Aoyama Returns for a Historic Second Round
Gosho Aoyama, the manga artist behind Detective Conan (Case Closed), is back on charity-tee duty for Nippon TV's annual telethon, 24-Hour Television 49: Love Saves the Earth. As Anime Anime reported, having the same creator and the same characters anchor the shirt two years in a row is unprecedented in the program's nearly five-decade run.
Last year's design centered on the theme "Tell Me About Yourself," featuring Conan and friends in lively conversation. The 2026 edition draws on this year's telethon theme — "My Family's Story: Who Do You Think Of?" — which explores how the idea of family has evolved beyond blood ties to include bonds of the heart. Detective Conan, now in its 30th year on television, remains one of Japan's most multigenerational franchises, making Aoyama a natural fit for a theme about connection across ages.
What the Shirts Look Like and Where to Get Them
The charity T-shirts drop on July 1 and retail for ¥2,200 (tax included), with all proceeds going to the telethon's charitable causes. This year's lineup features a record six colors — Yellow, Pink, Blue, Purple, White, and Family Green — in sizes ranging from kids' 120 to adult LL.
Retail locations include Aeon Group stores across Japan (with some exceptions), the 24-Hour Television online charity-goods shop, Nitteleya stores in Shiodome and Tokyo Station, and Tree Village TV-studio shops in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and Hakata.
The Telethon Itself
24-Hour Television 49 broadcasts on August 29-30 from Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Hosts Teruyoshi Uchimura, Shin'ichi Hatori, and Nippon TV announcer Asami Miura return, with boy band SixTONES and musical-theater star Ikusaburo Yamazaki serving as charity partners. Singer-rapper Chanmina rounds out the announced lineup as special supporter, with more names to follow.
Looking Ahead
The T-shirts are the earliest piece of 24-Hour Television merch to hit shelves each year, and with Detective Conan riding high off its 30th TV anniversary and the continued theatrical success of the franchise, demand should be strong. International fans hoping to grab one will need to use a proxy-shipping service, as Anime Anime notes that sales are limited to domestic Japanese retailers and the official online store. Additional telethon programming and performer announcements are expected throughout the summer.