Anime figure news, pre-order deadlines and shopping guides written from Tokyo for fans in the US, UK, Canada and Australia who buy from Japan.
Founder and editor of Akiba Brief. A figure collector living in Tokyo who reads the Japanese maker announcements every morning, keeps standing orders at HobbyLink Japan and AmiAmi, and has learned most of this site's shipping advice the expensive way — one customs invoice at a time.
Based in Tokyo · 63 articles on Akiba Brief · corrections and tips
Sep 1, 2026 JST
HobbyLink Japan vs AmiAmi: Which Shop Should You Use? (2026)When you pay, what you save, and how boxes reach the US: HobbyLink Japan and AmiAmi compared on each shop's own policy pages, September 2026.
Sep 1, 2026 JST
P-Bandai & Tamashii Web Exclusives: How to Buy from OverseasPremium Bandai and Tamashii Web exclusives don't ship overseas. How to check Premium Bandai USA, order through a proxy, and what it really costs.
Sep 1, 2026 JST
figma Anis: Sparkling Summer (Nikke) Pre-Orders OpenMax Factory's figma Anis: Sparkling Summer from Goddess of Victory: Nikke costs ¥14,800 (about $100), closes September 30, 2026, ships June 2027.
Sep 1, 2026 JST
Kaiyodo Hatsune Miku Azure Dragon 1/7 Figure: ¥27,500Kaiyodo opened pre-orders for a 1/7 Hatsune Miku Azure Dragon Ver.: ¥27,500 (about $185), about 270 mm, ships September 2027. No deadline listed.
Sep 1, 2026 JST
Song of Saya POP UP PARADE Rerun: Pre-Orders End Sept 23Good Smile reopened POP UP PARADE Saya L Size (The Song of Saya) pre-orders: ¥8,800 (about $60), order by September 23, 2026, ships January 2027.
Sep 1, 2026 JST
S.H.Figuarts Frieren and Fern Reruns Join Stark Pre-OrdersBandai reissues S.H.Figuarts Frieren (¥8,800) and Fern (¥9,350) alongside the new Stark; pre-orders are open now and all three ship March 2027.
Aug 31, 2026 JST
FiguartsZERO Naruto 'NARUTO 72 series' Pre-Orders Open Sep 1Bandai's FiguartsZERO Naruto with a semi-relief Gaara base costs ¥11,000 (about $75), opens for pre-order September 1, 2026, ships March 2027.
Aug 31, 2026 JST
Five Witch From Mercury HG Kits Return to P-BandaiPremium Bandai reopened orders on five Witch from Mercury HG kits Aug 31, 2026: Calibarn, Lfrith Jiu, Heingra, Desultor, Beguir-Beu Torche; ships November.
Aug 31, 2026 JST
Mega Size Unicorn Gundam Ver. TWC FINAL Pre-Orders OpenBandai's 1/48 Mega Size Unicorn Gundam Ver. TWC FINAL, modeled on the Odaiba statue, is ¥14,300 on Premium Bandai from Aug 31, 2026; ships March 2027.
Aug 31, 2026 JST
Saint Cloth Myth EX Sagittarius Seiya Lottery Ends Sept 17Saint Cloth Myth EX Sagittarius Seiya (God Cloth) is a ¥27,500 Tamashii Web lottery; entries close September 17 at 23:00 JST, shipping October 2026.
Aug 31, 2026 JST
Girls' Frontline 2 Makiatto Figure Slips to October 2026Wonderful Works' 1/7 Makiatto: Ballroom Interlude Ver. was due August 31 but now ships October 2026. AmiAmi still takes pre-orders at ¥26,030.
Aug 31, 2026 JST
S.H.Figuarts Stark (Frieren) Pre-Orders Open September 1Bandai's S.H.Figuarts Stark from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End costs ¥9,900 (about $65), opens for pre-order September 1, 2026, and ships March 2027.
