What this is
A chess-themed collaboration café pop-up running across three cities, where THE IDOLM@STER SideM characters are reimagined through newly drawn chess-inspired illustrations on food, drinks, and merchandise. The Nagoya Sakae location runs August 19–September 1, 2026, before the event moves to Osaka and then Tokyo. Menus are built around six specific SideM characters — Touma Amagase, Hayato Akiyama, Natsuki Sakaki, Genbu Kuro, Takeru Taiga, and Momohito Hanazono — with each order earning a random coaster from 17 designs.
Who should go
Dedicated THE IDOLM@STER SideM fans, particularly those who collect character merchandise and themed café goods. Casual anime café visitors will find the menu prices reasonable, but the appeal is narrow without existing attachment to the franchise.
Good to know
Reservations can be made through the official SMILE BASE CAFE reservation system — check their website or official X account for the booking link, as slots fill quickly for popular collab events. Entry itself is free but each guest must purchase at least one collaboration menu item. The Nagoya Sakae store is a smaller-format character café, so expect a cosy, seated environment with table time limits per session slot. Cash and card are typically accepted at SMILE BASE CAFE locations, but bring some cash as a backup for merchandise purchases. On the final day (September 1), only the daytime session ① will operate, so plan accordingly if visiting on that date.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.