{"id":28081,"date":"2020-03-12T22:37:49","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T05:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=28081"},"modified":"2020-05-14T11:01:58","modified_gmt":"2020-05-14T18:01:58","slug":"453a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/453a\/","title":{"rendered":"<em>Space Battleship Yamato 2202<\/em> Report 44"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-880 alt=\"2003icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-content\/uploads\/2003icon.JPG\" width=\"216\" height=\"90\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"cosmo-teaser\">February 2020 was surprisingly busy with events for Japanese fans from the beginning of the month all the way to the end. Then there was the completely unexpected announcement of an entirely new <em>Yamato<\/em> spinoff. Here&#8217;s what your calendar would have looked like if you were lucky enough to see it all\u2026<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<p><!--more--><!--noteaser--><\/p>\n<p>February 2020 was surprisingly busy with events for Japanese fans from the beginning of the month all the way to the end. Then there was the completely unexpected announcement of an entirely new <em>Yamato<\/em> spinoff. Here&#8217;s what your calendar would have looked like if you were lucky enough to see it all\u2026<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a01.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 3: Concert film in Tokyo<\/h3>\n<p><em>Close To You Tonight<\/em>, the <em>Yamato 2202<\/em> concert from last October, returned to the public eye when the footage shot for Blu-ray (coming March 27) was shown at a once-only event screening at the Shinjuku Piccadilly Theater in Tokyo. On stage for a live presentation were Composer\/conductor Akira Miyagawa, Exec Producer Shoji Nishizaki, Series Writer Harutoshi Fukui, and Voice actor\/MC Eriko Nakamura. Attendees received a postcard image of Miyagawa (shown below).<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a02.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The presentation was covered by numerous news sites and the official <em>2202<\/em> site, which told us the following\u2026<\/p>\n<p>After the screening, Eriko Nakamura talked about her flute performance at the concert, in which she performed a solo during <em>Crossing the Beautiful Ocean.<\/em> Akira Miyagawa was aware that Ms. Nakamura had a music career since she belonged to a brass band for about a year, and surprised her with the offer to join the ensemble. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think I would ever have such an opportunity,&#8221; she said. Rather than allowing self-doubt to restrain her, she decided to trust Miyagawa&#8217;s instincts.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-right\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a03.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Another voice actor who crossed the line and performed as a singer was Koichi Yamadera (Dessler) who sang a scat version of <em>Great Love<\/em>. He was not on stage to discuss it, but it was a second example of Akira Miyagawa&#8217;s desire to find collaborative opportunities with actors.<\/p>\n<p>Miyagawa himself explained that the challenge he took with <em>Close To You Tonight<\/em> was to break away from the traditional symphonic sound and re-interpret <em>Yamato<\/em> music for a smaller ensemble of less than ten musicians. He drew upon his ballet experience to accomplish it, saying, &#8220;It&#8217;s easy to think of a ballet needing an orchestra, but in the rehearsal hall I would simply play piano. I learned the importance of performing along with the dancers&#8217; breathing. I also once did a performance of an original ballet with only four musicians, so I thought it would possible this time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Shoji Nishizaki thanked Miyagawa for his work with the ensemble and praised his gift for stage conversation in addition to his musical prowess. Nishizaki explained that the name <em>Close To You Tonight<\/em> reflected a desire to lower the barrier between the audience and performers to better convey the on-stage teamwork. &#8220;I want you to feel what they feel through the music. Kodai is never alone, he has Yuki and many other friends who all face difficulty together, sharing sadness and joy. Under the direction of Mr. Miyagawa, I wanted to convey this sense of unity to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a05.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Left to right: Akira Miyagawa, Eriko Nakamura, Shoji Nishizaki, Harutoshi Fukui<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Harutoshi Fukui took the opportunity to reveal some exclusive news about the forthcoming <em>Yamato 2202<\/em> compilation movie (which has been promised for 2020 but still does not have a release date). The official title is <em>The Age of Space Battleship Yamato ~ Selections from 2202<\/em>. It will be presented in a documentary style, narrated by Shiro Sanada and starting from the year 1945. He stated, &#8220;It is not just a compilation because new footage will also be used.&#8221; The official <em>2202<\/em> website announced (on this same day) that the project would be directed by Atsuki Sato with production handled by Studio Mother. Sato is a CG supervisor and trailer editor whose production credits include both <em>2199<\/em> and <em>2202<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>A 20-second presentation video was shown with design work for <em>Yamato 2205, The New Voyage.<\/em> Fukui ambiguously described it as &#8220;a short term decisive battle&#8221; and said fans would have to ponder what that meant. (Thanks a lot.)<\/p>\n<p>Finally, Nishizaki said that Akira Miyagawa would be returning to Bunkamura Orchard Hall (where the October concert took place) for a performance of the <em>Yamato<\/em> Symphony Suite and invited everyone to attend.<\/p>\n<p>Miyagawa wrapped it up by saying, &#8220;I&#8217;m ready for a new voyage, so please look forward to it. Let&#8217;s have fun together!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a04.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There would be additional screenings of the concert film in Nagoya and Osaka on February 21. An online talk show about the concert is scheduled for release on March 20.<\/p>\n<p>In related news, the official <em>2202<\/em> site reported the results of a Twitter poll taken over the New Year holidays, asking fans to name their favorite piece of the <em>Yamato<\/em> music. The results were: (1) <em>Endless Battle,<\/em> (2) <em>Fate,<\/em> (3) <em>Dog Fight,<\/em> (4) <em>Love Theme,<\/em> (5) <em>Infinity of Space,<\/em> (6) <em>Death and Prayer,<\/em> (7) <em>Great Emperor Zordar.<\/em> Akira Miyagawa announced that he would consider these choices for the <em>Yamato 2202<\/em> Symphonic Suite he plans to write this year.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a06.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 4: <em>Yamato<\/em> Crew news<\/h3>\n<p>On this day, Nobuteru Yuuki&#8217;s latest art book <em>Yamato 2202 Retouch a Picture Collection<\/em> went on sale at the Yamato Crew web store. Clocking in at 112 pages, it contains intricate character layouts Yuuki personally drew for the latter part of the series, from Episode 17 to the end. As the character designer, his work becomes the definitive representation of the characters. Those who buy the book from Yamato Crew receive a limited edition postcard (above right).<\/p>\n<p>You know the drill by now: Yamato Crew doesn&#8217;t ship to addresses outside Japan, so if you want to <a href='https:\/\/yamatocrew.jp\/shop\/html\/products\/detail.php?product_id=1521'>order a copy<\/a> you&#8217;ll need a <a href='http:\/\/cathandsagent.com\/'>Japanese friend<\/a> to handle it for you.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a07.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 5: 1\/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 54<\/h3>\n<p>The giant Hachette <em>Yamato<\/em> model continued to roll out with a very identifiable hull segment for the port side. With this part, construction of the midship area begins. Photo above right posted on Twitter by <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/Take_Channel36'>Take Channel 36<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See Hachette&#8217;s instruction video <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pqBgioCSDqY'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See an unboxing video <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Gel-NExTvwM'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See a builder&#8217;s blog <a href='https:\/\/ameblo.jp\/uwf-saki2013\/entry-12574254944.html'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a08.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 6: 1\/1000 Dimensional Submarine set<\/h3>\n<p>Giving modelers the opportunity to recreate the dramatic incursion into Gatlantis, Bandai released this set of submarines, a group reissue of the earlier single-sub kit from <em>2199<\/em>. Three subs are shown on Kia Asamiya&#8217;s box art, but four are included in the set.<\/p>\n<p>See a gallery of finished kits <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/subset220'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a09.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 6: Movie news<\/h3>\n<p>At the end of <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/443a'>Report 43<\/a>, we learned about a fresh new comedy film titled <em>Maeda Construction Fantasy Marketing Department<\/em>, which belongs on the radar of every anime fan this year. <span class=\"textRed\">SPOILER:<\/span> After the main characters complete their attempt to build Mazinger Z&#8217;s launch facility, the film ends with the appearance of a &#8220;mysterious&#8221; caped figure who tells them he has another project in mind. The &#8220;mysterious&#8221; figure is revealed as Emperor Dessler (of course) in the end credit roll, attributed to actor Kensei Mikami (above right). The film is still in theaters as of this writing, but should be on Blu-ray in a matter of months. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, visit the official website <a href='https:\/\/maeda-f-movie.com'>here<\/a>, see some promo <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=M6YP33QTA7M'>here<\/a>, and see the end credits <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=B5ovXPiKAIc&#038;'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a10.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 7: <em>Aquarius Algorithm<\/em>, free chapter<\/h3>\n<p>In November 2019, the classic <em>Yamato<\/em> saga expanded for the first time in ten years when a serialized story titled <em>Aquarius Algorithm<\/em> debuted in the pages of <em>Star Blazers\/Yamato<\/em> Premium Fan Club magazine Vol. 5. Written by Katsuya Takashima, it takes place in 2215 and bridges the gap between <em>Final Yamato<\/em> and <em>Resurrection.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It is Cosmo DNA policy NOT to translate such material until it is out of print and no longer a source of revenue for the franchise (otherwise it would constitute piracy). However, the Yamato Crew website created an exception to this policy when it featured the entire opening episode as a free introduction to all readers. Therefore, it is proudly presented <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/451a'>here<\/a> for your enjoyment.  <\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/wonderfest22003.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 9: Wonderfest 2020 Winter<\/h3>\n<p>Before Covid19 came along and started ruining everyone&#8217;s fun, the month of February saw a surprising number of public events for <em>Yamato<\/em> fans, starting with the concert film on the 3rd. Next up was the first hobby show of the year, where fans could find a few garage kit offerings. See a short photo gallery <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wonderfest220'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a11.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 12: 1\/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 55<\/h3>\n<p>This volume contained the hull plate that fits directly below the last one, featuring the port side missile launchers. The internal mechanism for its hatches came in a previous volume and could be temporarily attached. See the opening\/closing action in a video clip on Twitter <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/ncc1701refit\/status\/1227572123398361088'>here<\/a>. Photo above right posted on Twitter by Take Channel 36. It\u2019s worth noting that as of this volume, the ship is now halfway to the finish line!<\/p>\n<p>See Hachette&#8217;s instruction video <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dOtV40BFLZI'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See an unboxing video <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AR_SrlkQ4Tk'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See a builder&#8217;s blog <a href='https:\/\/ameblo.jp\/uwf-saki2013\/entry-12576389609.html'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a12.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 15 &#038; 16: Yokohama Modelers Club exhibition<\/h3>\n<p>Modelbuilders in Yokohama assembled for a festive weekend to display their treasures, and <em>Yamato<\/em> was well-represented. See a photo gallery <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/yokohama220'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a13.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 15-27: <em>Leiji Matsumoto Cosmoworld<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>For about two weeks, a bubble emerged in the stream of time that seemingly gave direct access to the year 1979. Inexplicably, a &#8220;popup shop&#8221; titled <em>Leiji Matsumoto Cosmoworld<\/em> appeared on the 7th floor of the Tokyu Hands department store in Shinjuku, Tokyo. By all accounts, it was a true time capsule.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/LMcosmoworld22006.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Fans posting about it on Twitter were amazed to see a wealth of vintage products that were everywhere back in the day, but now reside only in online auctions or second-hand shops like Mandarake. Some described it as a sight they&#8217;d previously only dreamt about, or seen in black and white photos.<\/p>\n<p>There were several aisles of <em>Yamato<\/em>\/Harlock\/Galaxy Express\/etc. products, all looking brand new and selling for their original yen prices (plus tax). The exceptions were original animation cells and higher-end boutique products from recent years. <\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/LMcosmoworld22008.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The origin of <em>Cosmoworld<\/em> was a true mystery; no company emerged to take credit, so we&#8217;re left to speculate on where all this treasure came from and why it was offered for such comparatively low prices. (Not even Leiji Matsumoto&#8217;s <a href='https:\/\/leijisha.jp\/'>official site<\/a> mentioned it.) If it was a private collector emptying their personal archive, Cosmo DNA salutes them. If it was a company that discovered some deadstock in a warehouse somewhere, Cosmo DNA salutes them. If it was a literal time capsule from 1979, Cosmo DNA wants to live there.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately for all of us who couldn&#8217;t see it in person, there were loads of photos on Twitter. See a gallery <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/LMcosmoworld220'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a14.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 19: 1\/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 56<\/h3>\n<p>This week, modelers flipped over the hull panels from the previous two volumes to install fiber optics for lighting. Photo above right posted on Twitter by Take Channel 36.<\/p>\n<p>See Hachette&#8217;s instruction video <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=h6KPmnvWUwQ'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See an unboxing video <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gbcyPoC7yyo'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See a builder&#8217;s blog <a href='https:\/\/ameblo.jp\/uwf-saki2013\/entry-12578033553.html'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a18.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 20: <em>Galaxy Express 999 Ultimate Journey<\/em> manga<\/h3>\n<p>This one takes a bit of explaining. In recent years, we&#8217;ve seen new versions of Leiji Matsumoto&#8217;s classic manga, drawn for the first time by other artists: <em>Gun Frontier, Captain Harlock Dimension Voyage,<\/em> and now <em>Galaxy Express 999 Ultimate Journey<\/em>, delightfully drawn by Yuzuru Shimazaki. Of the three, only <em>Dimension Voyage<\/em> has made it to the English-speaking world. Selected images from that series have appeared in previous reports, since <em>Yamato<\/em> artifacts occasionally found their way into the story. That continues in <em>Ultimate Journey<\/em>, which brings together many other Matsumoto characters for the first time.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a19.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In volume 1, Tetsuro is riding on the Galaxy Express 999 and encounters a fleet from Earth. Looking closely, we see that the ship designs all come from <em>Final Yamato<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a20.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A few pages later, we learn that the fleet&#8217;s flagship is none other than <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/32'><em>Great Yamato<\/em><\/a>, easily distinguished by extra hull details and gun turrets.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a21.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>All the members of <em>Great Yamato<\/em>&#8216;s bridge crew are darkened silhouettes except for two: Yoshikazu Aihara and Susumu Kodai! In volume 2, after Tetsuro teams up with the <em>Starzinger<\/em> team, we find the \u201cGoddess of Valhalla\u201d striking a very familiar pose.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a22.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In volume 4 (the latest release as of this writing), Captain Harlock greets his old friend Sanada. Yep, for reals.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a23.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere in the same volume, there&#8217;s an unmistakable spaceship being built in a factory supervised by Sanada.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve been paying occasional attention to various legal tussles over the last couple decades, you&#8217;re probably wondering what mechanism allows all this to happen, and there is a legit explanation. When Leiji Matsumoto and Yoshinobu Nishizaki settled their ownership dispute in the early 00s, Nishizaki walked away with <em>Yamato<\/em> story rights and Matsumoto was granted limited visual rights to the elements that he personally created.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, he can reuse those elements in manga stories like this one as long as he doesn&#8217;t claim they are from the <em>Yamato<\/em> universe we all know. However, this is the first time we&#8217;ve seen specific <em>Yamato<\/em> crew members in addition to mecha. We might be tempted to speculate that Matsumoto is pushing some boundaries to see what he can get away with\u2026but that would be irresponsible without more intimate knowledge of those boundaries.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, four volumes of <em>Ultimate Journey<\/em> are currently available. They&#8217;re not translated, but they are a must-see for any dedicated fan of the Leijiverse. Order them now from Amazon Japan:<\/p>\n<p><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.jp\/dp\/4253239412\/'>Volume 1<\/a> | <a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.jp\/dp\/4253239420\/'>Volume 2<\/a> | <a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.jp\/dp\/4253239439\/'>Volume 3<\/a> | <a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.jp\/dp\/4253239447\/'>Volume 4<\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a15.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 23: Yakitori Yamato screening<\/h3>\n<p>Further fulfilling its promise, Yakitori Yamato restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo became the impromptu host of a small fan event on this day. It was a screening of <em>Be Forever Yamato<\/em> attended by fans of everyone&#8217;s favorite space teen, Sasha.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a16.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Yamato<\/em> fans <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/fwks7841'>fwks7841<\/a> and <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/warp2220'>Warpdimension<\/a> posted these photos on Twitter, stating that 18 participants turned out for a meal and a screening under the banner &#8220;17-year-old girl admiration party.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a34.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 24: <em>Star Blazers\/Yamato<\/em> fan club magazine #6<\/h3>\n<p>This issue was chockablock with features, primarily interviews with Character Designer <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/463a'>Nobuteru Yuuki<\/a> and the <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/458a'><em>2205<\/em> design team<\/a> (click on those links to read them), plus Chapter 2 of <em>Aquarius Algorithm<\/em>. Above right is the single page devoted to <em>Yamato 2205<\/em>, which gave us a look at new characters (most likely cadets). Text is translated below.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a35.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\">The latest information<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"textBlue\">Scheduled for Winter release<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Some of the rough artwork shown at the film concert on February 3 is revealed exclusively in <em>Yamato<\/em> magazine! Keep an eye on future information to be revealed bit by bit!!<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\">Production studio has also been decided!!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Production will be handled by Satelight, who also worked on <em>Genesis of Aquarion<\/em> and the <em>Macross<\/em> series! Please look forward to the powerful images to come from this talented studio!!<\/p>\n<p>See Satelight\u2019s official website <a href='https:\/\/www.satelight.co.jp'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Read Satelite\u2019s Wikipedia page (with many more credits) <a href='https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Satelight'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a36.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then came this double-page spread with some VERY unexpected news&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"textBlue\">Urgent Bulletin: Completely new original <em>Yamato<\/em> launch!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"textBlue\"><em>Comic series scheduled to start at the end of May<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>A completely new story appears in the <em>Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> series. The working title is <em>Space Battleship Yamato Next: Star Blazers Lambda<\/em>, a completely original story with new characters and a new worldview. It\u2019s a spirited story created and drawn by up-and-coming SF manga artist Ryuko Azuma, populated by new characters, new mecha designs, and a depth of <em>Star Blazers<\/em>, so please pay attention by all means!<\/p>\n<p><em>Footnote: Character designs and manga scenes are works in progress. Please note that they differ from the finished version.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>(Get a better look at the designs at the end of this report.)<\/p>\n[STORY]\n<p>In 2099, the human race is suddenly attacked by Silenes [Sai-le-ness], unknown giant life forms that emerge from space and kill more than a billion people. Five years later, a boy named Yu who lost his mother Maya to the Silenes turns 12 years old and aims for the frontline base at Jupiter as a cadet for the Star Blazers, who oppose the Silenes fleet. Can he clear the Star Blazers launch test? Can he defeat the enemy who claimed his mother? In the midst of this, Silenes launches an attack after five years of silence. People are horrified by their beautiful but ugly appearance\u2026<\/p>\n<p><em>Headlines on left side:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The author is the spirited up-and-coming manga artist Ryuko Azuma!<\/p>\n<p>Mecha design by the familiar Junichiro Tamamori of the <em>Yamato<\/em> series!<\/p>\n<p>The enemies approaching <em>Yamato<\/em> are the mysterious giant life forms Silenes!<\/p>\n<p>And the main character who takes on <em>Yamato<\/em>\u2026is an elementary schoolkid!?!?<\/p>\n<p><em>Ryuko Azuma profile<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Manga artist and photographer from Iwate Prefecture. Debut work: <em>Strong Arm Adam<\/em> (four volumes from Shonen Jump Comics). His deep SF worldview attracts attention. Lives with his cat near Koshoji Temple.<\/p>\n<p>Serialization is expected to begin at the end of May at Kadokawa\u2019s webcomic site <a href='https:\/\/comic.webnewtype.com'>Comic NewType<\/a>. More details to be announced in the next issue of <em>Yamato<\/em> magazine. Don\u2019t miss it!<\/p>\n<p>Follow Ryuko Azuma on Twitter <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/ryuko_azuma'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See links and images on Google <a href='https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=\u543e\u5b2c\u7adc\u5b5d'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See the first chapter of <em>Strongarm Adam<\/em> <a href='https:\/\/shonenjumpplus.com\/episode\/10833497643049550204'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Find Ryuko Azuma publications on Amazon Japan <a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.jp\/s?k=\u9244\u8155\u30a2\u30c0\u30e0'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a37.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Finally, the interview with Nobuteru Yuuki was accompanied by the following text:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"textBlue\">The <em>Yamato 2205<\/em> production staff speaks\u2026what is the appeal of Nobuteru Yuuki?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many generations have now seen Mr. Yuuki\u2019s work (I also bought his manga!), so I was nervous at our first meeting. However, despite having a unique worldview in terms of original art, the series demands that characters from the previous works appear, so the feeling is that a delicate balance must be taken with the character images for longtime fans, and it\u2019s very encouraging to have him involved. At the same time, how can you take a character from the lineup and breathe life into them for the story? Every time I look at the character lineup, I feel both joy and pressure. The characters in this lineup are really alive!<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8211; Director Kenji Yasuda<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been blessed with the chance to work with a lot of artists before now, and there is no such thing as a 100% genius. I can\u2019t count up the geniuses even with the fingers of both hands, but Mr. Yuuki is definitely one of them.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8211; Series Writer Harutoshi Fukui<\/em><\/p>\n<p>People drawn by Mr. Yuuki are warm, aren\u2019t they? It\u2019s not overt, but the contours and weaknesses of human nature are deeply transmitted. At the character meeting for <em>2205<\/em>, I saw his hand-drawn images for the first time and it was breathtaking. The delicacy and warmth of a single stroke overflows on A4 paper. I thought it was amazing. Again, I felt the that the the \u201cindividuality of Nobuteru Yuuki\u2019s images\u201d is the same as human nature; delicate, stubborn, and warm.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Yuuki really likes the culture of anime. He values a variety of things aside from work. It has a mania side, but something important I must say is that his artwork always brings out \u201cpositive waves,\u201d and I think that may be supported by the large collection of cels I keep at home. (Laughs) He\u2019s like a favorite older brother with a lot of qualities I can respect.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8211; Scriptwriter Hideki Oka<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Character design in anime is the same as casting actors in a movie. Therefore, the quality of the work greatly depends on the quality of character design. Therefore, Mr. Yuuki\u2019s art is one of the major pillars that support <em>Yamato<\/em>. For me, both living humans and anime characters are the same, and I think I can understand that person by looking at them. Mr. Yuuki\u2019s characters have a core that doesn\u2019t budge when you gaze at them. He probably has that same core, too. That\u2019s why when I see an appealing character I can also believe in the person who created them.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8211; Production Director\/Executive Producer Shoji Nishizaki<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a17.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 26: 1\/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 57<\/h3>\n<p>The last volume for February was the simplest of the entire run so far; two pieces fitted together to become the motor for the second main gun turret (which doesn&#8217;t yet have a mount). Twitter user (and CG wizard) <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/HARU0425'>Haru0425<\/a> posted this photo to summarize all of the model&#8217;s progress for the month.<\/p>\n<p>See Hachette&#8217;s instruction video <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UdcvJ1mq5o0'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See an unboxing video <a href='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5slKWUURXQs'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>See a builder&#8217;s blog <a href='https:\/\/ameblo.jp\/uwf-saki2013\/entry-12579782896.html'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a24.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 29: <em>Yamato<\/em> Lecture 20<\/h3>\n<p>This ongoing fan event returned for a new round of conversation, this time at the Loft 9 club in Shibuya, Tokyo. The title of this one was <em>Making my 1\/144 Yamato<\/em>, and the topic was DIY modeling. The guest of honor was a modeler named <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/Wu_Niang'>Wu Niang<\/a> and the panel consisted of host Osamu Kobayashi, voice actors Mei Ueda and Yuuko Toba, and pro modeler Yasuhiro Takeshita of Max Factory. <\/p>\n<p>The talk centered on the production process of Wu Niang\u2019s homemade, one-of-a-kind 3D printed 1\/144 <em>Yamato<\/em>, which has been underway for years and is still a work in progress. The model is a wonder to behold, and plenty of attendees made sure we all got a chance to do just that. See their photos in a substantial gallery <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/lecture220'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Visit the <em>Yamato<\/em> Lecture website <a href='http:\/\/tachime.na.coocan.jp\/yamatoKOUZA\/'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a25.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>February 29: Japan Tours Festival<\/h3>\n<p>Wrapping up the month of February, we take off from Japan and land in France for the 6th edition of the Japan Tours Festival. That&#8217;s exactly what <em>2202<\/em> Director Nobuyoshi Habara did, and there was a cadre of French <em>Yamato<\/em> fans ready to give him a hero&#8217;s welcome.<\/p>\n<p>So we now turn over the microphone to <em>Yamato<\/em> superfan <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/foxyladycpz'>FoxyladyCPZ<\/a>, whose dazzling artwork has graced our fan art section for many months. She brings us a detailed report direct from the ground, which you can read right now <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/454a'>right here<\/a>!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class='clear'>\n<h3>Also spotted in February<\/h3>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/HRart22001.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Hero&#8217;s Record promo art<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The mobile game <em>Hero&#8217;s Record<\/em> gave us another colorful month of artwork for their overflowing catalog. (Let&#8217;s hope there&#8217;s a book collection somewhere in the future.) See the latest images <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/HRart220'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a28.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>More game art<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The lesser-known mobile game <em>Yamato 2202: A Distant Journey<\/em> offers up its own promotional art, but much more sporadically than <em>Hero&#8217;s Record<\/em>. What they lack in quantity, they definitely make up for in quality.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a29.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a30.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a31.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a26.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Fan art<\/em><\/p>\n<p>February was a great month for fan art from all corners of the <em>Yamato<\/em> universe. See a character gallery <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/fanartc220'>here<\/a> and a HUGE mecha gallery <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/fanartm220'>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a27.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Fan models<\/em><\/p>\n<p>February was an even greater month for modeling, with so many new builds to stare at they couldn&#8217;t fit into a single gallery. So <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/fanmodels220a'>click here<\/a> for part 1 and <a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/fanmodels220b'>click here<\/a> for part 2.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a32.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Iconography<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;ve been a <em>Yamato<\/em> fan long enough, your eye catches things others don&#8217;t even think about. Longtime fan <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/aoi2199'>aoi2199<\/a> reminded us of this with these photos, posted on Twitter upon returning to Tokyo station from the film concert screening in Nagoya. This is supposed to be promotion for GranSta, an underground shopping mall. But we all know what it really is.<\/p>\n<p><\/br><\/p>\n<p><a href='https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/455a'>Continue to Report 45<\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a38.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a39.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Images above and below found on Ryuko Azuma&#8217;s <a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/ryuko_azuma'>Twitter page<\/a><\/div>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar20\/453a40.JPG\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[123,132],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-yamato-2202","category-yamato-2202-reports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28081"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28370,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28081\/revisions\/28370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}