Japan

topVolume 8 of PEACH-PIT's Rozen Maiden came out on June 23rd. Due to the incidents earlier this year involving Rozen Maiden, volume 8 is barely over 90 pages (a regular volume of manga totals around 200 pages).

On June 24th, the mangaka duo PEACH-PIT posted a message on their blog apologizing for the rushed "ending" of Rozen Maiden. Below is a excerpt from the post:

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topEarlier this year, Sirou Tunasima's mecha manga Jinki: Extend was dropped from Mag Garden's Comic Blade due to conflicts between Tunasima and the magazine's Editor-in-Chief. Since then Tunasima has confirmed that more than 10 publishers offered to continue carry Jinki: Extend.

Today Chuosha announced that Jinki: Extend will continue in MediaWork's Dengeki Moeoh. While no official date has been given for when the series will resume serialization, starting with the August issue Dengeki Moeoh will run special illustrations from Tunasima for three issues.

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The official website of the recently announced Juushin Enbu anime has been launched at www.jyushin.jp.

According to Ultimatum, Enterbrain's manga/novel magazine Magi-Cu (derived from Magical Cute) will cease publication after the release of volume 40 (on June 25th).

Source: Ultimatum Chat

Starting with volume 4, Kodansha's Morning 2 will become a bi-monthly magazine.

Asahi.com reports that the NPO Kotoba no Atelier has started a new Tokiwa-so project to rent low-cost housing to young manga artists:

The NPO rented four old houses in Tokyo to accommodate young cartoonists. Rents in the communal homes run from 30,000 yen to 50,000 yen a month, including utilities and Internet fees. The artists sign yearly contracts, renewable for three years.

From Mainichi Daily News comes an article on Houbunsha's Comic Yell, a new magazine that will carry girl-oriented manga aimed at men:

The success of the girl-oriented manga amongst male manga fans prompted the release of Comic Yell, Japan's first girl's manga for men.

With men's manga like Shonen Jump attracting a 50 percent female readership, Comic Yell's publishers Hobunsha figured it was time to give guys an opening into the world of shojo, or girl's, manga.

More details on Honey and Clover creator Chika Umino's new manga The Lion of March (Sangetsu no Lion) have been made available by Hakusensha. According to Young Anime's official website, the new title will begin serialization in Young Animal issue 14, on sale 7/13.

topOn June 21st, manga publisher Asahi Sonorama announced on its website that due to ongoing financial difficulties, the manga publisher will be dissolved at the end of September.

According to the president of Asahi Sonorama, the decision was made due to Asahi Sonorama's ongoing financial difficulties, as well as their aging workforce, and it was decided that a corporate restructuring would be difficult. Instead, Asahi Sonorama will be dissolved at the end of September, and Asahi Newspaper (Asahi Shimbun), which owns 100% of Asahi Sonorama's stock, will take over the Sonorama's business operations. Asahi Shimbun will also find new positions for Sonorama employees who wish to stay on.

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