Bandai Namco is opening a new anime merch pop-up in the US, and collectors may want to keep this one on their radar — even if Chicago is very far from KL.
The company announced that its Mega Kawaii Mart pop-up will open at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights, Illinois on 15 May 2026. The store will be located at the back section of the Mitsuwa branch, the same area that previously hosted themed pop-ups including a Tokusatsu store in March 2026, plus earlier Digimon and Banpresto setups.
For this round, Bandai Namco is focusing on MegaHouse anime figures and merchandise from its related brands. Based on the setup and announcements so far, fans can expect items from the Mega Cat Project and Look Up figure lines to be featured heavily.
Naruto, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen And More
The Mega Cat Project is basically exactly what it sounds like: popular anime characters reimagined as cats. For this launch, the spotlight mascot is Nyaruto, the cat version of Naruto Uzumaki.
Bandai Namco will also run a small launch event on 15-16 May 2026, where someone in a Nyaruto mascot costume will appear for photo opportunities. The catch? The mascot is only scheduled to appear from 11:00am to 11:30am CT on both days, so fans nearby will need to be properly on time. No Malaysian rubber time here, bro.
The pop-up is still being prepared, but the early details point to Look Up figures and Mega Cat Project figures being stocked, with Naruto and One Piece characters confirmed to be represented. There also appears to be merchandise tied to Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia, which makes sense — those series still move serious merch worldwide.
There will also be four Gashapon machines with themed items connected to the pop-up. These are separate from the regular Gashapon area near the Kinokuniya branch inside the same marketplace.
Why Malaysian Collectors Should Care
Obviously, most Malaysian fans are not flying to Illinois just to buy a tiny cat Naruto figure. But this kind of pop-up still matters because it shows what Bandai Namco is pushing internationally — and those lines often influence what eventually becomes easier to find through import shops, reseller pages, conventions, and online marketplaces in SEA.
For local anime collectors, MegaHouse is already a familiar name, especially if you collect display-friendly figures that are cute but still official. The Look Up line is also very shelf-friendly, with chibi-style characters posed to look upward, making them popular for desk setups and glass cabinets. If Bandai Namco keeps giving these lines dedicated retail space overseas, demand will likely stay strong across collector communities, including Malaysia.
It also reinforces how anime merch retail is becoming more event-driven. Instead of just dropping stock online, brands are creating small physical experiences — mascot photos, Gashapon, limited displays, and character-themed corners. That is exactly the kind of thing that would work well at Malaysian ACG events, especially around KL, PJ, Penang, and Johor where anime crowds are already strong.
No Closing Date Yet
The Bandai Namco Mega Kawaii Mart starts operating at Mitsuwa Marketplace from 15 May 2026. Bandai Namco has not announced an end date for the limited-time storefront.
For anyone who happens to be in Chicago, the location is Mitsuwa Marketplace, 100 E. Algonquin Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois. For the rest of us in Malaysia, this is more of a “watch the merch pipeline” moment — because if the figures are popular there, jangan terkejut if they start popping up in local collector circles later.
Source: Siliconera