According to the Yaoi Press Blog, after meeting with NETCOMICS' Heewoon Chung at this year's Comic-Con, Yaoi Press and NETCOMICS have made various agreements, one of which is that Yaoi Press will be handling NETCOMICS' U.S. convention exhibits:

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From ComicBitsOnline.com (via MangaBlog) comes an interview with Sweatdrop Studios member Emma Vieceli, a winner of Tokyopop's first UK and Ireland Rising Stars of Manga competition.

ANN reports that Sony Music Entertainment will be holding auditions for the two main female leads in the movie based on the manga Pride by Yukari Ichijo:

The manga characters Shio and Moe are aspiring opera singers and competing music college students, so the producers are looking for females between 16 and 25 years old with the desire to become singers (familiarity with the manga is recommended). The deadline for applications and demo samples is August 31.

Viz Media's Shonen Jump is hosting an excerpt of an interview with Takehiko Inoue (creator of Slam Dunk, Vagabond), who talks about his experience with basketball.

Source: Newsarama Blog

In the latest issue of Publishers Weekly Comics Week, Kai-Ming Cha interviews mangaka Arina Tanemura, who made an appearance at Viz's SDCC Shojo Beat panel last week. Also from PWCW are some more in-depth reports of this year's SDCC.

Otaku Champloo reports that today is Yaoi day:

Today we are celebrating Yaoi no Hi, an otaku holiday derived from the 801 combi that represents 'ya-o-i' in Japanese culture.

Via: MangaBlog

Acclaimed Series Blends Japanese And Western Art Styles And Offers Gritty And Surrealistic Portrayal of Disaffected Urban Youth

San Francisco, CA, August 1, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the highly anticipated release of an omnibus edition compiling the edgy and controversial manga series TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE, by acclaimed creator Taiyo Matsumoto, on September 25. The manga, which is being offered by VIZ Media's Signature imprint, is also the inspiration behind the new TEKKONKINKREET anime feature film from Sony Pictures directed by noted visual effects artist and producer Michael Arias (The Abyss, Princess Mononoke, The Animatrix).

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Smarticlesmart, Inc. today announced the launch of a new social network expressly for anime fans, www.animemine.com. The site has a unique blend of functions that will enable anime otakas (fans) to connect and share their interests, art, and music in the anime world. Officially launched on 31 July of this year, visitors to AnimeMine.com will find an array of opportunities to connect with others.

Windsor, ON -- August 1, 2007 -- Smarticlesmart Inc., owner of Smarticlesmart.com, today announced the launch of a new social network expressly for anime and manga fans, AnimeMine.com.

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Top 10 manga (8/01) according to Tohan:

1. Vagabond, Volume 26
2. Koukou Debut, Volume 9
3. Detective Conan, Volume 58
4. Keroro Gunso, Volume 15
5. Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu, Volume 8
6. Tenjho Tenge, Volume 17
7. Saiyuki Gaiden, Volume 3
8. Zipang, Volume 30
9. Kekkaishi, Volume 17
10. Shingetsutan Tsukihime, Volume 5

Additional Rankings:

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