1979 Yamato Festival program book

Character lineup


Part 1 story


Part 2 story


Part 1 and Part 2 mission maps


Battleship and Space Battleship schematics


Part 1 mecha


Part 2 mecha


Production specs and premiere photos from 1977/78


Main staff and cast messages


A Message from the Producer

The new young generation that is growing up has its own new hopes and dreams. The upcoming Yamato re-release, with the double feature of Space Battleship Yamato and Farewell to Yamato, will serve as my heartfelt message to the young generation that is growing up right now. I believe it will respond greatly to their honest hopes and dreams.

Especially now, in the network of the managed society that is progressing with momentum, we are all deprived of the freedom that is indispensable to human beings, and our precious hopes and dreams are shattered. I cannot remain indifferent to these young people, who are trapped in a deep sense of isolation. When I think about them, I cannot help but reflect on the significance and joy of creating Yamato in my own heart.

Yamato belongs to young people. If it had been merely entertainment with spectacular SF action, it would not have received such enthusiastic support. Certainly, the battles and actions that occur one after another in the cosmos may well have matched the sensibilities of young people as a form of entertainment, but more than that, the theme of “love” that I continue to embrace has gained a great deal of sympathy. I’m proud to say that it has bounced back.

In order to carry out our goal of saving the Earth, we will never give up hope until the very end. Young people are always exploring all possibilities and continuing to take strong action. Yamato Part 1 captures the growth of the main character, Susumu Kodai, as an infinite romance. This work concluded with Susumu Kodai’s awareness, for the first time after many battles, of “love” for others, or even for his enemies. In other words, he raised the issue of “love.”

What exactly is “love”? We needed to demonstrate this in more depth. The subsequent Yamato Part 2 was, in a word, a story demonstrating the meaning of “love.” It was not an easy task because I had to push myself, an imperfect human being, and my thoughts and feelings to the very limit to complete the work. Yamato Part 2 boldly advances from a story of “purpose” to a story of “love.”

Can you die for the person you love? Can you protect the one you love even at the cost of your own life? And when you are moving toward an ideal, can you fight against the evil that stands in the way? I thought through these questions one by one and pushed forward with the story. Many fans have seen the result.

Human beings are subjected to many trials and tribulations. Susumu Kodai, the protagonist of Yamato, is repeatedly faced with the most severe trials. Young people who are now living day by day in modern society are also undergoing various trials. Moreover, they are bound by the rules created by human beings. It is the easiest thing to give in. However, there are people who fight for their own way of life and their own ideals. If possible, I strongly hope that Yamato will inspire and encourage such people, especially young people. To that end, I would like to present Yamato in a more perfect form to the younger generation. I am always organizing the best staff to produce and develop Yamato for the future.

The New Voyage, following Parts 1 and 2, is an attempt to create a new and interesting theme in response to the voices of four million fans across the country. After surviving the battle against the giant White Comet Empire, Yamato, Kodai, and Yuki soon set out on their next voyage. The story presents the process of rescuing Starsha and Kodai’s older brother Mamoru from the planet Iscandar, running wild through space. It is powerfully depicted.

This new work further develops a more specific image of “love.” In addition to the love between Susumu Kodai and Yuki Mori, the love between Susumu and Mamoru, and the love between Mamoru and Starsha, a new and shocking theme was chosen: the love of mother and child. What kind of expectations do you have for this yet-to-be-born New Voyage? It will be great fun and an adventure that many fans and I will share.

I will say it again. Yamato is for the young people and my message itself. Here in Japan, and hopefully on this Earth, many friends of the young generation who are growing up one after another will come into contact with Yamato. I sincerely hope that they will be moved and encouraged by Yamato, and that Yamato will receive a huge round of applause.

– Executive Producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki

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