Interest

Kumamiko Box Set Already Selling at Bargain Bin Prices

After Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear's single-season run ended in June, fans could relive the series by buying the Blu-Ray box sets. These contain additional goodies like bonus OAVs, a film of the series' cast visiting Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, a film of a premiere event in March, creditless openings and endings, and disc labels. Fans lucky enough to get the first run limited editions can enjoy jackets illustrated by character designer Hiroyuki Saida, manga booklets by original creator Masume Yoshimoto, CDs with character songs, eyecatch cards, and even a ticket to a voice actor event in September.

The "Bear" Box

The "Miko" Box

These deluxe box sets are standard practice in Japan — as are the high prices to match. Both the "Bear" and "Miko" versions (each holds one half of the series, vary in art and the OAVs and CDs included) were priced at 19,440 yen ($165). What's unusual, though, is how steeply the prices has fallen in just half a year: The Bear version is selling for only 3,888 yen ($33) on Amazon.co.jp; its Amazon exclusive edition, which comes with a wall scroll, is selling for 4,860 yen ($41). The Miko version is doing better: its price is 12,590 yen ($107), although that's still a 35% drop.

Kumamiko's ending was received with a storm of controversy, including from Yoshimoto. While Yoshimoto took issue with a "cruel" comment in the final episode, fans were disappointed in a perceived regression in Machi's character development.

Source: Amazon.co.jp (2, 3)