The 2007 Japanese Media Arts Festival has announced its "Jury Recommended Works" for the Manga Division:

Story Manga

• OOKIKU FURIKABUTTE by Asa Higuchi
• Oyururi Mantama Nikki by Tamakichi Sakura
• MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko / Hajime Yatate, Yoshiyuki Tomino
• Sgt. Frog by Mine Yoshizaki
• Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
• 81diver by Yokusaru Shibata
• THE TOP SECRET by Reiko Shimizu
• moyasimon tales of agriculture by Masayuki Ishikawa
• USHIJIMA the Loan Shark by Shohei Manabe
• PIPPI, the Prophet by Chuya Chikazawa

Read More »

According to an announcement on the Japanese Foreign Ministry's official website, the Second International MANGA Award, a contest created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to boost Japan's pop culture, is now accepting applications from overseas manga artists. The deadline for submission if February 29th, 2008, and the contest's guidelines for application can be found here (PDF).

Source: Japan Today

Precocious Curmudgeon points out that the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has announced the final nominations for its 2008 Great Graphic Novels list:

Tokyopop leads the pack with 23 books nominated. [...] Del Rey took second place with 11, followed closely by Viz with 10, CMX and DC with 9 each, and Go! Comi with 8. First Second and Marvel each took 7 spots on the list.

Via: The Beat

The New York Magazine has announced the results of its 2007 Culture Awards. This year, two manga appeared in the "Best Comics of 2007" category, they are:

• Apollo's Song by Osamu Tezuka
• Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms by Fumiyo Kono

Via: ANN

The winners of the 2007 Japanese Media Arts Festival have been announced. One grand prize, four excellence prize, and one encouragement prize were given in each of the four categories. Below are the winners of the manga category:

• Grand Prize:
• Mori No Asagao by Mamora Gouda

Read More »

Publishers Weekly has posted a list of its print magazine's "Best Books of 2007." Three manga appeared in the list's "PW's Best Comics 2007" category:

• MPD-Psycho by Eiji Otsuka and Sho-u Tajima
• MW by Osamu Tezuka
• Tekkonkinkreet by Taiyo Matsumoto

Also, in the latest issue of PWCW, Kai-Ming Cha interviews IDW's editor-in-chief Chris Ryall regarding the publisher's entry into the U.S. manga market, while Ed Chavez reports on the growth of the new online manga translation service MangaNovel.

The new portal will illustrate reality from a new perspective, giving a new text-free look to the world of internet journalism through comics and caricature.

Hod Hasharon. Israel, Nov. 7 2007. BuzziNews, a new and unique online comics community portal will illustrate world, business, sports and entertainment current events text-free through comics and caricatures. The online portal is launching its activity with an international illustration competition awarding prizes valued at $23,000.

Read More »

From Yaoi Suki comes the annual Yaoi Awards. In '06-'07 Yaoi Awards: Finale, the winners are:

• Jen Pick: Love is Like a Hurricane / Scandalous Seiryo University
• Jordan Pick: Crimson Spell
• Global BL Award: Rush #1
• User's Choice Award: Crimson Spell

YaoiSuki's Annual Awards Are Under Way, And Voting Is Open for User's Choice Award!

PORTLAND, ORE. - October 19th, 2007 - Yaoi news and review site YaoiSuki has announced their second annual Yaoi Awards as the lead-in to the site's extensive coverage of Yaoi Con in late October. This year's lofty awards include the "Read On Mute" award for bad dialogue, the "Most Unpronounceable Title" award, and the "Thank God It's Over" award, among other prizes of varying sincerity.

Read More »

From Yaoi Suki comes the annual Yaoi Awards. In '06-'07 Yaoi Awards: Part II, the winners are:

• Fumi Yoshinaga's Shit-Ton of Titles Award: Hyouta Fujiyama
• Best Mangaka Whose Best Work is Still Unlicensed: Mika Sadahiro, Under Grand Hotel
• Best Unlicensed Mangaka: Taishi Zaou
• Thank God It's Over: La Esperanca