Manga, Anime Merch Prices Likely to Get Costlier After US-Japan Deal

The American otaku are bracing for another price hike. Following months of tariff whiplash, the US and Japan have locked in a trade framework that leaves Japanese anime and manga imports, including figures, apparel, and printed manga imported from Tokyo and Osaka warehouses, facing a new baseline duty. Speaking to the reporters aboard Air Force One, US President Donald Trump explained the joint U.S.-Japan currency intervention, stemming from a strong bilateral relationship.

— Anime Updates (@animeupdates) August 3, 2026

Add in a Yen hovering near ¥157 to the dollar and a supply chain still routed through China and Vietnam for manufacturing, and the numbers get messy fast. Here’s what the deal actually changes, why it hits collectibles harder than most goods, and where fans can still shop smart while prices climb. Let’s take a more detailed look at the latest update.

Trade Deal Between the USA and Japan Looks Worrying for Anime Fans

The trade pact in question isn’t new speculation; it’s already law. President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing a trade deal with Japan that sets a 15% baseline tariff on most Japanese goods, including autos, with the rate applying retroactively from August 2025 (via CNBC). The 15% rate doesn’t stack on top of existing tariffs; it absorbs any most-favored-nation rate already below that threshold, which sounds like relief until you remember the starting point was zero for most anime goods before 2025.

The Japanese Yen’s weakness complicates the math further. At roughly 157 to the dollar, Japanese-made figures and manga should theoretically be cheaper to import than a few years ago, but the tariff wipes out much of that currency advantage before it reaches shelf prices. Collectibles have already felt the squeeze. Good Smile Company, one of the biggest importers of Japanese anime figures, suspended pre-orders and delayed shipments to American customers earlier in the disruption, citing ongoing trade uncertainty (via Instagram post):

The company also confirmed items would lose their de minimis tax exemption, meaning even modest orders now get taxed at customs. Manga printed abroad, particularly in China rather than Japan, faces its own separate exposure, since printed materials manufactured in China have been floated for tariffs as steep as 125%, though legal exemptions for print media remain uncertain. Bottom line: figures, Blu-rays, and apparel are the most exposed categories, while streaming remains untouched.

The Top Anime and Manga Merch Online Stores in the US Currently

Despite the price pressure, a handful of storefronts remain the go-to spots for US fans. The Crunchyroll Store leans on its streaming-to-merch pipeline, offering officially licensed figures, apparel, and collectibles from franchises like Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, and One Piece, alongside free US shipping over $75.

Hot Topic remains a mall-and-online staple for trendy licensed apparel spanning Bleach, Attack on Titan, and Studio Ghibli, appealing to younger, casual fans. For import-direct shoppers, AmiAmi, Amazon Japan, and proxy services tied to sites like Mandarake and Surugaya remain popular for pre-orders straight from Japanese retailers, though these are exactly the routes most affected by the new tariff and shipping changes.

On the manga side, Right Stuf (now folded into Crunchyroll’s storefront) and Amazon continue to dominate volume sales, while niche sites like TOHO Animation Store cater to fans chasing specific licensed lines, from My Hero Academia to Spice and Wolf.

Franchise-wise, demand hasn’t cooled. One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen merch continues to move fast across figure lines, while Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man remain reliable sellers heading into new theatrical and anime releases. For collectors, the advice circulating in fan communities is simple: lock in pre-orders early, since prices on unclaimed stock are the ones most likely to climb as the new tariff structure settles in.

What are your thoughts on the new trade deal between the US and Japan regarding the currency exchange, and how do you think it will affect the anime and manga merchandise market? We’d love to know your opinions in the comments below.