Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny meets the stars of the doujin world in a 36 page, B5 size full color illustration compilation set for limited release from Toranoana, entitled the Ikkitousen DD Official Visual Fan Book. Featuring the likes of Mogudan, Kino Hitoshi, Eiwa, Azasuke, Same, and Maruto, it’s hard to imagine a higher profile collection of artists gathered to deliver their renditions of mangaka Shiozaki Yuuji’s iconic cast of characters. The volume is available for preorder from Toranoana now, with release expected on November 23rd at 1,050 yen. Those interested internationally will have to investigate proxy options as this is a Tora-only limited release. Sample images and further information below:
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Goods News: Toranoana-limited official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/dd_fanbook_01.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Goods News: Toranoana-limited official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/dd_fanbook_02.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Goods News: Toranoana-limited official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/dd_fanbook_03.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Goods News: Toranoana-limited official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/dd_fanbook_04.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Goods News: Toranoana-limited official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/dd_fanbook_05.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Goods News: Toranoana-limited official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/dd_fanbook_06.jpg)
The release of items like this provides an interesting side note to the editorial we published recently, in that this is yet another example of the term “doujin” being leveraged purely due to the means of publication and distribution and not due to the amateur nature of those involved (though they all technically have produced amateur doujinshi in the past). Despite being termed a doujinshi by Toranoana it is simultaneously a product officially sanctioned by the manga’s original author, its publisher Wani Books and the DD anime production committee – of which Toranoana is a member.
The product we see here, therefore, is leveraging three areas of Toranoana’s strength:
- Their financial capital and influence on the official anime production committee
- Their ability to coordinate activity between high level doujin creators
- Their ability to effectively use doujin distribution methods to manufacture, market, and sell their product
Regardless of whether this item resembles traditional doujinshi in any significant sense (which it doesn’t), I find this to be a fascinating business model and one that demonstrates even more clearly the blurred edges between Japanese 2D content creators and those who parody them.
Now all we have to do is convince Tora to ship the damn things internationally…
This is something I love about the doujinshi model(?); the “crossovers” of well-known artists and/or their creations.
For some reason, I find that not just interesting but utterly, utterly fun. :)
Ordered on sight. Damn shipping prices are killer.
Some of us actually met the president of Tora no Ana around the beginning of this year through an acquaintance. From what I could gather, they were trying to expand their business internationally but were running into the same old problems, i.e. language, dealing with credit card fraud, customs, etc. the usual suspects. They were also trying to translate their website into as many languages as possible, but how that went, I’m not too sure. So I doubt that they’re shying away from the international market, which remains largely untapped.
Of course, this was back when my Japanese was still quite iffy, but that was the gist of it.
Looks nice! May I suggest to contact http://www.comiketservice.sakura.ne.jp/. That is how I am going to order it.
They were very helpful with a Tony Take shipment to Holland.
Cheers,
Wim
Looks like I’ll probably order this. I’m rather new to art books of sort, but i’m really starting to become a fan of Ikkitousen on the whole (even though I havn’t seen the anime yet), I have enough figures from the show and this book seems too juicy to pass up.
I will try to get it, but I would have prefered an Ikkitousen DD art-book with all the illustrations from Rin-Shin ^^
i’m on the same boat as ialda. i’m still waiting for a official ikki dd artbook. but i’ll probably get this as i’m a fan of the series (preordered the treasure limited first day ^^;) and most of the artists, plus my wuv for kanu ^^.
>>Nemo_N
I hope they continue in this vein as well! The only problem with the doujin distribution model though is that it’s much more exclusive than using a wholesaler as middleman – harder (if not impossible) for retailers not connected to the original producer to get the item in stock, which sucks for those who can’t access the producer’s proprietary distribution channels.
>>DJnerate
It makes sense that those would be the stumbling blocks. It’s been a bit of a dream of mine to try to sell myself to Toranoana as someone who could act as an intermediary and help their international sales arm get off the ground, but I doubt I have the skill set required… maybe some day. At the rate their business is expanding some kind of speculation in the international market seems inevitable, though.
>>Nirodha
Have you ordered Toranoana-only books from them in the past? I was under the impression that they only sold items on consignment from doujin circles at Comiket and not from retailers.
>>Manning
Nice! I just wish there was a more affordable way to get ahold of it; with all the proxy charges and shipping added in it’s going to be a pretty expensive 36 page book. :(
>>Ialda, R8
I’m sure a DD artbook (from a mainstream publisher) is only a matter of time, though I wonder if it will contain all of the limited edition art produced for the R2 DVD releases – seems like that wouldn’t be fair to those who bought the DVDs, though it would be great for fans. I’ll keep an eye out for any news on such a book.
O_O!!! Hoshi!!! I’m going to ask a friend to get this for me…Thanks for the news Shingo! ^_^
Shingo,
I have just ordered it from the site (via email). This is the first Toranoana-only book I have ordered. My contact informed me that it will appear on November 23 and he put a pre-order out for me. I will ask him if I can place the email address here because it is different from the site. Will get back to you on this. If I can help other non-Japanese readers I will
>>Nirodha
Thanks, that would be great! Especially if they charge less than other proxy services.
I think he counts 20% commission and that is it (no other costs). Shingo: you contact him and talk it over (your Japanese is better than mine ;) (don’t speak the language at all)
Email: nba00671@nifty.ne.jp
damm no oversea preorder…this suck hope someone buy it and scan it..
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