by Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island has become one of the biggest anime movie successes of 2026, surpassing ¥13.89 billion (¥13.89 billion) at the Japanese box office within just 45 days of its release.
The first feature film based on Nagano’s hugely popular Chiikawa franchise has attracted approximately 9.6 million moviegoers, overtaking the latest Detective Conan movie and moving ahead of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 on Japan’s all-time box-office chart. The film is now ranked No. 23 among Japan’s highest-grossing movies, according to figures reported by Kogyo Tsushinsha and ORICON.
The achievement is especially impressive because Chiikawa the Movie is not only the highest-grossing Japanese film of 2026 so far, but also a major theatrical success for a franchise whose popularity originally grew through short web comics and a short-form animated series.
And the film’s momentum is showing no sign of disappearing. During the September 4–6 weekend, Chiikawa the Movie returned to No. 1 at the Japanese box office, drawing approximately 928,000 viewers and earning ¥1.415 billion over three days. The comeback was strongly supported by the distribution of its fourth admission bonus.
Chiikawa Movie Beats Detective Conan and Jujutsu Kaisen 0
The latest milestone puts Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island in remarkable company.
The film has now surpassed the ¥13.7 billion reported for Detective Conan: Fallen Angel on the Highway, the 29th Detective Conan theatrical film. It has also moved beyond the ¥13.89 billion final box-office total of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which was released in 2021.
ORICON reported that the Chiikawa film reached ¥13.89 billion and 9.6 million admissions after 45 days. Although the rounded figures initially appeared to put it level with Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Kogyo Tsushinsha clarified that Chiikawa had already edged ahead when the more precise figures were considered.
That distinction is important when discussing the historical ranking. The film is officially being described as a No. 23 all-time Japanese box-office hit, rather than simply tying with Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
2026 Box Office Battle
The film’s rise has also changed the shape of the 2026 Japanese box-office race.
Before Chiikawa overtook it, Detective Conan: Fallen Angel on the Highway had been one of the year’s biggest theatrical successes. The Conan movie opened on April 10 in a record 526 Japanese theaters, the largest release in the franchise at that time, and had already exceeded ¥13 billion by June.
Chiikawa, however, has now moved ahead of it.
This means that an anime franchise originally known for tiny characters and short, humorous stories has defeated one of Japan’s longest-running and most established theatrical anime franchises in the 2026 box-office race.
A Massive Boost From the Latest Admission Bonus
One of the most interesting factors behind Chiikawa the Movie’s continued success has been its use of limited-time admission bonuses.
The film had been following a box-office pace broadly comparable to Detective Conan. However, on September 5, a new bonus featuring mini charm figures of Shimajiro, the Siren, Hitoha, and Futaba began distribution.
The response was immediate.
The film’s cumulative box office had previously reached approximately ¥12.23 billion. After the new bonus became available, the movie added another ¥1.67 billion, bringing its 45-day total to approximately ¥13.89 billion.
This shows how powerful collectible admission bonuses can be for Japanese anime movies. Fans who have already watched a film may return to theaters to obtain a particular bonus, while collectors may decide to see the movie specifically because they want a limited item.
In Chiikawa’s case, the strategy appears to have been particularly effective because the franchise already has an enormous merchandise and character-collecting culture.
Chiikawa Returns to No. 1 in Its Seventh Week
The film’s success did not slow down even after more than a month in theaters.
For the September 4–6 weekend, Chiikawa the Movie ranked No. 1 nationally for the second time, recording approximately 928,000 admissions and ¥1.415 billion in weekend revenue. This allowed the film to move back ahead of the competition after previously dropping from the top position.
Movie Walker Press reported that the weekend’s attendance and revenue were both more than 250% of the previous weekend’s figures, highlighting the extraordinary impact of the fourth admission bonus.
The movie’s return to No. 1 during its seventh week is particularly notable. Most films experience a gradual decline in weekly attendance as they move further into their theatrical runs. Chiikawa, however, has repeatedly received boosts from new promotional campaigns and bonuses.
The Film Opened With an Extraordinary ¥990 Million Day.
The movie’s current success can be traced back to its spectacular opening.
Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island opened in Japan on July 24, 2026, across 447 theaters, including 65 IMAX locations. The film earned approximately ¥990 million on its opening day, making it one of the strongest first-day performances in Japanese box-office history.
The opening was especially impressive because Chiikawa was making its feature-film debut.
Rather than being treated as a small children’s or character-focused release, the movie received a major nationwide theatrical rollout, including premium IMAX screenings. This allowed the film to reach both existing fans and general moviegoers during Japan’s summer vacation period.
The strong opening also demonstrated that the popularity of Chiikawa had grown far beyond its original online audience.
The Movie Passed ¥5 Billion in Just 14 Days
The film continued its rapid rise after its opening weekend.
Chiikawa the Movie crossed ¥5 billion in box-office revenue within 14 days, marking an unusually fast pace for a Japanese animated film.
For comparison, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time had earned approximately ¥4.935 billion during its first 14 days before eventually finishing with ¥10.28 billion. Haikyu!! The Movie: The Dumpster Battle reached approximately ¥5.1 billion after 17 days and ultimately finished with ¥11.64 billion.
At that stage, comparisons with those movies suggested that Chiikawa could become a major long-running theatrical success.
However, the film ultimately performed far beyond those early expectations.
Instead of slowing dramatically, its box-office momentum was repeatedly refreshed by new admission bonuses and strong word of mouth.
The Film Passed ¥10 Billion After Only 30 Days.
By late August, the film had already entered the ¥10 billion club.
After 30 days in Japanese theaters, Chiikawa the Movie surpassed ¥10 billion and had attracted approximately 7.66 million moviegoers through August 23.
Reaching ¥10 billion is a major milestone in Japan because only a relatively small number of films manage to reach that level.
The achievement was even more remarkable given the film’s unusual source material.
The original Chiikawa series began as a web manga posted by artist Nagano, rather than as a traditional long-running weekly manga or major action franchise. Its rise from short online comics to a blockbuster theatrical franchise demonstrates how dramatically the Japanese media landscape has changed.
What Is Chiikawa?
For newcomers, Chiikawa is a Japanese manga and character franchise created by the artist Nagano.
The title comes from the Japanese phrase “Nanka Chiisakute Kawaii Yatsu,” which can be translated roughly as “Something Small and Cute.”
The series follows Chiikawa and friends such as Hachiware and Usagi as they go through everyday adventures in a world that looks cute and comforting on the surface but can sometimes become surprisingly dangerous or unsettling.
That contrast is one of the franchise’s biggest strengths.
The characters are small, adorable creatures, but they often face difficult jobs, dangerous monsters, mysterious situations, and emotionally complicated events.
The combination of cute character designs, simple humor, strange situations, and unexpectedly dark storytelling helped Chiikawa become a major cultural phenomenon in Japan.
From Web Manga to a Global Franchise
Nagano began posting Chiikawa online in 2020, and the series quickly built a huge audience through social media.
The franchise later expanded into books, merchandise, collaborations, television animation, cafes, toys, clothing, and numerous other products.
The animated series began broadcasting in 2022 and helped introduce Chiikawa to an even larger audience.
According to MANTANWEB, the franchise’s official X account had more than 5.35 million followers, while the short anime’s YouTube archive had surpassed 500 million total views. The franchise has also won the Japan Character Award Grand Prix four times, underlining its extraordinary popularity in Japan.
This established fanbase gave the first theatrical movie a strong foundation before it even opened.
What Is The Secret of the Mermaid Island About?
The movie adapts the popular Siren Arc, a long-form story created specifically for the theatrical project.
The story begins when Chiikawa, Hachiware, Usagi, and their companions receive an invitation to a mysterious “special island.”
The invitation promises attractive rewards, easy monster-hunting work, and plenty of food. The group is tempted by the offer and travels to the island, where they expect to enjoy what appears to be a fun summer adventure.
However, things quickly become more mysterious.
The island has secrets of its own, and the disappearance of its inhabitants raises questions about what is really happening there.
Rather than being a simple comedy or children’s adventure, the movie gradually introduces suspense, mystery, and darker elements.
This mixture of adorable characters and unsettling developments has been one of the reasons the film has attracted attention beyond the franchise’s existing fanbase. The Japan Times also highlighted the contrast between the film’s cute appearance and its darker thematic material.
Nagano Had a Major Role in the Film
Another important point for fans is the involvement of Nagano, the creator of Chiikawa.
The Siren Arc was written for the movie, with Nagano credited with the screenplay. The film is directed by Kei Oikawa, while Cypic Pictures handles the animation production.
Nagano’s direct involvement helped the movie maintain the tone and character relationships that fans associate with the original work.
For longtime readers, this is particularly important because Chiikawa often communicates emotion through very short conversations, expressions, gestures, and visual details rather than lengthy dialogue.
Why the Box Office Success Is So Significant
The success of Chiikawa the Movie represents more than just another anime box-office victory.
It demonstrates the extraordinary strength of character-driven Japanese entertainment.
Unlike many blockbuster anime films, Chiikawa is not primarily built around large-scale action, famous battle sequences, or an established decades-long theatrical franchise.
Instead, its popularity comes from characters that became deeply recognizable through social media, television, merchandise, and everyday Japanese pop culture.
The movie has now shown that this kind of character popularity can translate into enormous theatrical revenue.
Its performance also highlights the growing importance of repeat viewings and collectible admission bonuses in the Japanese anime movie market.
Overseas Popularity Is Growing Too
The movie’s success is not limited to Japan.
Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island has also received theatrical releases in overseas markets, including Taiwan and Hong Kong. International release information lists Taiwan on July 31 and Hong Kong on August 6, following the Japanese release.
The movie has also been promoted through themed events and merchandise outside Japan. For example, Hong Kong’s Langham Place hosted a large Chiikawa movie-themed experience featuring movie scenes, exclusive rewards, and hundreds of merchandise items during July and August.
These international activities show how Chiikawa has developed into a recognizable global character brand rather than remaining a Japan-only phenomenon.
The Movie Is Still Showing Strong Momentum
The biggest question now is how high Chiikawa the Movie can ultimately climb.
The film had already reached ¥13.89 billion after 45 days, and its seventh-weekend performance was surprisingly strong. The movie added ¥1.415 billion during the September 4–6 weekend alone, returning to No. 1 and pushing its cumulative attendance beyond 9.6 million.
Unofficial real-time estimates suggested that the film was approaching or passing the ¥14 billion mark around its 46th day, although those figures should be treated as estimates until confirmed by industry box-office reporting.
The confirmed figures already make the film a historic success, while its continued performance means its final total remains difficult to predict.
If the film continues to benefit from new admission bonuses, repeat viewers, and strong word of mouth, it could climb further up Japan’s all-time box-office rankings.
Chiikawa Has Become the Biggest Movie of 2026 So Far
At this point, the headline is clear: Chiikawa the Movie is the biggest Japanese box-office hit of 2026 so far.
It has surpassed the year’s previous major anime blockbuster, Detective Conan: Fallen Angel on the Highway, while also moving ahead of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 on the all-time chart.
More importantly, it has done so while remaining unmistakably true to what made Chiikawa popular in the first place: small characters, simple-looking adventures, emotional storytelling, humor, and a surprisingly dark world beneath the cute exterior.
The film’s performance also proves that audiences were willing to support Chiikawa on the big screen in huge numbers.
With approximately 9.6 million admissions and ¥13.89 billion in revenue after 45 days, Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island has already secured its place as one of the defining anime movie successes of 2026.
And with the film continuing to attract large crowds in its seventh week, the final box-office total may still have several surprises left.
