There's a rumor going around the internet that adult manga publisher Touen Shobo and its subsidiary firm, Tsukasa Shobo, have filed for bankruptcy. Touen Shobo published an adult manga magazine called Comic Jumbo, which was suspended on July 6th (August issue).

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Kodansha has released volume 2 of DDD, a novel by Type-Moon's Kinoko Nasu, under its Kodansha BOX Imprint. When volume 1 of DDD was released, Kodansha's Editor-in-Chief praised the novel by saying: "This person (Nasu), is a genius!" This time, the editor comments that this is the "2nd chapter of the master piece representing the zero generation."

Sources:
- Akiba Blog
- Akihabara Channel

Dijima, the same company behind Comic Gumbo, has announced a new seinen magazine called Comic Akibana. A limited number of a preview Issue 0 of the magazine will be distributed in Akihabara this October.

Shueisha has updated Jump Square's official site with more info on the magazine's launch and manga lineup.

Also mentioned on the site is that 3 special Claymore compilation books will be released in September, October and November respectively to celebrate the launch of Jump SQ.

Jump SQ's initial lineup can be found below:

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According to an e-mail announcement, Anne Ishii, Vertical's marketing manager, is leaving the manga publisher later this month, and will be replaced by Steve Vrattos.

Source: The Comics Reporter

After making its debut at this year's SDCC, Yen Press has issued a press release regarding its latest licenses:

Hot on the heels of a successful debut at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, the newly formed graphic novel imprint Yen Press has announced that Little, Brown Book Group UK will simultaneously distribute Yen's upcoming list in Britain beginning next month.

Source: MangaBlog

Details on this year's MangaNEXT convention, which takes place from October 5th to 7th at the Crowne Plaza Meadowlands in Secaucus, NJ, is available on Active Anime's forum:

We are currently accepting submissions for Panels, Workshops and discussion groups. If you are interested in running one please fill out the form on our webpage, http://www.manganext.org/2007/panels . The deadline is August 15th and there are discounts in running a panel or workshop.

According to Nekoare Blog, a certain "reliable" source from 2ch is claiming that Hunter X Hunter will resume serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump within the next few months. However, according to Canned Dogs, "it'll stop again after Jump finishes publishing all the chapters that have been drawn so far."

Source: Nekoare Blog

eBOOK Initiative Japan, the company behind eBookJapan, has opened a new special e-book site aimed at adult women.

The new website, eladycomi.com, will carry manga divided into four categories:

• Ladies Comics for adult romances
• Teen's Love for teenagers
• Young Love to depict the romances and private lives of 20-early-30's professionals
• Harlequin to depict "adult love stories"

Also available is eboyslovo.com, which, as its name implies, carries yaoi manga and novels.

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Publishers Weekly reports that Kinokuniya, the largest bookstore chain in Japan, will open a new store this October in New York City. Among events planned for the one-week grand opening in early October are appearances by artists, editors, and translators from Viz Media and an Osamu Tezuka art exhibition.