Zahara's Misc Manga News

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(A place for me to rant about news in the manga world, shoujo manga, shounen manga and the many other related things that usually catch me eye. No lifting without permission, please!)

05.sep.04

Shueisha's October new manga releases list is up! Some highlights are: Shoujo - Aishiteruze Baby #6 (15.oct), Tomorrow (15) and Tsuki no Shippo #6 (25). As for shounen: Shaman King #31 (04.oct), Naruto #24 (04), Black Cat #20 (final, 04) and Elfen Lied #9 (19).

01.sep.04

YOSHIZUMI Wataru's new manga will start in Ribon #11 (on sale 02.oct). The tile is Datte Suki Nandamon.

Shogakukan's new manga releases list for October is up! Worthy of mention are: Shoujo - Mirumo de Pon! #8 (01.oct), H3 School! #4 (26), Zettai Kareshi #5 (26), Get Love!! #5 (26). Shounen: Yakitate!! Japan #14 (08.oct), Metantei Conan #47 (18), Midori no Hibi #8 (final, also in Special Limited Edition for 860 yen. 18), Katsu #14 (18) and 20 Ct. Boys #17 (29).

Kadokawa also posted its October new manga releases list, but nothing much except for Gundam Seed X Astray #2 perhaps (26.oct). ^^

28.aug.04

Emma, a manga about a maid in victorian times (non-H) by MORI Kaoru and published in Comic Beam will be adapted into anime! This is a nice manga, so I'll be looking forward for the anime (Note to victorian reomance/drama fans, the heroine has a good life, not a Candy style life ;)

25.aug.04

Watching too many olympics... ^_^;

Kodansha's October new manga releases is up. As usually, a weak month. Card Captor Sakura new edition #8 (06.oct), Code Number wa Sailor V new edition #1 (22), Rave #30 (15), Get Backers #27 (15) and Beck #20 (15) being about the main noteworthy things.

20.aug.04

Sorry for the long delay in updating! Lineage II and the Olympics caught up to me ^o^;

Hakusensha's October new manga releases list is up! Many, many interesting releases in the shoujo section: Karekano #19 (05.oct), Harkuanaru Toki no Naka de #9 (05), MeruPuri #4 (final, 05), Torikae Fuukaden #2 (05), Zero #8 (05), Harutsuge Komachi #4 (final, 05), Koucha Ouji #25 (final, 19), Skip Beat! #8 (19), TeruTeru Shounen #9 (19) and Global Garden #7 (19).
As for shounen, just a couple: Futari H #26 (29.oct) and Mouse #14 (end, 29).

08.aug.04

Shueisha has put up a webpage with information on their 2005 manga calendars here. They all have 7 pages (cover+2 months per page). The pre-order deadline is October 31st, and they go on sale on December 3rd. They include:
-One Piece (A2 size, 2000 yen)
-Naruto (B3, 1600 y)
-Tennis no Oujisama (B3, 1600 y)
-Bleach (B3, 1600 y)
-Ichigo 100% (B3, 1600 y)
-Tenjou Tenge (in a special case, A3, 2000 y)
Shoujo:
-Hachimitsu to Clover (B4, 1500 y)
-TANEMURA Arina Illustrations (including from her new series, A2, 2000 y)
All these calendars have manga art, not anime. Be careful when ordering as there will be anime illustration calendars for some of those series released by other companies and with the same price and page count. Shueisha calendars (and most other calendars, as well as the previously mentioned HagaRen) are listed in Amazon.co.jp, so if you live overseas you can order them there if you want.

05.aug.04

I forgot! Shueisha's September new manga releases list is up! Interesting releases are: Nagatachou Strawberry #4 (15.sep), Hatsukare #3 (24) and Gakkou no Ojikan #2 (24) for shoujo. As for shounen: Tennis no Oujisama #25 (03.sep), Bleach #14 (with an upcoming anime adaptation starting in October, 03), Ichigo 100% #12 (03), Death Note #3 (03) and Gunnm, Last Order #6 (17).

Also Nagata-chou Strawberry by SAKAI Mayu will be finishing in next Ribon (#10, on sale 03.sep) while HARADA Taeko's new manga will also start in that same issue.

03.aug.04

Shogakukan's September new manga releases list is up. Some highlights: Shoujo: Beautiful #1 (by SAITOU Chiho, 24.sep), Hot Gimmick #9 (24), Kare - First Love #9 (24), Sonna Koe Dashicha Iya! #7 (in special edition as well, 24) and Rough Celeb #1 (by SHINJU Mayu, 24). Shounen: Monkey Turn #29 (17.sep) and Inuyasha #37 (17).

01.aug.04

Kadokawa's September new manga releases list is up, but the only thing I'm interested in is Chrno Crusade #8 (on sale 01.sep)! Yay!

Geneon has picked up Ultra Maniac anime for its NA release!

29.jul.04

Gakuen Alice (by HIGUCHI Tachibana) will be animated! The TV series will start in October. Yaaay! Yaaaaay~ Yay~

26.jul.04

There will be a Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist) manga calendar for 2005. The pre-order cut date is October 3rd. It will be B4 in size (like this year's, halfway between A4 and A3), 1 month per page, 2000 yen. Calendars are expected to ship on November 19th.

Kodansha's September new manga releases list is up! Worth of mention: Shounen: Samurai Deeper Kyo #28 (17.sep), Tantei Gakuen Q #17 (17), Mahou Sensei Negima! #7 (17), Hajime no Ippo! 70 (17), School Rumble #6 (also in special edition, 17(, Aa! Megamisama! #29 (06) and Aa! Megamisama! Collection (artbook? guide?, 1365 yen tax in, 06). Shoujo: Pichi Pichi Pitch #5 (06.sep), Card Captor Sakura New Wide Re-Edition #7 (06) and Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Short Stories 2 (New Re-Edition format, 22).

25.jul.04

Hakusensha's September new manga releases list is up! Nothing much interesting but for Demon Sacriido #4 (04.sep), Mimosa de Salad (by MORIO Masami, 04), Fruits Basket #15 (17), Mebius Doumei #4 (17), and Ai Yori Aoshi #14 (in normal or special edition with figure, 29).

The new Lala came out with its new teleka zenin service... So many things, so little money...

A couple of interesting releases from Akita-Shouten as well for September: Complex #7 (final, 22.sep) and Ouke no Monshou #49 (09).
The end of Complex (in Princess #8, on sale earlier this month) was (highlight to reveal spoilers) a bit disappointing. Although she ends up with the guy I like, I still didn't think he saw her as a woman/girl but still as a kid. I had hoped to see a bit more of passion on his part, but oh-well :( Can't wait for KIKUCHI Kumiko's next manga!

17.jul.04

Gakuen Alice (one of my very favorite stories) will see a game adaptation for the GBA on sale in November! (Guess that means I'll have to give in and get a GBA... ^^; ) I will add more information as more information is available (the game will have its own booth at the Lala/HtY/Melody Festa in late August, so more information will be available then).
Gakuen Alice (by HIGUCHI Tachibana) will soon have its own page in my Shoujo Manga Pages. Until that, this is the story of a girl called Mikan, who follows her best friend from Hokkaido to Tokyo. There she discovers her riend Hotaru has special powers and has been enrolled in a special school where all students and teachers have powers and nobody is allowed to leave the premises until their high school graduation! To Mikan's surprise, however, one of the teachers seems to notice something in her and allows her to enter the school as well... So starts the adventures of Mikan, her unbreakable spirit, and all the weird things that happen to her and the friends she starts to make.

There will be a new Hana to Yume derivated magazine on sale August 11. The title will be Hana to Yume + (Plus), and it contains continuation stories of Boku no Chikyuu o Mamotte (PSME) (based on Rin and Alice's son) and Otona no Kodomo (a follow-up of Otona ni Naru by YAMADA Nanpei).

YOSHIDA Sunao, writer of the Trinity Blood stories (which are being adapted into an anime TV series) died in the hospital on Friday. ;_;

14.jul.04

Hakusensha's shoujo manga goods in their Tokyo Character Show booth kind of suck, so happily I won't have to hunt them down afterwards in Animate. Yayy!

10.jul.04

Midori no Hibi will end in next Shounen Sunday, on sale 21.jul (there is no SS next week). I actually bought this week's issue where the notice appears and didn't realize until someone else pointed it out. Way to go, Zahara! ^^;

05.jul.04

Yaay! Yaay! This year's Hana to Yume "teleka" zenin service starts next issue! ^o^ This year it's a tosho card, though (they are exactly like teleka but you can pay normal things with it, not just your phone calls), since the teleka system was cancelled last year (not that it stops many places from producing them still, mind).

03.jul.04

As announced at the end of Full Moon o Sagashite, TANEMURA Arina's new series will start in next Ribon (#9, on sale 03.aug). What we do know now is that the title is Shinshi Doumei Cross - The Gentlemen Alliance (where at least 3 out of the 5 in the preview illustration very much look like girls ^^; ).

02.jul.04

Shueisha's August new manga releases list is up! Lots of good things coming up this summer!
Shounen: One Piece #34 (04.aug), Naruto #23 (04), Naruto Official Animation Book (04), Black Cat #19 (04), Yu Yu Hakusho New Wide Edition #1,2 (04), Tenjou Tenge #12 (also in limited edition with figure, 19), Captain Tsubasa - Road to 2002 #15 (final, 19) and Cloth Road #01 (by KURATA Hideyuki and Okama; KURATA Hideyuki wrote the R.O.D. novels as well as the script for the manga version; 19).
Shoujo: Nana #11 (11.aug), Marmalade Boy New Wide Edition #6 (final, 11) and Beniiro Hero #4 (24).

01.jul.04

Shogakukan's August new manga releases list is up! Worthy to mention in Shoujo: Gakuga Ura Ouji (by SAKURAKOUJI Kanoko, one of my favorite artists in Betsucomi, 16.aug), Puchi Egoisto #7 (final, 26), 7 Seeds #5 (26), Gekka no Kimi #7 (final, 26), Boku wa Imouto ni Koi o Suru #6 (also in special edition for 1450 yen, 26) and Sunadokei #4 (26).
In Shounen: Konjiki no Gash!! #17 (also in special edition, 05.aug) and H2 New Wide Edition #1 (710 yen, 06).

Kadokawa also posted its new August manga releases list. A couple of things to note: Harlem Beat wa Yoake Made #3 (09.aug), Keroro Gunsou #9 (10) and the manga adaptation of Samurai Champloo #1 (02).

Bouken-Ou Beet (Beet the Vandel Buster) (art by INADA Koji, of Dragon Quest - Dai no Daibouken manga fame) will be adapted into a TV anime series! Beet runs in Monthly Jump and has 7 volumes out. It was also announced some time ago its adaptation into a video game for PS2 and GBA.

29.jun.04

Trinity Blood will be turned into an anime by Gonzo! Although based on novels, a manga adaptation is currently running in Asuka. I highly recommend this to any "cool designs" vampire fan! This is the story about a young nun (figures ^^; ) and a vampire who feeds on vampires.

24.jun.04

Kodansha's August new manga releases list is up. Lots of things I don't care about this month (^^; )
Shounen: Rave #29 (17.aug), Air Gear #7 (17), Tsubasa #7 (also in special edition, 17), Dear Boys Act 2 #17 (17), Background of Dear Boys (1000 yen, 17), Initial D #29 (06), Steamboy Mechanical Book (2800 yen, 06), Steamboy Conte (3150 yen, 23) and Making of Steamboy (23). As for shoujo: Card Captor Sakura New Edition #6 (06.aug), Happy Ice-Cream! #2 (by KAWAMURA Mika, 06) and Salior Moon Extra Chapters New Edition (23). For a review of Happy Ice-Cream! see my 06.apr entry. ^^

Random News: MeruPuri (Meruhen Princess) by HINO Matsuri will end in next Lala (#9, on sale 24.jul). KUSUNOKI Kei has resurfaced with a 60 pages yomikiri titled Puchi Hane (Honeymoon) in the new The Margaret (on sale today).

23.jun.04

Lala #8 comes out tomorrow. Inside you will NAKAJI YUKI's new yomikiri (one-shot manga) and another yomikiri by TANAKA Meca (^o^). However, TANAKA's new series actually starts in Lala #10 (on sale 24.aug) while NAKAJI's will start in Lala #11 (on sale 24.sep).
Also, there are new pics of the goods you can by at the upcoming Lala+HtY Festival as well as preview pics for the teleka zenin that starts in next issue. ^^ (For more info on the festival, see my 24.may entry, or do a find for "Festa" )

Complex (by KIKUCHI Kumiko) will end in next Princess (#8, on sale 06.jul). T_T

Hakusensha's August new manga releases list is up. Worthy of mention: Shoujo: Ouran Koukou Host Club #4 (05.aug), Kiniro no Corda #2 (05), Oniichan to Issho #2 (05), Koucha Ouji #24 (19), V.B. (Velvet Blue) Rose #1 (by HIDAKA Banri, 19), Shanimuni Go #18 (19), Nousatsu Junkie (19) and Boku no Chikyuu o Mamotte (PSME) New Wide Edition #7,8 (28).
In the shounen department: Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai #1 (27.aug) and Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magicalte #2 (final, 27). Both adaptations of the anime series.

Mekakushi no Kuni and GALS! will be released in English in NA by DC Comics new manga line... more later! ^_^

16.jun.04

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (FullMetal Alchemist) #8 will be published on July 22nd! Yay! (Square-Enix updated their July listings.)

Picked up Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge after hearing Del Rey had licensed it for a NA release (I don't usually buy Kodansha's shoujo). This is pretty funny, but the most shocking thing of all is finding out SAKURA Chitose's art in the second volume (obviously working as an assistant for the mangaka and filling in background characters). ^^;;; Go figure.

15.jun.04

Apparently, it might be that Shueisha doesn't know where English words end and start and instead of KyattoSuto Riito they actually mean Kyatto Sutoriito (Cat Street).

11.jun.04

KAMIO Youko's new series will start in next Betsuma (Bessatsu Margaret) #8 (on sale 13.jul)... Good luck finding out what the katakana of the title means... KyattoSuto Riito ^^;
Also the same issue will see the start of one new story arch of Flower (by WADA Naoko). ^o^

05.jun.04

There will be a anime movie adaptation of XXX Holic (by CLAMP) in 2005. I assume by Mad House as they have dealt with all their stuff before.

Sonna Koe Dashicha Iya! (by SHIGANO Iori) will end in next Sho-Comi #14 (on sale 19.jun.04).

04.jun.04

Finally Shueisha put up their July new manga releases list! Someone shoot my wallet out of its misery, pLeAsE?! T_T
Shoujo: Full Moon o Sagashite #7 (final, 15.jul), St. Dragon Girl Mirakuru (Miracle) #2 (15), Marmalade Boy new wide edition #5 (15), Parfait Tic! #12 (23), Mara-sama ga Miteru #2 (23), Love Con #8 (in normal and special edition with illustration collection, 23), Flower #7 (23), Koukou Debut #2 (23) and Clover #16 (also in special edition with CD, 23).
Shounen: Death Note #2 (02.jul), Ichigo 100% #11 (02), Shaman King #30 (02), Tennis no Oujisama #24 (02), Naruto Uzamaki (some Naruto special, not sure what this is, 02), and Gantz #14 (16).

01.jun.04

Many new releases for Shogakukan in July... prepare your wallets! Some pick-ups: Shoujo: Beauty Pop #2 (by ARAI Kiyoko (see my 28.feb entry for a review of this manga), 01.jul), Bronze no Tenshi #1 (by SAITOU Chiho, 26), Motto x2 Anata no Omocha (26), Sonna Koe Dashicha Iya! #6 (also in special edition, 26), Zettai Kareshi #4 (by WATASE Yuu, 26), Get Love #4, Bokura ga Ita (also in special edition, 26), Kaze Hikaru #16 (26) and two compilation anthologies--Bitter 2 - Anata dake ni Aisa (26) and Sweet 2 - Kowareru hodo Dakishime (which will contain a story by AIHARA Miki, most probably 10 Days, 26).
As for shounen: Yaiba tankoubon re-edition #1,2,3 (AOYAMA Goushou's first big hit, 15.jul), Conan #46 (16), Inuyasha #36 (16) and Katsu #13 (16).
A really heavy shoujo month... (there are many other shoujo releases I'm not listing) >_<

Kadokawa's July new manga releases list is up. Notable mentions are: Trinity Blood #2 (17.jul) and Lagoon Engine #3 (by SUGISAKI Yukiru, 17).
Not so mentionable, but interesting nonetheless: D.N. angel and Keroro Gunsou seal books, Keroro fanbook, Daydream #6 and Gundam Ecole du Ciel #4.
And, as usual, many, many Gundam books. (^^; )

26.may.04

There will be a drama CD of Zettai Kareshi (by WATASE Yuu, currently runing in Sho-Comi) on sale 25.aug for 2940 yen (tax in). List number MMCC-4061 (you can order it at normal Japanese stores). Also Fushigi Yuugi is having its 5th incarnation in the form of a manga magazine sized re-edition in manga magazine pages quality with a couple of new goodies (poster, cards)...

25.may.04

Nothing much interesting in Kodansha's July new manga releases list. Shounen: Hajime no Ippo #69 (15.jul), Get Backers #26 (15), Eden #11 (23). Shoujo: Kamichama Karin #4 (02), Card Captor Sakura New Wide Edition #5 (06) and Sailor Moon New Edition #12 (23). Pshaa...

24.may.04

The official page for Genshiken and its upcoming anime is here: http://www.genshiken.info/. There is also another page for Kujibiki Unbalance (link at the bottom of the page), which is a "female harem style" (think love hina but with a bit more action) manga series created inside the Genshiken world.

NAKAJI Yuki's (Venus wa Kata Omoi) new manga will start in next month's Lala (#8 on sale 24.jun). It's titled Heaven Company and will be a 65 pages chapter about a "Green Coordinator" (flower/greenery stylist).

Harukanaru no Toki de anime information in Lala #7 is quite sketchy, listing only the main staff and seiyuu. It says there will be more detailed information in next issue (there are no anime designs shown, but the character designer is OONUKI Kenichi). Seiyuu include SEKI Tomokazu, TAKAHASHI Naozumi and HOSHI Souichirou.

There will be a "Hana to Yume, Lala and Melody Festa" this summer, conmemorating the 30th anniversary of Hakusensha. 31.jul and 01.aug in Oosaka's Cosmo Plaza, and 21/22.aug in Tokyo's Sunshine City. The events will have a gallery, original goods corner, talk show and various event booths. There will also be signing sessions by HATORI Bisco (Host Club), RAGAWA Marimo (Shanimuni Go), HINO Matsuri (MeruPuri) and YAMADA Nanpei (Koucha Ouji) in Oosaka, and for Tokyo: KURE Yuki (La Corda de Oro), HIDAKA Banri (V.B.Rose, etc...), NARITA Minako (Melody author) and TAKAYA Natsuki (Fruits Basket). But there are only limited places and you have to send a coupon for a lottery. The events will also have some random special corners such as special purikura machines.

And finally SOME phonecard/quocard zenin this year in Hakusensha! Lala's annual teleka zenin starting in issue #9 (on sale 24.jul). Hana to Yume obliterated their annual one and made it lottery instead ~_~;;;

TSUKUBA Sakura and TANAKA Meka's new manga will both start in Lala #10 (on sale 24.aug) but no more details are given.
Lala #9 will come with a special drama CD as furoku (which will contain mini drama for Host, Karekano, Merupuri, Kobayashi and Bijou).

The second season for Maria-sama ga miteru anime has been officially announced. It will start on July 4th.

21.may.04

Hakusensha's July new manga releases list is up! Worthy to mention: Venus wa Kata Omoi #12 (final volume, 05.jul), Pearl Pink #4 (final volume, 05), Skip Beat! #7 (16), Gakuen Alice #5 (16), Boku no... (PSME) new wide edition #5,6 (29). As for shounen: Berserk #27 (29) and Air Master #22 (29).

20.may.04

Koucha Ouji (by YAMADA Nanpei) has ended in Hana to Yume #12 (on sale today)... T.T There will be an extra/epilogue chapter in Hana to Yume #15 (on sale 05.jul)... which is a good thing because although the ending was swift and nice and sweet, it only finished the main relationship... ^^;;;;
Also, UKYOU Ayane's (BxB Brothers) new manga series will start in next Margaret (#13, on sale 05.jun). It's titled Yokujou Kurai Max. One girl, two guys of apparently opposite character. (Where have we seen this before... many times... ^^; )
Parfait Tic will have a drama CD coming out in the future (around October) and they are holding auditions between Margaret readers.

It's official now, Viz will be releasing Kare - First Love in NA. The first volume is scheduled for August 2004. Let's just hope this time they won't rip off my page when making their press release (like they did when doing Hot Gimmick's). ^^

As recounted in some forums by yours truly and her sucky Japanese:
" I just finished watching [Samurai Champloo]... this is very good. Worth the wait! The action scenes (fights) are amazing, the animation is excellent and although it is quite violent, it stops short of gore (some things implicit but not shown are quite icky though). Definitely not for kids. I can only hope the quality will continue like this.
As for the plot (plot, what plot?), it's pretty standard fare. Just the introduction of the characters in your usual Japanese samurai drama fashion episode. The two guys piss off the sleazy town magistrate/boss by ridiculing him and attacking his stupid son, and must leave at the end after much slaughter. The only one who has a plot is the girl, who asks them as a favor for helping them escape, that they help her find "the samurai that smells of sunflowers" (<--- do not trust that 100%, my Japanese kind of sucks) or something like that. (^^;
Oh yeah, and if you are like me, you'll keep having a bit of an Ashita no Nadja character designs deja-vu. (^^;;; "
Can't wait for next episode! ^o^

18.may.04

Finally got around and bought Ultra Maniac #5 (final), which came out friday last week. First press comes with a stickers page, and to my eternal thanks, the epiloge has had some new pages added, showing more romance between Tsujiai and Nina, and also showing everybody else. Both really neat things that were missing in the original Ribon chapter and that really irked me at that time ^^; (Apparently, it irked many other people as well...)

14.may.04

Boku no Chikyuu o Mamotte (PSME) wide ban new edition #1 and 2 release date has been moved back to the 28th of May.

13.may.04

There will be an anime adaptation of Harukanaru no Toki no Naka de (manga by MIZUNO Touko runs in Lala). More details in Lala #7 (on sale 24.may).
This is a popular game for girls similar in style to Angelique (one girl, many boys, and in this case, heian setting). ^^ Although I've never played it, the manga never interested me much. Mizuno's illustrations are gorgeous though.

09.may.04

As I've been saying and dreading for the last months, Chrno Crusade manga ended yesterday in Dragon Age... *sniff*! T_T There will be a special artworks collection as give-away with issue #7 (on sale 09.jun). *sniff* T_T
(See last months' entries for my other news relating Dragon Age.)

Scans from the advance copies of Newtype #6 (on sale tomorrow) are being distributed over the boards, specially the scans for the Gunbuster 2 character designs... I want to make a ball in a corner and cry.

06.may.04

Gainax has officially announced Top o Nerae! 2 (Gunbuster 2) in their "Gaina-Fes" (Gainax Festival). There will be more information in the upcoming Newtype (on sale 10.may), but judging from the characters' names, it seems like a whole new cast. Yay, yay! ^_^

03.may.04

Shogakukan's June new manga releases list is up! A mostly shounen-interestingly month, but that might be because I don't pay much attention to their shoujo titles anymore. (^^;
Shounen: Konjiki no Gash!! #16 (18.jun), Katte ni Kaizou #25 (16), Monkey Turn #28, Midori no Hibi #7 (16), Katsu #13 (16). 3 of those titles have anime versions currently on air (Gash, Monkey and Midori). This will be a happy month for Shogakukan's manga section. ^^
Shoujo: H3 School! #3 (25.jun) and Kare - First Love #8 (25).

02.may.04

RAGAWA Marimo will have a new chapter of her (here and there) ongoing series Itsudemo Otenki Kibun in next Bessatsu Hana to Yume #7 (on sale 26.may). This will be the second part of the arc called Itsudemo Otenki Kibun - Odayaka na Kimochi de itai dake, which involves Akauma and his girlfriend. The first part was published last year and ended quite depressingly (^^; ). I'm happy there is still hope...

01.may.04

Kadokawa's June new manga releases list is up! But nothing interesting except for Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto - Taiyou to Kaze no Sakamichi #1 (by the same authors of Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto / Someday's Dreamers manga), on sale 01.jun.
Talking about which, Taiyou to Kaze no Sakamichi although set in the same alternate universe as Mahou Tsukai, it is not a sequel. It's the story of a different mage and it's also one of my favorite manga right now, so of course I'll now proceed to rant about it ^_^
Nami is a young mage in her last year of high school, but being a mage is the pain of her existence, as she is unable to control her magic and when she tries anything with it, it always comes out wrong. Not only that, but she is harrassed by one of her classmates because of it as well as overly pressured by her father, who wants her to become a mage even though she wants other things. Nami is a nice, shy, normal girl who likes photography and whose life has definitely not been improved by the fact that she can use magic.
But one day, she meets a new tranfer student, Tominaga-kun. He is not very friendly, seems always angry and doesn't like making friends. Eventually he warms up to everybody, including Nami's best friends, but poor Nami herself doesn't seem to be able to land on his good side--just as she eventually realizes she really likes him.
Even though it runs in Dragon Age (shounen manga, on the otaku side), this is a manga very recommended to anybody who enjoys a good human drama story or shoujo manga fans. Seen magic from the other side is a refeshing experience, and Nami wins anybody's heart. ^^

It's the time of the year when manga magazines editors realize that there is nothing like revisiting old favorites to pump up the sales. There will be a new Paradiso - OZ side story in next Melody #7 (Hakusensha, on sale 28.may), as well as another side story/epilogue of Harutsugi Komachi (by YAMAGUCHI Miyuki), which... you know... ended in last Melody. (. . .)
Another revisitation of old bestsellers will be Nante Suteki ni Japanesque - Hitozuma Chapter (by YAMAUCHI Naomi, story by HIMURA Saeko) in Hana to Yume #12 (on sale 20.may). Nante... was a popular story years ago about a princess in Heian times. The original is being re-released in wide ban format as well.

30.apr.04

Shueisha's June new manga releases list is up! Worthy to mention: Shoujo: Full Moon o Sagashite #6 (15.jun), Love Wan! #3 (15), Honey Bitter #1 (OOBANA Miho, 15), Marmalade Boy Wide Edition #4 (15), Gokusen #9 (18), BxB Brothers #10 (final volume, 25) and Tsuki no Shippo #5 (25).
Shounen: One Piece #33 (04.jun), Black Cat #18 (04), Hunter x Hunter #20 (04), Hunter x Hunter - Hunter Guide (04), Bleach #13 (04), Yuugi-Ou #38 (final volume, 04) and Captain Tsubasa - Road to 2002 #14 (18).

28.apr.04

TANEMURA Arina's new manga after the end of Full Moon o Sagashite (ends in Ribon #6, on sale this saturday) will start in Ribon #9, on sale 03.aug. ^^

23.apr.04

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!! Genshiken anime version has been confirmed! Series director will apparently be IKEBATA Ryuuji, director of Hikari to Mizu no Daphne. No start date has been given.
Genshiken is a very good manga by KIO Shimoku that runs in Afternoon (Kodansha). It deals with an anime and manga club in a Tokyo University (an otaku fandom club as opposed to a creative club) and its handful of members. If you want to laugh and learn what (non completly scary and horrifying) otaku do in Tokyo, this is for you! ^^

20.apr.04

Hakusensha's June manga releases list is up! It's YUKI Kaori's month, thanks to her manga series Aijin Senmonten being adapted into a live drama TV series, and she has two tankoubon coming out: Ludwig Kakumei (18.jun) and Yuugata Aijin Senmonten - Blood Hound - DX (deluxe) (610 yen, 05).
Other than that, notable new releases: Shoujo: Kaguya Hime #24 (05.jun), Ppoi! #24 (05), Mikazuki Pan, Chikyuukoushikyou (these last two are yomikiri series running in Lala DX, 05), Koucha Ouji #23 (18), Global Garden #6 (18), Boku no Chikyuu o Mamotte (Please Save My Earth) new wide edition #3,4 (29), and another new re-release in wide ban edition, this time for Nante Suteki ni Japanesque #1,2 (880 yen each, 29), an old but popular series about love and woes of a young lady in Heian times. (For more info about these Hakusensha wide ban editions, look in the news around the 16th-20th of March ^^ )
Shounen: Futari H #25 (29.jun) and Mouse #13 (29).

19.apr.04

Kodansha's June manga releases list is up. Worthy to mention: Shounen: Rave #28 (17.jun), Tantei Gakuen Q #16 (17), Tantei Gakuen Q DDS Mystery Quiz (714 yen, 17), Mahou Sensei Negima! #6 (17), Samurai Deeper Kyo (in limited special first press edition as well, 17), Tsubasa #6 (in special edition as well, 17), XXXHolic #4 (17) and most important of them all, Genshiken #4 (23).
Shoujo: Nothing much except for CC Sakura new edition #4 (04.jun), Sailor Moon new edition #11 (23) and Kirei ni Naritai! #5 (by YORITA Miyuki, 11).

17.apr.04

Not much interesting in the manga world (or at least, the part I'm interested in ^^; ). I did see the Evangelion volume #9 with action Rei figure and it looks really neat. I almost bought it myself even though I don't like Eva and I hate Rei ^^;

I finally discovered what MITA Ryuusuke has been doing after he finished Rubikura last year (he is best known in the western world for his first series, Dragon Half). He has a series in Dragon Magazine (a magazine that deals with games, RPGs and fantasy novelizations, and some times anime, too. Published by Kadokawa. This is where Dragon Half was originally published in monthly chapter format). I don't know how this series is, but I'll try to catch an unwrapped issue and take a look (^^;;; ). The title is Shugen Musume Tenguri (or something around that line).
But that is not all! He will also have a 32 pages yomikiri (one-chapter story) in Comic Gum #6 (on sale 26.apr). Comic Gun is published by Wani Books, serializes Ikki Tousen and Mahoromatick between others, and yes, belongs to the fanservice genre ^^

06.apr.04

I got KAWAMURA Mika's (Daa! Daa! Daa!, Awasete Ippon!, etc...) new manga: Happy Ice-cream! (#01). I've been a fan of her cute art style and sweet stories from the start, and she is one of the few must-buy from Nakayoshi for me. However I was a bit disappointed with Happy Ice-cream ^^;
The story is about a 13 year old girl Sakurako, who is living with her older sister while her parents are abroad. One day she comes back to discover that her sister has decided to go live with her new boyfriend. On top of that, she meets three little kids and some guy who tells her if she kisses them, they will return to their normal state: boys. And if they think about anything a bit perverted while they are in their normal bodies--they will return to kid form. While in their adult sate, the three guys can't remember what they did as kids. And it's all thanks to some complicated love story that happened during heian times.
One of the kids turns out to be Sakurako's love and classmate, of course.
While the premise might be interesting, the explanation is way too weird and complicated and some of the characters don't make much sense. The kids just keep kicking Sakurako when she returns home, the sister is weirdness personificated, and the pages are full of big pictures mixed with really small action scenes that make it quite hard to follow at times >_<;;; Perhaps this one is better read in original Nakayoshi size ^^;
That said, KAWAMURA's art is really nice and the manga does have some nice scenes. I just wouldn't really recommend it unless you have a liking for cute art and have the time to spend 15 minutes deciphering a page ^^;

Complex #6 (by KIKUCHI Kumiko) will go on sale on 17.jun. This is my favorite story in Princess magazine right now! The other interesting Akita-Shoten release for June is Lady Victorian #13 (24.jun). *sigh* I wish Akita would continue Access B in any of their magazines...

31.mar.04 - Part II

A depressingly un-interesting month for Shogakukan's May manga releases. Inuyasha #35 (18.may), Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden #2 (new Fushigi Yuugi story by WATASE Yuu, 26), and Boku no Imouto ni Koi o Suru #6 in both normal and special edition for 680 yen (tax in, 26). Oh, and many, many re-releases of Dan Doh!. Nothing like an anime to re-start the money-making machine... ^^;

Shueisha's May new manga releases list is up! Lots of good stuff!
Shoujo: Ultra Maniac #5 (may.14), Aishiteruze Baby #5 (14), Marmalade Boy Wide Edition #3 (14), HatsuKare #2 (25), Gakkou no Ojikan #1 (by TAJIMA Mimi), 25). Shounen: Naruto #22 (apr.30), Yuugi-Oh #37 (30), Shaman King #29 (30), Ichigo 100% #10 (30), Bastard! #23 (30), Gantz #13 (may.19), Zetman #3 (by MASAKAZU Katsura, 19). A Shaman King Fan Book : ShaKin Book will be released on apr.30, and a Bastard! Data Book on the same day as well. Bastard! #23 will also be available in a limited edition with a figure included.
(Shounen Jump releases are moved up to April 30th instead of their usual 5th of the month release due to the Japanese Golden Week holidays)

Biggest news from Shueisha's new releases is however, NANA 1st Illustrations (by YAZAWA Ai) to go on sale on 20.may. Happiness all around between YAZAWA's many, many fans! ^o^

OKI Mamiya will have a new artbook released in May by Kadokawa: OKI Mamiya Illustrations Collection : Queen (2940 yen).
OKI is specially famous for her Delfinian War novels illustrations (Japanese novels for teenagers and young people usually contain illustrations). This new artbook contains her illustrations for Tokyo Night Out and Platonic Dance (both are novel series written by KAWAHARA Tsubasa) between others. These are shounen-ai themed novels, so beware if you don't like boy-x-boy art. ^_^

31.mar.04

HARADA Taeko's manga in Ribon (Pink de Ikou!) will finish in June's issue. That will be the issue where Full Moon o Sagashite will end as well! Ribon #6 goes on sale 30.apr.

26.mar.04

I got the first volume of KAWAHARA Kazune's new manga (she is well known for her previous long-running series Sensei!, and although I couldn't get into that one, I really enjoy her shorter stories), Koukou Debut.
This is NAGASHIMA Harumi's story. Harumi dreamt all her life about entering high school, because that would mean... getting a boyfriend! Unfortunately things aren't quite working the way she wanted, and even though she is now a high school student, no matter how many days she stays in nanpa-heavy areas, nobody ever comes near her. ("nanpa" are guys who go around in the streets asking random girls they fancy out "for drinks, karaoke (and then maybe some)" ^^; ). The fact is, Harumi has always been a tomboy: short hair, ace in her middle school softball team, stronger than guys her age and with absolutely no sense of fashion. All in all considered, Harumi decides that if she had a coach for softball, maybe she should get a coach for "learning how to attract a man".
The unsuspected victim is You, a fellow schoolmate who eventually accepts to help her tanks to his sister, who likes Harumi. You is cool, dark, and had a bad experience with a past girlfriend that makes him a bit unsociable about women. But his style sense is really good and his advice better! Also his friends are quite good looking...

Hot Gimmick will have a drama CD released on 23.apr for 2800 yen (tax in). This is a normal drama CD you can buy at stores, as opposed to the special zenin drama CD released through the Betsucomi some time ago.
Drama CDs contain tracks with dialogue by different characters/seiyuu and sound effects, usually adapting part of the manga they are based on, although some times (always in the case of drama CDs based on anime works) they have original stories.

24.mar.04

The official page for the upcoming anime series Mahou Shoujotai Arusu (Tweeny Witches) is up here. This is one of the best looking and interesting anime in a long time, as far as I'm concerned. ^^

23.mar.04

ASAGIRI Yuu, a well-known yaoi/shounen-ai author (she used to do manga for Nakayoshi before that and had several very popular hits) will have a yomikiri in next The Margaret #6 (on sale 24.apr). Now this is a place I would have never expected to see her manga in @_@;

TSUKUBA Sakura's new manga series is in fact just a one-chapter story. Her next work will be Yoroshiku Master in Lala DX #7 (on sale 10.jun). Also, Tennen Pearl Pink will finish in next issue of Lala! ;_;

22.mar.04

Kodansha May new releases list is up, but it's pretty weak as far as I'm concerned. Worthy to mention: Get Backers #25 (17.may), Air Gear #6 (17) and Sailor Moon new edition #10 (21). :(

20.mar.04

Hakusensha May releases list is up! Worthy to mention: Shoujo: Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou #18 (01.may), Demon Saiten (01), Omake no Kobayashi-kun #13 (01), Hanazakari no Kimitachi e #22 (19), TeruTeru x Shounen #8 (19), Mebius Doumei #3 (19).
There will be a new edition of Please save my Earth manga in "favorite printing" edition, which probably means a wide ban (bigger, more pages and usually better quality than a normal tankoubon). Volumes 1 and 2 go on sale on 14.may for 1000 yen each (tax in).
Also as a reminder, NAKAJO Hisaya's Illustrations Collection artbook goes on sale on 26.may for 1680 yen (tax in). This is inside "Hana to Yume 35th anniversary" celebrations, for more info on this and the other artbooks released, look at my news... several weeks ago ^^;;;

19.mar.04

Starting with next issue (#9), Hana to Yume new zenin offer service will be a "Digital Comic DVD" for Skip Beat! and Gakuen Alice (separate sets)... it's the latest fad.

18.mar.04

In next issue (#5) of G-Fantasy (Square-Enix) there will be a new manga titled Platonic Chain. If I'm not mistaken, this is related or connected to the CG animation shorts shown in 2002/03 also titled Platonic Chain, in which an "entity" called Platonic Chain is able to access and control all sorts of information stored in electronic mediums and makes it available to keitai/cellphone users, sp. Shibuya girls and boys. The series centered on 3 high school girls who used the service for things like... finding out who was the guy they passed on the escalator, reminding their boyfriends of promises they made, etc... It was a really interesting series... unfortunately the manga (I don't know how related to the anime characters and settings it will be) doesn't quite look as good... ^^; See the preview pic here. G-Fantasy #5 will go on sale on 17.apr.

There will be a drama cd of Beniiro (Crimson) Hero (manga by TAKANASHI Mitsuba, currently running in Betsuma) on sale 18.jun (pre-order deadline is 09.may) for 2940 yen (tax in).
Beniiro Hero is the story of a girl from a wealthy and traditional family who loves volleyball and defies her mother so she can continue practising the sport. With that end in mind, she tries forming a women volley team in her school and ends up living in the same house where some of her school's famous volley boys team members live.

15.mar.04

Apparently, Viz has Kare First Love, W Juliet and Kanata Kara in their copyright page, even though there hasn't been an official announcement (See animeondvd.com). After they copied my index page of Hot Gimmick in their press release for that title, I'm starting to think it's not quite coincidential... :P

Oh, and the Animedia inclusion of Metantei Conan under their "climaxing series" section was because one of the main arcs of the story (involving certain English-speaking woman) came to its conclusion. Like they didn't have enough series ending in March to start playing with things like that... -_-;

13.mar.04

Akita Shouten April and May releases list is up. Only thing worthy to mention for me are vols. 4 and 5 of Vampire Yui, on sale May 20th. ^^

11.mar.04

There are more details about the Agatha Christie books TV anime adaptation. It will cover Poirot and Miss Maple books (a total of 39 books will be adapted). Will start airing in July on Sundays at 19:30.
There are 5 character designs already available and of them is a duck. I swear if it's a talking duck there will be no end to the hilarity that will ensue. ^^;;;

09.mar.04

TATSUO Satou, director of Uchuu no Stellvia, has announced in his homepage that he is working in a TV series to air 2005. Many have assumed that might be Stellvia 2. ^^

05.mar.04

BxB Brothers ended in Margaret #7 (on sale today). UKYOU Ayane next series will start in Margaret #13 (on sale 05.jun). As stated before, the milking cow known as Bronze will have another restart in next Margaret (#8).

NHK has announced there will be an anime adaptation of Agatha Christie mystery novels starting July. 39 titles will be adapted, although the news in NHK website doesn't say wherever this is includes some (or all) the Poirot titles or not.

04.mar.04

No doubt coinciding with the end of its manga run, there will be a Full Moon o Sagashite - Arina TANEMURA Illustrations Collection artbook on sale on 15.apr.

Shueisha's April manga releases list is up! Worthy to mention: Shoujo: Nagata-chou Strawberry #3 (15.apr), Tokimeki Midnight #3 (by KOI Ikeno, 15), Marmalade Boy Wide Edition #2 (15); Shounen: Tennis no Oujisama #23 (02.apr), Death Note (art by OBATA Takeshi, of Hikaru no Go fame, story by OOGA Tsugumi; 02), Captain Tsubasa Road to 2002 #13 (19) and Tenjou Tenge #11 (coinciding with the start of the anime series based on it; 19).

Going on more detail, Death Note is about one "death god" who is bored to no end and decides to play a bit by giving a high school student a notebook in which he can write the name of a person and said demon/god will kill that person. It gets even better as the student studies the instructions provided in the notebook and realizes he can also pinpoint how, when and in which way the victims will meet their end. On the way, he also discovers his hidden sadistic vein and is matched against the FBI and certain other person who seems to know a lot about what he is doing. Very nice art, but if you don't know enough Japanese, you will get lost really fast (I was ^^; ).

02.mar.04

And OOOOOOOOOOPS. Apparently the index for the next Animedia magazine has Metantei Conan in the "Spring Climax Series" section @_@;;; Typo? Missprint? They mean the movie? Is this for real?
And more importantly, if that is for real, does this mean the manga will also be finishing soon?
Animedia goes on sale on the 10th along with the other anime magazines, but early copies could be around as soon as the weekend. So we will soon know what's hapening here, I guess.
And, damn, I'll have to get that Animedia anyway, it has a Hagane no Renkinjutsushi teleka zenin service.

Full Moon o Sagashite has entered its final manga arc.

Dan Doh!! which has been turned into animation as well (starting 03.apr), will have a new series starting in Shounen Sunday #17 (on sale apr.24): Dan Doh!! - Next Situation. Unless one of the current series based on Shounen Sunday manga ends, they are going have a record of anime series on air! ^^;;
Dan Doh!!, by the way, is about golf. Wonder if it would do good in US?

In related news, I just realized that the Tacky and Tsubasa CD-Single for their Inuyasha OP also comes with a sticker with TAKAHASHI's rendition of the two singers (only with first press). I love TAKAHASHI Rumiko's drawings of popular bands. V6 were just too cute ^^

AKIMOTO Nami (Miracle Girls, Uru-Q) will start a new manga series in Nakayoshi #5 (on sale apr.03) titled Puri * Honey (* = star mark).

Shogakukan's April manga releases list is up! Worthy to mention: Shoujo: Sensei no ki ni iri (by AIHARA Miki, most probably collecting her Teacher's Pet stories, apr.26), Hot Gimmick #8 (apr.26), Gekka no Kimi #6 (by SHIMAKI Ako, 26), Zettai Kareshi #3 (by WATASE Yuu, 26), Bokura ga ita #5, (26), Get Love! #3 (26) and Sonna Koe Dasha Iya! #5 (by SHIGANO Iori, also available in special edition for 950 yen (tax in); perhaps with the "visual comic DVD" the other special editions for other Flower Comic manga have been having? Apr.26).
Shounen: Metantei Conan #45 (apr.05, pushed earlier than it's usual release date because of the movie; there will be other special Conan books out too, but these usually do not use Aoyama's art), Katsu #12 (by ADACHI, apr.17), Yakitate!! Shapan #12 (17), Midori no Hibi #6 (whose anime adaptation starts in April as well, 17) and 20th Century Boys #16 (30).

29.feb.04

Arakawa Hiromu Illustrations Collection - Fullmetal Alchemist went on sale two days ago. I highly recommend it to anybody who likes the manga illustrations. It's oversized, has 89 pages of full color illustrations (including manga, magazine covers and designs for the game) and it's just 1500 yen. Can't get any cheaper or better IMHO ^^;
Although a "making of" section would have been desirable, each illustration comes with a short comment by the artist (in Japanese), which is really nice.

28.feb.04

ARAI Kiyoko's new manga Beauty Pop had its first volume published on 26.feb (the manga is still running in monthly shoujo manga magazine Ciao from Shogakukan). ARAI is the author of Dr.Rin ni kiitemite!, which was turned into a long anime series.
Beauty Pop is about a high school student named KOSHIBA Kiri (lit. "cut") who pretty much ignores about everything and anybody except when she sees someone in need... of becoming pretty. She is very good with her scissors and can make wonderful haircuts, so she sometimes (almost inspite of herself ^^; ) helps girls in need. Although nobody in her school knows about her talent except her best friends, there is a very popular "beauty club" called Scissors Project in their school, composed by 3 guys who dimiss all girls who are ugly (or not pretty enough). The hair-cutter in the trio, Narumi-senpai, is obsessed with Kiri's cuts (although he doesn't know they are hers), Kiri's disdain of what S.P. does and general ignoring of his wonderful person, and a little girl who humilliated him by winning the contest of junior hair cuttters he was also participaing in as a kid. The second member of S.P. is an arrogant student called Ochiai who seems to enjoy manipulating people and does discover Kiri is responsable for the wonderful cuts they've seen around. The third member of S.P. is a young student who... doesn't do much, really. (^_^;;; )
Having enjoyed most of her other works, I was very happy with Beauty Pop and specially Kiri, who is a very unusual main character with her lazy attitude and her self confidence ^^ The secondary characters are also good enough, and yes, although the manga evolves around the need to be pretty for people to notice you, this is for teenagers after all and there is even an ugly overweight girl who Kiri helps and who doesn't need to lose a pound to become pretty. ^^ So this is an equal-opportunity cinderella story, it seems.

ADVision has picked up about the entire roaster of Mag-Garden manga titles. ^^; See the complete list at Anime on DVD. This means between others Peace Maker Kurogane and Matantei Loki Ragnarok. One wonders though, how well they are going to do since these are basically continuations of previous enix manga. Unless of course, they also managed to buy the old stock.
Also Del Rey has changed their policy about Mahou Sensei Negima US edition and has decided to release it uncensored. That's a big win for all those who complained online! Viva! After this and the 12 Kokuki DVD problem uproar in the online comunity, I think it's clear that "your vote (in a popular online forum) counts"! ^o^

24.feb.04

Venus wa Kata Omoi (by NAKAJI Yuki) ended in Lala #4 (on sale today), but there will be an extra chapter in Lala #6 (on sale 24.apr). NAKAJI is known for wrapping up the secondary characters' stories in little yomikiris after the end of the series.

And on related ending news, one of my favorite period series, Harutsuge Komachi by YAMAGUCHI Miyuki is ending starting with the chapter in Melody #4 (on sale 28.feb).

And adding to that the fact that supposedly Koucha Ouji has entered the "final arc" and BxB ends in two weeks... well, half my fave series are ending! >_<

23.feb.04

TSUKUBA Sakura, whose Mekakushi no Kuni ended last month, will start her new series in next Lala (#5 on sale 24.mar). The title is Amai Kami ato and it's labeled as "dangerous erotic romance" (...). "In front of Ren, a girl-loving vampire, appears a girl called Maia... but why does she say Ren is her father?!" Apparently, vampires are in again.
(hahaha, sorry, I'm still stuck laughing at the "erotic" part... ^^;; Coming from the magazine that specializes in manga where you are lucky if the characters ever even kiss during their 15 volumes run. ^^;; )
(Then again, it only took Sho-Comi a couple of months to turn from "hot romances for young teenagers" into "porn for... uh... anybody")

21.feb.04

Yotsuba to! (by AZUMA Kiyohiko (Azumanga Daioh)) 2nd volume will go on sale in April.
Yotsuba to! runs in monthly magazine Dengeki Daioh and it's in narrative/normal manga format as opposed to Azumanga's 4-koma format.
Yotsuba is a little girl with green hair that moves with her father into a new house in a new city. Next to them lives a family with three daughters of different ages who make friends with them really fast. But this is not a normal neighbourhood story because Yotsuba is the weirdest, happiest and most inquisitive kid ever and might as well be an alien from outer space for all her knowledge of how things like, say, doorbells, work. ^_^;;;
Obviously, this is manga will have you rolling from laughter all day long and the best part is that the Japanese is really easy to understand (most of the humor is action based anyway). ^^ The art is top notch quality and while it's mostly simple lines, it's not the simplistic art used for the 4-koma in Azumanga.
(One of my favorite manga, can you tell?)

20.feb.04

Kodansha's April new manga releases list is up! Worthy to mention: Shoujo: Card Captor Sakura New Edition #2 (06.apr), #3 (28), Tokyo Mew Mew A La Mode #2 (06), Happy Ice Cream #1 (by KAWAMURA Mika (Daa! Daa! Daa!, Awasete Ippon), 06); Shounen: Samurai Deeper Kyo #26 (16), Rave #27 (16), Mahou Sensei Negima #5 (16) and Tsubasa #5 (16, in both normal and special hardcover editions).

Bandai May releases list is up! Macross Zero #4 and Stratos Four OVA #1 (in normal and special edition) being about the only noteworthy titles (aside from the usual TV series releases).
All May Bandai titles will be released on 28.may.

BxB Brothers (by UKYOU Ayane) will end in next issue of Margaret (on sale 05.mar)... T_T *sob*

Hakusensha's April new releases list is up! Worthy to mention: Mekakushi no Kuni #9 (last volume, on sale 05.apr), Meru Puri #3 (05), Fruits Basket #14 (19) and Shanimuni Go #17 (19). As I announced some weeks ago, TAKAYA Natsuki has an Artbook coming out this month as well, TAKAYA Natsuki Illustrations Collection - Fruits Basket goes on sale on 16.apr for 1680 yen (tax in).

Also, the live action drama series based on the vampire manga Yoru Kata (<-- might be romanized wrong) Aijin Senmonten - Blood Hound by YUKI Kaori (Angel Sanctuary, Godchild) will start on TV-Tokyo on 04.apr at one in the morning (of the 5th).

The Fullmetal Alchemist trading cards are oversized (that probabably explains the fact that they are called something like "trading arts"). 13.March Correction: The "trading arts" are a figures collection, but there is also a trading card collection (game) on sale now. ^^ Sorry about the confusion.

19.feb.04

A new issue of Comicate is up at Hakusensha's page. This issue has interviews with HIDAKA Banri and HINO Matsuri (Merupuri). Although the text is in Japanese, there are plenty of images. You can go directly to the online edition here.

Following the ADVision deal, Mag Garden has some new anime show announcements: Tactics (based on the manga by KINOSHITA Sakura (Loki)), and Aria. Both had already been in most "upcoming anime" listings for a while though.

Apparently ADVision has made a deal with Mag Garden about licensing the anime based on the manga that run in their magazines.
As I said some weeks ago, Mag Garden took with them many of the "popular between girls mostly" mangas that used to run in old pre-merger Enix (GanGan, GanGan-F mostly), just slightly changing the titles (Matantei Loki turned into Matantei Loki Ragnarok, Peace Maker into Peace Maker Kurogane, etc...).
I wonder though if this applies to the already airing shows or not...
(You can find more detailed info about this deal at Anime on DVD or Natsumemaya)

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist) is finally branching out into the trading cards realm: 1 box = 10 packs, 5400 yen (plus tax) per box, on sale in June. 13.March Correction: The "trading arts" are a figures collection, but there is also a trading card collection (game) on sale now. ^^ Sorry about the confusion.

HMV and another online shop also list Tokyo Godfathers with English subtitles. English subtitles - 3, A.co.jp - 0.

17.feb.04

The "big news" from CLAMP that everyone was waiting for so expectanctly turned out to be just an announcement of a set of "CLAMP magazines" to be realeased monthly and dedicated to each of their works with new stuff and what not. Just another way of sucking money out of the fans and a far cry from the hoped for Tsubasa anime announcement.

As an addition to the Tokyo Godfathers DVDs news I put up yesterday, the yahoo store lists it with dd5.1, english subtitles, etc... while Amazon.co.jp still has to put up any detail about that. Those of you who preffer to know things for sure should wait until other stores start to list it and see who's right. ^^

16.feb.04

R2 Japanese DVD edition of Tokyo Godfathers has been announced. There will be the usual normal edition for 4700 yen (plus tax) and the special boxed edition for 12,800 (plus tax) that has two DVDs, special booklet, postcard, etc... (second DVD has making-of, etc...). The movie itself comes in 16:9, dd5.1 and English subtitles in both editions. ^^
(Thanks to Ric for the heads up :P )

14.feb.04

Futari wa Pretty Cure OP and ED songs will come out in a CD-S on 24.mar for 1260 yen (tax in). OP is titled Dazen! Futari wa PriCure and the ED, Gecchuu (get you)! RabuRabuu (loveloveee)?!. Both performed by GOJO Mayumi (previously heard in Ojamajo Doremi CDs).
These are both pretty uplifting songs (the OP is very Oppish ^^) and the ED just keeps getting stuck into one's head ^_^;

13.feb.04 (<-- no, no, that's ok, you see, in my birthland it's tuesdays, not fridays)

Forgot to mention, SAITOU Chiho has started a new "series" (probably like Anastasia, a yomikiri series, where chapters are mostly self-contained and published every once in a while) in Petit Comic (a.k.a. Puchicomi) from Shogakukan. The title is Beautiful and it's about a genius ballet dancer. As anything from SAITOU, the really gorgeous guy on the cover is all one needs to know (^^;;; ).

FUJIMURA Mari (Tonari no Takashi-chan along many, many others) will have a new yomikiri in next Betsuma (on sale 13.mar) with the name of Uwasa no Onna. Although FUJIMURA used to be a long standing author in Betsuma, her breaks between series are getting bigger and her manga shorter... >_<;
(Must control myself and not get this month's Betsuma just to read the end of the latest Flower arc... >.< )

Also, Betsucomi's Official Homepage has opened two new special corners for Bokura ga ita and Sonnan janeeyo (neither of which I like, but two of the most popular series in the magazine). Previously, only the special "fan section" of Hot Gimmick ("Hot Gimmick Cafe") existed.

11.feb.04

The new Metantei/Detective Conan movie will open on 17.apr.04... Kaito Kid! Kaito Kid! Kaito Kiiiid! (^^; )
Oh! Right! The title: Metantei Conan - Ginyoku no Magician (Silver Winged Magician).

10.feb.04

Akiba (Akihabara) is on fire ^^;
To be exact, Yamagiwa Soft, Game, CD and DVD building... wonder how many gaijin otaku had to go running out? ^__^;

(And BTW, it wasn't a Fullmetal teleka zenin in the Animedia...)
(... the wallet has been saved once again...)

08.feb.04

All well-known anime magazines come out next week on tuesday, so naturally everybody but me already has them.
One of my favorite monthly manga magazines, Dragon Age comes out tomorrow monday.
Obviously, many shops around the country carry it early. Just not the ones near me.
Animedia seems to have a Fullmetal Alchemist teleka zenin... >.< Damn! (Or so the handful of pixels that kind of look like many kanji in the diminute scan of the cover I've seen tell me. There is no other popular anime with so many kanji in the title...)

05.feb.04

Yay! Mezzo TV OP and ED songs (by Barnabys) will be released in a CD-Single on 24.mar.04 for 1260 yen (tax in). The cover will have an illustration by the series character designer. You can find Barnabys homepage here.

As I said last month, HIDAKA Banri's new manga started in Hana to Yume #5. V.(Velvet) B.(Blue) Rose starts with 1st year high schooler Ageha, who has always admired her older sister so much she wanted to grow up just like her, but whose that same sister just announced she is pregnant and getting married to a guy Ageha highly dislikes. Not only that, but her sister now seems just as happy because of him as she used to be because of her! (How dare she betray her like this!) In her spare time, Ageha's hobby is to design and make things such as bags, and because of this it was the first time she was able to see her sister really happy. Ageha is having a big problem with the whole pregnancy/wedding/my sister likes someone else than me thing, when she meets one weird guy who seems to know her productions ("Ageha Series"). This weird (but really handsome) guy and his partner Weird (But Really Handsome) Guy 2 are, of course, the designers in charge of her sister's wedding dress. (Ageha is shocked, men designing wedding gowns??!)
So far, it looks like a much better start than Hitsuji... I really enjoyed the first chapter. ^^ There is also, of course, the obligatory HIDAKA best friend character. ^^;

WATASE Yuu will have a short manga as furoku (free goodie) in Sho-Comi #6 (on sale 20.feb.04) titled Shounen Aromatic. Zettai Kareshi., her current manga, will still have its usual chapter inside the magazine itself. ^^

04.feb.04

My Uchuu no Stellvia DVD BoxII arrived today ( *^^* ), and inside there was an ad for a GBA game of it, to be released on 23.apr.04 for 5800 yen (plus tax). It's announced as a mix of space and love simulation, so I assume it'll be just like the PS2 one but with less pixels and in-train-playing safe.
It's good to know that if I end up getting the GBA because of Kingdom Hearts - Chain of Memories there will be something else I'm interested in playing. (I'm not much of a game playing person, so those of you who are now sitting up and screaming at the top of their lungs about how I dare say those two are the only interesting things (or interesting, period), please sit down and endure my cluelessness ^^ )

03.feb.04

Shogakukan's March new manga releases list is up! I don't follow much of them, and mostly shounen... Worthy to mention: Shounen: Midori no hibi #5 (18.apr), Monkey Turn #27 (18), Konjiki no Gash!! #15 (18), Katte ni Kaizou #24 (18); Shoujo: H3 School! #2 (by TAKADA Rie, 26.mar), Himeyakana Delta (by OOYA Kazumi, 26) and one of my current favorite authors in Betsucomi has a new tankoubon as well, Yasashii Te (by SAKURAKOUJI Kanoko, 26). ^^

Forgot to add in Shueisha's March interesting manga releases Koukou Debut #1 by KAWAHARA Kazune (Sensei!). On sale 25.mar.04. ^^

The first episode of Paranoia Agent, KON Satoshi's new anime, just finished airing. 3 things come to mind right away: This is a return to Perfect Blue, this shares music composer with Millenial Actress, and Geneon Entertaiment U.S.A. appears in the credits. Ummm. ^_^;

Like all KON Satoshi works, interesting characters and interesting storyline about a young "character desinger" who once designed a mascot (very much like tarepanda) that was a huge hit but is having serious problems to repeat the deed (why? you'll have to wait and see the anime). One night when returning home she is attacked by a misterious small figure using rollerblades and a bat. Next time she sees the figure, it's just dispatched a nasty magazine reporter that was haunting her and just tells her "tadaima" before leaving her untouched. Oh, and there is a talking pet too.

02.feb.04

Shueisha's March manga releases list is up! Worthy to mention releases are:
Shoujo: Max Lovely #5 (final, 15.mar), Nana #10 (by YAZAWA Ai, 15), Marmalade Boy Wide Ban #1 (if this is a similar edition to Kodomo no Omocha wide ban, it will have a deluxe cover and include the original color pages (in color, that is). The name "wide ban" already means it will be a bigger sized edition page-size-wise than the original volumes. 15), Tsuki no Shippo #4 (25), Beniiro (Crimson) Hero #3 (by TAKANASHI Mitsuba, 25), Massugu ni Ikou #25 (by Kira, 25), Sincro Onna! #3 (also by Kira, 19). Massugu... had a short anime adaptation in summer 2003 and will have a longer, normal anime series adaptation later this year.
Shounen: One Piece #32 (04.mar), Shaman King #28 (04), Naruto #21 (04), Bleach #12 (04), Black Cat #17 (05), Gantz #12 (19), Last Order #5 (by KISHIRO Yukito, 19), R.O.D - Read or Dream #2 (19).

Kadokawa new March releases list came out during the weekend, but I don't really do Kadokawa so I didn't find much interesting except many Keroro things, probably so they match the start of the anime... (^^; )

And another painful episode of Mezzo ends. A good idea/plot hindered by the fact that the animation makes you want to cry blood. And just in case you didn't think it was that bad, they put sections from the OVA so you can compare even better! Yay!
Since next episode (#6) doesn't exactly look great in the preview, does this mean they will release 2 episodes per DVD so you can buy the first and jump right over the following 2 volumes?
One can only hope... ^_^

01.feb.04

Futari wa Pretty Cure first episode just finished airing. Magical Girls meet Card Games and a whole new universe of merchandising from Bandai appears in front of our eyes. Nagisa (sporty) and Hanoka (brainy) end up with talking cellphone-like machines with fluffy little things inside them. Using these machines with the cards (provided in the same set) they can transform into Cure Black and Cure White and fight the evil baddie (who has a really nice voice, so I wonder if he's a future good guy...). As Cure (I keep wanting to type "cute") they have super powers and kick a lot, which is neat, really, given the martial art/actually fist fighting department in magical girl shows is usually severly lacking. This is the series that replaces Ashita no Nadja, which finished last week. The official homepage is here, and personally I thought the first episode was fun.
The ending song is pretty good, of the "everybody sings" type.

Next week they fight against the evil monster-ized... vacuum cleaner.

^^;

31.jan.04

Well it's official now: Aishiteruze Baby (based on the manga by MAKI Youko that runs in Ribon) will be animated. The first episode will, as stated, start on 03.apr 19:00 in sat/cable channel Animax (This is the same channel that showed Ultra Maniac). Details on the animation staff and seiyuu to appear in Ribon #4 (on sale 03.mar).
Aishiteruze Baby is the story of a high school boy whose house (a.k.a, him) ends up having to take care of his little cousin Yuzuyu.

30.jan.04

AMAHARA Fuon, known for her original stories and who is usually published in The Hana to Yume and Betsu Hana to Yume (both Hakusensha side publications of Hana to Yume), will have a yomikiri in Silky Special (on sale 03.feb). Silky is Hakusensha's magazine for young women (and not so young). This will be her debut in the Silky magazines.
AMAHARA is one of those authors who have been around forever and is popular enough but has never quite managed to make it into the "A-list." Her stories lately have been leaning toward an older audicence, so I guess it's just natural that some of her stuff ends up in Silky.

29.jan.04

Very semi-official rummor has it, Aishiteruze Baby will be adapted into an anime TV series to start in Japanese sat/cable channel Animax on April 3rd. (But I'm not saying it's official until I see it announced in Ribon, where the manga runs. Ribon #3 comes out next week.)

28.jan.04

Another set of old news, this time Nakayoshi related. TACHIKAWA Megumi (St. Tail, Cyber Idol Mink, etc) has a yomikiri (one-shot) titled Gin no Mori no Densetsu in Nakayoshi Lovely (a side publication of Nakayoshi) Winter issue; AKIMOTO Nami also has one yomikiri in the same issue, BxBxB.
Tokyo Mew Mew A-La-Mode (art by IKUMI Kia) ended in Nakayoshi #2 (now on sale). TMM A-La-Mode was a continuation of Tokyo Mew Mew focused on a new character but mantaining the other girls. IKUMI will have a new yomikiri in Nakayoshi #3 (on sale 03.feb) titled Gals (?) Fight. In that same issue AKIMOTO will have a 32 pages yomikiri as furoku (free goodie), Full Moon ni Onegai.

Oh, right, Ashita no Nadja manga version by AYUMI Yui also finished in mentioned Nakayoshi #2.

Sadly Millennium Actress didn't make it to the Oscar nominations, but WATANABE Ken did! Yay! He is a pretty popular (and good) actor in Japan, so I'm happy he gets a chance for people in other countries to notice him.
I can't recommend Millenium Actress enough, and for those insterested in its creator, KON Satoshi (Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers), his new project is a TV series that starts on 02.feb titled Paranoia Agent (or alternatively, a very long secuence of kanji). You can find the page for this series here.

26.jan.04

Well, it's a miracle! Clover (by CHIYA Toriko) will continue in Cookie #4 (on sale 26.feb) after many, many months of not having new chapters out. There will be also a related drama cd, but I can't make out what it's about or how one will be able to order it (details will appear in Cookie #4).

There is a Ppoi! drama cd zenin service with the new issue of Melody (#3, on sale 28.jan), from Hakusensha. The zenin will continue through Melody #4 as well.

Kodansha's March manga new releases list is up! Worthy to mention are a new (wide ban?) edition of Card Captor Sakura (#1 on sale 05.mar, 1000 yen. Please note this is a re-edition of the manga, not a new continuation), Kamichama Karin #3 (by Koge Donbo, known for her Digi Charat, Pitaten and Fairy Sugar designs and manga; 05.mar) and Pichi Pichi Pitch #4 (26.mar). As for shounen: Tantei Gakuen Q #15 (17.mar), Air Gear #5 (17), Initial D #28 (05), Aa, Megamisama! #28 (23, it just goes on, and on, doesn't it?) and Yokohama Kaideshi Kikou #11 (spelling might be wrong, 23).

After watching Mezzo #4 I'm sorry to report that there is no end in sight to the horrid atrociousness they want us to call animation that started with episode #3.

23.jan.04

Mekakushi no Kuni just ended in Lala #3; TSUKUBA Sakura's new manga will start in Lala #5 (on sale at the end of March).
But the sad news isn't over, as Venus wa Kata Omoi will also end in next issue of Lala! (#4, on sale 24.feb) ;_; This is a bit depressing...
Lala #4 will also have double MORIO Masami fare, with the usual Omake no Kobayashi-kun chapter and one new installment of her yomikiri series Mimosa de Salad (a yomikiri series is what I call when each chapter is a one-shot story (yomikiri), but they all belong to the same storyline).

Kind of semi old news but Shounen Sunday is having even another anime series made from one of its manga (currently it has anime adaptations of Inuyasha, Metantei Conan, Konjiki no Gash! and Monkey Turn on air), Midori no Hibi. You can see the new page for the anime here.

22.jan.04

If you've seen the new Mezzo DSA TV anime and love the OP song as much as I do, know that it's from an indie group called Barnabys. And although they haven't had any CDs released yet, there is hope their two songs for the anime will be soon. You can find their page here.

Hakusensha's new releases list for March is up! Aside from the HIDAKA Banri artbook I mentioned on the 19th, some interesting releases (at least for me) are: Venus wa kata omoi #11 (05.mar), Bijo ga Yajuu #3 (05), Harutsuge Komachi #3 (05), Gakuen Alice #4 (19) and Air Master #21 (29). Worthy to mention are also Host Club #3 (05) and Hitsuji no Namida #7 (final volume, 19).

21.jan.04

Matantei Loki RAGNAROK 4th manga volume will go on sale on 10.mar.04 and will also come out in "special limited edition" with a drama CD for 1143 yen (plus 5% tax).
This is a popular manga series by KINOSHITA Sakura that was adapted into an anime TV series last year. It's now currently running in the magazine Blade from Mag Garden (who took several series that used to run in the different Gangan magazines such as Loki or Peace maker).

20.jan.04

Shameless ad for my Manga and DVD For Sale list and the Daa!Daa!Daa! DVDs I just added as well as the many shoujo manga for sale ^_^;
(Oh, and I corrected a glaring "It's" some lines below in yesterday's news, but never mind that...)

Turns out Maria-sama ga Miteru is not quite as boring once you actually understand the plot (the sister/roses thing was kind of confusing...). This is a new anime that just started a couple of weeks ago (literally) and is based on a very popular series of novels for girls. In Japan there is a big group of novel types that are closely related to manga and although it's very common for there to be a novelization of a popular anime or manga, only ocassionally do popular novels get adapted into anime (some recent examples of that happening would be Juuni Kokuki or Maborahu). In any case, all these type of novels for the teen-aged or manga/anime-fan groups come with some illustrations inside (when there is a novelization of an exisiting anime or manga, the original author or character designer usually makes the illustrations).
But back to Maria-sama ga Miteru, this is a story about a first year student in an all-girls high school, a school that is seemingly obsessed with Virgin Mary (but in a non super-religious way, this is Japan after all and it's all about how cool it looks and not what it actually means), and has a "senior student adpots junior student" system. Our heroine is a big fan of Miss TooCool, who eventually asks her to become her "little sister" so she can escape out of a bad situation; but our heroine, Yumi, knows this an declines. And yet Miss TooCool has decided to make Yumi change her mind and so life goes on. At the same time, there are many other incredibly good-manered girls that are called by names of roses (which really, is quite confusing at times) and a nearby all-male high school that appears in the first arc of the story but I have no idea if it will appear in the future since I haven't read the novels and the manga has only covered up to the end of the first arc/novel. Confused already? No? Read that last phrase three times very fast and come back again.
Maria-sama ga miteru is of the slow evolving plot type but the animation is very nice, so it's worth to check it out if you like this kind of stories.
It also runs right before Jubei-chan 2.
Which is just like Jubei-chan but with (hopefully) less episodic baddies, more frontal boobbling, weirder background characters and a extremely adorable little Koinosuke-standby.
Okay, I'll stop rambling now.
It's actually 21.jan already.
Hmph.

19.jan.04

It has been announced in the latest Hana to Yume (#4) that Hakusensha will publish 3 Illustration books in the next three months (one per month): HIDAKA Banri (Sekai de Ichiban Daikirai, Hitsuji no Namida) will go on sale on March 17th, TAKAYA Natsuki (Fruits Basket) in April, and NAKAJOU Hisaya (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e) in May. Each book will supposedly be A4 size and 1600yen (plus tax). This is all in the "Hana to Yume 30th anniversary" celebrations campaign.

Koucha Ouji will continue in issue #7 of Hana to Yume... grrr... >_< K-Ouji's cliffhangers are always horribly... cliffhanglingly >_<
But least there will be more Alice Gakuen meanwhile!

And since we are talking Hana to Yume, HIDAKA Banri's new manga will start in Hana to Yume #5 (on sale 05.feb.04). Its title is "V.B. Rose (Velvet Blue Rose)."

15.jan.04

I keep remembering old news... OBANA Miho (Kodomo no Omocha) has a new manga series that started in Cookie #2 called Honey Bitter (yes, it's a series, not a one-shot. The second chapter will appear in Cookie #3).
Cookie is a magazine by Shueisha labeled as "for young women who grew up reading Ribon" and has a mix of authors from the now defunct Bouquet and old Ribon stars who decided to move their manga into the adulthood zone .

14.jan.04

Yesterday night they showed the second episode of the anime adaptation of Gokusen, so I thought it was a good idea to talk a little about it here since it will probably become available on the net, there is not much info about it out there and there is nowhere else in my page I can rave or talk about it.
Gokusen is a manga (still being published) that runs in the magazine You from Shueisha made for young women. Usually these manga deal with OL (office ladies), young business woman or young women dealing with their marriages. However Gokusen is actually a comedy of the "new teacher deals with worst class in school and makes them see life" type except that here the teacher is the daughter of a yakuza family (who has seen much worse than the students in her care) and tries very hard not to let it show. Her school is an all-male school, so at the end it just feels like home, really ^^; Although the art of the manga is not elaborated (it usually isn't once you reach this audience age), it's really funny.
This manga was previously adapted as a life action drama tv series with a very famous actress (I forgot her name, but she appeared in TRICK between many other things) as Yankumi (the main character), and several boy band memebers as the class, with the cool guy from Arashi as the class leader. (I'm really bad with names for real people, so please forgive me ^^; )
The anime is a more faithful adaptation (the drama added several new characters) but it's got some weird talking dog... >_<;
(P.S.- When I say "daughter" I mean it in the "younger female member of a family," she is actually the grandaughter of the family head)

I checked Hot Gimmick English Release release dates at Barnes & Noble and it turns out vols.3 and 4 are sheduled for March and May. This seems awfully fast for a series that only has 8 possible volumes up to this date... I wonder if that means Hot Gimmick will be ending this year?

13.jan.04

OOYA Kazumi will have a new short story in Betsucomi #3 (on sale 13.feb.04) and AIHARA Miki will have another chapter of her episodic manga Teacher's Pet in Cheese #3 (on sale 24.jan.04). Both are Shogakukan magazines.

12.jan.04

Oh, and another old (but sadly, bad) news is that those of you fans of HIKAWA Kyouko (Kanata Kara) that were looking forward for her announced 50 pages one-shot as furoku (free goodie) for Lala #3, will have to wait some more. It was announced in Lala #2 that it has been delayed (with no future date announced). T_T

Those of you who personally know me are aware that there are certain series that aren't exactly in my to-buy list, so it's really ironic that the first "news" (except that it's not really news because it was announced 2 weeks ago) is that, guess what! Bronze--which was supposed to have finished in an earlier issue of Margaret--is making a come-back in issue #8 (on sale 19.mar.2004). Hmph.

So let's see how this works out ^^

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