Monster Hunter Airu Kitchen: Steel Mug - Import Preorder

In Capcom's Monster Hunter game, the Airu (Cats) may be recruited into your party as cooks, questing companions, or farmers. Cospa's Monster Hunter Stainless Steel Mug enforces the Airu kitchen theme where a cat wearing a chef's hat may be seen with a knife and a fork on either side of its head.

In some cultures, such a display might be interpreted as the cat being a good meal. Maybe feline au gratin with a side order of chickpeas. Note to cat lovers: You know we're just kidding, right? Please hold the firebombs.

In any case, Cospa's Monster Hunter Airu Mug was released earlier this year but the company sold out quickly. Another production is scheduled for release next month and NCS will snag some for our stateside customers. Pricing is set at JPY13.90 per mug and preorders ship in late July 08.

Yoko Special Version Miyazawa Mokei - Import Preorder

Recent signs and portents are pointing to Yoko of Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann fame to be the next objet d'art when and if Kanu Unchou relinquishes her throne in 2008. As NCS has chronicled on these pages, Kanu is currently the top dog when it comes to toy releases so far this year. We're betting on Yoko taking over as queen of the toy jungle from late 2008 to at least the summer of 2009.

The latest Yoko figure is a Miyazawa Mokei Limited Color Edition which is scheduled to ship in October 2008. Admittedly, she looks a little weird and her garb is reminiscent of something a Dead or Alive (Tecmo) girl would wear. We're undecided on whether or not we'll keep one for the private collection but preorders are welcome today to ship in October 2008.

Senjou no Valkyria Alicia Figure - Import Preorder

Sega's recent Senjou no Valkyria was one of the better Playstation 3 games we've played this year. Japanese and Asian players seem to agree since sales have been rolling along nicely. Whenever a game does well in Japan, the characters from the game usually get licensed and branded into toys, keychains, drama CDs, and more. If they're really popular, they'll get made into multiple versions of toys that are released year after year.

Senjou no Valkyria's Alicia makes her toy debut this autumn with an offering from Sega. She measures 20cm or 7.87" tall and is sculpted from ABS and PVC. Alicia's in a running gallop and appears to be heading for outright war with a weapon on hand. She also wears a determined demeanor on her face. That usually means war. Preorders are welcome to ship in late September 2008 at JPY6800 or US$70.90 from NCS.

Persona 3 Elizabeth Figure - Import Preorder

In the Persona 3 video game, Elizabeth is a boss character who throws piercing projectile attacks and calls upon different forms to vary her method of attack. She's an interesting boss who's tough to beat but you'll win a very nice bonus if you do defeat her.

Alter has announced a 1/8 scale Elizabeth figure which measures 22cm or 8.66" tall. Liz is dressed like a futuristic air stewardess and carries her book of spells on her left arm. The sculpt looks good and we'll take some macro photos once we get her into the warehouse. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late October 2008 at JPY5800 or US$62.90 from NCS.

Figma Rin Tosaka Figure - Import Preorder

The Figma series of posable toys is fairly popular and ranks up there with the Revoltech line and Konami's Multi-Movable System (MMS) series. The Figma line-up from Max Factory features articulated PVC-ABS figures which are supported by a mounting stand. They're awfully popular and very well done in terms of construction quality. The latest figure to be announced by Max Factory features Rin Tosaka of Fate/Stay Night fame.

Similar to other Figma figures, the package includes extra hands, extra faces, and a weapon accessory. In Rin's case, she carries a blade that'll probably split most opponents in two. Ms Tosaka is dressed in her regulation-issue uniform so there's no mistaking her when viewed from a disance. Preorders will ship in August 2008 at JPY2800 or US$30.90.

Japanese Import Delays

The following Japanese software titles have been postponed:
NDS	Knights in the Nightmare	Sept. 25
NDS	Knights in the Nightmare DHE Special Pack	Sept. 25
	Motto Me de Unou o Kitaeru DS: Sokudoku Jutsu	TBA
PS2	Hakugin no Soreiyu: Contract to Future	Sept. 25
	Hakugin no Soreiyu: Contract to Future LE	Sept. 25

General Updates

Metal Gear Solid 4 Special Edition - Second Printing Konami has already announced a second printing of the Japanese MGS4 Special Edition which will feature a cardboard case to hold the bonus DVD. The first printing includes a metal case as shown in last week's photo gallery. This bit of news caused some gougers vendors in Japan and Hong Kong to raise their prices by a few dollars on their product offer sheets last night. NCS is currently supplying only the first printing of the game which is in stock and available to ship today.

Arkanoid DS Paddle Controllers With the USA versions of Space Invaders Extreme and Arkanoid DS shipping this week, requests for the official Taito paddle controllers are coming in again. One of our suppliers in Japan may be able to help us with some restock (the black, white, and silver color variants) and we'll post another update when the different colors are available again in these next few days. Pricing is expected to remain the same.

Old Shopping Site - Update

We've abandoned the really old shopping site and we're about to remove the direct link to the shop from our main index. We plan on keeping it up and running since it's indexed by search engines and we might have a use for it in the future.

While backing up all of the shop data over the weekend, we collected some statistics which are listed below. The old shopping site helped us get through some major sales campaigns between 1999 and 2003 including the madness that was the Dreamcast Ikaruga release, Dreamcast Shenmue, and the Playstation 2 hardware launch in Japan. Without further ado, some stats from the old shop:

Launch Date: March 8, 1999
Number of orders on first day: 14
First item sold on shop: Action Replay 4M for Saturn
Second item sold on shop: V-Saturn console
Total number of products listed: 14,367
First product listed: Virtua Fighter 3tb
Final product listed: Metal Gear Solid 2 Bande Dessinee for DVD
Most orders in a single day: 838 (DC Ikaruga preorders)
Second most orders in a single day: 713 (DC Shenmue preorders)
Best selling Neo-Geo cartridge: King of Fighters 2000 (Total: 383 units)
Best selling Wonderswan game: Final Fantasy I (Total: 212 units)

USA Release Outlook - Arrivals on Tues-Thurs

NDS	Arkanoid DS	Taito
	Code Lyoko: Fall of X.A.N.A.	GameF.
	Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard	Atlus
	Space Invaders Extreme	Taito
PSP	Secret Agent Clank	Sony
	Space Invaders Extreme	Taito

Japanese Import Outlook - Arrivals on Thursday

NDS	Ohimesama Debut	Cave
	Spectral Force Genesis	IdeaF.
PS2	Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4	Koei
Wii	Super Mario Stadium: Family Baseball	Nintendo
PSP	Super Robot Taisen A Portable	Banpresto
	Super Robot Taisen A Accessories	Hori

Fate/Stay Night Trading Figures - Clearance

NCS Product Synopsis - First Posted on February 14, 2007

«©NCSX» Originally released by Good Smile and Alter in early 2006, fan demand prompts a reproduction of the Fate Stay Night Trading figures. Six warriors from the Fate Stay Night property are on offer in a set of toys which measure 11cm tall and are packaged in randomly sorted boxes.

The characters featured in the set are: Illyasviel von Einzbern, Archer, Rin Tosaka, Saber, Sakura Mato, and Rider. Along with the 6 figures, 2 secret figures are also randomly packed - one of which is a variant of Illyasviel in full purple regalia and the other is a maskless version of Rider. A secret figure may also be discovered in the various boxes which is Saber in a two-piece pajama outfit and slippers. Pricing is set at US$78 US$59.90 + shipping per factory sealed box of 12 randomly packaged figures.