Tokyo Anime Next Wraps Four-Day Event with a Major Announcement: The Nippon Anime Awards

Tokyo Anime Next has officially wrapped its four-day run in Ikebukuro, and it went out with a bang—literally.

The event, held from October 30 to November 2, brought screenings, interactive experiences, and educational programs to venues across the district. But the Main Event at Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL on November 2 was the star of the show, featuring performances by Mai Kuraki, Nami Nakagawa, Ai Higuchi, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

And it was there, at the finale, that the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) unveiled its next big project: the Nippon Anime Awards.

Nippon Anime Awards

Set to launch in 2027, the Nippon Anime Awards celebrates the people behind the works shaping the world of anime. The inaugural ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 21, 2027, at SGC HALL ARIAKE in Ariake, Tokyo.

The awards come with a slogan: “Moving Frames. Moving Hearts. Moving the World.” 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.

A Night of Music and Memories

The Main Event itself was a two-part program. Part 1 featured a discussion on “The Appeal of Japanese Anime, Loved Around the World” with Toshiyuki Itakura (Impulse), Shoko Nakagawa, and Sally Amaki (22/7). The conversation ranged from childhood anime memories to the songs that sparked their fandom—with Amaki revealing that she first discovered anime music through Nakagawa’s “Sorairo Days” and even sang it at her voice acting audition. Nakagawa was visibly moved.

Part 2 brought iconic anime scenes to life with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, performing alongside special footage from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan, and Detective Conan. Nami Nakagawa performed “Kamado Tanjiro no Uta,” Ai Higuchi delivered “Akuma no Ko,” and Mai Kuraki closed the night with “Secret of my heart.”

Beyond the Main Event

Throughout the four days, Tokyo Anime Next offered a wide range of programming, including:

• Screenings of 14 anime titles across three Ikebukuro cinemas
• The world premiere of LONA, the new TV anime from screenwriter Akiko Nogi and WIT STUDIO
• A Kid’s Anime Workshop where children traced animation frames from Chibi-Maruko-chan
• Character meet-and-greets featuring Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, and Detective Conan
• Educational classes on animation production, including sessions on Cosmic Princess Kaguya! and Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway

Tokyo Anime Next was more than just a convention—it was a celebration of anime’s past, present, and future. With the Nippon Anime Awards on the horizon, the AJA is making it clear that Japan’s animation industry intends to keep moving hearts and moving the world for years to come.

The inaugural Nippon Anime Awards ceremony takes place November 21, 2027. Mark your calendars.

Source: TOKYO ANIME NEXT/Sony Music Solutions