Tag Archives: Chiikawa

Manga Anime, News

Chiikawa Movie Tops ¥9 Billion in Japan — Opens in Singapore This Thursday

Leave a comment

Just 24 days after its Japan premiere, Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island has crossed ¥9.28 billion at the Japanese box office — and Singapore fans have barely any time to catch their breath: the film opens in local cinemas this Thursday, 20 August.

『映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ』 60秒 official teaser — via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル on YouTube

¥10 Billion Now in Sight

On 17 August, Toho’s official X account (@toho_movie) confirmed the film had cleared 92.8億円 (¥9.28 billion) in revenue with 6.45 million total admissions, covering its first 24 days (24 July to 16 August). That places it at #2 on Japan’s 2026 box office chart, behind only Toy Story 5 at ¥11.67 billion — and with weekend after weekend of strong holds, the ¥10 billion milestone now looks very much within reach.

Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island box office milestone — ¥9.28 billion and 6.45 million admissions in 24 days
Image courtesy of Toho / Nagano

The jump comes just two days after the ¥8 billion figure we covered last week. The film adapts the Siren arc from Nagano’s beloved manga, directed by Kei Oikawa (Uma Musume: Pretty Derby the Movie) and animated by CygamesPictures. It follows Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi as they voyage to a mysterious island, only to find something far darker lurking beneath the surface.

Chiikawa Movie Singapore: In Cinemas 20 August

Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — opening at Golden Village Singapore on 20 August 2026
Image courtesy of Golden Village Pictures

Distributed locally by Medialink Entertainment, Chiikawa the Movie opens across Singapore cinemas on Thursday, 20 August. Showtimes are available at Golden Village locations — check the GV app or your preferred cinema’s website now if you want a seat before the weekend crowds descend. Given how the film has performed in Japan, expect strong demand from families and the sizeable local Chiikawa fanbase alike.

GV Suntec Fans Screening — 22 August

Scene from Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — from Toho’s official trailer
Still from Toho’s official trailer

For the full fan experience, Golden Village Suntec City is hosting a dedicated fans screening on Saturday, 22 August, with sessions at 12:00 PM, 12:15 PM, and 12:30 PM. Tickets are priced at $30 (public) and $28 (GVMC members), and each includes an exclusive A3 key visual poster (Japanese edition), a mini character charm blind pack, and a collectible ticket. Full details and booking info are in our earlier coverage.

Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island (2026) — via Far East Films on YouTube (official SEA release)

Chiikawa the Movie can also be found listed on Manga Anime news at GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime

Chiikawa Movie Hits ¥8 Billion at Japanese Box Office — Fans Screening at GV Suntec August 22

Leave a comment

Japan can’t get enough of Chiikawa — and honestly, neither can we.

THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND has officially crossed ¥8.07 billion (roughly S$73 million) at the Japanese box office as of August 14, cementing its place as the top-grossing film in Japan for 2026. That’s a massive number for a movie that only opened on July 18 — just under four weeks of theatrical run.

Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi gazing at a shooting star in THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND
©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

If you missed our earlier coverage, this is Chiikawa’s very first full-length theatrical film — check out our original post for the full Singapore release details and what the movie is all about. The short version: creator Nagano’s beloved tiny creature and its pals Hachiware and Usagi head to a mysterious mermaid island, and things get surprisingly emotional along the way.

The ¥8 billion milestone follows an enormous opening weekend and relentless word of mouth that has kept audiences coming back week after week. With the film now hitting Southeast Asia from August 20, those international numbers are only going to climb.

The non-credit opening animation, released officially this week — pure Chiikawa magic.

The production team also dropped the full non-credit OP this week, and it’s a stunning piece of animation. The sequence leans fully into the cosy, watercolour-tinged world Nagano built — and if you weren’t already emotionally compromised by this franchise, this clip will do the job. It’s been making the rounds online and it’s easy to see why.

Close-up of Chiikawa and new characters against a purple background in the Mermaid Island movie
The mermaid island brings new faces into Chiikawa’s world. ©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

The movie also introduces a set of armoured antagonists who look wildly out of place in the usually soft and gentle Chiikawa universe — which is precisely what makes them so unsettling. Promotional materials have leaned into the contrast between the cute and the ominous, and fans have clearly responded to it.

Three armoured villain characters holding a bell, a pink bear plushie, and a bowl of ramen in Chiikawa Mermaid Island
The movie’s armoured antagonists — carrying plushies and ramen, because this is still Chiikawa. ©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

Fans Screening at GV Suntec — August 22

For Singapore fans, here’s the news you actually came for: Golden Village is running a special Chiikawa Fans Screening at GV Suntec on August 22, and tickets go on sale today (August 14) at 3PM. Prices are $30 for standard seats and $28 for GV members. The wider theatrical release in Singapore begins August 20, but if you want the full fans-screening energy with fellow Chiikawa devotees, August 22 is your date.

With Japan’s box office firmly in its pocket and a dedicated fan community here in Singapore, THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND is shaping up to be one of the anime events of the year locally. Tickets for the fans screening won’t last — set a reminder for 3PM today.

Manga Anime, News

Chiikawa Movie Hits Singapore Cinemas on 20 August

Leave a comment

The wait for Singapore fans is over: Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island has a confirmed local opening date. Medialink Films Singapore says the film lands in Singapore cinemas on 20 August 2026 — the piece of news we were missing when we first wrote about the movie back in July.

Trailer — via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル (Toho MOVIE Channel) on YouTube

The Chiikawa movie Singapore date is finally locked in

The confirmation came straight from the official distributor. Regional distributor Medialink Films Singapore posted the Singapore key visual on its official Instagram (@medialinkfilmssg), marking the film “in cinemas 20 August” and telling fans to get ready to “head to Mermaid Island for a raid.” That lines up with what we expected — Medialink holds the Southeast Asia rights — but until now there was no date attached to it.

Worth flagging: this is a firm cinema release date, not a one-night preview or a festival screening. Singapore gets the film as a proper theatrical run, roughly four weeks after it opens in Japan.

Mermaid Island background art from Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island

Image courtesy of ©2026 Chiikawa the Movie Film Partners

What “The Secret of the Mermaid Island” is about

This is Chiikawa’s first-ever feature film, and it adapts the manga’s beloved long-form “Siren Arc” — the storyline where Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi wash up on a strange island and slowly realise not everything about the place is as cute as it looks. Creator Nagano wrote the screenplay and supervised the whole production, so this isn’t a spin-off tangent; it’s the arc fans have wanted on the big screen since it ran in the manga.

Behind the camera, the film is directed by Kei Oikawa with animation by CygamesPictures. In Japan it opened on 24 July 2026, with a simultaneous IMAX release — a first for the franchise, and a sign of how big Chiikawa has become beyond its plush-toy-and-sticker roots.

Chiikawa reading a book in a still from the movie

Still from the official “Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” trailer

How the release rolled out across Asia

Japan got the film first on 24 July 2026. From there it fanned out across the region through the summer — Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia all landed in early August — with Singapore now slotting in on 20 August. If you’ve been following import chatter or trying to piece together a regional release calendar, the Singapore leg was the last major gap, and it’s now filled.

For local fans, the roughly four-week gap behind Japan is about as good as it gets for a Japanese theatrical title — no long wait, no import-only limbo, just a normal cinema run you can plan a weekend outing around.

Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi watching fireworks in a still from the movie

Still from the official “Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” trailer

What we still don’t know

The date is set, but a few details aren’t public yet. There’s no confirmed list of which Singapore cinema chains will carry it, no ticket on-sale date, and no word on whether the IMAX version from the Japanese run makes it here. Japan’s release also came with early-bird gift charms for the first wave of moviegoers — whether Singapore screenings get any equivalent freebie hasn’t been announced.

Here’s what we know so far, then: 20 August, in Singapore cinemas, distributed by Medialink. We’ll update this post as ticketing and cinema details firm up. In the meantime, you can read our original breakdown of the movie for the full backstory, or browse more anime and manga coverage on the blog.

Manga Anime

Chiikawa Movie Opens #1 in Japan — ¥2.24 Billion and 1.5 Million Tickets in Opening Weekend

Leave a comment

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

Official movie poster for Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island, showing Chiikawa and friends in a tropical island setting
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

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

Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — official background art showing the tropical island with dramatic ocean waves
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

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.

映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ — Official Trailer via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル (Toho Movie Channel) on YouTube

Chiikawa Movie Box Office Success — But Will It Come to Singapore?

Chiikawa, Hachiware, Usagi, and the full cast of Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island in the official key visual
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

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.

Follow our Manga Anime section for updates on anime film releases, streaming arrivals, and more.

Manga Anime, News, Shop and Merchandise

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

Leave a comment

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.

Manga Anime

Chiikawa’s First Movie Opens 24 July — Is Singapore Next?

Leave a comment

Japan’s most adorable — and occasionally most emotionally devastating — anime franchise is heading to cinemas for the very first time. 映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ (Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island) opens in Japanese theatres on 24 July 2026, with a simultaneous IMAX release making it the biggest moment in Chiikawa history.

Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — key visual showing the full cast on the island
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会
『映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ』予告映像 — Official trailer via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル on YouTube

The Siren Arc Finally Gets Its Big-Screen Debut

If you follow the Chiikawa manga on X, you know exactly what the Siren Arc is — and why it left so many fans wrecked. Originally posted between March and November 2023, the セイレーン (Siren) storyline is the longest and darkest narrative the series has ever told: a slow-burn island adventure that starts warmly and turns genuinely tense, with Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi facing something far more threatening than the usual monsters they subdue on commission. It trended repeatedly on Japanese social media and drew a huge international following during its original run.

The film adapts this arc faithfully, with the script written by Nagano — the original creator — herself. New voice talent joining the cast for the film includes Suzuki Minori as the Siren, a significant addition for a character who sits at the emotional heart of the story.

Chiikawa and friends in a tense night scene with the Siren in Chiikawa Movie
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

CygamesPictures and Uma Musume’s Director at the Helm

Animation is handled by CygamesPictures, the studio that produced Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era, with Kei Oikawa directing. The film score is composed by Tokumaru Shugo and Kamishidataru Chikara. The opening theme 「くつずれ」 (Kutsu-zure) is written by Nagano and performed by Hachiware’s voice actor Tanaka Seijin, backed by the Suginami Children’s Choir.

The full main cast returns: Aoki Haruka as Chiikawa, Ozawa Ari as Usagi, and Tanaka Seijin as Hachiware. Fans who have been waiting for Usagi’s full rapper persona to finally get a proper showcase will not be disappointed — the character’s rap debut in the film is confirmed as a centrepiece moment, and it gets the full IMAX audio treatment.

IMAX — Because Small Things Deserve a Big Screen

Chiikawa Movie IMAX triptych poster showing Hachiware MAX, Chiikawa MAX, and Usagi MAX
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

The simultaneous IMAX release was confirmed on 9 July, and the IMAX-exclusive triptych poster — showing Hachiware, Chiikawa, and Usagi in extreme close-up with “MAX” plastered across each panel — immediately became a fan favourite. In IMAX, the film’s visuals stretch floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, and the high-precision audio system means Usagi’s rap will be felt as much as heard.

Early viewers at participating Japanese cinemas also receive one of eight character charm mini-figures, distributed randomly at the door.

When Can Singapore Fans Watch It?

Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi watch fireworks together in a beautiful night scene from the movie
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

Japan gets the film first on 24 July. Across Asia, Hong Kong and Macau have confirmed a 6 August theatrical release — both in Japanese with Chinese subtitles and a Cantonese dub — making it the closest option for Singapore fans who happen to be travelling in August. The Philippines has also confirmed a theatrical run via Medialink Films.

For Singapore itself, Medialink Films Singapore is the regional distributor for Southeast Asia and has been signalling interest in the local release — but no Singapore date is confirmed yet. Follow @medialinkfilmssg on Instagram for any announcement. Given that Chiikawa merch practically vanishes the moment it hits Japanese lifestyle stores in Singapore, local demand is not going to be the obstacle. Keep an eye on our manga and anime coverage and we’ll report as soon as a date lands.

Update (4 August 2026): The date has landed. Medialink Films Singapore has confirmed that Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island opens in Singapore cinemas on 20 August 2026. Read the full confirmation and what to expect in our Chiikawa movie Singapore release date post.