Chiikawa Pocket App's New "Interaction" Feature Preview Event Rolls Out at 28 Locations Nationwide

It has been confirmed that a new "Interaction" feature will be added to the smartphone app Chiikawa Pocket around fall 2026. Ahead of the full rollout in the fall, a trial version of the feature will be released on Friday, July 24. And ahead of that trial version release, a "Big Smartphone" display where visitors can try out the new feature has been rolling out at 28 locations nationwide since Friday, July 10.

The app is based on Chiikawa, the popular manga series posted on X by illustrator Nagano, and is a smartphone game packed with activities that let players feel immersed in the world of Chiikawa, under the concept of "always being together with the Chiikawa characters, anytime, anywhere." It has been available in 43 countries and regions worldwide since March 27, 2025.

On the opening day of July 10, visitors of all ages turned out at venues including Ikebukuro, Ginza, and Kashihara. Each venue featured a roughly 1.9-meter-tall "Big Smartphone" signage display, and many visitors were seen taking commemorative photos in front of the design, which looks just like an enlarged version of the game screen.

At the preview, visitors can try out part of the new "Interaction" feature on a large touch-panel screen. Actions such as "petting" and "tickling" the on-screen characters are possible, and an animation was also shown in which giving a cookie to a character who has become dejected from too much attention lets you make up with them.

Visitors who tried the feature shared comments such as, "The screen is so big, it feels like Chiikawa is right in front of me! The way its mouth moves while eating is so cute" and "I can't wait to take care of it on my own phone, too!"

The display will be rolled out at 28 locations nationwide (including Chiikawa Park and PARCO stores) from Friday, July 10 to Sunday, September 6. In addition, a trial version of the "Interaction" feature, which will let players enjoy "care" and "styling" activities within the Chiikawa Pocket app, is scheduled for release on Friday, July 24.

(C)nagano / chiikawa committee Developed by Applibot, Inc.