2/02/2008: WATCHING THE CLOCK...ANOTHER 'BURIAL' OVA DELAY Due to production difficulties in making the clip-on clock intended to be part of the package, the Special Edition DVD release of the concluding third part of the "Saiyuki RELOAD - Burial-" OVA has been delayed from this month to March 28, Minekura-sensei announced today in her Nitro diary. The Standard version's release date, May 23, is unchanged.
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The March issue of ZERO-SUM, coming out on January 28, is slated to have a Saiyuki RELOAD chapter and Valentine's Day card featuring Gojyo and Goku. After that, next month will see the release of the concluding third part of the "Saiyuki RELOAD - Burial-" OVA, on February 22. The year is off to a strong Saiyuki start!
1/23/2008: WARD BEGINS ANEW! Although the February 2008 issue of Monthly Comic ZERO-SUM came out December 28 without a Saiyuki RELOAD chapter (but with a bound-in New Year's card featuring Sanzo and Hakkai, and a write-in premium offer for a RELOAD wallet featuring art of our four doing the cowboy thang, pictured just below!), fireworks followed soon after with the January 16 rebirth of sister publication WARD!
Formerly a quarterly, WARD has become a bimonthly publication now--and relaunched with this issue labelled "Vol. 001," complete with a Saiyuki Gaiden cover! The issue also came packaged with a beautiful reproduction genga of Goku by Minekura-sensei, printed on a 15cm x 17.5cm (about 6 x 6 7/8 inches) shikishi board...that's it below! Some booksellers also promoted the issue by including an oversize reproduction of the issue's textless cover art, printed on heavy stock, with each purchase. And best of all, the issue had a 12-page chapter of Saiyuki Gaiden! (The table of contents mistakenly listed it as "Saiyuki," swiftly prompting an apology on publisher Ichijinsha's web site.)
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In the meantime, we can look forward to the Summer WARD (August 16) with its alternate cover for Saiyuki Gaiden tankoubon Vol. 3, and Vol. 3 itself, slated for release July 25.
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The absence of Saiyuki Gaiden from the Summer WARD has already been announced, but Minekura-sensei had some good news about that issue: it will come with an alternate cover for Vol. 3 of the Saiyuki Gaiden tankoubon book coming out in Japan on July 25!
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Saiyuki RELOAD will go on hiatus after next month's conclusion of the two-parter. Meanwhile, the Saiyuki Gaiden chapter that came out in the Spring WARD May 16 will be its last for a while, but Vol. 3 of the collected manga will be published July 25 in Japan, so Minekura-sensei hopes fans will enjoy that instead.
She hopes to have RELOAD return in the October ZERO-SUM, which will come out August 28, but cautions that she doesn't know yet if that will be possible. (The Autumn WARD, coming out November 16, is the target for Gaiden's return, according to the May 16 Spring issue).
In the meantime, fans will have a flurry of other releases. Saiyuki RELOAD manga tankoubon Vol. 8 comes out May 31 (delayed from May 25). The "Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK Vocal Album Vol. 2" CD comes out June 22 (with Gojyo/Dokugakuji duet "Respectively," Hazel solo "Angel," Sanzo solo "Rain," Goku solo "Orange," the Sanzo/Goku/Gojyo song "Moon," and two mini-dramas). On June 24, the commercial DVD recording of Axle's "Saiyuki" stage production will be launched with a special live event in Osaka. And on July 25, both Saiyuki Gaiden manga tankoubon Vol. 3 and the Standard Edition of the first chapter of the "Saiyuki RELOAD - Burial-" OVA will come out.
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But in her Nitro diary today, she at last mentioned some details of her ongoing physical problems--and they are truly scary. Her uterus has swollen to become "about the size of a child's head." The swelling prevents her from being able to close her legs, and it is tremendously painful for her to sit. She's now feeling pain at other times, too.
She plans to have surgery sometime this summer, and will share the details when she knows them.
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The OVA's theme-song CDs are also on the way! Minekura-sensei reports in her Nitro diary that a maxi-single of "Burial" opening theme "Late-show" will be released April 25. With lyrics by Minekura herself, the music was written by the group Garden. Two previous "Saiyuki RELOAD" songs by Garden will also be on this maxi-single: "true flower" (from second Image Album) and "ending" (from the first Image Album). A karaoke track of "Late-show" will complete the CD.
The ending theme, "shiny moon," will be performed by none other than Sanzo (Toshihiko Seki), Goku (Souichirou Hoshi) and Gojyo (Hiroaki Hirata)! Its CD maxi-single is planned to come out May 23, with "shiny moon" to be coupled with two previous tunes sung by the trio (who Minekura-sensei laughingly refers to as "-8," pronounced "Minus Eight"...since you won't be hearing Hakkai's voice!): "waymarks," from the first Saiyuki RELOAD Vocal Album, and "destination," from the second Vocal Album. A karaoke track of "shiny moon" will also be on this CD maxi-single.
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According to Animate's Saiyuki reservations page, each of the OVA's three episodes is priced at 9975 yen and will have a "special edition" release that packages its DVD with a soundtrack music and character song CD, a metal postcard of that episode's jacket design, and a special booklet planned to include settei and continuity.
In addition to those goodies, the first episode--which will feature the stories of Ukoku and Sanzo, Minekura-sensei wrote in her Nitro diary--will come with a framed reproduction genga. The second episode, slated for Summer 2007 (probably the end of August or early September), will also have an original mirror. The concluding episode, targeted for Autumn 2007 according to Animate (official web site http://saiyuki-ova.net/ says Winter 2007), will also come with an original clock.
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The OVA will be a three-part series, with the first part to come out in April 2007 in a special edition planned to include new jacket art by Minekura-sensei, a roundtable discussion with the main cast, and four goodies: a framed reproduction genga, a not-for-sale CD soundtrack and character songs, a special booklet, and a metal postcard of the jacket art! Reservations will start soon; ZERO-SUM directs readers to http://saiyuki-ova.net/, which isn't open yet but should be soon.
"Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-" will be directed by Kouichi Oohata, who has also directed Bakuretsu Tenshi, Hakaima Sadamitsu, and OVA versions of his creation M.D. Geist. The versatile Oohata's previous credits include character design (Borgman, Yamato Takeru) and mecha design (Gunbuster, Macross II, Gundam: Char's Counterattack, Galvion, and many more).
Katsuyuki Sumisawa, who scripted Gensomaden Saiyuki: Requiem and much of the Gensomaden Saiyuki TV series, returns to script "Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-". Among his other scripting credits are Inuyasha, Naruto and Yakitate!! Japan.
Character design is by YONZO, who did several pieces of promotional art for Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK (YONZO's work can also be seen on pages 2, 4, 6 and 8 of Ichijinsha's "Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK Official Guide" book).
The December 2006 ZERO-SUM also included an 18-page chapter of "Saiyuki RELOAD"; information on the Saiyuki RELOAD 2007 calendar (all Minekura art, 7 pages, size A2, coming this month from Movic) and Minekura-sensei's new keitai site minekurakazuya.net (a pay-site accessible only by mobile phone); and a New Year's card giveaway for readers. Among the choices of New Year's cards are one of the Sanzo-ikkou and one, shown at above right, of youkai Hakkai (the kanji is the "Cho" of Cho Hakkai, and means "wild boar"--just in time for the Year Of The Pig!).
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Shortly before the issue came out, though, Minekura-sensei let fans know about this brief summer break in her online diary on NITRO. Saiyuki RELOAD will return next month--and until then, we'll have the Summer 2006 WARD to look forward to, with its new chapter of Saiyuki Gaiden! WARD will come out on August 16.
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This year's Summer Comic Market, biggest fan event in Japan, is coming up on August 11-13! Saiyuki doujinshi will sell on its first day (124 Saiyuki and four Wild Adapter circles won in the lottery for sale spaces and will be in East Hall 3 at spaces A55a-56b, katakana i 6a-60b and katakana u 1a-7b; many others lost in the draw and will sell from friends' spaces), while Ichijinsha, publisher of Saiyuki RELOAD and Monthly Comic ZERO-SUM, will attend all three days at its double-wide space 385 in West Hall's commercial area, with special goods for sale.
And finally, it's less than a week now until the release of Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK Vocal Album CD Vol. 1! According to Amazon.co.jp, its seven tracks are "Shout" (Goku/Kougaiji duet), "Play" (Kami-sama solo), "Roost" (Goku/Gojyo duet), "Dayfly" (Sanzo solo), "Some Day" (Sanzo/Goku/Gojyo), and two Sanzo-ikkou mini-dramas. Sound clips from "Shout" and "Play" are available online now at Animate.TV's page for the CD!
6/07/2006: GOODIES IN JULY! In her online diary on NITRO, Minekura-sensei recently announced that the Saiyuki RELOAD Vol. 7 manga tankoubon will come out in Japan on July 25!
Four days before that is the scheduled release of Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK Vocal Album CD Vol. 1 (its planned cover is at right). The tracks will include a Goku and Kougaiji duet, Kami-sama solo, Sanzo solo, Goku and Gojyo duet, and Sanzo/Goku/Gojyo song, as well as two Sanzo-ikkou mini-dramas. Missing are the Gojyo and Dokugakuji duet and Hazel solo announced previously; they'll likely be on Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK Vocal Album CD Vol. 2, to come later this year.
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Pierrot is aboard to animate "Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-", and a source close to the studio shared a surprise scoop: the OVA is planned to be sold directly through ZERO-SUM! It's tentatively slated for three parts at around 3800 yen each.
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In the meantime, the current ZERO-SUM's 17-page Saiyuki RELOAD chapter--including a page of opening color--featured Hakkai resorting to his youkai form (and whaddya know, his damaged does-he-still-have-it-or-is-it-glass-now right eye appears to be glass after all!) for the best chance to stop rampaging Seiten Taisei Son Goku...at the risk of Hakkai staying youkai!
This issue also opened the ordering period for Ichijinsha's second Saiyuki Gaiden drama CD. This one will cover the manga story from chapters 7 through Goku becoming the Seiten Taisei in chapter 15, plus an omake track of the six-pager that closed Saiyuki Gaiden tankoubon Vol. 2, Minekura-sensei mentioned in her online diary. The first Saiyuki Gaiden drama CD, covering the first six manga chapters, is slated for release later this month; each CD in the series so far will be about 70 minutes long.
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Gathering chapters 9 through 16 of "Even A Worm," plus special six-pager "Natsugeshiki," Saiyuki RELOAD Vol. 6 came out today (the star of the back cover is at right!). New art includes a heart-stopper of a color Sanzo on the contents page, and a black-and-white page apiece for Sanzo, Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku.
Bound into the back of the book is a postal order form for a primo premium: a Saiyuki RELOAD Special Drama CD featuring a scenario penned by Minekura-sensei herself! The order deadline is March 10.
A flyer inside had more details on the character song CDs announced last week on NITRO. Not only will there be solos by Kami-sama and Hazel, but a pair of duets are also planned: Goku and Kougaiji, and Gojyo and Dokugakuji! Volume 1 is slated for the spring, with Volume 2 to follow in early summer.
Two more CDs, both with all-new material, are also on the horizon. Coming this spring is "Drama CD Saiyuki Volume 1: Party," described as a collection of comedic original mini-dramas centered around the Sanzo-ikkou, Kougaiji-ikkou, Hazel and Gato. Volume 2, planned for the summer, is an original drama.
In the meantime, there's "Son Goku's Song Collection," a six-song CD mini-album that came out today. Souichirou Hoshi performs as Goku, natch, with new tunes "Going" and "Round" joining earlier releases "Infinity," "I Can Fly," "Wing Area" and "Cherish."
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The September ZERO-SUM also came out July 28. Its 14-page Saiyuki RELOAD chapter is all black and white, but it's easy to imagine big splashes of red as Sanzo cuts loose and lands a new weapon...! (See for yourself in the July 28 entry at Journey To The Rest Area!)
On her offical site NITRO--currently undergoing a change of opening art and an information update--Minekura-sensei recently gave readers the scoop on some upcoming Saiyuki goodness. The Summer WARD, coming out August 16, will feature a Saiyuki Gaiden cover and interior color in addition to the manga chapter. The issue will also offer a write-in giveaway for a special Saiyuki Gaiden item that will probably be a clear postcard.
High points of the October ZERO-SUM, coming out August 27, include a Saiyuki RELOAD cover starring the Sanzo-ikkou, and the start of orders for the second ZERO-SUM drama CD presenting the Hazel arc. The cover of the "Hazel 2" CD--new Minekura art, natch--will be in red tones, as opposed to the first CD's blue tones. (Orders for the "Hazel 1" CD end August 22.)
There will be a 2006 Saiyuki RELOAD calendar, something else keeping Minekura-sensei busy these days!
She mentioned too that industry trade journal PUFF recently interviewed her, with the result to be in the issue that comes out August 30.
ZERO-SUM's booth on the Summer Comic Market's commercial floor August 12-14 will have some gotta-get goods, she also revealed. Two telephone cards will boast new art: a Saiyuki RELOAD card of the Sanzo-ikkou, and a Saiyuki Gaiden card of Tenpou and Kenren. KOZEROSUM Vol. 4 will also come out, complete with a Minekura cover! Ichijinsha plans to also offer these special goods for mail-order sale in ZERO-SUM, for those not able to make it to Tokyo's Big Sight for the enormous Summer Comic Market event.
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This page was created October 2, 2003. Last updated February 2, 2008.
This page's text and source code are copyright Kagenami Q. DO NOT REPRODUCE. Saiyuki, Saiyuki Gaiden and Saiyuki RELOAD are copyright Kazuya Minekura/Ichijinsha; Gensomaden Saiyuki is copyright Kazuya Minekura/Issaisha, Saiyuki Project and TV Tokyo 2000; the Saiyuki RELOAD anime is copyright Kazuya Minekura/Issaisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Pierrot 2003; Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK is copyright Kazuya Minekura/Issaisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Pierrot 2004. All images are copyright their respective artists and creators. No copyright infringement is intended or implied.
11/16/2007: 'BURIAL' OVA DELAY, BUT MUCH MORE 'GAIDEN' ON THE WAY! The release of the concluding third part of the "Saiyuki RELOAD - Burial-" OVA has been delayed from next month to February 22, Minekura-sensei announced yesterday in her Nitro diary. But, it turns out, helping make the wait easier will be a double dose of Saiyuki Gaiden! The Winter 2008 issue of WARD, where Saiyuki Gaiden is serialized, came out today with the announcement that the former quarterly will be published every other month in 2008. WARD's first bimonthly issue will reach Japanese bookstores on January 16.
7/12/2007: 'RELOAD' ON HIATUS AFTER ALL With her entry to the hospital looming on July 14 for her surgery on July 17, Minekura-sensei tried her best to finish the second half of Saiyuki RELOAD side story "Mezase! Tenkaichi" in time to make the ZERO-SUM issue coming out July 28...but it unfortunately wasn't possible to do after all, she's just announced in her Nitro diary. Saiyuki RELOAD is planned to return to ZERO-SUM in the November 2007 issue that comes out September 28...although some Japanese fans say they aren't expecting to see the next chapter until the New Year.
6/27/2007: LAST 'RELOAD' FOR A WHILE IS DELAYED FOR A WHILE! In her Nitro diary, Kazuya Minekura announced she wasn't able to finish the second half of "Mezase! Tenkaichi," her "Dragon Ball"-esque Saiyuki RELOAD two-part side story, in time to appear in this month's issue of Monthly Comic ZERO-SUM that comes out tomorrow. She hopes to finish it for next month's ZERO-SUM instead, but can't promise; her time to enter the hospital is coming up fast.
5/28/2007: 'RELOAD' AND 'GAIDEN' TO GO ON HIATUS The July ZERO-SUM came out today in Japan, with the first half of a "Dragon Ball"-esque Saiyuki RELOAD two-part side story and a full-page explanation from Minekura-sensei that she'll be taking a break from RELOAD and Saiyuki Gaiden to be hospitalized to have her health problems taken care of.
2/23/2007: FRIGHTENING MINEKURA NEWS! Fans were alarmed when the double-long chapter of Saiyuki RELOAD in last month's March ZERO-SUM ended with the news that the next chapter would be in the May issue, not April. Minekura-sensei addressed them quickly, explaining in her diary on official site Nitro that this was an extremely busy time for her, between preparations for the "Saiyuki RELOAD - Burial-" OVA starting in April and a treasure trove of contributions to the May ZERO-SUM, its gala 5th anniversary issue coming out March 28.
1/24/2007: 'BURIAL' TAKING SHAPE! The official "Saiyuki RELOAD - Burial-" web site has had a major overhaul, and now offers some tantalizing looks at the OVA's characters and first episode, slated for release April 27! Several more characters have been cast now; among those coming back from the "Reload" and "Gunlock" TV series are Mitsuru Miyamoto as Koumyou and Kahoru Sasajima as Kouryuu...and returning from "Gensomaden" is Shigeru Ushiyama as Shuuei! Meanwhile, first-time performers include Takashi Taniguchi as Gounai Sanzou and Katsuhisa Houki as Jikaku Daisoujou.
12/04/2006: 'SAIYUKI' STAGE PLAY COMING ON DVD! Last May and June, stage company Axle's performance of the "Saiyuki" stage play was met with a fantastic fan response. Now plans are underway for a June 2007 release of a DVD recording of the show! (Interviews with some of the crowd were filmed after the final Osaka performance last June; now we know why...!) The DVD announcement was made at an Axle fan event on Nov. 29, and Minekura-sensei is helping spread the news in her Nitro diary. More details are to come on Axle's official web site.
11/20/2006: 'GAIDEN' VOL. 3 RELEASE COMING... ...but it's going to be a while. In her Nitro diary, Minekura-sensei mentioned that "Saiyuki Gaiden" tankoubon Vol. 3 is planned to come out around Summer 2007.
11/10/2006: 'BURIAL' CONTENTS FINALIZED! Yesterday in her Nitro diary, Minekura-sensei wrote that in the upcoming three-part "Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-" OVA series, the first episode (scheduled for release April 27) will cover the Prologue, Ukoku's Chapter, and Genjo Sanzo's Chapter segments of the Saiyuki RELOAD manga's "Burial" arc. The OVA's second episode, due out in Summer 2007, will present Son Goku's Chapter, and the concluding OVA episode, targeted for Autumn 2007, covers Gojyo & Hakkai's Chapter and the arc's Epilogue.
11/06/2006: 'BURIAL' TO BEGIN APRIL 27! Reservations are underway now for all three episodes of the "Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-" OVA trilogy, with the first episode scheduled to come out in Animate stores across Japan on April 27! Returning as the main voice cast are Toshihiko Seki as Sanzo, Souichirou Hoshi as Goku, Hiroaki Hirata as Gojyo, and Akira Ishida as Hakkai.
10/15/2006: NEW WEBSITE FOR 'BURIAL' OVA, NEW LOOK FOR 'NITRO'! Today Minekura-sensei unveiled a pair of surprises: a sharp redesign of her official site NITRO, and a brand-new website that will open soon, http://saiyuki-ova.net/, for the upcoming "Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-" OVA! Check 'em out!
8/26/2006: 'BURIAL' OVA SCOOP! At a Saiyuki animation art sale event in Tokyo today, a source close to Pierrot revealed that May 2007 is the targeted release date for the first episode of the "Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-" OVA. The OVA might have as many as four episodes.
8/15/2006: WARD WAYLAID The Summer 2006 issue of WARD, previously scheduled to come out August 16 with the latest chapter of Saiyuki Gaiden, has been delayed until August 18. Publisher Ichijinsha made the announcement yesterday.
8/02/2006: SUMMER BREAK The September issue of Monthly Comic ZERO-SUM came out on July 28 with a front cover featuring Goku and Gojyo, and a spectacular freebie inside, an alternate cover for the Saiyuki RELOAD Vol. 7 manga tankoubon (with Minekura-sensei's first color Youkai Hakkai taking on Seiten Taisei Son Goku; check it out at JOURNEY TO THE REST AREA!)...but no chapter of Saiyuki RELOAD, despite it being listed in the table of contents!
7/16/2006: COMING UP QUICK! September will see a revival of the Saiyuki stage play in Tokyo, this time featuring a male and female cast from Gekidan Himawari (the prestigious troupe that begat all-male unit Axle)! Ticket sales started July 15 for the six performances, to be held September 6-10 at Tokyo's Theater Daikanyama. More information is at http://www.himawari.net/gekidanin/index.html!
4/25/2006: TWO MORE REASONS TO GET ZERO-SUM! The 50th issue of Monthly Comic ZERO-SUM will come out April 28--with news on the upcoming "Saiyuki RELOAD -burial-" OVA, and a special commemorative booklet of character data that includes inside info on the Saiyuki RELOAD and Saiyuki Gaiden casts!
3/03/2006: HUGE NEWS: 'SAIYUKI RELOAD' OVA ANNOUNCED! The April 2006 ZERO-SUM fulfilled two longtime hopes of fans, providing not only a revealing--and riveting!--look at Hakkai in his youkai form, but also the announcement of plans for a Saiyuki RELOAD animated OVA!
According to Minekura-sensei in her online diary on NITRO, the OVA will present a certain "series" from within the manga (could it be "Burial"?!). The OVA has not yet appeared on inside-track anime fan site Moon Phase's ultra-comprehensive industry production list, but Minekura writes that further details about it will come in the next ZERO-SUM.
1/25/2006: NEW YEAR GETS ROLLING WITH 'RELOAD' VOL. 6 If the first Saiyuki release of 2006 is any indication, this is going to be an outstanding year!
1/24/2006: FUN ON THE 25TH, BOTH THIS MONTH AND NEXT! February 25 has been set as the date that hardcover art book "salty-dog 4" (featuring a Hakkai cover) will come out, Minekura-sensei revealed in her online diary on NITRO today! Also, the CD "Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK-Son Goku's Song Collection," first targeted for January 25 and then bumped back to January 31, will come out tomorrow after all--the same day as the Saiyuki RELOAD Vol. 6 tankoubon!
1/18/2006: KAMI-SAMA AND HAZEL SING! On her official site NITRO, Minekura-sensei announced that two new Saiyuki RELOAD GUNSTOCK character song CDs are coming this spring from Frontier Works...and are planned to include songs by Kami-sama and Hazel! In other release news, the Saiyuki RELOAD Vol. 6 tankoubon will come out January 25, what could be a Sanzo Vs. Ukoku showdown follows in ZERO-SUM's new Saiyuki RELOAD chapter on January 28, Son Goku's mini-album reaches CD shops on January 31, the Winter WARD serves up Saiyuki Gaiden on February 16...and as if that weren't enough, hardcover art book "salty-dog 4" is also planned to come out in February, according to Minekura-sensei!
11/30/2005: SUPER-QUICKIE The Saiyuki RELOAD Vol. 6 tankoubon is now planned to come out January 25... In her online diary at NITRO, Minekura-sensei writes that the Hazel arc is charging headlong into its "last episode"... On December 29-30 Ichijinsha will have a booth at Comic Market 69 at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, and plans to offer original Saiyuki RELOAD goods and drama CDs, as well as publications including Kozerosum Vol. 5 and Saiyuki Offroad... Ichijinsha's exclusive line of drama CDs has just been expanded to include Saiyuki Gaiden! The first disc of the planned series will come out in early 2006.
11/08/2005: IT'S OFFICIAL... In her diary on her official site NITRO, Minekura-sensei has announced that Saiyuki Gaiden tankoubons Vol. 1 and 2 will come out in Japan on December 28! In the meantime, the next chapter of Saiyuki Gaiden will see print November 16 in the Autumn issue of WARD--and Minekura promises a must-see, with the climax close at hand!
10/24/2005: MORE, MORE! WE'RE STILL NOT SATISFIED! The Saiyuki RELOAD 2006 calendar--seven pages of Minekura art--is on sale now! The next Saiyuki Gaiden chapter, with opening color, is slated for the Autumn WARD November 16! Zero-Sum Original Drama CD "Saiyuki RELOAD: Hazel 2"" ships from Ichijinsha November 20! "Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK SAIYUKI Piano-supplement ~Lively and Relaxed Days~" CD (including "Bunny Doll"--believe it!) is set for release from Frontier Works on November 25! Saiyuki Gaiden tankoubon Volumes 1 and 2 are scheduled for late December from Ichijinsha; both volumes' jacket art can be seen now at Minekura-sensei's official site NITRO! Son Goku sings his greatest hits plus two new tunes on January 25's "Saiyuki RELOAD GUNLOCK Son Goku's Song Collection" CD from Frontier Works! Aaaaando just announced by Ichijinsha for release this winter are the Saiyuki RELOAD Volume 6 tankoubon and Minekura art book "Salty-Dog 4"!
8/01/2005: NOW AND FUTURE FUN! July 28 saw "Saiyuubito" come out at last! Billed as the "Perfect Guide" to Kazuya Minekura's Saiyuki manga series, this 112-page softcover is a stuffed-full showcase of Minekura-sensei's work and words--she even wielded the brush for the front cover's title calligraphy!
Among its features are new full-page color art of the main cast (like this look at Kougaiji, at left), eye-opening peeks at embryonic doujinshi, a detailed story timeline, a sizeable section of pencil roughs (including Hazel as "Magical Hei-sama," shown at right!), a detailed dictionary of people and places and things and handy insults, a question-and-answer section sprinkled with fan art, and Minekura-sensei's own comparative analysis of the original Saiyuuki tale and her version.
Also nifty in the issue is the latest Saiyuki RELOAD tapesty, shown at right! Publisher Ichijinsha is offering it as a write-in giveaway for this month's ZERO-SUM readers. The deadline is August 27.
GO TO SAIYUKI NEWEST NEWS: JANUARY-JULY 2005 ARCHIVE.