PREMICO, the Japanese brand known for blending high-quality timepieces and merchandise with popular anime, is back at it, consistently dropping killer designs that raid fan wallets.
This time, they've teamed up with "Neon Genesis Evangelion" for its 30th anime anniversary to launch a stunning "Hakone Yosegi-zaiku Music Box." Inspired by the iconic "500 TYPE EVA" crossover train, this exquisite piece of traditional craftsmanship even plays a special arrangement of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis." It's priced at 65,780 JPY and available for pre-order on the PREMICO website.
Back in 2015, "Neon Genesis Evangelion" celebrated its 20th TV anime anniversary, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Japan's Sanyo Shinkansen line. The epic collaboration birthed the "Shinkansen: Evangelion Project" and the legendary "500 TYPE EVA" train. Decked out in Evangelion Unit-01's signature colors, the train wasn't just a pretty face; Car 1 even featured a life-sized entry plug cockpit, and the entire interior was a deep dive into the Evangelion universe. We bet countless Eva fans were itching to pilgrimage to it!
While the collab Shinkansen has since retired, the partnership lives on, even crossing over with the "Shinkalion" anime, where Eva characters made appearances and spawned tons of merch.
This latest drop is a dream collab with traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Taking cues from Hakone, the real-life inspiration for "Tokyo-3," this music box is a masterpiece of "Hakone Yosegi-zaiku" – a designated national traditional craft. It features natural wood pieces of varying colors and textures meticulously pieced together to create intricate, classic patterns.
The lid proudly displays the "500 TYPE EVA" official logo, while the sides are adorned with traditional motifs like hexagonal hemp leaf, varied Ichimatsu, and intersecting squares. Inside the lid, you'll find a "500 TYPE EVA" visual card, and the interior is lined with plush purple velvet, a nod to Unit-01's iconic colors.
And what tune does this beauty play? None other than the "500 TYPE EVA" Shinkansen's in-train chime version of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis"! The two distinct melodies actually used on the real train have been specially re-arranged for this product, perfectly reproduced with the wide range and rich tones of a 23-note music box.
▼ Check out the demo video below!
Each music box is meticulously crafted by artisans, limited to just 900 pieces worldwide, and comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity. This makes it an incredibly commemorative anniversary collectible.
"Evangelion Shinkansen 500 TYPE EVA Hakone Yosegi-zaiku Music Box"
Price: 65,780 JPY
Estimated Release: Late February 2026
Limited to 900 units
via： PREMICO官網