Because Japan loves little people with giant heads.

Priced at ¥630 each, they are slated for next February and March.

［コミケ77］コトブキヤブースの小さな『戦国BASARA』の武将達（写真ギャラリー） [Kotaku Japan]

They are priced at ¥2,400 (US$26) and waiting for you to pose their joints!

リボルテック「戦国BASARA」シリーズ第1弾「伊達政宗」＆「真田幸村」展示 [AkibaOS]

"Warring lord turned video game sensation Date Masamune, is a household name in Miyagi prefecture," Capcom explained. "This campaign aims to use the broad appeal Date Masamune has among the residents of the prefecture to draw attention to the election and increase the turnout of younger voters."

But remember, don't vote for Date Masamune! Even if he was a total eye-gouging badass, he's can't serve as governor because he's totally dead.

"Warring lord turned video game sensation Date Masamune, is a household name in Miyagi prefecture," explains Capcom. "This campaign aims to use the broad appeal Date Masamune has among the residents of the prefecture to draw attention to the election and increase the turnout of younger voters."

Characters from the game will also be used to promote tourism in Miyagi Prefecture and Kochi Prefecture.

Known in the West as Devil Kings, Capcom has shipped over 1.5 million copies of Sengoku BASARA in Japan. Next year, Sengoku BASARA 3 is scheduled for release.

The sequel was released on both the PS2 and the Wii.

According to Japanese news source Nikkei, the next Sengoku Basara game is being developed for the Nintendo Wii. Japan is currently in the midst of "Sengoku fever." Can you feel it? Samurai time!

企業ニュース−企業の事業戦略、合併や提携から決算や人事まで速報 [NIKKEI NET]

Beating out 14 other countries, Japan took top prize with a Sengoku Basara (Devil Kings) costume performance. "We worked hard to make our performance more entertaining so we can appeal to as many people as possible including those who are not familiar with cosplay," says Yuri Hayashi, who along with fellow cosplayer Rie Otsuka took top prize. 'We performed hard trying to improve the quality of Japan's cosplay and encourage more people to start doing it," added Rie.

According to spokesperson for the event, Japanese cosplayers are shyer than their foreign counterparts. "Some think cosplay is done by people who shut themselves off from society," explains Rie. The girls says they had to overcome a "negative image" cosplay has in Japan.

The World Cosplay Championship launched in Japan in 2005. This year is only the second time Japanese cosplayers have taken first place since winning when the event debuted.

FEATURE: Japanese 'cosplay' performers seek to be more [Kyodo] [Pic]

From May 11, Pizza Hut has been offering Sengoku Basara pizza pies as part of a campaign to promote the game's anime.

The question: What does Devil Kings pizza look like?
Like normal pizza!

Campaign [Pizza Hut via GIGAZINE via Alafista]

Bags of rice, apparently! The Sengoku Basara rice is grain from Miyagi Prefecture, best known in Japan for its agriculture and scenic views. Going on sale May 22, the Devil Kings rice is priced at ¥1,000 per bag and features one of two characters on the packaging: Date Masamune or Kojuurou Katakura.

戦国ＢＡＳＡＲＡ：宮城米パッケージに　政宗が「Ｃｏｏｌに炊いて」と　笹かまも発売 [Mainichi via Alafista]

Yes, Devil Kings fans, this is two stories in one night. Be still your beating hearts!

The games, which are set in Japan's Sengoku period, are unique in that for a series all about kicking ass, they're quite a hit with the ladies, with Capcom claiming that nearly half the Sengoku Basara audience are female.

The play will run from July 3 through to July 12 at the Tokyo Dome. Expect awkward YouTube recordings to surface shortly thereafter.

[image]

Everyone, back in your cocoons.

Capcom's Devil Kings Fighting Game Revealed [1UP]

The only clue we may have is courtesy of the rabidly (but lovably) niche contributors at Insert Credit who point to an arcade release list update at Japanese site AM-Net. Insert Credit believes the last week listing of a Sengoku Basara arcade game jointly developed by Capcom and Guilty Gear devs Arc System Works is the game being teased.

Capcom's 2D Fighter Teaser Site [Capcom Japan]
News: New 2D fighting game from... Capcom! [Insert Credit]