Tag Archives: Japan culture

Event

Tokyo Is Building a Brand-New Anime Festival — TOKYO ANIME NEXT Lands in Ikebukuro This October

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Tokyo just announced a brand-new anime festival, and it could become one of the most important events on the calendar for anime fans everywhere. The Japan Animation Association, co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, has unveiled TOKYO ANIME NEXT — a four-day showcase running 30 October to 2 November 2026 across Ikebukuro’s Toshima Ward. The announcement landed today directly from Tokyo’s official government press release, with no English coverage yet.

TOKYO ANIME NEXT — official announcement visual
Image courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan Government / Japan Animation Association

What Is TOKYO ANIME NEXT?

TOKYO ANIME NEXT is the Japan Animation Association’s first major Tokyo-based event at this scale. The headline venue is Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL in Ikebukuro, with additional programming spread across multiple locations in the Toshima Ward district — the same neighbourhood that houses Sunshine City, Animate Ikebukuro, and some of the densest concentration of anime goods stores in the world.

The event’s stated mission is to showcase both the present and future of Japanese animation: connecting anime with international audiences and providing a platform for emerging animation talent.

What to Expect Across Four Days

The programme spans a genuinely broad range of formats. According to the official announcement, TOKYO ANIME NEXT will feature:

  • Screenings — acclaimed works and latest notable titles
  • Exhibitions — deep dives into animation production and craft
  • Workshops — children’s and educational programmes
  • Symposiums and talk events — panels on the state of the industry
  • Stage events — live performances and presentations

The finale on 2 November at Brillia HALL is the headline moment: a special orchestral performance synchronised with footage from anime titles popular overseas, framing both the art form’s history and its global future. Think less Comiket floor-scramble, more curated cultural showcase — with a live orchestra as the close.

The Bigger Picture: A Major 2027 Event Is Coming

Here is the part that has us paying close attention. The October 2026 event is explicitly described as a launch project — a test run, in effect, for a full-scale international anime festival planned to open in earnest in 2027. Organisers will use the finale on 2 November to formally announce those 2027 plans. In other words, what we are seeing now is the prologue to something bigger.

With Sony Music Solutions handling operations and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as co-host, the backing is serious. This is a government-supported push to establish Tokyo as a permanent, globally recognised anime events destination — similar to what AnimeJapan does for the spring season but with a stronger international and creative focus. The official website is already live at tokyoanimenext.jp, and the secretariat can be reached at info2026@tokyoanimenext.jp — programme details are listed as “coming soon.”

Last words

Late October into early November is arguably the best time of year to be in Japan — autumn leaves, cooler temperatures, and now TOKYO ANIME NEXT to anchor the anime side of any trip. Ikebukuro already draws Singapore otaku in big numbers given its Animate flagship and the Sunshine City figure shops; adding a four-day curated anime festival to the mix makes the case for a late October 2026 Japan trip even stronger.

Programme details and ticketing are still to come from the official site. We will update this page when announcements drop. Keep an eye on our events page for the latest Japan and SG anime event news.

Manga Anime, News

Studio Ghibli Has a New President: Kenichi Yoda Takes Over

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One of anime’s most legendary studios just turned a new page. As of today, June 22, 2026, Kenichi Yoda has officially stepped in as the new President and Representative Director of Studio Ghibli, with the studio’s shareholders’ meeting confirming the transition from outgoing president Hiroyuki Fukuda.

Studio Ghibli films including Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro
Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli

Who Is Kenichi Yoda, Studio Ghibli’s New Head?

Yoda’s name is familiar to those watching Nippon Television’s growing role in Ghibli. A General Specialist at NTV’s Content Strategy Headquarters, he has served as the network’s primary liaison to the studio since the 2023 acquisition. His most prominent production credit is the acclaimed stage adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro, which broke box office records at London’s Barbican Centre — a reminder that his experience lies in expanding Ghibli’s world well beyond the cinema screen. He brings a clear events-and-exhibition eye to the studio, which fits the direction NTV has been steering Ghibli: more live experiences, more global brand-building.

Hiroyuki Fukuda Steps Back — But Doesn’t Leave

The outgoing president Hiroyuki Fukuda (64) took the helm in 2023, the same year Nippon Television acquired Studio Ghibli as a subsidiary. He concurrently held the role of President and Representative Director at NTV Holdings, making his appointment a natural bridge between the two companies during the acquisition period. Fukuda will continue serving as a board director at Studio Ghibli, keeping the NTV–Ghibli connection intact even as he passes the executive baton.

Studio Ghibli classic film poster collage
Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli

The Creative Pillars That Aren’t Moving

For the fans most likely to panic at any Studio Ghibli headline — breathe. The studio clarified that no other changes to its upper leadership structure are planned:

  • Hayao Miyazaki continues as Honorary Chairman of the Board.
  • Toshio Suzuki, the legendary producer behind decades of Ghibli films, remains Representative Director and Chairman of the Board.
  • Goro Miyazaki stays on as Managing Director.

The studio’s creative backbone — Miyazaki and Suzuki at the top — remains exactly as it was. Yoda’s appointment is a strategic and executive move, not a creative one.

NTV, Ghibli, and What Comes Next

When NTV acquired Studio Ghibli in 2023, it sparked plenty of debate about what corporate ownership could mean for such a fiercely independent studio. Three years in, the answer has been a gradual, carefully managed integration — with stage productions, international exhibitions, and global licensing expanding alongside the films. As Studio Ghibli stated at the time of the announcement, as reported by Anime News Network: “By combining the resources of both companies, we aim to create new innovations.” Yoda, coming from exactly that events-and-content side of NTV, looks built for this mandate.

Last Words

For Singapore Ghibli fans, the studio’s beloved films remain as accessible as ever — streaming across major platforms, with merchandise at specialty retailers islandwide. What Yoda’s presidency means for future productions is still an open question, but the continued presence of Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki at the top suggests that the studio’s creative soul is in safe hands. This feels less like the end of an era and more like a carefully managed handoff — Studio Ghibli remains Studio Ghibli, just with a fresh name steering the ship. Stay tuned to our anime and Japan culture coverage for any updates from the studio.

Event

Mika Nakashima Is Playing Singapore on 17 July 2026

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The voice of Nana Osaki. The singer of Darling in the FranXX‘s unforgettable opening theme. Mika Nakashima is bringing her Asia Tour 2026 to Singapore, and she plays The Star Theatre on 17 July 2026. If you’ve been sleeping on this, now is the time to act — tickets are already on sale via SISTIC.

Mika Nakashima Asia Tour 2026 in Singapore — The Star Theatre, 17 July
Image courtesy of Red Spade Entertainment

Who Is Mika Nakashima?

If you’ve spent any time in the anime world over the past two decades, you’ve already heard Mika Nakashima — you may just not have known her name. Born in Kyoto in 1983, she debuted as a singer in 2002 and quickly became one of Japan’s most recognisable voices.

For Singapore fans, two songs likely stand out most. The first is “KISS OF DEATH” (produced by HYDE), the electrifying opening theme for Darling in the FranXX (2018, A-1 Pictures / TRIGGER), which has racked up over 45 million streams on YouTube alone. The second is her role as Nana Osaki in the beloved 2006 anime series NANA — she not only voiced the punk-rock icon but performed in character as the frontwoman of fictional band BLAST, delivering songs like “GLAMOROUS SKY” that became inseparable from the show’s identity.

Outside of anime, she is perhaps best known for “Yuki no Hana” (2003), her debut winter ballad that sold millions and spawned hit covers across Hong Kong, China, South Korea, and Singapore.

KISS OF DEATH（Produced by HYDE） — via Mika Nakashima on YouTube

What to Expect at The Star Theatre

The Singapore date marks a significant milestone: Mika Nakashima is celebrating her 25th debut anniversary on this tour, and the production reflects that. Audiences can expect a full band backed by live string arrangements, covering her iconic classics alongside more recent works. The set runs approximately 120 minutes and will be performed in Japanese.

The tour has already made stops across Asia — Bangkok, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur came earlier in the year — before finishing in Osaka and Tokyo. Singapore is part of the final international leg, and the SISTIC listing confirms it is an intimate, high-production show.

Tickets and How to Book

Tickets are available now through SISTIC (online or +65 6636 0055). Pricing runs from S$128 to S$328, depending on seating category. The concert is presented by Red Spade Entertainment.

  • Date: Friday, 17 July 2026
  • Time: 8:00 PM (doors 6:30 PM)
  • Venue: The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617
  • Tickets: S$128 – S$328 via SISTIC

Last words

Singapore has always had a deep connection to Japanese pop and anime culture, and Mika Nakashima is one of those artists whose voice is woven into that history. Whether you grew up with NANA, were glued to Darling in the FranXX, or simply know “Yuki no Hana” by heart — this is a rare chance to hear those songs performed live, with a full band, in a city that truly gets it. Check out our other events for more upcoming shows in Singapore.

News

RADWIMPS 20th Anniversary Concert Streams on Netflix This Saturday

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RADWIMPS — the Japanese band whose music defined a generation of anime films — is bringing their sold-out 20th anniversary live tour to Netflix worldwide this Saturday, June 20. If you have even the softest spot for Your Name, this is unmissable viewing for Singapore fans.

RADWIMPS – 賜物 / Tamamono [Official Live Video from “RADWIMPS 20th ANNIVERSARY LIVE TOUR”] — via RADWIMPS on YouTube

RADWIMPS 20th Anniversary Concert: What to Expect on Netflix

The Netflix special captures RADWIMPS performing at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on December 27, 2025 — the closing night of a 17-show Japan tour that visited nine cities and sold out every single venue. The full performance runs to 21 songs including the encore, sweeping across the band’s two-decade catalogue.

The setlist draws from their latest album Anew alongside the career-defining anthems that anime fans around the world have come to love. Confirmed tracks on the night include “Tamamono,” “Sparkle,” “MAAFAKA,” “Tummy,” “Iindesuka?,” and “Hitsu Zetsu.” For those who have seen Your Name — and that is basically everyone — hearing “Sparkle” ring out across a packed Ariake Arena is a whole different experience.

RADWIMPS 20th Anniversary Live Tour promotional visual
Image courtesy of RADWIMPS

The Band That Scored Your Name, Weathering with You, and Suzume

Formed in Kanagawa in 2001, RADWIMPS built a decade of cult following in Japan before their partnership with director Makoto Shinkai on Your Name (2016) made them a household name worldwide. They went on to score Weathering with You (2019) and Suzume (2022), earning Japan Academy Awards for Best Original Score across all three — a triple sweep that cements them as the defining sonic voice of modern anime film.

The band’s music is now inseparable from those films for millions of fans. In Singapore, where all three Shinkai films were box-office hits, RADWIMPS have a devoted following that stretches well beyond typical J-rock audiences. The 20th anniversary tour is as much a celebration for those fans as it is for the band.

Blu-ray, DVD, and Bonus Guest Footage

If streaming once is not going to be enough, a Blu-ray and DVD release follows on August 12, 2026, priced at ¥6,800 (standard edition) or ¥8,300 for a limited edition with commemorative goods. The physical release also includes exclusive footage from the Yokohama Arena shows, featuring guest appearances by BUMP OF CHICKEN, Vaundy, and YOASOBI — none of which will be on Netflix. International pre-orders are expected to open on RADWIMPS’ overseas store ahead of the August release.

Last words

RADWIMPS last played Singapore in early 2024, and the energy in the room that night was proof of just how deeply their catalogue resonates here. The Netflix special — filmed at the peak of their 20th anniversary run — is the next best thing to being at Ariake Arena. Add it to your queue now: the concert lands on Netflix Singapore on June 20. For more Japan culture and anime music news, browse our News section.