BODY: A tokusatsu legend is about to share a table with Japan's juiciest dumplings. Dandadan Co., Ltd. has announced that its nationwide gyoza chain Niku-jiru Gyoza no Dandadan will host an official Ultraman crossover in summer 2026 — and the silver giant himself is slated to show up at the launch event.
The collaboration marks a rare pairing between a mass-market izakaya brand and Tsuburaya Productions' flagship hero IP, which celebrated its 60th anniversary recently and remains one of Japan's most recognizable cultural exports. Details of the menu, merchandise, and participating locations are still under wraps, but Dandadan promises the full reveal — including Ultraman's in-person appearance — at an upcoming press event.
Niku-jiru Gyoza no Dandadan, founded in Chofu in 2011, has grown into one of Tokyo's most familiar late-night chains, known for its hand-wrapped, juice-bursting gyoza and lemon sours. Tie-ups of this scale typically involve themed menu items, limited-edition tableware, original coasters or stickers handed out with orders, and sometimes branded takeaway packaging — a formula that has driven viral lines at past anime-themed restaurant collaborations across Tokyo.
For Tsuburaya, the deal continues a steady push to keep Ultraman embedded in everyday Japanese life beyond toys and TV, following recent partnerships with convenience stores, Pokémon-style food courts, and regional tourism campaigns.
The insider take
In Tokyo, Dandadan occupies a very specific niche: it's the chain you end up at after the last train almost leaves, ordering a second round of gyoza you didn't plan on. Pairing that salaryman-after-hours energy with Ultraman — a hero many of those same customers grew up watching on Sunday mornings — is a sharper bit of nostalgia marketing than it looks. Expect long queues at the Shibuya and Shinjuku branches the moment the collab drops, and resale listings of any limited coasters on Mercari within hours.
Originally reported by GAME Watch (Japanese).