Type-Moon recently re-newed the Kara no Kyoukai official movie website at www.karanokyoukai.com. According to the "new" website, instead of a single film, Kara no Kyoukai ~Garden of Sinners~ will be a 7-part movie series. The seven movies will cover all seven chapters of the original Kara no Kyoukai novel.

Also, a promotional video will be shown at the Aniplex booth during the Tokyo International Anime Fair. Other promotional events are also being planned.

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According to Yaoi Suki, in response to Libre Publishing's recent copyright infringement accusation, CPM's Managing Director John O'Donnell is currently heading to Japan to sort things out with Libre:

I spoke with Matt Geller, who works for Marketing Director David Hair. He did not have any comment yet, but promised to get back to me as soon as he did. He was, um, unaware of the situation. So, I gave him the link to the Libre site and showed him the notice.

According to Nikkei News, starting in April, manga publisher Gentosha will begin offering manga online in 7 different languages. Also announced were plans to distribute its manga around the world in six different languages (Japanese, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Taiwanese). Currently Gentosha's planned line-up includes Gravitation EX, which is being released in the U.S. by Tokyopop.

Source: Manga Jouhou

Manga top 10 according to Tohan.

1. Nana Vol.17
2. Lovely Complex Vol.16
3. One Piece Vol.45
4. Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE Vol.18
5. Sprout Vol.4
6. Ahiru no Sora Vol.15
7. Fairy Tale Vol.3
8. Cross Game Vol.7
9. The Wallflower Vol.18
10. Konjiki no Gash Vol.28

From Sporadic Sequential comes a brief interview with manga artist Usamaru Furuya (Short Cuts, Happiness). The interview originally came from volume one of Usamaru Furuya's Short Cuts manga. In the interview Furuya talks about his experience as a manga artist, and what it's like to work with an editor.

Japanese publisher Shinchosha will release a new digital magazine titled Com2 on March 23rd. The magazine is said to be Japan's first monthly digital subscription magazine that will be distributed through mobile phones. The monthly subscription fee is 350 yen. According to Shinchosha, English and Chinese versions of the magazine are also being planned for the future. The magazine can also be obtained online through eBookJapan.

According to Mainichi Daily News: "In Japan, several mobile phone Web sites already offer hundreds of novels -- classics, best sellers and works written especially for the mobile phone. Shinchosha's will be the first monthly comic book which is only available online, NHK said."

Source: BroadBand Watch

Japanese BL publisher Libre Publishing has posted a notice on its website claiming that Be Beautiful, CPM's yaoi imprint, has been illegally publishing its properties in the U.S. The notice encourages fans to refrain from buying Be Beautiful products.

An English version of the notice is available on Libre's website:

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MangaCast translates the weekly Doujinshi ranking (03/17) in Japan according to Toranoana, and the weekly BL Doujinshi ranking (03/17) in Japan according to Toranoana's BL specialty store Princess Side.

On March 14th, Enterbrain released a new magazine titled Otona Fami (Adult Famicom). The new magazine, aimed at people between the ages of 20 to 30, contains manga, game, and movies news/reviews, as well as Japanese pop culture reports from the 70s and 80s.

Source: Akadot

What does it take to be a good manga artist? A popular answer is "experience in life." According to many famous manga and anime creators, in order to become a good creator, an otaku should stop shutting themselves in their room, step outside, and live their life. However, Doraemon creator Fujiko F. Fujio disagrees...

Ayacnews has posted comments from Fujiko F. Fujio that reveals his view on manga and "What kind of people will be able to become great mangaka."

Fujiko F. Fujio's View on Manga and Manga Artists

Osamu Tezuka: "Someone who doesn't have sufficient human relations skills will not be able to create manga, because manga is a conversation between the mangaka and his readers."

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