Yoshinobu Nishizaki, the 75-year-old producer of the Space Battleship Yamato animated series, marketed in the United States as Star Blazers, has died. The producer, whose real name was Hirofumi Nishizaki, reportedly fell from the steamship Yamato, which was anchored off the coast of Tokyo's Chichijima Island before its trial voyage. He was wearing a wetsuit, and police believe he was attempting to get off the 485-ton vessel to swim. Nishizaki will be missed. [Mainichi Daily]