The legendary Doraemon television anime series is preparing for its annual milestone celebration, locking in a September 6 broadcast date for the Doraemon Birthday Special. This year brings an unexpected guest star into Fujiko F. Fujio’s timeless universe: Japanese actor Dori Sakurada will step into the recording booth for his very first anime voice acting role, breathing life into a brand-new futuristic character.
Titled Konkon Great Chaos! The Suspect Is Doraemon?!, the one-hour special kicks off when a priceless 1.0 billion yen jewel shaped like a dorayaki—aptly named the 'Smile of Dorayaki'—is stolen from the estate of 22-century billionaire Richie. Security footage points an accusatory lens straight at everyone's favorite robotic cat. With a hefty bounty placed on his blue head, Doraemon finds himself at the center of a sprawling, multi-temporal chase sequence against eccentric bounty hunters.
Sakurada steps into the fray as Konrobo, a sleek, fox-type futuristic robot dispatched to urge Doraemon into surrendering. When the blue cat refuses, Konrobo becomes an unrelenting pursuer, cutting across time and space to block his path. Lifelong fandom met intense professional dedication during production; Sakurada reportedly studied professional voice acting documentaries, shadowed regular recording sessions, and even dropped some physical weight to align his mindset with Konrobo's sharp silhouette.
I’ve loved Doraemon since I was an elementary school kid reading the manga... When I received the offer, my brain couldn't process it and I just froze for a while.
Dori Sakurada, Voice of Konrobo
The Doraemon Birthday Special will air on TV Asahi on September 6, 2026, preceded by a special themed regular episode on September 5 focusing on Doraemon's iconic dorayaki pouch. Fans looking to catch the high-stakes sci-fi getaway can tune in as the blue cat fights to clear his name.
