SciFi Japan
    Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Sukagawa in Fukushima Prefecture is well known by Tokusatsu fans as the birth city of Mr. Eiji Tsuburaya, creator of Ultraman and the special effects wizard behind GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1954) and many other Toho classics. There is a memorial monument near his childhood home that is a place for fans to visit. I visited Sukagawa in 2001 when it was the 100th anniversary of Mr. Tsuburaya`s birth. I recently visited again so I could see the new monuments erected there. First, I visited JR Sukagawa Station. There is Ultraman monument which was created in 2013 at the station square. Sukagawa city became the sister city to the Ultraman planet in “Nebula M78” and the monument was built as its memorial symbol. The ceremony was done on July 7th, the birthday of Mr. Tsuburaya. In 2015, a total of eight

    Product Info and High-Res Photos Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Jun Umeji A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese collectibles company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and high-res photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in late October 2016. X-Plus` monster figures can be purchased directly from the company`s official Shounen Ric website. Shounen Ric offers Limited Editions of the figures with exclusive features or bonus pieces not available from other retailers. The standard versions of the figures are sold by stores and online retailers including SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Flossie`s Gifts & Collectibles. Daiei 30cm Series: Daimajin — Shounen Ric Limited Edition /??30????? ???????????? Product Size: Height Approximately 30cm (11.8 Inches) Material: PVC (Daimajin), Iron (Chain) Specifications: Painted; Some Assembly Required Package: Closed Box Shipping: Late October 2016 – Early November 2016

    Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: b-boys.jp/ultraman/orb/products (Japan) The Japanese toy company Bandai has announced two additions to their September lineup of ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu) figures. Both come with a plastic Ultra Fusion Card featuring audio and/or data files that can be accessed by the DX Orb Ring (sold separately). Ultra Monster Orb 06: Juggrus Juggler/ ????????? 06 ?????????? Manufacturer: Bandai Item No.: 4549660086482000 Product Size: Height Approximately 140mm (5.5 Inches) Material: Soft Vinyl Release Date: September 10, 2016 Price: ¥864 (Approximately $8.59 US, Tax Included) Ultra Monster DX: Maga-Orochi/ ??????DX ????? Manufacturer: Bandai Item No.: 4549660086499000 Product Size: Height Approximately 200mm (7.87 Inches) Material: Soft Vinyl Release Date: September 17, 2016 Price: ¥2,700 (Approximately $26.16 US, Tax Included) For more information on ULTRAMAN ORB, please see the earlier coverage here on

    Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: b-boys.jp/ultraman/orb/products (Japan) The Japanese toy company Bandai has added several figures to their line of ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu) products. Most figures come with a plastic Ultra Fusion Card featuring audio and/or data files that can be accessed by the DX Orb Ring (sold separately). Ultra Hero Orb 03: Ultraman Orb (Hurricane Slash)/ ??????????? 03 ?????????(??????????) Manufacturer: Bandai Item No.: 4549660077619000 Product Size: Height Approximately 140mm (5.5 Inches) Material: Soft Vinyl Release Date: August 6, 2016 Price: ¥648 (Approximately $6.04 US, Tax Included) Ultra Hero Orb 04: Ultraman Orb (Thunder Breastar)/ ??????????? 04 ?????????(?????????) Manufacturer: Bandai Item No.: 4549660077626 Product Size: Height Approximately 140mm (5.5 Inches) Material: Soft Vinyl Release Date: September 24, 2016 Price: ¥648 (Approximately $6.04 US, Tax Included)

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Jun Umeji A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and high-res photos of their new Kaiju Kidoairaku (meaning "Monster Emotion") line of resin busts, based on the concept of monsters conveying a specific emotion or impression. The series kicks off in November with two monsters from Tsuburaya Productions` Ultra Series. Both are sculpted by RYO, with production and painting supervised by Kaibutsuya studio (X-Plus` Gigantic Series Godzilla figures and Wonder of Wild Series). X-Plus figures and statues are sold by stores and online retailers including SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Flossie`s Gifts & Collectibles. Kaiju Kidoairaku: Red King Painted Polystone /?????? ???????? ????????????? Product Size: Height Approximately 20cm (7.9 Inches) Material: Polystone Specifications: Painted Package: Closed Box Shipping: Late November 2016

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Jun Umeji A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and high-res photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in late September 2016.* X-Plus` monster figures can be purchased directly from the company`s official Shounen Ric website. Shounen Ric offers Limited Editions of the figures with exclusive features or bonus pieces not available from other retailers. The standard versions of the figures are sold by stores and online retailers including SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Flossie`s Gifts & Collectibles. *X-Plus is considering releasing one more figure in September. SciFi Japan will have further details as they become available. Daikaiju Series – Daiei Special Effects Edition: Gamera 1996 Head Renewal Ver. — Shounen Ric Exclusive /??????? ????? ???1996???????????????????? Product Size: Height Approximately 23cm (9

    Detailed Figure Stands Over 3 Feet Tall; Costs $1,000 Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: Premium Bandai (Japan) Premium Bandai commemorates the 50th anniversary of the original ULTRAMAN (??????, Urutoraman, 1966-67) television series, with the Ultimate Modeling Series SP: Ultraman figure. The new large-scale figure is based on ULtraman`s C-type design as seen in the final episodes of the show. The Ultimate Modeling Series is a line of figures standing 1 meter (3.3. feet). The large size allows for more accurate replication of details from the original character suits and props such as production wear and tear, subtle changes in color, and sculpting of the suits and masks. Previous Ultimate Modeling Series entries include Ultraman A-type, Ultra Seven, and Ultraman Jack from RETURN OF ULTRAMAN (???????????, Kaettekita Urutoraman, 1971-72). The Ultraman C-Type prototype was produced by Tsuburaya Productions LIGHT SCULPTURE STUDIO (LSS), the

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Jun Umeji A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and high-res photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in late August 2016. X-Plus` monster figures can be purchased directly from the company`s official Shounen Ric website. Shounen Ric offers Limited Editions of the figures with exclusive features or bonus pieces not available from other retailers. The standard versions of the figures are sold by stores and online retailers including SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Flossie`s Gifts & Collectibles. Daikaiju Series: Imit-Ultra Seven Light Up Version -- Shounen Ric Exclusive /??????? ????????????????????????? Product Size: Height Approximately 23cm (9 Inches) Material: PVC (Imit-Ultra Seven), ABS (Display Stand) Specifications: Painted; Some Assembly Required Package: Window Box Shipping: Late August 2016 - Early September 2016 Price:

    Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: b-boys.jp/ultraman/orb/products (Japan) The Japanese toy company Bandai adds to their July lineup of ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu) figures with the first standard size monster and two more larger DX monsters. All three figures come with a plastic Ultra Fusion Card featuring audio and/or data files that can be accessed by the DX Orb Ring (sold separately). Ultra Monster Orb 01: Alien Mefilas/ ????????? 01 ??????? Manufacturer: Bandai Item No.: 4549660086444000 Product Size: Height Approximately 140mm (5.5 Inches) Material: Soft Vinyl Release Date: July 30, 2016 Price: ¥864 (Approximately $8.59 US, Tax Included) Ultra Monster DX: Maga-Jappa/ ???????? ?????? Manufacturer: Bandai Item No.: 4549660077831000 Product Size: Height Approximately 170mm (6.7 Inches) Material: Soft Vinyl Release Date: July 23, 2016 Price: ¥2,160 (Approximately $21.48 US, Tax Included)

    Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: bandai.co.jp/candy/ultra In October, Bandai will release a new line of Ultraman candy toys (toys or figures packaged with candy or gum) in celebration of the franchise`s 50th anniversary. Part of the company`s “Shodo Tenohirado” series, "SHODO Ultraman VS" will offer pre-painted action figures of heroes and villains from the Ultra Series, each with 15 points of articulation. The first wave of "SHODO Ultraman VS" includes the original Ultraman, Ultra Seven, King Joe and Zetton. Made for fans and collectors ages 15 and older, each boxed figure stands 100mm and comes with a piece of gum. SHODO Ultraman VS /SHODO??????VS Product Size: Average Figure Height Approximately 100mm (3.9 Inches), Width Approximately 40mm (1.57 Inches) Figure Material: PVC, ABS Display Stand: PVC Release Date: October 2016 Price: ¥540 (Approximately $5.26 US, Tax Included) Each ? Set Contents 1. Ultraman

    Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: acro-japan.com/kaiju ACRO Co., Ltd. continues their KAIJU REMIX SERIES, the pre-painted soft vinyl figure line offering new takes on the classic monsters and aliens from the Ultra Series by top artists and FX filmmakers. The latest additions are two creatures from the original ULTRAMAN (?????? Urutoraman, 1966-67) television series. KAIJU REMIX SERIES: Antlar/ KAIJU REMIX SERIES ????? Manufacturer: ACRO Co., Ltd. Sculptor: David Meng Product Size: Height Approximately 35cm (13.8 Inches) Release Date: April 2016 Price: ¥14,000 (Approximately $136.91 US) + Tax Antlar is sculpted by David Meng, a former member of Peter Jackson`s New Zealand studio, Weta Workshop. His credits include THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy (2001-03), KING KONG (2005), AVATAR (2009) and PACIFIC RIM (2013). Meng relocated to the United States in 2011 and is still active in the film industry. This

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Jun Umeji and Sachiko Ikenouchi A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and high-res photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in late July 2016. X-Plus` monster figures can be purchased directly from the company`s official Shounen Ric website. Shounen Ric offers Limited Editions of the figures with exclusive features or bonus pieces not available from other retailers. The standard versions of the figures are sold by stores and online retailers including SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Flossie`s Gifts & Collectibles. Toho 30cm Series: Mechagodzilla 1975 /??30cm???? ????? 1975 Product Size: Height Approximately 27cm (10.6 Inches) Material: PVC (Vinyl), ABS (Plastic) Specifications: Painted; Some Assembly Required Package: Blind Box Shipping: Late July 2016 - Early August 2016 Price: ¥19,980

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Jun Umeji and Sachiko Ikenouchi A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and high-res photos for a late addition to their June 2016 lineup of giant monster figures... the Real Master Collection PLUS: Ultraman 50th Anniversary statue. Celebrating 50 years since the broadcast debut of ULTRAMAN (?????? Urutoraman, 1966-67), the RMC PLUS poly resin statue depicts the Ultraman C-type design, capturing the characteristics of the hero’s mask and suit from the final episodes of the classic television series. The figure was previously released in soft vinyl as Large Monsters Series: Ultraman (C-type) Appearance Pose in April 2015. The RMC PLUS Ultraman comes with a poly resin display stand that illuminates the figure’s eyes and color timer, and changes the color timer from blue to blinking

    Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: b-boys.jp/ultra_hero500 (Japan) In conjunction with the July 2013 debut of Tsuburaya Productions` ULTRAMAN GINGA (?????????, Urutoraman Ginga) television series, Bandai launched a new wave of collectibles under the "Ultra Hero 500" brand. Based on the Spark Dolls concept of GINGA, which had Ultramen and monsters transformed into toys by a mysterious force, the 500 line primarily focused on PVC (soft vinyl) figures with an average height of 14cm (5.5 inches) and a SRP of ¥540 (Approximately $5.19 US). Over the past few years, Bandai has revised and expanded the line with capsule figures, larger-scale DX monsters, and characters from new shows and movies. The next relaunch comes this July with figures from the upcoming ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu) series. Note: English names for Ultramen and monsters taken from Bandai and Tsuburaya Pro materials. Ultra Hero 500/

    Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: b-boys.jp/ultraman/orb/products (Japan) Tsuburaya Productions` new ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu) series continues the recent trend of tying the Ultraman shows directly to products and merchandising from Bandai. In the program, protagonist Gai Kurenai (Hideo Ishiguro) becomes Ultraman Orb through a transformation device called the Orb Ring. As Orb, Kurenai can take on different forms that are combinations of previous heroes from the Ultra Series. Bandai`s ULTRAMAN ORB product line will include Data Carddass (collectible cards for use with Bandai games and devices) based on Orb`s fusion ability. These Fusion Cards are packaged with most of the characters in their “Ultra Hero Orb” series of soft vinyl figures and will also be released separately in sets of 6. The Fusion Cards contain chips with audio and data files that can be scanned by the DX Orb Ring (sold separately) and the

    Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: b-boys.jp/ultraman/orb/products (Japan) In conjunction with the July debut of Tsuburaya Productions` new series, ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu), the Japanese toy company Bandai will introduce their line of figures based on the show. The "Ultra Hero Orb" line is produced in scale with Bandai`s Ultra Hero 500 Series of 5 inch tall soft vinyl figures. Most Ultraman Orb figures come with a plastic Ultra Fusion Card featuring audio and/or data files that can be accessed by the DX Orb Ring (sold separately). Ultra Hero Orb 01: Ultraman Orb (Spacium Zeperion)/ ??????????? 01 ?????????(??????????) Manufacturer: Bandai Item No.: 4549660077398 Product Size: Height Approximately 140mm (5.5 Inches) Material: Soft Vinyl Release Date: July 9, 2016 Price: ¥648 (Approximately $6.04 US, Tax Included) Ultra Hero Orb

    Info and Photos from Tsuburaya Pro for the 50th Anniversary Ultraman Series Source: Tsuburaya Productions, Fields Corporation Official Site: m-78.jp/orb (Japan) Commemorating the 50th anniversary of ULTRAMAN (???????????????, Urutoraman: Kuso Tokusatsu Shirizu, 1966-67) -- and the 20th anniversary of the franchise`s relaunch with ULTRAMAN TIGA (?????????, Urutoraman Tiga, 1996-97) -- Tsuburaya Productions will debut their new ULTRAMAN ORB (?????????, Urutoraman Oobu) television series this July 9th on TV Tokyo. Scheduled for 25 episodes, the show will introduce the 42nd Ultraman in the Ultra Series. The creative team for ULTRAMAN ORB features a number of Ultraman veterans, including lead director Kiyotaka Taguchi, who served the same role for last year`s ULTRAMAN X (???????, Urutoraman Ekkusu). Joining Taguchi are directors Yuichi Abe (ULTRAMAN NEXUS, ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL, ULTRAMAN X), Ryuichi Ichino (ULTRAMAN GAIA, ULTRAMAN COSMOS), Taku Tomita (ULTRAMAN X) and Shono Takei.

    Figures to be Sold in Japan and America Source: Bandai Official Site: tamashii.jp/darumaclub (Japan) Bandai`s Tamashii Nations presents DARUMA CLUB, a funky new figure series that takes Japanese themes and characters and mixes them with the traditional Japanese "daruma" motif. Daruma are often given as good luck gifts to help the receiver achieve a desired goal. Godzilla Daruma/ DARUMA CLUB ????? Product Size: Height Approximately 90mm (3.54 Inches) Material: ABS, PVC Shipping: August 31, 2016 (Japan) Distributed by: Tamashii Web Shop (Japan) Price: ¥1,620 (Approximately $15.23 US, Tax Included) ? Set Contents Godzilla Figure Card Mothra Daruma/ DARUMA CLUB ????? Product Size: Height Approximately 90mm Material: ABS, PVC Shipping: August 31, 2016 (Japan) Distributed by: Tamashii Web Shop (Japan) Price: ¥1,620 ? Set Contents Mothra Figure Card DARUMA CLUB Vol.1 Ultraman

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Sachiko Ikenouchi A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in late May 2016. X-Plus` monster figures can be purchased directly from the company`s official Shounen Ric website. Shounen Ric offers Limited Editions of the figures with exclusive features or bonus pieces not available from other retailers. The standard versions of the figures are sold by stores and online retailers including SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Flossie`s Gifts & Collectibles. Toho 30cm Series: Battra (Larva) /??30cm???? ????????? Product Size: Height Approximately 30.5cm (12 Inches), Length Approximately 50.5cm (19.9 Inches) Material: PVC (Vinyl) Specifications: Painted; Some Assembly Required Package: Blind Box Sculptor: Yukimune Atari (GOWROW) Shipping: Late May 2016 - Early June 2016 Price: ¥19,440 (Approximately

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Sachiko Ikenouchi A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with information and photos of their giant monster figures scheduled for release in late April 2016. The lineup includes several reissues commemorating the 50th anniversaries of Ultraman, Daimajin and the second Gamera movie, GAMERA VS BARUGON. X-Plus` monster figures can be purchased directly from the company`s official Shounen Ric website. Shounen Ric offers Limited Editions of the figures with exclusive features or bonus pieces not available from other retailers. The standard versions of the figures are sold by stores and online retailers including SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Flossie`s Gifts & Collectibles. Daikaiju Series: Liveking -- Shounen Ric Exclusive /??????? ???????? ????????? Product Size: Height Approximately 28cm (11 Inches) Material: PVC (Soft Vinyl) Specifications:

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