New Naruto Anime and Manga Announced at New York Comic Con 2026

A major new global project centered on the popular Japanese anime franchise Naruto was announced at New York Comic Con 2026, one of the world’s largest pop culture events, with plans for an entirely new anime production and a new manga series written by original creator Masashi Kishimoto

The initiative, titled “PROJECT RASENGAN,” is being launched by TV Tokyo in collaboration with several partner companies, with the aim of expanding the Naruto franchise across multiple entertainment platforms and strengthening its brand value worldwide.

A central feature of the project will be the production of a completely new Naruto anime, alongside a new manga whose original series became one of Japan’s most internationally successful manga and anime franchises

The announcement also outlined plans to launch a Naruto-themed card game and distribute a competitive smartphone game globally, extending the franchise’s reach beyond traditional manga and television animation.

The project is designed to engage Naruto fans around the world through a coordinated expansion of content and products, capitalizing on the franchise’s established international popularity while introducing new ways for audiences to experience its characters and stories.

Further details about PROJECT RASENGAN, including the upcoming anime, manga and gaming initiatives, are scheduled to be revealed at Jump Festa in December.

Typhoon No. 29 Brings High Waves to Japan’s Pacific Coast

Very strong Typhoon No. 29 (Koguma) was moving north near the Ogasawara Islands on the evening of October 11, bringing the risk of high waves and powerful swells along Japan’s Pacific coast, particularly around the Izu Islands and coastal areas of the Kanto region, despite expectations of limited direct impacts from the storm. At 9 p.m. on October 11, the typhoon had a central atmospheric pressure of 950 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds of 45 meters per second near its center, maintaining its classification as a very strong typhoon. It was moving north at approximately 15 kilometers per hour.

Record-Strong El Nino Expected to Bring Warm Winter to Japan

Japan is expected to experience a warmer-than-normal winter as the El Nino phenomenon currently affecting the Pacific Ocean has reached its strongest level on record, with the Japan Meteorological Agency announcing on October 10th that unusually high sea surface temperatures are likely to persist through the coming winter months.

Otsu Festival Parades Elaborate Floats Following UNESCO Recognition

The Otsu Festival, one of Shiga Prefecture’s three major traditional festivals, was held in Otsu City on October 11th, featuring a procession of 13 elaborately decorated floats carrying traditional mechanical puppets through the streets, following the festival’s addition to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December last year.

Cyberattacks Spread Across Japan

A series of cyberattacks has disrupted business operations and exposed millions of customer records across Japan, with a ransomware attack on a cloud service provider affecting 495 companies and local governments nationwide, while convenience store operator Lawson has disclosed a separate breach involving more than 2.15 million personal information records.

Japan’s First 360-Degree Projection Mapping Opens in Osaka

Japan’s first 360-degree projection mapping show will open at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts on October 10, transforming the historic building into an immersive world of light, music, and seasonal imagery, with organizers hoping the attraction will also help stimulate the city’s nighttime economy.

New Naruto Anime and Manga Announced at New York Comic Con 2026

A major new global project centered on the popular Japanese anime franchise Naruto was announced at New York Comic Con 2026, one of the world’s largest pop culture events, with plans for an entirely new anime production and a new manga series written by original creator Masashi Kishimoto.

Tamori Among Three Recognized as Honorary Tokyo Citizens

Entertainer Tamori and two other prominent figures were named Honorary Citizens of Tokyo on October 1 in recognition of their contributions to the capital’s development and the lives of its residents, with an award ceremony held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government headquarters on Tokyo Citizens’ Day.

Candy Caries Wins Grand Prize at Ottawa Animation Festival

Japanese director Tomoki Misato’s stop-motion animation Candy Caries has won the Grand Prize in the children’s category for ages 7 and up at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in Canada, one of the world’s three major animation festivals.

Composer of Kobe Earthquake Recovery Song Remembered in Special Tribute

Makoto Usui, the composer of “Shiawase Hakoberu Yoni,” a song written in the aftermath of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that has become a symbol of hope for disaster survivors across Japan and overseas, died in July at the age of 65, leaving behind a musical legacy that his former students are determined to carry forward.

No Time Off for Kyoto Actors

While millions of people across Japan enjoyed this year’s five-day Silver Week holiday, workers at Kyoto’s Toei Uzumasa Eigamura film studio theme park and a 24-hour smartphone repair service faced packed schedules, with some working late into the night to keep holidaymakers entertained and respond to emergencies.

AI Enka Singer to Debut With Neo Kobushi

Japan’s oldest record company is turning to artificial intelligence to reshape one of the country’s most traditional musical genres, unveiling an AI-generated enka singer as part of a new label combining the technology with the distinctive vocal style of Japanese ballads.

Former Blue Comets Guitarist Tsunaki Mihara Dies at 80

Tsunaki Mihara, a guitarist who rose to fame in the 1960s with the Group Sounds band Jackey Yoshikawa and His Blue Comets and remained active in music for decades, died of kidney cancer at a Tokyo hospital at 9:02 a.m. on September 11. He was 80.

How to Top Up Pokémon GO Coins Across Different Devices Without Confusion

Switching from an iPhone to an Android device, or playing on both at different times, turns something as simple as buying PokéCoins into a surprisingly confusing errand.