Tag Archives: Japan

Manga Anime, Shop and Merchandise

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN: Black Collection Pre-Orders Open Now

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Blue Archive just kicked off pre-orders for its second ZOZOTOWN collaboration — and this time, Gehenna Academy’s Prefect Team is trading their school blazers for full black-military drip. The Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN BLACK COLLECTION opened for orders today, 13 August 2026, at noon Japan time, with a pre-order window running all the way to 7 September.

Gehenna’s Black Military Collection

The collection centres on four Gehenna Academy students — Hina, Ako, Iori, and Chinatsu — reimagined in original outfit illustrations by artist Sola Nijihashi (Japanese). The theme is unmistakably military-chic: fitted black silhouettes, red accent stitching, and Gehenna Academy insignias worked into the garment designs. This is the second ZOZOTOWN drop for Blue Archive; the first featured the Arius Squad in streetwear.

What’s in the Black Collection

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection hoodie — black with red stripe accents
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

The full lineup runs to eight product types, mixing wearables with desk collectibles:

  • Graphic T-shirts (6 character variants) — ¥4,400
  • Open-collar long sleeve shirt — ¥9,350
  • Hoodie — ¥9,900
  • Long pants — ¥9,900
  • Long coach jacket — ¥39,600
  • Reversible MA-1 bomber jacket (black outside, Gehenna-red lining with embroidered insignias) — ¥36,300
  • Big acrylic stands (4 variants — one per character) — ¥2,200 each
  • Rubber play mat (all four characters across a full-width mat) — ¥3,850

The standout piece is the reversible MA-1 jacket: flip it inside out and the red lining reveals embroidered Gehenna faction symbols across the back — a detail fans of the game’s lore will appreciate immediately.

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection reversible MA-1 bomber jacket showing black exterior and Gehenna-red lining with embroidered insignias
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Order Dates and What Singapore Players Should Know

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Hina Big Acrylic Stand in black military outfit
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Pre-orders close 7 September 2026 at 11:59 PM Japan time, with items shipping in mid-December 2026. All items are exclusive to ZOZOTOWN — there is no retail or overseas retail channel.

ZOZOTOWN does not offer direct international shipping, so Singapore fans looking to pick up pieces from the Black Collection will need a Japan forwarding service. Services such as Tenso and Buyee support ZOZOTOWN orders and deliver to Singapore; expect Japanese domestic shipping (¥1,500–3,000 roughly) plus the forwarder’s fee on top of the item price, so factor that in before checkout.

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection rubber play mat featuring Iori, Ako, Hina, and Chinatsu across a wide desk mat
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Blue Archive continues to be one of the most collab-active gacha titles for licensed fashion in Japan. If the Black Collection follows the first ZOZOTOWN drop, orders will close without a restock — Gehenna fans in Singapore who want a piece of the collection should plan their forwarding setup before 7 September. Check our anime and game coverage for more merchandise news.

News, Shop and Merchandise

Pokémon’s 30-Year Pokédex Is Out Now in Japan — All 1,025 Species, One Book

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Thirty years, nine console generations, and 1,025 Pokémon later, publisher Overlap has done what fans dreamed about since the days of Red and Green: put every single species in one official book. The Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996-2026 (ポケモン公式ぜんこく図鑑 1996-2026) went on sale in Japan on 7 August 2026, and if you collect anything Pokémon-related, this one belongs on the shelf.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary Special Movie — via Pokémon Asia ENG on YouTube

What the Pokémon National Pokédex 1996-2026 Contains

This is not a strategy guide. Supervised by The Pokémon Company and produced in cooperation with Game Freak, the 448-page full-colour B5 volume covers all 1,025 species with data current as of March 2026 — meaning it includes the Pokémon introduced in LEGENDS: Z-A. Each entry lists type, classification, height, weight, abilities, hidden abilities, and Pokédex descriptions drawn from the latest games. Every species name appears in both English and Japanese, which makes the book genuinely usable even if you don’t read Japanese.

Evolution chains flow naturally across each spread, and explanatory columns walk readers through mechanics that can trip up casual players — Mega Evolution, Dynamax, Terastallization, and Regional Forms all get their own breakdowns. Navigation is handled by a National Pokédex number index and a 50-syllable (gojuon) alphabetical index. Price: ¥2,750 (tax included). Publisher: Overlap Inc.. ISBN: 978-4-8240-1717-8.

Sample spread showing Pichu, Pikachu and Raichu evolution chain including Alolan Raichu and Mega forms from the Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996-2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Overlap

Three 30th Anniversary Art Books Land in December

Alongside the Pokédex, Overlap has announced three companion art books, all due 18 December 2026 at ¥5,500 each. They split 30 years of franchise history into three eras:

  • Volume 1: Red/Green through HeartGold/SoulSilver (Generations I–IV)
  • Volume 2: Black/White through Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon (Generations V–VII)
  • Volume 3: Let’s Go through LEGENDS: Z-A Mega Dimension (Generation VIII onwards)

Combined, the three volumes total 1,500 pages of sprites, 3D models, illustrations, and promotional artwork spanning the full run of the franchise. No international release has been announced for any of the four books — so Japan is currently the only source.

Index grid pages showing hundreds of Pokémon thumbnails from No. 739 to No. 954 in the Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996-2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Overlap

How Singapore Fans Can Get a Copy

The Pokémon Official National Pokédex is available now at Pokémon Center Online Japan and major Japanese booksellers. Amazon Japan ships internationally, and specialist import retailers stock it as well — factor in shipping when comparing prices, since the base ¥2,750 (roughly S$26–28 at current rates) goes up once postage is added. No Singapore retail or local distributor has been confirmed, so import is the route for now.

The good news for non-Japanese readers: with English species names throughout, the Pokédex is a practical reference rather than just a display piece, even if you skip the Japanese descriptions. If you’ve ever wanted a single book that answers “which generation introduced that Pokémon?” or “what’s the English name for that form?”, this is it.

Sample spread featuring Kyogre and Groudon including their Primal Reversion forms from the Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996-2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Overlap

The December art books are available for pre-order through importers. With the Pokédex and all three art volumes together, Singapore collectors would have a complete visual archive of 30 years of Pokémon — the kind of set that does not come around twice. Keep an eye on our merchandise coverage for updates if an English edition or regional distributor is ever announced.

Game News, News

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration: Japan Lottery Opens Monday

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The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration set does not land until 16 September 2026 — but in Japan, the race to secure the MEGA series products begins this Monday, 10 August. Pokémon Center Online Japan is opening lottery applications for four anniversary products, and for the first time it is tying the winning odds to identity verification. Here is what importers and collectors keeping an eye on the Japanese market need to know — and what Singapore fans waiting for the local launch can expect.

We first covered this landmark set when The Pokémon Company revealed it in June, including its historic first-ever simultaneous worldwide release and the 30 unique Pikachu illustration variants inside every pack. The lottery details below are new, confirmed via Dengeki Online’s 8 August report (Japanese).

What Japan’s Lottery Covers and When It Opens

Four MEGA series products are going on sale exclusively through a Japan-region lottery on Pokémon Center Online:

  • MEGA Expansion Pack “30th CELEBRATION” BOX — ¥7,200 (approx. S$68). This is the flagship booster box: multiple packs of the six-cards-per-pack Japanese expansion, all foil.
  • MEGA “30th CELEBRATION Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon” — ¥6,200 (approx. S$59). A ready-to-play deck set anchored by Espeon and Umbreon.
  • MEGA “30th CELEBRATION FUTURISTIC BOX” — ¥27,500 (approx. S$261). The premium collector’s box featuring the set’s new Futuristic rare cards — Mewtwo ex, Mew ex, Greninja ex, and others in a never-before-seen card rarity tier.

Lottery applications for these three products open Monday 10 August at 12:00 JST and close Friday 14 August at 16:59 JST. A fourth product — the MEGA “30th CELEBRATION Card Set” (nine card types, ¥10,800 / approx. S$103) — has its own separate lottery from 28 to 31 August.

Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration Futuristic rare cards including Mewtwo ex and Jirachi ex
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The New Anti-Scalper Measure: My Number Card Verification

For this lottery, Pokémon Center Online Japan is splitting applicants into two tiers: Players Club: Identity Verified and Players Club: Unverified. According to Dengeki Online (Japanese), “the majority of winning allocations are designated for the identity-verified tier,” making prior verification with Japan’s national ID card system — the My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) — a meaningful advantage.

This is a direct response to the scalping problem that has plagued high-demand Pokémon TCG releases in Japan over the past few years. By requiring government-issued ID to unlock the better lottery odds, The Pokémon Company Japan is also de facto locking out overseas resellers who do not hold a Japanese national ID. Singapore-based resellers who have historically obtained Japanese product through proxy services will find this lottery particularly difficult to access through the usual channels.

What Singapore Collectors Should Do

Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

If you do not have a Japanese Pokémon Center account with My Number Card verification, you cannot enter this lottery directly. The good news is you do not need to. The 16 September 2026 simultaneous worldwide release — the first time the Pokémon TCG has ever launched a set on the same day globally — means Singapore fans will have access to the international English-language products on exactly the same day as Japan. Pre-orders for the English-language 30th Celebration range are already open via major international retailers and local games shops.

The English Elite Trainer Box contains nine booster packs and a full-art promo Nidorina card. The Pokémon Center edition has eleven packs and two full-art promos. Each pack contains five fully foil cards — there are no non-holo commons in this set — plus one of the 30 Pikachu rare variants drawn by a different illustrator. Collecting all 30 will be the collector challenge of the year.

Watch the Official 30th Celebration Trailer

[Official] Pokémon TCG – 30th Anniversary Global Synced Release — via Pokémon Asia ENG on YouTube

Singapore pre-orders are expected at major game retailers and electronics chains that carry Pokémon TCG products. The September 16 date is confirmed; local SGD pricing has not been officially announced at time of writing. Check the Pokémon section for updates as they land.

Manga Anime

DAN DA DAN ~Occultic Stage~ Opens in Tokyo on 26 August — Full Cast Revealed

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DAN DA DAN is coming off the page and onto the stage. 舞台「ダンダダン」～Occultic Stage～ — the manga’s first-ever live theatrical adaptation — opens at Tokyo’s Nippon Seinenkan Hall on 26 August 2026, and with two official PVs already out and an English ticketing site now live, it’s clearly built to reach audiences well beyond Japan.

What Is the DAN DA DAN Stage Play?

Announced on 6 April 2026 to mark the manga’s fifth anniversary on Shōnen Jump+, Occultic Stage covers the opening arc of Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga — the fateful first encounter between sceptic Momo Ayase and occult-obsessed Okarun, and their run-in with the fearsome spirit Turbo Granny. Director Imagine Ito of high-physicality theatre troupe Umebō is helming the production, with original music by Ryō Konishi and choreography by Yuki Noda and suzuyaka. The script is by Shinjiro Kameda, with production supervised by Shueisha.

The second promotional video, the 邂逅編 (“Encounter Arc”), focuses on the story beats anime fans will know well — and shows just how much the production is leaning into the series’ manic energy.

【第2弾PV -邂逅編-】舞台「ダンダダン」～Occultic Stage～ — via 舞台「ダンダダン」公式 on YouTube

DAN DA DAN Stage Play Full Cast

The production makes one especially clever casting decision: two actors play Okarun to distinguish his normal self from his cursed, transformed state — a choice that honours how dramatically different the character becomes once possessed.

  • Momo Ayase — Yuiri Murayama
  • Okarun (Ken Takakura, normal) — Raimu Ninomiya
  • Okarun (transformed) — Hiroki Hyakuna
  • Seiko Ayase (Momo’s grandmother) — Aoi Nakabeppu
  • Aira Shiratori — Riko Tanaka
  • Acrobatic Silky — Risa Yamazaki

Anime voice actress Mayumi Tanaka has been confirmed as the voice of Turbo Granny for the stage run — bridging the stage and anime versions and giving longtime fans an extra reason to pay attention to every scene.

DAN DA DAN Occultic Stage first key visual showing Momo and Okarun beneath a UFO abduction beam
Image courtesy of 舞台「ダンダダン」製作委員会

Tokyo and Osaka Dates — Tickets Available Now

The production runs across two Japanese cities:

  • Tokyo: 26 August – 3 September 2026, Nippon Seinenkan Hall
  • Osaka: 11–13 September 2026, Sky Theatre MBS

Tickets are on sale via the official ticketing page. The team has set up an English-language ticketing option — an intentional move for international fans. For Singapore audiences with a Japan trip in the pipeline this August or September, the Tokyo run has 12 days of performances across the main hall. Check the manga and anime section for more franchise news as it breaks.

Acrobatic Silky lucky cat prop from DAN DA DAN Occultic Stage
Image courtesy of 舞台「ダンダダン」製作委員会

Special Fan Events at Every Show

The experience extends beyond the curtain. Every performance includes an Occult Performance & Photo Session after the main show — a curtain-call add-on that is notably rare for Japanese stage productions. Rotating talk sessions with director Imagine Ito, scriptwriter Shinjiro Kameda, and composer Ryō Konishi are scheduled throughout the run, and select performance days will feature exclusive cast video messages. A lottery-based poster giveaway is also planned.

The manga’s fifth anniversary is in full swing, the anime continues to build momentum, and this stage production is the centrepiece of the celebrations. If you have any interest in seeing the Turbo Granny arc brought to life by a company that specialises in physical, effects-heavy theatre, the window is 26 August onwards.

Game News

Expeditions: Samurai Enters Steam Early Access — Feudal Japan Tactics With Co-op Launches Today

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Campfire Cabal and THQ Nordic have launched Expeditions: Samurai into Steam Early Access today, 7 August 2026. The turn-based tactics RPG drops you into feudal Japan at the tail end of the Sengoku period, with simultaneous combat resolution and two-player co-op as its standout mechanics.

Expeditions: Samurai Early Access Out Now — samurai overlooking a red sky landscape

Setting and Story

Set in Japan circa 1600 — the turbulent close of the Sengoku period — Expeditions: Samurai puts you in the boots of Captain Flynn, a foreign privateer drawn into the country’s political and military chaos. The Expeditions franchise has built its reputation on historically grounded settings; this is the third major entry after Expeditions: Viking and Expeditions: Rome.

Atmospheric Japanese shrine with stone steps and gong in Expeditions: Samurai

Combat and Companions

The core combat mechanic is simultaneous turn resolution: both sides commit their orders before anything plays out, which rewards anticipating your opponent over pure reaction. Outside of combat you can use stealth to sidestep fights entirely, and the game lets you split your party to handle multiple objectives at once.

You’ll recruit up to eight companions over the course of the campaign. The game also supports two-player co-op — unusual for the genre, and a natural fit given how the split-party mechanics work.

Dialogue scene: Tanaka Takayuki speaks with Captain Flynn in Expeditions: Samurai

What’s in Early Access

The current build contains Act 1: five main quests and three side quests, with an estimated eight hours of content. The full campaign is scoped at roughly 60 hours, with a 1.0 release targeted for 2027.

Turn-based combat UI with stats panel inside a Japanese building in Expeditions: Samurai

Pricing

Expeditions: Samurai is PC and Steam only for now. The standard price is US$29.99, with a 34% launch discount taking it down to US$19.79 for a limited time.

Early Access Release Trailer

If the Expeditions formula has clicked for you before, the feudal Japan setting and simultaneous-resolution combat make this an easy recommendation at the discounted launch price. Expeditions: Samurai is available now on Steam.

Game News, Retro Gaming

Cotton Rock With You Launches 6 August on PS5 and Steam

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The Cotton franchise turns 35 this year, and SUCCESS Corporation is marking the milestone in style: Cotton Rock With You — Oriental Night Dreams launches 6 August 2026 on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC (Steam). Full English subtitle support is confirmed, meaning Singapore fans can grab it without any language barrier — whether digitally on Steam or as a physical import.

Cotton Rock With You – Release Date Trailer (Japanese) — via Gematsu on YouTube

Cotton’s Sweetest Adventure Yet — A Japan-Themed Setting

The Cotton series has charmed shoot-’em-up fans since 1991, following the young witch Nata de Cotton as she chases her beloved Willow candy through fantastical worlds. For this 35th anniversary entry, developer Studio Saizensen swaps the usual magical-kingdom backdrop for the streets, shrines and scenery of Japan — giving the series a fresh look and feel that feels both nostalgic and new.

Studio Saizensen returns on development duties after helming the well-received Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll: Superlative Night Dreams (2021), and the Japan theme feeds directly into the game’s visual style and stage design. Think torii gates, festival lanterns and traditional aesthetics rendered in the studio’s sharp, colourful anime art style.

Cotton and Silk in a story cutscene in Cotton Rock With You
Image courtesy of SUCCESS Corporation

Ten Characters, Sixteen Stages

Cotton Rock With You ships with ten playable characters — eight returning cast members from Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll: Superlative Night Dreams, joined by two guest pilots new to the series.

Leading the roster is Nata de Cotton herself, whose magic shot changes type based on the crystal she collects mid-stage. Holding the Shot Button casts spells, and her bomb hits hard. Each of the returning characters brings their own distinct shot type and bomb, giving veteran fans reasons to experiment across runs.

Izuna from Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja on the character select screen in Cotton Rock With You
Image courtesy of SUCCESS Corporation

The two guest characters are Izuna from Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja and Psyva Ria from the Psyvariar 3 series — an inspired pairing of classic Japanese gaming properties. Izuna is a close-range fighter who attacks with blades and kunai: hold the Shot Button for Kunai Barrage (up to 99 hits), or the Special Button for Dimensional Slash.

Izuna close-up in a story scene in Cotton Rock With You
Image courtesy of SUCCESS Corporation

The game spans 16 stages: six selectable main stages, plus bonus and final levels. Story segments between shooting sections are fully voiced, with SUCCESS confirming they have expanded the adventure content beyond what Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll offered.

How Singapore Fans Can Play Cotton Rock With You

The game launches with a generous language roster: English, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles are all confirmed. That makes the Steam version fully accessible as an import even without a Japanese account.

The standard edition is priced at ¥6,380; a limited edition at ¥11,880 bundles in an acrylic stand set of Nata de Cotton, an original soundtrack CD and an art book. Singapore PlayStation Store availability has not been confirmed, but the Steam version is expected to be globally accessible, and Play-Asia is stocking the physical edition for international shipping.

If you love Japanese shmups, import-friendly releases like Cotton Rock With You are exactly what the Switch 2 and Steam era has been good for. Catch up on more game news while you wait for the 6 August drop.

Game News

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross Launches August 6 — Dragon Quest Creator Meets Blue Lock Author

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Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii and Blue Lock author Muneyuki Kaneshiro have joined forces on something delightfully menacing: a sugoroku party game expressly designed to end friendships. Tensei Game: Karma x Cross launches on Nintendo Switch in Japan on 6 August 2026 — this Thursday — via the Nintendo eShop at ¥3,980 (tax included).

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross promotional art featuring a masked figure and ghost characters
Image courtesy of ArtePiazza

Two Legends, One Very Dangerous Board Game

The collaboration sounds almost too good to be true. Horii — the mind behind the Dragon Quest series, one of the most beloved JRPG franchises in Japan and a longtime favourite among Singapore fans — serves as supervisor. The original concept comes from Kaneshiro, whose manga work includes Blue Lock (currently tearing up streaming charts) and the survival-horror series As the Gods Will. Development is handled by ArtePiazza, the studio behind the classic Dragon Quest remakes on Nintendo DS.

That As the Gods Will energy is unmistakeable once you hear the premise. You are dead — stranded in Rinnekai, a dark fantasy afterlife world — and your only way out is winning a 22-turn sugoroku (board game) race to earn reincarnation. The catch: only three of the four players can actually be reborn.

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross sugoroku board overview with four player stat panels and a purple eight-sided die
Image courtesy of ArtePiazza

How the Reincarnation Race Works

Spread across 22 turns split into two halves of 11, players roll an eight-sided die and accumulate Karma — the game’s currency — to purchase a Soul Vessel, their ticket to rebirth. Karma flows from cooperation and betrayal in equal measure: land on the right square and you can hire supernatural characters like the white wolf demon Kitsune Key to curse a rival, trigger board events that redistribute accumulated fortunes, or simply sprint ahead while your friends scramble.

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross wolf monster Kitsune Key offering to curse another player for Karma
Image courtesy of ArtePiazza

Multiplayer supports one to four players locally, with online play available for two to four participants (a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required). Friends can battle online with up to three players per console. The 22-turn structure keeps sessions tight and the chaos concentrated — very much by design.

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross bear character launching a powerful attack on the sugoroku board
Image courtesy of ArtePiazza

Watch the Trailer

「転生ゲーム カルマxクロス」はこんなゲーム！！ — via ArtePiazza on YouTube (Japanese)

Playing It in Singapore

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross is a Japan-exclusive eShop release at launch, with no global version announced. For Singapore players, that is not a hard barrier: the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 are fully region-free, and the Japan Nintendo eShop is accessible via a Japanese Nintendo Account. At ¥3,980, the entry price is reasonable for a local-multiplayer title.

Keep in mind the entire game — menus, event text, card descriptions — is in Japanese, with no English localisation announced. Blue Lock fans and Dragon Quest veterans comfortable with JP titles will find the sugoroku flow intuitive from the first roll; the deeper karma-spending mechanics will reward some reading ability. For anyone planning a gaming night, it is worth setting up accounts and practising the menu navigation before friends arrive.

Whether an English version arrives will likely depend on how the Japan launch goes. Given the profile of both creators and the surge in Blue Lock’s global profile, it would be a surprise if publishers left localisation entirely off the table. In the meantime, this Thursday is the earliest Singapore Switch owners can get in — via the Japan Nintendo eShop. Full details at the official Tensei Game site (Japanese).

Browsing for other upcoming releases? Check our game news archive for more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage.

Game News, Shop and Merchandise

Pokémon x Baskin-Robbins Japan: 31 Poké Summer Campaign Is Live

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Pokémon’s 30th anniversary is still going strong, and Japan’s Baskin-Robbins just turned up the sweetness. The annual 31 Poké Summer Campaign (31ポケ夏！キャンペーン) is now live at Baskin-Robbins Japan — and this year’s lineup celebrates three decades since Pokémon Red and Green first launched in 1996. For Singapore fans making the Japan trip this August school holidays, this one is a worthy side-quest.

What Is the 31 Poké Summer Campaign?

Running throughout August 1–31, 2026 at B-R サーティワン locations nationwide in Japan, the 31 Poké Summer Campaign is an annual collaboration between Baskin-Robbins Japan and The Pokémon Company. Each year it draws long queues, and the 2026 edition makes it the biggest yet: the 30th anniversary of Pokémon Red and Green means Kanto’s original starter Pokémon — Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle — take centre stage, joined by Pikachu, Eevee, Ditto, Slowpoke, and starter Pokémon from all nine main-series regions.

Check out more Pokémon news on GameTrader as we head into a packed August for the franchise.

The Signature New Flavour: Pikachu’s Volt Tackle

The star of the 2026 lineup is Pikachu’s Volt Tackle Pine Squash (ピカチュウのでんきショック！パインスカッシュ), priced at ¥420 per scoop. It’s a pineapple-and-cider sorbet laced with popping candy — 31% more than Baskin-Robbins Japan’s own popular Popping Shower flavour — so it fizzes and crackles on your tongue like a miniature Electric-type attack. It’s one of those flavours that sounds gimmicky on paper but reportedly delivers.

Joining it is the Ditto Crush Soda (メタモンクラッシュソーダ) at ¥760: grape and pineapple soda poured over crushed ice with a Ditto stirrer stick and grape gelatin. Mix the red and blue layers until they bleed into purple, and you’ve got a drink that transforms in real time — just like its namesake. A scoop of your choice flavour can be added on top.

Baskin-Robbins Japan Pokémon 2026 ice cream cone with Pikachu-themed decoration
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company and Baskin-Robbins Japan

Poké Ball Sundae, Double Cups, and All Nine Regions

The most coveted item this year is the Poké Ball Sundae (モンスターボールサンデー) at ¥820. It’s a scoop of any flavour topped with Pikachu-shaped chocolate whipped cream, sprinkles, and served inside a reusable Poké Ball container — the kind you’ll want to keep. The spoon is a random one of three Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle). Catch: it’s only available through 9 August and is limited to three cups per group, so plan ahead if you’re in Japan early this month.

The Pokémon Double Cup (ポケモンダブルカップ, from ¥510) lets you pick two scoops, and the cups are decorated with starter Pokémon from all nine main-series regions — Kanto to Paldea. For group orders, the Summer Special Set (from ¥3,520) packs nine scoops with stainless steel Pikachu and Eevee spoons; an upgraded version includes nine plastic starter spoons as well.

Pokémon Variety Box 6 Flavors at Baskin-Robbins Japan 2026 featuring Pikachu and Slowpoke
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company and Baskin-Robbins Japan

Pokémon Ice Cream Cakes for the 30th Anniversary

Returning for another summer are the Pokémon face-shaped ice cream cakes, available to pre-order. The Pikachu Ice Cream Cake (¥3,800) is a spot-on sculpted Pikachu head in yellow fondant and chocolate, filled with Popping Shower and strawberry ice cream. There’s also an Eevee Ice Cream Cake for fans of the Evolution Pokémon, filled with caramel ribbon and milk chocolate — arguably the more sophisticated option of the two.

Pikachu face-shaped ice cream cake at Baskin-Robbins Japan 31 Poké Summer 2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company and Baskin-Robbins Japan

Singapore Fans: Plan That Japan Trip

The 31 Poké Summer Campaign is Japan-exclusive — B-R Japan is a separate franchise from Baskin-Robbins outlets here in Singapore, and none of these Pokémon products will appear at local stores. However, August is school-holiday season and one of the most popular months for Singapore families to visit Japan. Baskin-Robbins branches are everywhere in Japan’s major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka), so picking up a Poké Ball Sundae or a Ditto Crush Soda is an easy Japan trip addition.

The Pokémon Variety Boxes — available in 4, 6, 8, and 12-scoop configurations in Pokémon-branded boxes — also make decent takeaway gifts if you’re heading back to Singapore after your trip, though ice cream logistics on a flight are naturally your own adventure.

The 31 Poké Summer Campaign runs August 1–31, 2026 at participating Baskin-Robbins Japan stores nationwide. Full product details and a store locator are available on the official site (Japanese). Via SoraNews24 and Game Watch (Japanese).

News, Shop and Merchandise

BEAMS x The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Collection Is Out Now in Japan

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If you caught The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in Singapore cinemas earlier this year and came out wishing you could take a piece of it home, Japanese fashion label BEAMS just answered that call. The long-teased collaboration between BEAMS and Nintendo’s blockbuster sequel officially went on sale in Japan today, 1 August 2026, and the nine-piece collection is exactly the kind of loud, character-forward streetwear that BEAMS does best.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – Official Trailer — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

What BEAMS Brought to the Galaxy

The collection takes the vibrant visual language of the Nintendo/Illumination film and runs it through BEAMS’ distinctly Tokyo-casual design sensibility. The standout piece is the all-over print open-collar short-sleeve shirt (¥13,200), which covers every inch of fabric with Coins, Fire Flowers, Super Mushrooms and Question Blocks in a pattern that somehow manages to feel wearable rather than overwhelming. It comes in white and navy, and there is a matching all-over print tote bag (¥7,700) in the same two colour options if you want to commit fully to the look.

BEAMS x The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — open-collar shirts, character tees and Bowser pieces
Image courtesy of BEAMS / Nintendo

The Bowser items deserve their own spotlight. The Bowser T-Shirt (¥7,920) and matching Bowser Sweatshirt (¥13,200) go full rock-poster with a massive KOOPA graphic across the chest — the kind of design that works for a casual weekend but also reads clearly enough that fellow fans will clock it immediately. Both come in white and black (fade black for the sweatshirt).

The Full Line-Up

BEAMS x The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — sweatshirts, long sleeve tees, tote bags and logo cap
Image courtesy of BEAMS / Nintendo

Here is everything in the collection with pricing in Japanese yen:

  • All-Over Print Open Collar Shirt — ¥13,200 (White, Navy, sizes S–XL)
  • Character T-Shirt — ¥7,920 (White, Grey, S–XL) — full cast graphic across the back
  • Bowser T-Shirt — ¥7,920 (White, Black, S–XL)
  • Logo T-Shirt — ¥7,920 (White, Black, S–XL) — clean movie logo treatment on the back
  • Character Sweatshirt — ¥12,100 (Grey, Black, S–XL) — character print with Yoshi detail on the sleeve
  • Bowser Sweatshirt — ¥13,200 (Fade Black, S–XL)
  • Long Sleeve T-Shirt — ¥12,100 (Navy, Black, S–XL) — cast storyboard strip running the full length of the sleeve
  • Logo Cap — ¥8,250 (Black, One Size)
  • All-Over Print Tote Bag — ¥7,700 (White, Navy)
BEAMS x The Super Mario Galaxy Movie long sleeve tee detail — BEAMS logo and character strip on sleeve
Image courtesy of BEAMS / Nintendo

Getting It to Singapore

The collection is Japan-exclusive for now and available through the BEAMS Online Store and BEAMS retail locations across Japan. There is no confirmation of a wider international release or a Singapore-specific retail drop at this stage.

Singapore fans who want to order will need to use a Japanese proxy shopping or forwarding service — these typically charge a service fee on top of the item price and shipping, so factor that in before hitting checkout on the pricier sweatshirts. Items are priced between ¥7,700 and ¥13,200, putting most pieces in the same ballpark as a mid-range streetwear purchase once shipping is added.

The movie itself crossed USD $1 billion at the global box office and had a strong run in Singapore cinemas this April, with Nintendo’s local site carrying full movie information. If you missed the Uniqlo UT collaboration from earlier in the year (which did land in Singapore stores), the BEAMS pieces occupy a slightly more premium, Japan-fashion-brand position — fewer pieces, more distinctive designs, and import-only for most of us.

For other Japan culture drops and Singapore pop-culture news, check our merchandise and shop coverage.