Bandcamp Friday returns, and with it also comes our list of recommended new albums from Japanese artists on the platform! This month check out releases from migeru, Stones Taro, happypills, Robou no Ishi, and more!

Hiroshi Nagai’s iconic pop art defined the visual identity of Japanese city pop. His work captured a sense of economic prosperity through idealized American landscapes and became the aesthetic backbone of the 1980’s sunny music.

Nana Mizuki closed her LIVE VISION tour at the end of February at Toyota Arena Tokyo with a three hour set covering her 25 year career. The show blended anime history with modern J-pop sounds and proved her lasting impact as a premier entertainer in Japan.

Keeper of the Camphor Tree follows Reito is bailed out from jail by a long-lost aunt to become the caretaker of a mysterious camphor tree. The story follows his path from a troubled past toward a new future while exploring the tree’s strange spiritual power.

Tama Art University's “Art & Environmental Education 4: Think with Pokémon” opens later this month with its largest selection of sculptures made from household waste, scrap, and marine trash. The exhibition shows how creative thinking can turn recycling into art.

All Greens follows three high school girls who start a secret gardening club to grow marijuana on campus. They use the money to escape their dead-end town, but the film struggles to match its stylish cinematography with depth in its script.

Time once again to share our new music picks for the week! Check out choice cuts across genres from Dance no Philosophy, JUBEE & lilbesh ramko, KOMAGOME, Le Makeup, rirugiliyangugili & Yungster Jack, and Ru-a with killwiz & Bukkuromomoka!

Once Upon A Katamari marks a grand return for the franchise by updating its iconic sound with major players in modern J-Pop. The new soundtrack features talented artists like Kocchi no Kento and KAF to reflect today's diverse music culture just as the series' debut entry did.

Sony-owned Aniplex, alongside KADOKAWA, has announced an all-new joint anime film distribution company called "Animec". Find out more about the new joint venture below:

Tokyo-based apparel brand PUNK DRUNKERS is celebrating its 28th anniversary with the launch of its all-new Summer 2026 collection Check out previews of the full collection, as well as pre-order links below:

Detective Conan has taken home the crown for the massively popular Japanese streaming platform TVer's most popular anime series for the second year in a row. Find out more info below:

Tokyo Metro's Hanzomon Line is teaming up with Pokémon to craft an adorable Ditto-wrapped train to celebrate the upcoming release of Pokémon Pokopia later this month. More details on how to ride the train and more can be found below: scrmbl.com/post/hanzomo...

Each month Make Believe Melodies rounds up a selection of the month's best new albums & EPs for us to share with our readers. This month we have new drops from Nomelon Nolemon, Okame, Aiobahn +81, Widescreen Baroque, and Kimiga Shikakuku Narumaeni!

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe delivers a dense dive into Universal Century politics. This second film in the trilogy focuses on the complex moral struggle of its lead as stakes rise for the Federation and Mafty.

The Curse attempts to modernize horror for the social media age with a story about a digital haunting that spans Japan and Taiwan. While the premise is strong, the film struggles with a low budget and feels too repetitive to truly stand out.

Reira Ushio releases a brand new 10-track EP, HB2U, driven by sharing personal feelings and experiences she has never expressed previously in her music. Also included is The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity ending theme, “Harenohini”.

Two Japanese pop-culture icons are finally crossing paths to celebrate their big anniversaries. Chibi Maruko-chan and Crayon Shin-chan are set to star together in a pair of crossover manga this April where the families meet in their respective hometowns.

Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a sleeper hit among Japanese developers. It’s an 8-bit styled mystery about a rookie investigator debunking modern internet rumors that spiral out of control. The cases leave you questioning how thin the line really is between fiction and reality.

We're back from the holiday weekend with our weekly new music picks! Standout new tracks this week from Aldo van Eyck, Asstoro & lazydoll, Carefree Asian, CUTIE STREET, Ettone, and Oyasumi Hologram!

Netflix’s Cosmic Princess Kaguya aims to blend Vocaloid culture, VTuber fandom, and classic folklore into a modern anime film. While packed with energy and heartfelt moments, it often feels caught between creative ambition and platform-driven priorities.

“I think it’s wonderful that anime has been so highly appreciated around the world, and that music connected to it is able to travel globally alongside it.” Check out our interview with Centimillimental mastermind Atsushi about his latest album, creative process, and first international tour.

Gyaru grew from Shibuya street crews into a powerful fashion culture shaped by confidence and community. From Heisei routines to Reiwa online spaces, it shifted from a shared scene into a mindset that still carries bold identity today.

Milky☆Subway began as a solo graduation project and thanks to the internet and viral success grew into a breakout indie anime hit, proving that independent creators can now find global audiences and theatrical success outside Japan’s traditional studio system.

Retro game collectors rejoice! Japanese electronics retailer & resale shop GEO has announced they're entering the retro gaming market with a wide level of support. Sales and buyback of retro video games has already begun at 97 of their stores with the potential for expansion.

Kick off your week with new tunes! We're back with our weekly picks, this week featuring can't miss tracks from Aiobahn +81 & Explorers of the Internet, Kohjiya, Meg Bonus, Noah Oda, OBAKE FM, and Sakanaction!

GU just announced their SS26 collection, this time teaming up with UNDERCOVER and PEANUTS Check out more details on pricing and availability below scrmbl.com/post/gu-unde...

GU has shared more details and images of the items to be featured in their upcoming Kirby-themed "Pupupu Resort" collection, due out at the beginning of May.

In celebration of the company's 30th anniversary, CyberConnect2 has announced and dropped a teaser trailer for .hack//ZERO, a new self-published entry in their long-dormant RPG series.

Love on Trial examines idol love bans and the pressure to maintain a perfect image, following a rising group and one member’s decision to leave for romance. The film takes a thoughtful look at how performers balance personal feelings with public expectations.

Akina Nakamori will return to the stage with her first live tour in nearly 20 years. The shows hit Aichi, Osaka, and Tokyo this July, with her 61st birthday falling on opening night in Tokyo.

A film adaptation of Hideshi Hino's The Living Corpse is using AI for everything from its visuals to its script, music, and voice performances, positioning itself as a first in Japan. Still in development, its heavy use of AI is sure to be divisive and worth questioning.

A new 1,600-capacity live venue called BEAT PARK is being built near Shin-Osaka Station, set to open in 2028. Backed by Lotte, it will feature high-end sound, LED screens, and a relaxed food space, aiming to become a major new hub for live music in Osaka.

Takara Tomy today shared a first look at the upcoming TRANSFORMERS x Evangelion collaboration, featuring Optimus Prime in Unit-01's iconic colorway. Check out more details on pre-orders and price below: scrmbl.com/post/transfo...

BeXide Inc. is upgrading Toro Inoue's usual birthday party to a full-fledged festival in 2026. The beloved white cat/video game mascot will be at the center of a large scale event in early May complete with character mascot appearances, an exhibition area, and exclusive merch.

The SaGa series grew out of Final Fantasy branding into a tougher, more experimental JRPG built on non-linear stories and risky systems. Often overlooked, it has stayed cult-favorite status, with recent remakes finally bringing wider recognition outside Japan.

Collectors take notice! Kairosoft's delightfully addictive Doraemon's Dorayaki Shop Story is getting a physical release for Nintendo Switch in Japan this April, better late than never!

The kick-punch style remains very secure with WIND AND SEA's latest PaRappa the Rapper collection, complete with a special pop-up shop opening at PARCO Ikebukuro for a limited time.

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You lends itself to the absurdity of it all by embracing its polyamorous premise, committing to the bit, and ramping up the jokes by 1000%

SHAFT has had a wild journey from early support roles to defining hits like Madoka and Monogatari. The studio’s history, creative identity, and recent projects reveal both its lasting influence and the challenge of evolving in today’s fast-changing anime industry.

We're back once again with our weekly new music selections, this week featuring must listen tracks from Chanmina, Kimiga shikakuku narumaeni, I'm, DENONBU, PASSEPIED, and Sugar Plant!

The Girl at the End of the Line explores obsession and forbidden love through two students drawn toward Enoshima. Tender and uneasy, the film stands out as one of 2025’s most surprising coming-of-age stories.

Hello! Project is pulling out all the stops as they announce the remainder of their music catalog is coming to streaming later this week as part of their ongoing “Hello! 30th Anniversary Project”

Bandai Namco Game Music have released digital versions of the soundtracks for 8 entries in the Wagyan Land game series, starting all the way back with the original Famicom release, just in time for the series' anniversary.

Fan-organized event Dancemania BIRTHDAY has announced the lineup for their upcoming party at MAHARAJA ROPPONGI, and they're pulling out all of the stops in honor of the compilation series’ 30th anniversary.

Bandai is pulling out all the stops for the 30th anniversary of the Tamagotchi this year, and along with it has been a recent revival in mainstream interest for the toy and brand. Hardcore fans however, would argue that the brand never went away.

Bandcamp Friday returns, and with it also comes our list of recommended new albums from Japanese artists on the platform! This month check out releases from PinoccioP, Guchon, Ichiko Aoba, Massage Attack, and more!

FamilyMart has named NIGO®︎ as its new creative director, signaling a push toward a more culture focused future. Known for BAPE and HUMAN MADE, he will guide store concepts, products, and visuals. The first projects are expected to roll out in spring 2026.

The late Tatsuya Nakadai’s legacy goes far beyond samurai classics. From early struggles to lifelong dedication to stage and screen. Even after stepping away from film, he kept performing until just before his passing, showing that his work was about commitment, not fame.

Tamon’s B-Side looks silly on the surface, but it turns out to be one of the most thoughtful takes on idol fandom in recent anime. Past the exploding heads and exaggerated romance is a surprisingly honest look at what it means to support your oshi.

Rai Rai Rai might look like a typical action manga, but it cares more about people than fights. Despite the plot feeling similar to other works in the medium at first glance, if you go in expecting character focused drama rather than big battles there is a lot here to like.