Manga top 10 according to Tohan.

1. Nodame Cantabile Vol.17
2. Skip Beat! Vol.15
3. Major Vol.62
4. Hajime no Ippo Vol.79
5. Magic Kaito Vol.4
6. S.A Vol.15
7. Mushishi Vol.8
8. Hayate the Combat Butler Vol.10
9. Beck Vol.29
10. Shanimuni GO Vol.25

Sankei Web recently published a multi-part article on the famous anime and manga creator Leiji Matsumoto, who talks about the importance of copyrights. In Part 3, the article sums up its points and discuss what the future holds for both the industry and the consumers.

The Fear of Falling into the Abyss

"Big brother is similar to dad and both are silent /
Wonder if they sometimes drink together"

A line from a classic enka (Japanese ballard) song, "Kitaguni no haru."

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Nippon Television has announced that it will purchase a 16% capital stake in manga publisher Dijima for $1.3 million, according to a report from Variety.com. Dijima is the publisher of the free manga magazine Comic Gumbo, which made Japanese headlines as a free weekly manga magazine.

Source: Journalista

According to Weekly Shonen Magazine issue 13 preview, "Part 1" of Ken Akamatsu's Mahou Sensei Negima! will end in Shonen Magazine issue 14, on sale 3/7. The preview message reads: "Part 1 (one semester) ends!" The starting date of Negima Part 2 has not been announced.

Source: Ultimatum Talk

A new manga by Katsu Aki titled Tenchi Kaibyaku (Creation of Heaven and Earth) will begin serialization in the May issue of Kodansha's Magazine Z (3/26).

Also XEBEC's anime Heroic Age will be adapted into a manga series, which will start in the June issue of Magazine Z, on sale 4/26. A special Heroic Age "Chapter 0" will appear in Magazine Z May issue.

According to Moonphase, Iwai Kyouhei (Author) and Ruroo (Illustrator)'s light novel series Mushi-Uta (currently serialized in the light novel magazine The Sneaker) will be adapted into a manga series. The manga will begin serialization in the May 2007 issue of Shonen Ace. Also confirmed is an anime series, which will be aired sometime in 2007.

Source: Moohphase

According to information on a bookstore pamphlet promoting Kadokawa Shoten's new seinen magazine Comic Charge (to be released in March), the serialization of the popular seinen manga MPD Psycho, written by Eiji Otsuka and drawn by Sho-u Tajima, will be moved from Shonen Ace to Comic Charge.

Popular bishoujo and galgame artist Takashi Iwasaki (28) passed away (NSWF) on February 21st due to a stroke. Takashi is known for his artworks in 18+ games from Purple Software such as Aruto.

Shueisha has announced that its shonen magazine Monthly Shonen Jump will cease publication as of the July issue, on sale June 6th. According to Shueisha, the suspension is due to Monthly Jump's declining sales, which have dropped 30% since its peak.

Also, Shueisha's Public Relations Department stated that a new magazine is currently being planned to replace Monthly Shonen Jump: "We plan on creating a new magazine that is more in tune with the times, tentatively slated for a launch this fall."

Monthly Shonen Jump was launched in December of 1969 as a sister magazine of Weekly Shonen Jump. In 1989, the magazine's circulation reached 1,400,000, while last year only 420,000 copies were printed. Series serialized in Monthly Shonen Jump include Claymore by Norihiro Yagi, Beet the Vandel Buster by Riki Sanjo & Koji Inada, Captain by Akio Chiba, Mahou Tsukai Kurohime, and more. There has been no announcement regarding the future of manga currently serialized in Monthly Shonen Jump.

Source: Yahoo! Japan

Fuji Television Network recently announced a new Saturday drama show called "Saturday Drama." The first episode, a drama adaption of drama adaption of Shinobu Kaitani's Liar Game, will be aired on April 14th. Actress Erika Toda will be playing the female lead. Liar Game is currently serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump, and the tankoubon release (currently 3 volumes) has sold over 300,000 copies.

Source: Sanspo.com