JAKARTA – The Merah! Merah! Anime Japan!! festival lands in Indonesia, turning a simple fan gathering into a massive hub for creative partnerships and international business. The vibrant energy of Japanese pop culture officially filled the halls of Gandaria City in Jakarta during the final weekend of May 2026. This grand opening marked the official launch of the Merah! Merah! Anime Japan!! (MMAJ) Jakarta festival. Thousands of eager enthusiasts entered the venue to witness a historic cultural exchange.

The organizers intentionally designed MMAJ Jakarta 2026 as a multi-functional platform. Therefore, the event successfully unites absolute entertainment with serious business opportunities. It effectively bridges the creative industries of Indonesia and Japan through official intellectual properties (IP). Because of this unique structure, both countries discover fresh ways to build long-term economic relationships.

A Proven Strategy Expands into Indonesia

This brilliant concept already achieved massive success in India during its 2024 and 2025 editions. Those previous events attracted a total of one hundred thousand visitors. Following that incredible milestone, the organizers confidently chose Indonesia for their next major expansion. They noticed the massive local fan base and the highly active creative community in the country. In addition, Indonesia holds a rapidly growing market of young consumers who deeply love modern Japanese media.

As a result, this gathering stands out as the very first official Japanese IP platform in Indonesia. The festival brings direct collaboration from major Japanese institutions and influential corporate partners. For example, prominent organizations like the Japan Foundation, JETRO, and JNTO give full support to the event. The Embassy of Japan in Indonesia and CT Corp also provide valuable resources to ensure smooth operations.

MMAJ represents much more than a standard anime event. We want to build a strong platform that connects beautiful culture, great entertainment, and industrial collaboration between Japan and Indonesia.” — Takayuki Yamanaka, Co-Founder of MMAJ Jakarta

Famous Characters and Massive Industry Backing

During the two action-packed days, visitors enjoyed an endless variety of exciting activities. People attended movie screenings, live music performances, and colorful cosplay showcases. Meanwhile, others participated in educational workshops and insightful talk shows. The festival also offered a massive culinary zone and exclusive merchandise stalls for passionate collectors.

Legendary characters captured the attention of every single attendee in the main exhibition hall. Visitors instantly recognized world-famous names like Doraemon, Ultraman, Pikachu, and Hello Kitty. Newer hits like Haikyu!! and Gundam also drew massive crowds to their interactive booths. These iconic brands prove that Indonesia represents one of the most profitable markets for Japanese entertainment in Southeast Asia today.

Opening New Doors for Local Creators

Local business leaders view this massive event as a golden opportunity for economic growth. The creative agency EKRAF praises MMAJ Jakarta 2026 for creating a helpful space for local creators. Through this event, Indonesian studios connect directly with international stakeholders and official IP holders. This direct access naturally encourages excellent co-creation and vital knowledge exchange. Ultimately, these experiences help more Indonesian creative works enter the competitive global market.

At the same time, CT Corp actively promotes these valuable business connections. Putri Tanjung emphasizes the huge potential of meeting Japanese IP owners in a sustainable ecosystem. Her team works hard to connect these international brands with active local communities and Indonesian companies. Therefore, the festival opens wide doors for profitable licensing agreements and exciting cross-border partnerships.

_{As reported by CNN Indonesia/ Photo doc. MMAJ}