The Beatles’ Japan Store has just announced a special 60th anniversary project commemorating the band’s visit to Japan in 1966.

The Beatles performed at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo from June 30 to July 2 – and created something of a sensation throughout the country. Back then the previously unreleased albums Please Please Me and With The Beatles, were issued as special commemorative editions for the visit. Now, in June 2026, they’re being re-issued as special cardboard-sleeve SHM-CDs, recreating the artwork from that time, plus they’ll include a poster:

Additionally, Please Please Me gets a vinyl release in the same style:

Back in 1966 these releases were based on the UK Please Please Me and With The Beatles albums. They included tracks in stereo that had previously only been available in mono in Japan. They both came in a deluxe specification featuring uniquely designed jackets and obi strips, plus 8-page bound-in booklets with color photos and lyrics. The new 2026 re-issues will feature that same specification, recreating the artwork of the first Japanese LP editions as much as possible. They’ll recreate the obi strips from those first Japanese editions, and include a six-panel fold-out 868mm x 580mm poster. At the Beatles Japan Store you can also opt for a special postcard to be included with the two CD’s or the LP. The songs are in the same order as the original UK albums and will use the 2009 remastered audio.

Also back in 1966 a Japanese 7″ single was released following the concert tour and, only at the Beatles Store in Japan, there’s to be a recreation of this single – ‘Yellow Submarine’/’Eleanor Rigby’:

This new 2026 release reproduces the design of the original first-pressing jacket and its company inner sleeve. It comes on white vinyl and features the 2023 mix of the songs.

In addition, Universal Music Japan will launch a special Beatles pop-up store at the Universal Music Store in Harajuku (near Shibuya in Tokyo) from June 25 to July 5. Only at that store they’ll be selling a limited edition red vinyl of the 7″ single: