TOKYO ANIME NEXT 2026: Ceremony, Orchestra, and The Nippon Anime Awards 2027

TOKYO ANIME NEXT has wrapped up four days of events in the Ikebukuro area, featuring screenings, interactive experiences, and educational programs. Its Main Event brought iconic anime scenes to life through performances by Mai Kuraki, Nami Nakagawa, Ai Higuchi, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) announced today, November 2 (Monday), at the finale of TOKYO ANIME NEXT’s Main Event, held at Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, that its new anime awards, launching in 2027, will be called the Nippon Anime Awards. The AJA also unveiled the award’s slogan, “Moving Frames. Moving Hearts. Moving the World.”, along with the event date and venue of the inaugural ceremony.

The Nippon Anime Awards celebrates the people behind the works who are making an impact on the world and is an award that helps shape the future of anime. The inaugural ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 21, 2027, at SGC HALL ARIAKE in Ariake, Tokyo. In collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the event will also feature initiatives to create new business opportunities in the anime industry and develop the next generation of talent. Through these efforts, the AJA aims to further promote anime culture and open up new opportunities for future generations.

The announcement was made during the Main Event, which featured a two-part program. Part 1 featured a discussion on “The Appeal of Japanese Anime, Loved Around the World,” with Toshiyuki Itakura of the comedy duo Impulse, Shoko Nakagawa, and Sally Amaki of 22/7. Part 2 featured live performances by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Mai Kuraki, Nami Nakagawa, and Ai Higuchi, bringing memorable scenes from the anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan, and Detective Conan to life.

About the Nippon Anime Awards, Launching in 2027

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The name “Nippon Anime Awards” reflects our commitment to honoring the history and culture of Japanese anime while carrying its enduring appeal into the future. The awards will recognize outstanding anime works and celebrate the achievements of those involved in the industry, sharing the appeal of Japanese anime with audiences in Japan and around the world. The aim is to establish the Nippon Anime Awards as a leading anime awards program representing Japan that will be loved and celebrated for years to come.

Event Report｜Main Event (November 2 / Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL)

At 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 2, the lights in the auditorium of Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL dimmed, setting the stage for the Main Event that would bring four days of TOKYO ANIME NEXT to a close. Hosted by Akihisa Souguchi, the approximately 90-minute program featured talk sessions, a live orchestral performance, and the announcement of plans for 2027.

Part 1: Opening Ceremony

The event started with a talk session titled, “The Appeal of Japanese Anime, Loved Around the World,” with Toshiyuki Itakura from comedy duo Impulse, Shoko Nakagawa, and Sally Amaki of 22/7. As passionate fans of anime and manga, they spoke enthusiastically on topics such as what first got them hooked on anime and their all-time favorite anime, drawing warm applause from the audience.

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Toward the end of the session, the speakers shared some of the music from anime that held special meaning for them, offering a preview of the musical performances in Part 2. Toshiyuki Itakura shared his fondness for “GET WILD,” the ending theme for City Hunter, along with a hilarious childhood anecdote. Shoko Nakagawa, who has hosted a radio program dedicated to anime songs for 14 years, revealed that “Akuma-kun,” the opening theme of Akuma-kun was the song that first sparked her passion for anime music. She also noted that she particularly loves songs from the 1980s. Mixing in fun facts from the era, she spoke at length and passionately about her favorites, creating a warm atmosphere among fellow anime music fans.

Sally Amaki, who grew up in Los Angeles, also revealed that she first discovered anime songs through “Sorairo Days,” the opening theme of Gurren Lagann sung by Shoko Nakagawa. She explained that it is a song that fans overseas can sing along to in Japanese, and shared that she had also sung it during her audition to enter the voice acting industry. This was a detail that had not even been shared during rehearsals. Hearing it, Nakagawa became visibly emotional, and responded, “I’m so glad I became an anime singer,” bringing the audience to a round of enthusiastic applause.

Part 2: Orchestra Premium Stage

Part 2 featured the Orchestra Premium Stage, a special performance combining live music by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra with specially edited anime footage. As memorable scenes from the anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba appeared on the screen, the audience was immediately drawn into the world of the series. The opening sequence played alongside “Gurenge,” followed by the protagonist Tanjiro Kamado’s impassioned declaration, “I’ll defeat you for sure, Muzan Kibutsuji!” This led into a full orchestral performance of “Demon Slayer Corps,” one of the series’ signature background tracks. Nami Nakagawa then took the stage to perform “Kamado Tanjiro no Uta.” Her warm yet deeply moving vocals, expressing Tanjiro’s determination, filled the hall.

For the TV anime Attack on Titan, the audience was treated to powerful scenes of Scout Regiment members equipping their Omni-directional mobility gear and charging toward the Titans, followed by the opening sequence accompanied by “Crimson Bow and Arrow.” Eren Yeager’s iconic declaration, “I’ll kill them all! I’ll wipe every one of them… off the face of this earth!”, then led into a live orchestral performance of “Ashes on The Fire,” one of the series’ internationally popular background tracks. As the audience experienced the journey toward the story’s shocking conclusion, Ai Higuchi took the stage and delivered a stunning performance of “Akuma no Ko,” the ending theme of Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2.

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The final performance featured the TV anime Detective Conan, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The audience revisited the story’s beginning with a lookback at the landmark first episode, in which high school detective Shinichi Kudo is given the drug APTX 4869 by the Black Organization and returns to the body of an elementary school student, taking on the identity of Conan Edogawa. The series’ history was revisited accompanied by its first opening theme, “Mune ga Dokidoki”. Prompted by Conan’s familiar catchphrase, “One truth prevails,” the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra performed the iconic “Detective Conan Main Theme” in a vibrant orchestral arrangement. To close the performance, Mai Kuraki, who has collaborated with the series on numerous songs over the years, took the stage to perform “Secret of my heart.” Accompanied by the orchestra, she delivered her clear, expressive vocals. Each performance was met with enthusiastic cheers and applause, making for an immersive experience unique to the live theater setting.

Part 3: Announcement of a New Anime Awards Program Launching in 2027

Toward the end of the event, Kazuko Ishikawa, President of the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), took the stage to speak about the vision behind the new award, captured in the concept, “Moving Frames. Moving Hearts. Moving the World.” She then announced that the new award would be called the Nippon Anime Awards. The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience. She went on to announce that the awards ceremony would be held on Sunday, November 21, 2027, at SGC HALL ARIAKE in Ariake district, Tokyo. A message from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike was then shared, in which she expressed “The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will continue to provide strong support for anime and everyone involved in bringing it to life.” In response to the governor’s message, President Ishikawa shared her vision for the future: “We hope to share the appeal and potential of anime to an even wider audience around the world and build that future together with all of you.” With these words, the four-day TOKYO ANIME NEXT came to a close.

Programs Throughout the Event

Ahead of the Main Event, the Special Animation Symposium at TIFFCOM was held on Friday, October 30, at the TIFFCOM 2026 venue. Titled, “Special Animation Symposium: Toward the Launch of a New Anime Award in 2027,” the conference brought together those in the industry involved in different areas of animation. Participants engaged in lively discussions on the significance of the awards and their vision for passing the torch to the next generation.

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On Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, 14 anime titles, mainly theatrical releases, were screened at Ikebukuro HUMAX Cinemas, TOHO Cinemas Ikebukuro, and Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro. Talk shows featuring cast and crew members were also held for four of the titles. In addition to offering audiences a chance to hear behind-the scenes of the production process, the program also featured the world premiere screening of the first episode of LONA, a TV anime created by screenwriter Akiko Nogi and WIT STUDIO. The first-ever public screening generated great excitement among the audience. A Kid’s Anime Workshop was also held in the event space of WACCA Ikebukuro. Using light tables used in professional animation studios, participants had the opportunity to trace animation frames from Chibi-Maruko-chan. Children watched with excitement as their own drawings came to life as animation.

On the final day, character meet-and-greets featuring Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan, and Detective Conan were held at Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL. Fans of all ages gathered to meet the characters and enjoy a memorable experience. A series of classes on animation production were held at Toshima Civic Center. These offered a rare opportunity to learn directly from the staff behind Cosmic Princess Kaguya! and Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe. It also included a seminar featuring staff from the Japan-Saudi Arabia co-production of the animation commemorating the 96th Saudi National Day (SND96). In addition, a lecture for animation creators titled “The Future of Animator Development” was held. Over the four days, the event provided audiences with a wide range of opportunities to explore the many ways to enjoy anime and discover what makes it so appealing.

Source: Press Release

Awards TOKYO ANIME NEXT