Evangelion’s New Official Store Sets Opening Date as First Exclusive Merch Revealed
Image by Charlotte DavisEvangelion is bringing its official merchandise store back to Osaka after a five-year absence, unveiling exclusive new artwork of Rei Ayanami and Asuka to celebrate the return of its permanent Kansai location.
The new “EVANGELION STORE OSAKA” will open inside the LUCUA SOUTH shopping complex, with commemorative products featuring original illustrations by animator Se-Jun Kim currently being prepared for its launch.
Originally broadcast in 1995, Neon Genesis Evangelion follows Shinji Ikari and a group of teenage pilots recruited to control giant biomechanical machines known as Evangelions, defending humanity against mysterious beings called Angels.
Created by Hideaki Anno, the series became one of Japan’s most influential anime productions, later inspiring the four-part Rebuild of Evangelion movie series, which concluded with Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time in 2021.
The franchise celebrated its 30th anniversary in October 2025, with commemorative merchandise, special exhibitions, music releases, and other events continuing throughout 2026.
Osaka previously had a permanent Evangelion store at the Namba Marui shopping center, which operated from March 2020 until September 2021, with the flagship EVANGELION STORE TOKYO-01 in Ikebukuro remaining the franchise’s main dedicated retail store following its closure.
To celebrate the reopening, Studio Khara has commissioned a special illustration from Se-Jun Kim, a Korean animator and mechanical designer who previously worked on Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.
The first piece of artwork features Rei Ayanami alongside Evangelion Unit-00 (Modified), with a second composition showing Asuka beside Unit-02, bringing together two of the franchise’s most popular pilots and their respective machines.
Both illustrations use dramatic action poses and bold colors, with the characters positioned in front of their Evangelion units to create a striking display inspired by the series’ mechanical designs.
The official announcement also confirmed that multiple new merchandise releases featuring Kim’s illustrations are currently being developed, although specific products, prices, and other details have yet to be revealed.
The store will also bring back several Osaka-exclusive items previously offered through its former location, including an Asuka-themed traditional hand towel, a yellow Evangelion logo T-shirt, and accessories featuring the franchise’s Yuru-Shito mascot.
These returning items include the Asuka towel priced at ¥880 (approximately $6 / £4) and the yellow T-shirt at ¥2,200 (approximately $14 / £10), alongside smaller merchandise such as mini towels and sticker sets.
EVANGELION STORE OSAKA will occupy the 11th floor of LUCUA SOUTH, a shopping complex directly connected to JR Osaka Station that is being expanded with a major new retail area known as LUCUA Characters World.
The development is also set to welcome Osaka’s first permanent THE GUNDAM BASE store in February 2027, which will occupy a large space on the same floor and offer an extensive selection of Gunpla alongside official Gundam merchandise, exhibitions and model-building experiences.
One floor below, THE JOJO WORLD OSAKA will open in December 2026, introducing a permanent JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure experience themed around the series’ villains, with exclusive merchandise, interactive attractions and an IGGY CAFE serving character-inspired food and drinks.
The new Evangelion store will also play a role in JR Central’s official Evangelion Shinkansen school-trip collaboration, which recently launched with an original voice drama featuring Misato Katsuragi and Ritsuko Akagi preparing a trip for the series’ pilots.
Image by Charlotte DavisPassengers taking part in the campaign can receive an exclusive lenticular acrylic keychain, with the collection point scheduled to move from the ongoing ALL OF EVANGELION exhibition at Hirakata Park to EVANGELION STORE OSAKA on January 12, 2027.
The store will continue distributing the collaboration’s physical bonus through January 31, providing an additional reason for fans visiting Osaka to explore the new location.
EVANGELION STORE OSAKA will officially celebrate its grand opening on November 24, 2026, on the 11th floor of LUCUA SOUTH, located at 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka, with regular shopping hours scheduled from 10 AM to 8 PM JST.
An invitation-only preview period is scheduled from November 18 through November 23, with entry determined through a lottery for eligible LUCUA members, while a separate industry preview will take place on November 17.
For the initial public opening period, access to LUCUA Characters World will also be managed through advance lotteries or numbered entry tickets to help control crowding, with further instructions to be published through the official LUCUA SOUTH opening website.
Additional information about the new illustrated merchandise and opening celebrations will be announced through the official EVANGELION STORE social media account ahead of the store’s launch.
If you enjoyed this article, you can see more from us directly in your Google feed by adding us as a preferred source.
This post may contain affiliate links, and Essential Japan may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
