About this list: this is a work-in-progress with the goal of assembling as complete a timeline as possible of the entire Yamato/Star Blazers phenomenon. Data will be added and revised as new information becomes available. As the entries on this list receive coverage elsewhere on this site, links will be added to help you find them. If you notice missing, incorrect, or incomplete items on this list, please contact us and make noise!
More timelines: Series 1 | Yamato movie | Farewell to Yamato | Series 2 | The New Voyage | Series 3 | Final Yamato
No-class | 1979 | |
No-class | OCT | |
PRODUCTION | 23 | First story meeting to plan “Yamato Part III” |
No-class | DEC | |
PRODUCTION | 8 | Leiji Matsumoto completes his first story draft for “Yamato Part III” |
PRODUCTION | 31 | Leiji Matsumoto completes his second story draft for “Yamato Part III” |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1980 | |
No-class | JAN | |
PRODUCTION | 2 | Staff vacations in Hawaii to plan “Yamato Part III”, screens Star Trek: the Motion Picture and The Black Hole |
PRODUCTION | 20 | Leiji Matsumoto sketches designs |
PRODUCTION | 23 | Toshio Masuda and Yoshinobu Nishizaki complete second story draft |
No-class | FEB | |
PRODUCTION | 1 | First design meeting |
PRODUCTION | 5 | First production meeting |
PRODUCTION | 8 | Battle strategy concept meeting |
PRODUCTION | 18 | First draft completed for script Part A |
PRODUCTION | 20 | Script Part A revised |
PRODUCTION | 21 | Storyboard production begins |
Publication | 25 | Yamato fan club magazine #14 announces Be Forever Yamato title and release date of August 2 |
EVENT | SPRING | Animage magazine announces ‘Festival in Budokan’ concert for July. Over 1,000 ticket requests are received in only three days |
No-class | MAR | |
PRODUCTION | 6 | Storyboard production completed for script Part A |
PRODUCTION | 17 | Animation production begins at Toei Studio |
PRODUCTION | 18 | Storyboard production completed for script Part B, script Part C completed |
No-class | APR | |
PRODUCTION | 2 | Script completed |
PRODUCTION | 7 | Color design meetings |
Publication | 25 | Yamato fan club magazine #15 publishes production designs from Be Forever Yamato |
PRODUCTION | 30 | Scanimation production meeting |
No-class | MAY | |
PRODUCTION | 7 | Meeting to plan epilogue sequence |
PRODUCTION | 8 | Music composition meeting |
Publication | 10 | Animage Magazine #24 publishes an article on Be Forever Yamato (Tokuma Shoten) |
Event | 26 | Be Forever Yamato press conference launches promotional campaign |
PRODUCTION | 26 | Akira Fuse produces demo for closing theme, Until The Day of Love |
PRODUCTION | 30 | Akira Fuse & Isao Sasaki record songs |
Publication | ? | The Anime Magazine #7 publishes an article on Be Forever Yamato (Kindaiega-sha) |
No-class | JUN | |
ON AIR | 7 | Be Forever Yamato 4-hour radio drama on all Night Nippon |
Publication | 10 | Animage Magazine #25 publishes an article on Be Forever Yamato (Tokuma Shoten) |
PRODUCTION | 14 | “Scanimation” special effects meeting |
Event | 18 | Fan club meeting in Nagoya promotes Be Forever |
Event | 19 | Fan club meeting & press conference in Osaka promote Be Forever |
Publication | 25 | Yamato fan club magazine #16 reports Be Forever Yamato events, shows first wave of ‘fancy goods’ |
PRODUCTION | 26 | Recording script completed |
Event | 28 | Fan club meeting in Fukuoka promotes Be Forever |
Event | 29 | “Adventure Roman” sea cruise ticket lottery at Shinjuku Station, Tokyo. 14,000 fans apply for only 500 places on board |
event | ? | The Vega wristwatch company launches a tie-in campaign |
publication | ? | The Anime magazine #8 publishes a Be Forever Yamato cover story (Kindaieiga Co.) |
publication | ? | Toei Animation Fan Club News #3 publishes a Be Forever Yamato cover story (Toei Movie Co.) |
No-class | JUL | |
MUSIC | 1 | EP: Until The Day of Love b/w Galaxy Legend (King Records) |
MUSIC | 1 | LP & Cassette: Be Forever Yamato symphonic album part 1 (Nippon Columbia) |
MUSIC | 1 | EP: Pendant of stars b/w Face in the stars (Nippon Columbia) |
PRODUCTION | 1 | Hiromi Iwasaki records alternate version of Galaxy Legend |
PUBLICATION | 1 | Be Forever Yamato coverage in Juniorhood magazine (Obunsha) |
EVENT | 6 | Ticket lottery at Ueno Station for Japanese National Railways “Mystery Tour.”1,233 fans apply for 560 places |
Event | 7 | Fan club meeting in Sapporo promotes Be Forever |
Publication | 10 | Animage magazine #26 publishes a cover story on Be Forever Yamato (Tokuma Shoten) |
Publication | 10 | Monthly Animation magazine #7 publishes a Be Forever Yamato cover story (Bronze Co.) |
PRODUCTION | 13-15 | Voice recording at Avaco Studio. |
Publication | 18 | OUT magazine publishes a Be Forever Yamato cover story (Minori Shobo) |
Event | 20-22 | “Space Battleship Yamato: the Voyage of Adventure Roman.” Nishizaki & Matsumoto launch a cruise ship from Kawasaki Pier to carry actors and fans on a 3-day round trip to Hyuga |
Event | 24 | Yamato Festival in Budokan concert in Tokyo. Nishizaki & staff participate in a variety show including Miyagawa conducting the orchestra. 15,000 guests attend two performances |
PUBLICATION | 24 | Festival in Budokan program book (Office Academy) |
PUBLICATION | 25 | Yamato fan club magazine #17 shows second wave of Be Forever Yamato ‘fancy goods’ |
PUBLICATION | 25 | Be Forever Yamato coverage in Weekly TV Guide magazine, Tohoku Edition (Tokyo News Agency) |
PRODUCTION | 26 | Sound editing completed |
EVENT | 26 | Ticket lottery at the Shibuya Pantheon theatre complex for tickets to “Yamato Fever ’80” |
PRODUCTION | 27 | Camera work completed |
Event | 27 | Anime fair at Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo includes Be Forever attractions (through Aug. 31) |
Event | 28 | “Yamato Fever ’80,” hosted by Leiji Matsumoto with cast & crew |
PRODUCTION | 28 | Be Forever Yamato production wraps |
Event | 29-31 | Japan National Railways “Mystery tour” called Three Days of Adventure and Exploration: Where is Secret Training Base Icarus! departs Ueno Station for Lake Nojiri at Nagano Prefecture |
Cinema | 30 | Be Forever Yamato advance screening held for fan club prize-winners |
Publication | ? | The Anime Magazine #9 publishes an article on Be Forever Yamato (Kindaiega-sha) |
No-class | AUG | |
EVENT | 1 | Thousands of fans line up at movie theatres the night before Be Forever Yamato premieres |
MUSIC | 1 | EP: Galaxy legend b/w Life of love (Japan Victor) |
Publication | 1 | Kinejun magazine #791 publishes a cover story on Be Forever Yamato (Kinema Jumpo Co.) |
PUBLICATION | 1 | Be Forever Yamato coverage in Juniorhood magazine (Obunsha) |
Cinema | 2 | Be Forever Yamato released through Shochiku-Toei theatres |
PUBLICATION | 2 | Be Forever Yamato movie program book (Office Academy) |
Event | 2 | A train renamed Yamato-Go runs on the Toyoko line, conducted by Leiji Matsumoto |
Event | 2 | Nishizaki, Masuda and Toei president Shigeru Okada appear at Toei Palace in Marunouchi, Tokyo |
Event | 2 | Press conference at Toei headquarters |
ON AIR | 4 | Yamato Festival in Budokan is broadcast on Tokyo 12 channel |
PUBLICATION | 7 | Be Forever Yamato cruise coverage in Weekly Bunshun magazine (BungeiShunju) |
Publication | 9 | Animage Magazine #27 publishes an article on Be Forever Yamato (Tokuma Shoten) |
Book | 15 | Be Forever Yamato novel (Cobalt library/Shueisha) |
PUBLICATION | 25 | Yamato fan club magazine #18 shows third wave of Be Forever Yamato ‘fancy goods’ |
MODEL | ? | 1/360 Kodai’s patrol ship (Bandai) |
MODEL | ? | 1/220 EDF Automated Battleship (Bandai) |
MODEL | ? | Yamato reissue (Bandai) |
MODEL | ? | 1/700 Yamato (non cutaway version/Bandai) |
MODEL | ? | Yamato “new image model” (Bandai) |
MODEL | ? | 1/500 Yamato “new cosmic model” (Bandai) |
Publication | ? | The Anime Magazine #10 publishes an article on Be Forever Yamato (Kindaiega-sha) |
Publication | ? | Novel Junior Magazine publishes a Be Forever Yamato novella (Shueisha) |
No-class | SEP | |
PUBLICATION | 1 | Yamato Movie series Big Collection (Asahi Sonorama) |
Book | 1 | Be Forever Yamato novel part 1 (Monkey Library/Shueisha) |
BOOK | 1 | Be Forever Yamato novel part 1 (Fanfan Library/Shueisha) |
MUSIC | 10 | LP & Cassette: Be Forever Yamato symphonic album part 2 (Nippon Columbia) |
MUSIC | 10 | EP: Be Forever Yamato b/w New Voyage (4 tracks, Nippon Columbia) |
Book | 10 | Be Forever Yamato novel part 2 (Monkey Library/Shueisha) |
BOOK | 10 | Be Forever Yamato novel part 2 (Fanfan Library/Shueisha) |
Book | 20 | Roadshow magazine special: Be Forever Yamato (Shueisha) |
Book | 20 | Be Forever Yamato ‘Complete Works’ novel part 1 (Asahi Sonorama) |
Book | 25 | Be Forever Yamato ‘Complete Works’ novel part 2 (Asahi Sonorama) |
Publication | 25 | Be Forever Yamato “Precise Illustrated Edition” blueprint set (Asahi Sonorama) |
CINEMA | 26 | Be Forever Yamato closes, having attracted over 2.3 million viewers. |
Book | 27 | SF fantastic animation materials: Be Forever Yamato ‘Setting Data Collection’ (Shonen Pictorial Co.) |
Book | 30 | Be Forever Yamato Cel Collection (Shonen Pictorial Co.) |
No-class | OCT | |
BOOK | 5 | Be Forever Yamato Anime Comics volume 1 (Champion Graphic/Akita Shoten) |
Publication | 5 | Be Forever Yamato special (Screen Movie Magazine) |
MUSIC | 10 | LP & Cassette: Be Forever Yamato Drama album (Nippon Columbia) |
Book | 10 | Perfect Memoir Deluxe #4 Be Forever Yamato & All of Yamato (Leed Company) |
Book | 20 | Perfect Memoir #11 Be Forever Yamato (Leed Company) |
Book | 20 | Be Forever Yamato Eternal Treasure storybook (Jitsugyono Nippon Co.) |
Book | 20 | Keibunsha #68 Be Forever Yamato ‘Big Encyclopedia’ (Kodansha) |
Book | 20 | Roman Album #36 Be Forever Yamato (Tokuma Shoten) |
BOOK | 30 | Be Forever Yamato manga volume 1 by Akira Hio (Sun Comics/Asahi Sonorama) |
MODEL | ? | Dark Nebula Empire Tripod Tank (Bandai) |
No-class | NOV | |
BOOK | 10 | Be Forever Yamato Final Deluxe hardcover (West Cape Corporation) |
BOOK | 15 | Be Forever Yamato Anime Comics volume 2 (Champion Graphic/Akita Shoten) |
Book | 25 | Terebi Magazine special: Be Forever Yamato (Akita Shoten) |
MODEL | ? | Dark Nebula Empire Patrol Tank (Bandai) |
MODEL | ? | 1/700 Yamato new mechanic cutaway model reissue (Bandai) |
PUBLICATION | ? | 1981 Be Forever Yamato calendar (West Cape Corporation) |
No-class | DEC | |
MUSIC | 10 | EP: Space Battleship Yamato/Arrivederci Yamato/Be Forever Yamato (4 tracks, Nippon Columbia) |
MUSIC | 25 | LP & Cassette: ’80 Yamato Festival in Budokan Live (Nippon Columbia) |
game | ? | Be Forever Yamato board game (Popy) |
No-class | ||
book | ? | Be Forever Yamato Sonosheet books (Set of 2/Asahi Sonorama) |
book | ? | Be Forever Yamato ‘Anime Picture Books’ (Set of 3/Shueisha) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1981 | |
No-class | JAN | |
BOOK | 23 | Be Forever Yamato manga volume 2 by Akira Hio (Sun Comics/Asahi Sonorama) |
No-class | MAR | |
Cinema | 14 | ‘Space Roadshow’: The New Voyage and Be Forever Yamato double feature attracts 1.5 million viewers (through April 4) |
No-class | JUL | |
publication | ? | TV Guide publishes a cover story on Be Forever Yamato (Tokyo News Agency) |
No-class | AUG | |
On Air | 19 | Be Forever Yamato premieres on Nippon Television’s ‘Wednesday Roadshow’ |
No-class | OCT | |
MUSIC | 25 | LP: Mitsuko Horie’s Anime Best Hit album features Be Forever songs (Nippon Columbia) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1982 | |
No-class | AUG | |
Event | 28/29 | Be Forever screened at Creation Convention, New York City |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1983 | |
No-class | MAR | |
ON AIR | 2 | Be Forever Yamato is rebroadcast on Fuji Television |
Video | ? | VHS & Beta: Be Forever Yamato (Toei) |
No-class | APR | |
video | 21 | VHD: Be Forever Yamato (Japan Victor) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1984 | |
No-class | MAR | |
Event | 22-25 | Be Forever screened at Norwescon ’84 (Seattle, WA) |
No-class | MAY | |
Event | 10 | Yamato films exhibited at Cannes Film Festival |
No-class | ||
Video | ? | VHS: Be Forever Yamato (Japan Victor) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1985 | |
No-class | MAR | |
Video | 21 | VHS: Be Forever Music Video (Nippon Columbia) |
No-class | AUG | |
ON AIR/td> | 31 | Be Forever Yamato is rebroadcast on Fuji Television |
No-class | ||
Video | ? | LD: Be Forever Yamato (Nippon Columbia) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1987 | |
No-class | AUG | |
Cinema | 3-7 | Summer Vacation Anime theatre exhibition includes Yamato exhibit, screens Space Battleship Yamato, Arrivederci, Be Forever and Final Yamato in Shibuya, Tokyo |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1988 | |
No-class | MAY | |
Event | 11 | Yamato movies and other Westcape productions marketed at Cannes Film Festival. |
No-class | OCT | |
EVENT | 23-30 | Westcape Corporation exhibit at Milan Film Festival |
No-class | ||
Video | ? | LD: All five Yamato movies are released in a ‘Perfect Collection’ box set (Bandai/Emotion) |
Music | ? | CD: Walking Songs by Mitsuko Horie features Be Forever songs (Nippon Columbia) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1990 | |
No-class | APR | |
Video | 25 | VHS: Be Forever Yamato in ‘Perfect Collection’ packaging (Bandai/Emotion) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1993 | |
No-class | AUG | |
Video | 25 | LD: Be Forever Yamato reissued with Hiroyuki Kitazume art (Bandai/Emotion) |
No-class | OCT | |
Book | 25 | Yamato Collection 4: Be Forever Yamato Sun Wide Comics Special by Akira Hio) (Asahi Sonorama |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1995 | |
No-class | JAN | |
MUSIC | 1 | CD: Be Forever Yamato 2-disc symphonic album (Nippon Columbia) |
No-class | APR | |
MUSIC | 1 | CD: Be Forever Yamato Drama (Nippon Columbia) |
Video | ? | VHS: Subtitled version of Be Forever Yamato released in US (Voyager Entertainment, Inc.) |
No-class | AUG | |
Music | 19 | CD: Mitsuko Horie Best & Best 2-disc compilation features Be Forever songs (Nippon Columbia) |
No-class | SEP | |
MUSIC | 21 | CD: Be Forever Yamato BGM collection (Nippon Columbia) |
No-class | NOV | |
Music | 21 | CD: Yamato Festival in Budokan 1980 live album (Nippon Columbia) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1996 | |
No-class | DEC | |
PUBLICATION | ? | Star Blazers comic magazine #9 by Studio Go! Be Forever Yamato Prelude (Argo Press/Voyager Entertainment, Inc.) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1997 | |
No-class | FEB | |
PUBLICATION | ? | Star Blazers comic magazine #10 by Studio Go! Be Forever Yamato Part 1 (Argo Press/Voyager Entertainment, Inc.) |
No-class | MAY | |
PUBLICATION | ? | Star Blazers comic magazine #11 (final issue) by Studio Go! Be Forever Yamato Part 2 (Argo Press/Voyager Entertainment, Inc.) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1998 | |
No-class | JUL | |
Video | 25 | LD & VHS: Be Forever Yamato reissued with 25th anniversary Toshihiro Kawamoto art (Bandai/Emotion) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 1999 | |
No-class | APR | |
PUBLICATION | 1 | GaZo magazine retrospective article on Be Forever Yamato‘s ‘warp dimension’ |
No-class | JUL | |
EVENT | 8 | Bronze statues are unveiled in a festival at Tsuruga City commemorating Be Forever Yamato and Galaxy Express 999 (through July 27) |
No-class | AUG | |
Video | 25 | DVD: Be Forever Yamato (Bandai/Emotion) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2000 | |
No-class | NOV | |
ON AIR | 8 | Be Forever Yamato broadcast on Family Theatre |
ON AIR | 17 | Be Forever Yamato broadcast on Family Theatre |
ON AIR | 29 | Be Forever Yamato broadcast on Family Theatre |
No-class | DEC | |
MUSIC | 30 | CD: Space Battleship Yamato ‘Eternal Edition’ discs 5 & 6 (Columbia Records) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2002 | |
No-class | MAY | |
ON AIR | 4 | Be Forever Yamato broadcast on Family Theatre |
No-class | DEC | |
ON AIR | 5 | All 5 Yamato movies broadcast on channel NECO |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2003 | |
No-class | JAN | |
ON AIR | 5 | All 5 Yamato movies rebroadcast on channel NECO |
No-class | MAR | |
ON AIR | 31 | Three of the movies are broadcast on late-night ‘Daily Life Television’ |
No-class | AUG | |
VIDEO | ? | DVD: Be Forever Yamato subtitled (Voyager Entertainment, Inc.) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2004 | |
No-class | MAR | |
Video | ? | DVD: Yamato movie box set (Voyager Entertainment, Inc.) |
No-class | NOV | |
MUSIC | 25 | Yamato Eternal Edition Premium box (Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc.) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2005 | |
No-class | JAN | |
Game | 27 | Counterattack of the Dark Nebula (Playstation 2/Bandai) |
No-class | MAR | |
Book | 31 | Counterattack of the Dark Nebula Complete Guide (Enterbrain) |
No-class | APR | |
Game | 7 | Collapse of the Double Galaxies (Playstation 2/Bandai) |
No-class | MAY | |
MUSIC | 18 | CD: Be Forever Yamato BGM collection (reissue/Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc.) |
BOOK | 19 | Be Forever Yamato by Akira Hio (reissue/Media Factory) |
Book | 31 | Collapse of the Double Galaxies Complete Guide (Enterbrain) |
No-class | NOV | |
CINEMA | 4, 5 | All five Yamato movies screen at Toho Virgin cinemas, Roppongi, Tokyo |
PRODUCT | 11 | Space Battleship Yamato, Farewell, Be Forever jigsaw puzzles (Epoch) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2007 | |
No-class | AUG | |
Video | 24 | DVD: Space Battleship Yamato movies ‘Memorial Box’ (Bandai/Emotion) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2008 | |
No-class | JUN | |
Product | ? | Leiji Matsumoto character doll #31: Sasha from Be Forever Yamato (Zero Goods Universe) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2009 | |
No-class | NOV | |
video | 25 | DVD: All five Yamato movies reissued (Bandai/Emotion) |
No-class | DEC | |
on air | 10, 31 | Be Forever rebroadcast (Family Theatre TV network) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2010 | |
No-class | FEB | |
book | 6 | Be Forever Yamato manga by Akira Hio (reissue/Media Factory) |
No-class | 2011 | |
No-class | OCT | |
cinema | 8 | Charity screening of Be Forever Yamato (Hiroshima) |
No-class | NOV | |
online | 24 | Be Forever streaming on Yamato Resurrection Fever pachinko game website (through 11/20) |
No-class | ||
No-class | 2012 | |
No-class | FEB | |
MUSIC | 16 | CD: Space Battleship Yamato ‘Eternal Edition’ disc 6 reissued (Nippon Columbia Co. Ltd.) |
MUSIC | 16 | Yamato Eternal Edition Premium box reissued (Nippon Columbia Co. Ltd.) |
No-class | OCT | |
MUSIC | 21 | CD: Yamato Sound Almanac 1980-I Be Forever symphonic collection part 1 (Columbia) |
MUSIC | 21 | CD: Yamato Sound Almanac 1980-II Be Forever symphonic collection part 2 (Columbia) |
No-class | 2013 | |
No-class | JAN | |
MUSIC | 23 | CD: Yamato Sound Almanac 1980-III ’80 Yamato Festival in Budokan Live concert (Columbia) |
No-class | APR | |
ON AIR | 28 | Yamato movie marathon (Family Theater) |
No-class | MAY | |
MUSIC | 22 | CD: Yamato Sound Almanac 1980-IV Be Forever Yamato symphonic collection (Columbia) |
No-class | OCT | |
VIDEO | 25 | Bluray: Be Forever Yamato (Bandai/Emotion) |
No-class | 2014 | |
No-class | JUL | |
video | 23 | DVD & Blu-ray: Be Forever Yamato MV (Columbia) |
No-class | DEC | |
on air | 4 | Rebroadcast of Be Forever Yamato (Star Channel) |
on air | 28 | Rebroadcast of Be Forever Yamato (Star Channel) |
on air | 30 | Rebroadcast of Be Forever Yamato (Star Channel) |
No-class | 2019 | |
No-class | NOV | |
ON AIR | 9 | Be Forever Yamato on satellite channel Family Theater |
No-class | 2020 | |
No-class | FEB | |
EVENT | 23 | Be Forever Yamato screened at Yakitori Yamato Restaurant |
No-class | APR | |
ON AIR | 12 | Be Forever Yamato on satellite channel Family Theater |
No-class | 2023 | |
No-class | OCT | |
CINEMA | 21 | Be Forever Yamato screened at Fukuyamanime 6 event |