On June 23, 2026, it was announced that a new 一番くじ (ichiban kuji) lottery for the anime スティール・ボール・ラン ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 (Sutīru Bōru Ran JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken) will go on sale starting June 27. Fans will be able to try their luck at Lawson stores, THE★JOJO WORLD, official Ichiban Kuji shops, and online. Each draw costs 850 yen (tax included).
For many anime fans in 日本 (nihon, Japan), this kind of limited-edition lottery is big ニュース (nyuusu, news).
Johnny, Gyro, and Slow Dancer Become Figures
This new lottery is based on the anime adaptation of Hirohiko Araki’s work. The theme focuses on characters appearing in “1st STAGE,” and the figures are produced as part of Bandai’s high-quality MASTERLISE figure series.
Here’s the prize lineup:
- A賞 (A Prize): Johnny Joestar figure
- B賞 (B Prize): Gyro Zeppeli figure
- C賞 (C Prize): Slow Dancer figure
- D賞 (D Prize): Lucy Steel figure
Each character has been “立体化” (rittai-ka) — turned into a three-dimensional figure.
But that’s not all.
Additional prizes include:
- E賞: A small accessory case inspired by Steven Steel
- F賞: A yo-yo modeled after Gyro’s iron ball
- G賞: Desktop mascot
- H賞: Metal charm
- I賞: Notebook collection
- J賞: Sticker assortment
And for those hoping for something extra special, there’s the ラストワン賞 (rasuto wan shō, “Last One Prize”): a Diego Brando figure. This prize is typically awarded to the person who draws the final ticket in a store’s lottery set. The same figure is also available through a ダブルチャンスキャンペーン (daburu chansu kyanpēn, “Double Chance Campaign”).
Special Feature and Interview
To celebrate the start of streaming for the anime, Comic Natalie is also running a special feature. Popular streamer k4sen, described as a true fan of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, was interviewed about the appeal of スティール・ボール・ラン (Sutīru Bōru Ran).
Additional promotional articles include:
- “9 Reasons to Watch Steel Ball Run Now — Even If You Don’t Know JoJo”
- A recommendation piece by k4sen about the anime
The excitement around this series continues to grow, especially as new merchandise and streaming releases keep the franchise in the spotlight.
Cultural Context: What Is Ichiban Kuji?
The term 一番くじ (ichiban kuji) literally means “number one lottery.”
Unlike regular store raffles in some countries, you don’t buy a ticket and hope for a distant prize drawing. Instead, every ticket wins something. The prize you get depends on the letter you draw (A賞, B賞, etc.).
This system is extremely popular in Japan, especially for anime, manga, and game franchises. Convenience stores like Lawson often collaborate with major series, turning everyday shopping into a small event. When a new JoJo lottery launches, dedicated fans sometimes visit multiple stores to collect specific prizes.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一番くじ | ichiban kuji | lottery with guaranteed prizes |
| 立体化 | rittai-ka | turning into a 3D figure |
| 賞 | shō | prize |
| 発売 | hatsubai | release / on sale |
| 税込 | zeikomi | tax included |
| 配信 | haishin | streaming / distribution |
| 特集 | tokushū | special feature |
Notice how many product-related words appear in entertainment ニュース (nyuusu). These are practical terms you’ll see often in Japanese media.
Useful Expression: 〜より順次発売
In the article, we see:
6月27日より順次発売される。 Rokugatsu nijūshichi-nichi yori junji hatsubai sareru. “Sales will begin sequentially from June 27.”
Pattern:
[Date] + より + 順次 + 発売される
- より (yori) = from (formal)
- 順次 (junji) = in sequence / gradually
- 発売される (hatsubai sareru) = will be released (passive form)
This expression is common in product launches. It suggests that not all stores may start selling at exactly the same time, but sales will roll out step by step.
You might also see:
全国で順次公開される。 Zenkoku de junji kōkai sareru. “It will be released nationwide in stages.”
Katakana Focus
Words like:
- スティール・ボール・ラン
- フィギュア
- キャンペーン
- ステッカー
are written in katakana because they come from foreign languages. Being comfortable with katakana is essential for reading anime and merchandise news in Japan.
Continue Learning
Working on your reading skills? Our Katakana Essentials: Adapting Global Words to Japanese lesson is a great next step.
To understand more about entertainment vocabulary, explore our Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties lesson.
Ready to tackle more kanji like 賞 and 発売? Try Introduction to Kanji: Pictorial Foundations of Japanese Script.
Anime merchandise launches like this are more than shopping events in 日本 (nihon). They’re part of fan culture — blending collecting, community, and excitement into one small lottery ticket.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.