Chiikawa Anime Film Tops Japan Box Office, Live-Action Kingdom 5 Rises to Fifth
According to Anime News Network's report dated August 20, 2026, the Chiikawa anime film managed to stay at the top of Japan's box office for another week. Adapted from Nagano's popular manga published on Twitter, the film has reached a wide audience with its adorable characters and emotional story. The Chiikawa series had become a huge phenomenon, especially on social media with the Nanka Kawaii trend; this interest now seems to have carried over to movie theaters.
Another notable development this week is the fifth live-action film in the Kingdom series rising to fifth place at the box office. Adapted from Yasuhisa Hara's manga of the same name, the film is known for its epic story set during the Warring States period. With over 100 million copies sold, the manga is one of Japan's most-read historical action series. The first live-action film was released in 2019, and the series has expanded its fan base with each new film.
In the lower ranks of the list, the Crayon Shin-chan and Blue Lock adaptations draw attention. While the 2026 Crayon Shin-chan film maintained its sixth-place position, the live-action Blue Lock film fell to tenth place. Shin-chan, created by Yoshito Usui, has been released as a new film every year since 1993; the 2026 production is recorded as the 34th film in the series. The soccer-themed manga Blue Lock, with over 30 million copies sold, is one of the most popular sports series of recent years; its live-action adaptation aims to bring this popularity to the big screen.
This picture once again demonstrates the power of anime and manga adaptations in Japanese cinema. Chiikawa's stability at the top proves that the series has a strong fan base not only on digital platforms but also in movie theaters. Kingdom's rise is a sign that live-action adaptations still draw great interest. In the coming weeks, it will be curious to see whether the Chiikawa film can maintain its lead and whether Kingdom 5 can climb into the top three.
