November 2023 turned into a busier month than expected thanks to a new 2199 manga chapter, various announcements, live events, and a sudden burst of information on Yamato 3199. Here’s how all that (plus the regular heartbeat) kept the flames alive…

November 1: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model, Vol. 241

It was an eventful month for builders of Hachette’s giant Hyuga model, which was now down to its final ten volumes. To start with, this volume delivered all remaining parts for the remote control and a handful of fiddlybits (antennae, fins, etc.) to be glued to the hull.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here

See a modeler’s blog here

November 3: Yamato Dawn Chapter continues

“A new story that heralds the dawn of Yamato‘s resurrection…”

September 2021 gave us the first new story from the original timeline since 2009. It was Aquarius Algorithm, the first novel in a series called Dawn Chapter that will fill the 17-year gap between Final Yamato and Resurrection. On this day, it was announced that the second novel is on the way for 2024 (exact publication date TBD). The promotional illustration above is by Umegrafix, the illustrator of the first book.

Read about the making of Aquarius Algorithm here

Read the first chapter here

Photo at right posted on Twitter by Snk22V007

November 3-5: Ishikara Model Maker 2023 exhibition

A new hobby event made its debut the first week of November at a gallery named ArtWarm in Ishikari City, located in the northern province of Hokkaido. Organized by Modelers Club Ishikari, it welcomed contributions from anyone willing to make the trek. As always, Yamato models were well represented.

See a photo gallery here

Photo at right posted on Twitter by blackzero717

November 5: Yamato Meets Classics concert

Previously performed in February and March, this astounding concert was heard again at Tokyo Opera City. If you don’t remember what makes it so special, imagine getting to hear the best Yamato pieces written by both Hiroshi Miyagawa (a 5-part suite) and Kentaro Haneda (the 1984 Grand Symphony) in one sitting. A round of virtual applause is warranted for the hard-working Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Akira Miyagawa with his daughter Chiko on piano), who had to do it all twice in one day.

It’s unknown if the concert was captured on video, but you can see the triumphant walk-off here.

Concerts may be transitory events, but the merch that accompanies them lives forever. In this case, new editions of both scores were available from music publisher Hustle Copy. If you’re willing to try the Worldshopping app, you can order the Miyagawa score here and the Haneda score here.

November 8: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model, Vol. 242

This was a week for BIG MOVES. The central section of the flight deck arrived, finally allowing builders to dust off the forward section and the superstructure (completed months ago) and put them together for the first time.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here

See a modeler’s blog here

November 10: Yamato 2199 manga Chapter 56

Five months after his last installment, Michio Murakawa crossed the finish line again with a 19-page chapter that takes us up to the first moment of enemy contact in the Rainbow Star Cluster.

See the pages here

See the original post at WebNewtype here

Photo above right posted on Twitter by ShiboriTk

November 11-12: Hokkaido Maschinen Association hobby show

Just one week after the Ishikari event, Hokkaido got its second hobby show for November. This one was organized by the local HOBAS modeling club, which specializes in Yamato kits, and was held at the Sapporo Museum.

See a photo gallery here

Photos posted on Twitter by the Yamato Production Committee and Tospophoto

November 12: Yamato X Sumo

Another first was accomplished today when Space Battleship Yamato crossed over into the world of Sumo wrestling. As reported previously, the first two movies are about to make their cinematic comeback in new 4k remasters. In order to spread the word, Tohokushinsha Film Corp. and Bandai Namco sponsored twin banners for display at the Kyushu Sumo Tournament.

This wasn’t just passive advertising, either. It’s customary for these banners to be marched around the wrestling ring itself in the moments between bouts and get a mention by the announcer, which means an entire segment of the Japanese population learned all at once (in person and on live TV) that Yamato is on its way back to theaters.

See a video clip here

November 12: Shinya Takahashi art auctions

Sasha lives again! Her original character designer Shinya Takahashi has made a regular side gig out of painting her and selling his work on Yahoo Japan Auctions, and we all get to see the gorgeous results. (He went two rounds in November, so keep reading for more.)

November 14-16: Yamato 3199 art posted

We were told in October that we’d see something new for Yamato 3199 on November 14, but we got more than expected when the official 3199 website posted previously-unseen production art over three consecutive days!

See at all of it in Yamato 3199 Report 2 here

November 15: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model, Vol. 243

The next segment of Hyuga‘s flight deck arrived this week, along with parts to provide lighting to the previous segments. The new segment couldn’t be attached yet, but it wouldn’t sit there for long.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here

See a modeler’s blog here

November 17: 4k Movie news

In case you were unaware, you can click here to visit the official website for the remastered films. It opens with the following headline at the top:

Everything is so nostalgic…

After half a century, the last hope of mankind Yamato raises anchor!

Both films will play for three weeks each in 36 theaters. Space Battleship Yamato opens December 8 and Farewell to Yamato follows on January 5.

Anime researcher and original Yamato superfan Ryusuke Hikawa contributed the following message:

The great origin of the anime boom returns to theaters with clear 4K remastered images and crisp sound!

In August 1977, when the Space Battleship Yamato movie was released, the media widely reported the “arrival of the anime boom” as young people lined up around movie theaters. The enthusiasm generated by the film greatly broadened the fan base, and even prompted the publication of a magazine specializing in anime. The sequel, Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato, released in August 1978, became the first animated film to attract an audience of 4 million and the second largest Japanese film of the same year, raising the social recognition of animation.

This boom spawned many young people who became creators. Japanese animation has broken away from its focus on children’s animation, and a wide variety of works is now being produced. This is truly a historic accomplishment.

How did this unprecedented and explosive movement come about? The reason is that the passionate human dramas, in which people persist in their convictions and take action for the sake of others even in desperate situations, struck a chord with teenagers. Another major factor was the unprecedented and groundbreaking animated visuals, including intricate mechanical design, deep colors, and special effects such as beams, explosions, and warp, that could be seen on the big screen.

The 4K remastering of the film has brought the passion that resides deep within the material to a much clearer level. It is as if the cry of the soul is coming to the forefront. We hope you will experience the “excitement of the origin” in theaters with a power that is on a different level from that of today’s digital animation!

Advance tickets and bonus posters

REMASTERING CONCEPT

Return everything to its original form. No unnecessary processing. We will simply polish the images and sounds created at that time. This is the ground rule of the 4K remastering process that brings the original Space Battleship Yamato back to life in the modern age.

SOUND

Monaural audio was used for the first release. The newly discovered “master magnetic recording material” was used to further improve the dynamic range and sound quality.

PICTURE

The original negatives, which had been cut up and scattered throughout history, were unearthed and restored, recorded in 4K size, and any damage or minor defects in the negatives were thoroughly removed. The fresh colors of the original shot on 35mm film are once again brought into relief. The remastering work was done by the elite staff of IMAGICA Entertainment Media Service, which boasts the best technology in Japan.

Whether you are familiar with the original Yamato or not, we hope you will enjoy this historical masterpiece reborn in its original form on the big screen in the theater.

November 17: 4k Blu-ray news

Shortly after the movies arrive in theaters, they will be sold on Blu-ray as well. Today the jacket and outer sleeve art for these releases was revealed. Space Battleship Yamato will be released on February 28 and Farewell on March 27.

Bonus features on the first film: trailers, alternate footage from original 1977 release, 16-page booklet. Order it from Amazon.co.jp here or CD Japan here. A limited edition (only sold online to Japanese customers) includes a complete recording script (260 pages).

Bonus features on the second film: trailers from 1978 and 1979, 16-page booklet. Order it from Amazon.co.jp here or CD Japan here. A limited edition (again, only sold online to Japanese customers) includes a complete storyboard book (500 pages).

Later in the month, it was announced that both 4k films will be broadcast in HD on the Star Channel satellite network in Japan. (January 14 and February 4 respectively.) Star Channel will also present encore broadcasts of all three TV series beginning January 8.

November 19: Shinya Takahashi art auctions

Sasha lives again, AGAIN! These were the next three paintings Shinya Takahashi offered on Yahoo Japan Auctions. Get a better look at all six of his November works here.

November 22: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model, Vol. 244

BIG MOVES! This volume provided all the remaining parts needed to plug the forward flight deck into the hull. The last segment of the flight deck was included, but more parts are needed to put it where it goes. As if that wasn’t enough, a bunch of Cosmo Tigers and Cosmo Pythons (8 of each) showed up, too.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here

See a modeler’s blog here

November 22: Series 1 Blu-ray box reissued

Originally released in July 2012, this glorious box set has yet to be topped as the best way to watch the original 1974 TV series. Some episodes are accompanied by digital storyboards and scripts, and one option even puts a vintage TV screen around the video picture.

Read more about the 2012 edition here

Order it from Amazon.co.jp here or CD Japan here

A limited edition of this set sold by Yamato Crew included two bonus items (shown at right): a framed image of the original presentation booklet and a replica acrylic badge; both of these items were originally given out only to broadcasters.

November 24: Yamato 2205 Blu-ray box announced

And the hits just keep coming! Yamato 2205 will get the deluxe box set treatment as well, to be released March 27, 2024. It will include all 8 episodes and the “prelude” feature film Age of Yamato. All the extras found on the previous releases will be included, with the new additions of talkshow events held in movie theaters and online. The new box art (shown above) is by the great Naoyuki Katoh.

Preorder it from Amazon.co.jp here or CD Japan here

Limited editions will (of course) be sold as well. The Yamato Crew edition comes with a framed “photo” of the new crew members. An Amazon edition at a higher price point will include a never-before-seen “Making of 2205” Blu-ray. No further details are available yet, but that version can be preordered here.

November 28: RIP Aritsune Toyota

All hands, please stand and render a Yamato salute to the great Aritsune Toyota, who departed for the sea of stars on November 28. Mr. Toyota was part of the Yamato writing team from the very beginning, starting with the “Asteroid Ship” concept, but that was only one part of a very prolific career that went all the way back to Astro Boy.

Read about the very beginning of the Yamato writing process here

Read an interview about Mr. Toyota’s earlier career here

Posted at the Asahi Shimbun website:

Science fiction writer Aritsune Toyota, who was active as a scriptwriter during the dawn of TV animation, died of esophageal cancer at his home in Tokyo on November 28 at the age of 85. The funeral was held with his close relatives. His wife Hisako was the pallbearer.

Born in Maebashi City in 1938, he won an honorable mention in the 1st Imaginary Science Fiction Contest with Time Gun in 1961, and participated in the SF fanzine Uchujin. At the same time, he worked on scripts for the animated TV series Astro Boy and Eight Man. He also worked on the science fiction concepts for the blockbuster hit Space Battleship Yamato. His representative works include the Yamatotakeru series. He served as president of the Science Fiction Writers’ Club of Japan from 1986 to 1987.

A few books by Mr. Toyota:

You can be an SF Writer, but maybe not Tokuma Shoten, 1986 | The Genesis of Japan SF Anime Hankyu Communications, 2000

The Truth of Space Battleship Yamato Shodensha, 2017 | The Dawn of Japan Anime Bensei Publishing, 2020

November 29: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model, Vol. 245

The month ended with a very satisfying volume of Hyuga parts. This time, all the fighters from the last volume could be attached to their palettes and placed inside the hangar cavity, which could finally be covered over by the aft flight deck (which is removable). Next up, a Cosmo Seagull could be assembled and placed into a bay of its own. But wait, there’s more! An additional eight Cosmo Tigers and Cosmo Pythons were provided for positioning on the deck itself.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here and a demo video here

See a modeler’s blog here: part 1 | part 2

With that, construction of Hyuga is officially complete. So why are there five more volumes to go? Extras, that’s why. Keep watching these reports for details.

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