"animate EXPO 2025 STORE" Hosts 4th POP-UP Space: "IGPort Online Store Pop-up" Open Until June 5th!
The "animate EXPO 2025 STORE" is currently operating on the first floor of the West Ringside Marketplace in the "West Gate Zone" of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan venue.
Inside the store, there's a special "POP-UP space" that features themed exhibitions and related merchandise sales that change periodically. The 4th installment, "IGPort Online Store Pop-up," is running until June 5th (6 PM JST)!
In this article, we'll take you on a photo tour of the space♪
"IGPort Online Store" Products Available In-Store for the First Time! (Excluding select items)
Select merchandise from Production I.G and WIT STUDIO, typically available only through the IG Port group's official online store "IGPort Online Store," is now being sold in our physical location!
Our diverse product lineup includes smartphone cases featuring adorable chibi illustrations of Tachikoma from "Ghost in the Shell," acrylic stands showcasing the movie visuals of "SPY×FAMILY," and shikishi (autograph boards) from the currently airing TV anime "Yaiba: Samurai Legend."
But that's not all! We also have goods from popular titles like "Haikyu!!" and "Kaiju No. 8"!
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Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Kodansha to release Young Magazine manga edition in U.S.
Kodansha Ltd. will publish the first U.S. edition of manga anthology Young Magazine in August, the publisher announced, as it seeks a new foothold outside Japan. A total of 30,000 copies of the one-time extra issue will be distributed for free in the United States. The publisher is seeking to create a new demand and use the special edition to expand its business outside Japan. The U.S. edition will be released as Young Magazine USA. "The habit of reading manga has become more widespread thanks to the worldwide popularity of anime, and there is a growing number of customers who want to read manga in wide-ranging genres," said Hidemi Shiraki, editor-in-chief of Young Magazine USA. "We want to bring out more potential readers." The publisher intends to produce hit manga works in North America and bring them into Europe and other regions, he added. Having marked its 45th anniversary in June, Young Magazine is intended for young adult men and has a strong following in Japan. The anthology has been home to many manga works that won critical acclaim in and out of the country, including "Akira," "The Ghost in the Shell" and "Initial D." The special issue features an illustration drawn by "Ghost in the Shell" author Masamune Shirow. 20 TITLES, 1,000 PAGES Young Magazine USA will feature 20 manga works. While some will be one-shot stories, many are new series beginning with the first episode. They are mainly drawn by rookie artists selected from talents recruited by the publisher to create comics for overseas readers. The U.S. edition also offers works by popular artists, including "Spriggan" writer Hiroshi Takashige and "My Little Monster" creator Robico. Copies will be distributed for free at Anime NYC, a large convention opening in the U.S. state of New York on Aug. 21, bookstores and elsewhere. The magazine will also hold a readers' vote for 16 titles on a special website and through X (formerly Twitter), and the five most popular works will be serialized and published in compiled volumes. The winning titles will run on K Manga, Kodansha's app for overseas readers, as well as on the website, simultaneously in Japan and the United States, to sustain readership interest. GAUGING THE MARKET The publisher aims to ascertain the needs of U.S. readers more accurately with Young Magazine USA. The special edition is intended to serve as an antenna to explore what overseas readers want, a representative said. The U.S. content market was worth $508.3 billion (74.699 trillion yen) in 2022, accounting for more than half of the world's market share. But normally, a manga title becomes a hit after it is adapted into animation for video streaming services or in other limited circumstances. Japanese manga is catching on outside Japan. According to research firm Humanmedia Inc., overseas sales of publications in 2023 totaled 320 billion yen, 2.3 times more than the figure for 2013, which was 141.3 billion yen. Manga is believed to have accounted for the most sales. Japanese anime titles have become popular after they were streamed on Crunchyroll, Netflix and other platforms, and their original comics have also attracted attention more frequently. But it appears there are not many instances where manga itself proved to be a hit before it was adapted into anime. JUMP'S TRAILBLAZING EFFORTS Meanwhile, Shueisha Inc. has started exploring the possibilities of producing hit manga titles. The company publishes Weekly Shonen Jump and other comic anthologies in which many popular works are serialized. It launched the Manga Plus by Shueisha app and website for overseas readers in 2019. The service is currently available in nine languages including English, Spanish, Vietnamese and German. About 100 titles serialized in Shonen Jump and its sister magazines are streamed on Manga Plus. "When I attended manga and anime events outside Japan, there were many enthusiastic fans in cosplay. But as I stepped out of the venue and went around towns, I didn't see comic books as widespread as in Japan," said Yuta Momiyama, editor-in-chief of the Shonen Jump + service who is in charge of Manga Plus and was also involved in setting it up. "We wanted to fill the void in demand and have them read manga like we do in Japan." Manga Plus currently has about 5.5 million active monthly users. "In many cases overseas, (manga titles) become popular after they are adapted into anime, but we are seeing some works that are popular from the first episode," Momiyama said. TRANSLATION DIFFICULTIES However, only major publishers with strong financial foundations can make a foray into overseas markets on a certain scale on their own accord. 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In its report on the Entertainment and Creative Industry Strategy compiled in June, the trade ministry noted there is a shortage of comics that are translated and distributed outside the country. There are also challenges to overcome, including a scarcity of highly skilled professionals who can translate expressions unique to manga, as well as localization costs. For that reason, the government will support the development of industrial infrastructure tools that can contribute to translation and provide other assistance. (This article was written by Sho Ito and Shiki Iwasawa.)
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Japan Times
Osaka Asian Film Festival gets an expo boost
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OAFF first kicked off in 2005 as a festival centered on the cinema of South Korea before expanding to include films from broader Asia. "We aim to make our festival a springboard for films to reach audiences worldwide," says Teruoka, who has been in charge of OAFF's lineup since 2009. "So we work hard to select films I think have a lot of potential abroad and try to discover films that wouldn't necessarily be shown at other festivals." The Osaka festival will close with Singaporean feature 'A Good Child,' highlighting the Southeast Asian nation's modest but notable film industry. | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025 BYLEFT PRODUCTIONS OAFF is being held during the expo at the request of the city of Osaka, a major sponsor. Teruoka had reservations about changing the date, as hosting two festivals in a single year poses logistical challenges. But the expo tie-up did allow the programming director to open the festival with a film he's been looking to feature for years: "Tracing to Expo '70." The Taiwanese film, directed by Liao Hsiang-Hsiung, stars Judy Ongg as a Taiwanese woman raised in Japan whose quest to find her long-lost benefactor eventually takes her to the site of the 1970 Osaka Expo. Teruoka, who first encountered the film on a beat-up old print decades ago, says that in the years since its 1970 release it has become so obscure that even the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute had barely heard of it. Nevertheless, when contacted by OAFF about showing the film, the institute was able to locate its elements and prepare a brand-new restoration in time for the festival. "Remasters like this come at no small cost in terms of money and labor, so I'm very thankful to them," Teruoka says. "The film was shot on location at the 1970 Expo, so I think watching it and comparing the '70 event with this year's will be a very interesting experience." Meanwhile, OAFF will close with "A Good Child," a new Singaporean film from director Ong Kuo Sin about a drag queen who returns home to his conservative family to help care for his mother, who has been diagnosed with dementia. The film takes a twist when the protagonist arrives one night in drag and convinces his mother that he is, in fact, her daughter. "Singapore doesn't produce many films a year, and we've never had a film from Singapore as our opening or closing film before, so I thought it was a good opportunity," says Teruoka. Of the festival's 68 feature-length and short films, the programming director is keen to highlight two from Bhutan, the small Himalayan country located between India and China. The feature "I, the Song," playing in the Competition section, is about a teacher on a quest to find her doppelganger after being accused of appearing in a pornographic video. Meanwhile, the short "The Bridge," playing in the Spotlight section, is about a young man who changes his mind about ending his own life after a chance encounter. "I was surprised to see multiple films from Bhutan, which has a tiny film industry," says Teruoka. "I was also surprised by the level of quality. I feel like the cinema of Bhutan is entering an interesting era, especially in terms of independent filmmaking." The Competition section presents a total of 11 feature films, all premiering in Japan for the first time. Other entries include "Shambhala Story," a Japan-U.S.-India coproduction about a Tibetan monk who visits Japan for spiritual training; "Some Like It Cold," a South Korean love story that takes place during a zombie apocalypse; and "Evacuation," a black-and-white film set in World War II-era Kazakhstan in which a family flees from the Nazi occupation. The festival's Director in Focus section, which has previously highlighted up-and-coming talents like Satoko Yokohama, will feature Miki Tanaka, whose "Ginger Boy," about two high school friends who reunite as adults, won a La Cinef award at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The section will feature both "Ginger Boy" and two new 30-minute shorts created by Tanaka this year. "Cannes was in May, but Tanaka has already made two short films since then," says Teruoka. "I'm hoping this section will help bring more attention to this active young director." Although programming director Sozo Teruoka had reservations about moving up the 21st edition of the Osaka Asian Film Festival to take place alongside the Osaka Expo, the tie-up gave him the opportunity to open the festival with "Tracing to Expo '70," an obscure Taiwanese film shot on location at the 1970 Expo. | COURTESY OF OSAKA ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL In addition to Tanaka's films, the programming director is excited about the number of Japanese entries showing at this summer's OAFF. Its Indie Forum section features 18 Japanese films, 11 seeing their world premieres, and includes a new short from director Neo Sora starring Japan Academy Prize winner Sakura Ando. "When some people in Japan hear 'Asian film festival,' they think of films from outside Japan, but in recent years we've also used the festival to help introduce Japanese films to an international audience," says Teruoka. "Despite the last OAFF taking place in March and the Tokyo International Film Festival coming in October, we had a surprising number of strong Japanese entries this time around." Speaking of Tokyo, Teruoka says there are some advantages to holding a film festival in Japan's second city over its first. "Rather than simply screening films, we put a lot of effort into having filmmakers come and participate, and we often hear from Asian filmmakers that they prefer visiting Osaka over Tokyo," says the programming director. "Some say it has a more 'Asian' atmosphere. For many countries, like South Korea, it's much closer, too. That's a big benefit for us." Osaka Asian Film Festival takes place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7 at venues around Osaka Station. All of the films feature English subtitles, and Q&As with filmmakers will feature English-language interpretation (as well as Japanese for films outside Japan). For more information, visit
Kyodo News
12-08-2025
- Kyodo News
The Resolve to Portray Shinobu Kocho: An Interview with Saori Hayami in "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - To the Infinity Castle Chapter 1: The Return of Akaza"
The first chapter of the "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - To the Infinity Castle" trilogy is now in theaters in Japan, having premiered on July 18, 2025. Tanjiro and his companions have finally made contact with Muzan Kibutsuji - and now, the stage is set for their decisive battle against the demons in their stronghold, the Infinity Castle. To commemorate the release, Animate Times is publishing a series of cast interviews. Today, we're speaking with Saori Hayami, the voice behind Shinobu Kocho. Hayami shares her thoughts on the resolve required to portray Shinobu. What lies behind her words? Through this interview, we'll explore the unique tension of the "Infinity Castle" arc and delve deeper into Shinobu's character. I want to pour everything I can into expressing Shinobu Kocho in the "Infinity Castle Arc." ―― The film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie - Infinity Castle Arc Part 1: Akaza's Return was released on Friday, July 18th. The Demon Slayer anime, which first aired in April 2019, is celebrating its sixth anniversary this year and is finally beginning the "Infinity Castle Arc." What are your thoughts on reaching this point? Saori Hayami (Shinobu Kocho): I'm surprised to think that it's "only been six years." It feels like the time has been so incredibly dense. Looking back over these six years, there have been so many different stages and a long road, so there's a strong feeling of finally having made it this far. ―― Please share your honest impressions after watching "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-" Hayami: It's difficult to express in words how deeply it stirred various emotions in me. I think it's a work that moves the heart from all angles, something that can't be described in a single phrase. As someone who plays Shinobu Kocho and is involved in this work, I felt very emotional being able to do the voice recording for this film. Seeing those scenes on the big screen again really touched my heart. ―― Please tell us about your memories or impressions of recording for this work. Hayami: This might be a bit off-topic, but before the voice recording, the staff and cast members had a kind of pep rally where we said, "Let's run in the same direction towards the 'Infinity Castle Arc'." From the very beginning, I felt that this is a work where the staff and cast are united in moving in one direction. This strengthened my resolve even further, and my approach to this work became to pour everything I could express into it. ―― In the previous work, the "Hashira Training Arc", we saw Shinobu Kocho preparing for the next battle. Based on that, could you tell us about any changes in Shinobu or how you approached your role for this story? Hayami: Since I joined this project, Shinobu-san has always been at the root of who I am. From the first scene where Shinobu-san appeared in the "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc", I feel like I've been able to experience Shinobu-san's journey alongside her as the story progressed. Especially from the "Hashira Training Arc", I felt like I was carrying everything flowing through Shinobu-san's body along with her. I have this feeling of wanting to go anywhere and everywhere with Shinobu Kocho as a person. With that feeling, when I received the voice recording script, I couldn't bring myself to open it for a while. ―― In past interviews about the series, you mentioned that Shinobu Kocho might be outwardly imitating her sister Kanae's words and actions while keeping her true feelings deep inside. Hayami: That's right. Before reading the script, I thought I would express Shinobu-san as if she had internalized her sister. But when I finally gathered the courage to read the script before recording, feelings welled up inside me, and I felt like I wanted to do more and more. Shinobu-san has always been a person who's kept various thoughts bottled up inside her heart. ―― It becomes clear that Upper Rank Two, Doma, is the one who killed her sister. Could you share your memories or impressions of recording with Mr. Miyano, who plays Doma? Hayami: I was able to record in direct interaction with Mamoru Miyano-san (who plays Doma), which allowed me to express many times more emotion. Shinobu-san is also desperate, so I felt my emotions escalate more and more. I've worked with Miyano-san on so many projects over the years, and he's an actor I respect and trust, so this time it felt like we were starting from a relationship we've already built rather than creating something from scratch. ―― What are your impressions of Shinobu Kocho's successor, Kanao Tsuyuri? Hayami: When Shinobu first met Kanao, she was feeling a bit irritable. She couldn't ignore Kanao and was a girl who boldly threw money to take her in. But I think it was Kanao who was closest to Shinobu, watching her change after she lost her older sister. Kanao was initially silent and didn't show her emotions, but with the addition of many new friends, she also changed. In the "Hashira Training Arc," she was able to say, "I want to train more with you, Master." I believe Shinobu was able to feel Kanao's growth every step of the way. Because the two of them walked this path together, they were able to communicate their feelings to each other. I think this is proof of the bond that existed between them. Hayami: This is a story from the recording studio, but when Ai Kayano-san, who plays older sister Kanae, entered the booth, I was a little selfish and asked her to sit next to me, saying, "I want my sister right next to me." So, Ai-san sat on my left. Then, Reina Ueda-chan, who plays Kanao, sat next to Ai-san. We were able to have the three Kocho family members all sitting in a row. I felt like I could give my all to the recording after that! (laughs). So, I was able to record while feeling my sister and Kanao right there with me. As a side note, after the recording session was over, I was drenched in sweat and just casually said, "I want to eat meat." Ai-san immediately said, "Okay, let's go eat!" She invited Reina-chan, and the three of us from the Kocho family went to a yakiniku restaurant. I was so happy that Ai-san took us to a delicious yakiniku place. I was just overflowing with gratitude for everyone in the Kocho family. I want to continue moving forward without ever letting this sense of unity fade. Shinobu Kocho is a "being whose souls we have clashed and merged with each other." ―― What does Shinobu Kocho mean to you now, Hayami-san? Hayami: I feel like I've walked alongside Shinobu Kocho for a long time, getting to touch the very roots of her heart from up close. It might be a bit abstract, but she is a being whose soul and my own have clashed and merged. ―― In that sense, do you feel there are any shared traits between yourself and Shinobu? Hayami: If anything, she's a figure I look up to. Shinobu is someone with a strong will and a passionate fire burning inside her. At times, she teases the other Demon Slayers, like Tanjiro and Zenitsu, or deliberately says something a little mean, but at her core, she's completely straightforward. When I connect with that strong will, it's like she influences me—when I'm playing Shinobu, I get this feeling of emotions welling up from the pit of my stomach. ―― I imagine you've had opportunities to interact with international fans during the World Tour Screenings and other overseas events. Hayami: They greeted me with such big smiles, and it was clear to me that they truly love the Demon Slayer series. When I was talking about the show, they listened so intently, and I felt like I could sense how much they love the work, even beyond the language barrier. They brought so many things, like plates and fan-made goods, that I couldn't even hold them all. It made me realize that where you're from doesn't matter. Of course, I could only feel this by being there in person. It made me so happy to feel that I was connected to people all over the world through Demon Slayer. ―― Do you have a message for the fans who are looking forward to this film? Hayami: The film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie - Infinity Castle Arc Part 1: Akaza's Return, has finally been released. While I can't say I understand all of Shinobu's feelings, I did my best to feel them alongside her during the recording. I hope everyone will enjoy it on the big screen with great sound in the theater. Interview by: Risk Son Photo by: MoA About "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" Synopsis Tanjiro Kamado – a boy who joined an organization dedicated to hunting down demons called the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister Nezuko was turned into a demon. While growing stronger and deepening his friendships and bonds with fellow corps members, Tanjiro has battled many demons with his comrades, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira. Along the way, his journey has led him to fight alongside the Demon Slayer Corps' highest-ranking swordsmen, the Hashira, including Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku aboard the Mugen Train, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui within the Entertainment District, as well as Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji at the Swordsmith Village. As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji. The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons' stronghold – the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the Demons ignites. Cast Tanjiro Kamado: Natsuki Hanae Nezuko Kamado: Akari Kito Zenitsu Agatsuma: Hiro Shimono Inosuke Hashibira: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Kanao Tsuyuri: Reina Ueda Genya Shinazugawa: Nobuhiko Okamoto Giyu Tomioka: Takahiro Sakurai Tengen Uzui: Katsuyuki Konishi Muichiro Tokito: Kengo Kawanishi Shinobu Kocho: Saori Hayami Mitsuri Kanroji: Kana Hanazawa Obanai Iguro: Kenichi Suzumura Sanemi Shinazugawa: Tomokazu Seki Gyomei Himejima: Tomokazu Sugita Akaza (Upper Rank Three): Akira Ishida Dōma (Upper Rank Two): Mamoru Miyano Kaigaku: Yoshimasa Hosoya Keizō: Yuichi Nakamura Koyuki: Lynn ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable *Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
