March 26: Leiji Matsumoto symposium
A fan-led event took place today, hosted by the Japan Foundation. Cosmo DNA writer/editor Tim Eldred (the guy writing these words) was joined by three other researchers (Dr. Deborah Shamoon, Dr. Darren-Jon Ashmore, and translator Zack Davisson) to spend a delightful two hours talking about the life and career of Leiji Matsumoto just over a year after his passing.
The show began with a 10-minute video presentation from each participant and continued into a wide ranging Q&A that covered as many topics as possible. Don’t worry if you missed it; the whole thing was recorded and can be seen on Youtube here.
Photo posted on Twittery by khara_inc2
April 13: Hideaki Anno exhibit in Aichi
An exhibition devoted to the life and career of anime/film auteur Hideaki Anno made its original debut in 2021, and reopened in Aichi’s Kanayama Minami Museum where it would stay through June 23. As one of Yamato‘s most vocal first-gen fans, Anno amassed an impressive archive of rarities that form a small part of a very wide-ranging collection.
See a photo gallery of the Yamato display here.
See more photos here: Gamepress article | Exhibition website | Comprehensive Twitter thread | Video clip
April 20-21: HAL-Con 2024
A western SF convention in Japan? It’s about time. HAL-con originally took place in the late 70s, then was revived by an organization in Nova Scotia (Canada) in 2008. This year, the international version of HAL-con took place at the Kawasaki International Center. The bi-lingual program book gives us a tiny bit of insight into their Yamato 2024 panel featuring Animator Kia Asamiya and Director Nobuyoshi Habara with the following description:
We explosively talk about Space Battleship Yamato and so on with our GoH [Guest of Honor] Kia Asamiya and a director of anime series of Yamato, Nobuyoshi Habara. From fans to anime staff. Pursues which two of them have followed. What kind of stories do you expect to hear? Don’t miss it!
Visit the English-language HAL-Con 2024 website here
Visit the Canadian home page here
Promo art by Michio Murakawa for the May 18 rebroadcast
May 4: Radio Suite Yamato 1974
The sixth annual 4-hour Yamato radiopalooza took place on 775 (Nanako) Live FM with hosts Andro Umeda and Michio Murakawa along with some special guests. The theme this year was “back to the origin” with most of the attention on the original series.
Hour 1 was filled by a conversation with the most special of all possible guests: Harumi Ichiryusai, formerly known as Yoko Asagami, the voice of Yuki Mori herself. She discussed the full arc of her acting career from the very beginning, talking at length about memorable recording moments. The hosts did their usual deep dive, comparing TV episode recordings with the corresponding scenes in radio drama form. They also played some of Asagami’s solo songs, discussed her early 80s radio show Animetopia (sample it here), and finished with a taste of what she does now, rendering the story of Yamato in the form of a classical dramatic reading.
The second hour was a treasure trove of previously unreleased music, alternate arrangements that inject new life into nostalgic BGM tracks that have become familiar friends over the decades. Hopefully they will be part of the new releases being promised for the 50th anniversary.
The third hour examined the making of the original series, and the final hour was devoted to listener requests and rarities.
Time was also spent reviewing the impressive list of concert events being planned for the anniversary year, a total of 11 between now and October 6. The October 6 concert may in fact be the best of the bunch; a very rare full performance of the original Symphonic Suite Yamato to be held at Galaxcity Nishiarai Cultural Hall in Tokyo. (Promo image above.)
Listen to two vintage songs by Yoko Asagami: Sad Satin Doll | Street Corner Cafe (with Rihoko Yoshida)
Photo at right posted on Twitter by hiro1963
June 8: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko: Divine Animator and Draftsman
Anime/manga pioneer and Yamato alumnus “Yas” received another well-earned honor today when a dedicated exhibition opened at the Hyogo Prefectural Art Museum. Over 1400 pieces went on display covering his entire career from childhood to his latest projects. Naturally, a collection of Yamato materials is included, such as storyboards and poster sketches.
Yasuhiko was there for the ribbon cutting and his first act was to contribute an original piece to the exhibition, a typically self-effacing caricature.
Related links:
Video commercial | Museum website | Exhibition website
The first time Yamato fans realized something was up was when the June issue of Geijutsu Shincho [Art New Trends] was published by Shinchosha on May 24. It came with a massive 70-page “Yas” cover story containing an extended interview, career history, and a previously-unseen piece of Yamato art; his original sketch for the enduring Farewell to Yamato movie poster (which is, of course, on display at the museum).
The following caption accompanied the art in the magazine article:
This is a rough sketch for the poster for the film Farewell to Yamato. We visited Mr. Yasuhiko to research the exhibition, and when this came out of a cardboard box in the warehouse, everyone let out a cheer. It was known that he had drawn Susumu Kodai and Yuki Mori in this poster, but to actually find the rough sketch was a real surprise.
An even bigger surprise was a deleted scene for Series 1 (in storyboard form) depicting Dessler talking his officers through a strategy for conquering the galaxy, standing in what looks like a 3D holo-room. Needless to say, we didn’t see this on TV.
Get a look at the whole thing here
July 20: Asahi Culture session
You may have watched Yamato, but have you ever watched it with an educator? The Asahi Culture Center in Tokyo offered that experience on this day in a program called Read Anime. The instructor is well-known anime critic Ryota Fujitsu, and the course description is as follows:
The most superficial way to watch anime is to rely on words to follow the story. However, as you can see from watching a few works, the story is not only told by words, but is more eloquently told by the images and the direction that controls them. By explaining the production background of anime and following in detail how the story is told in images, this course aims not only to give a deeper appreciation of each work, but also to update the way you watch anime.
A session takes place on the third Saturday of each month, and the July 20 session focused on Yamato. If we’re lucky, maybe some published content will come out of it.
Photos posted on Twitter by aoi2199 and warp2220
September 29: Fan party
Did fans hold their own anniversary events? You bet they did. A few of those whose names we see in the monthly reports gathered on the 29th at a karaoke venue in Ueno (Tokyo) for a pre-event they called the “One week until the 50th Anniversary” party that included a custom poster (illustrated by fan artist DARTS) and Yamato cake.
And, of course, karaoke. Wonder what they sang together…
Photos posted on Twitter by ekasumif_violin and Sankeiphoto_TYO
October 6: 50th Anniversary day
The 50th anniversary of Space Battleship Yamato‘s original TV broadcast was overwhelming. Live events, news flashes, social media posts, and more brought fans together from all parts of the globe to observe a day of love and celebration with a milestone concert and theatrical screening as the signature events.
It was enough to warrant its own report, so click here and dive in!
Photo posted on Twitter by aoi2199
October 28: Tokyo International Film Festival 2024 opens
When 2023 ended with the release of the first Yamato movie in 4K (followed by Farewell at the start of 2024), it wasn’t yet evident how long its legs would be. As it turns out, a 4K upgrade gets your movie into the lineup of the prestigious Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).
Photo posted on Twitter by aoi2199
And it wasn’t just the 1977 film on the docket; before it was shown on November 3, it was preceded by Farewell in 4K (Nov 1) and Age of Yamato (Nov 2), then followed by Be Forever and REBEL 3199 Chapter 1 (both on Nov 4).
Photo posted on Twitter by S Meijin
Screenings were held outside in Hibiya, a district of Tokyo. This unfortunately put some films on a collision course with rainy weather, but there were still hardcore fans willing to stick it out.
Photo posted on Twitter by aoi2199
And wherever you find a Yamato film, you’ll find Yamato merch. On sale nearby were TIFF tote bags with key art for 3199 Chapter 2 and towels to soak up the rain.
Photo posted on Twitter by forest_fu
October 31: Yamato panel at TIFF
Ryusuke Hikawa, the O.G. Yamato superfan, brought his own unique perspective to the Tokyo International Film Festival in a panel discussion that examined the very beginning of Yamato and the special magic that set it apart from everything that had come before.
Read about his panel here
Watch it on Youtube here (captions and auto-translate ON)
Photo posted on Twitter by Aoi2199
Some of the outdoor screenings were beset by rain, but the hardcore fans took it in stride, watching the battles against the Comet Empire as the “sky was weeping,” as one fan put it.
When it came to the final day, a special guest turned up…
It was none other than Yoko Asagami, the original voice of Yuki Mori. And that voice still had plenty to say, describing her audition process and the impact the role has had on her life.
Her appearance was generously covered by online media; read all about it here.
Watch the presentation (with live translation) on Youtube here
November 2 & 3: Rowguanes ’24 Exhibition
From the official website: This plastic model club was founded by actor Koji Ishizaka on February 23, 2009. It was started by seven people, including some in the media, with the aim of helping the older generation rediscover the joy of plastic models, making them easy and fun to build, and “giving back” to the plastic models that have enriched our lives. The goal is to spread the word about plastic models as something that can shine into the future.
An annual modeling competition is held in the spring for the “Rowguanes Cup,” and other general exhibitions are held throughout the year in Yokohama. This event was one of those, and space was reserved to commemorate Yamato‘s 50th anniversary.
See a photo gallery here
December 22: Kazuko Kawashima talk event
The voice of the stars still shines! Kazuko Kawashima, whose heavenly vocals grace the “Eternity of Space” theme, appeared in a live talk show in a Tokyo cafe. She talked about events leading up to her debut, her pre-Yamato work, and her music projects in both anime and tokusatsu. She also performed live, and made sure to cover the 50-year-old piece she’s most famous for.
Photos posted on Twitter by THE UDONEEDS
Audience members were surprised to find another star in their midst, none other than Yoko Asagami, voice of the original Yuki. At right, a Kawashima signature from a May 6 event that included the words “Yamato Scat” and “A~A~”