"NARUTO" Theme Area Replicating the World of the Series Opens in South of France; Opening Ceremony Held

The first theme area in Europe to replicate the world of the globally acclaimed anime "NARUTO," titled "NARUTO - Konoha Land" (spanning 1.5 hectares), opened on April 4, 2026, within "Parc Spirou Provence," a popular theme park in the Provence region of southern France.

"NARUTO" is a manga series by Masashi Kishimoto that was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump." It quickly gained popularity from the start of its serialization in 1999 and concluded its run in 2014 with its 700th chapter. The story of the protagonist, the ninja Naruto Uzumaki, overcoming deadly battles with rivals and past fates to aim to become the Hokage—the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village—has gained popularity worldwide. The cumulative circulation of the manga volumes, distributed in over 60 countries and regions, has surpassed 250 million copies.

The TV anime began broadcasting on the TV Tokyo network in 2002, and from 2007, it aired as "NARUTO Shippuden" until March 2017. In October 2022, it celebrated the 20th anniversary of its TV broadcast. Eleven animated theatrical films have also been released. Currently distributed in over 145 countries and regions worldwide, the TV anime is a work loved around the globe.

The number of visitors to "Parc Spirou Provence" in April surged significantly, jumping 67.7% compared to the same month of the previous year (April 2025), with "NARUTO - Konoha Land" dramatically boosting the overall drawing power. Visitor satisfaction is also extremely high, sales of related merchandise are booming, and it is being heavily featured in various media outlets.

On June 4, local time, a grand opening ceremony was held, bringing together stakeholders including partner companies from both inside and outside France. TV Tokyo also participated in the ceremony to celebrate the launch of the new area. This theme area replicates the world of "NARUTO." It was created as a new star attraction for the theme park, which aims to attract 600,000 visitors annually.

The area is packed with attractions that fans will drool over, such as "Nine-Tails Unchained," a thrilling coaster with a maximum speed of 75 km/h that also offers a 250-meter backward ride experience, and "Rasengan Chakra Rotation," a spinning attraction where visitors can experience the "Rasengan," a technique of the protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki. In addition, there is the "Hokage Rock," which watches over the Hidden Leaf Village, and a limited-edition merchandise shop inspired by the Hokage Residence, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the work.