Chiikawa Characters to Perform at FNS Song Festival: Movie Opening Song to Be Sung on TV for the First Time

Chiikawa fans have exciting news! The adorable characters of the movie adaptation of Nagano's beloved manga, titled "Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu" — Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi — will perform on a major TV show this year. They will be guests on the 2026 FNS Kayousai Summer program, airing live on Fuji TV on July 1st at 18:30. In this special performance, the film's opening theme "Kutsuzure" will be sung on TV for the first time, accompanied by the Suginami Children's Choir.

According to Natalie, this news is seen as a major promotional move for the film. Chiikawa originally started as a webcomic posted by Nagano on Twitter and quickly gained a huge fan base. The anime adaptation began airing in 2022, and the ensuing popularity turned the series into one of Japan's most talked-about brands. "Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu" will be the series' first theatrical film, expected to be released in summer 2025. The film will tell the mysterious adventure of Chiikawa and friends on a mermaid island.

FNS Kayousai is one of Japan's most prestigious music programs, and featuring animation characters in this year's summer special is quite noteworthy. This performance, also featuring the Suginami Children's Choir, is prepared to reflect the film's cheerful and fairy-tale atmosphere. The opening song "Kutsuzure", with lyrics written by Nagano, carries the spirit of the film; it has a melody that appeals to both children and adults.

This kind of TV performance also strengthens the connection between the Chiikawa universe and music and performing arts. Many songs from the series have been popular before, and tracks like "Chiikawa no Uta" performed by the characters even entered the charts. This appearance on FNS Kayousai will further increase interest in the film and may attract international viewers. Such promotion before the film's release multiplies the excitement of fans.

So what can we expect after this performance? Until the film premiere, we will likely see more trailers, theme song details, and perhaps surprise collaborations. Also, viral trends like line dance for Chiikawa continue to show the series' cultural impact. This TV premiere at FNS Kayousai will be an unmissable moment for both Chiikawa and Nagano fans. Don't forget to watch on July 1st!