Deluxe Edition Tsukasa Jun Illustrations

“This is my first original illustration book. I still cannot believe that I have managed to complete it. A illustration book that features my game illustrations has previously been published, with which I had a bitter experience because of the fact that I did not have much control over the book. However this time, I feel that I was allowed to give my opinion freely and I am very happy with the result. There is nothing I wish more than for you to feel the same way and enjoy it.”
Jun Tsukasa, November 2001

Flipping through the book, I know I feel ‘mostly’ happy with the final result!
As you may have already guessed, the text is both in Japanese and English… which is an added bonus for fans who want to understand the ‘Question & Answer’ sections scattered throughout the book. The art is sectioned off according to theme:
Tsukasa – images used for various doujinshi covers and inserts.
Flower – images of pretty girls in various poses, nothing overly dodgy.
Science Fiction – images of a more sci-fi nature; jump suits and mechs.
Blade – images of a more dodgy nature, strong theme of knives and armour.
Bullet – hot chicks with guns! And a few men too

Each section is seperated by a black & white photo and a one page “Question & Answer” session with the artist (both in Japanese and in English.)

At the very end you get 4 pages of illustrations by the artists Yasushi Nirasawa, Kazushi Hagiwara, Tsukasa Kotobuki and Range Murata (1 image each.)
This is then followed by 6 pages of colour thumbnails with information (in English and Japanese) and then an ‘afterward’ by the artist, followed by a final page of info on the book and a small bio.

The presentation of the book definately warrants the title of “Deluxe Edition” but don’t let this fool you into thinking there was another standard edition printed, because there wasn’t. Bound in thick hard cover, which is a textured glossy to matt bloack. The front cover image of the girl feels as if it’s been inlaid into the cover within the round border which has been embossed. Embossed too is the artist’s name in Japanese text.

The paper quality is nice and thick, smooth to the touch but not glossy or matt (brings out the images well infact.) Most of the images are full page spreads, but the one thing that brings this book’s rating down to just a ‘good’ one, is the fact that most of the images are single sided. You’ll have an image on a page, then flip over and find the corresponding page behind blank. Opposite is another image, and then flipping over, the same thing. While I can appreciate the desire for artistic style, I just feel like this is a waste of space

All in all a lovely book, and one I would recommend to fans of Range Murata and Masamune Shirow. His girls are gorgeous (i.e. busty, muscled and more than happy to show themselves off!) and his sense of style is rivalled only by Range Murata (Tsukasa also seems to have an obsession with Leica cameras and OMEGA watches!)
Get this book, if you can! It recently sold for US$115 on eBay, and it is very much out of print!

N.B. the name ‘Tsukasa Bullet’ is most recognised by his Western fans, but in Japan he is known as ‘Tsukasa Jun.’ If you ever see either of these two names, remember that they are the same person!