SciFi Japan
    Source: SRS Cinema LLC press releaseSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra The 1962 Daiei film THE WHALE makes its long-awaited North American premiere on Blu-ray. Image courtesy of SRS Cinema. ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION 1962 Distributor SRS Cinema has announced the launch of preorders for their limited edition Blu-ray of THE WHALE GOD (鯨神, Kujiragami). Released by Daiei (now Kadokawa) in 1962, the film was directed by Tokuzo Tanaka, stars Kojiro Hongo (Gamera series) and Takeshi Shimura (SEVEN SAMURAI, GODZILLA), with music by Akira Ifukube (GODZILLA, RODAN), and features stunning life-size practical effects. This is the first official North American release for THE WHALE GOD-- thanks to SRS Cinema. Note: Fans can be a part of this release - submit a testimonial about what this release means to you, and maybe we will include it in the extras! Email Ron Bonk at This email address is being protected from

    The 57-year history of the Ultraman series is gathered in Kodansha's Ultraman & Monsters Notebook 2024. Photo courtesy of Kodansha Ltd. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©2023 KODANSHA LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Kodansha Ltd. press release The cover design depicts the familiar silhouette from the opening of ULTRASEVEN.Photo courtesy of Kodansha Ltd. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS ©2023 KODANSHA LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Japanese publisher Kodansha has announced that their Ultraman & Monsters Notebook 2024 (ウルトラマン&怪獣手帳 2024,Urutoraman ando Kaijū Techō 2024) will be released on September 11, 2023.  Featuring a stylish red vinyl cover with the silhouette of Ultraseven and the silver foil stamping of the Ultra Guard mark, the book acts as a daily planner, diary and comprehensive Ultra Series information guide. This year marks the third anniversary of the Ultraman & Monsters Notebook series, and the 2024 edition has been reworked to make it even more fun and

    Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. Source: Well Go USA, ddPR Special Thanks to Leif Helland Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray of the action-packed South Korean adventure NIGHT OF THE ASSASSIN (살수, Salsu, 2023). Set in Korea’s Joseon-era and featuring spectacular swordplay, the film follows a deadly assassin who comes out of retirement to exact revenge on a group waging a brutal campaign of terror against local villagers. NIGHT OF THE ASSASSIN is written and directed by first-time auteur Kwak Jeong-deok and stars Shin Hyun-joon (GUNS & TALKS, SON OF A GENERAL II & III), Lee Mun-sik (NIGHT IN PARADISE), and Kim Min-kyung (PIPELINE, SPIRITWALKER). Synopsis:        After a deadly, long-dormant health condition surfaces during a mission, Joseon’s most lethal assassin goes into hiding to seek

    Photo courtesy of Toy's King. Hedorah and Godzilla TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Virus King ©Team Better Tomorrow Source: Toy's King press release The toy purchasing company Toy's King (headquartered in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya; Yusuke Yamamoto, President), operator of T-BASE JAPAN, will be selling at the sculpture and figure festival, Wonder Festival 2023 [Summer], on Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. Photo courtesy of Toy's King. © TOY'S KING. T-BASE JAPAN sells original soft vinyl products from creators and artists. It carries many products that can only be purchased at the T-BASE stores in Shibuya and  Ginza, or at special events. For Wonder Festival,  T-BASE will exhibit and sell soft vinyl figures of special effects monsters such as Toho's Godzilla and Hedorah, Virus King from the indie daikaiju movie YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO (『特撮喜劇 大木勇造 人生最大の決戦』, Tokusatsu Kigeki Ōki Yūzō Jinsei

    Photo courtesy of Sun-Star Stationery Co. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Photo courtesy of Sun-Star Stationery Co. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Source: Sun-Star Stationery Co., Ltd. press release Sun-Star Stationery Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Taito-ku, Tokyo; President: Yukiyoshi Yoshimatsu) is now taking pre-orders for their Godzilla PET Bottle Holders (ゴジラ ペットボトルホルダー, Gojira Petto Botoru Horudā) on the Premium Bandai site. There are three cute plushie designs, featuring monsters from the 2004 film GODZILLA FINAL WARS (ゴジラ FINAL WARS, Gojira FINAL WARS), each made to hold standard PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic beverage bottles. The Godzilla and Gigan designs can hold 500-600ml (17-20 ounce) bottles, while Mothra is for 280-350ml (9.5-12 ounce) bottles. The inner fabric contains an aluminum sheet to reduce the risk of condensation droplets leaking from the bottles. The zipper and hook & loop fastener make it

    Photo courtesy of Playmates. © Legendary. All Rights Reserved. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. MONSTERVERSE TM & © Legendary Source: Playmates Toys Official Site: playmatestoys.com/godzilla-vs.-kong-movie Special Thanks to Sarah Gumina Playmates has provided SciFi Japan with product info and photos of their new Titan Tech Rodan. The figure is part of the Monsterverse Titan Tech Monsters series  that already includes Godzilla and Kong. Titan Tech Rodan is a Target Exclusive and will be arriving on store shelves across North America in September. Photo courtesy of Playmates. © Legendary. All Rights Reserved. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. MONSTERVERSE TM & © Legendary Photo courtesy of Playmates. © Legendary. All Rights Reserved. TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. MONSTERVERSE TM & © Legendary Monsterverse: 8” Titan Tech Transforming Rodan Action Figure Legends collide as Godzilla, Kong and

    Photo courtesy of Kadokawa. ©2023 KADOKAWA/ GAMERA Rebirth Production Committee Source: KADOKAWA Corporation Global Anime Business Official Sites: https://gamera-rebirth.com (Japan), https://www.netflix.com/title/81087387 (US) Official Twitter: @gamera_rebirth #Gamera Rebirth #gamera_rebirth Special Thanks to Anna Haas and Yuna Kishita KADOKAWA Corporation has provided SciFi Japan with English and Japanese language press notes for GAMERA -Rebirth-  (ガメラ リバース, Gamera Ribāsu), their new anime series based on the long-running daikaiju film franchise. The 6 episode series will be distributed worldwide on Netflix on September 7, 2023. A presentation this past weekend at Comic-Con International in San Diego revealed new details, artwork and a trailer (all included  in this article). Tie-in Japanese language novels and an online manga series have also be announced. For more on GAMERA -Rebirth- , please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan... GAMERA -Rebirth- Official Press Release From

    Midsummer Water Festival “Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique” will run from Saturday, July 22 to Sunday, September 3 at Nijigen no Mori!Source: Pasona Group Inc. press releaseOfficial Website: https://nijigennomori.com/en/naruto_shinobizato/Special Thanks to Tsubasa Ozaki Photo courtesy of Pasona Group. ⒸMasashi Kishimoto Scott / Shueisha · TV Tokyo · Pierrot Get soaking wet at "NARUTO&BORUTO Shinobi-Zato"(NARUTO&BORUTO 忍里) in this summer-only event that guarantees fun for the whole family! The Midsummer Water Technique Festival “Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique” (水遁・水龍弾の術!, Mizu 遁 ‧ Mizu Ryūdan no Jutsu!) will run for a limited period only from Saturday, July 22 to Sunday, September 3. During this event, participants will gather in the designated area in front of Hokage Rock and receive a lecture from one of our jonin staff members about the hand seals needed to activate the Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet technique. When the participants successfully perform

    Photo courtesy of JR-Cross. JR East Cross Station Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS   JR-Cross press release Photo courtesy of JR-Cross. JR East Cross Station Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS JR East Cross Station Foods Company Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Foods Company President: Mitsuhiro Fukaya) will hold its first "Ultraman" collaboration campaign at all 68 Beck's Coffee Shops in Japan from Tuesday, August 1 to celebrate the airing of  ULTRAMAN BLAZAR (ウルトラマンブレーザー, Urutoraman Burēzā). In addition to sales of new Ultraman "drink coupons" (6 types in total) and water bottles (limited quantities),  the "Ultraman Collaboration Design Beck's Coffee Shop Drink Coupon Complete Set" (ウルトラマンコラボデザイン ベックスコーヒーショップドリンク回数券コンプリートセット, Urutoraman Korabodezain Bekkusu Kōhī Shoppu Dorinku Kaisūken Konpurīto Setto) with a luxury ticket holder will be sold at some stores and on the e-commerce site "Ekinet". In addition, customers can participate in the "New

    Aoyagi Sohonke presents 7 Ultraman versions of the Aoyagi Uiro confectionery. Photo courtesy of Aoyagi Sohonke Co., Ltd. ©Aoyagi Sohonke ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS   Aoyagi Sohonke Co., Ltd. press release The sweets company Aoyagi Sohonke Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Moriyama-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President: Takashi Goto), which manufactures and sells foods such as “Aoyagi Uiro” (a traditional Japanese confectionery from Nagoya made from rice flour, sugar, water, and seasonal ingredients.) and “Frog Manju” (shaped pastries filled with red bean paste), has partnered with Tsuburaya Productions to produce limited  “Aoyagi Ultraman Uiro” (青柳ウルトラマンういろう, Aoyagi Urutoraman Uirō) snacks. Buy all 7 flavors and become as happy as this kid. Photo courtesy of Aoyagi Sohonke Co., Ltd. ©Aoyagi Sohonke ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS This food was created to commemorate the start of the latest Ultaman television series ULTRAMAN BLAZAR (ウルトラマンブレーザー, Urutoraman Burēzā), which premiered this past July 8th.

    Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong cover artwork by Christian Duce. Photo courtesy of DC. © & TM DC. All Rights Reserved. ©2023 Legendary. All Rights Reserved. TM&© TOHO CO., LTD. MONSTERVERSE TM&© Legendary HEROES AND MONSTERS COLLIDE IN THE CROSSOVER EVENT OF THE YEAR! DC press release DC and Legendary Comics are celebrating the first day of San Diego Comic-Con 2023 with a colossal announcement: DC will collide with Legendary’s Monsterverse in Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong, the cataclysmic crossover event of the year you never expected! In partnership with Toho International, the 7-issue series, launching in October, is from acclaimed writer Brian Buccellato (The Flash, Injustice, Detective Comics), bestselling artist Christian Duce (Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point) and colorist Luis Guerrero! Photo courtesy of DC. © & TM DC. All Rights Reserved. ©2023 Legendary. All Rights Reserved.“As a comics fan—there’s nothing more fun and

    Source:  Super7 Photo courtesy of Super7. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. Fans of Godzilla and Kaiju collectors everywhere rejoice, because looming on the horizon are a pair of new titans to add to your collection! Super7’s latest Toho ULTIMATES! are a pair of Heisei-era favorites: M.O.G.U.E.R.A. and SpaceGodzilla! Featuring intricate sculpting and premium paint detail, these 7” scale, highly articulated, made-to-order Toho ULTIMATES! are ready to take on foes, human and Kaiju alike, and garner a place of honor in your Godzilla collection! Super7 is also offering the figures together as a Toho ULTIMATES! Wave 4 collection that comes with an excluisive set of alternate heads specific to these characters. See below for details.                     Photo courtesy of Super7. TM & ©TOHO

    Hochi Shimbun Co., Ltd. press release   Cover design and bonus collectibles for the Ultraseven 55th Anniversary Special Limited Edition. Photo courtesy of Hochi Shimbun. ©The Hochi Shimbun / ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Japanese newspaper publisher Hochi Shimbun Co., Ltd. has revealed that the tabloid newspaper Ultraseven 55th Anniversary Special Issue (ウルトラセブン55周年特別号, Urutorasebun 55 Shūnen Tokubetsu Gō), celebrating fifty-five years of ULTRASEVEN (ウルトラセブン, Urutorasebun, 1967-68), will go on sale from news sellers and other retailers on July 29th. Running 24 fulll-color pages + 8 posters, the publication is must-have collectible for ULTRASEVEN fans. Cast members Koji Moritsugu (Dan Moroboshi), Yuriko Hishim (Anne Yuri), Sandayu Dokumamushi (Shigeru Furuhashi) and Bin Furuya (Amagi) have each chosen their "three most memorable episodes" and introduced them with nostalgic photos. The front page of the bonus "Extract Poster" features "All Enemy Monsters & Aliens" from UlLTRASEVEN, and the back page is dedicated to Ultraseven's

      The Godzilla (2023) SOFVICS figure is the first prize revealed for Bandai Spirits' Ichiban Kuji Lottery Godzilla-1.0. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. Source: Bandai SpiritsOfficial Site:  https://1kuji.com/products/godzilla4 TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. Bandai Spirits has revealed details and prizes for their upcoming GODZILLA MINUS ONE (ゴジラ-1.0/ゴジラマイナスワン, Gojira Mainasu Wan) Ichiban Kuji Lottery. Ichiban Kuji is a Japanese character lottery where participants win original colectibles based on a specific brand like Godzilla, My Hero Academia, Wizarding World, Dragon Ball Z, Toy Story and Crayon Shin-chan. Customers can purchase their entries online and at the Ichiban Kuji Official Shop, convenience stores, bookstores, hobby shops, and other retailers  across Japan, with each entry guaranteed to win one of the products offered in the lottery.  In addition, the contestant who purchases the last lottery entry at a shop will get a special "Last One" prize. Members of the

    Dark modern day horror masterpiece about cannibals in a small rural Japanese village also inspired a popular Disney+/Hulu live action showSource: ABLAZE press release Special Thanks to Erik Jansen (MediaLab) Vol. 1. Photo courtesy of Ablaze. Comics and graphic novel publisher ABLAZE serves up a terrifying new manga thriller rich in tension and suspense as it announces GANNIBAL with the Vol 1 TP volume set for a November 2023 publication date and Volume 2 scheduled for a February 2024 release. GANNIBAL is an intense 13-volume horror manga created by Masaaki Ninomiya that was originally published in Japan by Nihon Bungeisha. ABLAZE is proudly bringing this dark masterpiece to North America and English readers worldwide for the first time. In GANNIBAL, Daigo Agawa is a resident

    Photo courtesy of Mark Nagata. ©︎ 2022 SUMFP ©︎ TPC Photo courtesy of Mark Nagata. ©︎ 2022 SUMFP ©︎ TPC Source: Max Toy Company, LLC.Special Thanks to Mark Nagata This upcoming weekend (July 21-23), Bay Area Film Events, CinemaSF and SciFi Japan present ULTRAFEST, a 3-day Ultraman film festival at the 4-Star Theater (2200 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121).  Authorized by Tsuburaya Productions, Starlight Runner and The Licensing Group, the event will include screenings of Ultraman movies and episodes, special guest Dore Kraus (star of ULTRAMAN TOWARDS THE FUTURE), merchandise dealers, an art gallery and more! For complete details, please see the report here on SciFi Japan. Adding to the fun will be sales of two limited edition figures based on the hit movie SHIN ULTRAMAN (シン・ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman, 2022). Sculpted and painted by Mark Nagata of Max Tox Company, the

      The Eat Asia chain has opened Godzilla-themed restaurants in Brazil. Photo courtesy of Angelotti – Licensing & Entertainment Business. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD.   Author: Keith Aiken Source:  Angelotti - Licensing & Entertainment Business, Toho Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Luiz Angelotti A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Eat Asia - Chácara Flora features Godzilla decor. Photo courtesy of Angelotti – Licensing & Entertainment Business. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD. Over the past several years, Toho Co., Ltd. has greatly increased their international promotion of the Godzilla brand. Helped by the worldwide success of the "Monsterverse" film series from Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros., Toho has expanded their international office in Los Angeles, achieved wide distribution of their Godzilal anime titles through Netflix,  signed a multitude of merchandising deals for both the Monsterverse and "Classic Godzilla" lines, launched themed Godzilla channels on YouTube

    The Godzilla Real Escape Game will run an additional 2 months at the Atami Korakuen Hotel. Photo courtesy of SCRAP. ©SCRAP TM & © TOHO CO. Source: SCRAP press release Official Site: https://realdgame.jp/atami-godzilla/ For much more information about the Godzilla Real Escape Game, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan. SCRAP Co., Ltd. (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Takao Kato), in partnership with Tokyo Dome Resort Operations Co., Ltd. (Location: Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Representative: Takayuki Iwase), has announced the extension of the one-day course of the Real Escape Game "Godzilla Approaching: Hotel Escape" (ゴジラ迫るホテルからの脱出, Gojira Semaru Hoteru Kara no Dasshutsu). Also known as "Atami Godzilla Escape" (熱海ゴジラ脱出, Atami Gojira Dasshutsu), the Godzilla event is being held at Atami Bay Resort Korakuen, a popular tourist retreat complex that includes the Atami Korakuen Hotel, which opened 1965. Atami was the site of the final battle in the 1962

    Crazy Bump inc. press release   Image courtesy of Crazy Bump inc.. ©TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS Crazy Bump inc., a company that holds and manages exhibitions featuring manga, anime, tokusatsu and other subcultures, will hold the "ULTRASEVEN POP UP STORE" (ウルトラセブンPOP UP STORE, Urutorasebun POP UP STORE) at the Hands Hiroshima Store from Tuesday, July 18 to Sunday, August 20, 2023. It is the 55th anniversary of the first broadcast of ULTRASEVEN (ウルトラセブン, Urutorasebun) in 1967! The historical masterpiece ULTRASEVEN is still highly regarded as the best work in the Ultra series, with its advanced and colorful modeling, universal and profound story, and the appearance of not only monsters but also intelligent aliens. The series was followed by several sequels, and boasts a popularity that has never cooled down, transcending generations. This POP UP STORE in Hands Hiroshima will focus on ULTRASEVEN and the 2007 sequel ULTRASEVEN X (ウルトラセブン エックス,

    ACADEMY AWARD WINNER HAYAO MIYAZAKI'S FIRST FEATURE IN 10 YEARSSource: GKIDS press release   Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. ©2023 Studio Ghibli GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of award-winning animation, announced its acquisition of North American distribution rights to THE BOY AND THE HERON, the highly anticipated new film from the legendary Academy Award-winning Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Japan's celebrated animation house, Studio Ghibli. Released in Japan as Kimitachi wa Do Ikiruka (translated as How Do You Live), the film is an original story written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, produced by the Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and features a musical score from Miyazaki's long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The all-rights deal marks a continuation of GKIDS' long-standing relationship with Ghibli. GKIDS will release THE BOY AND THE HERON theatrically in North America later this year. Informally referred to in English-language

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