Better late than never, here are a few highlights from the August 25th release of Hobby Japan’s October 2007 issue: WAP’s Rumble Fish Garnet, the one I ranted about back in our coverage of Wonder Festival 2005 Winter, is coming to PVC! 5,040 yen, this winter, from Movic. In other news: a pair of Witchblade figures from Toranoana, a crazy detailed Saber Alter from Solid Theater, a Figma Kanu Unchou from Max Factory, and Kohaku / Touno Akiha from Sol International and Megahouse. Pictures below:

Ultra Jump, the manga serial in which Gunnm: Last Order is published, posted further details on the Gally action figure we reported on back in July including a few sample images of the color prototype. According to the latest news from Ultra Jump the figure is still scheduled to be included with the limited edition of the “Gunnm Gaiden” manga, but no firm release date has yet been set and preorder details are still pending. We’ll update again when preorder listings are available. Pictures below:

Goodsmile / RED Entertainment multimedia collaboration project Shuraki’s third “trinity box” is scheduled to go up for preorder at 00:00 (midnight) on August 31st, according to information posted on the official Shuraki site yesterday. The figure + drama cd + illustration book’s third installment is the Itou Ben-designed Shall Ruzman, voiced in the attached drama CD by Tamura Yukari and with the figure sculpted by Akemichi. Given the talent assembled for this iteration I think it’s safe to assume a feeding frenzy will occur this Friday similar to those attending the preorder listings of the first and second volumes… we’ll keep you posted as the bloodbath unfolds. [EDIT] Preorders begin officially in half an hour, and should show up at various shops over the next day or two. (no more)

Goodsmile updated their product listing page today with two new offerings: the first from Max Factory is the Guilty Gear XX Ino PVC they revealed to be in production at Wonder Festival, based on the iconic Mitsumasa Yoshizawa resin kit from a few years back. She clocks in at 1/7 scale, 26.5 cm tall and a rather pricey 7,200 yen, and is set to hit shelves in December of this year. The second offering is from Solid Theater - the Makimoto Misae PVC we surmised to be in production at the beginning of the month, and was also confirmed at Wonder Festival. She’s coming to us in November via Toda Satoshi (Yume no Kagutsuchino Koukoku) and the Jingai Makyou novel Fantastique of Nine, with a retail price of 4,980 yen and standing 21 cm tall (non-scale). A couple of very nice items, if I do say so myself… this winter is going to hurt. ;_; We can look for preorders as early as this evening. (no more)

We first reported on the yandere boom back in May with information on the second doujin event devoted exclusively to these most bipolar of heroines. Word is in today from Akiba Blog that they’ve reached enough critical mass to receive their own installment in the “taizen” series of heroine encyclopedias (previous entries include Tsundere Taizen, Maid-san Taizen, and Imouto Game Taizen), with Yandere Taizen now on store shelves. Given the current airing of the School Days anime this couldn’t be a timelier release, and the book naturally features Sekai and Kotonoha along with Shuffle!’s Kaede, Sakura from Fate / stay night, and other less prominent homicidal heroines. Given the inherently destructive nature of the yandere personality I’m curious to see the extent to which this particular meme will spread… will we get the yandere equivalent of Tsuyokiss, a game where your goal is to survive the jealous love of a bloodthirsty gang of bishoujo? (no more)

First announced earlier this month at Wonder Festival, today Alter put up a page for their upcoming T-elos PVC from Xenosaga III. A Google search for sculptor Hane Motokatsu (羽根 モトカツ) turns up negligible results, but the proof is in the photos - this is looking to be a very nice kit indeed. She clocks in at 1/8 scale (21 cm tall), and is scheduled to retail in January ‘08 at 6,090 yen. Now that she’s officially online preorders are only a matter of time… :3 (no more)

Via Moon Phase: Famitsu has put up a feature on the second season of the Genshiken anime, scheduled to air this October. It includes the first proper screen shots of the show that we’ve seen online, as well as details on the staff, cast, and Ramen Tenshi Pretty Menma spinoff (though no info as to its release format). A few interesting items of note: the show is being directed by Yoshimoto Kinji, a long time collaborator of Urushihara Satoshi’s known primarily for his work on Plastic Little. Series composition is being handled by Yokote Michiko, who was responsible for the first series as well; script duty is credited to her and Shimoku Kio. Character designs are from Yanagida Yoshiaki, who did the Kujibiki Unbalance TV anime designs as well as those of the Genshiken OVA. The OP will be performed by Misato Aki, with the ED by Yuumao. Sue will be voiced by Gotou Yuuko (of Mikuru fame), and Angela will be voiced by Kaida Yuki. Man, I’m starting to get psyched for this… :D (no more)

Maker Yamato today launched a new line of high quality figures dubbed Project Dynamite, with the long awaited Cobra-Kai sculpted 1/5 scale [ERO] Kanu Unchou prisoner ver. PVC from Ikkitousen as its flagship release. While it’s nice to see official online recognition from Yamato that they plan to release the kit, frustratingly there are still no details regarding its price or projected release date. The pre-preorder suspense continues… (no more)

In the light of the recent arrest of a doujin artist on obscenity charges we take a look back at the past five years in the history of free speech regulation and litigation vis a vis drawn pornography in Japan. We examine the current state of affairs and speculate as to the fate of the free speech right enshrined in article 13 of Japan’s constitution, one that now seems to rest on a very fragile footing indeed.

Goodsmile updated their official site today with pages for Nendoroid Kotona Elegance from Zoids Genesis and Nendoroid Nao from Mabinogi. Both are due out in December of this year, with Kotona retailing at 4,000 yen and Nao at 3,500. Amiami already has them both up for preorder so other sites should soon follow; news is also in from the Kotona entry that her Zoids heroine counterpart Re Mii will be available in Nendoroid form in January of 2008. (no more)

Griffon announced a veritable blitz of releases over the weekend, with preorders going up for Yamamoto Masahiro sculpted October release China Dress Kanu Unchou and [ERO] Ryofu Housen PVCs, a Sugiyama Satoshi sculpted October release Ryuubi Gentoku PVC, a late September release Akiyama Akio sculpted [ERO] nekkid Sonsaku Hakufu cold cast, and the extravagant Hiroman sculpted Queen’s Blade Nanael PVC / resin / cold cast hybrid due out in October. I’d pick up the Hakufu if she were in PVC, but as is the Kanu is the only one I’m mildly interested in (and maybe the Ryofu if they fix her face). Announce these things earlier and you might sell more, Griffon! (no more)

Shipon displays his stealthy cameraphone skillz and shows off some itasha he snapped at Comiket 72 and discovers that it’s not just hardened street racers who moe up their cars. There’s some soccer mums too…

Hobby Stock beat the official Queen’s Blade site to the scoop today, presenting preorders for a pair of new October-release QB books: Claudette, the oldest sister in the family of Hisayuki Hirokazu (Wikipedia) designed characters also containing Reina and Erina, and Merona, an F.S designed ooze creature who looks like a bunny girl but the official character page emphatically states isn’t. In other news, the official site updated today with word that Nanael is to grace the cover of an [ERO] hug pillow, notable for its ability to be customized like a kisekae doll to your choice of costume (front side only) which they will custom print for you based on your specifications (you don’t change actual clothing on the pillow). Preorders for the 120 x 50 cm, 15,000 yen pillow are now open and shipping is expected in December; a proxy service will likely have to be deployed for those desirous of the item as it’s only available to be shipped inside Japan. Pictures below:

We’ve mentioned them here at various times over the past couple of months (with the exception of Kino, I think), but now it’s official: December ‘07 will see the release of Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica’s Corticarte Apa Lagranges and Kino no Tabi’s Kino from Goodsmile, and Toradora!’s Aisaka Taiga from Max Factory. Corticarte retails at 6,300 yen, with Kino at 4,800 and Taiga at 5,800. Now that they’ve been unleashed on Goodsmile’s official site we can expect preorder listings to appear soon… (no more)

Toy’sworks has just uploaded a sales pamplet image to their site for their earlier scooped ero-ero Mirim PVC, a collaboration with manga serial Dragon Age PURE and Miyake Taishi’s Crimson Grave manga, whose heroine she is. She is almost entirely castoffable, pliantly busted, and cross-promoted with Toy’sworks’ series of tentacle monster figures, making her a fetish figure in more ways than could possibly be enumerated here… she’s due out in December, at 6,800 yen (tax included), 1/8 scale and 19 cm tall. Picture below: