Nanase Ohkawa Twitter Space – November 2, 2021

Today CLAMP member Nanase Ohkawa-sensei held a twitter space in her personal account and it Tokyo Babylon.

During the space, she updated the fans about the current status of the future anime adaptation of Tokyo Babylon.

Here is a brief summary about it:

DISCLAIMER: This Twitter Space session happened live on Nanase Ohkawa’s official Twitter account and recordings were not made available anywhere after the transmission was over. The information available here was gathered in a collaborative effort from multiple reports and impressions from fans from all over the world who took notes as the session was happening live. Please be aware that this report may contain inaccuracies and is subject to corrections.

The first 4 minutes were about Hideaki Matsuoka’s music and memories of those old days. A few of the Tokyo Babylon songs by him ended up in his 35th Anniversary best album.

Ohkawa-sensei: “When we were thinking about making the Tokyo Babylon manga, we thought we would like to have a compilation album that goes with it but there were not much chances about doing that.”

Ohkawa-sensei: “Tokyo Babylon is a pretty important work for me and for many people. Indeed it was a story written in compliance of what was going on at that time.”

Ohkawa-sensei: “Like we were saying when talking with Matsuoka-san, I’m holding the deal about Tokyo Babylon [new anime] and I would like to have some product in the same line of Tokyo Babylon. I don’t want this to be misunderstood, I think the Tokyo Babylon 2021 staff was thinking the same way. I’m holding the deal right now so I would like to deliver something according to everyone’s expectations. Either way we’re not in a stage that I can announce anything new right now. I would like to deliver a new animation project that fits Tokyo Babylon accordingly. People may have been hurt with the Tokyo Babylon 2021 project, but I think the staff was doing their best, so from now on I would like to continue giving my best efforts to it.”

Ohkawa-sensei: “When I watched Matsuoka-san’s Vision of Boys 2020 I really felt the Tokyo Babylon vibes. I don’t want to be misunderstood about this but it felt like ‘Oh yeah, this is what I was expecting to see’. There’s so many things that remain not yet decided, therefore I can not announce anything now, but as we said to Matsuoka-san, we’re aiming for a CLAMP-ish Tokyo Babylon media-mix.”

Q&A section with fans

Q: If Hokuto lived these times, would she wear Uniqlo GU?
Ohkawa-sensei: “Yes, she absolutely loves fast fashion so yes.”

Q: Will Seishirou’s original shoulders width be reflected?
Ohkawa-sensei: (Surprised while reading the tweets) “Soulder’s width? Shoulder width is that important? Oh, so I see, Seishirou is Seishirou because of his shoulders width! That’s a surprise! Is it because it looks strong? Thank you. I’ll have that as reference. For me Seishirou wasn’t defined because by his shoulders width. So it was a pitty that Seishirou’s shoulders weren’t wide enough then? I wasn’t giving that aspect that much of importance.
(Note: she keeps comming back to this subject later as well)
But is totally valid. Thank you for having that in mind.
For me shoulder width wasn’t that important, it was just the way it was at that time.”

Q: Can Subaru ride a bicycle?
Ohkawa-sensei: “I guess so, did he ride any? I think he can but did he ever ride a bicycle?” (She had to ask on the CLAMP line group about it)

Q: Can the Sumeragi twins drink alcohol? (Are they strong or weak at drinking?)
Ohkawa-sensei: “They are too young to drink but actually we had this decided at that time: there’s an omnyoji technique that makes alcohol effects go away so they are able to use that technique. That technique actually exists. I got an actual book that refers to this omnyoji technique.”

Ohkawa-sensei: “I’m so happy to know many people love Tokyo Babylon. I also think the Tokyo Babylon 2021 staff have put love on it. There’s nothing I can announce right now, altough I think there will be many changes comparing form the previous version [Tokyo Babylon 2021]. I will do my best to give my suggestions as a creator and from my place as producer. I don’t know what kind of media-mix is going to end up being, but I will do my best.”

Q: Were the final words Seishirou says to Subaru [in X] previously decided?
Ohkawa-sensei: “Yes, absolutely, but I’m not revealing those.”

Ohkawa-sensei: “I don’t know how the new Tokyo Babylon anime is going to be but we would like aim for something that satisfies everyone.”

Q: “If Seishirou would invite Subaru to a date now, where that would be?”
Ohkawa-sensei: “If I were at charge of the script, that would be….. (thinks) a Butler Cafe at Ikebukuro. He would like to put Subaru in trouble by doing so. Seishirou would enjoy to have Subaru saying “Okaerinasaimase”. I haven’t been to such a butler cafe, but if it’s Seishirou taking Subaru that would be the place. Or the Shinseido Cafe at Ginza to make Seishirou taste the omuraisu. Altough I don’t think there will be a scene where Seishirou is drinking, even without alcohol I would like to have Subaru watch Seishirou enjoying that omuraisu.”

Ohkawa-sensei: “I am holding the deal about the Tokyo Babylon anime and would like to do my best efforts from now on. Of course, there may be some limits but I’ll do my best. I’d like for everyone to wait for it patiently.

A huge thank you to Claudio for providing this summary.

Let’s keep this a collaborative effort! If you found mistakes or if you think you can contribute with more information, please contact me.

Card Captor Sakura – Clear Card arc – Chapter 57

© CLAMP・Shigatsu Tsuitachi CO.,LTD. / 講談社

This chapter is available for free at CLAMP-FANS.com.

DISCLAIMER: If you enjoyed reading this story, please support CLAMP by purchasing the original or licensed material available in your country.

Card Captor Sakura is available for purchase at CD Japan and Amazon Japan with worldwide shipping.

[COMMENTS]

Card Captor Sakura ~Clear Card arc~ #11 second week sales report

ccs_clear_card_vol11
© CLAMP・Shigatsu Tsuitachi CO.,LTD. / 講談社

The eleventh volume of Card Captor Sakura ~Clear Card arc~ dropped to the 18th position in Oricon’s weekly ranking, with an estimate of 27,044 copies sold in its second week of sales for the regular edition. This time, the Special Edition (Mini Sakura Costume) didn’t make it to the ranking.

So far, combining the numbers of the regular and special editions together and the two weeks since it’s been on sale, volume 11 sold an estimate of 104,234 copies overall.

While it’s nice that volume 11 is still showing up in the top 30, unfortunately these figures are the lowest overall sales by the second week for a Clear Card volume. In other words, all previous 10 volume had bigger figures by their second week of sales.

It is worth mentioning that Oricon only takes into account a certain number of shops and preorders are likely not taken into account. These numbers are only an estimate and it’s possible that the real figures are higher than these.

Source: Oricon.

The chart below shows the progress in the sales of Card Captor Sakura ~Clear Card arc~ over the weeks and compares it with previous volumes’ performances (click on it for dynamic version):

Card Captor Sakura ~Clear Card arc~ #11 first week sales report

ccs_clear_card_vol11
© CLAMP・Shigatsu Tsuitachi CO.,LTD. / 講談社

The eleventh volume of Card Captor Sakura ~Clear Card arc~ debuted at the 7th position in Oricon’s weekly ranking, with an estimate of 60,337 copies sold in its first week of sales for the regular edition.  The Special Edition (Mini Sakura Costume) debuted at the 33th position, with an estimate of 16,853 copies sold. Combining the numbers of the regular and special editions together, it sold an estimate of 77,190 copies in its release week.

Since volume 5, the first week sales of Clear Card arc have consistently been lower than its previous volume, but the good news is: that was not the case with volume 11.

The overall first week sales of volume 11 were better than volume 10, which sold an estimate of 75,258 copies. It’s not a big difference, but it’s an improvement and something that didn’t happen since volume 5. When looking at the regular and special editions individually, the regular edition numbers for volume 11 (60,337) were better than volume 10 (54,943) but the same can’t be said about the Special Edition — 20,315 for volume 10 vs 16,853 for volume 11.

It’s also worth mentioning that while it landed in the 7th position, the first 6 titles are not published by Kodansha. Meaning Card Captor Sakura ~Clear Card arc~ volume 11 was this week’s most sold title published by Kodansha.

It is worth mentioning that Oricon only takes into account a certain number of shops and preorders are likely not taken into account. These numbers are only an estimate and it’s possible that the real figures are higher than these.

Source: Oricon via iamZEON.

The chart below shows the progress in the sales of Card Captor Sakura ~Clear Card arc~ over the weeks and compares it with previous volumes’ performances (click on it for dynamic version):

Really nice to see some shy, but noticeable improvement in sales!

Let’s wait and see how it will perform on next week’s ranking. Hopefully this is not the last we’ve seen of volume 11.

CLAMP PREMIUM COLLECTION: XXXHOLiC #7 & #8 covers

The covers of XXXHOLiC #7 and #8 for the CLAMP PREMIUM COLLECTION edition have been announced!

They will be released on November 5. They can be ordered via Amazon Japan (volume 7, volume 8).

This time we got pretty vibrant colors as backgrounds.

My predictions were right! But then again, it wasn’t hard to guess at all…

I think Yuuko is looking more like her classic self on the cover of volume 7. On the cover of volume 8, she is looking a bit younger again ^^” Also, isn’t it the first time we see the Spider Lady colored by CLAMP?

My predictions for volumes 9 and 10 are Haruka and Kohane, although I would love to see Neko Musume in color for the first time (but I don’t know if she is popular/important enough for that).

Here’s the upcoming release schedule for XXXHOLiC:

December 2021: volumes 9 & 10
January 2022: volumes 11 & 12
February 2022: volumes 13 & 14
March 2022: volumes 15 & 16
April 2022: volumes 17 & 18
May 2022: volume 19 & ?

Card Captor Sakura – Clear Card arc – Chapter 56

© CLAMP・Shigatsu Tsuitachi CO.,LTD. / 講談社

This chapter is available for free at CLAMP-FANS.com.

DISCLAIMER: If you enjoyed reading this story, please support CLAMP by purchasing the original or licensed material available in your country.

Card Captor Sakura is available for purchase at CD Japan and Amazon Japan with worldwide shipping.

[COMMENTS]

CLAMP PREMIUM COLLECTION: XXXHOLiC #5 & #6 covers

The covers of XXXHOLiC #5 and #6 for the CLAMP PREMIUM COLLECTION edition have been announced!

They will be released on October 6. They can be ordered via Amazon Japan (volume 5, volume 6).

Both very pretty! I am loving that Yuuko is looking more and more like her usual self.

This time, we got Mokona with Yuuko on the cover of volume 5 and Zashiki Warashi on the cover of volume 6. It seems like the pattern for these covers will be Yuuko with another character (until it becomes Watanuki with another character, later down the story). My bet for volume 7 is Spider Lady and volume 8 Ame Warashi, but it could be the other way around as well.

Here’s the upcoming release schedule for XXXHOLiC:

November 2021: volumes 7 & 8
December 2021: volumes 9 & 10
January 2022: volumes 11 & 12
February 2022: volumes 13 & 14
March 2022: volumes 15 & 16
April 2022: volumes 17 & 18
May 2022: volume 19 & ?

Card Captor Sakura – Clear Card arc – Chapter 55

© CLAMP・Shigatsu Tsuitachi CO.,LTD. / 講談社

This chapter is available for free at CLAMP-FANS.com.

DISCLAIMER: If you enjoyed reading this story, please support CLAMP by purchasing the original or licensed material available in your country.

Card Captor Sakura is available for purchase at CD Japan and Amazon Japan with worldwide shipping.

[COMMENTS]

CLAMP draw cover for ‘Uma Musume’ vol. 2 Anthology Comic

CLAMP were in charge of drawing the cover illustration for volume 2 of the Uma Musume Anthology Comic, its full title being Uma Musume Pretty Derby Anthology Comic STAR 2.

CLAMP’s cover will be used for both normal and limited editions. The limited edition comes with an oversized poster and a mini clear file featuring the same illustration.

Here’s the cover:

And here’s the poster and mini clear file:

It will be on sale on September 29.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a multimedia franchise created by Cygames which includes mobile games, TV Anime and manga adaptations. CLAMP have expressed their enthusiasm for the franchise several times through their social media channels and twitter spaces.

Source: CLAMP-NET.COM, Sai-Zen-Sen.jp

I had to look twice to fully grasp the fact that this was drawn by CLAMP. It certainly looks like their current style, but with a little extra adjustment to make it look more Uma Musume-like. The bright, neon CG coloring is a big departure from what CLAMP usually deliver when they are using CG, although it looks like the cover looks slightly brighter than the poster (which I would guess has the original colors painted by CLAMP).

This is yet another collaboration that came into fruition out of a hobby of CLAMP’s, like many others.

In other news, CLAMP’s leader Nanase Ohkawa-sensei has launched a new twitter account. So far it seems very CLAMP-centric with interesting pictures and “inside” information. She is planning on doing weekly twitter spaces by the morning. Make sure you follow her at @7bunno7.

CLAMP PREMIUM COLLECTION: XXXHOLiC #3 & #4 covers (Updated)

The covers of XXXHOLiC #3 and #4 for the CLAMP PREMIUM COLLECTION edition have been announced!

They will be released on September 6. They can be ordered via Amazon Japan (volume 3, volume 4).

I don’t know if I should say “improvement”, but Yuuko is definitely looking more like herself in these two covers.

Good to know that this is a departure from the traditional Yuuko & Watanuki covers to allow room for other characters.

I love the detail in volume 3 where the smoke seems to come out of Yuuko’s kimono’s belt and turns into Doumeki’s bow.

UPDATE: The belts attached to volumes 3 and 4 reveal that volumes 5 and 6 will be released simultaneously on October 6.