Chapter 6 exploded into theaters in the month of June, adding unprecedented dimensions to the Yamato universe, accompanied by all the excitement, activity, and revelation that defines a premiere month. Let’s peel the layers off this magnificent onion…

But first, a HUGE announcement!

As the guy writing these words (Tim Eldred), I’m taking a moment to announce something very exciting. I’ve been engaged by a UK-based production company named CREATORVC to write and direct Icons of Anime, a mega-documentary that will explore the impact of anime in the West to a depth never before seen in this format.

The voices of my generation (those who caught the anime bug in the 70s and 80s) are starting to go quiet, and this feels like the best chance to get our story on the record while enough of us are still around to tell it. And of course Yamato will get its due. Please help by taking a few minutes to fill out the survey here. The response to this survey is what will determine the course of this project!

And now, on with the report…

June 1: Concert news

This announcement is WAY early, but if you’re considering a trip to Japan next year, you may want to take note. On May 7, Katsushika Symphony Hills in Tokyo will bring you two great tastes that taste great together: a huge double concert featuring the symphonic suites from both Space Battleship Yamato and Captain Harlock!

Find info on the official website here

June 2: I Want to Play Symphonic Suite Yamato special book

Quick! How many anime scores are significant enough to have an entire book devoted to them? Answer: 1! A few months ago, a magazine for symphonic music fans named Sarasate announced that they were working on a special book devoted to Symphonic Suite Yamato. The primary figure behind it is conductor Kaito Ikeda, whose enthusiasm for the music brought it back to the concert circuit for the 50th anniversary.

He teamed up with Akira Miyagawa to spearhead a series of interviews and background pieces (with performers and technicians alike) that fill up about half of the 112 pages; the rest is devoted to sheet music for 7 of the 12 tracks.

Order your copy of this amazing book here

June 3: Yasuhiro Fujiwara on Twitter

Since he first appeared as Talan in REBEL 3199, actor/author Yasuhiro Fujiwara has found his voice in other ways, inspired by the Yamato spirit to write in depth about his feelings and experiences on Twitter. He kicked into high gear as Chapter 6 approached, earning a place on our watch list.

Read all of his Yamato thoughts from June here

June 4: Chapter 6 preview screening

The first audience to see The Azure Labyrinth got a nice chaser when members of the cast and crew popped in for a stage greeting after the film. The new episodes were so packed with surprises they could barely be touched upon in a single conversation.

Read coverage of the stage greeting here

June 5: Chapter 6 end song announced

Starting today, you could listen to the new ending song for REBEL 3199 Chapter 6. The entertainment website Natalie picked up the story:

A timeless ballad radiating enduring charm that colors the magnificent world of Be Forever Yamato

Since making her major debut in June 2022 with the single Rasen, Nowlu has made waves in the music scene with her captivating, husky voice while performing theme songs for various TV anime and dramas. Her second single, Stuck on You (released in November 2022), gained particular popularity in the U.S., and has racked up a total of 13 million streams to date. She has also been increasingly active globally, performing her first-ever live concert as an artist at the ANIME FRIENDS convention in Brazil, as well as holding shows in Malaysia and Singapore.

Against this backdrop, her new song Itoi, released in June 2026, was selected as the ending theme for REBEL 3199 Chapter 6. As the theme song for the latest installment in the Space Battleship Yamato remake series, a franchise beloved both in Japan and abroad for generations, this track is sure to garner significant attention.

Itoi marks Nowlu’s first ballad single. Its sound, blending a universal style influenced by AOR-style R&B and soul with elements of traditional Japanese kayokyoku (pop), resonates with the “City Pop” movement that has recently become a major trend. Nowlu brings this sophisticated atmosphere to life with a vocal performance rich in depth and warmth, gently enveloping the listener. This sense of immersion and emotional embrace aligns perfectly with the song’s lyrical theme, “lighting a single ray of hope for emotions left stranded in the darkness by doubt and confusion,” leaving behind a wonderfully pleasant, lingering resonance after the music fades.

Itoi is a magnificent ballad radiating an evergreen charm, a song so compelling that it is sure to become a new signature track for Nowlu, marking a pivotal step forward in her evolution as a singer and artist.

See the official music video on Youtube here

June 5: Exhibition news

The next stop for the 50th Anniversary Exhibition was announced as the Marui department store in Ebina (a city between Tokyo and Yokohama). As before, the exhibition would contain an extensive archive of production materials from the original TV series and new artifacts that have been unearthed since the last round.

The dates for this one are July 3 to 26, so we’ll certainly have a look at it in the next report.

June 5: Yuki Mori birthday goods

Yuki’s canonical birthday is December 24; you may remember that a line of commemorative Yuki products was announced back then, to be sold through an exclusive arrangement with the A-on Store. Starting today, the products were shipped out to those who pre-ordered them, and also turned up in the stores themselves.

June 8: Big Owl announcement

Big news from Illinois-based Big Owl Manufacturing! This company has struck a deal with friend-of-the-website Warren Swanson, whose massive 3D printed Yamato models have turned many heads at anime conventions over the last few years. This is a chance to get your hands directly on his amazing work:

We are excited to announce our collaboration with Warren Swanson to produce his Star Blazers/Space Battleship Yamato models. Printed in resin, it allows us to capture as many of the model’s details as possible while keeping the original size the same.

Visit their Etsy page and order your model here

Photo posted on Twitter by aoi2199

June 9: Fukuyanime 2026

This annual event in Fukuya has become a regular stop for Nobuyoshi Habara, since it happens in his beloved hometown. He delivered a sold-out panel presentation that covered his entire career, including his time as the director of Yamato 2202. He left his customary mark afterward.

Photo posted on Twitter by AnalyzerAU09

June 12: 1/100 Yamato display model reappears

One of the most reliable traditions in the runup to a new chapter has been the reappearance of the 3.3 meter long Yamato in the lobby of the Shinjuku Piccadilly Theater, and it upheld that tradition for Chapter 6. You couldn’t ask for a mightier camera magnet.

See a photo gallery here

June 13: Official Tweets

Starting today, the Yamato Production Committee posted a set of five original images over the next 12 days. They were presented without comment, but the intention was clear enough: if the characters were to get over their shock of landing in 2026 Tokyo, what might they get up to on the ground? The answers came in the form of social media photos.

See them all here

June 16: 10 days to go

June 16: Hobby Japan Web

On this day, Hobby Japan‘s website posted the online version of Yamato Mechanics part 19, profiling the unmanned interceptor Ajax.

See the article here

Read the English version here

June 17: 9 days to go

June 18: 8 days to go

June 19: 7 days to go

June 19: Official Tweet

In a shift of policy, the Yamato Production Committee posted the following announcement:

The “opening footage” that we’ve been delivering before screenings up until now will not be made available prior to the screening for Chapter 6. Please join the Yamato crew in feeling the same anticipation and witness that moment together in the theater.

This was no comfort to overseas fans, but those who were lucky enough to see the preview screening agreed that it was better to get the full theatrical experience with the shocking opening scenes. Nevertheless, the opening segment was later released on July 2.

See it on Youtube here

June 20: 6 days to go

June 20: Star Wars X Yamato in Toyota City

An interesting collaboration brought two SF titans together in related events that worked in tandem. First, a Star Wars/Yamato model exhibition was held at a venue called T-FACE. After it wrapped up in mid-afternoon, some of the models were hustled over to the Toyota City Concert Hall, where the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra was preparing a double helping of music.

The models were set up in the concert hall lobby where they could be examined by patrons on their way into a audio feast. The first half of the concert was a Star Wars suite with six pieces chosen by conductor Kentaro Kawase, then the hammer came down with a full performance of Kentaro Haneda’s Yamato Grand Symphony.

See photos of the models and read one attendee’s impressions of the concert here

June 21: 5 days to go

June 21: Mantan Web interview

Interview season kicked off with what has become another nice tradition, letting us hear from new cast members who haven’t been interviewed before. This time, Tasuku Hatanaka (Domon) was joined by Tomo Muranaka (nurse Miyako Kyozuka) to discuss their work in Chapter 6, focusing on important scenes shared by their characters.

Read the interview here

June 22: 4 days to go

June 22: Official Tweet

Tokyo fans undoubtedly lit up at this announcement from the Yamato Production Committee:

Yamato appears at Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi

To commemorate the screening of REBEL 3199 Chapter 6, a popup shop will be held at the Tokyo Skytree Twon Solamachi from July 29 to August 4. We plan to sell newly-drawn illustrations and various new products.

The connection is an obvious one: when Yamato takes off across the sky over Shinjuku in 2026, it heads directly to a narrow brush with the Skytree tower. The timing of the popup shop doesn’t overlap with another event on the calendar yet, so there may be something else to watch for.

June 22: Ye Editor on Retro Anime Podcast

Tim Eldred (the guy writing these words) had the honor of being interviewed for a segment on the UK-based Retro Anime series to talk about the Icons of Anime project and other cool things. The segment runs about 20 minutes and can be heard here. Thanks in advance for listening!

June 23: 3 days to go

June 23: Hobby Japan Web

Hobby Japan‘s website posted the online version of Yamato Mechanics part 20, profiling the Dezarium battleship Grodez.

See the article here

Read the English version here

June 24: 2 days to go

June 24: Arizona on display

In the glare of an incoming 3199 chapter, it was easy to lose sight of the fact that a completely new model kit was coming with it. A pair of Tokyo department stores put it on display to make sure it didn’t get overlooked.

June 24: Haru on Youtube

By now, the name “Haru” all by itself should have you looking around for a PLAY button. He is the foremost Yamato fan in the realm of CG modeling, cranking out incredibly detailed work that rivals anything seen in the anime. His latest masterwork is titled The Strongest! Earth Fleet.

Watch it on Youtube here

June 25: 1 day to go

June 25: Cast comment video

Recorded at the June 4 preview screening, voice actors Tomo Muranaka (Kyozuka), Houko Kuwashima (Yuki), and Tasuku Hatanaka (Domon) spoke about the highlights of Chapter 6, specifically the interaction of their characters.

See it on Twitter here (if you’ve got Google Translate on your phone, it’s an ideal test drive)

June 25: Hobby Japan No. 686

This issue delivered the 21st installment of the Yamato Mechanics series, focusing on the Shalbart-class battleship. Also included was a 6-page article on the new Arizona model.

See all of this content here

June 25: Youtube shorts begin

Bandai Namco, holder of Yamato video licensing, jumped into the promotional fray with a daily series of clips from Chapter 6. A new one appeared every day for eleven days, finishing on July 5. See them all at these links: