Books and Artbooks

For the first time outside Japan, Amano and Square Enix, Inc., have permitted the artwork that inspired the designs of the Final Fantasy games to be published. In Dawn you will see the development of the first four games through Amano's paintings, detailed line art, and preliminary sketches. Plus, in a special afterword, you'll learn the genesis of this history-making collaboration.

In addition to the text of Dead Romance, this volume includes Miles' short story "Toy Story" and his similarly rare short story "Grass." Also included: A new introduction by Miles (titled "Disinterred Romance") and an original essay by Miles on the mechanics of the Faction Paradox universe.

Here, in one authoritative volume, is everything you need to know about Death Note! Features include complete character biographies, detailed story-line summaries, production notes, and behind-the-scenes commentaries. Death Note 13: How to Read also includes exclusive interviews with creators Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata and a bonus manga chapter of never-before-translated material.

This book helps the student to overcome this problem of kissing cousins and spitting images, to become aware of the subtle differences that distinguish one kanji from another. With numerous exercises and charts, the tell-tale signs that give each kanji away are indelibly imprinted on the mind.

Stylish, delicate, and consistently edgy, Der Mond collects the color illustrations of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, one of the founding member of Studio Gainax and the character designer for Neon Genesis Evangelion. Newly reformatted in hard cover to mirror the original Japanese edition!

In seven days, Tokyo will fall. Demons have invaded the city, and unless a group of teenagers do something about it, fear and chaos will reign. Devil Survivor: Official Material Collection includes character designs, promotional artwork, storyboards, a detailed demon guide, and creator interviews.

Sixteen-year-old Mamoru Kusaka has recently moved to Tokyo to live with his aunt and uncle. Just as he is beginning to adjust to his new life, his uncle is involved in a late-night accident while driving his taxicab. Struggling to help his uncle, Mamoru discovers that the victim had been involved in a cruel scam with three other young women. Two of the four have also recently died in similarly violent incidents. A powerful businessman comes forward as a witness, but instead of making things clearer, the man's testimony only adds more confusing lies and deceptions to an already puzzling case.

Dining in Japan is both an art and an adventure - an experience that is made memorable by the variety of unique dishes, their gourmet quality and the style in which they are served. The Dining Guide to Japan introduces novices to the appropriate etiquette for different restaurants, along with what to expect and how to order.

After more than two hundred years of self-imposed isolation, Japan opened itself to the Western world in 1854. There followed a time of political upheaval, capped by the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This remarkable book, begun in 1885 and based on the author's detailed diary and keen memory, is a record of the inner history of those critical years in the evolution on Japan, accompanied by an account of Satow's personal experiences during that period.

The Completely Unofficial Encyclopedia is a wholeheartedly original volume that continues the work started by Doctor Who: The Completely Useless Encyclopedia. The Completely Unofficial Encyclopedia focuses its jokes, sarcasm and wry comments on the new Doctor Who series and the nature of its fandom, but isn't afraid to delve back and take loving pot-shots at the classic show.

This encyclopedic survey of the next cultural tsunami to hit America has over 1,000 entries - including production data, synopses, and commentaries - on everything from rubber-monster shows to samurai drama, from crime to horror, unlocking an entire culture's pop history as never seen before.

Goku thought he was a normal high school student until he found out he's actually a martial-arts whiz with all kinds of powers. Now he and his fellow teen warriors are on a quest to find all the Dragon Balls before they fall into the wrong hands. But they may already have! Goku must battle the evil Piccolo with all he's got to save the planet Earth! Contains eight pages of color stickers and eight pages of color backgrounds.