Chiikawa Movie Holds Japan's No. 1 Spot in Eighth Weekend

Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island remained No. 1 at Japan's weekend box office for September 11 to 13, keeping the admissions lead in its eighth weekend. The anime film drew about 271,000 viewers and earned about 427 million yen across the three-day frame.

An eighth weekend at the top

The latest result extends a rebound that began one week earlier. Chiikawa had returned to first place on the previous chart, then held that position as four new releases entered the top ten. The ranking is compiled by Kogyo Tsushinsha and ordered by admissions, making the film's 271,000 weekend viewers the key figure behind its No. 1 placement.

Its cumulative performance also crossed two major thresholds. By the end of the weekend, The Secret of Mermaid Island had passed 10.09 million admissions and 14.6 billion yen in Japan. Those totals cover the film's run through its eighth weekend rather than only the September 11 to 13 frame.

The distinction between admissions and revenue matters this week. The Odyssey opened in second place with about 241,000 viewers and 452 million yen during its first three regular-release days. That revenue was higher than Chiikawa's 427 million yen for the same weekend, but Chiikawa sold more admissions and therefore retained the chart's top position.

The Odyssey's broader total, including IMAX preview screenings that began September 4, reached about 329,000 admissions and 650 million yen. Those preview figures contribute to its cumulative total, while the weekend ranking itself reflects the September 11 to 13 admissions count.

A crowded chart for anime-related titles

Chiikawa led a top ten that mixed new releases with established theatrical runs. The Swan and the Bat ranked third after debuting at No. 2 one week earlier, while Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising placed fourth in its third week.

Several other manga and anime-connected projects also appeared. The live-action Look Back, adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga, debuted at No. 5. The second film in Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movement entered at No. 7, while Toy Story 5 ranked ninth in its eleventh weekend. Crayon Shin-chan's latest film sat just outside the top ten at No. 11.

The rest of the top ten reflected substantial movement below the leader. Backrooms fell from fourth to sixth, Spider-Man: Brand New Day moved from fifth to eighth, and How to Create the Perfect Crime in 5 Seconds debuted at No. 10. Four films were new to the ranking: The Odyssey, Look Back, Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movement Part 2, and How to Create the Perfect Crime in 5 Seconds. Despite that turnover, Chiikawa stayed in the position it held the week before.

That field gives Chiikawa's hold context: it stayed ahead of a major new Hollywood release while multiple fresh Japanese films arrived. The chart also shows that its lead came from attendance rather than the weekend's largest gross. The published figures put Chiikawa ahead on viewers even though The Odyssey collected more ticket revenue over the three-day period.

What the milestone confirms

The weekend result does not mark eight consecutive weeks at No. 1. The film had dropped from the lead earlier in its run, reclaimed first place in its seventh weekend, and then retained it in week eight. The precise takeaway is a return to the summit followed by a successful defense, not an uninterrupted two-month reign.

Its cumulative admissions and revenue now provide the clearest measure of the run so far. More than 10 million tickets have been counted, and the total gross has moved beyond 14.6 billion yen. The next confirmed milestone will come with the next national weekend admissions chart, which will show whether Chiikawa can extend its renewed stay at No. 1.