In late 2006, Leiji Matsumoto accused J-Pop singer Noriyuki Makihara of plagiarizing lyrics from the Galaxy Express 999 manga, and announced that he would like to hear an apology from Makihara.

Now Makihara Noriyuk has filed a 22 million yen lawsuit against Leiji Matsumoto for "repeated demands for an apology and false accusation."

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Sankei Web recently published a multi-part article on the famous anime and manga creator Leiji Matsumoto, who talks about the importance of copyrights. In Part 3, the article sums up its points and discuss what the future holds for both the industry and the consumers.

The Fear of Falling into the Abyss

"Big brother is similar to dad and both are silent /
Wonder if they sometimes drink together"

A line from a classic enka (Japanese ballard) song, "Kitaguni no haru."

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Sankei Web recently published a multi-part article on the famous anime and manga creator Leiji Matsumoto, who talks about the importance of copyrights. In Part 2, Leiji Matsumoto discusses the differences between imitation and creativity.

Battles on Copyright - Mimicry is not Creativity

Matsumoto, who is currently in charge of copyright issues at the Japan Cartoonists Association, is proposing to extend the copyright limit from 50 years to 70 years.

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Sankei Web recently published a multi-part article on the famous anime and manga creator Leiji Matsumoto, who talks about the importance of copyrights. In Part 1, Leiji Matsumoto discusses the pains and burdens a manga creator and his or her family faces, and the importance of copyright protection.

Battles on Copyright - Leiji Matsumoto Talks about Creators' Thoughts

"Creators fall dead in front of the wall of creativity." Veteran manga creator Leiji Matsumoto expresses the "labor pains" of creators in these words.

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Police Japan has published an article commenting on Leiji Matsumoto's accusation of J-Pop Singer Noriyuki Makihara plagiarizing Galaxy Express 999 lyrics. In the article, Matsumoto was quoted saying both Gundam and Star Wars were inspired by his works.

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ANS reports that a new Leiji Matsumoto museum will be built in Kitakyushu. The museum is estimated for completion in 2009, and the redevelopment required is estimated to be several billion yen:

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Leiji Matsumoto (68) is known for creating Space Battleship Yamato, Captain Harlock, and many other classic series. Recently Leiji Matsumoto announced that parts of his script from Galaxy Express 999 has been stolen by the 37 years old J-Pop singer and songwriter Noriyuki Makihara, and was used in the singer's lyrics in Chemistry's recent album "Yakusoku No Basho" (Promised Place).

Although Leiji Matsumoto said that he won't incriminate the singer, he Noriyuki Makihara will apologize to him: "We are interested in his next action."

According to Leiji Matsumoto, the phrase stolen came from volume 21 of Galaxy Express 999: "時間は夢を裏切らない、夢も時間を裏切ってはならない" (The dream never fails the time, and the time also never fails the dream.) The phrase was also used in the live-action play of Galaxy Express 999. In the "Promised Place," the phrase was modified into "夢は時間を裏切らない、時間も夢を決して裏切らない" (The word order is reversed).

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A new series from Leiji Matsumoto (Galaxy Express 999, Captain Harlock) titled Hotaruna You will debut in the December issue of Kodansha's Monthly Comic Bon Bon, on sale on 15th November 2006.

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Submarine Super 99 (original creator: Leiji Matsumoto) and Babel II: Beyond Infinity will be aired on the Brazilian Animax Channel. Submarine Super 99 will start on Thursday at 10:30 a.m., and Babel II will start on Friday at 10:30 a.m..

"Tank Tankrou" by Sakamoto Gajou, "The Adventure on Mars" by Ooki Noboru, " Space Strategy #1" by Leiji Matsumoto. Nowadays publishers are beginning to reprint these classic series from the early days of manga, which are becoming popular among adult manga fans.

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