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Akamatsu Ken (Love Hina, Mahou Sensei Negima), Deguchi Ryusei (Abenobashi Magical Shopping Arcade) and other fellow mangakas have teamed up to launch a website aiming to provide free downloads of out of print manga.

Under the proposed plan, the site will distribute out of print works with the permission of the creators, which will be subsidised by advertising. Manga will be provided in a PDF (Portable Document Format) without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Revenue generated from advertising will be split among the creators of the works.

The website, "J-Comi" (Japanese), is set to launch a beta version on November 26th, 2010, which will feature 14 volumes of Akamatsu's, Love Hina. The site will collect data on the number of downloads as a test of the business model. Akamatsu will post more information on the official J-Comi blog (Japanese) and on his own Twitter (Japanese).

The site will officially launch on January 10, 2011.

Source: Baka-Updates Manga

The US Supreme Court has ruled that a law which allows “sexually dangerous” prisoners to be jailed forever without trial does not violate the Constitution.

The case centres on Graydon Comstock, who was convicted of possessing child pornography and sentenced to three years imprisonment. He apparently never actually had sex with any children.

Six days prior to the end of his sentence, the government branded him a “sexually dangerous” paedophile who might reoffend, and denied him release, placing him into indefinite “civil commitment” in a federal prison.

He has since spent nearly three years in prison despite having been convicted of no further crime, and having served his sentence.

Release of such “committed” prisoners is possible only if they are deemed to be no longer dangerous – without a treatment program recognised as being capable of this, their imprisonment effectively becomes indefinite.

The law responsible for extending this practice to the federal level, the 2006 Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, was soon challenged by prisoners now being denied release indefinitely, eventually reaching the Supreme Court.

The US Air Force is less than pleased with Sony for removing the PS3’s Linux support, although unlike most Sony critics it does actually use the OtherOS feature, in a supercomputing cluster of PS3s which it complains is now doomed by a lack of replacement units.

Anime Expo has announced that the female idol group AKB48 will be performing at the July 1-4 convention in Los Angeles. Producer and songwriter Yasushi Akimoto founded AKB48 in 2005 as an idol group permanently stationed in Tokyo's Akihabara otaku shopping district. AKB48 will perform a concert at the Nokia Theater on July 1. The members will also hold attendee panels, meet-and-greet sessions, and autograph sessions during the convention.

FanimeCon has announced that it will host the J-Rock band FLOW at the May 28-31 convention in San Jose, California. FLOW has performed theme songs for Naruto, Naruto Shippūden, Code Geass, Eureka Seven, Persona -trinity soul-, and Heroman. The band will be performing on Friday, May 28, as part of the FanimeCon's 2010 MusicFest.

FanimeCon will also host Rune Soldier Louie illustrator Mamoru Yokota, Gainax studio co-founder and executive director Hiroyuki Yamaga, voice actress and singer Halko Momoi (Ai Yori Aoshi's Chika Minazuki, My Bride is a Mermaid's San Seto, Tales of the Abyss' Anise Tatlin), the J-rock band LM.C, and game creators Daisuke Ishiwatari and Toshimichi Mori.

The media-distribution website Crunchyroll has announced on Thursday that it will simulcast Shin Koihime†Musō: Otome Tairan, the second season of the Shin Koihime†Musō anime series. This anime from Marvelous Entertainment adapts BaseSon's Shin Koihime†Musō: Otome Ryōran Sangokushi Engi adult adventure game for personal computers. The simulcast will be available to Premium Membership subscribers, and then it will stream to everyone else for free (with advertisements) in standard definition one week later.

The first anime season of Shin Koihime†Musō aired from October to December of last year, and the second season premiered on April 1 after an advance preview on March 26. The Crunchyroll website is also streaming the first season.

The Shin Koihime†Musō game is itself a spinoff from the original Koihime†Musō adult adventure game. The game publisher MangaGamer revealed last November that it acquired the licensing rights to the Koihime†Musō game. The adult adventure game franchise and its anime adaptations re-imagine the characters from the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms as "moe (fiery), moe (preciously cute) action love comedy" with an almost all-female cast.

KOMAKI, Japan — It's springtime in Japan and that means one thing. Actually, two things. Penis festivals and vagina festivals. It may sound like a sophomoric gag. But these are folk rites going back at least 1,500 years, into Japan's agricultural past. They're held to ensure a good harvest and promote baby-making. Maybe they should hold more such festivals. Japan has one of the world's lowest birthrates (1.37 children per woman), which experts blame on stagnant incomes and changing gender relations.


The center-left government that came to power last year hopes to make child-rearing more affordable with a $280 monthly stipend per kid.

The Crunchyroll media-distribution website has announced that it will simulcast the television anime adaptation of Shōtarō Mizuki's Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaō magical fantasy novels starting this Friday, April 2. The simulcast is available to Premium Subscription members in high definition one hour after the first airing in Japan, and for free in standard definition one week later. The Anime Network is also simulcasting the anime.

The popular Neoromance RPG Kin'iro no Corda (La Corda d'oro) from game developer Koei will be turned into a stage musical set for this march. The game, which has also been adapted as a manga and anime revolves around Kahoko Hino; an ordinary school girl who is given a magical violin by a mischeivous musical fairy.

The musical will be performed at the Galaxy Theatre in Tokyo on March 19-24. Starring teen model Azusa Okamoto (17) and Hello! Pro Eggs member Saki Mori (16) who have been double-cast as the protagonist Kahoko Hino. With supporting cast members Shun Mikami, Yuta Takahashi, Manato Kawamura, Koichi Yoshino, and Yuta Koseki, with music composition by Takatsugu Muramatsu.

The video game series has sold more than 300,000 copies, and the 13 volumes of the manga released so far have sold over 2.5 million copies. The anime adaptation; Kin'iro no Corda: Primo Passo was first broadcast by TV Tokyo in October of 2006 until March of 2007. A 2-episode special; Kin'iro no Corda: Secondo Passo was aired in March of 2009 by Kids Station.

Source: Tokyograph

[Update]: Miyavi's official site has announced his US Tour has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. Management has cited problems with entry permits, complications with scheduling/booking venues and also concerns regarding Miyavi's health after an injury during his European Tour.

Miyavi's US tour has yet to start and has already encountered problems. LiveNation updated the listing for Miyavi's October 28 concert in New York, stating that it has been postponed. The show was to take place at The Fillmore, which currently has a listing for Lenny Kravitz on that night (rescheduled from October 15).

Meanwhile, STG Presents has listed Miyavi's October 25 concert in Seattle as canceled, with refunds being available at point of purchase.

Miyavi is scheduled to start the U.S. leg of his world tour later this month, but at least two of the scheduled performances have apparently run into problems.

H.U.G. Incorporated, has yet to make an official comment.

Source: Tokyograph

The agency Hamazaki Unlimited Group, Inc (H.U.G. Incorporated), has announced a fifth and final concert date, plus two "limited mini-acoustic lives" in California, for Miyavi's U.S. leg of his ongoing world tour.

Miyavi's U.S. concerts start with a show in Seattle on October 25. After that, he is scheduled to play in New York (Oct 28), Atlanta (Oct 30), and Dallas (Nov 2). H.U.G. stated on Wednesday that the final full concert will be in Irvine, CA, on November 4.

In addition to those five dates, Miyavi will perform at two limited mini-acoustic lives. The first will be on October 22 at the NEW PEOPLE center in San Francisco, and the second will be at the Pacific Media Expo in Los Angeles over the November 6-8 weekend. Both events will include an autograph session.

Fans who book online flights and hotels for Miyavi's tour are also given a chance to win a backstage pass.

Source: H.U.G. Incorporated, Tokyograph

Usagi Drop (Bunny Drop), an ongoing manga series by Yumi Unita, is easily my favourite Josei manga. Drawn in a clean and simple manner, it follows the struggles of Daikichi, a 30 year old bachelor who, after the death of his grandfather, becomes the guardian of his illegitimate six year old daughter, Rin.

This manga really does have a slice of life feel to it. The plot line is simple and could easily happen in the real world and so too, could you find character types such as those depicted in the manga, in the real world.

Daikichi is represented as being a typical single, male and is quite clueless on the protocols involved in raising a young child. What's refreshing, is the straightforward manner in which Daikichi associates with Rin. He gives a lot of thought to his actions and expressions towards her, all of which are void of any hints of patronisation. It's also interesting that a man of his age can still retain a sense of balanced innocence and experience, especially in the way he deals with women.

Rin herself is a character one can easily grow affectionate towards, just like Daikichi does. Her actions and

According to an internal email that was sent on friday, the newly hired SPJA CEO Michael Lattanzio has relayed that all relations related to BAM Marketing were terminated. The termination is immediate due to the SPJA's desire to seek another direction in terms of marketing.

This comes after Anime Expo dealers have expressed their unhappiness with the manner in which the marketing company handled dealer placement in the LA Convention center during Anime Expo. There were also claims of dubious business dealings concerning company head Chase Wang.

A standing confidentiality agreement will prevent related personnel from any further contact with BAM Marketing concerning the SPJA or anything related to Anime Expo. The email reiterates this point by restricting it expressly.

A second teaser trailer has been released for Sunao Katabuchi's Mai Mai Miracle (Mai Mai Shinko to Sennen no Maho). The feature film produced by Madhouse and premiered at the 62nd Film Festival Locarno, is an adaption of Nobuko Takagi's children's novel. Set in rural post-war Japan where the third-grader Shinko spends the day dreaming about the world of her ancestors 1000 years ago. Together with her new classmate Kiiko they use the power of their imaginations to experience wild adventures.

Mai Mai Miracle is scheduled for release in Japan on November 21st.

Trailer 1 with English Subtitles




Trailer 2 - Japanese



Source: Affenheimtheater
Nippon Cinema (trailer 1)
Shochiku

Walt Disney Co, the world's largest media company, has acquired comic book pioneer Marvel Entertainment Inc. to the tune of $4 billion. As the new owner, Disney will collect license fees from Universal Orlando theme park rides in Florida, including "The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man" and "Incredible Hulk Coaster," as well as ticket sales from the films "Iron Man 2" and "Thor," distributed by Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures.

Disney will also collect revenue from future projects involving the existing X-Men license to News Copr, Spider-Man to Sony Copr and the Incredible Hulk to General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal Inc. According to the Internet Movie Database, these franchises have a total combined box-office take of $4.5 billion worldwide.



Disney is now in a position to deny its rivals of access to more than 5,000 Marvel characters that aren't already in use. Which marks the second time this year that Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger has asserted on grounds occupied by rivals. After holding talks with Universal

Gag Manga Biyori's 4th Comedy TV Anime adaption was given the green lit as announced on the wraparound jacket band on the 10th volume of Kousuke Masuda's Gag Manga Biyori.

The third anime series based on the nonsensical gag comedy debuted last year and more details for the fourth anime series will be revealed in Shueisha's Jump Square magazine. The August issue will ship on Saturday.

Source: Anime News Network

Maru Music has announced that the visual-kei cellist/vocalist Kanon Wakeshima will be travelling to California for two performcances in July, following her Otakon guest appearance. She will perform and sign autographs at the Amoeba Music store in San Francisco on July 20th before travelling to the Royal T Cafe in Los Angeles suburb of Culver City to perform on the next day.

The Royal T Cafe will also be holding an art exhibit for Wakeshima, who is known for her Gothic Lolita art and fashion sensibilities. Wakeshima's Shinshoku Dolce album debuted in the US on Tuesday.

Crunchyroll media distribution company's website is listing a scheduled simulacast for the Aoi Hana (Sweet Blue Flowers) anime series at 3:00pm EDT Wednesday (July 1st). Despite this listing Crunchyroll has not yet officially announced that it will stream this new television adaptation of Takako Shimura's yuri manga.

In the original Aoi Hana manga's story, Fumi and Akira were close childhood friends until Fumi had to move away. Ten years after losing touch with each other, the two girls meet again as high school freshmen. The two struggle to reconnect after so much has changed, and both deal with the trials and tribulations of high school — sometimes independently and sometimes with each other's help.

A new publisher of Japanese Science Fiction offers the first two titles this July. VIZ Media has annouced the debuts of it's new imprint Haikasoru's titles ALL YOU NEED IS KILL and THE LORD OF THE SANDS OF TIME to be released nationwide on July 21st.

Being called the "science fiction for the adrenaline junkie" ALL YOU NEED IS KILL is by bestselling author John Scalzi (author of Old Man's War; while THE LORD OF THE SANDS OF TIME will present time travel adventure through ancient Japan, the Second world War and the 26th Century. These two novels are the "flagship" titles for Haikasoru and the first imprint in the U.S. that is dedicated to Japanese Science fiction in translation.

During the the "Ani-Monday" block on the SCI FI Channel we can expect a return of Gundam 00. This was announced by Bandai Entertainment Inc. in a license with Starz Media and will take place on June 29th. Two episodes will be running each week during the 13 week run.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is the latest in the long running Gundam franchise and takes place in the year 2307 A.D. The series will be on the second season and is directed by Seiji Mizushima (Fullmetal Alchemist, Evangelion and Appleseed: Ex Machina)

The series is directed by Seiji Mizushima whose past credits as a director and
storyboard artist include Fullmetal Alchemist, Evangelion, and Appleseed: Ex Machina.

VIZ Media, LLC has announced their list of DVDs that will be released in August of 2009. Included in the list are the popular series BLEACH, HUNTER X HUNTER and NARUTO. Of course for the Pokemon fan out there, the releases also include four new Pokemon titles.

Included with this release is the Live action feature film from VIZ Pictures, DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd. VIZ Media DVD titles are distributed (in English) in the U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video and in Canada by Allegro.

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