I've got a buddy going to Japan, and he goes, 'what do you want me to bring you back?' I go, 'Sumo wrestler.' He goes, 'Customs might have something to say about that. Besides, I don't think my bags are allowed to weigh that much.'

Anyways, long story short, I've got him hunting down Japanese Shadowrun. Only problem is, I don't know what it looks like. I know Fujimi-Shobo publishes it, but I'd really like to be able to show him a picture so he can't accidentally buy CP2020 Japan. Can anyone help me?

If you're asking your friend to hunt down Japanese SR just so you can see what it looks like, I don't think there's anyone that can help you.*





*Can I have some too?

Me too. I'd buy a copy just because having it in Japanese would be stylish. Not that I can read a single word, mind you.

Sorry I can't help. I did just type Shadowrun Japanese Edition and Shadowrun Japanese Language into Google images but nothing on the first four pages. I'd never even known there was a Japanese edition.

Sadly I think this is the english version.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Shadowrun-Fanpro/d.../dp/1932564667/

Shadowrun 2nd edition was translated into Japanese by Group SNE. The company's still in business, but I don't think they still have a license for Shadowrun. This is the same company that published the Shadowrun MegaCD game in Japanese in the late '90's.

I've also never seen a copy, but I have vague memories of seeing a picture of the cover on a review site. Googling hasn't given me any love either. (Incidentally, this same company published a translation of CBT with some very different mech designs.)

Also, in 1996, they published a Tokyo Sourcebook. Old Usenet Review

It wasn't highly thought of, and it was quite pricy, comparatively.

Here's a little more info about the products.

I've seen some references to a Manga having been published as well.

Best of luck finding this. I'd imagine that it's very out of print by this point, but as a collector, I'd love to have a copy as well.

There was a Shadowrun manga that was run in Japan. I've seen some pictures of it but never actually seen one. From what I remember it only had elf and human protagonists and barely had any mention or pictures of Trolls or Orcs. And what pictures they did have were more humanesque than anything. I would love to get my hands on a copy of those babies.

Sometimes, a little persistence pays off later

Tokyo Sourcebook Cover

Core Rules Cover

If anyone's actually fluent and wants to verify that those are the correct images, I found them here. Unfortunately, Babelfish was unable to translate the page.

The second image, at least, is correct. I was at an auction and bid on a copy, but lost when one of the others went over my limit at $150. Nice hardcover, little manga tucked in there.

This time pick up Shadowrun RPG. Released in '89 in America, second edition released '92, in '94 something something publishing house did something. Japanese language edition launched something something not less than three years in the making some more stuff that I can give a shot at in the morning but I'm falling asleep now.

~J

Uhh, Kage? We're aware that Shadowrun was published in '89, and so on and so forth. Unless you're talking about something else? That post was confusing.

And Dunner: Kick-Awesome! Have three Karma!

Hah! I visited Japan in '03 and was gonna try to pick up a local Japanese RPG, but I ran out of money and luggage space. Luckily I have a friend over there who can hook me up if I need it. I found D&D and GURPS in Japanese, as well as some local fantasy RPGs that reminded me a lot of Lodoss Wars and other anime/manga.

Another funny story: before I left, I asked my friends if they had any requests while I was over there, and one said "I want to find a random Japanese person and kill him, because your're an American, and their 'Mickey Mouse' laws don't apply to you." The words constantly came to me as I walked down random Tokyo streets. Haha!

The Dread Polack

The japanese books are said however to downplay or change unsavory parts of the Shadowrun version of Japan though, so you know.

I imagine you'd need an accomplice to accomplish that plan.

I'm sure one can manage to still offend Japanese society just by their lonesome... though... from what I've seen on their televisions, it'd may take some doing.