Tag Archives: Singapore

Manga Anime, News

Ghost in the Shell Returns on Prime Video This July 7

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For the first time since the franchise became an anime in 1995, a studio other than Production I.G. is animating Ghost in the Shell. That studio is Science Saru — the house behind Dandadan, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Tatami Time Machine Blues — and THE GHOST IN THE SHELL premieres on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries this Tuesday, 7 July 2026, Singapore included.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL 2026 key visual poster featuring Major Motoko Kusanagi
Image courtesy of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE

Science Saru Takes Over — and Why That Is a Big Deal

Production I.G. has been synonymous with Ghost in the Shell animation since Mamoru Oshii’s landmark 1995 film. The studio went on to direct Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, both seasons of Stand Alone Complex, and the theatrical Arise series. Production I.G. remains in the production committee for this 2026 series — alongside Bandai Namco Filmworks and Kodansha — but the animation itself now belongs to Science Saru.

Science Saru was co-founded by Masaaki Yuasa and has built its reputation on visually expressive, high-fluidity work that stands apart from conventional TV-anime house styles. Directing the new series is Mokochan, making his feature directorial debut after working as assistant director on Dandadan. Character design and chief animation direction is handled by Shuhei Handa, whose credits include Dandadan, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Spriggan. Series composition comes from sci-fi novelist EnJoe Toh, known for the metafictional Self-Reference ENGINE — a choice that hints at a grittier, more literary approach.

Official Japanese trailer for THE GHOST IN THE SHELL — via Ghost in the Shell Official Channel on YouTube

A Straight Line Back to Masamune Shirow’s Manga

Rather than continuing any existing anime continuity, the 2026 series returns to Masamune Shirow’s original Ghost in the Shell manga, first serialised in Young Magazine from 1989 to 1991. The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi leading Public Security Section 9 through cybercrimes and a conspiracy surrounding a spectral hacker known as the Puppet Master — the same premise as Oshii’s 1995 film, but adapted from the source material rather than from the film’s more abstract interpretation.

The creative team describe the aim as being closer to the manga’s own tonal blend of hard sci-fi, dry humour, and political thriller, rather than the heavy philosophical weight of Oshii’s take. Given EnJoe Toh’s background in literary science fiction, that ambition seems credible.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL 2026 promotional image from Science Saru
Image courtesy of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE

English Dub Cast and Global Availability

Amazon Prime Video is rolling out the series with a full English dub across its global release. Suzie Yeung (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Overtake!) voices Major Kusanagi; Bill Butts plays Batou; SungWon Cho voices Chief Aramaki; and Nick Apostolides takes on Togusa. The English dub cast was confirmed by Anime News Network. In total the series launches in eight dubbed languages alongside the Japanese original.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL 2026 key visual showing Section 9
Image courtesy of THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE

When and Where to Watch in Singapore

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL is available on Amazon Prime Video in Singapore from 7 July 2026. An active Prime or Prime Video subscription is all you need. New episodes drop weekly — in Japan they broadcast on Fuji TV and Kansai TV every Tuesday at 23:00 JST (midnight SGT on Wednesday), with the Prime Video stream expected around the same time. The July 7 premiere date was confirmed via Anime News Network in June.

If you want to revisit the original mythology ahead of Tuesday, Oshii’s 1995 film and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex are available across multiple platforms. Find more anime season previews and news on GameTrader as the summer 2026 lineup gets into gear.

The Ending Theme: MILLENNIUM PARADE, Saya Gray and Daniel Caesar

The ending theme, titled “Blue”, is performed by MILLENNIUM PARADE featuring Saya Gray and Daniel Caesar. MILLENNIUM PARADE is the avant-pop project led by Daiki Tsuneta, the frontman of King Gnu — whose music has previously appeared across anime soundtracks. Saya Gray is a Japanese-American indie singer-songwriter; Daniel Caesar is a Grammy-winning Canadian R&B artist. The pairing feels deliberately trans-Pacific, which suits a franchise that has always occupied the intersection of Japanese cyberpunk and Western science-fiction imagination.

Game News, Singapore Gaming Scene

Hantu and Hunted: Singapore Studio Zeevium Games Drops Gameplay Reveal

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A Singapore studio just put our own folklore on the map — and made it terrifying. Hantu and Hunted (stylised HaH!), an asymmetric horror prop-hunt game built around the legendary ghosts of Southeast Asia, has dropped its official gameplay reveal. Developer Zeevium Games is a local Singapore studio, and the game is now live on Steam for wishlisting ahead of an Early Access launch targeting Q4 2026.

Hantu and Hunted – Official Gameplay Reveal | Southeast Asian Horror Prop Hunt — via Zeevium Games on YouTube

What Is Hantu and Hunted?

At its core, HaH! is an asymmetric game of hide-and-seek — but instead of cowering in a corner, the humans can morph into props to avoid detection. Meanwhile, one or more players step into the role of a Hantu, a Southeast Asian ghost with the sole purpose of sniffing out the living.

There are no guns, no upgrade trees, and no health bars to grind. Your survival depends entirely on how convincingly you can pretend to be a crate. Or a lamp. Or a durian. Yes, a durian.

Hantu and Hunted prop morph gameplay screenshot
Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

A match plays out in three acts. First, The Awakening: players pick their roles — humans scramble for cover while the Hantus lurk in the shadows. Then comes the main phase, Hide or Hunt: humans must move through the map collecting Batuprana crystals and feeding them into Rupavarna Machines to power up their escape. Working together speeds things up, but any noise draws the Hantu’s attention. Finally, The Final Escape: once the machines are humming, portals open — and it becomes a mad dash for the exit before the Hantu reaches full power.

Meet the Hantus — Southeast Asian Folklore in the Spotlight

Hantu and Hunted playable ghost characters from SEA folklore
Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

This is where HaH! stands apart from every Western prop-hunt game on the market. Instead of a generic masked killer or a jump-scare creature, the ghost roster is drawn directly from Southeast Asian mythology — the kind of folklore most Singapore kids grew up hearing about:

  • Pocong — the bound shroud ghost of Malay and Indonesian tradition
  • Kuntilanak — the malevolent female spirit that haunts tropical forests
  • Kuyang — the infamous flying-head entity from Borneo and Sabah lore
  • Hantu Raya — a powerful, commanding ghost rooted deep in Malay belief
  • Amalanhig — a zombie-like pursuer from Filipino mythology

Each ghost has a distinct toolkit designed to flush out hiding humans, so choosing which Hantu to play will shape your entire hunting strategy.

Your Best Weapon Is a Durian

Hantu and Hunted multiplayer prop-hunt action
Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

For the human side, the morph mechanic is everything. Players can transform into hundreds of objects scattered across each map — chairs, crates, barrels, and yes, a durian. Maps include environments like an eerie village and a floating market, both thick with furniture and everyday objects to blend into. The catch: collecting Batuprana crystals requires movement, and movement makes noise.

Tension escalates as the match goes on. Both sides unlock power spikes as crystals are collected, pushing the final moments of each round into a high-intensity finale where the Hantu reaches its most terrifying form. It is designed to be the kind of game where one wrong step triggers a full-volume Discord meltdown.

Built by Singapore, Built for Southeast Asia

Hantu and Hunted eerie village map environment
Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

Zeevium Games is a local Singapore studio, making HaH! a rare local indie production targeting the global PC market. The game launches with proximity voice chat built in — hear the Hantu breathing as it closes in on you — and it is designed explicitly for multiplayer chaos with friends.

Crucially for regional players, the game will support Malay, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese at launch, alongside English and several European languages. That language list reads like the Steam storefront’s own Southeast Asian wishlist, and it signals that Zeevium is targeting the home audience deliberately.

The Early Access launch is slated for Q4 2026 on Windows PC via Steam. No SGD pricing has been announced yet. You can add it to your Steam wishlist now to be notified when it drops. For more local and regional game releases, check out our Singapore Gaming Scene coverage.

Game News, News

GTA VI Singapore Pre-Orders: Price, Editions and Bonus

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Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are live in Singapore right now — and the confirmed SGD pricing lands in comfortable territory for most console gamers who’ve been counting down since Trailer 1. Whether you’re on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, here’s everything you need before November 19.

GTA VI Singapore Prices: Standard vs. Ultimate Edition

Jason and Lucia wearing Vintage Vice City Pack exclusive outfits in GTA VI
Image courtesy of Rockstar Games

Rockstar confirmed two editions for Singapore, available now on the PlayStation Store Singapore and Microsoft Store:

  • Standard Edition — SGD 109: Base game, Vintage Vice City Pack, and one month of GTA+ (PS5 pre-order)
  • Ultimate Edition — SGD 136: Everything in Standard plus the Ultimate Edition Upgrade — premium vehicles including the Grotti Cheetah and Squalo speedboat, exclusive shops, additional personalised weapon and vehicle skins, and extra apparel for both protagonists

The SGD 27 gap is narrower than many expected for a game at this price point. If you plan to spend significant time in GTA Online, the Ultimate Upgrade’s exclusive vehicles and shops have real long-term value. If you’re here primarily for the single-player campaign, Standard has you covered — and the Vintage Vice City Pack alone makes it feel like a generous launch bundle.

What’s in the Vintage Vice City Pack

The '55 Vapid Stanier classic sedan from the GTA VI Vintage Vice City Pack cruising through Vice City
Image courtesy of Rockstar Games

Pre-order or buy GTA VI before November 20, 2026 and you unlock the Vintage Vice City Pack — a retro-themed collection that tips its hat to the original Vice City era:

  • ’55 Vapid Stanier — a wide, chrome-lined American classic that looks right at home cruising Ocean Beach at night
  • Shore Court Garage — personal vehicle storage near Ocean Beach, so you’ve got somewhere to park the Stanier
  • Exclusive outfits for Jason and Lucia — Jason in a vintage pastel linen suit; Lucia in a red sequin mini dress inspired by Vice City’s neon nightlife
  • Tropical palm tree weapon customisation — a Vice City-flavoured skin for your firearms, visible in-game on pistols and SMGs
GTA VI tropical palm tree weapon skin from the Vintage Vice City Pack lying in the back seat of the Stanier
Image courtesy of Rockstar Games

Rockstar has not indicated the Pack will be sold separately after launch, so the November 20 deadline is the line to watch.

Release Date, Platforms and the PC Question

GTA VI launches November 19, 2026 globally on PS5, PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X|S. The game carries an M18 rating — extreme violence, nudity, strong language and discriminatory content — in keeping with the franchise’s track record.

There is no confirmed PC release date. Rockstar has said nothing publicly about a Windows version timeline. Based on the GTA V cycle — where the PC edition arrived nearly two years after consoles — Singapore PC gamers should plan for a long wait or pick up a console copy at launch.

Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 — via Rockstar Games on YouTube

Should You Pre-Order Now?

The Vintage Vice City Pack is the clearest reason to lock in before November 20 rather than waiting. If the ’55 Stanier and retro outfits appeal, the window is open right now and the SGD 109 Standard price is competitive by any regional measure.

PS5 pre-orders also include a free one-month GTA+ membership (auto-renews; claim through the GTA+ product page before March 31, 2027, and cancel before the billing date if you’d rather not continue). It’s a small extra for PS5 buyers that Xbox players won’t receive.

For more on the biggest console and PC releases headed Singapore’s way, check out our game news coverage.

Manga Anime

We Are Aliens Anime Film Lands Singapore Release via Shaw Organisation

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Singapore is getting an unusually special theatrical anime release this year. We Are Aliens (ワレワレハウチュウジン) — a Japanese-French co-production that made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight in May 2026 — has confirmed Shaw Organisation as its Singapore distributor, bringing one of the animation festival circuit’s most talked-about titles of the year to local screens.

We Are Aliens – Anime Film Video | open in 2026 — via LPE on YouTube

What Is We Are Aliens?

Directed by Kōhei Kadowaki and co-produced by Japanese indie label NOTHING NEW and Paris-based Miyu Productions, We Are Aliens is a quietly intimate coming-of-age drama spanning nearly three decades. The story follows two boys — Tsubasa and Gyotaro — in a small Japanese town whose childhood friendship is fractured by a single act of jealousy and misunderstanding. The film then jumps forward in time, tracking them as adults reckoning with what that break cost them.

A scene from We Are Aliens showing the two childhood friends
Image courtesy of NOTHING NEW / Miyu Productions

Kadowaki — whose animation credits include YOASOBI’s acclaimed “A Gentle Comet” music video — serves as writer, director, storyboarder, and editor on the film, giving it a genuinely singular authorial voice. The animation style blends rotoscoped movement with hand-drawn expressiveness, aiming for a grounded, lived-in quality rather than the visual bombast of mainstream releases. Composer Yaffle, closely associated with YOASOBI’s sound, provides the score, with Ryōta Bandō and Amane Okayama leading the adult voice cast.

From Cannes to Annecy: The Festival Run

The film’s world premiere was at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight — historically one of the most director-focused sidebars of the festival, with a track record of championing unconventional debuts. From there it moved to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in competition, one of the most prestigious animation showcases in the world. Both selections are unusual for a debut feature built on crowdfunding and indie production, and they put We Are Aliens firmly on the path that tends to produce quiet word-of-mouth favourites.

We Are Aliens - film still showing an emotional scene between the two leads
Image courtesy of NOTHING NEW / Miyu Productions

The project was funded via MotionGallery, Japan’s creative crowdfunding platform, where it surpassed its 8 million yen goal to raise 9.6 million yen — real community investment in a project that came almost entirely from outside the mainstream anime production system. International sales are handled by Charades, a Paris-based sales agent with a recent track record of arthouse breakouts from Asia.

Singapore and the Southeast Asia Release

The regional distribution announcement, confirmed on 23 June 2026, covers multiple Asian markets at once: Shaw Organisation holds Singapore, Hooray Films has Taiwan, Intercontinental Film Distributors covers Hong Kong, Sahamongkol Film has Thailand, and Green Narae Media handles South Korea. France is covered domestically by Dulac Distribution.

We Are Aliens - film still from the anime feature
Image courtesy of NOTHING NEW / Miyu Productions

A specific Singapore theatrical release date has not yet been confirmed — Shaw Organisation holds the rights, but the calendar slot is still to be announced. Given the film’s arthouse profile, expect a limited-screen release rather than a wide multiplex run; keep an eye on Shaw Theatres’ upcoming schedule once the Japan run concludes. We’ll update when a Singapore date is locked in.

If you follow Cannes, love character-driven anime that puts story over spectacle, or simply want to catch something genuinely unusual on a local screen before the word-of-mouth catches up with it, this is a date to keep open. For more anime films and series we’re tracking for Singapore audiences, check our Manga Anime section.

Event, Singapore Gaming Scene

Elixir Esports CQ Opens 2 July — Their Largest Outlet Yet

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Singapore’s gaming cafe scene just levelled up. Elixir Esports is officially opening its largest outlet to date at CQ, Clarke Quay on 2 July 2026 — bringing its signature blend of professional-grade gaming, food and beverage, and live esports tournaments to one of the most iconic riverside districts in the city.

CQ Clarke Quay revamp key visual
Image courtesy of CQ @ Clarke Quay

What Is Elixir Esports?

Elixir Esports has been part of Singapore’s gaming scene since 2015, building a reputation for premium LAN-cafe experiences that go well beyond the old-school cyber cafe formula. Their outlets at Lavender, Beauty World, Holland Village, and The Cathay each share the same DNA: sleek, futuristic interiors, high-end hardware, and a setup that feels as much like a lifestyle space as a gaming venue.

Stations across their outlets run on ASUS ROG PCs equipped with AMD 9070 XT graphics cards, paired with ZOWIE peripherals and ASUS monitors — including 360 Hz panels in select rooms for the truly twitch-dependent. Pricing starts from S$6 per hour, with VIP rooms, five-person party suites, and an Elixir VIP membership tier for regulars.

The brand also holds a distinctive technical edge: Singapore’s first and only centralised server room, which keeps all the bulky CPU hardware hidden away so each station is cleaner, cooler, and physically roomier than a traditional setup.

Elixir Esports gaming cafe interior setup
Image courtesy of Elixir Esports

Elixir Esports CQ — What to Expect

The Clarke Quay outlet is billed as Elixir Esports’ biggest location to date, and will operate around the clock, 24 hours a day. It will house gaming facilities, a food and beverage section, and dedicated space for esports tournaments — making it one of the most complete gaming destinations in the city when it opens.

The CQ opening lands in the middle of a broader refresh for the riverside mall: CQ @ Clarke Quay announced eight new brands as part of a major tenant revamp in early 2026. Elixir Esports is one of the headline additions, a clear sign that gaming and esports culture has earned a permanent spot in mainstream Singapore entertainment.

Specific details on station count, the full F&B menu, and room configurations are expected to be confirmed around opening day — keep an eye on Elixir Esports’ official site and their Instagram @elixiresports.sg for the final word.

How to Get There

CQ @ Clarke Quay sits along the Singapore River and is a short walk from Clarke Quay MRT (NE5) on the North East Line. The area is well served by buses and taxis, and there’s plenty of dining and nightlife options nearby — ideal if you’re planning a longer outing around the gaming session.

Last words

A 24/7 flagship gaming outlet in Clarke Quay is the kind of thing Singapore gamers have been quietly hoping for. Whether you’re grinding ranked into the early hours, catching an esports final with friends, or just looking for a quality setup away from home, Elixir Esports CQ looks set to be one of the most compelling gaming spaces in the city. Pencil in 2 July.

Check out our coverage of more gaming events and openings in Singapore.

Manga Anime, News

BLEACH: The Calamity — 25 July Premiere and Two New Themes

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The date is finally locked in. BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War — The Calamity premieres on TV Tokyo at 11:00 PM JST on Saturday, 25 July 2026 — and today’s announcement also confirms two brand-new theme songs, chosen with direct input from series creator Tite Kubo.

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War — The Calamity key visual featuring Ichigo's Horn of Salvation form
Image courtesy of TV Tokyo / Studio Pierrot
Official Trailer | BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Final Part – The Calamity | INTL SUBS — via vizmedia on YouTube

The Date BLEACH Fans Have Been Waiting For

The Calamity is Part 4 — and the final part — of the Thousand-Year Blood War anime adaptation, taking the story to Yhwach’s ultimate confrontation with Ichigo and crew. Studio Pierrot returns under chief series director Tomohisa Taguchi and director Hikaru Murata. The key visual puts Ichigo front and centre in his Horn of Salvation form, the definitive fusion of his Soul Reaper, Hollow, and Quincy powers — a visual shorthand for just how much is riding on this final cour.

The July 25 TV premiere had been listed as TBC for months. That question is now answered.

Two New Theme Songs — and Tite Kubo Picked Both

The opening theme is “I-BULL” performed by jo0ji. The ending theme is “Rasen” (Spiral) performed by singer-songwriter 9Lana. According to Anime News Network’s coverage of today’s announcement, Kubo personally listened to and selected the theme songs for The Calamity — a hands-on involvement that also extends to checking storyboards, production graphics, and settings throughout the final arc. For a series that has always used music as emotional punctuation, knowing the creator himself signed off on these picks carries real weight.

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War — The Calamity character visual
Image courtesy of TV Tokyo / Studio Pierrot

Catch the First Three Episodes Early — Theatrical Screenings

Before the TV broadcast begins, Fathom Entertainment and Viz Media are screening the first three episodes of The Calamity in U.S. theatres from 25–29 June 2026, in both Japanese-with-subtitles and English dub versions, including an exclusive behind-the-scenes conversation with Kubo, Taguchi, and Murata. UK fans are getting their own theatrical run on 26 June, as confirmed by Anime News Network. Singapore cinema screenings for The Calamity have not been announced at the time of writing — watch for local news closer to launch.

Where Singapore Fans Can Watch BLEACH: The Calamity

The first three parts of Thousand-Year Blood War streamed on Disney+ in Singapore, and The Calamity follows the same international distribution. Check your Disney+ app for a Singapore listing around the 25 July premiere date — a simulcast or same-week stream is the expectation based on previous parts. Exact local start times for Southeast Asia have not been officially confirmed yet; keep an eye on Disney+ Singapore’s schedule. More anime news on GameTrader

Last words

Thirteen years after the manga ended and two years into the most visually ambitious arc BLEACH has ever put on screen, the final curtain is drawing near. For Singapore fans who have been with the Thousand-Year Blood War adaptation since its 2022 launch, 25 July is the date to circle. With Tite Kubo personally hand-picking the soundtrack and the Horn of Salvation visual signalling the absolute endgame, The Calamity looks set to give BLEACH the send-off it deserves.

Event, News

Pokémon GO: Mega Skarmory Makes Its Debut in Super Mega Raids on 27 June

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A Mega Evolution debut is always worth circling on the calendar, and this Saturday’s is no exception: Mega Skarmory is making its very first appearance in Pokémon GO on Saturday, 27 June 2026, during a three-hour Super Mega Raid Day running from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time — a prime Singapore afternoon window for trainers looking to add a brand-new Mega to their collection.

Mega Skarmory: A Pokémon GO First

The armoured steel bird has been a fixture of competitive Pokémon play for decades, and its Mega Evolution is finally landing in Pokémon GO. As a Steel/Flying-type Mega, Skarmory brings a formidable defensive profile and a long list of resistances. A nice bonus this time around: every Skarmory caught during the event will have Mega Level 1 already unlocked, saving you the Mega Energy cost for its first Mega Evolution — a handy head-start that will pay off every time you power it up in future.

All the Bonuses Available on 27 June

Free for Every Trainer

  • Up to 6 free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs during the event window
  • Remote Raid Pass limit raised to 20 (active from Friday 26 June at 5:00 PM PDT through Saturday 27 June at 8:00 PM PDT)
  • Increased Shiny Skarmory encounter rate from Super Mega Raids
  • Timed Research available throughout the event — tasks include catching Pokémon, powering up 15 times, landing super-effective attacks, winning raids, and defeating Steel-type bosses — rewards include a Premium Battle Pass and a Houndoom encounter

Paid Event Ticket (US$4.99 / local pricing equivalent)

  • Up to 14 free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs
  • +5,000 XP and +5,000 Stardust per Super Mega Raid victory
  • Increased Rare Candy XL drop rates

An Ultra Ticket Box at the same price bundles the event ticket with a bonus Premium Battle Pass. Tickets can be gifted to Great Friends or higher. Full event details are on the official Pokémon GO announcement page.

How to Take Down Mega Skarmory: Type Match-ups

Steel/Flying gives Mega Skarmory two clear weaknesses: Fire and Electric. Stack your raid team with hard-hitting attackers in either type — powerful Fire options or heavy-hitting Electric-types are your go-to — and avoid Grass, Bug, Normal, and Psychic moves, which Skarmory’s typing resists. The raised Remote Raid Pass limit active from Friday evening is a useful setup window: organise your remote raid invites in advance so you can chain raids efficiently once 2 PM hits on Saturday.

Planning Your Raid Route in Singapore

The 2:00–5:00 PM SGT slot on a Saturday afternoon is a natural fit for an outing. Singapore’s popular Pokémon GO hotspots — Gardens by the Bay, East Coast Park, and the Orchard Road corridor — are all dense with Gyms and easy to chain. Niantic’s web map can help you scout nearby Gyms before the event kicks off. And check back here for more upcoming Pokémon GO events as the rest of the June calendar fills out.

Last words

Six free Raid Passes, a genuine Mega debut, and shiny Skarmory odds — there is plenty to work with this Saturday even if you skip the paid ticket. Get your Fire and Electric teams ready, loop in your group chat, and decide on a starting point before 2 PM. Good luck out there, Singapore trainers.

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.

Game News

Adventures of Elliot: Millennium Tales Out Now — SGD79.90 on PS5 and Switch 2

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Square Enix’s newest HD-2D release has landed: The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales launched on 18 June across Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Singapore players can grab it on PS5 from the PlayStation Store Singapore at SGD79.90 for the standard edition, or SGD92.90 for the Digital Deluxe.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales | Launch Date Announcement Trailer — via Square Enix on YouTube

The HD-2D Action RPG Debut from the Octopath Traveler Team

The Adventures of Elliot comes from the Square Enix development team behind Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default — and it marks their first action RPG, applying the beloved HD-2D art style to real-time combat for the first time. As Nintendo Life reviewer George Yang described it, the combat “works surprisingly well, feeling like a mix between Zelda: A Link to the Past and Ys Origins” — an encouraging debut for a team new to action gameplay.

You play as Elliot, an adventurer charged with a thousand-year mission alongside his fairy companion Faie. The game spans four distinct ages of a continent’s history, connected through the Doorway of Time artifact — meaning you might explore a medieval kingdom one moment and step into an ancient civilisation’s ruins the next. The tagline is “Hope is Timeless,” and it fits.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales — PS5 artwork
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Two-Player Co-Op and Switch 2 Performance

A second player can take direct control of Faie in a co-op mode — giving the fairy real agency in battles rather than leaving her on autopilot. It is a smart design choice that makes Elliot a solid couch co-op pick on Switch 2.

Nintendo Life’s review landed at 8/10, praising the emotional story, varied combat, and rewarding exploration across time periods. Minor complaints included some performance hiccups on Switch 2 — load times and menu lag — along with imprecise platforming. Neither of these spoils the overall experience, which the reviewer described as “an emotional journey through space and time.”

Editions and Collector’s Set

Two digital editions are on sale now:

  • Standard Edition — SGD79.90
  • Digital Deluxe Edition — SGD92.90

A physical Collector’s Edition is also available, bundling the game, original soundtrack, and a Faie desk-clock statue — the kind of premium set collectors on this side of the world tend to import quickly. Local retail availability is to be confirmed; check official Square Enix channels for shipping details to Singapore.

Last words

The team that made Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default stepping into action-RPG territory with their HD-2D formula is a genuinely exciting moment for genre fans in Singapore. At SGD79.90 it sits at a reasonable price point for what early reviews describe as a lengthy, emotionally rewarding adventure. Head to the PlayStation Store Singapore or the Nintendo eShop to download today — and browse our Game News section for more fresh launches.