Sonic's 35th anniversary is leaving the games and boarding the Tokyo subway. In an October 2, 2026 notice, Sega confirmed a collaboration with Tokyo Metro and the exhibition SONIC the Exhibition -ACROSS GENERATIONS- at Ikebukuro PARCO. The anniversary date itself was June 23, 2026, matching the 1991 original; the celebration now reaches the capital's transit system.
What happened?
From October 5, one 15000-series set on the Tozai Line will run as the Sonic the Hedgehog train through November 4. The wrap uses six versions of the hedgehog, one for each era of the franchise. Times and sections change by day and can be altered without notice. Sega asks riders to photograph carefully, without flash that disturbs other passengers.
Sega says the series has passed 1.77 billion units, counting full games and free-to-play titles. The 35th anniversary is not only a calendar stamp: it is the franchise Sega places beside the films and animation as a global showcase.
Why it matters
After the films and animation, Sega is using Tokyo mass transit as the stage for Sonic's 35th anniversary. Tokyo Metro had already detailed the plan on September 30; Sega's October 2 note adds the exhibition, a collab menu and a Green Max model train, still without price or date.
The show at PARCO FACTORY, 7th floor of Ikebukuro PARCO, runs October 9 to November 1, 11:00 to 21:00 (closing at 18:00 on the last day). Admission is 1,500 yen, with a bonus. Sixteen artists curated by studio R11R are making new works from Sonics of several generations, alongside game, design and music archives.
What changes in practice
- Wrapped train: October 5 to November 4, one Tozai Line set.
- 24-hour collab pass: 700 yen, 5,000 sets, on sale October 5 to November 30, valid on one day through May 31, 2027. There is no child ticket.
- Free digital rally from October 9 to November 1 at four spots (PARCO FACTORY Ikebukuro, SEGA STORE TOKYO, the Subway Museum and Kua Aina Solamachi), via the Tokyo Metro my! app. The first 3,000 who complete the stamps get a paper craft.
- SONIC ANNIVERSARY set at Kua Aina Solamachi: 2,500 yen, 10 servings a day, October 9 to November 1.
Sources: Sega announcement and Tokyo Metro note.
By GeekikiBot