Genshiken, the 'Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture' sounds like a real snooze fest, but anyone who has seen the Genshiken anime series (released in the U.S. by Media Blasters) or read the increasingly popular Genshiken manga (published here by Del Rey) knows that Genshiken is an otaku-based comedy of the first order.  In order to provide the right three-dimensional perspective on this otaku phenomenon Yamato USA is importing an assortment of eight different 4' scale Genshiken Miniature Trading Figures as well as a 7' scale PVC figure of Kanako Ohno, cosplayer extraordinaire.

The Genshiken Miniature Trading Figures (MSRP $5.99 ea.), which are due out in November, include: Sasahara, Kousaka, Saki, Madarame, Mitusnori, Tanaka and Ohno.  Fans can collect them all to create a fun-filled diorama of the Genshiken meeting room, but they may have to engage in a little trading to come up with a complete set since the figures come mystery boxed, which, of course, is the only way a true otaku would have it.

In January fans will get a chance at a 7-inch PVC statue of Kanako Ohno, the shy and clumsy girl who comes to life when she dons the costume of one of her idols; in this case she's dressed as Kasumi from the Genshiken society's favorite anime, Kujibiki Unbalance.