second chance.

Both operators share the same banner under the “Ashes to Ashes / Ages on Ages” Festival Limited pool.

Anniversary Free Rewards

Arknights 6.5th Anniversary Special Appreciation Gift screen listing 1,200 Orundum, Kernel Headhunting Permits, and multiple T5 upgrade materials
The Special Appreciation Gift is one of the more generous one-time bundles Hypergryph has put out for a milestone anniversary.

Hypergryph is being generous for the 6.5th Anniversary. The anniversary period includes daily Originite Prime login rewards (adding up to over 20 pulls’ worth) and a 10x free Headhunting Permit. On top of that, a one-time Special Appreciation Gift is available in-game containing:

  • 1,200 Orundum
  • 90,000 LMD
  • 30× Strategic Battle Record
  • 2× Polymerization Preparation
  • 3× Crystalline Electronic Unit
  • 2× Rephasic Enantiomer
  • 2× Nucleic Crystal Sinter
  • 2× D32 Steel
  • 2× Bipolar Nanoflake
  • 2× Chip Catalyst
  • 2× Kernel Headhunting Permit

That is a solid stack of T5 upgrade materials for anyone working on elite operators. Be sure to claim the Gift in-game before the anniversary window closes.

Five New Operator Outfits

Five new limited-time operator outfit skins: Ling, Dusk, Surfer, Philae, and Yu, available from 16 July to 13 August
Five new operator outfits are available in the Outfit Store from 16 July 08:00 to 13 August 03:59 (SGT).

Five limited-time operator skins go live in the Outfit Store from 16 July 08:00 to 13 August 03:59 (SGT):

  • Ling — A Gallant Dream
  • Dusk — Hazy Jade
  • Surfer — By the Lamplight
  • Philae — An Opera of Flowers
  • Yu — Clear Morning View

These outfits are only available during the anniversary window, so if any of your favourites are on the list, do not sleep on it.

Ch’en the Dawnstreak — Operator Preview

A Big Anniversary for Singapore Players

Arknights has a sizeable following in Singapore, and the PC client is a long-requested quality-of-life upgrade. Late-game content — particularly high-difficulty Integrated Strategies runs and Contingency Contract stages — benefits meaningfully from a larger screen and a proper keyboard-and-mouse setup. With cross-save, veteran players can switch to PC without sacrificing anything they have built on mobile.

The “First of a Thousand Autumns” anniversary celebrations begin tomorrow, 16 July. Log in to claim your free gifts, decide whether you are pulling for the new limited Wang or banking resources, and mark 13 August on your calendar for the PC client launch.

Sources: Arknights official anniversary trailer | Ch’en the Dawnstreak operator preview (Arknights Official — Yostar) | event coverage via GamingOnPhone

Manga Anime, News

Crunchyroll Store Goes Members-Only in August — What Singapore Fans Need to Know

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If you’ve been browsing the Crunchyroll Store as a free user or a basic Fan subscriber, that’s about to end. Crunchyroll announced on 14 July that, starting this August, the Crunchyroll Store will be exclusive to Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan members — locking out everyone on a lower or no-cost plan.

What’s Actually Changing at the Crunchyroll Store?

The current Crunchyroll Store is an open marketplace anyone can browse and buy from — collectibles, apparel, Blu-rays, manga, and more. From August 2026 onwards, that open access disappears. In its place, Crunchyroll is launching what it calls a “brand-new shopping experience” focused on convention-style merch: curated limited-release drops, exclusive collectibles, and member-only product bundles.

In Crunchyroll’s own words: “This August, we are transitioning the Crunchyroll Store to a brand-new shopping experience that will be available exclusively for Mega and Ultimate Fans.”

Anime collectible figure from the Crunchyroll Store
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

The shift follows Crunchyroll’s 2022 acquisition of Right Stuf, a move many collectors hoped would expand the store’s anime merchandise range. Instead, fan communities have documented years of shrinking product availability and rising prices — and the membership paywall is the latest source of frustration. Reaction online has been blunt, with collectors arguing it pushes loyal fans to import directly from Japanese retailers instead.

What Does This Cost Singapore Crunchyroll Subscribers?

Here’s the breakdown that matters if you’re in Singapore. Current membership pricing runs approximately SGD 3.89/month for Fan, SGD 5.19/month for Mega Fan, and SGD 7.69/month for Ultimate Fan (check Crunchyroll’s official site for the latest local pricing, as rates can update). The minimum tier that keeps store access is Mega Fan at around SGD 5.19/month — roughly SGD 1.30 more per month than the Fan tier, or about SGD 15.60 extra per year.

Dragon Ball collectible figure from the Crunchyroll Store new arrivals
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

Whether that’s worth it depends on how often you actually shop the store. The new members-only model promises exclusive drops and curated product releases that won’t be available elsewhere — so for serious collectors, Mega Fan access could pay for itself with one limited-edition item. But if you only buy occasionally or prefer direct import from Japan, the upgrade may not make sense.

Summer Sale Running Now — Act Before the Switch

Crunchyroll kicked off a Summer Sale on 14 July with up to 50% off select items, coinciding with stricter return policies on select products. This is your last window to browse and buy from the store at full open access before the membership gate drops in August.

A few other key dates: Crunchyroll Store gift cards remain valid through 14 August 2026 — after that, unused balances cannot be redeemed. Existing orders placed before the transition will continue to be processed and shipped normally, and customer support will keep handling delivery, address, and defective product issues.

For Singapore fans who shop Crunchyroll regularly, the smart play is to use any gift card balance now and stock up during the Summer Sale while open access lasts. Keep an eye on our anime and merchandise news for updates as Crunchyroll reveals more details about the new members-only store experience.

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.

News, Shop and Merchandise

GARRACK Ghost in the Shell Fuchikoma Watch — Pre-Orders Open 17 July

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Just as the Ghost in the Shell 2026 anime is settling in on Prime Video Singapore, Japanese watchmaker GARRACK has dropped something that will stop hardcore fans mid-scroll: a fully mechanical watch with the Fuchikoma rendered in traditional mother-of-pearl raden on the dial. Pre-orders open 17 July 2026.

GARRACK Ghost in the Shell Fuchikoma Model watch frontal view with red leather strap
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

What Is the GARRACK × Ghost in the Shell Fuchikoma Model?

GARRACK, the brand behind a line of anime-themed Japan-made mechanical watches — they previously collaborated on Evangelion raden pieces and Haikyu!! smartwatches — is releasing the Fuchikoma Model (SMS-KK-42-FK) under its S-MEISTER line. S-MEISTER pairs traditional Japanese craftsmanship with officially licensed anime IP, and all pieces are assembled in Japan by licensed watchmakers.

The specific collaboration is with Ghost in the Shell THE GHOST IN THE SHELL — Shirow Masamune’s original 1989 manga — rather than any single anime adaptation. The Fuchikoma, the AI-equipped spider-legged think tank that became one of the manga’s most iconic designs, takes centre stage on the dial, rendered entirely in raden inlay. The watch carries the official copyright credit: ©2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE.

Pricing is set at ¥79,200 tax-included (roughly S$700–900 at prevailing exchange rates — check the product page for the exact amount at checkout). That is not an impulse buy — but for a handcrafted piece that combines a traditional Japanese art form with one of manga’s most celebrated sci-fi properties, the positioning is closer to artisan jewellery than mass merch.

Raden: The Craft That Makes Each Dial One-of-a-Kind

Close-up of the GARRACK Fuchikoma raden dial showing iridescent mother-of-pearl inlay and open-heart movement
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

Raden (螺鈿) is a Japanese lacquerware technique that dates back centuries: abalone shell is ground down to 0.1 mm thin, coloured from the reverse side, then hand-cut into pieces and affixed one by one onto a lacquered base. The result catches light at every angle differently, giving raden dials that shifting, almost holographic quality visible in the press images here.

The craftsman behind each dial is Musashigawa Takeshi, fourth-generation head of the Musashigawa Workshop (武蔵川工房) in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture — a workshop founded in 1910 that has carried on the regional aobinuri blue-shell lacquerware tradition for over a century. Because nacre is a natural material applied entirely by hand, no two dials come out identical. Even two watches from the same production run will differ subtly in colour tone and pattern.

The design itself is layered with Ghost in the Shell references. The Fuchikoma is shown face-on, its body filling most of the dial. An open-heart aperture sits at roughly the 7 o’clock position — representing the manipulator arm in motion, and letting you see the MIYOTA movement ticking underneath. The hour indices are modelled on the Fuchikoma’s wheels; the hands reference its arms.

GARRACK Ghost in the Shell watch caseback showing JAPAN MADE and the series logo engraved through a transparent crystal
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

Specs at a Glance

  • Model: SMS-KK-42-FK (Fuchikoma Model)
  • Movement: Automatic (MIYOTA, Japan)
  • Case: All stainless steel, 42 × 42 mm
  • Lens: Mineral glass
  • Water resistance: 5 ATM
  • Strap: Deep red leather, S-MEISTER pin buckle
  • Caseback: See-through, series logo engraved
  • Price: ¥79,200 (tax included)
Deep red leather strap with S-MEISTER pin buckle on the GARRACK Ghost in the Shell Fuchikoma watch
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

How Singapore Fans Can Order

There are no confirmed Singapore retail stockists at this stage — the physical stockist list on the official GARRACK × Ghost in the Shell product page covers Japan stores only, including Yodobashi Camera, BicCamera, TiCTAC outlets, and Loft stores nationwide. However, the WORLDWIDEWATCH online store — one of GARRACK’s authorised e-commerce partners — accepts international orders and worldwide shipping, which means Singapore buyers can place orders directly without a forwarding service.

Pre-orders open: 17 July 2026
Release date: 31 July 2026

Given the hand-finished, one-of-a-kind nature of raden dials, production runs for these watches tend to be limited. If you are on the fence, it is worth visiting the product page on 17 July rather than waiting. Check out more anime and gaming merch we have covered for other finds worth adding to the list.

Manga Anime, News

Tsugumi Project TV Anime Announced — Cult Manga from France

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One of the more intriguing anime announcements to land this week is not a sequel, not a reboot, and not based on a manga you have probably heard of — yet. On 14 July 2026, Tsugumi Project (虎鶫 とらつぐみ ―TSUGUMI PROJECT―) officially received a TV anime adaptation, complete with a teaser visual and a first teaser PV from the official production. Singapore anime fans who love their science fiction dark, their action kinetic, and their post-apocalyptic lore dense should take note.

Tsugumi Project official anime teaser key visual showing Leone and Tsugumi in the irradiated wasteland
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

What Is Tsugumi Project?

Written and drawn by artist ippatu, Tsugumi Project is a survival science-fiction action manga set in a devastated far-future Japan. Two centuries of extreme radiation have transformed the island into a forbidden zone — a no-man’s-land overrun by grotesquely mutated creatures that bear little resemblance to anything living today.

At the centre of the story is Leone, a soldier framed for a crime he did not commit and torn from his family. His punishment doubles as a suicide mission: infiltrate the irradiated zone and recover a classified weapon codenamed TSUGUMI. What he finds instead is a mysterious girl — and a journey through Old Japan that defies everything he was told about the place.

Critics and fans have compared its atmosphere and visual ambition to BLAME!, Spriggan, and AKIRA — rarefied company that gives you an instant calibration for the kind of dark, dense, aesthetically ambitious science fiction this series delivers.

Tsugumi Project manga interior page showing the irradiated wasteland and creature design
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

From France to Japan — An Unusual Road to Anime

The origin story of Tsugumi Project is almost as unusual as the story itself. French publisher Ki-oon debuted the manga in France in 2019 — before it ever appeared in Japan. The series became a genuine hit with French and European readers, winning a dedicated following in a market that has long embraced manga wholeheartedly.

Only in 2021 did Kodansha begin serialising it in Japan through Weekly Young Magazine, reversing the typical flow of manga publication. By the time the Japanese run concluded with volume 7 in 2023, the manga had built a readership on both sides of the world. It is now complete in seven volumes — which bodes well for a cohesive anime adaptation.

Tsugumi Project manga page showing action sequence and character design
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

The Anime: Teaser PV and What We Know

TVアニメ 『虎鷫 －TSUGUMI PROJECT－』 Teaser PV — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

The official teaser site at toratsugumi.jp and the series’ X account @toratsugumi_PJ are both live. The short teaser PV above delivers the first animated glimpse of the post-apocalyptic world ippatu created — all jagged, radiated ruin and looming creature silhouettes.

The production carries the banner of the TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee, with NBCUniversal Anime/Music among the credited partners — a label with strong international distribution reach that typically points toward global streaming availability, though no specific platforms have been confirmed yet.

What remains to be confirmed: the animation studio, director, voice cast, and premiere date. Author ippatu said of the announcement, as reported by Dengeki Online (Japanese): “It’s quite a surprise! This happened because everyone read it.”

Tsugumi Project character artwork from the Dengeki Online announcement feature
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

What SG Anime Fans Should Know

Tsugumi Project is a completed seven-volume story — adapting a finished manga typically allows production teams to plan a proper beginning, middle, and end without rushing or padding. For Singapore fans of hard SF action anime, the BLAME!/AKIRA comparison is not hyperbole: this is dense, atmospheric, and unafraid to let silence and creature design do the narrative heavy lifting.

The series has been available in English through selected international channels, and a number of SG fans have already found it through fan communities and import channels. An anime adaptation with NBCUniversal involvement is likely to land on a major global streaming platform — watch @toratsugumi_PJ on X for updates. Until then, the seven-volume manga is the ideal preparation.

For more upcoming anime, check our Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime, News

J.C.STAFF Adapts Wound & Bandage for January 2027 Anime

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A fresh anime announcement landed in Japan today — and English media hasn’t caught up yet. Kizuguchi to Houtai (傷口と包帯), the yakuza caretaker romcom manga by Nanai Kaisei, is officially getting a TV anime adaptation from J.C.STAFF, set to premiere in January 2027 on the ABC Television / TV Asahi nationwide ANiMAZiNG!!! block. The anime’s official site (Japanese) went live alongside the announcement.

Kizuguchi to Houtai Volume 2 cover – Riyo, the mob boss's daughter
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Monthly Shōnen Magazine Comics

What Is Wound & Bandage?

The manga — whose title translates literally as Wounds and Bandages — serialises biweekly on Kodansha’s Comic DAYS platform under the Monthly Shōnen Magazine Comics label. Five volumes are out so far. The setup is deceptively simple: Kiritani, a young and capable member of a yakuza faction, is assigned to act as personal caretaker to Riyo — the sheltered daughter of the organisation’s all-powerful boss. The complication? Riyo has a deeply unusual hobby she calls Yowarā: she becomes intensely excited whenever she watches a strong, intimidating person reveal their vulnerabilities. Being around Kiritani — a man who projects absolute toughness but is now stuck playing babysitter — is basically her dream scenario.

The premise sounds outrageous on paper, and it is, but Nanai Kaisei plays it primarily as a slow-burn romcom with genuine character chemistry. The manga built a strong following on social media when it first appeared as a one-shot, and the series has kept growing since serialisation began.

Kizuguchi to Houtai Volume 3 cover – Riyo in focus
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Monthly Shōnen Magazine Comics

Staff Line-Up

The production team confirmed so far:

  • Animation studio: J.C.STAFF
  • Director: Ishida Miyuki
  • Series composition: Yamakawa Susumu
  • Character design: Oyama Natsuki

No voice cast has been announced yet, and no teaser trailer is available at the time of writing — today’s announcement was limited to the production confirmation and official site launch. Cast and a first promotional video are expected to follow in the months ahead.

Kizuguchi to Houtai Volume 4 cover – Kiritani and Riyo close together
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Monthly Shōnen Magazine Comics

What Singapore Fans Should Know

J.C.STAFF is one of the most prolific studios in Singapore fans’ seasonal watch-lists — past credits include DanMachi, Toradora!, A Certain Magical Index, and more recently Slime Season 3 and Re:ZERO Season 3. The studio’s track record with light, character-driven romcoms is strong, and Wound & Bandage‘s yakuza setting gives it a visual edge that should stand out in the Winter 2027 season.

No streaming rights for Singapore or Southeast Asia have been confirmed yet. The ANiMAZiNG!!! block has historically fed titles into Crunchyroll and bilibili for the Asian market, but nothing is official for this title — keep an eye on announcements closer to January 2027. In the meantime, all five manga volumes are readable digitally via Comic DAYS, which is accessible globally, and a licensed English release from Kodansha has not yet been announced. For more upcoming anime picks and manga-to-anime news, check our ongoing coverage.

Game News, News

Pokémon Summer Mac: McDonald’s Japan’s Biggest-Ever Pokémon Collab Turns Every Branch Into a PokéStop

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If you’re planning a Japan trip this summer, your Pokémon GO map is about to look very different. McDonald’s Japan has launched Pokémon Summer Mac (ポケモン夏マック), what it calls its biggest-ever collaboration with a single partner — a sprawling, four-wave campaign celebrating McDonald’s Japan’s 55th anniversary alongside Pokémon’s 30th. The results range from limited-edition McNuggets to a lottery-only kitchen gadget that’s already going viral, and every single McDonald’s Japan branch becomes a Pokémon GO PokéStop for six weeks this summer.

McDonald’s × Pokémon ‘Summer Chance Bag 2026’ New TV Commercial — via Oricon on YouTube

What Is Pokémon Summer Mac?

Pokémon Summer Mac official campaign art featuring original and Gen 9 starters
Image courtesy of McDonald’s Japan × The Pokémon Company

Running across four themed waves from mid-July through August, Pokémon Summer Mac is structured so there’s always something new to look forward to at McDonald’s Japan:

  • Tokuniraldo (July 15 – August 11): Limited-edition 15-piece Chicken McNuggets in a special Pokémon box featuring Pikachu and the original Kanto starters, priced at 490 yen — a 250-yen saving on the regular price. Two exclusive dipping sauces also debut alongside it: Cheese Curry Sauce and Umashio Garlic Sauce at 50 yen each.
  • Summer Chance Bag: The campaign’s anchor item — a lottery-only grab bag priced at 3,900 yen, with applications open July 10–20 and redemption from July 27 to August 2.
  • Collaboration Burger: Details drop on July 16 — still a silhouette at time of writing.
  • Pokémon Happy Meal: Full reveal on July 31.

The Summer Chance Bag: Japan’s Most Viral Pokémon Merch This Season

Jumping Pikachu Potato Timer — McDonald's Japan Summer Chance Bag 2026 exclusive
Image courtesy of McDonald’s Japan × The Pokémon Company

The star of the entire campaign is the Jumping Pikachu Potato Timer — a kitchen countdown timer shaped exactly like a McDonald’s fries box, with a Pikachu figure that pops up from the “fries” when time runs out. It’s the kind of thing that sells out within hours at any Japanese Pokémon Center, except this one is only obtainable through the McDonald’s Summer Chance Bag lottery.

Each bag (3,900 yen via the McDonald’s Japan app) contains the timer, a randomly selected colour-changing cup in a Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle design, a matching zip pouch, and 3,910 yen worth of McDonald’s food vouchers — meaning the vouchers alone more than cover the cost. One in every ten bags also includes a Golden McDonald’s Card carrying an extra 500-yen voucher. Lottery applications run until July 20, so if you have a Japan trip planned (or a friend willing to enter on your behalf), now’s the time to act.

Pokémon GO x McDonald’s Japan: Every Branch Becomes a PokéStop

For Pokémon GO players, the campaign has a separate hook: from July 20 to September 1, all McDonald’s Japan locations will temporarily appear as PokéStops in the game — the franchise’s first Pokémon GO partnership in around six years, timed to Pokémon GO’s own 10th anniversary. With over 2,900 McDonald’s branches across Japan, that’s a significant expansion of the in-game map for anyone playing while travelling.

Trainers visiting Japan between late July and early September will find PokéStops clustered along major shopping streets, in train stations and inside malls — many of which already have a McDonald’s — making the overlap between “grab a quick meal” and “spin a stop” more convenient than ever.

Japan Goes Even Further: Coca-Cola Machines Are Already Pokéstops

McDonald’s isn’t alone. Coca-Cola Japan announced on July 10 that approximately 30,000 Coca-Cola vending machines across Japan are now being progressively added as PokéStops — with select machines eventually upgrading to Gyms for battles. Both Coke ON (Coca-Cola Japan’s vending app, with 75 million downloads) and Pokémon GO share their 10th anniversaries in 2026, and a stamp campaign through the Coke ON app is also planned for September: purchase any Coca-Cola product at a participating machine and collect exclusive Pokémon GO stamps. The announcement was made via Coca-Cola Japan’s official newsroom (Japanese).

Between McDonald’s branches and Coca-Cola vending machines, large parts of urban Japan are effectively becoming a continuous Pokémon GO course this summer. For Singapore trainers doing a summer or year-end Japan trip, the window to catch both the McDonald’s PokéStop campaign (July 20 – September 1) and the Coca-Cola rollout in the same visit makes July–August 2026 one of the best times to be a Pokémon GO player in Japan. The campaign is Japan-only, but the merch — if you can win the lottery — ships a world away from anything available locally.

Full details on the collaboration burger and the Pokémon Happy Meal are still coming (July 16 and July 31 respectively). We’ll be watching. For more Japan culture and Pokémon news, check out our news archive.