Playstation Network Ticket JPY3000

Stateside players are limited in the ways they can purchase content from the Japanese Playstation Network. Credit cards issued in North America can't be used since the PSN billing system only authorizes Japanese credit cards. EDY cards aren't available to us yet but we were able to import a bunch of Playstation Network Tickets valued at JPY3000 today. We're supplying them for US$36.50. Our vendors in Japan don't have access to the tickets at wholesale and had to pay retail (from Family Mart, no less) and tacked on their mandatory handling charges to obtain them for us. Think of it as a videogame vigorish that's built into the price.
Orders for the PSN cards will be fulfilled digitally. Upon your purchase, an image scan of the 12-digit alphanumeric code will be emailed to you.

Kaze no Stigma 1/8 Ayano Kannagi Figure

Atelier Sai started preorders for an Ayano Kannagi figure about a week ago and we weren't going to bother importing her. Then someone reminded us that gingers (read: redheads) are good luck and Ayano is sort of like Ignis of Jingai Makyo fame. Both carry swords, have full figures, and strike fear into the hearts of men. We relented and ordered a few cases.

Ayano Kannagi hails from the Kaze no Stigma ranobe and animated series where she's the keeper of her family's sacred sword Enraiha and wields a power known as Crimson Flame. The Ayano figure is set at 1/8 scale and measures 20cm tall. Pricing weighs in at JPY6000 or US$58 from NCS. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late October 2007.

Halloween Musume

When Halloween rolls around in New York City, NCS dodges the mobs of trick or treaters by heading to the annual Halloween Parade in the Village. This will be its 34th Anniversary where throngs of revelers march for about a mile through the cordoned-off streets. Since Halloween is so special in New York City, we're pleased with the 15cm Halloween Musume toy from Cerberus Project which shows off a witch in skimpy duds with symbols of Halloween drizzled about her. Preorders ship in October.

Aria the Natural: Akari Mizunashi Doll

In the year 2301, a young girl named Akari Mizunashi immigrates to Mars. The planet has been transformed into a water world now known as Aqua where travelers enjoys the sights of Neo Venezia by way of gondola. Akari aspires to become a professional gondolier and to that end, gains employment with Aria Company which provides tours throughout the city.
Japanese manufacturer Beagle has opened preorders for a largish Akari Mizunashi posable doll which measures 60cm or 23.62" tall. Since Akari is a gondolier, she's outfitted with a big oar but that's not all. Akari's wears a tasteful blue and white outfit, a gold-colored bracelet, shoes, gloves, and a hat which covers her bubblegum-pink hair. A metal base is included.

Preorders are welcome to ship in Dec 2007 at JPY840,000 or US$790.