I have no training or background in architectural studies in any way, but thankfully I am still able to partake in the appreciation of the achievements made by the professionals who do so. Paraphrasing a line from the movie The Devil Wears Prada, “Architecture is greater than art…because you live your life in it.”

This handy pocket sized guide book showcases some of the most iconic and impressive structures and buildings found in Tokyo, from the Tokyo Skytree to the Sumida Hokusai museum, and many more. The presentation format is simple and elegant; the first 2 pages offers some background information and vital stats of each building/structure, and the next 2 pages utilize charming sketches and drawings to illustrates core concepts and design features, making for a most interesting and illuminating read.

This is an excellent resource to learn and discover more about the some of the most iconic architecture that can be found in Tokyo, and the delightful explanatory illustrations are a fantastic bonus. I can imagine visitors to the city using this book as a handy guide to plan an itinerary for an architecture focused tour. Recommended.

I would also recommend checking out this Tokyo Architectural Heritage Guide Sketchbook.

“Top Tokyo Architecture Guide Book 最強TOKYO建築図鑑” details :

Dimensions – 8.27 x 5.83 x 0.63 inches
Softcover, 240 pages
Full color, In Japanese language

  
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My apologies for the slower pace of updates on my site recently; I’ve been really busy at work on an upcoming movie project and have had less time to catch up on my writing.

Anyhow, I thought this was a cool piece of news that’s certainly worth sharing – the cover art reveal for Criterion Collection’s upcoming 4K UHD release of the Academy Award winning animated film Kpop Demon Hunters, a movie I’m very proud to have worked on. Feast your eyes on this piece of cover art below illustrated by Ami Thompson, one of the art directors on the movie ( check out the art book for the film for more of her amazing art ).

Here are the full details of the 3 disc set –

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

– New 4K digital master, approved by directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack
– One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
– Full feature-length animatic, with a new introduction by Kang and Appelhans
– New making-of documentary
– Two video essays by filmmakers Taylor Ramos & Tony Zhou (Every Frame a Painting)
– Lyric videos
– Trailer
– English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and English descriptive audio
– Collectible postcards featuring original illustrations by artists who worked on the film
– PLUS: An essay by critic Karen Han

Needless to say, I’m really excited about the release, especially since this will be the first film I’ve ever worked on ( so far ) to join the hallowed ranks of the Criterion Collection.

I am also particularly delighted that Criterion has made the release a 3 disc set, with an additional blu-ray disc set aside purely for supplementary materials. The release has been pushed to early Nov instead of the late December date that was previously mentioned when news of the set was first announced, so fans will get to enjoy it almost 2 months earlier !

I for one will certainly be picking up this up, and I do hope Criterion has made considerations that this item will be immensely popular and have pressed more copies to ensure there enough supply for all fans to get one.

Will you be getting a copy ? :]

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A spin-off story from Mike Mignola’s Hellboy, Koshchei The Deathless is one of the most formidable foes that Hellboy has ever faced, and stories of his tragic past are just as fascinating and immersive as any from the Mignolaverse as well as BPRD.

To top it off, the artists drawing these stories are the amazing Ben Stenbeck as well as Mike Mignola himself, and so I absolutely had to get this volume.

Publisher synopsis – The complete comics saga of the unkillable man and the Witchfinder who fight to defend what remains of the world after Hellboy.

Sent to kill Hellboy by the Baba Yaga in Darkness Calls, Koshchei the Deathless hinted at a long and tragic life before being enslaved to the Russian witch. Now Koshchei relives every horrible act on his road to immortality and beyond, with none other than Hellboy himself—in Hell.

Then, after the end of the world above and the death of Hellboy, Koshchei is summoned by the Witchfinder Ed Grey to finish the one task he could not—take up his sword again and fight a dark foe hell-bent on destruction.

Finally, Ed Grey is summoned by Alice, queen of the last standing realm on earth, to defend her and England against Morgan Le Fay and her champion in a final standoff. Grey must transform into the defender he was destined to be if England has a chance of surviving, while Le Fay has her own shadowy intentions.

Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and fan-favorite artist Ben Stenbeck team up for a final saga after the end of the world.

This hardcover omnibus collects Koshchei the Deathless #1–#6; Koshchei in Hell #1–#4; Sir Edward Grey: Acheron one-shot; and The Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle for England #1–#3; plus all epilogues, a cover gallery, and sketchbook section.

I had previously also reviewed the hardcover edition of Koshchei In Hell back in 2024, the contents which make up about 1/3 of what is collected in this omnibus. Had I known that Darkhorse would be releasing this much more comprehensive volume, I would surely have held off getting the standalone Koshchei In Hell. For readers who are picking this up for the first time, definitely go for this bigger omnibus edition, a much bigger bang for your buck.

“Koshchei the Deathless Omnibus” comic details :

– Dimensions – 6.9 x 1.28 x 10.5 inches
– Hardcover, 401 pages
– Full color

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As a big fan of renowned American artist/painter Andrew Wyeth’s work, his exhibition in Tokyo earlier this spring was something I was really looking forward to seeing, even though I had (almost) full expectation that his most famous piece ‘Christina’s World’ was not going to be part of the show.

The exhibition was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno, where I have previously seen many other splendid exhibtions like Pieter Bruegel’s Tower Of Babel (2017).

Photography was not allowed for most of the pieces including the exhibition’s centerpiece, which also featured Christina as the subject matter. Below are the only 3 paintings that were approved for photography.

Although ‘Christina’s World’ ( image below ) was not part of the showcase, the other paintings on display offers visitors including me a much more comprehensive picture and narrative of how important she was to Andrew Wyeth, both as a close friend as well as a channel and subject for his artistic endeavors.

(image below) Concept art pieces from video game The Last Of Us Part II; the farmhouse where Ellie and Dina resides is a nice nod to ‘Christina’s World’. The painting is also featured in Joseph Kosinski’s 2013 sci-fi film starring Tom Cruise. I’m sure there are many other homages and references to the painting in other media that I am not aware of.

I highly recommend checking out the art book Andrew Wyeth : Looking Out, Looking In which includes ‘Christina’s World’ as well as many of the pieces I saw in this exhibition, and the art work of his father N.C Wyeth, himself a most renowned painter, are also fantastic.

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One of the prized and rare finds during my recent Tokyo spring trip – ‘Dominion Club’, a gorgeous poster card book featuring illustrations from Ghost In The Shell creator Shirow Masamune’s sci-fi manga Dominion (ドミニオン).

Now here’s most amazing part; this book was published way back in 1987, and the fact that I was fortunate enough to chance upon a mint new copy of this book just sitting randomly on a shelf in Mandarake ( a popular used anime goods bookstore chain with stores in Nakano & Akihabara ) some 40 years after it was released is blowing my mind a little.

There are 12 poster cards included, and the reproductions are of excellent quality; I can personally attest to that having seen some of Shirow’s original Dominion art work at his exhibition back in 2025.

(above & below) On top of the posters themselves, there’s also this explanatory “MENU” booklet filled with just delightful drawings of the characters from Dominion, complete with lots of cool notes and captions, Intron Depot style. Pure delight.

Availability : This one is going to be hard to find. The item is listed on Amazon Japan, but at the time of writing this article no marketplace seller seem to carry it. If you see a copy in good condition ( and priced decently ) at Nakano Broadway, Jimbocho or any used bookstore in Japan, snag it.

P.S. This book might be rare, but the manga itself is not, and I highly recommend it.

“Dominion Club – Shirow Masamune Poster Book ドミニオンクラブ 士郎正宗” details :

Dimensions – 10.16 x 0.31 x 14.37 inches
Softcover, 72 pages
Full color, In Japanese language

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