Retailers, fans and collectors outside of Japan have long
desired a central source for getting the fabulous merchandise based on the
titles from Tezuka Osamu, whose substantial output and innovative techniques
earned him the revered reputation as the “father of the manga format”.
Now, Tezuka Productions, the company formed to cherish
Tezuka’s spirit and promote his works, has chosen Diamond Comic Distributors as
a preferred partner for distribution of its products to worldwide markets
outside of Japan.
Starting in Diamond’s December PREVIEWS catalog,
retailers and fans can look forward to a wide variety of TEZUKA products,
including toys, action figures, vinyl and resin figurines, playsets, busts,
t-shirts, prints, comics, and other collectible products.
“Tezuka Osamu
often said that manga and animation were just like the international auxiliary
language of Esperanto, which increases understanding of peoples around the
world, “said Mr. Yoshihiro Shimizu, Tezuka Productions’ General Manager. “Now
his words and stories can be more broadly known as TEZUKA and fans around the
world can connect with and enjoy their beloved characters more easily. I take
off my hat to the skilled Asian craftsmen who make such excellent Japanese
pop-culture goods and encourage retailers and fans to obtain those products
through the thousands of stores in Diamond Comic Distributors’ global network.”
“Fans have enjoyed
the stories of the many character creations of Tezuka for decades,” said John
Parker, Diamond’s VP of Business Development. “Now, Diamond has collected the
many products for Astro Boy, Black Jack, Kimba the White Lion, and the many
others into a broad program that will satisfy those fans and collectors for
many years. We are excited to bring the many products for these famous
characters to the vast number of fans in countries outside Japan that have
previously had only limited access to these national treasures.”
For a complete look at December’s product offerings—which
will ship starting in February 2013—visit Diamond’s Toychestnews site,
http://www.toychestnews.com/Home/1/1/4/678?articleID=128807. To pre-order
Tezuka merchandise, find a comic shop near you at www.comicshoplocator.com or
call 1-888-comicbook.