Need some translation help from Japanese

Howdy! As stated in the topic, I am in need of translation help. Here's why.

 

I got the red Eva hairclips seen here along with my Asuka when I adopted her from my buddy Otakusan.

 

DSC_0344 by Billy Bennett, on Flickr

 

The package they came in is pretty neat but I can't read the kanji on it. I know these hair clips were an official collaboration between Gainax and Volks as you can plainly see from the front of the package.

 

Red Eva hair pin bag by Billy Bennett, on Flickr

 

And here's the back.

 

Back of Eva hair pin bag by Billy Bennett, on Flickr

 

It looks like these were either sold exclusively at Dolpa 25 or maybe given out? It says "no resale" on the package so it might have just been a promotion of some kind at that Dolpa?

 

So really, since I'm not 100% sure exactly what these pins are, I'm hoping someone can translate or at least give me an idea of what the packaging says. Any help would be great!

 

 

 

Billy

I can do the super-easy stuff

"50/60cm doll accessory Interface Headset - Asuka ver."

DWO products (followed by their URL) - i think that's the person who goes by Hotaru on Ffm & as "hotaru8823" Twitter ... can always try asking them directly?

 

2011... hmm.. that's about a year before EVA 3 movie was out. Perhaps a promotion for that?

Here's a rough translation of the package, hoping everything is correct (;'∀')

 

Interface Headset - Asuka ver.

Neon Genesis Evangelion ©Khara・GAINAX

Cast made・Painted/Coated・Connecting magnet included.

DW0 Products

(url)

 

And it seems that the label on the back is a "Caution, magnetic elements" sign?

 

Edit: Forgot the small black text on the back! It says "2011.4.30当日版権証紙", so it looks like Volks had been given the rights to sell this item at the Dolpa venue, on the day of the Dolpa only (hence why resale would be prohibited?)

Thanks guys! So it seems that these were only sold on one day at Dolpa 25 and in limited numbers. And that they were an official collaboration between Gainax and Volks. That's pretty awesome. I knew these were special but not THAT special! I'll be sure to take very good care of them from here on out.

 

 

 

Billy

Those are nice! Volks really dropped the ball not including Asuka's interface hair pieces, she wears them all of the time. Magnetic attachment seems like such a no brainer, now if I could just find some 1/3 scale interface pieces...

 

Is Rei wearing the hairclips from the Pullip doll?

Those are nice! Volks really dropped the ball not including Asuka's interface hair pieces, she wears them all of the time. Magnetic attachment seems like such a no brainer, now if I could just find some 1/3 scale interface pieces...

 

Yeah no doubt. Volks seems to drop the ball on so many obvious things like this.... I mean WHY didn't they make plugsuits? They're such a huge part of the anime and manga. Same with the hair clips.

 

Is Rei wearing the hairclips from the Pullip doll?

 

Nope, she has custom 3D printed ones made by a friend here on the forums. They're not as slick and shiny as the Asuka ones but they still look pretty good. I have 2 pairs, one uses magnets, the other uses clips glued to the bottom. Does your Asuka have any hair clips?

 

 

 

Billy

Yeah no doubt. Volks seems to drop the ball on so many obvious things like this.... I mean WHY didn't they make plugsuits? They're such a huge part of the anime and manga.

I'd guess fabric printing technology wasn't a viable option back in what, 2005? Volks would have to find a company to build the suits and sew on all those details and attach 3d parts. Probably prohibitively expensive.

Just a point of order - this interface module set was not a collaboration between Volks and Gainax; rather it was a Dolpa Dealer's item sold in-person at Dolpa 25. (DWO Products was the dealer, as identified above). The only way Volks themselves is related is having allowed DWO to sell it at the event. The lil' sticker on the back signifies that.

 

For additional background, Volks required that any anime or game-related items sold at Dolpa be done with official permission from the rights holders (which the dealer must prove). One of my big shocks the first time I went to a Japanese Dolpa was that there were hardly any clothes or accessories for DDs that were cosplay at the dealers (big disappoint), and I didn't know it at the time but licensing must be the reason why. There are barely any dealers who choose to jump through the hoops. Cherry Milk does so with all of their outfits, as does Ondine with their Rozen Maidens, and you used to see these stickers on the products.

 

Those stickers seem to be legacy these days though; I didn't see them any more at more recent Dolpas. I'm sure the license requirement is still there (it's mentioned in the guidebook by Ondine for example), but perhaps it's just not displayed on the products anymore.

I didn't know that, SakuraSylph! That certainly explains why so many of the dealers I've seen at IDoll don't do Dolpa. I guess there are different rules when it's an event hosted by an actual company instead of a fan-run thing.

Yeah no doubt. Volks seems to drop the ball on so many obvious things like this.... I mean WHY didn't they make plugsuits? They're such a huge part of the anime and manga. Same with the hair clips.

Is it wrong of me to really want Danny to get the Eva license? I think he could totally pull off plugsuits, although they'd be expensive, and only fit SmD. It's not that Volks couldn't make plugsuits, I just don't think they'd hold up as well. There are a number of small plastic pieces that would need to be attached to really achieve the look.

 

Nope, she has custom 3D printed ones made by a friend here on the forums. They're not as slick and shiny as the Asuka ones but they still look pretty good. I have 2 pairs, one uses magnets, the other uses clips glued to the bottom. Does your Asuka have any hair clips?

This may come as a surprise, given that Asuka is my favorite anime character, but I don't have DD Asuka! Natsuki uses the Pullip hairclips for her Asuka cosplay, though. I like the magnet idea, though. I hate putting hair clips on Natsuki's wig, I always end up pulling hair out of place on the twintails. I think I have to send both of my default Natsuki wigs to mitsuki for restyling... Conversely, Aoi, Aya and Kitty Kira all have magnets to attach their fox/kitty ears, it works so much better.

Thank you for the background and info Sakurasylph! I didn't know all of that so I was just making assumptions about the collaboration.

 

This may come as a surprise, given that Asuka is my favorite anime character, but I don't have DD Asuka! Natsuki uses the Pullip hairclips for her Asuka cosplay, though. I like the magnet idea, though.

 

Ahhh, it's your Natsuki I always see as Asuka so that's why I was confused. She does a very convincing cosplay of her!

 

 

 

Billy

For additional background, Volks required that any anime or game-related items sold at Dolpa be done with official permission from the rights holders (which the dealer must prove). One of my big shocks the first time I went to a Japanese Dolpa was that there were hardly any clothes or accessories for DDs that were cosplay at the dealers (big disappoint), and I didn't know it at the time but licensing must be the reason why. There are barely any dealers who choose to jump through the hoops. Cherry Milk does so with all of their outfits, as does Ondine with their Rozen Maidens, and you used to see these stickers on the products.

I knew about Volks forbidding sellers from displaying old stuff but I didn't know about this copyright restriction. I am even more impressed by the fact that circles could afford the price of a license. I didn't imagine it was even possible. Ondine really looks like a small-time player, which makes me wonder how much a license costs for being able to make outfits.

I didn't know about this copyright restriction. I am even more impressed by the fact that circles could afford the price of a license. I didn't imagine it was even possible. Ondine really looks like a small-time player, which makes me wonder how much a license costs for being able to make outfits.

I imagine that it'd be somewhat easier to obtain a time-bound and location-bound license for Dolpa, since you're only selling at one specific place on one specific day. Compared to a larger license like Volks themselves would need acquire that allows them to sell commercially, that is. The hardest thing is probably the bureaucracy, figuring out who to contact and how to phrase the license request..

 

But in any case, I agree - once I found out about the requirements I was amazed too that any independent dealer could succeed in getting a license, either financially or politically!

 

Ondine is a professional tailor by day they said. They don't make much in volume, but oh boy are their outfits super nice in quality. If you like Rozen and can ever buy one of them, do so. (They make each doll's outfit in Yo-, MSD, SD, and I think SD16 size).

Oh, I see what you mean, a one day one place license then they switch back to doujin mode and keep selling. That would be quite cunning.

 

I don't think every license must be hard to get, per se. Some holders distribute them like candies because it's more money even if little. Maybe less license fees and more royalties (though, I don't think you can enforce them). Maybe asking the original author can facilitate the process (we are talking about a manga on BJD) by explaining the cirbleepstances (Peach-pit drew doujinshi so they might have no problem giving them a "license"). Those outfits are harmless but they can be seen as free advertising. Etc.

 

Now, applying that to Kancolle is a whole different story.