A new visual book dedicated to vintage anime T-shirts is set to hit Japanese bookstores on August 26, 2026. Published by Two Virgins, Vintage Anime T-Shirt Catalog is the first book of its kind in Japan, collecting more than 160 vintage anime T-shirts produced primarily between the 1980s and 2000s.
The catalog features iconic items from classic series such as AKIRA, Urusei Yatsura, Sailor Moon, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, and serial experiments lain, alongside rare and highly collectible pieces. With over 300 photographs, the book also explains tags, manufacturers, convention-exclusive items, and the distinct vintage markets that developed in the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Japan.
This volume traces how anime T-shirts evolved from character merchandise to fashion statements and finally to collector’s items, bridging anime culture and vintage fashion.
To celebrate the release, a special advance sale and related book fair will be held at Daikanyama Tsutaya Books in Tokyo. The fair runs from August 21 to September 1, 2026, on the first-floor art floor of Building 2. During the event, the owner of Chillweeb, a vintage anime T-shirt specialty shop and the book’s editor, will personally select and sell a range of vintage anime T-shirts.
The special sale is expected to include the following items (subject to change without notice):
- 90s Ghost in the Shell
- 90s Samurai Champloo
- 00s Fullmetal Alchemist
- 00s Inuyasha
- 00s The Legend of Zelda
- 2002 NARUTO
The book is priced at 4,400 yen (tax included) and will be released on August 26, 2026. It is a B5-size, softcover volume with 256 full-color pages. The ISBN is 978-4-86791-057-3.
Featured works include AKIRA, Mobile Suit Gundam, Urusei Yatsura, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Sailor Moon, Ghost in the Shell, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Rurouni Kenshin, Dragon Ball, Berserk, serial experiments lain, FLCL, NARUTO, BLEACH, Fullmetal Alchemist, Final Fantasy, and many more.
