As 2025 draws to a close, it’s time to look back. This year was packed with going to game events, attending live concerts, hanging out with friends… and of course, getting work done. From all these experiences, we, the Anime! Anime! editorial team, want to share the items we bought this year that made us think, “Yeah, that was a good purchase.”
Freedoom Yamanaka’s Top Picks
“WEGO Itabag [S Size]”
This is a cost-effective and highly satisfying itabag. I had never made one before, but on a whim, I decided to give it a try, and the finished product turned out much better than I imagined. It comes in multiple colors, which is a great point as you can choose or change them to match your favorite character. It can fit up to twelve 75mm pin badges, so even beginners can create a visually appealing itabag without much trouble. For anyone looking to start their own itabag project, this is a highly recommendable, approachable, and practical bag.
“LUMICA Lumica Light Daisenkou Arc 25-Pack ‘Extreme’ Orange”
A must-have item for live concerts—the penlight. While using the official ones is great, there are countless moments where you just want to go all out during a specific song’s chorus. That’s where Lumica Lights come in handy. Among them, the “Extreme” series is particularly appealing because its light emission is incredibly bright and looks beautiful even from the stage. Also, since it’s a 25-pack, you can use them across multiple concerts, which is kind to your wallet. Do note that whether you can use them varies by concert, so it’s best to check the guidelines for each event before bringing them.
“Anywin Pillow”
They say we spend about one-third of our lives sleeping. If that’s the case, there’s no reason not to care about sleep quality. With that in mind, I bought this pillow. Priced at a very accessible 2,699 yen, it’s an amazing product that delivers surprisingly deep sleep for the cost. In actual use, it’s very comfortable, giving you the feeling of sleeping soundly through the night. It’s also convenient that it can be hand-washed or machine-washed. The size is slightly on the larger side, making it a particularly good pick for bigger individuals or those who like a spacious pillow.
MINAMI’s Favorite Finds
Workman Ladies’ Water-Repellent Sweatpants
Let’s be honest, these are really good. I have a two-year-old daughter, and between spilled juice, wiping dirty hands on my clothes, sudden trips to the park, or puddle-jumping, my clothes always seem to end up stained somewhere.
In this daily life, these sweatpants have become my reliable companion. First, I was shocked by the water repellency. Even if juice or coffee spills on them, it doesn’t soak in; just a quick flick of the hand and the droplets fall right off. I can now wear light-colored pants, which I used to avoid, without the fear of “what if they get dirty.”
The pocket design is also excellent. In addition to the two large side pockets, there’s a zippered pocket at the top. When I need to quickly stash keys, loose change, or my daughter’s hair ties, I don’t have to fumble with my bag. That common mistake of “I know I put it in my pocket, but it’s gone” isn’t a worry with a zipper. The peace of mind of not losing keys is greater than you’d think.
Another point is that they’re functional yet genuinely stylish. The slightly oversized silhouette, combined with the drawstring hem, allows you to adjust the look from casual to sporty. The variety of colors is a plus, and because they’re stain-resistant, I could finally take on the “dream of white pants.”
Furthermore, they are just incredibly comfortable to wear. The elastic waist has no tightness, and the fabric feels nice against the skin, so you can wear them for hours without stress. The more outings you have with kids, the more you’ll appreciate these pants. They are the perfect ally for daily life, ticking all the boxes: “stain-resistant, convenient, stylish, and comfy.”
Film Frame Sleeves
You might think, “Isn’t this a bit late?” but these are specialized sleeves perfect for storing film frames, one of the classic movie premium items. I used to make do with slightly larger sleeves, but as the opportunity to swap them increased, I decided to buy these proper-sized ones.
There’s no wasted space, so they don’t add unnecessary bulk, making storage neat. Above all, when swapping frames, I no longer have to pull out ill-fitting sleeves, which also eliminates a bit of awkwardness. It’s a subtle item, but anyone who handles film frames will appreciate its value.
manimani’s Best Buys
“Sato Masahiko Exhibition” Official Catalogue “Creating the Method of Creation”
Held at the Yokohama Museum of Art from June 28 to November 3, 2025, the “Sato Masahiko Exhibition.” Its official catalogue is titled Creating the Method of Creation. Right from the start, it became a huge topic, with weekends seeing wait times of up to 5 hours just to get in—an unusual level of popularity. It soon switched to a timed-entry system, but weekend slots sold out instantly, making it one of the defining art exhibitions of 2025.
Speaking of Sato Masahiko, he’s a figure with a completely different entry point depending on who you ask. For the CM generation, it’s “Porincy” or “Bazaar de Gozaru”; for music lovers, it’s Ozawa Kenji or Magokoro Brothers; for gamers, it’s ‘I.Q.’; for families, it’s ‘PythagoraSwitch’. And for creators, the title “expression researcher” might fit best.
What this exhibition demonstrated was the fact that Sato’s works are born from “finding rules and combining them.” Instead of just lining up finished pieces, the exhibition’s structure of displaying the “trajectory of creation” itself made the logic behind his ideas surprisingly clear and visible. As someone from a science background working in a creative field, I found this structure overlapped with the music of Bach, offering the joy of intellectual understanding. At the same time, it was an exhibition that left behind an aftertaste like homework, making you think, “I want to ponder this a bit more on my own.”
And what I encountered at the exit was this book, placed with a sign that read something like, “This art exhibition is completed by reading this pamphlet (from memory).” Yes, the “reference book” for the homework was thoroughly prepared. While feeling grateful, I also had to chuckle honestly, thinking, “As expected from a marketing pro, I was perfectly hooked.”
That said, the contents easily surpass those expectations. The composition is straightforward, complementing the exhibition while organizing Sato Masahiko’s way of thinking into a single volume. For any creator, this is more than just a exhibition souvenir; it’s a book worth picking up to expand your mental toolkit.
Suiside Momo’s Standout Purchase
“Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- 10th LIVE 《LIVE ANIMA》 Blu-ray”
The best thing I bought this year is the “Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- 10th LIVE 《LIVE ANIMA》 Blu-ray.” This was a massive event held at Makuhari Messe in April 2024, featuring a gathering of 21 cast members across 7 groups, including Kimura Subaru, Asanuma Shintarou, Shirai Yuusuke, and special guest RIP SLYME.
Unfortunately, I only got into “Hypmic” around the time the movie Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- (Hypmovie) was released in February 2025, so I couldn’t attend in person. However, watching this gave me a different kind of satisfaction compared to the rap battles in the film.
The surprise of hearing the rhythmic raps performed so deftly by the characters in the anime come from actual people. Combined with the fervor from the fans in the venue, the vibe gets you pumped up even if you’re just at home.
A particularly fun part was “Maido! Ikitarokai! ~OSAKA Big Up~” by Dotokutare Honpo’s Kusakabe Hasami (CV: Iwasaki Ryota) and Tsutsujimori Rosho (CV: Kawaishi Kengo). The lyrics were handled by the comedy duo Gin Shari, making it a song that’s… well, almost entirely a comedy sketch. Just when you think they’re totally nailing the rap, the two of them place a sanpachi mic at center stage and start doing manzai. They can rap, they can sing, they can do comedy—this live is where you get to see the full depth of these voice actors’ talents, which is probably what makes “Hypnosis Mic” lives so special.
The items introduced here are all things our editorial staff actually used and felt were “really good.” If anything catches your eye, we hope you’ll consider incorporating it into your daily life or hobby time.
《animeanime》
_
