Breaking: Japan's Premier Demo Event venues are set — from Ikebukuro on January 16 to Sapporo on March 21, with applications opening December 1. First yen prices: ¥3,850 playmat, ¥1,650 CHAKRA set

At last, there are dates and store names for touching the actual cards in Japan.

On October 13, 2026 the Japanese version of the NARUTO CARD GAME official site (naruto-cardgame.com) published its 先行体験会 (Premier Demo Event) page. Until now the in-store demos had only ever been dated as “from early 2027” or “from February 2027.” This page reveals the event dates, store names, application windows, participation gift and merchandise prices all at once.

The same day also brought 「NARUTOカードゲーム最新情報 2026.10」, which finally put the New York Comic Con 2026 announcements on the card game’s own site in Japanese.

11Entries in the venue listHeading says "10 stores nationwide"

Jan 16First event dateDragon Star Ikebukuro

Dec 1Applications openJanuary dates, via BANDAI TCG+

¥3,850Playmat (tax incl.)First yen price

Basis for this article: everything below comes from the Japanese official site’s 先行体験会 page and its 「NARUTOカードゲーム最新情報 2026.10」 page (both published October 13, 2026 and checked the same day), plus the English Premier Demo Event page (checked the same day). Where the Japanese and English pages say different things, we state which says what.

1. Venues and dates

The page’s heading reads 「NAURTOカードゲームの先行体験会を全国10店舗で開催！」 (“The NAURTO Card Game Premier Demo Event will be held at 10 stores nationwide!” — the misspelling of the title as “NAURTO” is on the official page). Beneath it, the venue list contains these 11 venues.

(We have sorted the table by date. The official page lists them in this order: Hokkaido, Sendai, Saitama, Tokyo 1st, Tokyo 2nd, Aichi, Osaka, Kyoto, Ehime, Hiroshima, Fukuoka.)

The venue list has 11 entries, which does not match the “10 stores nationwide” heading. There is no official explanation of which is correct. As described below, the application groupings name exactly 10 venues — and the Kyoto venue is the one missing from them.

Here is the monthly breakdown.

January 2027 Tokyo x2, Saitama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka5venues

February 2027 Osaka, Ehime, Sendai3venues

March 2027 Kyoto, Aichi, Hokkaido3venues

Only one venue falls on a weekday — Ehime on Thursday, February 11 — with the other ten on a Saturday or Sunday. Geographically they span Hokkaido, Miyagi, Saitama, Tokyo (two venues), Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Ehime, Hiroshima and Fukuoka.

2. Application windows — and the Kyoto venue that isn’t in them

Participation requires applying in advance. The original wording:

当イベントへのご参加は、『BANDAI TCG+』より事前応募が必要となります。 (“To participate in this event, advance application via BANDAI TCG+ is required.”)

『BANDAI TCG+』をダウンロードの上、アプリ内の説明に沿ってご応募をお願いいたします。 (“Please download BANDAI TCG+ and apply following the instructions in the app.”)

The windows and announcement dates are published in three groupings by event month.

These three groupings name 10 venues in total. The Kyoto venue (March 14), which is in the venue list, appears in none of them. Kyoto’s application window and announcement date cannot be determined from this page.

The “10 stores nationwide” heading matches the 10 venues in the groupings, but whether that means “Kyoto will be announced separately” or “the heading counts differently from the venue list” is not explained officially. We treat Kyoto’s application method as unannounced and will wait for follow-up information.

The official page gives no years, writing only month, day and weekday (e.g. 「12月1日(火)」). The weekdays identify them as December 1, December 20 and December 25, 2026, and January 11, January 15, February 1, February 14 and February 19, 2027 (all weekdays match).

3. The participation gift is the “CP-001 Chakra Card” — a first for Japan

The gift is listed as:

CP-001 チャクラカード

The CP-001 Chakra Card is the promotional card handed out as a demo participation gift at overseas events since Gen Con 2026 in July. As of September 21 we counted 14 give-away occasions confirmable from official primary sources, and zero in Japan.

This Premier Demo Event is the first occasion in Japan for the CP-001 that is confirmable from an official primary source. We have updated the card database entry accordingly.

That said, no version name (such as “-Gen Con 2026 Ver.-”) is given for the card handed out here, and whether the artwork matches the overseas printings is unannounced. The effect text remains unrevealed.

4. Two Demo Decks — a different count from the three Starter Decks

On the decks used at the event:

「うずまきナルトデッキ」・「うちはサスケデッキ」の2種に分かれて体験いただきます。 (“Participants are split between two kinds, the Naruto Uzumaki Deck and the Sasuke Uchiha Deck.”)

※デモデッキをお持ち帰りいただくことはできません。 (“*Demo Decks cannot be taken home.”)

The English page agrees on two: “Participants will play against each other using either the Naruto Deck or Sasuke Deck.”

This is worth noting as a difference from the launch lineup. The Starter Decks arriving in June 2027 number three: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara. The Premier Demo Event Demo Decks are the two of Naruto and Sasuke, with no Gaara deck in the demo lineup.

Not a single Gaara card is yet registered in our card database (the three Starter Deck Leaders). There is no official explanation for why Gaara is absent from the Demo Decks.

Also note that “Demo Decks cannot be taken home” is a separate matter from the campaign to distribute 1 million Demo Decks planned for spring 2027. The Demo Decks at the Premier Demo Events are loaned at the venue, and the campaign’s details remain “to be announced later on the official site and official social media.”

5. Merchandise — the first yen prices for NARUTO CARD GAME

This is where things advanced most concretely. The two limited products now have yen prices.

These are the first yen-denominated prices officially published for any NARUTO CARD GAME product. Until now the only price the official side had given was MSRP US$35 (plus tax) for the NARUTO CARD GAME Official Playmat sold at overseas events.

The English Premier Demo Event page lists the same two products in US dollars.

These prices also bear on the relationship with the existing official playmat. In our October 11 article we wrote that we could not determine whether the newly announced “Official Playmat - NARUTO VS. SASUKE -” is the same product as the existing “NARUTO CARD GAME Official Playmat” (MSRP US$35), and registered it separately. We can now confirm that the new playmat is listed in English at MSRP 40 USD, a different price from the existing US$35. However, the official side has not stated that they are different products, so we continue to register them separately and note that the relationship is unannounced.

Where the Japanese and English pages differ

On merchandise, the English page carries a distinction absent from the Japanese page.

• The English page notes that the product lineup differs between Wave 1 and Wave 2 (“*Please note that product lineup differs from Premier Demo Event Wave 1 and Wave 2.”), listing the CHAKRA set for both Wave 1 and Wave 2 but the playmat for Wave 1 only
• The Japanese page has no Wave distinction; both products sit side by side under 「物販情報」 (merchandise information)
• The English page states that both products will also be available at BCG Fest 26-27 in Orlando and in London (the Japanese page says nothing of this)

The notes on the Japanese page read:

※商品については開発中のものです。実際の商品とは異なる場合がございます。 (“*Products are in development and may differ from the final product.”)

※先行体験会に参加した方を優先して販売いたします。 (“*Sales will prioritise those who participated in the Premier Demo Event.”)

※全ての物販商品の購入可能数には上限がございます。 (“*All merchandise has a purchase limit.”)

※各種商品については、本イベント以外でも販売いたします。 (“*These products will also be sold outside this event.”)

※商品数量には限りがございます。 (“*Quantities are limited.”)

※決済方法は開催店舗によって異なります。 (“*Payment methods vary by host store.”)

Two of these — “sales will prioritise those who participated” and “these products will also be sold outside this event” — indicate that there may be a chance to buy even without winning a seat. But where and when is not written. The English page carries a similar line: “If any merchandise remains after the event, the store may make it available for purchase to the general public.”

6. Japan’s dates do not line up with the English “Wave 1 / Wave 2”

This only becomes visible when the Japanese and English primary sources are set side by side. The English page divides the period into Waves.

Premier Demo Event Wave 1: February 5 – 19, 2027

Premier Demo Event Wave 2: February 19 – March 5, 2027

Player Applications: Planned to Open in January 2027

Japan’s venue dates, meanwhile, run January 16 – March 21, 2027, with applications opening December 1, 2026. Laid out in order:

1. Dec 1, 2026Japan: applications open for January dates
2. Jan 16, 2027Japan: first event (Ikebukuro)
3. January 2027English page: applications planned to open
4. Feb 5 – 19, 2027English page: Wave 1
5. Feb 19 – Mar 5, 2027English page: Wave 2
6. Mar 21, 2027Japan: last event (Sapporo)

Japan’s first event date (January 16) is about three weeks before the start of Wave 1 (February 5), and its applications open more than a month before the English page’s “planned to open in January 2027.” Japan’s three March venues (March 14, 20 and 21) all fall after the end of Wave 2 (March 5).

There is no official explanation of this relationship. The word “Wave” does not appear on the Japanese page at all. Several readings are possible (Japan runs outside the Wave framework; the Wave periods refer to regions other than Japan; and so on), but none has official backing, so we do not assert any of them. What is confirmable is only the fact that the dates on the Japanese page and the Wave periods on the English page do not match.

Note also that the English page’s entry for locations is “Search your local store on TCG+!” and “More details coming soon.” — no store names are published there. Store names appear only on the Japanese page.

7. “先行体験会” and “体験会” are not the same thing

The 「NARUTOカードゲーム最新情報 2026.10」 page published the same day draws a distinction in terminology.

そして2027年初頭より、全世界の店舗にて「先行体験会」を開催します。 (“And from early 2027, we will hold Premier Demo Events at stores worldwide.”)

先行体験会は一部の対象店舗でのみ開催され、その後はより多くの店舗で「体験会」を開催予定です。詳細は続報をお待ちください。 (“The Premier Demo Events will be held only at a limited selection of stores, after which Demo Events are planned at a larger number of stores. Please await further details.”)

So the Premier Demo Event is an advance run at a limited set of stores, followed by Demo Events at a larger number of stores. The timing, store count and content of the latter are all unannounced.

8. What is still unknown

The blanks this page did not fill:

• The Kyoto venue’s application window and announcement date (it is in none of the three groupings)
• Capacity, hours and number of sessions per day at each venue (no description)
• Participation fee (nothing stating whether it is free)
• Eligibility and age limits, and whether BANDAI TCG+ face photo registration is required (not on the Japanese page; the English page notes “apply with your own account” and “applying with multiple accounts is prohibited”)
• Why the “10 stores nationwide” heading and the 11 venues disagree
• Where and when merchandise will be sold “outside this event”
• The CHAKRA set’s contents and card count (only the name and price are known; the product page still has no contents)
• The playmat’s size and specifications
• Prices and release date for the three Starter Decks and the first Booster Pack “Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!” (the month of June is known, the day is not)
• How Japan relates to the English Wave 1 / Wave 2

Also confirmed: the official roadmap has been updated to “June 2027”

Alongside these news pages, the official site’s roadmap wording was also updated. In our October 11 and 12 articles we noted that the official roadmap still read “Summer 2027.” As of October 13, 2026 it reads as follows (checked by us the same day).

The press release’s “June 2027” and the card game official site’s wording now agree. We have corrected the line in our FAQ that said the official roadmap still read “Summer 2027.”

Summary

• Japan’s Premier Demo Event venues and dates are known — from Dragon Star Ikebukuro on Saturday, January 16, 2027 to Tournament Center Batoroko Sapporo Odori on Sunday, March 21
• The venue list has 11 venues, while the page’s heading says “10 stores nationwide.” The three application groupings omit only the Kyoto venue
• Applications go through BANDAI TCG+ in advance. For the January dates the window is December 1 (Tue) – December 20 (Sun), 2026, with winners announced December 25 (Fri)
• The participation gift is the “CP-001 Chakra Card” — the first occasion in Japan confirmable from official primary sources
• Demo Decks are the “Naruto Uzumaki Deck” and “Sasuke Uchiha Deck,” not taken home. The count differs from the three launch Starters, and there is no Gaara deck
• Merchandise is the playmat at ¥3,850 (tax incl.) and the CHAKRA set at ¥1,650 (tax incl.) — the first yen prices for NARUTO CARD GAME (40 USD / 20 USD on the English page)
• Japan’s dates (Jan 16 – Mar 21) do not match the English Wave 1 (Feb 5 – 19) or Wave 2 (Feb 19 – Mar 5). No official explanation of the relationship exists

The first application window opens December 1, 2026. The next major information reveal is Jump Festa 2027 (December 19–20, 2026, Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall), which overlaps the application period. We have added each grouping to our preorder and lottery hub and will update it as each window opens.

Sources

• NARUTO CARD GAME official site (Japanese), “先行体験会” (published and checked October 13, 2026)
• NARUTO CARD GAME official site (Japanese), “NARUTOカードゲーム最新情報 2026.10” (published and checked October 13, 2026)
• NARUTO CARD GAME official site (English), “Premier Demo Event” (checked October 13, 2026)
• NARUTO CARD GAME official site (Japanese), top page and About (checked October 13, 2026)
• NARUTO CARD GAME official site (English), “ABOUT NARUTO CARD GAME” (checked October 13, 2026)