Dragon Ball prepares “Genkidamatsuri” anniversary event with new game and mystery projects

For fans of the Dragon Ball franchise eagerly awaiting major announcements outside of the video game space, the wait may soon be over. An event of momentous proportions, the Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri, is scheduled for January 25, 2026, at the Makuhari Messe convention center near Tokyo. Timed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Dragon Ball anime’s first airing, this event is positioned as a celebration intended to charge up the future of the beloved franchise.

The event, whose name cleverly blends the Japanese word for festival (matsuri) with Goku’s iconic Spirit Bomb attack (Genkidama), has officially confirmed the announcement of a new Dragon Ball game project. More significantly for the anime and manga community, organizers have also teased two still-unspecified major projects. These projects carry the high anticipation of potentially addressing the lingering questions surrounding the continuation of the Dragon Ball Super manga and anime, which have been in a state of limbo following the passing of creator Akira Toriyama.

Key Figures to Deliver the News

Adding significant weight to the announcements is the confirmed presence of major franchise figures. Special guests include Masako Nozawa, the legendary voice actress who has voiced Goku since the beginning, and Akio Iyoku, the president of Capsule Corporation Tokyo and producer of the Dragon Ball Daima series. Their joint appearance suggests that the announcements will touch on the franchise’s creative and commercial future across all media—from animation and comics to merchandising.

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Fans have endured a turbulent period following Toriyama’s death, with creative content like the Dragon Ball Super continuation having stalled. While rumors of rights disputes between Toriyama’s estate, publisher Shueisha, and Iyoku’s company have circulated, the Genkidamatsuri offers the first concrete opportunity for the franchise to celebrate its legacy and look ahead with renewed purpose.

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