The full title of the film is Giant Monster Battle: Ultra Galactic Legend The Movie, to be precise lol.

Koizumi will lend his voice as the Ultraman King, an ancient Legendary Hero in the Ultra family. The film will open in Japan on December 12.

Koizumi is one of the most of popular postwar Prime Ministers in Japan. He retired in 2006, and the political arena has been in chaos ever since. The current PM Yukio Hatoyama, amazingly, is Koizumi’s 4th successor in just over three years.

[via Animenewsnetwork and Japanprobe]

Ex Japanese Prime Minister to voice Ultraman movie from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Tetsujin 28 was created in 1956 by Kobe-born Mitsuteru Yokoyama; it was one of the earliest giant robot characters in Japanese manga. The comic was later adapted into anime series and was aired in US as well, retitled as the Gigantor.

The Tetsujin 28 statue is located at Kobe’s Wakamatsu Park. It’s similar in height with the Gundam statue, but doesn’t have moving parts like the Tokyo counterpart. The Kobe robot is built as a permanent structure though, whereas the Gundam was disassembled after two months of exhibition.

If the trend keeps going, we might be seeing dozens of giant robot models across Japan in future… pretty fitting tourist attraction for the #1 robotic nation lol.

[image from the project's official website [Jp]]

Another life-size giant robot in Japan from YeinJee's Asian Journal

AFA is one of the the biggest anime-comic-game conventions in South East Asia; first held in 2008, the event is back again in 2009 following last year’s success.

Besides Shokotan, other celebs that will be performing at the I Love Anisong concert are May’N, Aniki and Yoshiki Fukuyama. Other sections of AFA09 include cosplay, toys & games exhibits, and maid cafe etc.

The organisers held a press conference on September 1 to officiate the 2009 event; check out the coverage by blogger Darkmirage, Alafista and Double.

More details and updates on AFA09’s official website or Facebook.

Anime Festival Asia

Previous: Anime Festival Asia 2008

Shokotan coming to Singapore for AFA09 from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The video will be used for an exhibition later this year at Tate Modern in London.

[more images][via Japanprobe and 3yen]

Kirsten Dunst cosplay at Tokyo Akiba from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Yu-Gi-Oh! was first created as a manga by Kazuki Takahashi in 1996 before spawning into a huge franchise, which includes anime series, video & online games, and trading card games etc.

The collectible card game is developed and published by Konami since 1999; more about the game on Wiki [image from Yugioh-card]

Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game sets world record sales from YeinJee's Asian Journal

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Gu Ji-sung – Dungeon & Fighter cosplay from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Sharing here are videos from P.A. Works; three short stories about love, friendship and family; with Mt Tateyama, Toyama Bay, and Gokayama as backdrop.

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Toyama Tourism Anime Project from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The real scale Gundam can do a few simple tricks, no big deal… but the details of the model itself is still pretty impressive.

The Gundam is going to be displayed for only two months unfortunately, it could turn to be Tokyo’s new tourist attraction if it’s kept for a much longer period.

Video via Akibahobby; check out some of their pics [Jp] as well.

Life-size Gundam in Odaiba, Tokyo from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Instead of the traditional setup, the folks created a mikoshi in late April decorated with a PC, anime figurines, manga, video games and misc gadgets.

A mini-festival was then held with female cosplayers (mostly) parading the mikoshi to “drive away the economic downturn and unpleasant incidents.”

Video from Asahi [Jp] below, pics available on Mainichi…

Akiba mikoshi – Japanese otaku shrine from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The photos (or probably in videos) are included in Hirano’s “I Love You” DVD which was released in March 2009… [image via Sushipafu]

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Aya Hirano’s special photo in Malaysia from YeinJee's Asian Journal

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2nd Philippine Cosplay Convention (2009) from YeinJee's Asian Journal

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Tears to Tiara – world’s first same-time anime simulcast from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Jun is beginning her promotion in Japan where the movie will make its global premier on May 29th (titled as “Last Blood” in Japan). The actress looks pretty cool in the stills, but things are not doing too well for the film at the moment.

Last Blood (Image from Asmik-Ace (Jp))

There’s not much buzz created for the movie; and the trailer (British version) looks kinda disappointing… seems like it would have to rely on Jun’s fans and the original anime’s fans to support the box office.

But, as compared to the likes of “Dragonball” and “Chun Li”, the Blood anime probably doesn’t have a similarly huge fan-base to begin with. And if there’s no other attractions being pulled out in the next few weeks… things are not looking good.

The movie will be released in Europe in mid-June, but the US release date has not yet been set, which could be another huge concern. In worst case scenario, the US distributor might turn it into a DVD release if it’s not doing well in other markets… I wonder if it could still be called a Hollywood debut for Jun if it happens.

Best of luck to Jun Ji-hyun, because she really needs some luck for the film.

[Update] Sony Pictures has acquired the US rights for the movie; Gianna is getting a Hollywood debut after all.

Blood: The Last Vampire shows worrying signs from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The original manga is about three American soldiers (the bunnies) in operation during the Vietnamese war, but in the series the battleground has shifted into Middle East where the bunnies are tyring to rescue hostages held by some guerillas (the camels)…

The concept… these days people are too used to seeing people dying in movies, and the producers hoped that the use of cute and fluffy animals as characters could give viewers a stronger feeling of the misery of the wars [via Patrickmacias]

While admiring their intentions, I wonder if their objective could work… as I find the trailer so cute and hilarious. I couldn’t stop myself laughing when the bunny began to talk, and I feel so bad because it should be a serious war series (or is it?)

Cat Shit One is scheduled to release in 2010 as a 12-episode mini-series.

Cat Shit One (2010) anime trailer from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Contrary to most anime conventions, TAF doesn’t allow public cosplay (it’s a trade fair afterall), but the booth babes were probably doing enough to pull in some big crowd. Sharing some photos taken by Exoduz during the TAF 2009…

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Tokyo Anime Fair 2009 – booth babes from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Check out the Japanese promotional video below (minor NSFW)…

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Cyber Figure Alice (ARis) – interactive virtual figurine from YeinJee's Asian Journal