An update on disability discrimination at Crunchyroll, the newest found species of fish named after Princess Mononoke, and live-action Cells at Work earns 6 billion yen at the Japanese box office! Also, UDON signs a deal with Lunar for distribution rights, Alice in Borderland gets its season 3 release date, and Romi Park to guests at Nostalgiacon! Meanwhile in Japan, a tourist was arrested for striking a clerk over a 3 yen bag, and curry bread achieved a new world record!

Ohayocon sues Sekaicon over trade secrets, lawyers ask to nullify arsonist's appeal withdrawal, and J-pop artistLiSA announces North America tour! Also,Crunchyroll is accused of firing an employee after an ADA request, thePokémon company claims Diamond Comic Distributors owes them money, and Hideaki Anno sets up an exhibition for the 50th anniversary ofSpace Battleship Yamato! Meanwhile in Japan, the Nintendo Museum might owe you money, and tourists in Kyoto cause railway crossing chaos?!

A new piracy bill has been backed by Netflix, Disney, and Sony, the Japan Fair Trade Commission to investigate anime studio abuse, and rock band the pillows disbands! Also, Kyoto Animation - 京都アニメーション arsonist withdraws appeal, Anime Tourism Association releases 2025 list of sites that fans should visit, and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment opens first US interactive store! Meanwhile in Japan, Osaka to ban smoking on its streets and the newest maid cafe has an age limit for its maids, 65?!

Crunchyroll confirms limited credentials posted, but no breach was discovered, an anime producer becomes new Fuji Television president, and BAND-MAID to release music video for a song used in a new anime opening! Also, TOKYOPOP contributes to voice actors lost homes in LA wildfires, Cells at Work live-action grosses over 5 billion yen,Square Enix Tokyo cafe to shut down, and an anime studio merger leads to one being dissolved! Meanwhile in Japan, a 71-year-old robs 63 houses and treats strangers to sushi just to look cool, and a woman causes 8 separate traffic accidents in 35 minutes!

Happy 2025! The staff is back from their well-deserved break and they're ready to go! On this week's show... It's the end of an era, AnimeNEXT is on indefinite hiatus, and the AJS staff is tea-ready! Also, crowdfunding was launched for Mike McFarland's brain surgery, and Crunchyroll dropped a new manga app! Plus, Japan sets its inaugural music awards event, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment to release a Gundam tabletop miniature game, and the Godzilla card game will be simultaneously released in Japanese and English! Meanwhile in Japan, a bear breaks into a home to spend winter as a human, a monkey grabs a jogger and gives chase for hundreds of meters, a man is fired for going to the gym, and a collaboration of the glasses-wearing boys!

Join DJ Ranma S, Mako-chan, BerryMelon, WildSpice, and Koibug for their yearly get-together of good times and merry cheer! Then we look through the articles and share some interesting stories such as a man who has eaten at the same restaurant for over 1800 days in a row, a city painting its streets yellow to discourage prostitution, not paying for a date may be seen as domestic violence by the government, Ghibli Park puts up Christmas trees and decorations, and invites fans to “come search for Christmas”, and Pokémon to get the Claymation treatment via Wallace and Gromit's home studio! Plus Ask the Anime Jam Session Staff! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/animejamsession/support

The passing of anime industry veteran Jan Scott-Frazier, Visa Japan confirms sales restrictions and long-time One Piece voice actor graduates! Also, new collaboration means brand new Sailor Senshi art, Vampire Hunter D comes to an AMC Theatres near you, and an isekai mobile and PC game to involve popular anime characters! Meanwhile in Japan... An elementary school installed a nap pod to encourage restfulness, and a castle raised ticket prices by up to 200 percent! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/animejamsession/support

Yoshihiro Togashi undergoes surgery all while continuing to work on manga, LINE WEBTOON takes credit for 70 piracy sites shut down, and Rascal Does Not Dream's English dub to stream on Crunchyroll! Also, Sailor Moon Super Live comes to London in 2025, Google Chrome is now an anime, and Disney classic characters get changed into anime girls for new artwork! Meanwhile in Japan... A man exposed himself to a teen because he wanted her to see his underwear, and the Sword of Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan?! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/animejamsession/support

Anime NYC expands to a 4-day event, Kadokawa releases a statement on acquisition, and Netflix releases a time frame for Alice In Borderland's season 3 release. Also, Gundam and Bandai team up with NASA for a game launch, Disney Twisted-Wonderland English gets a 3 season anime, and a popular manga magazine is raising the minimum pay for creators! Meanwhile in Japan, a man arrested for burying his mom, and a theft victim turns to crime! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/animejamsession/support

Love Live unit Aqours releases music video for final solo concert theme song, Mickey Mouse becomes a Gundam, and Random House Graphic launches brand for mangas, manhwas, and webtoons! Also, Kyoto Animation - 京都アニメーション warns of websites using its name, Haruhi franchise crowdfunding reaches goals on day 1, and Sazae-san breaks its own Guinness World Records! Meanwhile in Japan, the Japan Poop Society is trying to protect people's health, one movement at a time, and a job quitting service contacted by a competitor after an employee uses its service?! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/animejamsession/support