Jump SQ. September Issue Pre-orders Sell Out Instantly: Chaos Sparked by Prince of Tennis 143-Cast Special CD

Pre-orders for Shueisha's monthly manga magazine Jump SQ. (Jump Square)'s September 2026 issue (scheduled for release on August 4) have flooded online retailers and physical bookstores across Japan, making it extremely difficult to secure a copy. The sudden shortage has become a major topic of discussion on social media as of July 19.

A Special CD Appendix Featuring 143 Voice Actors and "Tenimyu" Cast Members

The catalyst for the frenzy was an announcement made earlier that day by the official X (formerly Twitter) account for The New Prince of Tennis. It was revealed that the September issue will include a special appendix: a CD featuring a new song titled "Racket ni Omoide Tsumekonde" (Packing Memories into Rackets), performed by the series' creator, Takeshi Konomi, and "Tenipuri Familia." Serving as a culmination of the franchise's 27-year history, the track features a whopping 143 participants, including the anime's star-studded voice cast and actors from the stage musicals (Tenimyu), making it a must-have collector's item for fans.

Online Stock Wiped Out, Physical Bookstores Inundated with Reservation Requests

Immediately following the announcement, pre-orders from enthusiastic fans skyrocketed. Major online retailers, including Animate, ran out of stock almost instantly, prompting desperate posts from fans online lamenting that it was "completely sold out" and "impossible to pre-order anywhere."

Giving up on online options, fans turned their hopes to brick-and-mortar stores, inundating local and major bookstores with inquiries. However, major chains like Kinokuniya Bookstore's Shinjuku Main Store announced that they had reached their pre-order limit and closed reservations. While some lucky fans expressed relief, sharing that they "rushed to a local bookstore and managed to secure a copy at the last minute" or "called and somehow got one held," there is widespread confusion as policies differ by store, with some saying availability is "undecided" or that copies will "only be sold over the counter on release day."

Fears of Scalping and Desperate Pleas for a Reprint

Given the unprecedented demand, concerns are mounting on social media that the magazine will become a prime target for scalpers, with many comparing the difficulty of securing a copy to getting concert tickets. Desperate fans are pleading with the publisher to increase the print run. With more than two weeks left until the official release date, this explosive pre-order rush stands as a testament to the enduring popularity of the Prince of Tennis series and the immense value of this historic anniversary release.

The Context

The Prince of Tennis (affectionately known as Tenipuri) is a legendary sports manga by Takeshi Konomi that began serialization in 1999. Over nearly three decades, it has grown into a massive media franchise. A key pillar of this franchise is Tenimyu (The Prince of Tennis Musicals), which debuted in 2003. Tenimyu is widely recognized as the pioneer of the "2.5D musical" phenomenon—stage adaptations of manga and anime that have since become a major industry in Japan. The musicals have served as a launching pad for many of Japan's most successful young actors. Uniting 143 members from both the anime voice cast and various generations of the stage musical cast for a single song is an extraordinary milestone, explaining why fans are desperate to secure this historic CD.

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