General activity slowed down in August, but a new trailer, a movie tie-in, several product announcements, a surprise discovery, and some live events were among the highlights as another month peeled off the calendar in the countdown to Chapter 4. And we even heard a nostalgic message from Earth orbit! Here’s all the news…

Photo posted on Twitter by NakamuraHaruto

August 4: Display model reappears

The month kicked off with a welcome reappearance of the 1/100 Yamato display model, which made an overnight trip from the 50th Anniversary Exhibition in Osaka to the lobby of a MOVIX theater attached to a train station in Hiroshima. This was the model’s first installation in the city, and it was there for a specific purpose. Keep reading to find out what that was.

“In this wonderful world, I will live.”

August 4: 3199 Chapter 4 promotion

The promo campaign for Chapter 4, titled Pale Blue Maiden/Sasha, got a shot in the arm when a new 1-minute trailer appeared. If you read the last 3199 report, you already know this. If not, see our trailer breakdown here.

The trailer was accompanied by a new flyer, given away free at movie theaters. The text on the back reads as follows:

To Gamilas’ new home, the planet Galman. But it isn’t just Commander Dessler waiting there.

Sasha, now 17 years old. An impossible reunion with the young girl we once lost. Caught between confusion and joy, Kodai’s heart trembles.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Mother Dezarium’s plan has entered a new phase. Appearing at a swirling social gathering is Yuki, dressed in a gown. What resolve does she harbor in her heart as she stands beside her enemy, Alphon?

The Rajendora Fleet of Planet Berth, loyal to the Bolar Federation, invades the Galman System. Yamato is drawn into the conflict between the two major powers. Planet-destroying missiles approach. Will Yamato save Galman and uncover the true identity of the “Witch of Uralia”?

One purpose for this rollout was to boost sales of advance tickets, and starting on August 8 everyone who picked up their custom 3199 ticket voucher (two versions, above right) would walk away with a poster of the flyer image.

August 5: Message from space

It seldom gets better than this. The Tweet shown above, with a famous captain’s quote, was posted on this day by JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi. (See it for yourself here.)

The Japanese edition of Huffington Post published an article to explain (see the original story here):

Takuya Onishi recreates the famous line from Space Battleship Yamato in space

The famous line tweeted by Takuya Onishi while looking at Earth from space has garnered enthusiastic responses from anime fans.

A photo posted by astronaut Takuya Onishi with the words “Earth…everything feels so nostalgic” has become a hot topic on Twitter. The photo shows Onishi gazing at Earth with his arms crossed inside the Cupola observation unit of the International Space Station (ISS). With the glowing blue Earth spreading out in the background, it’s like a scene from a movie.

The inspiration for this comment comes from a famous line spoken by Captain Juzo Okita as he gazes upon Earth at the end of his journey in the anime Space Battleship Yamato. It remains a deeply moving scene, remembered by many as a reunion with Earth.

Onishi participated in a long-term mission to the ISS which began on March 16th. After completing his approximately five-month mission, he returned to Earth on August 7th.

The post was accompanied by the hashtag “I’ve always wanted to say this,” indicating that he finally got to say “that famous line” in space.

He received comments mixed with praise and humor, such as “I’ve always wanted to say it, but never had the chance to use it…”, “Captain Okita!”, “Is the Earth still beautiful?” and “This is an angle that everyone has taken at least once.”

Photo from 2024, posted on Twitter by aoi2199

August 6-9: Bonbori Festival

Held every summer in Kamakura, the Bonbori Festival features an exhibition of paper lanterns created by celebrities associated with the city.

Photos posted by spikelet (2024) and nabootoko (2025)

Yamato fans took note last year when Hideaki Anno contributed a lantern to commemorate the golden anniversary. To everyone’s surprise, he created a complementary lantern this year to announce that his new Yamato project for Studio Khara is now in production.

No details have emerged, but at the very least, “in production” means that Anno is now actively thinking about what he’s going to do with it. More news as it happens.

August 6: Yuki figure reissue announced

It didn’t take an eagle eye to notice the steep dropoff in Megahouse’s line of “Yamato Girls Collection” figures from 2199 to 2202. There have been no new additions since then, but the “private coordinate” Yuki is making a comeback in a new color. Anime Anime reported the details:

A peek into Mori Yuki’s “private” life from Space Battleship Yamato

Yuki Mori, dressed in her “private coordinate” outfit from Yamato 2202, will be re-released as a figure in a refreshing white outfit from Megahouse’s Yamato Girls Collection. Pre-orders are now being accepted on Bandai Namco Group’s official online store, Premium Bandai.

She is wearing the engagement ring given to her by Susumu Kodai on her left hand, and comes with a jacket and bag that recreate other designs. She is depicted in a feminine pose trying on boots, with a lovely expression not seen during battle. Don’t miss this opportunity to capture this precious private scene all to yourself.

The figure is priced at ¥17,600 (tax included), and is scheduled to ship in December 2025.

See more photos here

Photo posted on Twitter by ayaka19790825

August 7: Yukikaze collaboration

The reason for the big Yamato model’s appearance at the MOVIX Hiroshima was revealed today as a cross-promotional tie-in with a movie that we should probably all plan to see when we get access: Yukikaze.

The Oricon website explained it all:

Collaboration visual revealed for Yukikaze and Be Forever Yamato REBEL 3199 to celebrate their releases, along with a live exhibit in Hiroshima

To commemorate the release of the films Yukikaze (August 15th) and REBEL 3199 Chapter 4 (October 10th), a collaboration visual for both films has been released.

The illustration was created by Naoyuki Katoh, a leading figure in sci-fi and mechanical illustration. The illustration features the destroyer Yukikaze and Captain Kazutoshi Terazawa, played by Yutaka Takenouchi, while including the Space Battleship Yamato and its protagonist, Susumu Kodai.

Past and Future: two ships seeking peace among the ravages of war, shedding light upon the turbulent times we live in “now.”

The destroyer Yukikaze is a real ship that survived the Pacific War 80 years ago, while Yamato is a fictional ship navigating the vast expanse of space over 170 years in the future. The catchphrase “Past and Future,” symbolizing the themes of past and future entrusted to each ship, was created by Harutoshi Fukui, a writer involved in the production of both films.

A collaborative exhibition is currently being held at MOVIX Hiroshima Station in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, ahead of their release.

Left side: “Just 80 years ago, the sea was a battlefield.” | Right side: “Come back alive, return alive.”

Synopsis of the Film Yukikaze

This film is based on the true story of the destroyer Yukikaze, which continued to save lives from the seas of battle.

Since the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, which sparked the war between Japan and the United States, there was one destroyer that survived every fierce battle, from Midway to Guadalcanal to the Solomon Islands to the Marianas. In every battle, it rescued countless comrades thrown overboard and always returned with them.

Its name was Yukikaze. Within the Navy, it eventually came to be known as the “Lucky Ship” due to the calm and collected Captain Terazawa (Yutaka Takenouchi), who possesses exceptional shipboard skills, and the quick thinking of Senior Corporal Hayase (Hiroshi Tamaki), who commands the trust of his officers and men.

Though they clash at times, the two develop a mutual trust. Yukikaze eventually heads for the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the decisive battle between the Japanese and US navies…

See the Yukikaze trailer here

Visit the official website here

See a fan’s video tribute here

August 10: Mitacle Block preorders open

These little critters, first sighted in the gift shop of the Osaka Anniversary Exhibition, have a name and a release date. The news was reported on the Figgy website…

Those iconic characters are now available in palm-sized figures! Space Battleship Yamato meets voxels for a new figure experience!

G-ant is offering “Space Battleship Yamato Mitacle Block,” a 3D block figure set featuring five characters from the anime Space Battleship Yamato, available for pre-order on the official Mitacle Block website from August 10 to September 1.

In this collaboration, five characters — including the protagonist Susumu Kodai, Yuki Mori, Juzo Okita, Dessler, and Analyzer — have been meticulously recreated in 3D using voxel (spatial pixel) technology.

Standing approximately 5–6 cm tall, these palm-sized figures are not only decorative but also allow you to experience the joy of assembling the parts yourself to complete the character. The costumes and distinctive silhouettes, based on 2D illustrations, are faithfully reproduced with meticulous block construction. Each character’s unique personality is packed into their small bodies.

Additionally, a 3D online design diagram (with QR code) is included, allowing even beginners to assemble the figure while referencing the instructions on their smartphone or PC. The characters that once captivated us are now reborn as “heroes in the palm of your hand.”

August 12: Mystery auction

Just when you think you’ve seen everything Yamato world has to offer, it coughs up something unexpected. This happened when a set of 24 production documents turned up for bidding on Yahoo Japan Auctions.

The description was frustratingly vague: “Yamato Millennium, Space Battleship Yamato Design Materials Collection.” But there’s no doubting the source: these sample images are signed by Mecha Designer Kazutaka Miyatake of Studio Nue. For those who may not remember, their work goes back to the very beginning in 1974.

The good news is that this mysterious collection was obtained by a friend of Cosmo DNA, and they will be properly researched and revealed in the near future. Meanwhile, check out the original auction listing here and turn your imagination loose.

Photo posted on Twitter by lucky616

August 13: Concert promotion

Yamato & Villains is coming back, this time to be performed in Niigata City, as this collection of ads in local newspapers indicated.

The concert has been performed periodically since 2021, and though it has yet to be released on CD, a full performance can be seen on Youtube here.

August 13: Production art auction

Following the massive outpouring of original genga (animation layouts) we saw in the last report, another seller named “Reuse Yaguma” posted a new set on Yahoo Japan Auctions with dozens more layouts that ranged from the beginning through Final Yamato to the remakes and even a few from the Playstation era.

See a photo gallery here

August 16: Comiket 106

Summer Comiket was a madhouse as always, with a small contingent of Yamato fan circles using it as a launch pad for their latest doujinshi creations.

Until the return of Yamaket (still being worked out by its organizers), Comiket will still serve as an entry point for new fan contributions into the historical record.

August 18: Yamato Street, Kure

Be honest, you’ve always suspected that somewhere in Japan must be a street named for the Battleship Yamato, right? Well, there is now. Here’s a pair of articles to explain…

This is roughly the size of the battleship Yamato
“Yamato Street” opens in the city of Kure, Hiroshima

Posted on Livedoor

What sort of place is named “Yamato Street”? A road in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, has recently been given that nickname after the former Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Yamato.

Local shop owners renamed the approximately 270-meter stretch of street near JR Kure Station, from the Yamato Museum satellite to the Megane bridge intersection. It is named after Yamato‘s overall length of 263 meters.

Currently, flags are set up along this street, and by scanning the QR code on a smartphone or other device, you can get a sense of its size through a computer graphic of the ship, recreated using augmented reality (AR) technology.

Kure is the hometown of the battleship Yamato. While the Yamato Museum is a popular tourist attraction within the city, it is currently closed until the end of March 2026, and exhibits are temporarily housed at the Yamato Museum satellite. On August 8, it recorded 100,000 visitors, just 143 days after its opening.

“Yamato Street,” connecting Kure’s tourist attractions, promotes a city road roughly the same length as the battleship Yamato, with CG images

Posted on Chugoku

Local shop owners have named the city road “Yamato Street.” They are promoting the road’s length, roughly the same as the battleship Yamato‘s 263-meter total length, and encouraging people to stroll around. They have also developed content that displays CG images of Yamato on smartphone screens, allowing tourists to experience “Kure, the home of Yamato.” This road once led from Kure Station to the former Kure Naval Arsenal, where Yamato was built.

The idea came from volunteers led by Keiichiro Kawasaki (51), owner of Fuji Uniforms, a shop selling Maritime Self-Defense Force uniforms and merchandise. They erected banners featuring illustrations of Yamato at four locations along the road. When the QR code on the banner is scanned with a smartphone, augmented reality (AR) technology is used to display computer-generated images of the Yamato‘s bow, main guns, bridge, and stern.

Chihaya Konishi (49), a part-time lecturer at Hiroshima Institute of Technology (Hatsukaichi City), who created the content, appeals to visitors, saying, “Enjoy the atmosphere of Yamato appearing in the middle of town, and enjoy the sense of scale.”

Previously, there were hardly any people on weekends, but since the museum satellite opened, “the change in traffic flow is an opportunity,” says Kawasaki. Nearby tourist spots include Alley Karasu Kojima, where you can get a close-up look at a submarine, and the city encourages visitors to “experience the history of Kure, which developed through shipbuilding, while walking along the street.”

August 22: Kia Asamiya on Twitter

Painter/artist/animator Kia Asamiya, whose Yamato contributions go back to the 80s, shed light on something when he posted the above image on Twitter. His caption reads:

I received samples of the T-shirts and postcards featuring my original illustrations that were on sale in Osaka! I’m so grateful that the illustration I drew for the LD box a long time ago, which had been unused for decades, is finally seeing the light of day and becoming merchandise! Thank you to Anno-san and all the staff for picking it out!

See the original post here

His artwork dates from the mid 90s, when many new pieces by prominent artists were being commissioned for video packaging. Although this one never appeared on an LD box, it did turn up in a 1997 issue of Comickers, a magazine dedicated to manga artists. See a larger version at the end of this page. As for Asamiya, he had more to say this month, so keep reading.

August 23: Hobby Japan Web

HJ Web published the online version of Yamato Mechanics Part 10 from last month’s magazine, featuring the Andromeda class ships. See the post here, and read the English version (with new information added) here.

August 23: 1/1000 Hyuga promo

By the time you read these words, Bandai’s 1/1000 Hyuga model kit will be released. Some last-minute promotion went live on this day to remind everyone of the September 7 street date. Its features include an interior flight deck, Tigers, Pythons, and Seagulls, and an optional LED unit (sold separately).

See more pictures at Mantan Web here

August 24: Acrylic keychains

Announced earlier in the year, a new set of eight keychains with classic imagery went on the market today from NIC (New Item Creative).

Photos posted on Twitter by otakarablog

They are sold as “capsule toys” in vending machines across Japan, and can also be purchased as a set from Rakuten here (to Japanese addresses only).

August 25: Hobby Japan #676

The 11th installment of the Yamato Mechanics series told you everything you want to know (and more) about the Space Cavalry’s Type 5 Mobile Armor.

Read the article here

August 25: Book cover revealed

The forthcoming art book from mecha design master Junichiro Tamamori finally has a cover, and is still on track for a September 30 release by Mag Garden. It will clock in at over 300 pages and cover 25 years of highlights, which begins long before Tamamori became the official Earth-side mecha designer on the remakes.

The official description reads as follows:

Love for Yamato comes to fruition.

This is the first art book by Junichiro Tamamori, who has loved Space Battleship Yamato since he was a child. It begins with the illustrations he created in his early doujinshi activities that became a hot topic among Yamato fans around the world, and includes design setting sketches from the Yamato 2199 series, in which he participated as a mechanical designer.

In addition, it includes all of the notes and comments he wrote on the sketches at the time, providing a glimpse into the difficult process of expressing the mechanics of the Yamato remake. A gem of a book filled with love for Yamato, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the broadcast of Space Battleship Yamato!

Preorder it from Amazon.co.jp here

August 26: 1/1000 Ginga reissue announced

Scheduled for release in January 2026, Ginga is on its way back to Earth in 3199 packaging. It will come with the same aircraft and decals as before, but will now include “effects parts” for the main guns to display them firing energy beams (supplied at three different lengths).

See more photos at the Bandai Hobby website here

August 26: CG animation by Haru

Fan-made CG animation isn’t a particularly rare commodity any more, but when you see the name “Haru” attached to it, you know you’re in for something special. This CG artist is consistently ahead of the pack in the quality of both modeling and filmmaking. In August we were treated to Haru’s latest short film (over four minutes) depicting aircraft launches from the 3199-style Yamato.

If you need more convincing, here’s a snapshot of Haru’s build for the interior hangar, which has many more moving parts than you think.

Watch it on Youtube here

August 26: Mecha Collection Yamato announced

The next new model on the horizon is Bandai’s Mecha Collection mini-kit for the 3199-style Yamato. This version will come outfitted with new hull details, a pair of wings, and “effects parts” for the rear engine nozzles. It is scheduled for release in March 2026.

See more photos here

August 29-31: Animelo Summer Live

The month ended with a double bang, two big events on the same weekend in different cities, seemingly designed to make fans crazy.

Billed as the world’s largest anisong live event this weekend-long concert event featured all the latest and greatest, and from “camp Yamato” came TRUE (Miho Karasawa) performing Eureka, the end song from 3199 Chapter 3.

She posted the photo above on Twitter with this caption:

As the theme song artist, I had the honor of singing alongside the visuals. Another dream came true at Anima! My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with Be Forever Yamato REBEL 3199 for their cooperation!

See the event website here

Photo posted on Twitter by Kia Asamiya

August 30 & 31: Kama Con

While Animelo was happening in Saitama, a competing event was going on in Kamakura: the 63rd annual SF gathering called Kama Con. A Yamato panel took place on Saturday the 30th with a killer lineup that included Yutaka Izubuchi, Michio Murakawa, and Masato Hayase (who retouched the Yuki Hijiri manga collection). Meanwhile, something else was happening in a live events area…

Photo posted on Twitter by S Meijin

Kia Asamiya, who was up for (and won) a Seiun [Nebula] Award in the artist category, took on an ambitious live-painting project depicting multiple well-known spaceships cruising together. Regrettably, he didn’t have time to finish. He got down to Yamato‘s waterline and then the bell rang.

Photo posted on Twitter by voice actor Chihiro Uno (Asamiya is on the right)

Kia Asamiya posted, “I finally got into Yamato, but this is hopeless. I’ll think about continuing it somewhere in the future and somehow bring it to completion. Really, thank you very much.”

S Meijin posted, “Kia Asamiya has won the Seiun Award for two consecutive years and did a commemorative live drawing. Unfortunately, Yamato did not launch. It seems he will continue painting at next month’s event in Yokohama.”

See what else was cooking at Kama Con here

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