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 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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According to a report (PDF) from the Digital Content Association of Japan, sales of e-books, including manga, through mobile phone grew 331.3% in 2006 (from 1.6 billion yen to 6.9 billion yen), while non-phone internet sales increased by 69.7% from 4.8 billion yen to 8.1 billion yen.

Source: ANN

The winner of the 1st Morning Internation Manga Competition (MIMC) was decided in July. While Kodansha has not announced the winner, according to a leaked from Tokyopop, Rem, the artist of Tokyopop's manga Vampire Kisses, has won the competition with her manga Kage no Matsuri. The winner of MIMC will receive $5,000, as well as possibly having their work serialzed in Kodansha's magazine.

According to a flyer from Rem, Kodansha will publish Kage no Matsuri in the October issue of Morning2 magazine. Kage no Matsuri will appear on the cover of the magazine, and will also be getting a full page spread in the magazine.

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Masahito Soda (capeta creator)'s manga Subaru will resume serialization in Big Comic Spirits No. 36+37 (8/6) under the titled Moon (Subaru ~solitude standing~).

Also, a new manga by Hiromi Morishita titled Yoru, Umi e Kanru Basu will begin serialization in Manga Action issue 16 (8/7).

Source: Ultimatum Tidbits

Top 10 manga (8/08) according to Tohan:

1. Naruto, Volume 39
2. Bleach, Volume 29
3. D.Gray-man, Volume 12
4. Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Volume 16
5. Gintama, Volume 19
6. Bleach Official Bootleg Karaburi+ (Colorful Bleach)
7. Team Medical Dragon, Volume 14
8. Shin Say Hello to Black Jack, Volume 2
9. Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu, Volume 8
10. Vagabond, Volume 26

Additional Rankings:

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