Hot sequel to hugely popular best selling manga series receives historic simultaneous worldwide release

Los Angeles, CA (February 12, 2007)-TOKYOPOP, leader of the Global Manga Revolution, and Gentosha Comics, one of Japan's top manga publishers,are proud to announce their historic partnership for the simultaneous worldwide release of Gravitation EX, the eagerly awaited sequel to Maki Murakami's best selling cult-classic manga series, Gravitation.

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A month ago PEACH-PIT's Rozen Maiden went on hiatus in Gentosha's Comic BIRZ magazine, with a message from PEACH-PIT that said: "Our work has been suspended, if the editorial team decides to explain the situation, it will be in the next issue [of Comic BIRZ], until then we cannot disclose any details regarding the matter, it is very regrettable."

The March issue of Comic BIRZ has been released, and while Rozen Maiden did not appear in the magazine or the preview for the next issue, the only explanation available was a small message in the TOC (Table of Contents): "Suspension due to circumstances."

PEACH-PIT's manga Rozen Maiden is so popular that it is even read by Taro Aso, Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs. However, it seems the manga recently ran into some trouble with Comic BIRZ (the magazine it's serialized in).

Recently Rozen Maiden suddently went on hiatus in Gentosha's Comic BIRZ. PEACH-PIT's information website "Ohirome Calendar" states that "Our work has been suspended, if the editorial team decides to explain the situation, it will be in the next issue [of Comic BIRZ], until then we cannot disclose any details regarding the matter, it is very regrettable."

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Gentosha released its 2006 mid-term financial report on November 15th.

According to the report, while the domestic Japanese publishing business has been on a decline with the decrease in operating profits and such, Gentosha's revenue is still on the same level as its revenue during the same period last year. Although Gentosha's results this year were affected by the decline of the overall publishing business, the comics business itself showed a positive trend.

The number of books published by Gentosha this year is 12 points higher compared to last year's 98 points; however, the number of reprints have decreased. Sales in the first half of 2006 amounted to 3,864 million yen (-4.3% from last year), and operation profit was 770 million yen (-28.0% from last year).

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Rozen Maiden volume 7 Limited Edition will come with a 6cm tall "Shinku (Crimson) Figure," for 2940 yen.