“BANANA FISH”: Asshu’s Sleepy Appearance & Eiji’s “Kata-zun”! Dive into New Merchandise Featuring Original Illustrations at the Animate Fair!
The popular crime suspense series BANANA FISH, which also received an anime adaptation, has transformed into a variety of goods featuring original illustrations by author Yoshida Akimi! Various tie-in campaigns are also planned!
News
2025.10.13 Mon 16:30
Yoshida Akimi‘s classic shoujo manga, BANANA FISH, is getting a fantastic new lineup of merchandise, featuring stunning original illustrations. Get ready for the ‘BANANA FISH Animate Fair in 2025,’ set to kick off on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at participating Animate stores. But you don’t have to wait that long! To get a head start on the excitement, Animate‘s online store began accepting advance reservations for these exclusive items on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
About BANANA FISH
BANANA FISH is a shoujo manga masterpiece by Yoshida Akimi, serialized in Bessatsu Shoujo Comic from 1985 to 1994. The gripping story revolves around the enigmatic phrase “Banana Fish,” as New York street kid Asshu Rinkusu and Japanese university student Okumura Eiji find themselves entangled in a vast, dangerous conspiracy. The series was also adapted into a highly popular TV anime in 2018, solidifying its place as a timeless crime suspense story cherished by generations of fans.
New Merchandise & Event Details
Arma Bianca, a company specializing in original manga and anime merchandise, is continuously releasing new products that prominently feature the original illustrations from BANANA FISH. At the ‘BANANA FISH Animate Fair in 2025,’ scheduled to run from Saturday, December 20, 2025, these brand-new items will not only be available for advance sale but also for pre-order. Expect a truly exciting event, complete with various special bonuses and enticing campaigns!
The items available for advance sale boast a diverse and appealing lineup, including sparkling glitter-spec trading can badges, eye-catching BIG acrylic stands featuring full-body illustrations of the beloved characters, and stylish double-wire acrylic keyholders.
For those looking for something truly special, the ‘Asshu Rinkusu Original Illustration Acrylic Stand Clock‘ and ‘Original Illustration Acrylic Block (3 types total)‘ will be exclusively available for advance reservation during the fair.
Campaigns to Enjoy
As part of the ‘Online Advance Reservation Campaign‘ already underway on Animate‘s online store, customers who reserve eligible items totaling 2,200 yen will receive one ‘Postcard (5 types total)’ as an exclusive bonus. But the fun doesn’t stop there! During the event period at physical stores, customers who purchase eligible items totaling 2,200 yen will also receive one ‘Postcard (5 types total)’ as a special store purchase campaign bonus.
Additionally, a ‘Follow & Repost Campaign‘ is being held on X (formerly Twitter). By following the Gekkan Flowers editorial department’s official X account and AMNIBUS‘s official X account, and reposting the designated post, one lucky winner will be chosen by lottery to receive a ‘Fair Bonus ‘Postcard (10 types total)’ Complete Set‘!
Animate Exclusive Merchandise
Animate Exclusive ‘Trading Glitter Can Badge BABY BANANA ver.’
10 types total / Individual sale: 550 yen, BOX sale: 5,500 yen
Furthermore, customers who purchase a BOX of the above item will receive an ‘Animate Exclusive Trading Glitter Can Badge BABY BANANA ver. (10 types total)’ on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that these bonuses are limited and will end once supplies run out.
- Due to their trading nature, you cannot choose the designs.
- Only unopened boxes guarantee a complete set of all types.
- These are glitter-spec trading can badges sold exclusively at Animate.
- The EC site ‘AMNIBUS‘ is scheduled to start reservations for non-glitter trading can badges (10 types total) from Saturday, December 20.
Advance Sale Merchandise
Trading Original Illustration Cards
20 types total / Individual sale: 275 yen, BOX sale: 5,500 yen
Trading Original Illustration Bromides
20 types total / Individual sale: 275 yen, BOX sale: 5,500 yen
Trading Die-Cut Stickers BABY BANANA ver.
10 types total / Individual sale: 550 yen, BOX sale: 5,500 yen
Trading Acrylic Cards BABY BANANA ver.
10 types total / Individual sale: 715 yen, BOX sale: 7,150 yen
Trading Acrylic Stands BABY BANANA ver.
10 types total / Individual sale: 880 yen, BOX sale: 8,800 yen
- Due to their trading nature, you cannot choose the designs.
- Only unopened boxes guarantee a complete set of all types.
Original Illustration BIG Acrylic Stands with Parts
3 types total / 1,980 yen each
Asshu Rinkusu Original Illustration 100mm Can Badges
3 types total / 660 yen each
Asshu Rinkusu & Okumura Eiji Double Wire Acrylic Keyholders BABY BANANA ver.
3 types total / 990 yen each
Asshu Rinkusu & Okumura Eiji Original Illustration Crystal Art
1 type total / 8,800 yen
Advance Reservation Merchandise
Asshu Rinkusu Original Illustration Acrylic Stand Clock
1 type total / 5,500 yen / Scheduled for release in mid-April 2026
Original Illustration Acrylic Blocks
3 types total / 6,578 yen each / Scheduled for release in mid-April 2026
- Advance reservation items are scheduled to open for pre-orders at Animate and AMNIBUS starting Saturday, December 20.
While the ‘BANANA FISH Animate Fair in 2025‘ officially kicks off on Saturday, December 20, 2025, the ‘Online Advance Reservation Campaign‘ that began on Thursday, October 2, 2025, is already in full swing and offers special prizes, so don’t forget to participate!
Event Overview
‘BANANA FISH’ Animate Fair in 2025
Event Period: Saturday, December 20, 2025 – Sunday, January 4, 2026
Locations: Animate (Ikebukuro Honten, Sendai Ten, Sapporo Ten, Nagoya Ten, Akihabara Ten, Fukuoka Paruko Ten, Osaka Nihonbashi Ten, Yokohama Bibure Ten, Umeda Ten)
- Images are for illustration purposes only and may differ from actual products.
- Advance sale items are products being sold ahead of general release at this event. They are also scheduled to be available on the EC site ‘AMNIBUS‘ from Saturday, December 20.
- Please understand that for some items, later orders may not be accepted.
- For inquiries regarding purchase limits and sales status, please contact each Animate store.
- Bonuses are limited and will end once supplies run out.
During the event period, at participating Animate physical stores (excluding online), for every 2,200 yen spent on eligible BANANA FISH character goods, you will receive one ‘Postcard (5 types total)’ as a store purchase campaign bonus.
- This also applies if you pick up items reserved in advance at a store during the fair period.
- Eligible items are limited to the advance sale products of the ‘BANANA FISH Animate Fair in 2025‘.
- Bonuses are limited and will end once supplies run out.
- You cannot choose the design of the bonus postcard.
- Some items, such as Kuma Mates related products and certain TCGs, are not eligible for fair bonuses.
- Resale of prize items is prohibited.
- The event content may be subject to change, postponement, or cancellation due to various circumstances.
‘BANANA FISH’ Animate Fair in 2025 Online Advance Reservation Campaign
Event Period: Thursday, October 2, 2025 – Sunday, October 19, 2025
Location: Animate Online Store
During the online advance reservation campaign period, for every 2,200 yen worth of eligible BANANA FISH character goods reserved on the Animate online store, you will receive one ‘Postcard (5 types total)’ as an online advance reservation campaign bonus.
- You cannot choose the design of the bonus postcard.
- Eligible items are limited to the advance sale products of the ‘BANANA FISH Animate Fair in 2025‘.
- The online advance reservation campaign bonus will be included with your product shipment.
Follow & Repost Campaign on X
By following the Gekkan Flowers editorial department’s official X account and AMNIBUS‘s official X account, and reposting the designated post, one lucky winner will be selected by lottery to receive a ‘Fair Bonus ‘Postcard (10 types total)’ Complete Set‘.
- An X account is required to participate in the campaign. Accounts that are private, frozen, or deleted at the time of the drawing, or accounts that have unfollowed our designated accounts, will not be eligible.
- For campaigns where only reposts are eligible, please change your settings to ‘Allow DMs from users other than those I follow.’
- Entry is limited to one account per person.
- Winners will be contacted via X Direct Message. No contact will be made with non-winners.
- Please complete the prize acceptance procedures within one week of the Direct Message being sent. If procedures are not completed within this period, the winning right will be forfeited. We appreciate your understanding.
- We cannot respond to inquiries regarding prize winnings. Thank you for your understanding.
- The right to the won prize is valid only for the winner and cannot be transferred to a third party, including family members. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.
- Applications and shipments are limited to within Japan.
- While utmost care is taken in packaging, we cannot accept returns or exchanges in the event of damage during mailing.
- Personal information provided will only be used for prize shipment. We will not disclose or provide your information to third parties without your consent (except when disclosure or application is required by law).
Other Important Notes
Please refrain from the following actions at each Animate store:
- Exchanging goods or transferring them for money inside the store.
- Spreading items out on the floor.
- Waiting for other customers in passageways.
(C) Yoshida Akimi / Shougakukan
By Kigasawa Shouji
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