Brigid Alverson's MangaBlog is two years old! In Brigid's own words:

Two years ago today, my husband showed me how to use WordPress and turned me loose with a blog of my own.

Nothing has been the same since.

Go here to read more about Brigid's thoughts on MangaBlog.

Ken Akamatsu's Mahou Sensei Negima! Part 1 (First Semester) ended in the latest issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine. According to Ken Akamatsu's online dairy (2/27 entry), Part 2 (Summer Break) will begin within a few weeks (possibly in Shonen Magazine issue 16, on sale 3/21).

Ken Akamatsu also mentioned on his dairy that a Negima-related surprise will be announced in April regarding "a plan that has never been done before."

MangaCast looks at a discussion regarding the correct type-set of "CLAMP" and the importance of an uniform style for manga-related terms. Irresponsible Pictures has an article on the same topic.

Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga 7 People’s Choice Award is now open to public voting. The voting will end on March 12, and the winning entry will be featured in the upcoming volume of Rising Stars of Manga, the winner will be awarded a cash prize of $500.

MangaCast translates the weekly Doujinshi ranking (03/03) in Japan according to Toranoana, and the weekly BL Doujinshi ranking (02/24) in Japan according to Toranoana's BL specialty store Princess Side.

Shueisha has announced that volume one of its Gintama manga has now sold over one million copies. One of the major factor behind the sudden increase in sales was the announcement of a Gintama anime. Volume 17 of Gintama will go on sale in Japan in March.

Source: ANS

ANS points out an article from Japan Now about how images of Captain Tsubasa are being used to keep water-delivering trucks from being attacked in Iraq. According to the article, Captain Tsubasa is very popular in Iraq, especially among the children.

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Manga Jouhou translates an interview with 07th Expansion, the group responsible for the popular doujin game Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni. The original interview came from Akiba Blog's K, who is also a staff from the editorial department of Square Enix's Gan Gan Powered.

Anime News Network is looking to hire a full-time Associate News Editor who will be able to take over most of its news reporting. For more information visit ANN's Staff Opening page.

A manga adaptation of Production IG's anime Sisters of Wellber has begun serialization in Mag Garden's Monthly Comic Blade. The art is drawn by Naruse Takami, who won last year's Comic Blade NEO award for most promising artist.

Source: Animaxis