Doraemon is usually the one solving Nobita’s problems. In this year’s Birthday Special, he is the suspect in a theft, has a huge bounty on his head, and is being chased across time. TV Asahi will air the episode on September 6, with actor Dōri Sakurada joining the cast as Konrobo, a fox-shaped police robot from the future.
The special is built around a simple question: how does Doraemon prove he did not steal a billion-yen jewel when every era has been told to bring him in? The story gives the familiar character a mystery to solve while he is also trying to avoid the police.
When does the Doraemon Birthday Special air?
The 2026 Doraemon Birthday Special airs Sunday, September 6, from 6:56 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. Japan Standard Time. TV Asahi lists it as a 54-minute broadcast carried on its 24-station network in Japan.
The episode is not a regular weekly story stretched into a longer slot. It is an annual special made for Doraemon’s birthday season, with a new premise, guest character, and larger chase than the usual short adventures. TV Asahi has not announced an international broadcast or streaming date for viewers outside Japan.
Why is Doraemon wanted?
The episode, titled “Konkon Panic! The Suspect Is Doraemon!?,” begins after Doraemon is accused of stealing a jewel called Dorayaki’s Smile. The jewel is valued at ¥1 billion, and a ¥500 million reward is offered for Doraemon’s capture.
The reward attracts bounty hunters from different eras. Doraemon is not simply hiding from one police officer; he is trying to stay ahead of people who have been given a reason to find him. The official story material frames the chase as a time-spanning panic, with the accusation spreading far beyond Nobita’s neighborhood.
Doraemon’s problem starts after he receives a birthday present from Nobita and goes to buy dorayaki. Someone follows him, setting up the accusation before he understands what has happened. Dorayaki is Doraemon’s favorite snack, so the episode turns one of his most recognizable habits into the beginning of a crime story.
Who is Konrobo?
Dōri Sakurada voices Konrobo, a police robot from the future with a fox-like design. This is Sakurada’s first guest appearance in the Doraemon anime, and Konrobo is connected to the investigation that puts Doraemon in danger.
The future setting also brings Doraemon’s sister Dorami and Sewashi into the story. While Doraemon is being chased, bounty hunters target Sewashi’s home in the 22nd century. Reporters gather outside, leaving Dorami and Sewashi unable to leave while the search grows.
How does Nobita find Doraemon?
The case reaches Nobita when Konrobo shows him security-camera footage of Doraemon. The footage makes the accusation look serious, but it also gives Nobita a reason to search for his friend instead of waiting at home.
The official plot description says the danger spreads to Nobita as well. Doraemon is the named suspect, but the people looking for him are willing to pressure the people around him. That gives the episode a second problem: Doraemon has to clear his name while keeping Nobita out of the bounty hunters’ path.
Why this special is different from a normal Doraemon story
Doraemon stories often begin with a gadget causing trouble for Nobita. This special starts with a public accusation and turns Doraemon himself into the person everyone is trying to catch. The wanted poster, the reward, and the future police robot give the episode a detective-story shape without changing the comedy at the center.
The time-travel angle lets the special move between Doraemon’s present and the 22nd century. The same accusation can reach different groups, from bounty hunters to reporters, so the chase does not stay in one location. It also gives Konrobo a reason to cross paths with characters Doraemon fans already know.
The special joins a busy month for anime announcements. Pixel Twelve’s Haikyu!! movie and special-episode update and Red River second-cour report cover two other recent projects with new broadcast or release information.
How can viewers watch it?
The confirmed broadcast is on TV Asahi’s Japanese network at 6:56 p.m. JST on September 6. TV Asahi and the official Doraemon pages have not listed an overseas stream, English-subtitled release, or separate digital launch. Viewers outside Japan will need to wait for a regional announcement rather than assume the live broadcast is available everywhere.
TV Asahi has released official images and the episode premise, but it has not shown the full mystery or revealed who actually stole Dorayaki’s Smile. The central accusation is confirmed; the solution is part of the episode.
Doraemon being treated like a wanted criminal is an easy setup for a birthday special: it uses the character’s familiar love of dorayaki, adds a giant reward, and sends the chase into the future. The episode airs September 6 in Japan, with Dōri Sakurada’s Konrobo joining the investigation.
