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!