DrMaster Manga Updates
A thread at the DrMaster Forums indicates that Iron Wok Jan will be continued, Bride of Deimos will be discontinued, and that they will continue Crayon Shin Chan whenever the anime gets a tv broadcast. At Anime News Service, it was suggested, but not confirmed, that the anime would be released in the U.S. this year. Sources: Thaks to Daniel for the Jagged Team link

Japan Society Manga Event
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: As we gear up to celebrate our 100th Anniversary, we are thrilled to present an exciting program aimed to introduce an innovative new method to learn Japanese-through manga! This program, entitled Manga Mania! Quick and Easy Tips to Read Manga, will feature renowned author and translator, Wayne Lammers. His recently published work, Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar & Structure, provides an in-depth alternative Japanese language textbook using various manga excerpts and examples and Mr. Lammers will present quick and easy tips on using manga to learn Japanese. Joining Lammers will be Fred Schodt, author of Manga! Manga! and Dreamland Japan, who will provide background on the explosion of manga's popularity here in the U.S. Patrick Macias, author of TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion and co-author of Cruising the Anime City - An Otaku Guide to Neo-Tokyo, will moderate this one of a kind discussion and Japanese lesson!

Shueisha Brings Manga Settings To Life
The Shueisha girls' comics magazine event "Comic Party" has kicked off in Shibuya at Parco SR6 on Friday. Scenenery settings based on original ones found in the manga series NANA (dressing room), Hachimitsu To Kuroba and Love Con projected on to a screen where visitors can interact. Likewise a "Wall Scribbling System" will present so that particpants can leave their mark on the wall of the nightclub. Related products will also be sold such as reproduction manuscripts and postcards. Life-size character figures from Love Con will be on display. Entrance is free, the event runs through April 12th.

eigoMANGA Headed To Eisner's And Internet
eigoMANGA is pleased to announce that the company has officially entered its two comic book publications series, RUMBLE PAK and SAKURA PAKK as nomination contenders for the 2005 Eisner Awards. To celebrate, eigoMANGA's website will release the complete first series of RUMBLE PAK and SAKURA PAKK online for free at www.eigoMANGA.com.

Go Comics Teams With Tokyopop To Bring Manga To Mobiles
In an exclusive arrangement, TOKYOPOP and GoComics have launched three original properties for wireless use. Princess Ai, @Large and ShutterBox are now available to mobile operators and their subscribers. Manga graphic novels are a Japanese comic phenomena that has quickly become the fastest growing segment of North American book retail sales. "Everything is manga these days," says GoComics CEO Chris Pizey. "Book stores' comic book shelves are dominated by this style of art. It's tremendously exciting to be working with TOKYOPOP to bring the hottest graphic trend in the world to mobile phone users." Manga graphic novels appeal to the new generation of young adults - men and women both - increasingly influenced by international culture, by mixing traditional action with elegant stories about human relationships. "Princess Ai is the #1 selling manga hit comic that appeals to women 16-25. @Large has a following of men 18-30 and ShutterBox is favored by women 13 to 20. These are great demographics for mobile phone users." "We are delighted to work with GoComics in bringing our popular manga titles to the small screen." says Kathryn Klingler, Director of Licensing for TOKYOPOP.

New Ah! My Goddess Manga Format
Things From Another World mentions that volume 21 of Oh My Goddess will have 176 pages, come in a 5x7 size, and be printed from right to left, just like the Japanese version. Retail is $10.95. Expect it to be available in July. Source: Jagged Team

Studio Plug And Play Sued By Shogakukan
According to the post to www.studioplugnplay.com:

Gankutsuou Manga Announced
The manga version based on GONZO's Gankutsuou (Count of Monte Cristo) TV animation has been announced to run in Afternoon. Series Director Mahiro Maeda will pen the comic based on the story drafted by Arihara Yura. Gankutsuou is based on the original novel by Alexandre Dumas. Details were published in the April issue of "Monthly Afternoon" released on February 25.

Broccoli Acquires Kamui License
Broccoli Books, the company known for localizing the popular manga series Aquarian Age ? Juvenile Orion, has announced that they have acquired the publishing rights for the series KAMUI. The first volume of KAMUI is slated to be released in Summer 2005. KAMUI is a fantasy-action shoujo manga series by Shingo Nanami and published by Square Enix in Japan. KAMUI originally ran in Stencil magazine, the same magazine that ran Aquarian Age ? Juvenile Orion. KAMUI is currently running in Gan Gan Wing. Currently up to volume eight in Japan, KAMUI is a classic tale about fighting supernatural powers to save the world. �gThis epic story is something our Juvenile Orion fans will really enjoy,�h says managing editor Shizuki Yamashita. About KAMUI Spirits known as kamui are thrown into chaos when the sacred spirit Okikurumi is taken from Atsuma�fs village, and the imbalance threatens to destroy Earth. Infused with the spirit of an ancient sword, Atsuma must leave his village to reclaim Okikurumi. He encounters NOA, an organization of youths who wield the power of the kamui, and who may hold the key to Okikurumi. Atsuma is recruited into NOA by Sumire, a young woman with an empty soul who yearns for a miracle. Atsuma and his new companions must work together to find Okikurumi before the world is destroyed.

Mamoru Nagano Interview Video
Kadokawa Shoten has posted a new Flash video interview with prolific Five Star Stories manga artist and writer Mamoru Nagano. The occasion is the release of the long awaited revised compilation: Five-Star Stories Volume 2 2005 EDITION.

2nd Dr.Koto Shinryoujo Series
Dr. Koto Shinryoujo (Dr. Koto's Clinic) has boomed in Japan recently. The story, based on the manga by Takatoshi Yamada was made into a popular TV drama in 2003 which was shown on Fuji Television starring Yoshioka Hidetaka Takashi and Shibasaki Kou. In 2004 Koto took the Shogakukan Manga Award in General Category. Thursday it was revealed in Japan the second series is to begin in Weekly Young Sunday Magazine No.13. In the story, Koto leaves behind his former girlfriend, an obstetrician-gynecologist at a university hospital in Tokyo, to take this job and she cannot fathom why Koto, a fairly skilled surgeon, would want to practice in the Pacific. The work has been responsible for a recent medical themed manga boom in Japan.

First Obscenity Judgement Against Manga
In a landmark ruling in the Japanese court system, the first judgment stemming from obscenity charges has come down against a manga. The key figure in the case is Motonori Kishi (54) who first started his publishing company Shobunkan in 1968. He was arrested pending the release of his manga Honey Room, the charge being distributing obscene material. Tokyo's District Court found Kishi guilty on January 13, sentencing him to one year in prison and suspension for three years. The verdict has the adult rich comics industry in Japan in quite a nervous state. Ashita No Joe mangaka Tetsuya Chiba appeared in court as a defendant side witness. According to the testimony of A Tokyo Metropolitan Police inspector, the investigation was started based on a memo from LDP Diet member Katsuei Hirasawa. The defendant's side argued that charge violated the constitution that secures the freedom of expression. An appeal is currently underway and a hering is scheduled for March 17th.