Nagano’s beloved tiny creatures have made history at the Japanese box office — Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island (映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ) debuted at #1 in Japan in its opening weekend of 24–26 July 2026, selling 1,508,538 tickets and earning ¥2,240,333,500 (approximately S$20 million at current rates). For a franchise that started as manga sketches on X in 2020, it is a remarkable milestone — and one that will have Southeast Asian fans watching closely for any sign of a wider release.
The Opening Weekend Numbers
As we covered ahead of opening day, the film is the franchise’s first feature film and adapts the fan-favourite Siren Arc. The debut weekend results:
- ¥2,240,333,500 in three days (approximately S$20 million)
- 1,508,538 admissions
- 447 cinemas nationwide, including 65 IMAX locations
- #1 at the Japan box office
- Filmarks audience score: 4.2 / 5
Demand was intense enough that some Tokyo theatres scheduled up to 41 screenings per day.
About the Film: Siren Arc, Creators, and Music
Directed by Kei Oikawa and produced by Cygames Pictures (distributed by Toho), the film’s screenplay was written by Nagano themselves — the first feature script from the franchise’s creator. The Siren Arc was chosen for its dramatic, movie-worthy scope: Chiikawa, Hachiware, Usagi, and companions receive an island invitation promising missions and free food, only to find residents disappearing and a dangerous Siren lurking beneath the cheerful surface.
The opening theme, “Kutsuzure” (くつずれ, Shoe Sore), was written by Nagano and performed by the voice of Hachiware. The ending theme, “Tsukue Sasuru,” features music by Shugo Tokumaru.
Chiikawa Movie Box Office Success — But Will It Come to Singapore?
No Southeast Asian theatrical release has been confirmed at time of writing. For Singapore fans eager for local Chiikawa content, the most accessible option right now is still merchandise — as we noted in July, Chiikawa UT tees from the movie collection are heading to Uniqlo Singapore outlets in mid-August.
The broader picture does suggest the franchise’s momentum is hard to ignore. The Chiikawa anime has accumulated well over 500 million views through official platforms, the franchise holds a place in Japan’s prestigious Character Awards Hall of Fame, and a ¥2.24 billion opening weekend puts it among the biggest anime film launches of 2026. Whether Toho or a regional distributor brings it to Southeast Asian cinemas remains to be confirmed — but with numbers this strong, the conversation should be happening.
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