{"id":38581,"date":"2023-10-25T12:52:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T19:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=38581"},"modified":"2024-11-05T22:42:41","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T06:42:41","slug":"monoarticle5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/monoarticle5\/","title":{"rendered":"Mono<\/em> magazine No. 942, article 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

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News & Scoop: Release date & publisher, first report from this magazine!<\/p>\n

Space Battleship Yamato Dawn Chapter, Part 2 Malignant Memory<\/em> to be released by Kadokawa this fall!<\/h3>\n

Development staff talks about the latest Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> novel<\/h2>\n

Psychological character depictions and the world view written into it. Yamato<\/em> is also loved in numerous novel versions. Hideki Oka, who is also the screenwriter for the latest anime, talks about the latest novel series Space Battleship Yamato Dawn Chapter<\/em>, which has been highly praised by fans. Information on the long-awaited “Part 2” is also included!<\/p>\n

Carrying on the world of the original Yamato<\/em> to the Reiwa era<\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Mr. Oka, you’re known for your work on the script for Space Battleship Yamato 2202<\/em>, but you’re also involved in developing the Dawn Chapter<\/em> novel series. Could you tell us more about it?<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> Producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki, the creator of Yamato<\/em>, had directed the last movie, Yamato Resurrection<\/em>. The idea was to create a new story continuing that film, starting with a novel. In 2019, I was asked to collaborate with science-fiction author Yuya Takashima on this project.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> That sounds like quite a challenge.<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> Absolutely. The world of Yamato<\/em> has a vast and established set of rules and events. We knew we couldn’t create something that would satisfy fans without fully understanding and respecting the existing canon.<\/p>\n

SIDEBAR NOTE: Dawn Chapter<\/em> is a novel series that depicts the seventeen-year gap between the 1983 film Final Yamato<\/em> and the 2009 film Resurrection<\/em>. The series explains how Susumu Kodai became a cargo boat captain in the Resurrection<\/em> and what happened before Yamato<\/em> was resurrected.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> As seen with Star Wars<\/em>, long-running franchises come with passionate fans who hold the story close to their hearts.<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> Indeed. Working with established content requires a multifaceted approach. While I was brought on to support Mr. Takashima, we eventually decided to develop the novel as a team effort, enlisting the help of the creative group “Asteroid 6”.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> “Asteroid 6” was the original working title for Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>, wasn’t it?<\/p>\n

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Oka:<\/em><\/span> It was, and since our group had six members, including Mr. Takashima and myself, we couldn’t resist (laughs). We realized that we needed more than just one person’s knowledge and passion to create something that would resonate with a wide range of Yamato<\/em> fans.<\/p>\n

The first volume, Aquarius Algorithm<\/em>, is credited to Mr. Takashima, but it was a collaborative effort with “Asteroid 6” with countless exchanges of ideas. It was almost like making a film. I’m very grateful to Mr. Takashima for trusting us with this process.<\/p>\n

SIDEBAR NOTE: Aquarius Algorithm<\/em> was published September 27, 2021 by Kadokawa. Softcover, 356 pages. Synopsis:<\/em> It has been 12 years since Yamato<\/em> disappeared. What awaits Susumu Kodai, who goes to the “Aquarius Ice Ball” where Yamato<\/em> sank? How will he face the enemy, who plans to exterminate the human race now that Yamato<\/em> is gone? This is the first chapter of a new story that will lead up to the “resurrection of Yamato<\/em>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> That explains the positive critical reception. I was personally thrilled to see how the novel addressed and clarified many of the mysteries left unanswered in Resurrection<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> One of our goals was to delve into the “blank slate” of seventeen years between Final Yamato<\/em> and Resurrection<\/em>. We felt this could potentially enhance the viewing experience of Resurrection<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> So you re-examined the past to enrich the future of the story.<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> Exactly. The fundamental principle of Dawn Chapter<\/em> is to acknowledge and respect all previous Yamato<\/em> works. We made a conscious decision not to contradict or dismiss anything from the past in service of our new story.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Aquarius Algorithm<\/em> notably revisited and recontextualized the circumstances surrounding Captain Okita’s return in Final Yamato<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Oka:<\/em><\/span> That’s right, but I can’t take credit for that.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> How so?<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> There are numerous novelizations of Yamato<\/em>. It’s hard to believe now, but when Final Yamato<\/em> came out in 1983, three different novels by three different authors were released simultaneously. We based our interpretation of Captain Okita’s return on the version written by Keigoh Masaki for the Animage Bunko edition. (Read it in English here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

SIDEBAR NOTE: What is \u201cthe resurrection of Okita?” In Final Yamato<\/em>, we see Yamato<\/em>\u2019s first Captain Okita, who died in the war with Gamilas, shockingly “resurrected.” Many fans of the film were shocked to hear Dr. Sado say to the camera, “I misdiagnosed (Captain Okita’s death).” Author Keigoh Misaki took this enigmatic statement from Dr. Sado and crafted a story around the “truth” hidden behind those words.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Was that Mr. Masaki’s own interpretation?<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> It was. I had been pondering Captain Okita’s return for over thirty years, and Mr. Masaki’s interpretation resonated with me the most. So I reached out to him and got his permission to borrow the idea.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> It’s fascinating how these connections emerge.<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> That’s the beauty of working with a story with such a rich history (laughs).<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> The second volume of Dawn Chapter<\/em> will be released three years after Aquarius Algorithm<\/em>. What can you tell us about it?<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> We realized early on that one volume wouldn’t be enough to tell the story we envisioned. As we decided to create a trilogy for Dawn Chapter<\/em>, I wanted to give the members of “Asteroid 6” a chance to showcase their talents and ideas. I consulted with Mr. Takashima, the author of the first volume, and he agreed. The second novel, “Malignant Memory<\/em>,” is written by a new author, Tatsuyuki Hanawa.<\/p>\n

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Love and passion for Yamato<\/em>. A new story spun by the passion of fans<\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Were you hesitant to entrust the story to a new author?<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> Not at all. Having worked with Mr. Hanawa on Aquarius Algorithm,<\/em> I knew he was more than capable. The result is a story brimming with passion. Mr. Hanawa’s deep love for Yamato<\/em> and his writing skills exceeded my expectations. Yamato<\/em> fans are a force to be reckoned with!<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> What can you tell us about Malignant Memory<\/em>?<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> The story takes place fourteen years after the end of the Galman-Gamilas War with the Bolar Federation depicted in Yamato III.<\/em> A mysterious figure plots to ignite the “Second Gamilas War,” and it’s up to Susumu Kodai and his comrades to stop it. The novel delves into the unexplored past of characters from both Gamilas and Bolar, leading up to the events of Resurrection<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Of course, since this is another “Asteroid 6” collaborative effort, you can expect meticulous attention to detail. Malignant Memory<\/em>, the second installment of “Dawn Chapter” will be published by Kadokawa this fall, with stunning new mecha designs by Shinji Nishikawa and beautiful illustrations by Ryuji Umeno. As a Yamato<\/em> fan myself, I found it to be a truly gripping read. I encourage everyone to check it out and immerse themselves in “the world of original Yamato<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Having read numerous Yamato<\/em> novels yourself and being directly involved in this latest installment, what would you say is the unique appeal of experiencing Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> through the written word?<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> In Ken Wakasaki’s 1978 novel Farewell to Yamato<\/em>, there’s a passage where the few survivors who escaped in the lifeboat watch as Kodai and Yuki launch the severely damaged Yamato<\/em> on its final voyage. “The farewell party scattered rice. It silently scattered into space and overlapped with the twinkling stars.”<\/em> That’s what it is for me. The power of novels transcends simply being a companion piece to the anime. <\/p>\n

Throughout its long history, many talented individuals have encountered Yamato<\/em> and created truly remarkable moments. That’s what we aspire to do with Dawn Chapter<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The space soldiers who were seeing them off scattered grains of rice. The grains scattered silently into space, overlapping with the twinkling stars of the galaxy.<\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Mr. Oka, you’ve also written the screenplay for REBEL 3199<\/em>. What message would you like to give to viewers watching 3199<\/em> for the first time?<\/p>\n

Oka:<\/em><\/span> As a former director of children’s programs, I stumbled into the world of Yamato<\/em> somewhat by chance. While working on Dawn Chapter,<\/em> I became involved in writing scripts for every installment of the series from 2202<\/em> onward, and I’m still grappling with the question, “What is Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>?” I hope you’ll all check out our latest work, Be Forever Yamato REBEL 3199<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Profile: Hideki Oka<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Born in 1966, Hideki Oka grew up fascinated by kaiju and tokusatsu. In 1978, he was deeply moved by Star Wars<\/em> and aspired to become a film director. He honed his skills working on the Heisei Godzilla<\/em> films and Ultraman<\/em> series, eventually becoming a director himself. His most notable work is Ultraman Saga<\/em> (2012).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hideki Oka Select & Review – Read this for Yamato<\/em> theory!<\/h3>\n

1. Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> by Arashi Ishizu (Published by Asahi Sonorama)<\/p>\n

Based on the early concepts of Aritsune Toyota, one of the creators of Yamato<\/em>, this novelization by Arashi Ishizu consciously distances itself from a militaristic tone. This approach, shared by the main production staff, likely contributed to the unique atmosphere of the first Yamato<\/em> series. (Read it in English here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

2. Farewell to Yamato<\/em> by Ken Wakasaki (Published by Shueisha)<\/p>\n

This novel takes a different approach, focusing on the harsh realities of being a soldier and the struggles of Susumu Kodai as he tries to maintain morale in the face of overwhelming odds. Yuki\u2019s unwavering devotion to Kodai, though perhaps a bit outdated by today\u2019s standards, still holds a certain emotional resonance.<\/p>\n

3. Yamato 2202<\/em> by Yuka Minagawa (Published by Kadokawa)<\/p>\n

From the “Remake Yamato<\/em>” series comes this novelization. With its impressive attention to detail, reinterpretation of established lore, and profound character portrayals that surpass the anime, this series offers a deeper dive into the Yamato<\/em> universe. The illustrations by Michio Murakawa are another major highlight. Currently, four volumes are available, with fans eagerly awaiting the continuation.<\/p>\n

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Continue to the next article<\/a><\/p>\n

Back to the index<\/a><\/p>\n

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