SciFi Japan
    All 393 soft vinyl figures are illustrated! Source: Kodansha Ltd. press release Photo courtesy of Kodansha Ltd. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©2023 KODANSHA LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Many people who love the Ultraman series have purchased soft vinyl figures of the different heroes and monsters from the franchise. TV Magazine Deluxe 262: Definitive Edition - Ultra Soft Vinyl Series Complete Super Encyclopedia (テレビマガジンデラックス262 決定版 ウルトラソフビシリーズ コンプリート超百科, Terebi Magajin Derakkusu 262 Ketteiban Urutora Sofubi Shirīzu Konpurīto Chō Hyakka), to be released on September 4th by the Japanese publisher Kodansha, is a guide to the current lineup of products from Bandai's "Ultra Hero Series" and "Ultra Monster Series." The book covers figures from the original Ultraman to the latest hero Ultraman Blazar, and monsters from Alien Baltan to the latest figure, Baby Demaaga. Furthermore, subsets such as the large "DX" series and the "Advance" series with its fun gimmicks and actions are included. A

    Source: Nijigen No Mori press releaseOfficial Website: https://nijigennomori.com/godzilla_awajishima/ Photo courtesy of Nijigen no Mori. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. On Saturday, September 2, the Nijigen-no-mori theme park's popular attraction "Godzilla Interception Operation - National Awaji Island Institute of Godzilla Disaster" (ゴジラ迎撃作戦 ~国立ゴジラ淡路島研究センター~, Gojira Geigeki Sakusen ~ Kokuritsu Gojira Awajishima Kenkyū Sentā ~ will launch a new craft event. The "Godzilla Unglazed Color Painting Experience" (ゴジラ素焼き色塗り体験, Gojira Suyaki-Shokunuri Taiken)  is perfect for the autumn season of art. In this event, visitors will be able to create their own Godzilla by color-painting the own design on Nijigen-no Mori's original "Unglazed Godzilla," a white figurine of the original Godzilla. Visitors will also be able to take their painted Godzillas home. as souvenirs Godzilla continues to evolve with the upcoming November 3 rdrelease of GODZILLA MINUS ONE (ゴジラ-1.0/ゴジラマイナスワン, Gojira Mainasu Wan). a film commemorating the 70th anniversary of Godzilla's birth! Parents

    Photo courtesy of DeAgostini Japan. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. Source: DeAgostini Japan press release Godzilla fans in Japan can now pre-order "Godzilla Osechi 2024" (ゴジラおせち2024, Gojira Osechi 2024) for the upcoming New Year's holiday season. Osechi is a collection of small, traditional Japanese New Year's delicasies presented in a wooden display box.  This will be the fourth consecutive year that the collectibles company DeAgostini Japan has released a Godzilla-themed Osechi. With 2024 marking the 70th anniversary of the first GODZILLA (ゴジラ , Gojira) released in 1954, the fourth edition of the "Godzilla Osechi" will offer extras commemorating the history of the King of the Monsters. Special features includea poster of all the previous Godzillas and trading cards featuring Godzilla and other monsters from the anniversary films. In addition, a deluxe Oshechi edition with an ornament of Godzilla (1954) will be available  in limited quantities.

    Photo courtesy of WayForward. © 2023 13AM Games. All rights reserved. Published by WayForward Technologies Inc. The fight rages on with a new playable character, new Arcade Mode, Japanese VO, and a lot more!Source: 13AM Games press release The most titanic beat-'em-up in video games is getting even bigger! Independent game studio WayForward and developer 13AM Games are excited to announce that a new free update plus new premium downloadable content are now available for the critically acclaimed kaiju brawler, DAWN OF THE MONSTERS. Adding new playable character Meteor Temujin, new Arcade Mode, extra character skins, Japanese voiceovers, and more, the new DAWN OF THE MONSTERS expansions are available on PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox, and PC, and will be released soon on Nintendo Switch. A trailer showcasing the new features can be seen at https://youtu.be/_Y_XJ8Fsu_c. The premium DAWN OF THE MONSTERS: ARCADE + Character DLC

    Photo courtesy of ABLAZE. Source: ABLAZE press release Special Thanks to Erik Jansen (MediaLab) Comics and graphic novel publisher ABLAZE previews a potent and extensive roster of new series launches set for November. First up comes SHAKESPEARE MANGA THEATRE from the legendary Osamu Tezuka. The first of 4 titles from the most famous manga pioneer to join the ABLAZE catalog. Another new series joins the ABLAZE Manga catalog with the English language debut of GANNIBAL, a terrifying manga horror series by Masaaki Ninomiya, on which the acclaimed Hulu TV show is based. Also launching comes THE AGENT, a full-color supernatural crime thriller by writer/creator, Mathieu Gabella, and artist Fernando Dagnino. A new release by the acclaimed Italian creator, Zerocalcare, also debuts in November with the release of THE ARMADILLO PROPHECY. The graphic novel was the

    Photo courtesy of AMCN Entertainment Group. ©Fujino Omori-SB Creative Corp./Danmachi4 Project Source: Aiming Inc. press releaseOfficial Site: https://www.danmachi-danchro.com/en/ Special Thanks to Scott Barretto (AMCN Entertainment Group)  Tokyo, Japan - Aiming Inc. (CEO: Tadashi Shiiba) announces that its new battle action RPG game IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON?: BATTLE CHRONICLE (aka DanChro) will be releasing in 81 countries around the world.   ■  All About IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON?: BATTLE CHRONICLE IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON?: BATTLE CHRONICLE is a brand new battle action RPG set in the world of IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON?" (also referred to as Danmachi.) Relive the story of IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON? and

    Source: DeAgostini Japan Photo courtesy of DeAgostini Japan. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD.  The collectibles company DeAgostini Japan is now accepting orders for their limited edition GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1955) Soft Vinyl Kit Grey ver. (ゴジラの逆襲(1955)ソフビキット グレーver., Gojira no Gyakushū (1955) Sofubi Kitto Gurē ver.). The figure is sculpted by Kenichi Matsumoto and based on Godzilla as seen on icy Kamiko Island, looking up at the attacking jets during the climax of the second film in the series. This soft vinyl kit requires some minor assembly.   ■ Details Size: Height Approximately 195mm  (7.7 Inches)Material: PVCMade in JapanPrice: 13,000 円 (Approximately $89.63 US) Order Deadline: Sunday, December 31, 2023Order Link: https://deagostini.jp/select/detail.php?id=20714   TM & © TOHO CO.   Photo courtesy of DeAgostini Japan. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. Photo courtesy of DeAgostini Japan. TM &

      Photo courtesy of SEEKER CREATIVE STUDIO. ©Masamune Shirow・Production I.G/Kodansha・Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Production Committee Source: SEEKER CREATIVE STUDIO press releaseOfficial Site: https://shibuya.parco.jp The GHOST IN THE SHELL SAC_2045 x THE SUGAR PUNCH (『攻殻機動隊 SAC_2045』×THE SUGAR PUNCH, Kōkaku Kidōtai: SAC_2045 x THE SUGAR PUNCH) pop-up store opened at 2G TOKYO on Tuesday, August 22nd. It will run for one week, closing next Tuesday, August 29th. Photo courtesy of SEEKER CREATIVE STUDIO. © 2023, THE SUGAR PUNCH THE SUGAR PUNCH was launched as a "creator platform" involving various creators in fashion, graphics, video, music, and art to reimagine the titles that manga geek graphic designer SUGAR fell in love with. Based on the love for the original works, graphic designs were created to serve as "advertisements" for the original titles, and brand logos were created for each work to match the logos of the original

    Win a set of three PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING - Deluxe Jaeger Action Figures from Diamond Select Toys! Photo courtesy of Diamond Select Toys. © 2018 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Source: Diamond Select Toys Special Thanks to Zach Oat Diamond Select Toys is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a set of three Deluxe Select Action Figures from the mechs-vs.-kaiju movie PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING! Series 1 depicts the film's Jaeger robots Gipsy Avenger, Saber Athena and Bracer Phoenix, each measure between 6.75" and 8.75" tall, and feature approximately 16 points of articulation, plus interchangeable parts! Each Jaeger is packaged in full-color window box, with side-panel artwork for shelf reference. Sculpted by Bigshot Toyworks, these figures have a retail price of $29.99 each. OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES and INFORMATION Prize: A. There is one (1) prize, consisting of the PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING -

      Garage kit maker Hiroshi Asakawa sculpts all the monsters from ULTRAMAN Episode 8: THE MONSTER ANARCHY ZONE. From left to right - Magula, Red King, Pigmon, Chandlar and Suflan. Photo courtesy of Hobby Japan. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Source: Hobby Japan Co., Ltd. press release   Cover to ASU KOUBOU: ULTRA MONSTER MUSEUM. Photo courtesy of Hobby Japan. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Hobby Japan, Inc. (HQ: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Daisuke Matsushita) has released Asu Koubou: Ultra Monster Museum (アス工房 ウルトラ怪獣ミュージアム, Asu Kōbō Urutora Kaijū Myūjiamu), a collection of Ultra Monster works, at bookstores across Japan. The book is also available from Japanese bookstores and hobby shops in North America. Asu Koubou: Ultra Monster Museum is a showcase for Hiroshi Asakawa, head of the garage kit studio Asu Koubou (アス工房, Asu Kōbō), who has been sculpting all of the monsters that appeared in the original ULTRAMAN (ウルトラマン, Urutoraman 1966-67) television series.

    Source:  Ghost X Ghost press release Special Thanks to Brock Otterbacher Baragon returns to Ghost X Ghost with a new look! The new NIGHT HUNT Variant Baragon Metalcropolis T-Shirt is now available for PREORDER! Also, we're bringing back the original version in a new form, with a few twists - as a BLACKLIGHT screen-printed poster with updated art! T-shirt preorders run until FRIDAY, August 25th, at NOON PST, and the poster is a limited edition of 100!   ■ Baragon METALCROPOLIS Night Hunt Variant T-Shirt Photo courtesy of Ghost X Ghost. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. BARAGON, the subterranean monster, has been reimagined as a metal band! in this limited edition t-shirt! This is the latest in our METALCROPOLIS series of designs- taking your favorite characters, and making them METAL! Screen printed on a 100% soft spun cotton black t-shirt.   ESTIMATED DELIVERY

    Impress Holdings, Inc. press release<Official Site:  https://www.rittor-music.co.jp/product/detail/3720317429 Cover to the new book The Adventures of Akio Jissoji by author Takeshi Yagi. Photo courtesy of Impress Holdings. © 2023 Rittor Music,Inc., an Impress Group company Akio Jissoji (1937-2006) joined Tsuburaya Productions in the company's earliest days and established himself as a standout director on ULTRAMAN (ウルトラマン, Urutoraman 1966-67) and ULTRASEVEN (ウルトラセブン, Urutorasebun, 1967-68) due to his use of creative camera angles and framing, lighting and shadows, and other storytelling techniques. He would then direct New Wave films for the Art Theatre Guild, including the award-winning -- and controversial - The Buddhist Trilogy consisting of THIS TRANSIENT LIFE (無常, Mujō, 1970), MANDARA (曼陀羅, 1971) and POEM (哥(うた), Uta, 1972).  Additional credits would include FX films like TOKYO: THE LAST MEGALOPOLIS (帝都物語, Teito Monogatari, 1988) and adaptations of horror and mystery stories by novelist Edogawa Rampo, such as WATCHER IN

    Photo courtesy of Cospa Co., Ltd. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS  Shirts Featuring Zetton, King Joe and Kanegon! Source: Cospa Co., Ltd. press release Last week, Cospa Corporation announced a new wave of T-shirts and tote bags based on the Godzilla series. Not wanting to leave the Ultraman series out,  the Japanese costume and apparel company has just revealed three new additions to their line of Ultraman goods. These products will be available from hobby stores across Japan this November, though fans can get them early at a pair of Ultraman events... ○ "TSUBURAYA EXHIBITION 2023 - 'The Power of Imagination' Tsuburaya Productions and Ultraman" at Matsuzakaya Museum of Art through Monday, September 24 and at Ikebukuro Sunshine City through Thursday, August 24. ○ "Ultra Heroes EXPO 2023 Summer Festival" at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo through Monday, August 28.  View Cospa's full line of Ultraman

    Photo courtesy of FOX Corporation. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Source: FOX Corporation press release Official Site: https://caseplay.shop/pages/godzilla CASEPLAY, a service operated by FOX Corporation (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Rio Isabata, President) that provides smartphone-related accessories (on-demand printing,) has started selling Godzilla slim protection cases. The cases come in 23 designs, including American comic book styles and a collection of Godzilla posters from the Showa to Reiwa eras, and will be available for 96 models, including iPhone and Android phones. Photo courtesy of FOX Corporation. © FOX Corporation CASEPLAY offers the pleasure of enjoying fashion with cases not only to users of the latest iPhone models, but also to Android smartphone users who have been unable to find the case they want, or to users who want to buy a new case but are having trouble finding the case they want due to

    Photos courtesy of Cospa Co., Ltd. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.  T-Shirts and Tote Bags Featuring "Fictional Weapons," "Godzillas of the Past" and More! Source: Cospa Co., Ltd. press release Cospa Corporation, a Japanese company that designs and manufactures official character costumes and apparel goods, has announced a new wave of T-shirts and tote bags from the Godzilla series. The designs include familiar "fictional weapons" from the franchise, "Godzillas of the past," and "Infant Island," the legendary home of Mothra. These items will first be available from Toho's official Godzilla Store in mid-September 2023. Other hobby stores across Japan will begin stocking them in mid-October 2023, though some retailers-- including Cospa mail order -- are already accepting pre-orders.  View Cospa's full line of Godzilla goods and collectibles at https://cospa.co.jp/itemlist/id/01542/mode/series.   Photo courtesy of Cospa Co., Ltd. TM & © TOHO CO.,

    Photo courtesy of Diamond Select Toys. © LEGENDARY PICTURES Source: Diamond Select Toys press release Special Thanks to Zach Oat Comic-Con is over, and the reveals from Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant LTD set the world reeling! With new action figures, statues, busts and Minimates from such lines as Marvel, Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, AEW, Avatar The Last Airbender, G.I. Joe, Pacific Rim and Lord of the Rings, it was the best of all worlds! Now you can pre-order these great reveals through your local comic shop or online. Read Diamond Select's report for details on the complete line-up of pre-orders, then find a store at comicshoplocator.com or order at diamondselecttoys.com and gentlegiantltd.com! PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING Special Ops DLX Action Figures Series 2 Asst. A Diamond Select Toys release! Time to get back to work! While still on the lookout

    The Meitetsu Department Store hosts a festival featuring the Zanenai Ikimono books and Chibi Godzilla. Photo courtesy of Meitetsu Department Store. Zanenai Ikimono TM Takahashi Shoten Co. Chibi Godzilla TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Source; Meitetsu Department Store Co., Ltd. press release Official Site: https://www.e-meitetsu.com/mds/event/2023summerfes/ Through August 29th, the Meitetsu Department Store in Nagoya is hosting the "Meitetsu Summer Fest" (めいてつ夏フェス, Meitetsu Natsu Fesu), a summer vacation that has sold more than 5 million copies.event for children and parents alike. The main theme of the festival is based on Zannen na Ikimono Jiten (ざんねんないきもの事典, "Encyclopedia of All Things Zanena"), a popular children's book series published by Takahashi Shoten that has sold more than 5 million copies. The books offer humorous descriptions of animals and dispell common misconcenceptions about them, so the 7th floor of the Meitetsu Department Store has an exhibit featuring live animals from the

    Graniph has partnered with the Ultraman Series for new clothing and collectibles. Photo courtesy of Graniph Co., Ltd. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS   Source: Graniph Co., Ltd. press release Graniph Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President: Akihiko Murata) will launch a collaboration with Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Series starting Tuesday, August 15, 2023. A total of 29 items including T-shirts, blousons, socks, hats, and kids' items featuring a wide range of Ultra Heroes and monsters will be available from Graniph's official online store and their retail locations across Japan. Pre-orders have begun on the official site and will run until 11:59 pm on August 14. Some Graniph stores in Japan will hold events to celebrate the release of the Ultraman Series product line. From Tuesday, August 15 - Monday, August 28, a 2.5-meter (8 foot) tall statue of Ultraman will be installed inside the flagship store located in the

    Source: Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd. press release Photo courtesy of Graphic-sha Publishing Co. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Graphic-sha Publishing Co., Ltd. will release Godzilla Great Anatomical Picture Book: The Abyss of Monsters Unraveled by Shinji Nishikawa (ゴジラ大解剖図鑑 西川伸司が紐解く怪獣の深淵, Gojira Dai Kaibō Zukan Nishikawa Shinji ga Himotoku Kaijū no Shinen) on August 8th. Godzilla Great Anatomical Picture Book is written and illustrated by Shinji Nishikawa, a popular artist who created the monster designs for many of the Godzilla movies produced by Toho from 1989 to 2004, drew storyboards for Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman series and designed monsters for the anime series SSSS.GRIDMAN (SSSS.グリッドマン, SSSS.Guriddoman, 2018).Described by the publisher as "an unparalleled, in-depth Godzilla compendium," the Japanese book looks at the different live-action Godzilla designs from the first film (released in 1954) to SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016) plus other monsters that appeared in those movies. In

    The 57-year history of the Ultraman series is gathered in Kodansha's Ultraman & Monsters Notebook 2024. Photo courtesy of Kodansha Ltd. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©2023 KODANSHA LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Kodansha Ltd. press release The cover design depicts the familiar silhouette from the opening of ULTRASEVEN.Photo courtesy of Kodansha Ltd. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©2023 KODANSHA LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Japanese publisher Kodansha has announced that their Ultraman & Monsters Notebook 2024 (ウルトラマン&怪獣手帳 2024,Urutoraman ando Kaijū Techō 2024) will be released on September 11, 2023.  Featuring a stylish red vinyl cover with the silhouette of Ultraseven and the silver foil stamping of the Ultra Guard mark, the book acts as a daily planner, diary and comprehensive Ultra Series information guide. This year marks the third anniversary of the Ultraman & Monsters Notebook series, and the 2024 edition has been reworked to make it even more fun and

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