u/KuhakuMedia

Pearl of the Orient Seas INC. announced through MNL 48's Social Media account that the group would cease all operations by the end of May.

They thanked fans and long time supporters of the franchise and reasoned that their decision was deemed a best course of action coming from their internal situation.

MNL 48 ( Manila 48) which serves as the Philippine Equivalent to Japanese Idol group AKB 48 (Akihabara 48) was founded in 2018. The group made noise on social media with their 2018 song "Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie" making a resurgence in late 2025.

New convention organizer Natharia Events will host its first K-pop x Anime Fest at LYF Hotel in Manila, May 23-24.

The event will feature cosplayers and local performers, including !CON, YSLA, Dani Evans and Kousei.

Natharia Events aims to unite the two fandoms by providing an opportunity for attendees to experience both cultures in one event.

Plannercon and StickerCon have always been artist-forward spaces.

Organizers of the recently concluded Plannercon: Analog Days expressed gratitude to those who supported their two-day event in Pasig City.

In a statement, organizers explained that holding a two-day event was new for them, citing increasing attendance at previous conventions. They also aim to improve their services for future events.

Plannercon, which caters toward the journaling, craft and stationery markets, recently limited entrance to its event space due to high attendance on Sunday.

With a growing industry, you can expect multiple major conventions happening at the same time?

Do you think that Metro Manila has too much events than other places in the country?

#KuhakuAsks

After continuous heat waves across Metro Manila and surrounding regions, a sudden downpour drenched concertgoers at the Howlers Festival on Saturday, May 16 in Parañaque City, prompting organizers to cut the event short due to safety concerns.

(Videos: Shikyo Mori and Riya Vale)

Look: Japan's largest anime and manga merchandise store Animate teases its storefront at One Ayala in Makati City.

The retailer is set to open its doors to Filipino Otakus this soon (Berenice Meghan Sy Lim / Kuhaku Media).

ICYMI: Filipino Japanese Cover Idols and local performers became the spotlight on UP Tomo Kai's Liwanari concert and cultural night at UP Diliman (Gimenez Gallery) in Quezon City on Friday, May 15. as part of Organization 36th founding anniversarry.

The event featured performers, Hoshizora, MJU;Z Kiss, Joshua Kim, and Yang Chi.

ICYMI: Filipino Japanese Cover Idols and local performers became the spotlight on UP Tomo Kai's Liwanari concert and cultural night at UP Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, May 15. as part of Organization 36th founding anniversarry.

The event featured performers, Hoshizora, MJU;Z Kiss, Joshua Kim, and Yang Chi.

Genshin Impact is set to collaborate with Gong Cha Philippines featuring Aino and Ineffa from the game.

The collaboration features drinks inspired by the two characters and limited-time merchandise from May 21– July 19, 2026.

Limited stores in the country have partipated in the collaboration which was made availabkle through this link https://hoyo.link/BGciLTc31

Genshin Impact is set to collaborate with Gong Cha Philippines featuring Aino and Ineffa from the game.

The collaboration features drinks inspired by the two characters and limited-time merchandise from May 21– July 19, 2026.

Limited stores in the country have partipated in the collaboration which was made availabkle through this link https://hoyo.link/BGciLTc31

Patrons of the Arts (POTA) has announced a change of plans for its upcoming Baguio Regionals. The event will now be held on May 17 at the Newtown Plaza Hotel, a shift from the original May 16-18 schedule.

The adjustment follows a scheduling conflict with a government-mandated event at the Baguio Convention Center. In a follow-up inquiry with the Baguio City Tourism Council, Kuhaku Media noted that POTA was not listed on the convention center's reservation log for the original dates.

Users reported that the cosplay trading and anonymous venting group Cosplay Market PH has been softlocked, with Meta removing posting rights and administration access May 9.

The softlock comes after mass community reports were sent to Meta regarding the group and its original moderator, Naomi Shinomiya, due to a lack of control over the spread of malicious information, cyberbullying and the distribution of child sexual abuse material through anonymous accounts.

Earlier this year, community leaders urged members and their followers to leave the page.

IN REVIEW: Assassination Classroom The Movie: Our Time

It's been a while since Assassination Classroom has ended, with the anime running from the year 2013 until 2016 and the manga published on 2012 and ended in the year 2016. Now, it's back with a new movie, Assassination Classroom The Movie: Our Time.

To recap, Assassination Classroom is a series that focuses on a strange yellow tentacled creature named Koro-sensei, a creature the world aimed to kill due to the threat he posses and a teacher who teaches Kunugigaoka Junior High School's Class 3-E students and his would-be assassins, only having one year to kill him before he destroys the planet. The story highlights how Koro-sensei would guided and teach his students not only how to kill him but also in the path of life. Moreover, not only does Koro-sensei impact the lives of his students but also the lives of the people around. As time continued to fly by, secrets started to unravel from his past until the reason why he must be killed within a year.

Assassination Classroom The Movie: Our Time is set before their graduation with 15 days remaining to assassinate Kore-sensei. Before classes start, the students of Class 3-E reminisced their experiences the whole year as they also talk about whether or not they would be able to kill him by then.

Like its anime counterpart, the movie itself highlights how Koro-sensei has a big impact to not only towards his students but also to the lives of other people regardless of who they are, revealing how their time and experience with him made them who they are today. It also retained some of its running gags in the anime, making the movie feel more nostalgic.

In recap scenes, it is easy to tell when the recap would happen or not due to its smooth transition which makes it easier to follow with the story of the movie. Most scenes from the recap are those not from the anime itself, bringing in some fresh new parts that the audience may love. Additionally, from those scenes, it also helps the viewers get more perspective towards the characters who were highlighted in the scenes, helping them understand the characters a bit deeper, specifically those characters whose stories were not highlighted much in the anime.

Over to its technical aspects, the animations are really pretty and clean. The sound tracks and songs used felt very familiar with the feeling as if you are walking down the memory lane.

Overall, the movie itself is really good. It was nostalgic but it still felt new due to the latest scenes added. It is also pretty funny, nailing the old and new running gags which made audiences laugh warmly.

Upon asking some of the viewers, they described the movie as nostalgic. It also made them teary eye. This is because they were able to see all their beloved characters again in the big screen after so long. In relation to that, even before the movie started, some of the audiences would jokingly ask the others whether or not they have brought a tissue or a handkerchief. Some were able to find the movie relatable since they are going to similar experiences as well, specifically their upcoming graduations.

It would have been nice to see other characters highlighted in the movie to get get to know them a bit more. But in general, the movie is enjoyable to watch.

- Charlene Joy Sta Maria / Kuhaku Media

Feel the Japanese spirit beyond anime 🎌

Students of the University of the Philippines Diliman and enthusiasts of Japanese culture attended UP Tomo-Kai's Tanawin cultural exhibit at the Student Union Building on Wednesday, May 13.

The free, open-entry event brings together Japanese and Filipino cultures and promotes unity between the two nations. The exhibit runs until 4 p.m. today.

​UP Tomo-Kai will also host a concert session on Friday featuring local Japanese-inspired idols and Filipino performers (Gabriel Duldulao / Kuhaku Media).

ICYMI: Fans of the Assasination Classroom Anime gathered on a Quezon City cinema on Saturday, May 9 to be the first people to see the Assasination Classroom: Our Time movie.

The movie is currently showing in 78 cinemas nationwide.

#AssasinationClassroom

Muse Philippines has announced the list of cinemas that would air the Assassination Classroom The Movie: Our Time on its premiere day this Wednesday, May 13.

The 78 cinemas nationwide features content not seen in the anime which deepens the story of a yellow tentacled Koro-Sensei and the bond he has with his students before his slated assasination.

ICYMI: Gundam builders attended Omocha's first event on Gundam model making Saturday, May 9, at the MET Museum in Taguig City.

Participants built their own Gundam models and took them home for free.

The event, one of several in partnership with the Japan Foundation, highlights Japanese culture in celebration of the 70th year of Philippine-Japanese friendship. (Raine Zaldivar/Kuhaku Media)

ICYMI: Gundam builders attended Omocha's first event on Gundam model making Saturday, May 9, at the MET Museum in Taguig City.

Participants built their own Gundam models and took them home for free.

The event, one of several in partnership with the Japan Foundation, highlights Japanese culture in celebration of the 70th year of Philippine-Japanese friendship. (Raine Zaldivar/Kuhaku Media)

The Wind has come Northward 🧭

Genshin Impact fans from northern Luzon have organized multiple themed cup sleeve events in Tuguegarao City and Isabela.

Ed Rosete from the Region II Cosplayers Association, mentioned that they aim to bring Manila-style CSEs to the provinces to bolster the cosplay community beyond mall meetups.

The association will host the final leg of its "Genshin Impact" cup sleeve event in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, May 17.

Photos from: Region II Cosplayers Association

The Wind has come Northward 🧭

Genshin Impact fans from northern Luzon have organized multiple themed fan-led cup sleeve events in Tuguegarao City and Isabela.

Ed Rosete from the Region II Cosplayers Association, mentioned that they aim to bring Manila-style CSEs to the provinces to bolster the cosplay community beyond mall meetups.

The association will host the final leg of its "Genshin Impact" cup sleeve event in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, May 17.

Photos from: Region II Cosplayers Association