Starting from Tokyo Anime Center, Expanding Japanese IP Merchandise Events Simultaneously in Japan and the U.S.
Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) and the Association of Japanese Animations will launch official Japanese IP merchandise events simultaneously in Japan and the US, strengthening overseas distribution to combat piracy.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 13:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 18:26 (292h 56m after Collected)
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), starting from the "Tokyo Anime Center" co-operated with The Association of Japanese Animations, will simultaneously launch merchandise sales events for Japanese content such as manga, anime, and VTubers in Japan and the United States. We will build a system to handle everything from manufacturing to sales in the U.S., strengthening the distribution foundation for "official products" overseas.
As a first step, the "Sameko Saba & Kuragegumo Roa POPUP STORE Kaishinsai" held at "Tokyo Anime Center in DNP PLAZA SHIBUYA"*1 will be deployed at the U.S. San Francisco base "Tokyo Anime Center in SAN FRANCISCO"*2 from April 9 to May 10, 2026. After that, DNP will continue to sell original goods planned in Japan and provide experience values overseas. By building a system capable of consistently handling everything from manufacturing to sales locally, we will proceed to create a new foundation to support the distribution of "official products" of Japanese content.
[Aim of building a distribution foundation for Japanese content in the US]
Japanese IP (Intellectual Property) such as anime, manga, and VTubers is expanding its fan base both domestically and internationally through various developments such as streaming, SNS, publications, events, and merchandise sales. On the other hand, overseas, there is a lot of distribution of pirated and counterfeit goods, and there are not enough places or systems for consumers to stably purchase "official products." Therefore, it has become an issue that it is difficult for revenue to be returned to the publishers.
In response to the lack of distribution infrastructure for official products overseas and the issue of revenue return, it is essential for the sustainable growth of Japanese content to emphasize improving reliability throughout the supply chain and strengthening official product distribution, and to design everything seamlessly from planning to sales, rights clearance, and distribution.
Given this background, DNP has begun to build a business model that can reproduce products and experiences planned in Japan overseas. As the first step, we will roll out merchandise events that link two bases in Japan and the U.S. at the same time.
[Features of this initiative]
1. Deploying the same project simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. starting from the Tokyo Anime Center
By linking the "Tokyo Anime Center" in Japan and the U.S., we will roll out merchandise events of the same content at the same time. In the first event, the "Sameko Saba & Kuragegumo Roa POPUP STORE Kaishinsai," in addition to providing spatial direction for original goods and photo spots planned and designed in Japan, we will also develop U.S.-exclusive projects. Under a unified concept in Japan and the U.S., by adding localization suitable for the needs of each country and region, we will build an event model that is globally reproducible. In addition, it has been decided that this event will be held at 5 stores in Japan and more than 10 stores in the U.S., apart from the "Tokyo Anime Center," and a tour in Taiwan is planned in the Asian region.
As a first step, the "Sameko Saba & Kuragegumo Roa POPUP STORE Kaishinsai" held at "Tokyo Anime Center in DNP PLAZA SHIBUYA"*1 will be deployed at the U.S. San Francisco base "Tokyo Anime Center in SAN FRANCISCO"*2 from April 9 to May 10, 2026. After that, DNP will continue to sell original goods planned in Japan and provide experience values overseas. By building a system capable of consistently handling everything from manufacturing to sales locally, we will proceed to create a new foundation to support the distribution of "official products" of Japanese content.
[Aim of building a distribution foundation for Japanese content in the US]
Japanese IP (Intellectual Property) such as anime, manga, and VTubers is expanding its fan base both domestically and internationally through various developments such as streaming, SNS, publications, events, and merchandise sales. On the other hand, overseas, there is a lot of distribution of pirated and counterfeit goods, and there are not enough places or systems for consumers to stably purchase "official products." Therefore, it has become an issue that it is difficult for revenue to be returned to the publishers.
In response to the lack of distribution infrastructure for official products overseas and the issue of revenue return, it is essential for the sustainable growth of Japanese content to emphasize improving reliability throughout the supply chain and strengthening official product distribution, and to design everything seamlessly from planning to sales, rights clearance, and distribution.
Given this background, DNP has begun to build a business model that can reproduce products and experiences planned in Japan overseas. As the first step, we will roll out merchandise events that link two bases in Japan and the U.S. at the same time.
[Features of this initiative]
1. Deploying the same project simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. starting from the Tokyo Anime Center
By linking the "Tokyo Anime Center" in Japan and the U.S., we will roll out merchandise events of the same content at the same time. In the first event, the "Sameko Saba & Kuragegumo Roa POPUP STORE Kaishinsai," in addition to providing spatial direction for original goods and photo spots planned and designed in Japan, we will also develop U.S.-exclusive projects. Under a unified concept in Japan and the U.S., by adding localization suitable for the needs of each country and region, we will build an event model that is globally reproducible. In addition, it has been decided that this event will be held at 5 stores in Japan and more than 10 stores in the U.S., apart from the "Tokyo Anime Center," and a tour in Taiwan is planned in the Asian region.