In what is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated television events of the Japanese broadcasting calendar, TV Asahi and Shin-Ei Animation have announced the details of the annual Doraemon Birthday Special, scheduled to air on Sunday, September 6, 2026. This year’s prime-time event, titled "Kon-Kon Chaos! The Suspect is Doraemon!?" (コンコン大混乱！容疑者はドラえもん！？), will run in a coveted Sunday evening slot from 6:56 PM to 7:50 PM.
The headline development of the 2026 special is the guest casting of acclaimed live-action actor Dori Sakurada (桜田通), widely recognized for his roles in global streaming hits such as Alice in Borderland. Sakurada will make his full-scale anime voice acting debut as Konkibo (コンキボ), a sleek, highly intelligent "fox-type" robot from the 22nd century.
The narrative shifts away from the franchise’s typical lighthearted neighborhood adventures into a high-stakes, cross-temporal heist mystery. Framed for the theft of a priceless gemstone worth 10 billion yen—the legendary "Smile of Dorayaki"—from a futuristic billionaire’s estate, Doraemon is forced to go on the run across space and time.
Accompanied by a highly integrated merchandising campaign featuring real-world replicas of Doraemon’s in-universe accessories, this television special represents a major milestone in the modern era of the Doraemon franchise, demonstrating how legacy intellectual properties continue to innovate through prestige casting and cross-media synergy.
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| THE 2026 DORAEMON SPECIAL TIMELINE |
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| |
| [Sept 5, 2026 - 5:00 PM] |
| Regular Broadcast: "Doraemon's Surprise Day" |
| - Introduces the "Dorayaki Pochette" narrative anchor. |
| |
| [Sept 6, 2026 - 6:56 PM] |
| Prestige Special: "Kon-Kon Chaos! The Suspect is Doraemon!?" |
| - 1-hour prime-time broadcast. |
| - Debut of Dori Sakurada as Konkibo. |
| |
| [Simultaneous Launch] |
| Merchandise Rollout: "Dorayaki Mini Pochette" |
| - Available at Doraemon Future Department Store & Online (1,870 JPY). |
| |
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Detailed Chronology
The Broadcast Schedule and Structural Context
The rollout of the 2026 birthday celebration is structured as a two-day television event designed to maximize viewer engagement across multiple demographics.
Saturday, September 5, 2026 (5:00 PM JST): The festivities begin during the series’ regular weekly slot with the episode "Doraemon’s Surprise Day" (ドラえもんのサプライズデー). This episode serves as a narrative prologue, focusing on the origin of the "Dorayaki Pochette" (どら焼きポシェット), a special gadget that Doraemon wears.
Sunday, September 6, 2026 (6:56 PM – 7:50 PM JST): The main event, the one-hour prime-time special "Kon-Kon Chaos! The Suspect is Doraemon!?", airs. By moving the special to Sunday evening, TV Asahi aims to capture a multi-generational family audience, a strategy historically reserved for the franchise’s theatrical film releases.
Narrative Timeline of the Special
The plot of the special unfolds through a fast-paced sequence of events that challenges the traditional dynamics of the Doraemon-Nobita relationship:
[Theft Occurs] ──> [Incriminating Footage] ──> [Bounty Mobilization] ──> [The Chase Begins]
Gemstone Doraemon identified Unique hunters Konkibo tracks
vanishes as the suspect join hunt Doraemon down
The Heist: In the 22nd century, the secure vault of the billionaire tycoon Richie (リッチー) is breached. Stolen from the estate is the "Smile of Dorayaki" (どら焼きの微笑み), a gemstone valued at 10 billion yen.
The Evidence: Security cameras at the scene capture footage of the perpetrator. The physical profile matches Doraemon perfectly, down to his blue, earless silhouette.
The Bounty: A massive bounty is placed on Doraemon’s head. This attracts an array of eccentric, highly competitive bounty hunters from across different eras, each possessing unique tracking skills.
The Pursuit: Fleeing through the Time Pocket, Doraemon must evade capture while trying to clear his name. Enter Konkibo, a highly advanced fox-type robot sent from the future to apprehend him. Unlike the chaotic bounty hunters, Konkibo is methodical, cornering Doraemon across various historical and futuristic backdrops.
Supporting Context & Metrics
The Legacy of the Birthday Specials
Since his canonical birthdate of September 3, 2112, was established by creator Fujiko F. Fujio, Doraemon’s birthday has been celebrated annually by TV Asahi. Over the last two decades, these specials have evolved from simple compilation episodes into highly produced, stand-alone telefilms. They serve as a testing ground for experimental animation techniques, complex storytelling, and high-profile guest star integrations.
Metric
Details
In-Universe Birthdate
September 3, 2112
Broadcasting Network
TV Asahi
Production Studio
Shin-Ei Animation / ADK
Target Broadcast Slot
Prime-time Sunday (6:56 PM – 7:50 PM)
Key Commercial Tie-In
Dorayaki Mini Pochette (1,870 JPY, Tax Incl.)
Dori Sakurada’s Transition to Voice Acting
While guest casting in Japanese anime frequently utilizes live-action actors (tarento), the selection of Dori Sakurada represents a deliberate move toward artistic rigor. Sakurada, a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of the franchise, did not treat this as a standard promotional cameo.
To prepare for the role of Konkibo, Sakurada engaged in an intensive training regimen. He studied documentaries on professional voice acting (seiyuu) techniques and attended standard recording sessions of the regular Doraemon cast as an observer to understand the vocal acoustics of the studio.
Furthermore, Sakurada underwent a physical transformation, losing weight to physically align his posture and breathing with the slender, aerodynamic design of the fox robot. This level of physical preparation is rare in voice acting guest spots and highlights his commitment to the role.
[STUDY] -> Documentaries on Seiyuu pedagogy
│
▼
[OBSERVATION] -> Attended regular recording sessions
│
▼
[PHYSICALITY] -> Weight loss to match Konkibo's frame
│
▼
[PRACTICE] -> Studio rehearsals prior to official dubbing
Merchandising Synergy
The economic ecosystem of Doraemon relies heavily on the translation of in-universe "Secret Gadgets" (秘密道具) into physical consumer goods. For this special, the "Dorayaki Mini Pochette" worn by Doraemon has been manufactured as a high-quality collectible.
Priced at 1,870 yen (including tax), the item is sold through the official Doraemon Future Department Store (ドラえもん未来デパート) and its online retail partners. This tight loop between narrative broadcast and retail availability underscores the sophisticated merchandising strategies that sustain the franchise’s multi-billion yen annual revenue.
Official Statements
Following the completion of the recording sessions, Dori Sakurada sat down for an extensive interview, reflecting on his casting, his preparation, and his experience working with the legendary voice cast.
On Receiving the Offer and Personal Connection to the Franchise
"To be completely honest, I was absolutely stunned when I received the offer. Doraemon is a work that I have loved deeply since I was a small child. I remember starting to read the manga in elementary school, and the anime was a constant presence in my life. It was a source of courage, joy, and comfort during my formative years.
To me, it is a truly sacred work. I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined that I would be invited to step inside this world. When my manager first told me, my brain simply couldn’t process the information, and I froze in place for quite some time.
As a child, I was very interested in fashion, even before I understood it fully. The very first fashion item I ever bought with my own pocket money was actually a Doraemon necklace. It felt like a protective charm. I actually brought that very same necklace with me to the recording studio today as a way to ground myself and honor this journey."
On the Intense Atmosphere of the Recording Booth
"I was incredibly nervous from the moment I walked into the studio. The level of tension I felt was unlike anything I experience on a live-action film set. In live-action acting, you have your body language, your facial expressions, and the physical environment to help convey emotion. In voice acting, everything must be channeled entirely through the voice.
Standing in front of the microphone, knowing that my voice would be interacting directly with Doraemon and Nobita, felt surreal. I wanted to make sure that my love for the franchise didn’t get in the way of my performance. I didn’t want to sound like a fanboy; I wanted to do justice to Konkibo as a character who exists naturally within this universe. I worked with absolute, desperate focus."
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| DORI SAKURADA ON VOICE ACTING |
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| |
| "In live-action, you have your body, your face, and the set to tell the |
| story. In the booth, you are stripped of all those tools. Everything |
| must be compressed into the vocal cord. It requires a level of precision |
| that I find deeply humbling." |
| |
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On Mentorship and Advice from Yumi Kakazu
"I was incredibly fortunate to receive guidance from Yumi Kakazu-san, who voices Shizuka-chan. During the sessions, when I was struggling with the pacing and the unique requirements of the medium, she stepped in with precise, invaluable advice.
She taught me how to handle ‘unwritten reactions’—those small gasps, sighs, and efforts that aren’t in the script but are essential to making an animated character feel alive. She showed me how to structure the character’s inner thoughts so that Konkibo’s movements on screen matched my vocal energy. Her kindness and expertise completely saved my performance."
On Technical and Physical Preparation
"Before stepping into the studio, I watched several documentaries about professional voice actors to study their posture, breathing, and how they interact with the script and the screen simultaneously. Shin-Ei Animation was generous enough to let me do a practice session beforehand, which allowed me to get used to the microphone’s sensitivity.
Back home, I practiced constantly. I didn’t just memorize the lines; I analyzed how Konkibo would deliver them in relation to Doraemon’s reactions. Interestingly, I had been doing intensive strength training recently to bulk up my physical frame. However, when I saw the character designs for Konkibo, I realized he is incredibly sleek, slender, and agile.
I felt that if my physical body was too heavy, it would subconsciously affect the tone of my voice. So, I actually adjusted my diet and lost weight specifically to match his physical profile. Some might think that is unnecessary for a voice-only role, but for me, I couldn’t fully inhabit his character without that physical alignment."
On the Character of Konkibo
"Konkibo is a fascinating character with a complex background. On the surface, he appears incredibly cool, smart, and efficient—the kind of character who handles any situation effortlessly. But because he is a fox-type robot, he has these wonderful, quirky habits. He ends his sentences with ‘kon’ (コン), and there is a charming scene where he eats inari sushi with total delight.
That contrast between his cool demeanor and his cute, robotic nature is wonderful. He is not just an antagonist chasing Doraemon; he has a depth and warmth that made me fall in love with him as I played him."
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