Evangelion gets Tokaido Shinkansen-exclusive audio drama

JR Central is turning a train journey into an access requirement for a new Evangelion story. The original audio drama Kansai Travel Plan will run from October 18, 2026, through January 31, 2027, but only Tokaido Shinkansen passengers who validate their trip on a phone will be able to play it.

The project is part of the “JR Central × Evangelion Tokaido Shinkansen Osaka Travel Plan” campaign built around the Osaka edition of the 30th-anniversary exhibition ALL OF EVANGELION. No later release on streaming services, physical media, or another platform has been announced.

How onboard access works

Passengers must open the campaign website in a supported browser, create a free account, allow location access, and start a speed check. The content unlocks when the system detects that the device has reached the required speed during a journey on the Tokaido Shinkansen.

JR Central warns that access may fail in some sections, including the area between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama stations. Tunnels, unstable service, VPNs, content blockers, and in-app social media browsers can also interfere. The train’s free Wi-Fi is not required, although riders are responsible for their own mobile data connection.

This design makes movement part of distribution. Instead of a standard regional release window, access depends on place, motion, and time at once. The campaign rules prohibit recording, unauthorized reproduction, and GPS spoofing.

Misato and Ritsuko plan a school trip

The story follows Misato Katsuragi and Ritsuko Akagi on a scouting journey. They are preparing a school trip for the pilots, devised by Misato to strengthen the group’s bond. Kotono Mitsuishi and Yuriko Yamaguchi return as Misato and Ritsuko, respectively.

Promotional artwork also groups Shinji, Rei, Asuka, Kaworu, and Mari, but JR Central has not confirmed that all five will speak. The company has not disclosed the drama’s running time or its place in the chronology. International reports describe it as a new story within the series’ world, while the primary announcement only labels it an “original audio drama.” There is therefore no confirmed basis for calling it a canonical episode.

The campaign links audio, travel, and an exhibition

After answering a survey and playing the drama, a passenger can receive a digital boarding certificate. That record can be exchanged in Osaka for an acrylic keychain while supplies last. Through January 11, pickup will be available at the entrance to the ALL OF EVANGELION exhibition at Hirakata Park. From January 12 through January 31, the exchange moves to EVANGELION STORE OSAKA.

The Osaka exhibition runs from October 18, 2026, through January 11, 2027. The rail campaign continues for another 20 days, changing the merchandise pickup location after the exhibition closes.

The format binds the narrative to a physical experience, but it also creates a clear geographic barrier: people who are not aboard the train during the official window cannot access the drama through any announced channel. Unless a public edition is confirmed later, Kansai Travel Plan remains a location-based extension of the franchise rather than a conventional anime or audio release.