Japan Box Office This Week: New Sgt. Frog Film Debuts at 10th, The Samurai and the Prisoner Drops to 4th

There is a lot of movement in the Japanese box office rankings this week. According to a report by Anime News Network dated July 9, 2026, the live-action The Samurai and the Prisoner, which opened at number one last week, dropped to fourth place this week. The film received great interest in its first week of release but could not maintain its position due to competition from new productions.

The most notable new entry on the list is the latest film in the Sgt. Frog (Keroro Gunsou) series. Adapted from Mine Yoshizaki's popular manga, this long-awaited new production debuted at number ten. While Sgt. Frog fans were eager to see the film in theaters, the box office figures show that the series still has a strong fan base.

On the other hand, the latest film of the beloved children's character Anpanman maintained its fifth-place position. This long-running series continues to appear before audiences with a new film every year. Additionally, the 4K restoration of the Studio Ghibli classic Kiki's Delivery Service rose back to eighth place, bringing a wave of nostalgia. This restoration was released in a limited number of theaters in recent months and re-entered the list as demand continues.

This week's box office data shows that live-action adaptations and nostalgic productions still have an important place in the Japanese film industry. The presence of productions from different genres like The Samurai and the Prisoner and Sgt. Frog on the same list reveals how diverse the audience is. The list is expected to change even further with new openings in the coming weeks. Which film are you planning to watch?