Tag Archives: Japan

Game News

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Cafe Opens in Japan This September

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Twenty-five years after Tidus first splashed into Spira, Square Enix is marking the milestone the only way a Final Fantasy anniversary can be marked — with an elaborate, character-themed café. Starting September 11, 2026, the Final Fantasy X 25TH ANNIVERSARY CAFE opens its doors across four Japanese cities, running all the way to December 2.

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary promotional art
Image courtesy of Square Enix
FINAL FANTASY X 25th Anniversary Special Movie — via Square Enix on YouTube

Four Cities, Nearly Three Months of Spira-Themed Dining

The cafe runs at four Square Enix locations simultaneously — the Officially Licensed SQUARE ENIX Cafe & Shop Shinjuku in Tokyo, plus Square Enix Pop Up Cafes in Yokohama, Osaka, and Nagoya (Yokohama is a new addition to the Pop Up Cafe lineup this year). The event is split into two themed periods:

  • Early Period: September 11 to October 22, 2026
  • Late Period: October 23 to December 2, 2026

Each period brings different menu items, so the most dedicated fans could justify two visits and a different set of random coaster designs each time.

What’s on the Menu

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Cafe -- 25th Anniversary Cake with mango and pineapple
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The full menu details come from Square Enix’s official Final Fantasy portal (Japanese) and Famitsu (Japanese). Highlights include:

  • 25th Anniversary Cake (1,870 yen) — mango and pineapple, with blue ocean-tinted jelly and strawberries echoing Spira’s waters
  • Zanarkand Oyakodon (1,650 yen) — a Tidus-and-Jecht-inspired parent-child rice bowl, topped with a nori stamp of the Zanarkand Abes symbol
  • Dream Zanarkand Tiramisu — dark chocolate and Lulu-sigil decoration; Early Period only
  • Tidus Fish Burger (1,210 yen) and Jecht’s Meat Platter (2,530 yen) — Early Period mains
  • Yuna’s Prayer Anmitsu (1,210 yen) and Wakka’s Salmon Carpaccio (1,320 yen) — Late Period mains

Each city also has a regional exclusive: Yokohama gets a dim sum set, Osaka a blitzball takoyaki, and Nagoya the now-iconic “maybe this is the last time” Ankake Spaghetti (1,870 yen) — a riff on one of FFX’s most-memed localisations.

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Cafe -- Zanarkand Oyakodon
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Reservations, Cover Charges, and Novelty Merch

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Cafe -- Dream Zanarkand Tiramisu
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Walk-ins are permitted if tables are free, but advance reservations are strongly recommended — slots are released one month ahead at noon daily via the Square Enix Cafe booking system. Each session is 90 minutes with a 1,200 yen cover charge that includes one complimentary drink and a random coaster. There are 9 coaster designs per period (18 in total), plus character placemats with different designs each phase.

Minimum one food or drink item per person is required beyond the cover. Mobile QR-code ordering is in use at all venues.

For Singapore Fans Planning a Japan Trip

There is no Singapore or SEA location for the anniversary cafe — this one is Japan-only. That said, with Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster now out on Nintendo Switch 2 in Southeast Asia, the 25th anniversary hype is very much alive here. If you’re already planning an autumn Japan trip or heading over for Tokyo Game Show (September 25 to 28), Shinjuku and Yokohama are easy additions to an itinerary. The Nagoya Ankake Spaghetti is arguably the single best reason to make the detour — you’ll know why if you’ve finished the game.

Reservation links and the full menu are on the official FFX 25th anniversary news page (Japanese). Keep an eye on our gaming news coverage as the celebrations continue.

News, Retro Gaming

GameCenter CX Officially Declares Wii and PS3 “Retro” — and Yes, We Feel Old

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The Nintendo Wii launched in 2006. The PlayStation 3 launched in 2006. We know this. But now Japan’s most beloved retro gaming television show has made it official with a formal vote: both consoles are definitively, irrefutably retro. Congratulations on making it through another decade, everyone.

GCCX pre-show preview: “Will Wii & PS3 be unlocked?” — via 【公式】ゲームセンターCX チャンネル on YouTube (Japanese)

What Is GameCenter CX?

For the uninitiated: ゲームセンターCX (GameCenter CX), broadcast on Fuji TV ONE, is a long-running Japanese variety show that has been on air since 2003. Host Shinya Arino — known affectionately as “Kacho” (section chief) — sits alone in a room and attempts to complete classic video games in a single day, usually with absolutely no prior practice. It’s tense, it’s hilarious, and it has a devoted following across Asia and beyond thanks to fan-subtitled releases that spread the show widely online. If you’ve spent any time in Singapore’s retro gaming or Japanese pop-culture fan communities, you’ve almost certainly heard of it.

The show defines retro games as “software from hardware released more than 20 years ago.” That’s the rule. With the Wii and PS3 turning exactly 20 this year, the question was unavoidable.

GameCenter CX staff debate whether Wii and PS3 should be classified as retro gaming hardware
Image courtesy of GameCenter CX (Fuji TV)

The Debate — 17,000 Viewers Weighed In

On August 23, 2026, the official GameCenter CX YouTube channel streamed a special session titled “Wii & PS3解禁！？生配信” (“Will Wii & PS3 be unlocked?! Live Broadcast”). Arino and the production staff openly debated the question — and brought fans along for the ride via live polling.

Results from roughly 17,000 respondents came in at 80% in favour of unlocking the consoles, with 9% opposed and 11% undecided. Arino then cast the decisive vote himself, stating he wanted to “acquire new fans in their 20s” — people who grew up with these systems — while not losing the longtime viewers who came up on Famicom and Super Famicom titles.

“I ended up unlocking them,” Arino said on the stream. “どうしよう, 解禁しちゃいました” — roughly, “What do I do, I’ve gone and unlocked them” — delivered with his characteristic mix of mock-regret and beaming delight.

Shinya Arino holds up a sign reading Kaikin (Unlocked) surrounded by Wii game cases during the GameCenter CX livestream
Image courtesy of GameCenter CX (Fuji TV)

What Arino Actually Played

Before casting his vote, Arino put several Wii and PS3 titles through their paces on stream as a “taste test.” The Wii side included Wii Fit and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, alongside the cult-oddity Opūna. On the PS3 side, he tested the atmospheric PlayStation Network title rain and — in what has to be peak 2006-throwback energy — Demon’s Souls. He also mentioned AFRIKA, the PS3 wildlife-photography game, as a strong candidate for a future challenge.

No start date has been set for the actual Wii or PS3 episodes, but the door is now officially open — and it’s hard not to imagine Arino suffering through the notorious Demon’s Souls without internet help in a future recording.

Coming to TGS 2026

If you’re heading to Tokyo Game Show 2026 (September 17–21 at Makuhari Messe), the GameCenter CX team will have a dedicated booth at the event — the first TGS appearance for the show. No details on what will be shown, but for fans across Southeast Asia who make the trip, it will be worth hunting down.

For Singapore fans who grew up watching Arino fumble through Famicom classics via fan subs on a weekend afternoon, this moment hits differently. The Wii era and the PS3 era are now officially history — and soon, they’ll be challenge fodder for the Kacho.

Event

Sanrio Games Heads to TGS 2026 — Hello Kitty Party Land Demo, Kuromi DJ and Pompompurin on Stage

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Sanrio is levelling up. The beloved Japanese character brand is making its first-ever Tokyo Game Show appearance under its gaming label Sanrio Games — and the September 17–21 booth at Makuhari Messe Hall 8 is shaping up to be one of the most colourful stops at this year’s show.

Sanrio Games Steps Into TGS for the First Time

If you’ve been following Hello Kitty Party Land since it was announced, TGS 2026 is your first real chance to go hands-on. Sanrio Games — the character brand’s dedicated gaming label, launched in April 2026 — is debuting at the show with three playable or exhibiting titles, a packed stage programme, and exclusive giveaways for booth visitors.

The booth runs all five days at Makuhari Messe Hall 8 [08-S01], covering both business days (September 17–18) and public days (September 19–21), with a second family-friendly outpost at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall’s Family Game Park section. Browse the full TGS 2026 event coverage as the show approaches.

Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin and Kuromi mascots at the Sanrio Games TGS 2026 booth
Image courtesy of Sanrio Games

Hello Kitty Party Land Finally Gets a Playable Demo

October 29 is not far off, and TGS 2026 will be the first major venue where players can try Hello Kitty Party Land before it launches. The party game crams 45-plus mini-games across three board game modes, supports up to four players, and features more than 145 Sanrio characters — from Hello Kitty and Kuromi to Badtz-Maru and beyond — on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

Hello Kitty Party Land – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

Meet Sanrio Kawaii Me Live! — A Rhythm Game With a Surprise Band

TGS 2026 also marks a proper showcase moment for Sanrio Kawaii Me Live!, a rhythm and dance game heading to iOS and Android in 2027. Players coordinate outfits for Sanrio characters while performing to tracks built around the Sanrio universe. The standout detail: Japanese rock band Polkadot Stingray — beloved for their high-energy indie sound — has composed original music for the title.

Vocalist Shizuku will appear on stage at the General Exhibition booth on September 19 to talk through the music creation process with attendees. If you’re into Polkadot Stingray’s guitar-driven sound, hearing that aesthetic fused with Sanrio’s kawaii characters is a genuinely unusual mix worth watching.

Polkadot Stingray band, composing the original soundtrack for Sanrio Kawaii Me Live!
Image courtesy of Polkadot Stingray

Fragaria Memories: Color of Wishes Debuts New Character Art

The third title on show is Fragaria Memories: Color of Wishes, a chivalric fantasy smartphone game still in development. TGS 2026 will debut newly drawn illustrations for the game’s Knight and Lord characters on a full-wall display, alongside a voice actor talk stage featuring Gakuto Kajiwara (Hallit) and Shunsuke Takeuchi (Badbalma).

Knight character from Fragaria Memories: Color of Wishes
Image courtesy of Sanrio Games
Lord character from Fragaria Memories: Color of Wishes
Image courtesy of Sanrio Games

Kuromi DJs, Pompompurin Turns 30, and Free Sun Visors

The stage programme is worth the booth visit on its own. Kuromi takes the decks for a DJ live set at the General Exhibition booth, spinning tracks from Sanrio Kawaii Me Live!. Meanwhile, Pompompurin — celebrating 30 years since his 1996 debut — hosts a special “Pa-Pi-Pu-Pe-Pom!” anniversary stage at the Family Game Park on September 20. Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Cinnamoroll are also appearing across both venues throughout the event.

Every booth visitor takes home an exclusive Sanrio Games sun visor in Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, or Pompompurin designs — while stocks last. Even if you can’t make it to Makuhari in person, TGS 2026 will stream its public-day stage events live, so SG fans can catch the Kuromi and Pompompurin shows from home when the show opens on September 19.

Manga Anime, Shop and Merchandise

Danganronpa × Sanrio Collab Announced: 16 Character Pairings Hit Loft Japan This September

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Two of the most iconic names in Japanese pop culture just announced a collab nobody knew they needed — and the result is a whole lot of chaotic cute. Spike Chunsoft’s Danganronpa series and Sanrio have officially revealed a major merchandise crossover featuring 16 brand-new character pairings drawn by illustrator Kei Mochizuki, rolling out at Loft stores across Japan from 11 September 2026.

Danganronpa x Sanrio framed posters for each game
Image courtesy of Spike Chunsoft / Sanrio

Who Gets Paired With Who?

The collab pulls characters from all three mainline games — the original Danganronpa, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, and Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony — and matches each with a Sanrio character that, in many cases, fits a little too well. Makoto Naegi lands with the ever-cheerful Cinnamoroll. Kyoko Kirigiri is paired with the understated Marroncream. Celestia Ludenberg gets Kuromi. Junko Enoshima — naturally — is with Hello Kitty. Kiyotaka Ishimaru ends up with Ahiru no Pekkle, which honestly makes perfect sense. Over in V3, Kokichi Oma gets Kuromi, Shuichi Saihara gets Pochacco, and Kaede Akamatsu is matched with the musical My Sweet Piano.

All 16 Danganronpa x Sanrio character pairing cards
Image courtesy of Spike Chunsoft / Sanrio

The Merchandise Lineup

Kei Mochizuki’s new character art appears across more than 20 product types, from entry-level collectibles to premium home goods. The lineup includes trading acrylic keychains (¥770), instant photo-style cards, matte badges, acrylic stands with glitter variants, clear files, sticker sheets, mugs, pouches, tote bags, T-shirts, towels, and long tapestries (up to ¥8,250). Each piece of merchandise leans into the pairing theme — expect Kuromi colour palettes on Celestia items and Cinnamoroll motifs woven through Naegi’s merch. Fans who spend ¥2,000 or more on eligible collab products will also receive one randomly selected illustration card from the full 16-design set, while stocks last.

Danganronpa x Sanrio DR1 characters group illustration by Kei Mochizuki
Image courtesy of Spike Chunsoft / Sanrio

When and Where — and What About Online Orders?

The limited-time pop-up runs from 11 September to 16 October 2026 at Loft stores in Shibuya, Kyoto, Omiya, Tenjin, Sakae, Sapporo, Niigata, Machida, Umeda, and Sendai. Singapore fans won’t be able to walk in, but this is a Japan-exclusive retail pop-up — the good news is that Spike Chunsoft has indicated online ordering details are on the way. Until then, the usual forwarding services and proxy-buying routes are your best bet for grabbing any must-have pieces. Given how quickly Danganronpa collab runs tend to sell out, it’s worth setting up a proxy account early. Keep an eye on the official Danganronpa site for the online store announcement. The Danganronpa community in Singapore has a strong cosplay and collector presence — expect plenty of interest in the acrylic stands and tapestries especially. For more anime and game collab news, stay tuned to GameTrader.

Manga Anime, Shop and Merchandise

Pokémon feat. Hatsune Miku VOLTAGE Live! Blu-ray Out 26 August — Full Setlist, 108-Page Book

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The first live concert to put Hatsune Miku and Pokémon on the same stage is getting a proper home release: Pokémon feat. Hatsune Miku VOLTAGE Live! hits Blu-ray on 26 August 2026 — and the special edition is genuinely stacked with extras.

Hatsune Miku floating with Pikachu and Meloetta - VOLTAGE Live! key art by Take
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Crypton Future Media

What Was the Pokémon × Hatsune Miku VOLTAGE Live! Concert?

Project VOLTAGE launched on 29 September 2023 as a landmark crossover between The Pokémon Company and Crypton Future Media: 18 songs, 18 Pokémon types, 18 different Vocaloid producers — each pairing Hatsune Miku with one Pokémon type in a full original track and music video. A follow-up arc, Project VOLTAGE High ↑, added more songs and artwork across 2024, making it one of the most expansive music collaborations in the franchise’s 30-year history.

VOLTAGE Live! — announced on 31 August 2025 as a second-anniversary celebration — took all of that into a physical arena. Six performances across three days (20–22 March 2026) at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY in Funabashi City, with the evening show on 22 March streamed live on Abema. Virtual singers Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, MEIKO, and KAITO performed, with Kasane Teto joining as a special guest. A total of 39 Pokémon — including Pikachu and Meloetta — appeared alongside them across all 27 songs, marking what the official Project VOLTAGE X account called the first time in history that virtual singers and Pokémon performed together on the same stage.

Hatsune Miku and Meloetta on a concert stage - VOLTAGE Live! second promotional art
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Crypton Future Media

What Is Inside the VOLTAGE Live! Blu-ray Special Edition

The Blu-ray captures the full evening setlist from 22 March — all 27 Project VOLTAGE songs — at approximately 118 minutes, encoded on a dual-layer disc with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1ch surround sound and Japanese lyric subtitles. The disc also includes a fixed-angle FULL STAGE! documentary cut, giving you an alternative wide-stage view of the entire performance.

The special edition bundle (特装盤) includes a substantial haul of physical extras:

  • 108-page MEMORIAL REPORT! book — live concert photos, the complete 18-types Hatsune Miku character illustration set, and exclusive director’s notes for every song
  • Two-piece acrylic stand set featuring Hatsune Miku and Meloetta
  • 18-card postcard set — one for each Pokémon type, matching the original Project VOLTAGE artwork
  • Special rigid-case packaging with a luxury holographic digipak, main visual illustrated by Take
VOLTAGE Live! Blu-ray Special Edition package showing disc, memorial book, acrylic stands and postcards
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / JVC Music

Price: ¥15,400 (¥14,000 excluding Japanese consumption tax). Release date: 26 August 2026.

How Singapore Fans Can Order the VOLTAGE Live! Blu-ray

There is no confirmed Singapore or Southeast Asia retail distribution for this release — it is a Japan market title published by JVC Music. The most straightforward import route is CDJapan, which ships internationally and currently lists pre-orders. At mid-August 2026 exchange rates ¥15,400 works out to roughly S$145–155 before shipping; EMS shipping to Singapore for a single Blu-ray package typically adds S$20–30 on top. CDJapan also notes a first-press bonus — a foil-stamped replica concert ticket — available on a first-come first-served basis while stocks last.

One point to flag: the main disc carries Japanese audio and Japanese lyric subtitles only, with no confirmed English subtitle track. For established PokéMiku fans that is unlikely to be a dealbreaker, but the 108-page MEMORIAL REPORT! book is also in Japanese, so the director commentary will require some translation effort for those who need it.

VOLTAGE Live! official concert announcement poster showing Hatsune Miku, Pikachu and Meloetta
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Crypton Future Media

Project VOLTAGE merchandise — including the 18-types Hatsune Miku prints and themed Pokémon goods — was sold at Pokémon Centers across Japan during the concert window, most of which has since sold out. The Blu-ray is the main remaining piece for collectors and concert fans who want to revisit the event, or experience it for the first time. Pre-orders through CDJapan remain open ahead of the 26 August release.

For more Japan music and pop-culture coverage relevant to Singapore fans, see our Manga & Anime archive.

News

Dragon Quest’s Luida’s Bar Goes Permanent in Osaka — Opens 25 August

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Dragon Quest’s beloved themed bar is putting down roots in Osaka. Luida’s Bar (ルイーダの酒場) in Osaka — the official Dragon Quest collaboration venue operated by Pasela Resorts — opens as a permanent location on 25 August 2026, transitioning from a limited-time 40th anniversary pop-up that ran since May. English gaming media has yet to pick this up, but SG fans with a Japan trip on the cards should know it’s there.

Luida's Bar Osaka interior with wooden barrel, blue-lit bar counter and Dragon Quest themed decor
Image courtesy of Pasela Resorts / Square Enix

From Pop-Up to Permanent in Namba

Luida’s Bar launched as a limited-time pop-up at Pasela Resorts Namba Dotonbori 5F in May 2026 to mark the Dragon Quest series’ 40th anniversary. The strong response from fans pushed the operator to convert it into a permanent establishment — a meaningful vote of confidence from the Osaka market. The limited run closed on 24 August, and the permanent doors open the very next day on 25 August.

The Tokyo Luida’s Bar in Akihabara (Japanese) has been a fixture on the Dragon Quest fan pilgrimage circuit for years, and Osaka now gets its own. The name comes from Luida, the kindly tavern host in the early Dragon Quest games who helps heroes recruit companions before they set off to save the world — a fitting concept for a venue where fans gather to share their love of the franchise.

Location and Hours at Luida’s Bar Osaka

The permanent Osaka bar sits at Dotonbori 1-4-27, Chuo-ku, Osaka (Pasela Resorts Namba Dotonbori, 5F), a three-to-four-minute walk from Nihonbashi and Namba stations. Operating hours are 11:30–21:00 daily.

Weekdays run on free entry with a two-hour courtesy limit when the venue gets busy. Weekends and public holidays switch to a full reservation system across five 90-minute timeslots (11:30–13:00, 13:30–15:00, 15:30–17:00, 17:30–19:00, 19:30–21:00). Reservations open up to 30 days in advance via TableCheck; walk-ins are accepted on weekdays. Phone: 0120-997-277.

Slime-shaped sweets in white, blue and yellow at Luida's Bar Dragon Quest themed cafe
Image courtesy of Pasela Resorts / Square Enix

Osaka-Exclusive Menu on the Way

Pasela Resorts has confirmed that Osaka-exclusive limited menu items are in the works — dishes and drinks distinct from what’s available at the Tokyo location. The specifics haven’t been announced yet; we’ll add them here once they drop. Both Luida’s Bar locations are known for Dragon Quest-themed food and drinks: Slime-shaped sweets, monster-inspired cocktails and dishes named after spells and in-game items are par for the course. (Source: Famitsu (Japanese), Dengeki Online (Japanese))

For Singapore fans travelling to Japan, Namba is easy to access — it’s a short walk from the main Dotonbori tourist strip and a direct train ride from central Osaka. With the venue now permanent, there’s no seasonal countdown to beat; it’ll be there whenever your Japan trip lines up. Weekend timeslots will fill up fast, so book on TableCheck as soon as your travel dates are confirmed.

For more Japan gaming culture coverage worth bookmarking for your next trip, check our events archive.

Manga Anime, News

Attack on Titan Cafe in Shinjuku Opens 3 September — WIT Studio’s Big Reveal

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WIT Studio’s cryptic “special dinner” teaser from last week has finally served up the answer — and it is, quite literally, dinner. The original studio behind Attack on Titan Seasons 1 to 3 announced today, via Denfaminicogamer (Japanese) and the official WIT STUDIO X account, that it is opening a limited-time themed cafe in Shinjuku, Tokyo: 「そういう時期の進撃の巨人カフェ〜思春期の晩餐〜」 — roughly, That Kind of Phase: Attack on Titan Cafe — The Adolescence Dinner.

As we noted when WIT Studio first teased this reveal, the announcement visual showed Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Levi, Erwin, and Hange all in WIT’s signature art style, hinting at a pre-battle “special dinner.” The theme is exactly that: a Last Supper on the eve of battle, reimagined with an ironic chunibyo (theatrical teenage-edgelord) spin on the Seasons 1–3 cast.

Attack on Titan Cafe in Shinjuku: Dates and Venue

The cafe runs at BOX cafe&space, Lumine Est Shinjuku 2nd Branch (8F, 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) from 3 September to 12 October 2026. It is a joint production between WIT STUDIO and event producer LTR. All character artwork is brand-new, drawn by WIT Studio specifically for this collab — the first time the studio has produced original Attack on Titan illustrations since handing off the series to MAPPA.

Attack on Titan Cafe Shinjuku 2026 key visual by WIT Studio featuring Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Levi, Erwin and Hange in the adolescence dinner theme
Image courtesy of WIT STUDIO / ©Hajime Isayama, Kodansha / “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Production Committee
Attack on Titan Cafe Theme PV — via WIT STUDIO on YouTube

The Menu — Pita, Stew, and a Wall You Break Yourself

The food menu leans hard into character symbolism. Three meatball-and-pita sandwiches form the centrepiece, each paired to a character duo:

  • Eren & Mikasa — spicy seaseri meatball pita with daikon pickles representing Mikasa’s red scarf (¥1,990)
  • Armin & Hange — seafood and a lemon “mystery reagent” sauce for two characters who never stopped asking questions (¥1,990)
  • Levi & Erwin — bone-in sausage with two contrasting sauces, for humanity’s strongest pair (¥1,990)
Eren and Mikasa themed meatball pita dish at the Attack on Titan cafe in Shinjuku 2026
Image courtesy of WIT STUDIO / ©Hajime Isayama, Kodansha / “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Production Committee
Levi and Erwin bone-in sausage meatball pita on a black plate at the Attack on Titan themed cafe
Image courtesy of WIT STUDIO / ©Hajime Isayama, Kodansha / “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Production Committee

Sides and desserts include Eren’s Mother’s Stew (¥790) — described as “the taste of a peaceful past” — and the dessert that will make fans lose their minds: the Wall Honey Danish. It is a cube-shaped pastry scored with the Survey Corps star emblem that you crack open yourself to find the honey filling hidden inside. The wall has secrets. You have to break it to find them.

Wall Honey Danish dessert at the Attack on Titan Shinjuku cafe — a cube pastry with the Survey Corps star to crack open
Image courtesy of WIT STUDIO / ©Hajime Isayama, Kodansha / “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Production Committee

Reservations, Bonuses, and Exclusive Merch

Bookings open tonight, 20 August, at 18:00 JST via the cafe’s official website on a first-come, first-served basis. The reservation deposit is ¥660 (tax included) per person, with up to four seats per booking. Reserve in advance and order from the menu, and you receive one random Hunting Licence-style trading card from a set of six (one per character). Spend ¥3,300 or more and you also receive a random drink coaster from a set of seven.

Attack on Titan cafe Shinjuku reservation bonus hunting licence trading cards for Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Levi, Erwin and Hange
Image courtesy of WIT STUDIO / ©Hajime Isayama, Kodansha / “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Production Committee

Original merchandise on sale includes acrylic stands, foil-stamped can badges, clear files, stained-glass-style acrylic stands, and metal charms — all using the new WIT Studio artwork. These will be available in-store and via an online shop on the cafe site, running from 3 September to 12 October.

Attack on LUSH themed layered drink with a titan face topper at the Attack on Titan Shinjuku cafe
Image courtesy of WIT STUDIO / ©Hajime Isayama, Kodansha / “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Production Committee

This is a Japan-exclusive event — no Singapore or Southeast Asia dates have been announced. The September–October window does align with school holiday travel for Singapore fans, and Lumine Est Shinjuku is a five-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, making it a straightforward stop on any Tokyo itinerary. Merchandise from the online shop may also be shippable internationally; check the official site for details.

For more anime news and Japan pop-culture coverage, keep following GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime, News

BLACK LAGOON 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition Announced for Ikebukuro

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Twenty-five years of gunfire, cigar smoke, and morally flexible pirates have earned Roanapur its own exhibition. Shogakukan and the BLACK LAGOON 25th Anniversary Executive Committee confirmed today that a BLACK LAGOON 25th Anniversary Original Art Exhibition (原画展) will run at Sunshine 60 Observatory’s Tenbo Park event space in Ikebukuro, Tokyo from 13 November to 6 December 2026.

BLACK LAGOON 25th Anniversary key visual featuring Rock, Revy, Dutch and Benny
Image courtesy of Shogakukan

What the BLACK LAGOON Art Exhibition Will Showcase

The exhibition is set to be the most substantial look behind the curtain of creator Rei Hiroe’s craft since the series launched. Confirmed exhibits include original manga manuscripts, full-colour illustration reproductions, and — most intriguingly — real gun props that appeared on the series’ iconic comic covers. Photo spots styled around the streets of Roanapur are also planned, giving fans a chance to step (at least visually) into the series’ fictional Southeast Asian port city.

Details on ticketing and admission prices have not yet been announced. The organisers have indicated that further information will be released through the official SundayGX channels and blacklagoon.jp, so it’s worth bookmarking both now if a Japan trip late this year is on the cards.

Twenty-Five Years in the Port City — and 10 Million Copies Sold

BLACK LAGOON Vol. 14 manga cover by Rei Hiroe
Image courtesy of Shogakukan

BLACK LAGOON began as a one-shot in 2001 before Rei Hiroe kicked off the full serialisation in Shogakukan’s Monthly Sunday GX in 2002. The series follows Dutch, Revy, Rock, and Benny — the crew of the torpedo boat Black Lagoon — running jobs out of the fictional port city of Roanapur, a place that feels pulled from the grimy, sun-bleached harbours of Southeast Asia.

That setting has never been incidental. Roanapur’s unmistakably Southeast Asian atmosphere, the multilingual criminal underworld, the sense of a city that exists just outside the reach of any government’s law — it’s a world that has always resonated particularly hard with readers in Singapore and the broader region. We’re part of the geography that inspired it, even if the city itself is fiction.

After a quarter century, the series has shipped 10 million copies worldwide. A fourteenth volume of the main manga is currently available, and two official spin-off series remain in active publication: BLACK LAGOON Eda: Initial Stage and BLACK LAGOON Sawyer the Cleaner: Dismantling! The Gore-Gore Sisters.

BLACK LAGOON official spin-off manga — Eda Initial Stage Vol. 9 and Sawyer the Cleaner Vol. 11
Image courtesy of Shogakukan

Dates, Venue, and How to Visit

The BLACK LAGOON 25th Anniversary Original Art Exhibition runs from Friday, 13 November to Sunday, 6 December 2026 at Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbo Park in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The event is organised by the BLACK LAGOON 25th Anniversary Original Art Exhibition Executive Committee, with support from TOKYO MX.

For Singapore fans already planning a Japan trip around the winter school holidays, the exhibition window slots in neatly. Ikebukuro is a straightforward stop on the Yamanote Line, and Sunshine City is well-signposted from the station’s eastern exits. Admission pricing, advance ticketing, and the full programme will be announced closer to the opening date via the official SundayGX BLACK LAGOON page (Japanese).

The announcement was first reported by Famitsu.com (Japanese) earlier today, and no English-language coverage has followed yet — making this one of those cases where checking Japanese sources first genuinely pays off for readers outside Japan.

Game News

Tokyo Game Show 2026 Turns 30: New Website Live, TGS NEWS STUDIO Debuts, and Southeast Asia Gets a BOOSTERZ Rep

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Tokyo Game Show 2026 key visual featuring the 30th anniversary badge against Makuhari Messe backdrop

Tokyo Game Show is turning 30, and CESA is pulling out all the stops. The official 30th Anniversary commemorative website opened today, 17 August 2026, alongside a wave of programme announcements that give Singapore fans plenty of reason to mark their calendars — no plane ticket required.

Five Days, One Show

TGS 2026 runs 17–21 September at Makuhari Messe, making this the first-ever five-day edition of the show. Business days are 17–18 September (10:00–17:00 JST), with public days running 19–21 September (9:30–17:00 JST). CESA is targeting 300,000 visitors across 3,500+ booths — comfortably the largest TGS in its three-decade history.

TGS 2026 schedule graphic showing Business Days 17-18 September and Public Days 19-21 September, with 30th Anniversary badge
TGS 2026 full schedule — five days for the first time ever. (Image: CESA)

TGS NEWS STUDIO Is Already Live

CESA launched a dedicated streaming programme, TGS NEWS STUDIO, today at 7 PM JST (6 PM SGT) across YouTube, Twitch, and X. The show will cover exhibitor announcements and show news in the run-up to September, and there are no geo-restrictions — so tune in from Singapore as easily as anyone in Tokyo. An additional streaming event, the 30th Anniversary Title Talk Stage, kicks off online on 11 September, roughly a week before the show floor opens.

BOOSTERZ Wave 3: Southeast Asia Represented

The TGS ambassador programme BOOSTERZ added its third wave of talent today. The new lineup spans six markets: Hideo Ishiguro and Atsuko Uchida (Japan), Taki (Philippines), Kyle and Kawaii Coco (USA), KIMBLUE (Korea), and 米米米大師 (Taiwan). Having a Filipino creator in the mix is the closest the BOOSTERZ roster has come to the Southeast Asian gaming community — and with all TGS NEWS STUDIO content streaming without region locks, their coverage will be just as accessible from Singapore.

Twitch CEO Keynote on Opening Day

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy is confirmed for a keynote on 17 September, the first business day. No further details have been announced yet, but Clancy’s presence signals that streaming and live content will be a central theme for TGS 2026 — fitting for a show doubling down on its global online reach.

Watch the Official TGS 2026 Movie

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 OFFICIAL MOVIE — via the official Tokyo Game Show YouTube channel

TGS 2026 will be streamed globally across multiple platforms. Follow the official TGS 2026 website for the full exhibitor list and programme schedule as they’re announced.