As a new year began, Yamato world added another month of activity to the record. Most of it happened online, but the 50th anniversary screenings and a few physical products made their way into reality as well. He’s the record for January 2025…

January 1: Studio Khara on Twitter

To start the year properly, resourceful elves at Studio Khara found a celebratory image in Series 1 and posted it with their own countdown number. The caption read:

Happy new year! We look forward to your continued support in 2025 as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Space Battleship Yamato. The “Selection Screening” is currently showing in theaters nationwide. The Yamato Complete Records Exhibition, which will bring together previously unseen materials, will be held in Shibuya, Tokyo from Saturday March 15. (73 days left until the event.)

Photo at left posted on Twitter by elfriede

January 1: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 288

The first volume of the year for Hachette’s Patrol Ship model contained a light box for the stern section, allowing builders to install the Wave-Motion Engine nacelle and perform a lighting test.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See a modeler’s blog here

January 1: ArtValt update

Cosmo DNA editor Tim Eldred here, inviting you over to my other website for some bonus content. I watched Star Blazers so obsessively when it first arrived on TV (in 1979) that it nearly supplanted Star Wars as my personal religion. Star Blazers was in my bloodstream. When I got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn it into a comic book it felt like one of those moments I was made for.

Click here to visit ArtValt and see the first two issues in full, plus the story behind them and a previously-unpublished collection of production materials. (And take some time to wander into other corners of the site as well. You might find more things to like.)

January 1: Saga of a Space Battleship, Episode 4

In other fan-project news, the good people over at Typhon Media kicked off the year with the 4th episode of their ongoing web series, the fully animated Saga of a Space Battleship.

Click here to watch Surprise attack! Ice Ring Defense!

January 2: Nobuteru Yuuki on Twitter

Keeping up his annual tradition, Character Designer Nobuteru Yuuki posted a fresh piece of original art for the new year along with this simple message:

Happy new year. I’m sorry for neglecting social media and other things (lol). Thank you for your continued support this year.

January 2: Hobby Japan Web

Have you ever paged through the model-building articles in Hobby Japan magazine and wondered what the modelers actually have to say about their work? Thanks to an article posted on Hobby Japan Web, we can finally find out. On this occasion, modeler Kimura Manabu described his work on Bandai’s new 1/1000 3199 Yamato kit.

Read the article here

January 2: Mantan Web article

As we passed the halfway point between REBEL 3199 Chapters 2 and 3, a writer at Mantan Web took the opportunity to examine where we are in the story and ponder where it could go next.

Read the article here

January 3: 50th Anniversary Selection Screening, Program 2

One week after the premiere of Program 1, the next round took over with three more original TV episodes projected on a big screen in 46 theaters across Japan. This time, the selections were Episode 16 (Beemela), 18 (Magnetron satellite), and 22 (Rainbow Cluster Battle). Ticket holders were given a 2-sided mini-poster featuring the images shown above.

Photo posted on Twitter by AnalyzerAU09

Theater merch was still abundant, but the most popular items (the Captain Okita cup and WMG sight) remained sold out.

January 4: Program 2 talkshow

The day after the premiere, Studio Khara President Hideaki Anno returned to the stage with his cohosts Yutaka Izubuchi (2199 director) and Ryusuke Hikawa (researcher), and this time they brought a very special guest along: veteran animator Kazuhide Tomonaga. Their conversation didn’t get any media coverage, but fans were there to fill the void.

Backstage photo posted on Twitter by the Yamato Production Committee

The following account was posted on Twitter by M.T:

Yesterday at Shinjuku Piccadilly, we had the talk show for the 50th anniversary of the broadcast of Yamato (program 2), and in addition to the previous guests Hideaki Anno, Yutaka Izubuchi, and Ryusuke Hikawa, we also had special guest Kazuhide Tomonaga, and we enjoyed listening to his valuable talk.

After Anno finished introducing the speakers, he loudly proclaimed that Tomonaga was “really an amazing person!” It was impressive. In the talk that followed, it was clear how much respect Anno, Izubuchi, and Hikawa have for Tomonaga.

I couldn’t help but laugh when Anno described Tomonaga as “a quietly amazing person,” but as I listened to him talk and saw his original drawings, I realized how spot on this description was. Anno also said that he was “detailed,” and I really think that’s true.

I knew Tomonaga was great at drawing mecha, but he also drew many characters in the original animation for Yamato, and it was revealed that he was very conscious of Leiji Matsumoto’s drawing style, such as the lines of Yuki Mori’s body and the strength of the lines in the Kodai drawings.

The father and son who see off the battleship Yamato in Episode 2 look like they were drawn by Shigeru Mizuki, but I was surprised that in the rejected original drawings drawn by Tomonaga, they looked very Matsumoto-like. Apparently there were original character designs and it seems they were added later.

Anno also mentioned the depiction of Yamato‘s main gun barrels moving separately to aim, which he said was “the root cause that dragged him into the industry.” This depiction conveys that Yamato is a ship with human life running through it, and I felt that this kind of detail is one of the factors that makes it Yamato.

Tomonaga is still active, and took part in the currently-showing Lord of the Rings: The Battle of Rohan. He was apparently in charge of the horse-riding scenes. When Izubuchi said at the end, “I’d like to see you involved in Yamato again,” the audience erupted in applause. Perhaps he’ll take part in the new Studio Khara production of Yamato?

January 7 & 8: Magmix articles

Anime writer Seiichiro Hayakawa contributed back-to-back Yamato articles to the Magmix website, probably motivated by a recent rewatch. The subject lines were (1) How many times was the Wave-Motion Gun fired and (2) Shiro Sanada is a pretty crazy character.

What did Hayakawa uncover? Click here to find out

Photos posted on Twitter by elfriede and pipipi1014

January 8: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 289

In the second volume for January, the hull for the upper half of the Patrol Ship’s stern appeared, allowing builders to complete this section.

Photo posted on Twitter by Zoo_Aki

At this point, the stern could be temporarily seated into place with the rest of the model, which shows off its full length of just over 21 inches.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See a modeler’s blog here

January 10: Isao Sasaki on Anison Days

Anison Days is a TV series dedicated to live performances of anime themes, and Isao Sasaki dominated the stage in the January 10 episode, backed up by host Hiroko Moriguchi. Entertainment website The Television collected comments from them on the occasion of Sasaki’s 65th anniversary as a performer. (Nope, he still hasn’t retired.)

Read the article here

January 10: 50th Anniversary Selection Screening, Program 3

The final week of this remarkable series commenced with three climactic episodes: 23 and 24 (Battle of Gamilas) and 26 (finale). For the third and last time, ticket holders got a 2-sided mini poster with the images shown above. The image at right was originally created for the October 6, 2024 screening of Episode 1.

Photo posted on Twitter by S. Meijin

The final week kicked off with one more talk show in which Hideaki Anno appeared with two new guests: manga artist Michio Murakawa and Yuki Mori’s original voice actor, Yoko Asagami. When two of Japan’s biggest Yamato fans got to sit down with the most beloved actor in the cast, some serious geeking-out went on display.

The entertainment website Encount offered this highlight:

Looking back on the first episode, Asagami said, “I thought that the image of Yuki and my voice made her into a singular actress. I think that the way Yuki looked, moved and felt at that time happened to fit with my voice, and that’s why people accepted her.” Director Anno said, “I can’t imagine her with any other voice. (Asagami and Yuki) are a set.” Asagami, who was delighted, responded in Yuki’s voice, “Anno-kun!” Anno was excited, saying, “Thank you. I should have recorded it on my iPhone.”

Many other sites reported on the talk show as well. Click here to read three articles that all communicated different talking points.

January 11: Shinya Takahashi online auctions

Character Designer Shinya Takahashi got an early start in 2025, posting four new originals for auction at Yahoo Japan, two of which qualified as NSFW. Get a look at them here.

January 13: Program 3 reaction blog

The real value in revisiting a classic story from another generation is to discover things you missed the first time and examine what it still has to communicate to us today. Blogger “CoupeCamper” did just that in a thoughtful essay written after a screening of the final 50th anniversary program.

Read it here

January 13: Music news

At the time this report was published, REBEL 3199 Chapter 3 was just under two months away, and we got the chance to hear a small part of it in advance. On this day, the short version of the new end title song Eureka was released on Youtube. The singer/lyricist is Miho Karasawa (stage name TRUE), who marks her 10th anniversary as a performer with her contribution to Yamato.

Her comment: “I am once again savoring the joy of being a part of the long history of the series, which has been sung by many legendary artists. Eureka is a song that combines calmness and passion. I put everything I have cultivated over the past 10 years as TRUE into this song. Let’s embark on a new voyage in our 11th year with Yamato…!”

“Let’s be together. Let’s go together. Follow the direction the battleship leads!”

Listen to the song here

Photos posted on Twitter by eldfriede

January 15: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 290

The 40th volume of Patrol Ship parts was an unsexy one, containing the first pieces of the display stand. But at this point, there were only ten more volumes to go.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See a modeler’s blog here

January 15: Hideaki Anno on Twitter

One day before the conclusion of the 50th anniversary screenings, Hideaki Anno of Studio Khara posted some closing thoughts.

Comments by Hideaki Anno

(See the original posts here)

At the commemorative screenings, I talked about the overall fun of Space Battleship Yamato. In Program 1, I mainly talked about the technical appeal. In Program 2, I talked about the directing. And in Program 3, I talked about the character drama. I’d like to add a few more things to what I said about the appeal of Space Battleship Yamato. I hope you’ll get a sense of the further appeal of the series at the Yamato Complete Records Exhibition.

Addendum 1

Key animators who are particularly noteworthy for their depictions of the mecha include Kazuhide Tomonaga, who appeared on stage in Program 2, Kaoru Izumiguchi, who drew Yamato‘s OP and stock flyby scene, Toyoo Ashida, who drew Yamato‘s takeoff, and Noboru Ishiguro, who also directed and created various effects. Space Battleship Yamato was created by not only animators, but also all the staff and cast members, who came together like a miracle.

I hope that on this occasion, as well as the forthcoming exhibition, you can learn a little about the fun and amazing work of animators, and by extension, animation production and each department.

Addendum 2

In Program 3, I said that my favorite scene of Susumu Kodai was where he was protecting Yuki Mori’s body when the Dessler Cannon hit (probably thinking of committing suicide together), but my second favorite scene was in Episode 13, when Kodai’s painful flashbacks came to an end and he was crying and slapping the Gamilas prisoner. The prisoner was crying after that. I remember when I saw Kodai in that scene as a 2nd-year junior high student, I cried as I sympathized with a fictional character for the first time. I also shed tears at the end of Episode 6 and at Tokugawa in Episode 10, but I didn’t fully cry until Episode 13.

Space Battleship Yamato is full of various dramas.

Incidentally, in the script of Episode 26, Kodai was the one who deflected the Dessler cannon. I think it was a wise decision to change that to Sanada’s calm and collected toggle switch operation, and have Kodai just protect Yuki Mori.

Addendum 3

Incidentally, my favorite character in Space Battleship Yamato is Captain Okita. My favorite Okita lines are:

“Don’t panic!”
“Shut up!”
“I don’t want the Earth to end up like Yukikaze.”
“What about the repetition?”
“Overcome your fears and believe in tomorrow.”
“Is this Gamilas’ tactic? Impressive.”
And, “Thank you, that is all.”

The “paternalism” of the 1970s is depicted in this drama.

January 17: Godzilla vs. the Self-Defense Forces, “War Theory” of Anime

When military writers examine the world of anime and tokusatsu, opinions gush out. That’s the formula for this paperback from Bungeishunju. Written by Yu Koizumi, Sugio Takahashi, Hiroyuki Ota, and Marai Mentlein, it covers a wide range of topics including, “Is the operational concept of the multi-deck space carrier in Space Battleship Yamato the same as the Japanese Navy’s three-tiered aircraft carrier Akagi?”

Read more about the book here

January 18: Hot Wind Phobos Battle fan film

When a new Earth history was written for Yamato 2199 involving a battle at Mars, it ignited instant curiosity in the fan community, and Director Yutaka Izubuchi expressed an interest in one day envisioning it himself. Until then, a Japanese fan with the online handle “SabamisoEX” is taking a run at the subject.

Hot Wind Phobos Battle is the working title, and the first part is currently in production with the goal of finishing it before the year is over. Meanwhile, the opening title is ready to view.

See it on Youtube here

Follow SabamisoEX on Twitter here

January 19: Hobby Japan Web

Picking up the ongoing Yamato Mechanics feature in Hobby Japan magazine, the website published Part 3 covering the Cosmo Hound.

Read the article here

Photos posted on Twitter by elfriede

January 22: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 291

The next Patrol Ship volume delivered the major support piece for the display stand, which will supply the model with power. In a break from previous kits, the connector on this one is a mini jack.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See a modeler’s blog here

January 23: ATAC on Twitter

The Anime Tokusatsu Archive Organization (ATAC) is strongly associated with Yamato fandom, being run by Hideaki Anno, Ryusuke Hikawa, and others. It is a nonprofit organization that preserves production artifacts, and is also the repository of their personal collections. On this day, ATAC posted the following message on Twitter:

Thank you for attending the Yamato 50th Anniversary Selection Screenings and talk shows. Some of the attendees made donations to ATAC and applied to become supporting members. Thanks to everyone’s support, the organization of Yamato materials is now 120% recharged!

The Space Battleship Yamato Complete Records Exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the broadcast will be held in Shibuya, Tokyo from March 15th, planned and produced by Hideaki Anno. Many of the materials stored at ATAC will be on display. Please take a look!

Incidentally, the original TV broadcast ended on March 30 1975, so the exhibition will serve as a “bookend” for the 50th anniversary observance.

January 25: Hobby Japan #669

The latest issue of Japan’s longest-running hobby magazine (since 1969) gave us the 4th installment in the Yamato Mechanics series, this time focusing on the Cosmo Tiger II.

Read it here

January 26: Book news

Michio Murakawa’s forthcoming art book from Kadokawa Publishing now has a title: Space Battleship Yamato Iconics. It also has a page count (248) and a release date (March 24).

Murakawa had more to say about it on Bluesky. Click here to read his updates.

Follow him on Bluesky here

Preorder your copy of Yamato Iconics from Amazon.co.jp here

January 29: REBEL 3199 Chapter 2 Blu-ray

The standard edition of Chapter 2 was finally released to the public on this day through multiple vendors, many of whom added their own exclusive bonus items to lure in the collectors.

Photos posted on Twitter by the Yamato Production Committee and makorin5k

Depending on where you shopped, you could get a clear red version of the Andromeda mini-model, renamed Alpharatz…or an art print of the new Dezarium battleship Grodez.

Other sources offered a postcard with art by Michio Murakawa, and the Yamato Crew online store offered a set of four voice recording scripts, one per episode.

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

And if you’re thinking ahead, you can preorder the Chapter 3 Blu-ray from Amazon.co.jp here or CD Japan here (shipping June 25).

On the other hand, if you’re feeling feisty and want the limited edition Chapter 3 Blu-ray with bonus booklets, get your order in RIGHT NOW at CD Japan here.

January 29: HJ Mechanics 22

For those who have been starving for more print media, Hobby Japan has what you need. On this day (after a month of delay) the latest issue of HJ Mechanics sported a handsome Yamato cover that fronted for loads of pictorials on mecha covering the entire remake saga so far.

The entire feature runs over 100 pages, samples of which were published online. Get a better look at HJ Web here or Anime Anime here.

Order your copy now from Amazon.co.jp here or CD Japan here

January 29: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 292

The last Patrol Ship volume for January contained the key portion of the display stand, but nobody could get excited yet; all they could do was plug in the two support arms. The electronics would take another three weeks to collect, and the ship still wasn’t finished. On the other hand, there were only 8 more volumes to go!

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See a modeler’s blog here

January 30: Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra on Twitter

It’s almost concert season again! On this day, Osaka Shion was in rehearsal under the baton of Akira Miyagawa for the next all-Yamato concert, which was held February 1. Watch for an account in the next report.

January 31: REBEL 3199 mobile game

The month closed with exciting news for gamers in Japan; Tsutaya launched their latest Yamato mobile game, Be Forever Yamato 3199, to play for free on iPhone and Android. It appears to be a card-based game that expands on previous editions, which means a lot of new art is being generated. If we’re lucky, it will be collected somewhere in the future.

See the game’s launch page here

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