Space Battleship Yamato 2205 Report 21

Activity in March 2023 dropped a bit compared February, but that didn’t make it any less interesting. Any month that gives us online publishing, three major live events, info on the next series, and a new Blu-ray box set is nothing to regret. Here’s what was news…

March 1: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 206

Hachette kicked off the month with an array of parts for Hyuga‘s starboard elevator, which in all likelihood will be motorized to carry Cosmo Pythons from the hangar bay to the upper deck.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here

See a modeler’s blog here

March 1: Pure Tokyoscope podcast

Tributes to Leiji Matsumoto created a steady heartbeat heard throughout the month of March. First up was episode 37 of the Pure Tokyoscope podcast, hosted by friends-of-the-website Matt Alt and Patrick Macias.

Listen to it here.

March 4: Bunshun Online article

The next tribute came from journalist (and another friend-of-the-website) Hiroyuki Ota, who wrote a very insightful piece that speculated on why Leiji Matsumoto was so attached to Yamato as a means of expression.

Read the article here.

March 8: Goethe articles

Over three consecutive days, the website for Goethe magazine reprinted material from a 2009 interview with Leiji Matsumoto, looking back over his life and career. It opened with the following quote:

“When I was young, I thought time was infinite. Once it passed, it was just a brief, almost fleeting moment. But back then, I believed that my future was infinite. Thinking about it now, those were the happiest times of my life. I was at the bottom of the poverty line and struggling to make ends meet. All my friends around me were poor, and the most I could do was talk about my dreams for the future. Even so, that period was the Arcadia of my life, my utopia.”

These articles are not currently on the agenda for translation here at Cosmo DNA, but if your browser has a translation function, this is recommended reading.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

March 8: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 207

In this volume, parts were added to both of the elevator sections. For visual reference, the pulse laser turrets will point toward the stern.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here

See a modeler’s blog here

March 10: Anime Anime column

The tributes continue! Respected anime critic/commentator Ryota Fujitsu explored Matsumoto’s biography to analyze what factors energized so many of his works in the “anime boom” of the late 70s.

Read his findings here.


Photo at right posted on Twitter by Chiko Miyagawa

March 12: Yamato Meets Classics concert, Himeji

All the principals from the February 23 premiere were excited to be back for a repeat performance: Conductor Akira Miyagawa, Violinist Fuminori Shinozaki, Pianist Chiko Miyagawa, and Vocalist Michiko Hayashi.


Photo posted by Scott Mohechi

The venue this time was the Arcrea ampitheater in Himeji, a city in the southern portion of Japan.


Photo posted by ysyk

Based on the photos posted afterward, this would appear to be the perfect place to hear live Yamato music.


Photo posted by Scott Mohechi

The view from the stage is even more magnificent, seemingly positioned under a starry sky.


Photos posted by komeko114 and Chiko Miyagawa

On sale in the lobby were score books, CDs, Akira Miyagawa’s recent autobiography, and stickers of the four primary participants.


Photos posted by Hanekenofficial

Celebratory bouquets featured tributes to the two composers whose work was performed here: Hiroshi Miyagawa (the Yamato Suite) and Kentaro Haneda (the YamatoGrand Symphony).

Cellist Daisuke Kitaguchi shared his point of view afterward on Twitter, both literally and figuratively. His caption read, “Yamato finished!! I was overwhelmed with emotion to be able to perform a piece that I have admired for decades. It was a day I will never forget.”


Posted by stagehand Yusaku Yoshida

Naturally, the concert itself wasn’t shown online, but we at least got a glimpse of the aftermath. See a closing video here.

March 12: Goo ranking

The entertainment website Goo (pronounced “GO”) published some interesting poll results on this day. The subject was “TV Anime that surprised me when I learned it was broadcast ten years ago!”

The introduction read as follows:

Including late-night anime, more than 100 TV anime are broadcast every year. Looking at the lineup of broadcasts from a few years ago, there are some that make us nostalgic and say, “I remember such and such a work,” and others that surprise us and make us wonder, “Was it that long ago that this work was broadcast?” We conducted a survey to find out which TV anime works would surprise you to find out that it has been 10 years since the last episode aired, and have ranked them accordingly.”

Number 1 on the list? Space Battleship Yamato 2199! See the article here. See all the poll results here.

March 14: Yamatalk screening

Without a doubt, this live event was the highlight of the month. To celebrate the upcoming release of the Yamato 2202 special edition Blu-ray box set, three episodes were screened at the Shinjuku Piccadilly theater. They were chosen in advance by popular vote, and the hosts were Director Nobuyoshi Habara, Writer Harutoshi Fukui, and Scriptwriter Hideki Oka. If that’s all there was to it, good enough. But they used the occasion to add something special: the first look at Be Forever Yamato, REBEL 3199!

It wasn’t a lot, but it was just enough to fill up Cosmo DNA’s first Yamato 3199 Report. Read it here.


March 15: Akiba Souken article

It’s been over twelve years since the release of the live-action Yamato movie, but it endures as a fascinating moment of the franchise. A writer at the Akiba Souken website decided to give it another look as part of a series that re-evaluates live-action anime adaptations. Here is the reviewer’s conclusion:

There are many changes, such as the fact that Gamilas is now considered a collective intelligence, rather than an alien species with whom we might have had a chance to understand each other. The bald-headed male military doctor, Sakezo Sado, was changed to a woman. Whether or not you can accept these changes will greatly affect your evaluation of the film.

As for Yuki in particular, many fans of the original story will remember her as the Madonna of their youth, and it is inevitable that there will be some controversy as to whether or not they can accept this version. Actually, having Yuki fight in a combat team is not a strange idea. It is a well-known story that she was the leader of the space warrior team in early planning stages of Yamato. It is unknown whether this work was based on that concept, but in a sense, it can be said that Yuki Mori returned to her origin.

The characters are well-reproduced, including Kodai, and crew members such as Okita, Sanada, and Tokugawa are perfectly suited to their roles. Personally, I felt that the respect for the original work was evident in the fact that the film kept to the essentials, even incorporating the essence of Farewell, and that the CG expressions and character interpretations were modernized to create an acceptable adaptation of Space Battleship Yamato.

See the full article here.

March 15: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 208

Big moves this week; delivery of the remaining stern parts made it possible to assemble the “basin” for the rear half of the ship.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here

See a modeler’s blog here

March 18: Osaka Shion concert

Akira Miyagawa continued doing what he does best, taking just two weeks off until he was at the conductor’s podium again. This was not a Yamato-only concert, but another collection of favorites performed by the Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra that included three Yamato compositions.

March 19: Anime Nostalgia Podcast

The last of the Leiji Matsumoto tributes in March was also the most comprehensive; a nearly four-hour livestream conducted by The Anime Nostalgia Podcast. The first segment featured a conversation with manga translator Zack Davisson, after which the floor was opened to fans around the world who submitted short essays or recorded messages (including ye editor).

When you’re in need some extended listening material, click here. It’s time well spent.

March 22: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 209

This volume contained a large hull segment to complete Hyuga‘s rear half. Now the the path is clear for the completed “basin” to be gradually filled up with internal components.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here

See a modeler’s blog here

March 24: Yamato 2202 special edition Blu-ray box set

If for some reason you’ve been holding out for the ultimate everything-in-one-place Blu-ray collection for 2202, wait no longer. This set contains the entire series with every bonus feature from the original releases and some new material including live stage greetings and Yamatalk events. The slipcase art is by Kia Asamiya.

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

Those who ordered it from Amazon.co.jp got this bonus Blu-ray containing all of the “Promotional Meeting of Love” videos released on Youtube and elsewhere.

A fresh promotional campaign was launched on the same day. Fans who retweeted ads from both the Yamato 2202 and Toward the Terra Twitter pages (until April 20) would be entered to win a collaboration poster featuring both. If you’re wondering what connects these two titles, it’s simple; the exquistely-made 2007 Toward the Terra TV series had a lot of key staff members who went on to create Yamato 2199, including Yutaka Izubuchi and Character Designer Nobuteru Yuuki.

Find out more about Toward the Terra here.

See a larger image of the poster at the end of this page.

March 26: Radio Suite Yamato III announced

Last May, Saitama-based 77.5 Lively FM took over for the late, lamented Clover Radio when it broadcast a 4-hour radio suite of Yamato music. (See details in Report 11 here.) The theme for that program was Be Forever, and this year they will following up with a Yamato III special on May 6. Their guest this year is Writer Harutoshi Fukui.

Last year, the station did not offer a stream to listeners outside Japan, and regrettably it will probably the same this year. If research proves otherwise, watch the Cosmo DNA Facebook page for instructions on how to tune in.

March 29: 1/350 Diecast Gimmick Model Vol. 210

Hachette gave modelers VERY big moves to close out the month: the front and back halves of Hyuga were finally combined, allowing modelers to fully appreciate its 33″ length. As of now, half of the volumes for this model have been released. 40 more to go.

See Hachette’s instruction video here

See an unboxing video here


Also spotted in March

Fan art

As this small sampling will attest, the fan art discovered in March hits a high bar.
See the character gallery here and the mecha gallery here.

Fan models

Modelers spent another month writing their own rules and making us question ours. See their latest works here.

Art Fair Hakata

March brought us a few examples of how Yamato can pop up where you least expect it. One was an unusual use of a 2199 model kit in a Fukuoka art exhibition.

See photos here.

Public messages

Twitter user Norihei shared this discovery, a public notice board at Sainenji Temple (located in Shinjuku, Tokyo) with a quote from Leiji Matsumoto: People are born to live. No one is born for nothing.

As if that wasn’t enough, another Twitter user named mechanikuma found a digital sign in his hometown using quotes to advertise the new 2202 Blu-ray set.

Side A: Children are dreams given life (Leiji Matsumoto, manga artist)

Side B: Live, live and be ashamed! Make mistakes for all they’re worth. We are not machines! (Admiral Hijikata)

Birthday roll call

Did you know that each and every Yamato character, no matter how obscure, has an official birthday? For several months, the Twitter page for the forthcoming Pathway to the Future mobile game has been observing them one by one.

Visit the page here.

See how far they’ve gotten here.

Fan Artist Profile

Time to meet another of the talented and dedicated Yamato fans who delivers some of the amazing artwork we see here in the character galleries month after month. (Hot tip: enter the words “character fan art” or “mecha fan art” in the search bar to bring all the galleries to the top.)

Alpharing77

1. What was your first Yamato experience?

I was in the 5th grade of elementary school and watched the rerun on TV at 5pm.

2. What is your favorite aspect of Yamato?

It is a ship of hope for mankind, a ship driven by the people, where the crew can get out of a pinch by their ideas and cooperating with each other. A place that never gives up.

3. Are you a Yamato collector?

I have not reached the realm of collectors.

4. What is your most treasured Yamato item?

The first Roman Album, a numbered art print of Yamato by Masanori Nishii purchased at the 2199 original art exhibition, and a Yamato 2199 Chogokin.

5. What are your favorite drawing tools?

Digital: Procreate or Clip Studio EX. Analog: poster color

6. Where can your work be seen?

I am mainly on Twitter and Pixiv.

7. Does your family share your hobby?

They know my hobbies, but we don’t share them.

8. Please tell us something about your life outside your art.

My dream is to be an illustrator, but in reality I am an ordinary housewife, and I work as a care worker.

9. Are you involved in Yamato activities with other fans?

Some of us go to concerts and movies together and support Yamato as much as we can.

10. What do you hope to see in a future Yamato anime?

I want Yamato to convey the spirit of never giving up, hopes and dreams, and the spirit of understanding and caring for each other.

11. What is your favorite anime after Yamato?

Legend of the Galactic Heroes (all versions), Ashita no Joe, Ashita no Joe 2.

12. What would you like to say to Yamato fans around the world?

“Even if we were born on different planets (countries), we can understand each other!”

13. What should everyone know about Japan and its people?

I live my life to the fullest, loving the things I love every day.


Yamatunes for March

Yamato theme (with adlibs), public piano performance
Click here
Yamato themes (with flourishes), Electone performance
Click here


From Yamato With Love demo by composer Katsuo Ohno
Click here
From Yamato With Love cover by Hiro Style Lab
Click here


Akira Fuse single, 1980 (first digital release)
Click here
Until the Day of Love with Guitar accompaniment
Click here


Yamato theme, street organ arrangement
Click here
Queen of Aquarius cover by Vocaloid Meiko
Click here


Continue to Report 22



Poster art by Character Designer Nobuteru Yuuki


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