3/28/2003: Happy Birthday, ZERO-SUM! ZERO-SUM celebrated its one-year anniversary with the 660-page May 2003 issue, featuring Saiyuki RELOAD and Saiyuki Gaiden on its "double face cover." Minekura-sensei's parallel pieces were also produced on a set of two telephone cards, part of the landslide of goodies being given away this issue to write-in readers.
The Saiyuki Gaiden chapter promised earlier unfortunately did not appear (last month's issue also did not list it among the planned contents for this issue, and there's also no mention of it in next month's roster...this is torture!)--but Saiyuki RELOAD had no trouble filling the spotlight with its 21-page installment!
Opening with a color portrait of Sanzou, this penultimate portion of eight-parter "Against The Stream" pits the three still-standing members of the Sanzo-ikkou against Kougaiji. It's an emotional eye-opener for Dokugakuji and Yaone...and a stomach-churner of a cliffhanger when the odds are further unevened, with a possibly deadly result!
3/26/2003: Tankoubon Tandem! Today saw the release of two Saiyuki manga collections: Saiyuuki RELOAD Vol. 2, and the sixth volume of Issaisha's Saiyuki edition.
Meanwhile, the Issaisha edition of Saiyuki Vol. 6 has something snazzy that volumes 2 through 5 also share, but that I neglected to mention before: a color table-of-contents page featuring entirely new art! Volume 2 is a scene Shuuei fans should not miss, Vol. 3 has rowdy Ririn and the Sanzo-ikkou, Vol. 4 has a chilling portrait of Chin Iisou, Vol. 5 is a look at Gonou and Kanan, and Vol. 6 features Nii with captive Kougaiji!
As the Jeep side-story telegraphed last issue, the second Saiyuki RELOAD tankoubon is on its way. The planned release date is March 26, so it'll hit the stands at the same time as volume six of Issaisha's Saiyuki manga edition (volume five came out as scheduled on February 27).
2/02/2003: January Jackpot! The last week of January brought Saiyuki fans a four-fold fix of the finest kind. First into shops, after a four-month delay, was Gensomaden Saiyuki Vocal Album Vol. 2--and the wait was well worthwhile! With vocals by the voice actors, and songs and support supplied by much of the staff of the previous Vocal Album and earlier Image Albums, the CD's five musical tracks are "Go To The West" (Sanzo, Goku and Gojyo), "Rebirth" (Gojyo solo), "Treasure" (Sanzo and Goku duet), "The Clouds Break" (Sanzo solo), and a new arrangement of the first Image Album's "Freedom" (Sanzo, Goku and Gojyo).
Next into fans' hands was "Salty-Dog II." The second of Issaisha's two planned Minekura art books to date, this lavish hardcover gathers her color work for Saiyuki RELOAD, the jackets of the Gensomaden Saiyuki VHS and DVD releases, Bus Gamer, Hachi No Su, and some one-shot illustrations.
Volume four of Issaisha's Saiyuki manga edition came out as scheduled, and the next day the 586-page March 2003 ZERO-SUM hit the stands, packing a triple Minekura treat for readers. The book opens with a 27-page installment of Saiyuki RELOAD, and its three pages of opening color (two shown at right) preface a slammer of a showdown between Kougaiji and Goku! A 14-page chapter of Saiyuki Gaiden follows, with surprises galore (wow--go, Konzen!)...and Konzen's heroics aside, here's an out-of-context peek at part of the next-to-last page, and the chapter's the last panel...then again, maybe you'd better not look! Finally, there's a surprise second dose of Saiyuki RELOAD: a sweet 13-page side-story in which Jeep is discovered by a trio of siblings and gets a rare night out.
1/06/2003: A Haul for the Holidays! Saiyuki releases in a variety of media gave fans plenty to celebrate in December. The fun began with a bit of summer to warm the winter, as the two Summer Illusion Memorial 2002 live shows from September came out on commercial videotape. In the first of the pair, "Reverse," the main voice cast looks back at the TV series; the second, "Dream," ranges from a wild quiz show, to a trio of song performances, to an emotional sendoff.
Next came Minekura-sensei's new art collection book, A4-size hardcover "Salty-Dog I"--100 all-color pages that pick up right where "Backgammon 3" left off, gathering Saiyuki work from G-FANTASY days and on through the TV series and movie.
Another long-awaited goodie was the Gensomaden Saiyuki: Harukanaru Nishi He Playstation game. Initially aimed for release several months ago, this adventure game is based on six stories from the first half of the anime series, and also includes an original mini-drama.
Finally, the 558-page February 2003 issue of ZERO-SUM came out, boasting a Minekura cover of Gojyo looking ready to have a few words with anyone who believed Hakkai last issue (as, uh, I did...). In the issue's 22-page chapter of Saiyuki RELOAD, half of last month's cliffhangers are taken care of tidily--but we've got to wait 'til next month to see what's become of Goku and his surprise visitor, arrgggh!
11/30/2002: Saiyuki RELOAD and Gaiden Back in Gear...and Headed for the Finish?! After a month off due to poor health, Minekura-sensei has returned to ZERO-SUM in stunning style. The 548-page January 2003 issue features a 21-page chapter of Saiyuki Gaiden (including three color opening pages) and a 27-page installment of Saiyuki RELOAD...both with jaw-dropping turns of events! Am still trying to figure out what to say about them without risking spoilers...oh, what the hell! Gaiden: Continuing carnage! New depths of sleaze from Li Touten! Seiten Taisei Son Goku vs. Kanzeon! RELOAD: ...ohh, I just can't do it... The issue also announced the upcoming release of the first of the two new Minekura art collections: Salty-Dog I, an A4-sized volume priced at 2400 yen, will come out on December 26.
10/29/2002: Minekura Rests and Reloads The 592-page December issue of ZERO-SUM came out yesterday with a lively Minekura cover of Goku on the loose with food, three color interior pages of Saiyuki RELOAD illustrations (one page of Sanzo, the other two a splash of the Sanzo-ikkou)...and an apologetic notice that due to a turn of poor health, Minekura-sensei was unable to do this month's Saiyuki RELOAD manga installment. Plans call for it to return next month, along with the next chapter of Saiyuki Gaiden.
The issue also introduced the Saiyuki RELOAD calendar--a set of six 29cm x 29cm pages adorned with Minekura art, complete with a case--and the upcoming release on VHS of September's recorded Gensomaden Saiyuki Summer Illusion 2002 event, including dramatic and song performances by the original cast and a trivia contest pitting cast members against fans.
There are also some exciting projects for the months ahead, led by a pair of Minekura art collection books (featuring Saiyuki RELOAD illustrations) and four Saiyuki RELOAD drama CDs.
Calendar season is upon us, and besides Studio DNA's Saiyuki RELOAD showpiece mentioned above, this year will see two Gensomaden Saiyuki calendars: a B3 (36cm x 51cm) 7-pager from Amada released earlier this month, and a larger-sized 7-pager due out soon, if it's not in Animate shops already.
10/05/2002: New CD News! Although the release date still has not been pinned down for the second Vocal Album, Movic has announced the contents of this eagerly awaited CD: "Go to the West" (sung by Sanzo, Goku and Gojyo), "Freedom" (sung by Sanzo, Goku and Gojyo; this is a new arrangement of the song from the first Image Album), "The Clouds Break" (solo sung by Sanzo), "Rebirth" (solo sung by Gojyo), "Treasure" (duet sung by Sanzo and Goku), a short Hakkai and Goku drama, and a short drama with Hakkai, Sanzo, Goku and Gojyo. The two short dramas are both all-new material written by Minekura-sensei. November 29 will see the release of "Orugouru De Kiku Gensomaden Saiyuki," a CD featuring music box arrangements of 10 songs and instrumentals from the first Gensomaden Saiyuki Image Album CD (the only three songs not being used from that first Image Album are "Long Way," "Curious Coincidence" and "Open Up Your Mind"). The final track on the second Image Album, "Hold the light ~reprise~," is likely a good indication of how this new CD will sound.
9/29/2002: The Latest Scoop from ZERO-SUM! The 624-page November ZERO-SUM reprints the post-Enix-tankoubon chapters of Saiyuki Gaiden (chapters 9 through 15, originally published in G-FANTASY 12/2000, 2/01, 4/01, 6/01, 8/01, 1/02 and 2/02 issues), and then presents a brand-new chapter: Chapter, uh, 15. (But it's got three pages of opening color; that's way better than a missing digit any day!) And in this Chapter actually-16, we see what sure appears to be the start of the long-alluded-to disastrous event that got Goku locked away. The golden-eyed animal is loose...with the carnage to continue next month! The issue also has the next installment of Saiyuki RELOAD, also with three pages of opening color. Two-thirds of the now-Kougaiji-ikkou meet up with three-fourths of the Sanzo-ikkou--and is even *more* of a cliffhanger than last month! On Oct. 26, Vol. 1 of a new edition of the Saiyuki manga will hit the stands; A5 size, 760 yen. All nine volumes are planned for re-release, with one coming out each month; the title remains Saiyuki. Maybe Enix has relinquished the rights to the manga, in return for continuing rights on anime? Enix is among the copyright holders on the new Gensomaden Saiyuki: Kibou No Zaika Interactive DVD. The music is from the TV series; the animation is all newly produced by Pierrot and is quite decently drawn. (BTW, if anyone has any hints on how to get to the third version of the story on the disc, I'd sure love to hear 'em. Story 1 is the more-or-less normal version; Story 2 adds Gyokumen, Nii, and the Kougaiji-ikkou to the mix, and everything goes to hell and ends mighty depressingly. Am guessing that Story 3 is an offshoot of Story 2 that works out in the end, but I still haven't hit the combination for it. Althought I did find how to have Sanzo provoke Kanzeon into ending the thing in seven minutes flat, instead of the nearly 60 minutes a story usually takes...can't recommend doing it, though!)
9/23/2002: Saiyuki Fans Get a Triple Helping Three big days in the past week have given Saiuuki fans a September to remember. On September 15, the Gensomaden Saiyuki Summer Illusion 2002 Memorial event was held at the Makuhari Event Hall in Makuhari, Chiba. Major cast members were on hand to perform two shows to packed houses: afternoon performance "1st Stage -Reverse-", a retrospect of the TV series and movie, and then "2nd Stage -Dream-", a presentation of new material, in the evening. Both shows were recorded for a future video release.
September 19 saw the release of interactive DVD Gensomaden Saiyuki: Kibou No Zaika (see "Saiyuuki Newest News" for July 10 for cast and staff details). The DVD presents three stories (or maybe three takes on the same basic story...I'm not sure, I'm only through the first of the three!); type in the passwords you're given at the end of each of the three stories to see a special presentation afterwards.
After that came September 21's release of the Gensomaden Saiyuki: Requiem movie on DVD and VHS. Previously released with a box of goodies in January, this time you can get just the movie for about half the price of the January release.
7/10/2002: Interactive DVD Is On Again--In A Big Way! On July 8, Pierrot announced that Gensomaden Saiyuki: Kibou No Zaika is back from beyond! After a several-month delay, plans now call for the interactive DVD, featuring all-new animation, to be released in Japan on September 19. The DVD's order number, price, and connections remain the same: ENBA-1153, 5980 yen, from Enix, Pierrot and Pioneer LDC. The main scenario is by Hijiri Misagi, author of the first three official Gensomaden Saiyuki novelizations, and the packaging will boast new art by Minekura-sensei. The animation is by Pierrot, with Hayato Date--who directed the Gensomaden Saiyuki TV series and Requiem movie--once again at the helm. The voice cast from the TV series and movie also returns; slated to appear are the Sanzo-ikkou, Kougaiji-ikkou, Kanzeon Bosatsu, Jiroushin, Gyokumen, Nii, and a new character named Kasane. Check out Pierrot's page for Kibou No Zaika--it explains how the interactive story works, and shows screens from a few scenes!
5/29/2002: New ZERO-SUM Strong on Saiyuki The July issue of MONTHLY COMIC ZERO-SUM came out yesterday with a double dose of "Saiyuki RELOAD" manga (the 31-page conclusion to the story begun last issue [...man oh man, depressing...], and a 16-pager, "3 Years Ago") and a fold-out poster featuring Hakkai.
It also had a five-page teaser for "Saiyuki Gaiden," with two big news points: "Saiyuki Gaiden" will be serialized in ZERO-SUM starting this fall, and it will not be collected in tankoubon form for at least three years! (What do you bet Enix has those couple of chapters locked up tight...)
On the other hand, the first tankoubon volume (manga installments collected in book form) of Saiyuki RELOAD will come out July 25. Published by Studio DNA, it will have two versions, both A5 size: the regular edition, for 760 yen, and the version that comes with a special separate booklet of all new material, for 900 yen. Animate is currently taking preorders for the 900-yen version; the July ZERO-SUM also has a form to use to preorder it.
The issue also had news on the "Gensomaden Saiyuki Vocal Album Vol. 2" CD (MACM-1153, 2730 yen), now slated for release in September. Planned songs include solos by Sanzo and Gojyo, a Sanzo and Goku duet, and a new version of the first Image Album's "Freedom." There will also be a short drama featuring Hakkai, written by Minekura-sensei.
5/13/2002: Playstation Game To Come Out In July; Interactive DVD To Come Out...Not At All? July 25 will see the release of J-Wing's adventure game Gensomaden Saiyuki: Harukanaru Nishi He for Playstation! The game is based on the first 22 episodes of the TV series, and will retail for 5800 yen. Check out the sample screens at http://www.jwing.co.jp/new.html!
Unfortunately, there's bad news to go with the good: Gensomaden Saiyuki: Kibou No Zaika, the eagerly awaited interactive DVD planned to feature an original adventure (by Hijiri Misagi, author of the first three official Gensomaden Saiyuki novelizations) and all-new animation produced by Studio Pierrot, may be in limbo. Targeted first for Spring 2002, then March 30, and then back to Spring 2002, the DVD was assigned an order number and pre-orders were being taken--but last week Japanese fan sites that detail the schedules of Kazuya Minekura and Akira Ishida reported getting unofficial word that the DVD has been removed from sale. Whether this means it's just drastically delayed, or has been cancelled, or is being transformed into an OVA or movie, is still unknown.
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4/27/2002: Saiyuki RELOAD and New CDs are Rolling The June issue of MONTHLY COMIC ZERO-SUM came out today, complete with Saiyuki RELOAD fold-out color poster and 38-page manga installment (its first two pages are in color). The July issue will go on sale May 28.
The 10th Gensomaden Saiyuki drama CD (Movic MACM-1125, 2940 yen) also came out today as scheduled, and features the Chin Iisou story. The planned release date for the "Gensomaden Saiyuki Vocal Album Vol. 1" (Movic MACM-1152, 2730 yen) remains May 10. The voice actors are the same as in the TV series.
3/28/2002: Saiyuki RELOAD A Reality! The May issue of MONTHLY COMIC ZERO-SUM debuted today (580 yen, and about 480 pages). The cover features Sanzo. There's a fold-out color Saiyuki RELOAD poster, 70-page manga installment (first two pages in color), a one-page text recap of the story until now, and two pages detailing the major characters. The June issue will go on sale April 27, with another Saiyuki RELOAD poster and manga installment promised.
3/07/2002: New Name, New 'Zine: Saiyuki To Resurface This Month! Today in NITRO's "Aspirin" section, Minekura-sensei announced that Saiyuki RELOAD--the new incarnation of Saiyuki--will debut in the first issue of Issaisha's new MONTHLY COMIC ZERO-SUM. That issue will hit the stands in Japan on March 28, and will feature a Saiyuki RELOAD front cover and 70-page installment inside, part of it in color!
3/01/2002: Saiyuki Strong In Annual Manga Awards Selecting the best of the best through a poll of 3,569 manga fans, industry monthly PUFF has announced its awards for 2001 in the April 2002 issue. Sanzo of Saiyuki was named the year's best character, out-pointing Tooru Honda of Fruits Basket 317 to 283. Hakkai was 4th, while Goku finished 7th and Gojyo 11th. Behind them, Tenpou was in a tie for 42nd, Konzen tied for 69th, and Kenren tied for 86th.
2/25/2002: Saiyuki Invades Arcades! Banpresto, king of Japan's catcher-game prize producers, has a hot new offering: five Gensomaden Saiyuki plush toys! Each about 18 cm tall, Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, Hakkai and Kougaiji are taunting would-be winners in game centers' Torutoru catcher games for 100 yen a try. A photo of the five is on Banpresto's web site (click on the magnifying glass image near it to see close-ups of the faces).
2/16/2002: It's Official: ZERO-SUM Launches Next Month! Today in NITRO's "Aspirin" section, Minekura-sensei directed readers to the ZERO-SUM Web page for the eagerly awaited official word: ZERO-SUM--Saiyuki's new home--will launch as a monthly manga publication in March! The premiere issue's on-sale date has yet to be announced.
2/15/2002: New Series of Saiyuki CDs Will Start In April According to the March 2002 issue of PUFF and Animate's KYARABII Vol. 26, the first of at least two new Gensomaden Saiyuki vocal album CDs will come out this spring. "Vocal Album Gensomaden Saiyuki Vol. 1 ~BE THERE~" will be performed by the voice cast from the TV series and movie. Highlights from the story of how Hakkai met the rest of the Sanzo-ikkou--told in Vol. 5 of the manga and in episodes 15-16 of the anime series--will be recreated through five songs (including solos and duets), a monologue by Hakkai, and a mini-drama. While most of the songs will be new, the voice actors may also sing a song from one of the Image Albums.
2/07/2002: Latest PUFF A Treat For Minekura Fans The March 2002 issue of industry monthly PUFF devotes 18 pages to a long interview with Minekura-sensei (who mentions that Saiyuki has "graduated" from Enix) and well-illustrated analysis of her pro manga works: Saiyuki, Saiyuki Gaiden, Wild Adapter, Shiritsu Araiso Koutou Gakkou Seitokai Shikkoubu, Bus Gamer, Stigma, Hachi No Su, Kedamono No Rakuin, Just!!, and Brother.
1/29/2002: Hints Given On Saiyuki's New Home Yesterday in the "Aspirin" section of her NITRO Web page, Minekura-sensei provided a link to the Web page of the new manga publication Saiyuki will move to. The page, at http://www.issaisha.co.jp, is called "ZERO-SUM," and is connected with Studio DNA. Minekura-sensei writes that although there's not much information on the ZERO-SUM page yet, more will be coming very soon. She also mentioned that her manga Bus Gamer will end its serialization in the February 2002 issue of manga monthly STENCIL (published by Enix, which also publishes G-FANTASY), and that an announcement from her will also appear there.
1/20/2002: February G-FANTASY Is Saiyuki's Last! The February 2002 issue of G-FANTASY came out Jan. 18 with a 22-page installment of Saiyuki Gaiden, ending with a cliffhanger--followed by a surprise message from Minekura-sensei saying this is the end of the serialization of both Saiyuki and Saiyuki Gaiden in G-FANTASY, and to watch her NITRO Web page and manga info publications for news on when and where they will continue. The same day, in the "Aspirin" section of NITRO, Minekura-sensei wrote that Saiyuki would start again around March, in a brand-new manga publication for an entirely different publisher (no names given yet).
GO TO SAIYUKI NEWEST NEWS: APRIL 2003-SEPTEMBER 2003 ARCHIVE.
GO TO SAIYUKI NEWEST NEWS: OCTOBER 2003-JANUARY 2004 ARCHIVE.
GO TO SAIYUKI NEWEST NEWS: FEBRUARY 2004-JUNE 2004 ARCHIVE.
GO TO SAIYUKI NEWEST NEWS: AUGUST 2004-DECEMBER 2004 ARCHIVE.
GO TO SAIYUKI NEWEST NEWS: JANUARY-JULY 2005 ARCHIVE.
GO TO SAIYUKI NEWEST NEWS: AUGUST 2005 TO NOW.
BACK TO JOURNEY TO THE REST: A Roadside Revelry in Saiyuki and Its Doujinshi.
This page was created February 16, 2002. Last updated August 2, 2005.
This page's text and source code are copyright Kagenami Q. DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION. Saiyuki, Saiyuki Gaiden and Saiyuki RELOAD are copyright Kazuya Minekura/Issaisha; 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.
Weighing in at 200 pages, Saiyuki RELOAD Vol. 2 collects the chapters from the September 2002 through March 2003 issues of ZERO-SUM, plus a few surprises: two new pages of color art, and a tantalizing, five-page manga peek at what looms ahead...including (highlight if you dare!)...what went down between Ukoku and Koumyou!...a Seiten Taisei Son Goku-centric disaster from earlier in Sanzo and Goku's time together!...and the panel at right!
3/01/2003: Latest ZERO-SUM Scoop! A month away from its one-year anniversary, ZERO-SUM has served up its thickest issue yet in yesterday's April edition. Among its 674 pages is a Saiyuki RELOAD installment that's relatively short--only 15 pages, three of them color (the opening spread at right, plus a nice surprise: Dokugakuji in a second posing session with goggles [the first was for a special card in a G-FANTASY trading card series])--but has some memorable moments and the continuation of the Kougaiji-vs.-Goku brawl. The next chapter should be a wild one, and will share the issue with a Saiyuki Gaiden installment, too!
Two mini-dramas written by Minekura-sensei complete the CD, and range from the serious--Hakkai and Goku make a nighttime hike, pondering some heavy questions as they search for fireflies--to the seriously silly, with Sanzo revealing a disturbingly deep affinity for karaoke. His captive audience at the karaoke box plots to try to stop the one-man show, and Gojyo has just the candidate in mind to sing next: Hakkai...
5/10/2002: New Saiyuki CD Arrives! Four months after Nippon Columbia's "Four Songs" Saiyuki character songs CD overcame a parade of delays to finally come out, Movic has released a superb successor in "Vocal Album Gensomaden Saiyuki Vol. 1" (Movic MACM-1152, 2730 yen). Toshihiko Seki, Souichirou Hoshi, Akira Ishida and Hiroaki Hirata reprise their Sanzo-ikkou roles, with the staff of Movic's Gensomaden Saiyuki Image Album CD series (especially songwriters Koji Ueno and Masaki Nomiyama, also serving as background vocalists) adding their firepower for a topnotch result. Differing from early plans to center around the "Be There" portion of the story, this CD features five songs: "Junk Boys" (from the first Image Album, but this time with a different musical arrangement and sung by Sanzo, Goku and Gojyo), "Infinity" (Goku), "Bad Friends" (Sanzo and Gojyo), "Game" (Sanzo) and "Blow Winds" (Sanzo, Goku and Gojyo). Meanwhile, Hakkai is spotlighted in two short original drama vignettes written by Minekura-sensei herself--one a look at Hakkai and Gojyo, and the other between Hakkai and Sanzo. All in all, it's tremendous stuff--and there's more to come, with Vol. 2 (including a Sanzo and Goku duet and Gojyo solo) slated for this summer!
In the category of Best Long-Story Manga, Saiyuki was second only to Fruits Basket, 970 to 871. Saiyuki Gaiden finished 15th in the voting, while Minekura creations Wild Adapter and Bus Gamer were 16th and 28th, respectively.
Minekura-sensei dominated the Best Short-Story Manga division, finishing one-two with "Hachi No Su" and "Gensomaden Saiyuki," the latter a one-shot featuring Homura.
Sanzo and Goku won "Best Combi" by a wide margin, downing Subaru Sumeragi and Seijirou Sakurazuka of X 228 to 94. Gojyo and Hakkai were 3rd, while Sanzo and Hakkai were 19th (behind 10th-place Makoto Kubota and Minoru Tokitou of Wild Adapter).
The movie Gensomaden Saiyuki: Requiem was second in the voting for Best Anime, behind Fruits Basket but ahead of the Miyazaki juggernaut Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi (a.k.a. "Spirited Away"), which was 4th. Close behind was the Gensomaden Saiyuki TV series, in 6th.
Akira Ishida, voice of Hakkai, was voted the year's best voice actor. The actors for the rest of the Sanzo-ikkou also made the Top 10: Souichirou Hoshi (Goku) was 4th, Toshihiko Seki (Sanzo) was 6th and Hiroaki Hirata (Gojyo) was 9th.
