It may be impossible to construct a complete timeline of Yamato history in the Vintage Report series since previously unknown artifacts can emerge without warning, and sometimes in waves. This happened in early 2025 with a motherlode of magazines that was big enough to get its own page. They are presented here in chronological order, and have also been integrated into the appropriate Vintage Reports for continuity.
September 1, 1978: Terebiland, October issue
Despite continuous coverage for the first Yamato TV series in 1974/75, Tokuma Shoten’s manga magazine remained relatively quiet when the movies came along, giving just two pages of coverage to Farewell in August. The explanation was right there in the title: “Terebi” (TV). With manga serials such as Kamen Rider, Daimos, Spider-Man, and Starzinger, its primary focus was on TV shows. Fortunately, Yamato was about to return to that realm.
This issue announced the approach of Yamato 2 (to premiere October 14) and opened the gate on a whole new round of continuous coverage in full color.
September 1, 1978: Weekly Asahi Geino, Sept 7 issue
As one of Japan’s many news and gossip magazines, this one from Tokuma Shoten was always ready to report on celebrity lifestyles. In the wake of Farewell to Yamato‘s unprecedented success, Yoshinobu Nishizaki entered their ranks and got a two-page article to show for it.
Read the article here
November 1978: Weekly Bunshun
What did an actual Yamato veteran think of the anime?
This entry takes some explaining. The name of the weekly literary magazine shown above left is a contraction of Bungei Shunju, which translates as “Literary Spring and Autumn.” It makes the list because of an extraordinary article titled The Space Cruiser Yamato Generation, written by Mitsuru Yoshida. He bore a unique perspective as an actual sailor aboard the Battleship Yamato on its final voyage in 1945.
Yoshida authored a highly respected book titled Requiem for Battleship Yamato, based on a personal essay he wrote in September 1945. It was to be published in a magazine the following year, but ran afoul of government censorship. A revised version made it to print in 1947 and first appeared in book form August 1952. The revised and definitive edition was published in August 1974, and an English edition finally appeared from University of Washington Press in 1985. (Read it here or listen to it here.)
The article from Weekly Bunshun was itself translated and appeared in a 1979 issue of the quarterly Japan Echo magazine (Vol. VI, No. 1). Incidentally, Yoshida died that year at age 56. These issues of Weekly Bunshun and Japan Echo are both difficult to find, but thanks to friend-of-the-website David Merrill, you can click here to read a PDF of the article.
October 1978: Animation magazine, November issue
Even if you consider yourself an anime media historian, you get a pass if you never heard of this magazine, because it’s just about as obscure as it gets. It didn’t even get its own spot on the stands since it was a bimonthly supplement of Monthly Picture Book, published by Subaru Shobo. It differed from other anime magazines of the day in that it focused more on the craft and business side of the industry.
The 54-page inaugural issue featured several columns from experts, a large feature on Future Boy Conan, and various articles on anime techniques and how a studio functions. There was also a single rather philosophical piece on Yamato‘s place in the growing field of anime.
Read it here
October 1, 1978: Terebiland, November issue
Terebiland‘s monthly coverage of Yamato 2 began here with a 4-page article two weeks before the premiere. It mainly relied on mecha art that had been created for Farewell to Yamato, but also offered the first images of Comet Empire characters redesigned for TV.
See the pages here
November 1, 1978: Terebiland, December issue
Terebiland‘s second issue of Yamato 2 coverage examined the opening episodes with a lavish 9-page article and a bonus gift: a set of punch-out “Mecha Bromide” cards with their own carrying case. This would be the first in a series of Yamato items bundled with the magazine.
See it all here
December 1, 1978: Terebiland, January 1979 issue
The third issue of Terebiland to feature color coverage of Yamato 2 came with another 9-page article, a 2-sided foldout, and a bonus gift touted as a “Secret File.” What was so secret about it?
Click here to see the article and find out.
December 1979: Animation magazine, January issue
The second bimonthly issue of Animation included a lengthy article that looked back at the major developments in anime over 1978, in which the premiere of Farewell to Yamato was the unrivaled high point. The portion devoted to the film captured unique facts and figures, making it an excellent time capsule.
Read it here
Only three more issues of Animation followed this one before the publisher went bankrupt, then it was picked up by another publisher named Bronze Co. (in November ’79) who renamed it Monthly Animation. The professorial tone and conservative graphics did not compete well with other anime magazines, and it vanished in less than a year.
On the other hand, the issue that covered Be Forever Yamato delivered some very insightful journalism.
See it in Vintage Report 26 here.
January 1, 1979: Terebiland, February issue
Terebiland‘s fourth issue of Yamato 2 coverage had another splashy article (7 pages this time), and the third in a series of bonus gifts. This time the good people at Tokuma Shoten included a set of kid-size playing cards with Yamato 2 images, along with a postcard.
See it all here
February 1, 1979: Terebiland, March issue
This was the fifth straight issue to offer color coverage of Yamato 2 and a bonus gift. The article was a 7-pager on Yamato‘s battle with Dessler during the approach to Telezart with some custom artwork. The gift was “Battle Menko,” a punch-out card game that helped you fill the endless hours between TV episodes.
See it all here
April 5, 1979: 6th Grader, May issue
Just before Yamato 2 ended its first broadcast, this issue of Shogakukan’s elementary school digest gave it a nod as part of an article profiling anime heroes. Yamato 2 and several of its contemporaries got an overview of heroic moments.
Read the article here
July 9, 1979: Middle 2nd Age, August issue
Obunsha’s student digest for 8th graders took on quite a challenge in this issue, handing over a questionnaire to no less than 75 anime voice actors. Several Yamato actors were caught up in the net to contribute their two yen.
Read their answers here
December 1, 1979: Terebi Kun, January 1980 issue
Blue Noah and The New Voyage were the subjects of regular coverage in Shogakukan’s monthly manga magazine (which was also the home of the inescapable Doraemon). Found in this issue were a 6-page full color Blue Noah article with some glorious original art, an ongoing Blue Noah manga, and the third chapter of a New Voyage film comic adaptation (which was, incidentally, the first Yamato film comic published by anyone).
See the pages here
December 29, 1980: Terebi Kun, February issue
Released right at the end of 1979, this issue of Shogakukan’s monthly manga magazine brought the thunder again with some spectacular Blue Noah art and the fourth chapter (out of nine) of The New Voyage film comic.
See the pages here
January 5, 1980: 6th Grader, February issue
Shogakukan’s monthly magazine for 6th graders presented the fourth (and final) part of an illustrated storybook serial adapting The New Voyage with a combination of stills and new artwork.
See the pages here
May 1, 1980: Terebiland, June issue
Tokuma Shoten’s monthly manga magazine got readers primed for a new Yamato adventure with a trio of “top 5” lists in a 7-page article. They covered the top 5 great battles, top 5 secrets about the Wave-Motion Gun, and top 5 secrets about warping. With cartoons! How could your curiosity NOT be piqued by such an offering?
Read the article here
June 17, 1980: Middle 1st Age summer special
This oversize edition of Obunsha’s student digest for 7th graders offered a Yamato poster with the number 3 on it. While Yamato III was in preproduction at this point, it wasn’t public knowledge yet. Instead, the “3” referred to Be Forever Yamato, which had been known as “Yamato Part 3″ since it was first announced.
Inside the magazine could be found an article that collected handicraft ideas submitted by readers. One such craft was how to build your own flying Yamato. Find out how here.
October 1, 1980: Fanroad No. 2
Fanroad was a quarterly spinoff of the bimonthly Animec magazine, published by Rapport. Released shortly before the premiere of Yamato III, it had some advance promo to offer. But the real charm of this magazine lay in its casual approach since it was written by fans for fans. One of the regular features was titled Adventure Trek, in which fans would document their search for knockoff and pirated anime merch. In this issue, that trek took them to Taiwan where foreign-born Yamato booty was waiting to be discovered.
Read the article here
November 1, 1980: Terebiland, December issue
With Yamato III freshly off the launch pad, Tokuma Shoten’s manga magazine gave it seven pages of coverage, which linked to a longer 11-page article that gathered up the most impressive “space mecha” seen so far in the saga.
See all the pages here
Late 1980: Star Blazers fan club promo
It’s always a nice surprise when something in English emerges from the Yamato timeline, and this one was small but mighty. In response to the famous Star Blazers article in issue 35 (June 1980), an American fan named Michael Pinto placed an ad in the classified section of Starlog #44 (March 1981 issue) to begin the process of organizing fandom outside Japan.
He did this same in the February 1981 issue of Astronomy (publishing date unknown), which showed an excellent use of cross-pollination.
Click here to read the results in Michael’s own words.
Special thanks to Roger Proctor for these finds