Sword Art Online" celebrates its 10th anniversary with a limited time cover! A collection of short stories will also be released!

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of author Reki Kawahara's life as an author this year, and the 10th anniversary of the publication of the first volume of his novel "Sword Art Online" series from "Dengeki Bunko" on April 10, 2009, "Sword Art Online" volumes 1-8 of Dengeki Bunko "Sword Art Online" with a limited time cover will be released in early August. The first eight volumes of "Sword Art Online" (Sword Art Online) will be released in early August.

Sword Art Online" (hereafter "SAO") is an anime work based on the novel by Reki Kawahara, winner of the 15th Dengeki Novel Award (Grand Prize), which depicts the activities of the main character Kirito in the mysterious next-generation online game "Sword Art Online" and became popular. On February 18, 2017, "Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale," an anime movie based on a story written by Kawahara, was released. It was a huge hit, grossing over 4.3 billion yen at the box office worldwide. The latest "SwordArt Online Arisimation" began airing on Saturday, October 6, 2018, followed by "SwordArt Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online" in April 2018, and from October 2019, the latest chapter of the series, the third-cour "Sword Art Online Alicization War of Underworld" will start airing in October 2019.
⇒ SAO 《Arishization》, the third course of the series, will start airing in October 2019! Teaser visual and PV are released! Sword Art Online -Ex Chronicle-" will be held in August!
⇒ The second PV of " SWORD ART ONLINE ARISATION" OP & ED is released for the first time! Broadcast will be 4-cour, with the first episode being a one-hour special!

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of author Reki Kawahara's life as an author this year, and the 10th anniversary of the publication of the first volume of his novel "Sword Art Online" series from "Dengeki Bunko" on April 10, 2009, a limited-time cover edition of Dengeki Bunko's "Sword Art Online" Volumes 1-8 will be released in early August.

The limited-edition covers will feature new illustrations by abec, the original illustrator, to commemorate the 10th anniversary. It will also feature a special 10th anniversary logo.

The limited-edition cover will be on display at the "SWORD ART ONLINE - EXCHRONICLE" hands-on exhibition event to be held at Akihabara UDX in Tokyo from August 4 (Sun.).
At the event, visitors will be able to experience the world of "Sword Art Online," and new goods will be on sale.

In addition, a collection of "Sword Art Online" short stories will be released by Dengeki Bunko on October 10 (Thursday).
The book will include four stories written by Kawahara as a bonus for the Blu-ray and DVD of the anime.
On the "Reki Kawahara & Sword Art Online 10th Anniversary Official Website," the serialization of "The Day Before," one of the short stories to be included in the short story collection, began today, August 2. It will be published every Friday for a total of 10 issues.

The site will run until March 31, 2020 (Tuesday) as a "Sword Art Online" 10th anniversary commemorative period, and there will be many more projects for fans to enjoy, so please look forward to it.

Campaign Information
Dengeki Bunko "SWORD ART ONLINE" 10th Anniversary Limited Time Cover
Kawahara Reki & SWORD ART ONLINE 10th Anniversary official website: #

Dengeki Bunko "SWORD ART ONLINE Short Story Collection (tentative)
Author: Reki Kawahara
Illustration: abec
Release date: October 10, 2019 (Thursday)
<Contents.
Here are the untold stories of Kirito, Asuna, and 《Zetsu Ken》 Yuki.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary, four short stories that were only available as special features of the Blu-ray & DVD limited editions of the anime are specially collected in a paperback edition!

＜Included episodes and synopsis
The Day Before
Kirito proposes to Asuna in the middle of the "Aincrad" invasion, and she accepts his proposal. When they arrive at their new log house to spend their honeymoon on the 22nd layer, they are met with an unexpected sight. ......?

The Day After.
The story takes place in the new ALO. A few weeks after diving into "Alvheim" with a new avatar, Asuna is attacked by a mysterious "leaving phenomenon". The cause of this was a tragedy that occurred two years ago in the "SAO" era.

The Rainbow Bridge
Kirito and his friends return to Alvheim after their adventure in the Undersea Temple. However, a mysterious conversation between Leviathan, King of the Sea, and Kraken, King of the Abyss, leads the group to their next adventure. The stage shifts from the sea to the sky, and a new battle begins for the fairy swordsmen!

Sister's Prayer
In the midst of the "SAO Incident," a young girl throws herself into the prototype of the "Medicuboid," a full-dive device for medical use. What is the landscape she encounters in the VR world? The birth of Yuki "Zekken" and the formation of the guild "Sleeping Knights" are described here.

Event Information
Sword Art Online -The Ex Chronicle

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of "Sword Art Online," a hands-on exhibition event will be held to mark the culmination of the series. Visitors will be able to enjoy the world of "Sword Art Online" realized with the latest technology, and over 70 goods will be sold at the merchandise corner. The "Swordskill Challenge" using motion capture will also be held.

Venue: AKIBA SQUARE, Akihabara UDX 2F
(Akihabara UDX 2F, 4-14-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Dates: August 4 (Sun) - August 18 (Sun), 2019

＜Tickets
Admission ticket with original goods: 3,000 yen (tax included)
Goods include: Special booklet, pass case (with neck strap)
Normal admission ticket: 1,500 yen (tax included)
Tickets are now on sale to the general public!
(On sale until August 3, 2019 (Sat.) 23:59)


(C)2017 Reki Kawahara/KADOKAWA Ascii/Media Works/SAO-A Project