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Leiji Matsumoto World Summit Planned in July
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
The "Leiji World Summit" event will take place to honor the manga and anime creator Leiji Matsumoto (Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Space Battleship Yamato, Galaxy Express 999) on July 15 and 16. The town of Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture will host the summit as part of a town revitalization project.
Matsumoto drew a poster for the summit, and he will appear for an autograph session on July 15. The creator's anime will screen on July 16, and an anime theme song performance and cosplay convention will also take place that day. As part of the town revitalization project, Jōshin Electric Railway Company will unveil a train with images of characters from Matsumoto's Galaxy Express 999 manga and anime.
According to the executive committee planning the event, about 20 associations across Japan have used Matsumoto's works in town renewal projects. All of the associations were invited to participate in the "Leiji World Summit," and the planners expect more than half to contribute. From July 15 until the end of August, the associations will host city art museum exhibits of Matsumoto's works.
The town of Tomioka will fund the "Leiji World Summit" and plans to turn it into an annual event. Visitors will have to pay for admission and participation in the cosplay contest, but most other events will be free.
The Nikkan Sports newspaper reported on January 11 that Matsumoto will make the Ozuma anime project 30 years after creating the post-apocalyptic scenario. Matsumoto revealed last month that he is planning a Cosmo Super Dreadnought Mahoroba film for 2013. Matsumoto had also announced plans for a new Zero Desigze anime and a live-action Galaxy Express 999 project last year, but neither has been released yet.
Source: Tokyo Shimbun
Image via Tokyo Shimbun
