From AoD's Jarred Pine comes an interview with Seven Seas Entertainment's Adam Arnold, who talks about Light Novels and future plans of Seven Seas.

Papo de Budega talks with Maurício and Mônica Somenzari, winner of this year's World Cosplay Summit, the world's largest cosplay competition. The Somenzari brothers were the first Brazilians to attend WCS.

France, one of the world's largest manga market, now has its own manga cafe. "Manga Kissa," orginally started in 1979 in Japan, is now a chain of 300 stores. The new manga cafe in Paris has in stock over 8,000 manga in the French language, according to the cafe, "This is the ideal source to find some peace, and not only can you find the latest releases, but also many rare and collectors items."

Del Rey has launched a redsigned version of their official website at www.randomhouse.com/delrey/manga/.

Japanese fans were asked to vote (between 7/21 - 8/31) for the top 10 manga and anime of all time for the 10th Japan Media Arts Festival, ANN as posted a translated list of the results:

1. Slam Dunk
2. JoJo's Bizarre Adventures
3. Dragon Ball
4. Fullmetal Alchemist
5. Doraemon
6. Phoenix
7. Black Jack
8. Nasicaä of the Valley of the Wind
9. Mushishi
10. Death Note

Source: ANN

Manga top 10 according to Tohan.

1. Nana vol.16
2. Kimi ni Todoke vol.2
3. Berserk vol.31
4. Fruits Basket vol.21
5. Honey x Honey Drop vol.8
6. Hana Yuri Dango Perfect Edition vol.20
7. Rozen Maiden vol.7
8. Moe Kare!! vol.7
9. Zipang vol.25
10. Hatsukare vol.9

Publishers Weekly has launched a new monthly bestseller list for comics and graphic novels, with information gathered from bookstore and comics shops data.

source: MangaBlog

Yaoi Suki has announced a new 2006 Yaoi Awards event. The first three awards are:

Rockstar Games Award for Riskiest Licensing: DramaQueen
Most Aggravating Licensor: Be Beautiful
Favorite Publisher: June

Go here to vote for "Best Manga," "Worst Manga," and "Guilty Pleasure Award."

DrMaster's parent company, DGN Productions, has launched a new graphic novel website at dgnproduction.com.

Source: ANN

A new event called Otaku Festival will be hosted at the National Dance Center and the Desant Theater in Bucharest, Romania on October 7 and 8. According to the organizers, "the purpose of the event is to encourage the otaku phenomenon in Romania."