Source: Uncooked Media Ltd. press release
Official Website: neomag.co.uk

Cover for NEO Magazine Issue 55, now on sale in Britain.
©2009 Uncooked Media Ltd.

Published by Uncooked Media Ltd., NEO is the UK’s only magazine dedicated to Japanese and Asian pop culture— specifically, anime, manga, Asian cult cinema and Japanese pop music (J-Pop). Although anime is covered in depth within every issue, NEO’s remit is to cover a wider range of material than you would find in an anime-only magazine.

The latest issue, NEO #55, went on sale this past Thursday, January 29th. Among the many featured articles is a look at Ultraman written by SciFi Japan’s own James Ballard. In 2007, James had a cameo in the series ULTRASEVEN X, and the NEO report details his experiences on the set of an Ultraman show.

NEO is available through traditional UK newsagents, larger stores like WHSmith, Martins, Borders and Spar, as well as the bigger branches of Virgin and HMV.
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DVD cover art for DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2006 “DEATH NOTE” FILM
PARTNERS

Source: VIZ Media press release
Official Movie Site: Death Note Films
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the highly anticipated DVD release of DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME, based on the hit supernatural action mystery manga and animated series. The DVD will feature both the original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles and the English dubbed version by the outstanding voice cast of the animated series. The Red Hot Chili Peppers again contribute the theme song. Bonus features include a special segment, “Making of DEATH NOTE II” and the original Japanese theatrical trailer.

The DVD will carry a suggested retail price of $24.92 and will be distributed in North America by VIZ Media. The estimated street date for DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME is February 10, 2009.
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First-Of-Its-Kind Imprint Launches This Summer To Publish The Best In Contemporary Japanese Science Fiction Novels
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

Cover for The Lord of the Sands of Time, the first
novel to be published under the Haikasoru imprint.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2007 Issui Ogawa;
Originally published in Japan by Hayakawa Publishing, Inc.

VIZ Media, LLC, one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the launch of a brand-new imprint called Haikasoru (meaning “High Castle”), which will publish an array of contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences. This is the first time an imprint with a dedicated focus on Japanese SF has launched in North America.

Haikasoru is scheduled to publish twelve books a year and launches in the summer of 2009 with four titles: The Lord of the Sands of Time by Issui Ogawa, All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, ZOO by Otsuichi, and Usurper of the Sun by Housuke Nojiri.

Haikasoru will be helmed by Nick Mamatas, a respected author of science fiction as well as an editor at VIZ Media. Mamatas is the author of two novels which have been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award and Germany’s Kurd Lasswitz Prize.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this new imprint,” says Mamatas. “Haikasoru is making history with the future. Finally, SF is going global.”
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Japanese promotional art for the horror movie X-CROSS. © 2007 X-Cross Film Partners

Japanese Horror Hit Comes to Britain
Source: 4Digital Media press release
Official Movie Site: xx-movie
Special Thanks to Steve Beecham

DVD cover art for the British release of X-CROSS. Photo
courtesy of 4Digital Media. © 2007 X Cross Film Partners

The J-Horror/Comedy film X-CROSS (XX Ekusu-Kurosu: Makyo Densetsu) has been released on DVD in the United Kingdom by 4Digital Asia, and imprint of British distributor 4Digital Media.

X-CROSS (pronounced ‘criss-cross’) was directed by Kenta Fukasaku (YO-YO GIRL COP; BATTLE ROYALE II), scripted by Tetsuya Oishi (DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME; DEATH NOTE; ONE MISSED CALL) and stars up-and-coming Japanese singer/actress Nao Matsushita (SAND CLOCK, MY SASSY GIRL television series) and J-Pop star Ami Suzuki (RAINBOW SONG). The movie was made by “X-Cross Film Partners” (Avex Entertainment, Studio Swan, Toei Company Ltd.) and released theatrically in Japan by Toei on December 1, 2007.

4Digital Media has provided a plot description, specs, cover art, and photos for the X-CROSS DVD, which went on sale this past January 19.
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Guilala— the X from Outer Space— faces off with the legendary savior Take-Majin in MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT!
Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2008 Guilala Production Committee

Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Media Blasters, Inc.
Official Movie Site: MONSTER X STRIKES BACK
Special thanks to Shion Komatsu, Richard York, and Aki Harimoto

Japanese studio Shochiku Co., Ltd. and New York-based distributor Media Blasters, Inc. have confirmed that Media Blasters has acquired North American rights to MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! (Girara no Gyakushu / Samitto Kiki Ippatsu!, 2008). The movie brought the space monster Guilala— introduced in Shochiku’s THE X FROM OUTER SPACE (Uchu Daikaiju Girara, 1967)— back to Japanese movie screens for the first time in 41 years. Guilala was also recently featured in a popular American television commercial for the job service The Ladders.
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The half human/half yokai hero Kitaro (Eiji Wentz) is annoyed by his friends Ratman (Yo Oizumi), Kaede Hiramoto (Kie Kitano), and Cat-girl (Lena Tanaka).
Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2008 Kitaro Film Partners

Press Notes and Photos from Shochiku for the Sequel to the 2007 Hit KITARO
Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Official Movie Site: GeGeGe
Special Thanks to Aki Harimoto and JM Shop

English language international sales flyer for the Kitaro
sequel KITARO AND THE MILLENNIUM CURSE. Photo
courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2008 Kitaro Film Partners

A mystery of missing women, triggered by by a forbidden romance between a man and a yokai, concealed in a cursed song…

Shigeru Mizuki’s ever-popular manga series GeGeGe no Kitaro was first adapted into a big-budget live action fantasy movie in the spring of 2007. KITARO was a smash hit in Japan, reaching 2.3 billion yen ($25 million US) at the box office. Last year, the main cast and crew reunited for the sequel KITARO AND THE MILLENNIUM CURSE (Gegege no Kitaro Sennen Noroi Uta)… but this time the story was aimed not only at children, but for older audiences as well.

The new movie deals with a 1,000 year-old forbidden romance between a yokai— those strange, mystical beings of Japanese legend— and a mortal man. This tragedy reflects the loneliness of being a yokai and the arrogance and weakness of mankind. Morally trapped between these two worlds is the half yokai/half human hero Kitaro and the human heroine Kaede. Their struggle to reach mutual understanding eventually leads them to an awareness beyond their differences. The trust and the friendship of Kitaro and his yokai partners proves the key to overcoming the morbid destiny that awaits them.
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Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network)
Official Movie Site: 252
Special Thanks to Asuka Kimura and Tzeling Huang

Poster art for 252: SIGNAL OF LIFE, the new Japanese
disaster movie. Photo courtesy of NTV. ©2008 ”252”
Film Partners

252…
The signal only known to the Hyper Rescue Squad
It’s the Signal that Brings Hope
It’s the Code that means…

“There are Survivors”

252: SIGNAL OF LIFE (252: Seizonsha Ari) is a new, large-scale disaster movie which opened in theaters across Japan on December 6, 2008. The films stars Hideaki Ito (UMIZARU, ONMYOJI, SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO) and acclaimed TV and stage actor Masaaki Uchino as Hyper Rescue workers dealing with the aftermath of both a major earthquake and a massive typhoon hitting Tokyo.

252 was released by the Warner Bros. Japan. The film opened at #2 in the box office behind Disney/Pixar’s WALL-E, and bumping John Woo’s RED CLIFF after several weeks in the top spot.

International sales of 252: SIGNAL OF LIFE are being handled by the Nippon Television Network (NTV), who have provided photos, promotional art, and detailed production notes on the making of the film.
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Bob Wilkins on the set of KTVU’s CREATURE FEATURES.

We have received the following message from the family of Bob Wilkins…

Fans of Bob Wilkins,

There will be a couple of fan tributes in March that you won’t want to miss.

SciFi Japan will provide details on the March fan tributes as soon as they become available.

New Titles to Premiere at European Film Market in Berlin
Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks to Junko Kawaguchi

Promotional art for the new Shochiku fantasy film KAMOGAWA HORUMO − BATTLE
LEAGUE IN KYOTO. © 2009 Kamogawa Horumo Film Partners

The Japanese studio Shochiku Co., Ltd. has announced their key movie and anime titles for 2009. The fantasy film KAMOGAWA HORUMO − BATTLE LEAGUE IN KYOTO and the animated feature MAI MAI MIRACLE were both recently completed and will premiere with screenings at the European Film Market in Berlin. The 2009 EFM runs from February 4-15.

The studio’s summer and holiday schedule will include the big budget ninja movie KAMUI and OTOUTO, the latest film from director Yoji Yamada. This spring will see the animated TV series SENGOKU BASARA−SAMURAI KINGS, based on the Capcom video game.
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New York Comic Con, Subway Cinema, and Nikkatsu Present World Premiere of New Japanese Feature Film
Source: Roger Bilheimer Associates press release
Official Site: New York Comic Con

Ai-chan (Saki Fukuda) and Gan-chan (Sho Sakurai) are the duo called Yatterman.
Photo courtesy of NYCC. © 2009 Tatsunoko Production/Yatterman Film Partners

New York Comic Con (NYCC) today revealed that maverick Japanese director Takashi Miike will appear at its 2009 event as a Guest of Honor and superstar actor and pop star Sho Sakurai will attend as a Special Guest. Miike and Sakurai will be at NYCC to speak about their upcoming feature film YATTERMAN—and then present the world premiere of the highly-anticipated movie, produced by Nikkatsu Studios and scheduled for release in Japan in early March. The 2009 New York Comic Con takes place February 6-8 in the Jacob Javits Center in New York, NY. Miike and Sakurai join Guests of Honor including Brian Michael Bendis, Carmine Infantino, Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, J. Michael Straczynski, and Bruce Timm and Special Guests including Seth Green, J.J. Sedelmaier, Matt Senreich, and Art Spiegelman.

“New York Comic Con is honored to have Miike-san and Sakurai-san join us this year,” NYCC Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. “New York Comic Con seeks to celebrate pop culture from around the world, and Yatterman is a stunning example of this. YATTERMAN’s nothing short of legendary, and we’re excited to be part of it!”
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The classic samurai hero Zatoichi gets a makeover in the new film ICHI. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd.. © 2008 ICHI Film Partners

Press Notes and Photos from Shochiku
Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Official Movie Site: ICHI
Special Thanks to Aki Harimoto

The famed ZATOICHI returns to the screen once again… this time as the female character ICHI. With eyes that cannot see, the audience will reach her soul, where emotions burst with relentless action!

English sales flyer for ICHI. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co.,
Ltd.. © 2008 ICHI Film Partners

Zatoichi— a wandering blind swordsman who protects the innocent and fights injustice— has been one of the the most popular samurai heroes in Japanese cinema and television. The character was featured in one of Japan’s longest-running movie series, with 26 films produced between 1962 and 1989 starring Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi. Katsu also played the role in the 112 episode television series THE TALE OF ZATOICHI, which aired from 1974 to 1979. In 2003, “Beat” Takeshi Kitano directed and starred in the big budget update ZATOICHI (US title THE BLIND SWORDSMAN: ZATOICHI).

In ICHI, Shochiku Co., Ltd. brings the Zatoichi character brack to movie screens in a new female incarnation. Ichi is a lone goze (blind woman singer) who has become separated from her traveling entertainment troupe. Wondering how she will find her place in life, she carries only a shamisen (a traditional Japanese stringed instrument) and a walking stick with a hidden blade inside.
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Author: Tim Eldred, Starblazers.com and Greasemonkeybook.com

Derek Wildstar (Susumu Kodai) and the Yamato.
©1974 Tohokushinsha Film Corp.

Anyone who’s been paying attention over the last twenty years or so knows that Japanese cartoons (“anime”) have pretty much changed the world forever with their dynamism, variety, and impossibly eye-catching visuals. Anyone who’s into anime now probably had a “gateway” program that got them started. In the 1990s there was POKEMON, SAILOR MOON, EVANGELION, and COWBOY BEBOP. In the 1970s there was SPEED RACER and BATTLE OF THE PLANETS. But for my money the rubber really hit the road in the 1980s with AKIRA, ROBOTECH, and the greatest of them all: STAR BLAZERS.

Why so great? Part of it was timing. STAR BLAZERS hit American TV in 1979, when science-fiction movies were on a dramatic upswing and the appetite for more was never greater. It was a genre that American cartoon companies showed little to no interest in exploiting, but Japan had fully embraced many years earlier. And if you wanted to see daily SF on TV that matched what was happening in the movie theatres, you could do no better than STAR BLAZERS.

Join SciFi Japan and author Tim Eldred for a series of articles looking back at the influential anime series SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO. Chapters will run monthly through most of 2009!
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Cover art for the first two DVD volumes of POWER RANGERS JUNGLE FURY. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Inc.
© 2008 BVS Entertainment, Inc. and BVS International N.V.

Let’s Rumble in the Jungle!
Author: Aaron Cooper
Source: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Inc.
Official Site: Jungle Fury

It is hard to imagine that the Power Rangers franchise is 16 years old! There are really not a lot of kid’s shows out there that can lay that type of claim for constant original programming. Us old fogies at SciFi Japan realized we’ve been ignoring this particular area of Japanese-influenced action for a little too long, so I took a look at the first two volumes of POWER RANGERS JUNGLE FURY entitled “Into the Jungle” and “Way of the Master”, which comprise the first 12 episodes of the series as seen on Jetix through Toon Disney in 2008.
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Japanese celebrities the Kano Sisters get animated in the new mini-series ABUNAI SISTERS – KOKO & MIKA. © Abunai Sisters Production Committee

Source: Neu Bauhaus LLC press release
Official Website: Abunai Sisters
Special Thanks to Ai Aota
ABUNAI SISTERS Story #1 video courtesy of Neu Bauhaus LLC. © Abunai Sisters Production Committee

Japanese super celebrities the Kano Sisters launch a global brand with a new anime project from Pony Canyon. The sensational new anime mini-series ABUNAI (Dangerous) SISTERS – KOKO & MIKA will be released on DVD using a new direct-to-consumer retail program called “The Gathering System” which dictates the retail price based on the amount of overall orders. This advance-order-only marketing tool was implemented to accept pre-orders until the end of January in both Japan and the US.

Film and music conglomerate Pony Canyon, top ranked Japanese broadcaster Fuji Television, and #1 animation studio Production I.G. (tapped by Quentin Tarantino for the animated sequences in KILL BILL VOL. 1) have joined forces to make the Kano Sisters into animated characters –building a new franchise for DVD release.
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New Release Date for Tokyo Shock DVD
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.
Special Thanks to Richard York

Cover art for Media Blasters’ upcoming DVD of THE BRAVE
ARCHER. Photo courtesy of Media Blasters. © 1977 Shaw
Bros.

THE BRAVE ARCHER (She diao ying xiong chuan, 1977) was the first in a four film series produced by the popular Shaw Brothers studio in Hong Kong. It was adapted from Legend of The Eagle-Shooting Hero, one of the most beloved stories written by Jin Yong and considered one of the most important in modern Chinese literature.

The film was first released in the United States by distributor World Northal as KUNG FU WARLORDS. The remaining movies in the series were THE BRAVE ARCHER PART II (She diao ying xiong chuan xu ji, US title KUNG FU WARLORDS 2; 1978), THE BRAVE ARCHER PART III (She diao ying xiong chuan san ji, US title BLAST OF THE IRON PALM, 1981), and THE BRAVE ARCHER AND HIS MATE (Shen diao xia lu, aka MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, 1982).

Today we received word from Richard York of Media Blasters concerning the company’s upcoming Region 1 DVD of THE BRAVE ARCHER.
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