Interest

Good Smile Sells Hatsune Miku Charity Toy Overseas

Japanese figure manufacturer Good Smile Company opened an English-language store online in which fans can purchase a Nendoroid figure of virtual idol Hatsune Miku for delivery overseas on Friday. (Most of Japan's figure makers will only ship products to domestic addresses.) The company will donate 1,000 yen (approximately US$11.70) of the 3,000-yen (approximately US$35.20) purchase price to the Japan Red Cross to support victims of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake (Higashi Nihon Daishinsai) disaster.

Supporters can pre-order up to five copies of the figure between April 8 and 21, and they will be delivered in late July. Express Mail Service (EMS) shipping to the United States costs an extra 2,000 yen (about US$23.50). The figure features Hatsune Miku with several interchangeable facial expressions and accessories, including a flag which states "Issho ni Ganbarō!" ("Let's Do Our Best Together!") and cheerleading pom-poms. The figure's name is "Nendoroid Miku Hatsune: Support ver."

Other current international charity sales include:

• Japan-based blogger Danny Choo is collaborating with San Diego-based Japan goods importer J-List to offer a charity t-shirt. 25% of the proceeds from the US$19.95 shirt's sales will go to the Japan Red Cross.
• Funimation and several North American videogame companies are auctioning special goods to raise funds for the GlobalGiving charity.
• In the United Kingdom, fan groups have joined together to launch a Heart Japan event on April 20. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Japan Society's Tohoku Earthquake fund
• Amazon Japan is currently selling desktop wallpapers drawn by various artists, including Wagnaria!!'s Karino Takatsu, Pandora Hearts' Jun Mochizuki, Mainichi Kaa-san's Rieko Saibara, Mahōjin Guru Guru's Hiroyuki Etō, Inu × Boku SS's Cocoa Fujiwara, Barakamon's Satsuki Yoshino, and Sekirei's Sakurako Gokurakuin and Say Hello to Black Jack/Umizaru's Shuho Sato. The site has also posted English-language instructions for overseas buyers.
• Los Angeles-based anime convention Anime Expo is currently auctioning off autographed merchandise and donating 100% of sales proceeds to the Japan Red Cross.

[Via Danny Choo, Tanbishugi]