Tanezaki and Okamoto Open the Gates to Frieren's World
Atsumi Tanezaki (Anya Forger in Spy x Family) and Nobuhiko Okamoto (Katsuki Bakugo in My Hero Academia) — the voices of Frieren and Himmel — attended a press preview and opening ceremony on May 29, one day before the collaboration's public debut. Standing in front of a recreation of Himmel's statue, the pair declared the program open together: "Let us venture forth on this adventure! Universal Cool Japan — Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, now open!"
The collaboration is the finale program of Universal Cool Japan 2026 and runs through January 11, 2027, giving fans more than seven months to make the trip to Osaka.
Three Attractions Bring the Anime to Life
The centerpiece is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Story Walk — Journey of Remembrance, a storytelling walk-through attraction housed at Stage 18. Visitors move through recreated environments from the anime — the towns, the landscapes, the landmarks.
Tanezaki described the experience in vivid terms: feeling the physical distance to the boulder Fern blasted, watching Frieren's flower-field magic bloom in front of her. "There were so many moments I nearly cried," she said.
Okamoto echoed the sentiment. "From the moment you step in, the streets and scenery are exactly what you've seen in the anime," he said. "Himmel's statue and the flower-field magic were so beautiful — all I could do was gasp."
Alongside the walk-through, USJ debuted two more experiences. The Restaurant of Remembrance is a fully themed dining space packed with details from the show — Tanezaki pointed out touches like Fern's hair ornament motifs and the pumpkins Frieren conjured with magic. The Story Ride — Bird Monster and Carriage Journey puts guests on a ride where the characters speak directly to them while YOASOBI's "Brave" — the Season 1 opening theme — plays. Okamoto called it "irresistible for fans."
Why This Collaboration Matters
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, animated by Madhouse (Death Note, One-Punch Man), became one of the biggest anime breakouts of recent years. Based on the manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday, the series follows an elven mage processing centuries of loss after her adventuring party's quest ends and her human companions age and die around her.
The USJ collaboration leans into the show's emotional core — memory, loss, and the beauty in revisiting places tied to people who are gone. That's an unusual foundation for a theme park attraction, which makes it all the more interesting. The walk-through format, rather than a traditional thrill ride, suggests USJ is betting that Frieren fans want atmosphere and immersion over speed.
Okamoto put it simply at the ceremony: "The fact that this kind of experience was still possible with this series — fans will absolutely enjoy it."
Looking Ahead
The Frieren x USJ collaboration runs from May 30, 2026 through January 11, 2027 at Stage 18 in Universal Studios Japan, Osaka. That's a generous window — long enough to plan around if you're visiting Japan anytime in the second half of 2026.
The manga continues serialization in Weekly Shonen Sunday, published in English by Viz Media. Both seasons of the anime are available on Crunchyroll for international viewers. No word yet on whether USJ plans to expand the Frieren collaboration with additional seasonal events during its seven-month run.