I'm intrigued. I was starting to wonder what was up with ABe, since his work in Robot hasn't been very impressive. If the OP's pic is anything to go by, then ABe might have something much better in the works, after all!

Ooooooh.

Erm. Manga? Anime? Something coming out at the summer Comiket? Can anybody get a translation of the name, if it's translateable? Inquiring minds want to know!

Looks like it's a 172 pages artbook

I think the name translates to something like "A Billion-Floor Temple." (The actual number is a lot higher, like a million billion. But I thought "billion" conveyed the idea of "that's a lot of floors!" more succinctly.)

Disclaimer: My Japanese is far from perfect. I admit to not ever having heard of the number "gai" before. If anybody has a better idea as to what it means, you're welcome to have at it.

Shame it's not actually a story, but an artbook is OK too!

It's 10²⁰ (one hundred quintillion).

>>7
Pages? AWESOME!!

>>6
I think Gai is more kind of like "infinite"

10^2 is only 100, jackass.

I just bought this on ebay and it came with a signed print! I can't wait until it comes. The guy is selling more if any of you are interested: http://cgi.ebay.com/Yoshitoshi-ABe-Gaisokyu-Art-Book-LE-Signed-Print-Murata_W0QQitemZ280140836354QQihZ018QQcategoryZ1345QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Since I want to buy this, I'm wondering if there is any objectionable content, given how I have kids in the house who are going to want to look at this.

I'm wondering, is the content in ths book safe for under 18? There are kids in the house.

Odd, the forum didn't show that first post I made. Sorry.

I will give details on it once it arrives in the mail. (Ughh EMS)

The blurb on the Amazon listing says something about an English translation and "worldwide release". Has anyone heard more about this?

>>10

Someone doesn't have a complete Unicode font!

Having received this in the mail, I can say without second thought that this is the best art book I own.

>>13

I'd consider it a "PG-13" book at worst, although that might mean "R" if you're a bit prudish. A few drawings come close to full frontal nudity, but that's as bad as it gets.

>>18

QFT.

>>19
Yeah, that answers my question. Ah well, I can just wait for a)scans or b) an English release.

ABe was at AnimeFest this past weekend, and said it should be out in English pretty soon. There's not a lot of text, so the translation should go quickly.

Just got this at Kinokuniya (the Japanese version, not the english translation). There isn't much writing at all, mainly the timeline and index in the back but there's a few lines here and there. Probably around a dozen pages of text.
Total including tax was $67, but the list price is 4800yen or ~$42, so $20 extra, not too bad.
The book itself is slightly larger (maybe 5mm in each direction) than my copy of the DMP release of the Lain artbook (which barely fits on my shelf as it is), so with the box on it doesn't fit on my shelf :( Oh well.

The store also had the Japanese release of Robot #5-8. I just wish I could read them.
Pic not related.

Some thoughts:

Yay, return of pointy ears !

Finally, aBe is doing something. We've waited too long, and Texhnolyze was too depressing.

A question for those who have read the story:

Is it worth animating ? Haruhi Suzumiya has practically filled up the void left by aBe after Haibane Renmei (I consider that his best work), and I really long for another anime involving him.

HLJ has this for $57 USD after SAL shipping.

I bought it so fast.