Chiikawa film adds seventh admission bonus in Japan
Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island's seventh cinema bonus is a random set of four holographic clear cards featuring newly drawn art by Nagano.
The seventh admission bonus for Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island has started distribution in Japan, giving filmgoers a random holographic clear card featuring newly drawn artwork by creator Nagano.1
The bonus became available on October 24, while supplies last. There are four designs in the set, and the artwork shows Chiikawa, Hachiware, Usagi and other characters in moments that were not shown in the film. One card featuring the imposing island resident Shima Jiro has drawn particular attention because it presents the character riding a wave with an unexpectedly heroic look.1
The cards are a cinema admission gift rather than a separately sold piece of merchandise, so availability depends on participating cinemas and remaining stock. That makes the seventh wave a timely incentive for fans who have not yet seen the film, although viewers should check their local cinema before travelling because the promotion is not guaranteed to run everywhere.
Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island opened in Japan on July 24. The animated film sends Chiikawa and friends to a mysterious island after they respond to an invitation promising training, hospitality and a chance to see its mermaids. The film expands the world of Nagano's Chiikawa while keeping the series' balance of gentle comedy, oddball danger and surprisingly emotional character moments.
The bonus campaign arrives after the film's strong theatrical run. Japanese reporting said the movie had attracted about 12.42 million viewers and earned roughly ¥18.1 billion after 87 days, giving the new card set a substantial audience to reach.2 The seventh gift is therefore more than a minor merchandise update: it shows how the film is continuing to build repeat interest through collectible artwork long after opening weekend.
The official trailer presents the same colourful cast and island setting, making it a useful preview of the film's tone for anyone still deciding whether to seek it out.3 The trailer image used here depicts Chiikawa from that official promotional material and is credited accordingly.
Our opinion
A seventh admission bonus is a familiar cinema tactic, but this one fits Chiikawa unusually well. Nagano's newly drawn illustrations give fans something that feels specific to the film rather than a generic logo handout, and the random four-card format adds the kind of gentle collecting pressure that suits the franchise's devoted audience. The catch is practical: because the cards are distributed while stocks last, the news is most useful as a prompt to check availability now, not as a promise that every screening will still have one.