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    Cover art for Volume 1 of March Story. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2008 Hyung Min Kim, Kyung Il Yang/ Shogakukan

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    Beautiful Works of Art are Haunted in Latest Action Series from the VIZ Signature Imprint Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will release the supernatural manga series March Story on October 19th. The latest addition to the VIZ Signature imprint, by Hyung Min Kim with artwork by Kyung Il Yang, is rated ‘M’ for Mature readers and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. Among the quiet villages and towns of 18th century Europe, demons known as the Ill hide within the most beautiful works of art and are sparked to life by the torment of their creators. Attracted by their jewel-like allure, unwary viewers can find themselves possessed by the Ill and will be driven

    Godzilla cover art by Eric Powell. © 2010 IDW Publishing/ Toho Co., Ltd.

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    The King of the Monsters Returns to Comics... and This Time, He`s Not Alone Source: IDW Publishing press release Special Thanks to Lyle Huckins The biggest star in motion pictures prepares to wreak havoc once again! IDW Publishing is thrilled to announce a partnership with Toho Co., Ltd. to create all-new Godzilla comics. Starting in 2011, Godzilla will smash his way back onto the scene with a cast of characters from his films never before seen in comics. "This new series will be monsters and mayhem, but most importantly, it`s going to be a lot of fun," said Yukio Kotaki of Toho. "Godzilla has been gone from comics for too long and we feel that IDW is the perfect company to welcome him back in 2011." In addition to the King of the Monsters himself, the new comics from IDW Publishing and Toho Co., Ltd. will

    Toho`s flying monster Rodan is just one of many great new figures coming to Kaiyodo`s popular Sci-Fi Revoltech Series of fully articulated toys. Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle. © 1956 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2010 Kaiyodo Co., Ltd.

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    Highly Detailed, Fully Poseable Figures Go on Sale in December Source: Anime Jungle Official Site: kaiyodo.co.jp/revoltech Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota Kaiyodo Company`s Sci-Fi Revoltech Series of super-articulated figures of popular science fiction, horror, and fantasy characters continues in December with the Alien Queen from James Cameron`s classic ALIENS (1986) and one of Toho`s "Big Five" daikaiju stars; Rodan the flying monster. The Alien Queen while be the largest figure released in the line to date and will retail for slightly more than the other toys. Sci-Fi Revoltech figures can be ordered from online retailers, including SciFi Japan sponsor Anime Jungle in Los Angeles. Tell them we sent you! SERIES NO. 018: ALIEN QUEEN From ALIENS (1986) Due December 1st, 2010 Price: ¥3,300 Sculpted by Yuki Watanabe Total Height: 320 mm (Approx. 12.5 inches) Movable Parts: 32 Movable Joints: 25 Bonus Parts: -

    Cover art for NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Box Set 4. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto /2007 Shippuden

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    New Manga and Anime, Special Contests, and Events Scheduled for this Month Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen It’s Naruto’s birthday October 10th, and VIZ Media invites fans to help celebrate the birth of the world’s most popular ninja with the release of the latest volume of the Naruto manga series, the next NARUTO SHIPPUDEN box set, special coverage in Shonen Jump magazine, and a series of fun events planned around the 2010 New York Comic Con and Anime Festival. Naruto Volume 49, the latest manga installment, hits retailers on October 5th (rated ‘T’ for Teens, MSRP $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN). In this volume, The Gokage Summit commences, and the five leaders of the strongest villages in the ninja world meet to discuss the fate of their universe and how to deal with the ever-looming threat of

    Ieyasu Tokugawa fights to unify Japan in Capcom`s new game SENGOKU BASARA SAMURAI HEROES. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 Capcom Co., Ltd.,

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    Source: The Associates press release Official Site: samuraiheroes.com Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh The next evolution from the producer of DEVIL MAY CRY 4, Hiroyuki Kobayashi’s BASARA series is coming to PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii with SENGOKU BASARA SAMURAI HEROES. Set during a tumultuous period of Japanese history, SENGOKU BASARA SAMURAI HEROES follows players as they fight their way to the dramatic battle of Sekigahara. Players will take up the swords and spears of more than a dozen fierce samurai warriors in huge battles against hundreds of opponents in many exciting stages that lead up to the main event. Featuring unique playable characters, as well as supporting generals who will make it easier to command and lead armies, players will see the battle from the perspective of each military commander with the ultimate goal of re-writing history to rule all of 16th century

    Cover for White Rabbit Press` Akihabra audio tour. © 2010 White Rabbit Press

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    New Audio CD Acts as Your Guide to Akihabara Source: White Rabbit Press press release Official Website: www.TokyoRealtime.com White Rabbit Press is proud to release the world’s first professionally produced audio guided walking tour for Tokyo’s Akihabara district. With TOKYO REALTIME: Akihabara, visitors and residents alike can experience a unique behind-the-scenes tour of Tokyo’s ‘Electric Town’, a subculture hotspot for anime, games, manga, maids and more. Assisted by his sentient GPS ‘Navi’, Akihabara expert Patrick W. Galbraith, author of The Otaku Encyclopedia, guides visitors through all the must-see places. Patrick provides historical background and cultural insight along the way, as well as breaking down insider jargon such as otagei, moé and itasha. The release of TOKYO REALTIME: Akihabara marks the second volume in the highly-acclaimed Tokyo Realtime audio tour series. Interweaving narration and interviews within a soundscape of location ambience and music, Tokyo Realtime audio travel

    Haruo Nakajima sucker punches Gaira (the monster he played in WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS) during the publishing party for his autobiography Kaiju Jinsei. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka.

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    Godzilla Suit Actor Celebrates Launch of New Book Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Source: Yosensha Co., Ltd. A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Today a publishing party was held for the autobiography Kaiju Jinsei (Kaiju Life) by Mr. Haruo Nakajima. Mr. Haruo Nakajima is a pioneer of monster suit acting who is well known as the suit actor who played Godzilla and various Toho monsters. He has often been invited to conventions in America; Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, etc. and he is familiar with Tokusatsu fans in the U.S. I attended the G-Fest convention in Hollywood in 2000 and it was my first time to see him. I had chance to hear about his career at that time. In 2010, we now have a chance to know about him more deeply because his autobiography was published in July by Yosensha Co., Ltd. In Kaiju Jinsei,

    More than 100,000 fans flocked to last month`s Anime Expo in Los Angeles.

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    Photos from America`s Largest Anime and Manga Convention Authors: Chris Taylor and Daisy Evans, Not Interested Entertainment Official Site: anime-expo.org Anime Expo was held again this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles, California. The event was, as always, attended by many thousands of fans from across the country (more than 100,000 people attended according to official statements from the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation). Many of these fans were wearing everything from simple to stunningly elaborate costume creations from a wide range of sources including anime, manga, Japanese culture (such as many Morning Musume and various visual kei bands), as well as those dressed in the style of Elegant Gothic Lolita (EGL). Anime Expo featured a huge vendor room with hundreds of vendors selling a wide range of wares, including clothing, accessories, posters, figures, manga and

    Disney/Pixar and Toho characters are the focus of the next two waves of figures in Kayodo`s Sci-Fi Revoltech line. Mogera and Mothra © Toho Co., Ltd. Buzz Lightyear and Woody © Disney/Pixar. © 2010 Kaiyodo Co., Ltd.

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    The Latest Series Brings Two more Characters from Toho’s Tokusatsu Universe Plus an Exclusive Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Official Site: kaiyodo.co.jp/revoltech The Kaiyodo Company`s Sci-Fi Revoltech series continues to bring great, super-articulated figures of popular science fiction characters to the hands of collectors. Thus far, the only Toho character represented has been the monster Baragon from Wave 2. Thankfully, that will change on September 1st, as a figure based on Mothra (1961 style) will join Mogera (1957 style). The previous month sees Buzz Lightyear and Woody from the Disney/Pixar TOY STORY movies. Reportedly the Tyrannosaurus Rex from JURASSIC PARK, Jason Vorhees from the FRIDAY THE 13TH series, and a Type-1966 Maser Tank from WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS will follow in the next few months. Paperwork included with the Gamera and Gyaos Revoltech figures listed Mothra as being series number 010, Woody and Buzz as 011 and 012

    Cover for the award-winning novel Harmony by the late Project Itoh. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2008 Project Itoh. Originally published in Japan by Hayakawa Publishing, Inc.

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    The Best In Critically Acclaimed Japanese Science Fiction And Fantasy Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: haikasoru.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC will deliver out-of-this-world summer science fiction and fantasy reading with the release of three new novels under its Haikasoru imprint this summer – Harmony by Project Itoh, Rocket Girls by Housuke Nojiri and Summer, Fireworks, and My Corpse by Otsuichi. Haikasoru is a unique imprint with a dedicated focus on publishing some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences. For more information on Haikasoru, please visit the dedicated website haikasoru.com. Harmony by Project Itoh Price: $14.99 U.S. / CAN $19.99 · Available July 20th In the distant future, Utopia has finally been achieved thanks to medical nanotechnology and a powerful ethic of social welfare and mutual consideration. But this perfect

    Check out 7 seasons and three films from the hit anime INUYASHI on iTunes, Hulu and VIZAnime.com. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Rumiko Takahashi /Shogakukan Inc. • Yomiuri TV • Sunrise 2009

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    Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: ShonenSunday.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media announces a new promotion for INUYAHSA episodes and feature films (all rated ‘T’ for Teens) available now from the iTunes Store in the U.S. and Canada, as well as the streaming content provider HULU and VIZAnime.com, the company’s premier website for anime. iTunes will offer the first three INUYASHA feature films (dubbed) – INUYASHA THE MOVIE: AFFECTIONS TOUCHING ACROSS TIME, INUYASHA THE MOVIE 2: THE CASTLE BEYOND THE LOOKING GLASS, and INUYASHA THE MOVIE 3: SWORDS OF AN HONORABLE RULER, for a special Download-To-Own (DTO) sale price of $4.99 (U.S.) each until August 3rd. Additionally, INUYASHA TV episode 1 is available to download for FREE, and episodes 2-167, covering Seasons 1-7, will be 50% off and available for iTunes users to download for only $0.99 each. HULU

    A menagerie of Japanese monsters and heroes are on display at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens` new KAIJU! MONSTER INVASION Exhibit. Photo by James Bonney.

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    Japanese Monster Vinyl Figures on Display at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Author: James Bonney Official Site: Kaiju! Monster Invasion! Fans of the kaiju tokusatsu, or rather, their plastic counterparts in South Florida are in for a treat. The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is hosting a brand new exhibit showcasing the various figures from the world of Japanese kaiju film and television entitled KAIJU! MONSTER INVASION! I attended the exhibit on an early Saturday, a perfect escape from my resident state`s notorious heat and humidity, and what a treat it was. The exhibit is located right in front, past the lobby in a large room. Adorning the walls are mounted enclosures showcasing some of the more obscure characters from series such as KAMEN RIDER and BAROM-1 (Choujin Barom-1, 1972), along with a mounted flat screen television looping episodes of Tsuburaya Productions

    Drazoran, an original toy creation by Mark Nagata, graces the cover of the new book Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film. © 2010 HarperCollins Publishers

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    Nicely Packaged but Disappointing Volume Fails to Live Up to Its Title Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: harpercollins.com/books/Killer-Kaiju-Monsters A year ago, New York-based publisher HarperCollins announced their upcoming release Godzilla and Friends: The Art of the Japanese Monster. After various delays, the book finally went on sale this past week with the revised title Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film. The hardcover volume was written and edited by Ivan Vartanian (Full Vinyl: The Subversive Art of Designer Toys) and features illustrations by Mark Nagata (Max Toy Company), Shoji Ohtomo (An Anatomical Guide to Monsters), Ryohei Tanaka (Panic Attack!), and a cut-out paper toy by renowned paper engineer Keisuke Saka. Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film at first looks to be typical of what we come to expect from mainstream published books on Japanese movie monsters. The Japanese studios prohibit the use of

    Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2006, 2010 Yellow Tanabe/ Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise

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    Special Promotion To Celebrate the Domestic Broadcast Launch of the Shonen Sunday Animated Series Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: shonensunday.com/series/kekkaishi Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media invites fans to explore the demon-battling action adventure of popular Shonen Sunday KEKKAISHI anime series with a FREE Download-to-Own (DTO) episode through VIZ Media partners iTunes, Xbox Live`s Zune Marketplace, PlayStation Network and Amazon Video on Demand. KEKKAISHI Episode 1 will be available for free download now through June 17th to celebrate the recent domestic broadcast launch of KEKKAISHI on Adult Swim. KEKKAISHI is based on the hit manga series by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). A story of mystical forces powerful in the region known as Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi”—barrier masters—to guard this land and exterminate

    Logo for DRAGON BALL: ORIGINS 2. Photo courtesy of NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. © Bird Studio/ Shueisha, Toei Animation. © 2009 NBGI

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    Latest Instalment in the Hit Series Brings New Features and Multiplayer Action to PAL territories in Summer 2010 Source: NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe, Indigo Pearl press release Special Thanks to Holly Barnes Goku`s adventures have only just begun, with the news that NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe is bringing the next chapter in the Dragon Ball saga to fans across PAL territories in summer 2010, exclusively for Nintendo DS. Continuing Goku`s adventures from the first game for DS, DRAGON BALL: ORIGINS 2 throws in so many new features and cunning touches that Goku will barely be able to contain his Ki energy. The story in DRAGON BALL: ORIGINS 2 takes players through the Red Ribbon saga from Goku`s first meeting with the Red Ribbon Army to the resurrection of Upa`s father, with no shortage of colourful encounters and Ki energy-charged clashes along the way,

    Retailer solicitations for Kaiyodo`s Sci-Fi Revoltech Wave 3, coming in June. Photos courtesy of Anime Jungle. © 2010 Kaiyodo Co., Ltd.

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    The Special Effects Line Continues Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Source: Anime Jungle Official Site: kaiyodo.co.jp/revoltech Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota and Jim Ballard As previously reported on SciFi Japan, the Kaiyodo Company in Japan has begun a new series in their Revoltech figure line called Sci-Fi Revoltech. It will encompass a wide range of special effects and tokusatsu characters popular in both the United States and Japan. Thus far fan response has been overwhelmingly positive, noting the high quality of the sculpting and paint as well as accessories that come with each figure. The first two waves have already been released. April 1st brought figures based on the titular creature from Ridley Scott’s ALIEN and the classic, avenging god from Daiei’s DAIMAJIN series of films. Wave 2, which came out May 1st, includes the first Toho creature in the Revoltech line: the popular monster Baragon as he

    Cover for the Japanese folktale collection The Legends of Tono: 100th Anniversary Edition. Photo courtesy of Lexington Books. © 2008 The Japan Foundation/Fumiko Yanagita

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    New US Edition of Classic Japanese Folktales Author: Dan Ross Source: Lexington Books Official 100th Anniversary Site (Japanese): tono100.com The Legends of Tono (Tono Monogatari) is a book with a complicated history. In the prefecture of Iwate in the village of Tono a local folklorist, Kizen Sasaki (1886-1933), had been collecting the folktales of the region at the turn of the 20th Century. He was the sort of person who you might imagine walking from house to farm to field just conversing with the people of the land and mentally cataloging their reminiscences and anecdotes. In 1908 Sasaki had a chance meeting with Kunio Yanagita (1875-1962). Already an active writer in Tokyo, Yanagita was a fan of ghost stories ranging from Chinese folktales and Japanese classics to the Western stories of Grimm`s Fairy Tales. Meeting with Sasaki and hearing some of his local stories inspired him

    Cover for the Japanese sci-fi novel Loups-Garous. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2001 Kyogoku Natsuhiko. Originally published in Japan by Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd., Tokyo. English translation rights arranged with Osawa Office, Japan through the Sakai Agency.

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    New Novels By Some Of Japan’s Best Sci-Fi Writers Set To Debut This Spring Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: haikasoru.com Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC has announced the upcoming release of four new science fiction novels under its Haikasoru imprint. Slum Online, by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, and The Stories of Ibis, by Hiroshi Yamamoto, will hit stores on April 20th. Loups-Garous, by Natsuhiko Kyogoku, and The Next Continent, by Issui Ogawa, will be released on May 18th. Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences. The imprint launched in North America with a dedicated focus on Japanese science fiction. Slum Online by Hiroshi Sakurazaka Price: $13.99 U.S. / CAN $18.99 · Available April 20th Etsuro Sakagami is a college freshman who simply drifts through life, but when he logs

    Cover art for Vintage Monsters #1. Photo courtesy of Ralf Lorenz. © 2010 Vintage Movie Posters and MonsterCon

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    Official Site: vintagemonsters.de (Germany) Special Thanks to Ralf Lorenz This month sees the premiere of Vintage Monsters, a new German magazine featuring rare and beautiful international posters and lobby cards from monster, sci-fi, fantasy and horror films. The magazine is the brainchild of Andreas Schiefler (owner of Vintage Movie Posters) and Ralf Lorenz (GUALAGON, Pranke: Das Filmmagazin für Monsterfreaks). Vintage Monsters #1 runs forty pages and focuses on the movies playing at next month`s VINTAGE MONSTERS FESTIVAL in Hamburg with more than 150 full color illustrations from CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982), GODZILLA VS GIGAN (1972), THE BLACK PIT OF DR. M (1959), THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961), THE GREEN SLIME (1968), ANDY WARHOL`S BLOOD FOR DRACULA (1974), DRACULA VS FRANKENSTEIN (1970), TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA (1970), and PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1965). The text is written in both German and English. Vintage Monsters is

    The new series ICHIBAN USHIRO NO DAIMAO will have its world premiere April 2nd on Anime Network. © 2010 Marvelous Entertainment, Inc.

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    Worldwide Premiere of New School Comedy Series Source: Anime Network press release Official Series Site (Japanese): mmv.co.jp/special/daimao Special Thanks to Christian Lopez ICHIBAN USHIRO NO DAIMAO, the latest series from famed director Takashi Watanabe (BOOGIEPOP PHANTOM, NEW FIST OF THE NORTH STAR), will begin simulcasting this April on Anime Network Online. From Marvelous Entertainment (MUSHI-SHI, AIR GEAR) and Artland (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00, LEGEND OF THE GALACTIC HEROES) comes the story of young Akuto Sai, a new student at Constan Magical Academy. On the day of admittance, his aptitude test has predicted his future occupation as... Devil King. And so begins the trials and tribulations of school life as he is hounded by do-gooders, self appointed protectors, and overzealous followers. In this school, there`s no rest for the Devil King. The ICHIBAN USHIRO NO DAIMAO simulcast will be available to registered users. Registration is absolutely free

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