The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) announced on November 2, 2026, that its new anime prize will be called the Nippon Anime Awards. The event will be held on November 21, 2027, at SGC Hall Ariake in Tokyo's Ariake district, according to an AnimeAnime report.
AJA president Kazuko Ishikawa made the announcement near the end of the TOKYO ANIME NEXT main event at Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL. She said she wants to work with everyone to build a future in which anime's appeal and potential spread further around the world. An English-language report carried by Yahoo Entertainment gives the award's concept phrase as "Moving Frames. Moving Hearts. Moving the World."
TOKYO ANIME NEXT, which AnimeAnime describes as a prelude to the new award, ran from October 30 to November 2 in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area, with screenings, talk shows, programs for creators and workshops for children.
The main event's Orchestra Premium Stage paired the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra with footage and music from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan and Detective Conan. Hirofumi Kurita conducted, and Kazunori Miyake handled the orchestral arrangements.
Three singers joined the orchestra:
- Nami Nakagawa sang a Demon Slayer song about Tanjiro's resolve.
- Ai Higuchi performed the ending theme of Attack on Titan The Final Season Part 2.
- Mai Kuraki, who has worked with Detective Conan on numerous songs, sang "Secret of my heart."