Japan

According to theOtaku, Tezuka Productions has announced that it plans to digitize and colorize all of Tezuka's manga. Anime! Anime! has another report, a translation of which can be found here.

ANN reports that a group of 11 manga artists, including Tetsuya Chiba, Takehiko Inoue and Go Nagai, has won a lawsuit against 2 manga uploaders who uploaded their manga onto the internet. As a result, the uploaders are fined 20.5 million for copyright infringement:

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Canned Dogs reports that Miyashita Masaya, the hentai doujinshi artist who was arrested last month for not labeling his works "adult only," will be fined 300,000 yen for distribution of indecent material:

Yasamata Shiyami, the doujin author who was arrested on charges of distribution of indecent material, was ordered by the Matsuyama Small Claims Court today to pay a fine of 300,000 yen (US$2,600).

According to the latest Jump info, after 8 years of serialization, The Prince of Tennis by Takeshi Konomi will end in issue 52 of Weekly Shonen Jump. Also, Belmonde le VisiteuR by Shomei Ishioka will end in Weekly Jump No.48, and Boku no Watashi no Yusha Gaku by Shuichi Aso will end in Weekly Jump No.49.

Edit: It was later confirmed that The Prince of Tennis will not end in November.

According to Japan News Review, after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation, various manga-related stocks experienced a sudden rise on Tokyo Stock Market. According to the report, the rise is mainly caused by the expectations that the manga-loving Taro Aso will most likely replace Abe:

Among the stocks that rose on Wednesday is the Tokyo-based card game company "Broccoli," whose stocks went up from 92 yen to 157 yen, a 71% rise. Major manga retailer Mandarake saw a 13% rise, while video game retailer Koei Net went up by 15%. Toei Animation, one of Japan's largest animation studios, and Kadokawa Group Holdings, a manga publisher, both rose 3%.

Anime! Anime! and PWCW report that Digital Manga Publishing has signed a new co-labeling contract with Japanese publishers Shinshokan, Oakla Shuppan and Taiyo Tosho:

All titles licensed by DMP from these publishers will carry the original Japanese publisher's logo as well as the DMP logo. "This has never been done within the manga industry [in the U.S.],??? DMP president and CEO Hikaru Sasahara said.

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Back in June when Asahi Sonorama announced its closure, it was mentioned that Asahi Shimbun would take over Sonorama's business operations.

According to the Sonorama Bunko Monthly Hotline, Asahi Shimbun will continue to publishthree of Sonorama's manga magazines, as well as the publication of all light novels, some of which will be released under a new light novel label called Asahi Bunko Sonorama Selection.

Source: LightNovel.org

Ultimatum Tidbits reports that Ry??ji Minagawa, mangaka of Spriggan, Project ARMS and D-Live!!, will begin a new series titled ADAMAS in Kodansha's Evening No.20, on sale 9/25.

The Independent reports that the design of Nissan's latest concept car, officially unveiled at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show, was influenced by Japanese manga and animation:

"I am influenced by Japanese animation, like the film Ghost in the Shell," says Eunsun, her eyes widening as I explain that I have no idea what she is referring to. She thinks I'm joking as she continues to explain that the car is conceptually rooted in computer games, and visually influenced by manga comics, anime (Japanese animation) and Second Life.

Source: MangaBlog