Bandai Visual’s January 25, 2008 Blu-ray release of the Yukikaze box set in Japan will feature optional English subtitles and will be playable on North American Blu-ray players. This may mark the beginning of mass consumer-importation of Japanese anime releases; many Japanese anime companies restrict the release dates of North American releases in an attempt to prevent Japanese citizens from importing those often much cheaper DVDs. This Yukikaze box set release will retail for Â¥26,040 (about US$225) and contain a 20-page information booklet, a 200-page art book, and a die-cast Mave fighter model.

While the HD-DVD format has been less than dormant, Blu-ray continues to gradually push its way into the anime community. A Japanese release of the Yukikaze Box Set is set to release on January 25, 2008 for ¥26040.

Furthermore, UK online retailer, Play.com, has re-listed a Blu-ray release of Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society, citing an October 15, 2007 debut.