Artist Nagano's "Chiikawa" is getting its first theatrical anime film, "Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island," hitting the big screen on July 24, 2026.
The official team has partnered with Japan's 7-ELEVEN to release 10 limited-edition dishes inspired by the movie's cuisine, including braised redfish, Shimajiro pork cutlet curry, and limited-edition island ramen. The "Braised Redfish" (Akauo no Nitsuke) has particularly stirred up a buzz, with fans familiar with the story lamenting, "This collaboration is just too heartless..."
Why the outcry from Chiikawa fans? During the original manga serialization, the story depicted Ichiyo needing to save his friend Niyo. He decided to attack a siren's child to obtain mermaid meat, which he then braised into "braised mermaid meat" for Niyo. This not only revived Niyo but also granted him an immortal body from consuming the mermaid meat.
（ 圖片來源/@ngnchiikawa ）
For many fans, the "Mermaid Island" arc was incredibly heartbreaking. Now, with the movie's release, they're even bringing *that* dish into a collaboration... no wonder fans are crying out!
Of course, it's no surprise to see *this* image pop up in the comments section!
If you don't know the story, no worries. But for those who do... yeah, you might find it a bit hard to stomach.
Since batteries are also linked to this storyline, the official team previously collaborated with Panasonic to release batteries. Looks like... you can buy the whole set!
This collaboration draws inspiration from the dishes featured in the film, offering 10 limited-edition items including braised redfish, Shimajiro pork cutlet curry, and limited-edition island ramen. But just this "braised redfish" alone is enough to make fans feel a pang of sadness.