Nippon Anime Awards Set for 2027

The Association of Japanese Animations officially named its new industry prize the Nippon Anime Awards on Monday. The group set the date for the inaugural ceremony for November 21, 2027. The event will be held at SGC Hall Ariake in Tokyo’s Ariake district. The announcement marks the start of a formal awards program for the Japanese animation sector.

AJA president Ishikawa Kazuko revealed the name on stage at Tokyo Tatemono Brillia Hall. She unveiled the title alongside the awards’ slogan, “Moving Frames. Moving Hearts. Moving the World.” The organization stated that the awards will recognize outstanding anime titles and the individuals who create them. The program aims to appeal to audiences in Japan and international markets. The ceremony will also host initiatives designed to create new business opportunities and develop young talent. These initiatives are being run in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

The naming event concluded Tokyo Anime Next, a four-day program of screenings, workshops, and live shows. The event ran from October 30 to November 2, primarily in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro neighborhood. The announcement capped a roughly 90-minute main event that included musical performances and panels. Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko shared a message at the event supporting the new prize. “The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will continue to provide strong support for anime and everyone involved in bringing it to life,” Koike said.

The main event featured a collaboration between the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and selected anime footage. The segment titled Orchestra Premium Stage included performances from three major series. Nakagawa Nami sang “Kamado Tanjiro no Uta” for the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” portion. The orchestra also played an instrumental version of the score cue “Demon Slayer Corps.” Higuchi Ai performed “Akuma no Ko,” the closing theme for “Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2.” The orchestra preceded her performance with “Ashes on the Fire.”

The final musical act honored the 30th anniversary of “Detective Conan.” Kuraki Mai, who has recorded many songs for the series, performed “Secret of My Heart” with the orchestra. Ishikawa told the audience that the goal is to share the appeal of anime with a wider global audience. “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,” Ishikawa said.

The evening began with a panel discussing the international reach of anime. The panel included comedian Itakura Toshiyuki, singer Nakagawa Shoko, and Sally Amaki from the group 22/7. Amaki, who grew up in Los Angeles, cited Nakagawa Shoko’s song “Sorairo Days” as her entry point into anime music. The song served as the opening theme for “Gurren Lagann.” Amaki revealed that she sang the track at her voice actor audition. Nakagawa Shoko expressed her joy at her career path. “I’m so glad I became an anime singer,” she said.

Beyond the main stage, the four-day program included a symposium at the TIFFCOM market during the Tokyo International Film Festival. The session on October 30 examined the purpose and goals of the new awards. Over the following weekend, 14 anime titles screened at three cinemas in Ikebukuro. Most of the selections were theatrical features. Cast and crew talk sessions accompanied four of the screenings. The lineup included the world premiere of the first episode of “Lona,” a TV series from screenwriter Nogi Akiko and Wit Studio.

Production classes at Toshima Civic Center featured staff from “Cosmic Princess Kaguya!” and “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe.” The program also included a session on a Japan-Saudi Arabia co-produced animation created for Saudi Arabia’s 96th National Day. Children participated in activities that involved using studio light tables to trace frames from “Chibi-Maruko-chan.” The AJA organized the event with co-organization by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Toshima City served as the special sponsor, and Sony Music Solutions handled the event secretariat.