eBook Initiative Japan Co. has announced that starting this Tuesday it will be distributing electronic versions of Japanese manga via an internet portal site in Singapore. Special software is need to read the manga.

Source: Manga Jouhou

Manga top 10 according to Tohan.

1. One Piece vol.43
2. Ouran High School Host Club vol.9
3. Gintama vol.14
4. Honey and Clover vol.10
5. The Prince of Tennis vol.35
6. Beet the Vandel Buster vol.12
7. Steel Ball Run vol.9
8. Yu-Gi-Oh! R vol.8
9. Rurouni Kenshin Perfect Edition vol.5
10. Mr.FULLSWING vol.24

A museum called Aoyama Gôshô Furusato-kan will be built to honor Gosho Aoyama, creator of Detective Conan. The museum will be built in Gosho Aoyama's home town, and will open in March of 2007.

Source: ANN

Rin Inumaru (48), a children's manga artist and animator, most well known for her children's TV show Ojaru Maru, has commited suicide by jumping from the roof of a 14-story building in Tokyo and leaving a note behind saying "I'm not good at my job."

Source: The Comics Reporter

JCB has announced a limited edition "Nana" credit card, featuring special artworks based on the popular shoujo manga from Ai Yazawa. Only 10,000 cards will be made for each of the 3 different designs (Design 1, Design 2, Design 3). Those who apply before January 31, 2007 will also receive special Nana-related gifts, such as the twin strawberry glass used in the manga.

Pop (artist of Moetan) will be releasing a new moe/fairy tale-themed calendar in October called "Pop World Calendar 2007", the calendar is being published by Poplar Publishing.

According to Ultra Jump's website, Bastard!! by Kazushi Hagiwara may resume serialization in the October issue of Ultra Jump (9/19).

First serialized in Shonen Jump in 1988, Bastard!! was moved to Ultra Jump in 2001. Due to its history of irregular (and slow) serialization schedule, many fans dubbed Bastard!! as one of the four hiatus kings (the other three being Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter X Hunter, Yoshiki Takaya's Guyver, and Mamoru Nagano's Five Star Stories) of manga.

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The Price of Tennis will resume serialization in Weekly Jump issue 42. The manga was put on hiatus after its mangaka became ill in July.

Also two new series will start in the upcoming issues of Weekly Shonen Jump:

Issue 43 (9/25)
- "P2! -let's Play Pingpong!-" by Ejiri Tatuma

Issue 44 (10/2)
- "Hand's" by Yuichiro Itakura

Takada Kyosuke's Kami to Sengoku Seitokai (Original Story: Akahori Satoru) will end in Weekly Shonen Magazine No.42, on sale 9/20.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso made a speech on the streets of Akihabara after announcing his decision to participate in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election. A big fan of manga himself, Aso's speech at Akihibara received immense support from young anime/manga enthusiasts, with close to 10,000 people present toward the end of the speech. Video of the event can be found on YouTube.