Hit Shuppansha has launched the official websites for two of its adult magazines:

• Comic Aun
  - http://www.hitpub.com/aun/
• Comic Shoujo Tengoku
  - http://www.hitpub.com/syojyotengoku/

Icarus Blog points out a report from the Sun of Australia that a man was fined $9,000 after being convicted of smuggling pornographic anime, games and possibly manga during a trip back from Singapore.

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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The official site of Mag Garden's Comic Blade Avarus (the magazine that will replace Comic Blade Masamune) has been launched. According to the site, any manga in the current magazine that ends with "to be continued!!" will continue to run in Avarus. The first issue of Comic Blade Avarus will be released on 9/15.

A new bi-monthly seijin manga magazine called Buster Comic (NSFW) from TI Net was launched on 7/24.

The second issue of Take Shobo's seinen magazine, Comic Marble, was released on 7/20. It has been confirmed that the magazine will go on a quarterly release schedule, with the third issue coming out in October 2007.

Also, a new seijin manga magazine from Core Magazine called Comic Hotmilk will debut on 8/27.

Source: Ultimatum Tidbits

GoodsTrain will be launching a new label titled TwinTail for publishing novels, drama CDs and other PC games-related books. The new label, to be launched on August 24t, will start with a novel, a Drama CD and a fanbook:

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According to Jiji Press, Thailand's police arrested the managers of the maid cafe Akiba, located in Bangkok, and seized 200 volumes of obscene manga imported from Japan. ANN has a translation:

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Icarus Publishing has posted hints to 7 of its new acquisitions. In response, MangaCast lists 6 of the mentioned Icarus titles as well as two others:

• Shi Tagariya by Kagura Yutakamaru
• EroNee by Hodomi Karyu
• Yorozu Tatarareya by Togashi
• Honeybee Whispers by Uma Shika
• Imoto Natsu by Tuna Empire
• Joukou Serenade by Matsuzawa Kei
• Extract by Shimao Kazu
• Schoolgirl Mania by Fuji Katsupico

Naisho no Tsubomi Volume 3 was released on the 29th. Yu Yabuuchi's Naisho no Tsubomi is a sex-ed manga aimed at elementary school students, with a fifth-grade girl as its protagonist. The manga became extremely popular and received many praises.

However, despite Naisho no Tsubomi's success, not all manga involving sex are met with welcoming arms by the Japanese society. In fact, obscene shojo manga (smut) and lolicon manga have always been the target of various child protection groups. Recent news reports of actions taken against harmful shojo and loli manga involving excessive sexual content seem to suggest that a potential new movement is on the horizon. Below is a brief overview of current events, past "wars" and some case studies involving a breed of manga seen by many as "harmful books."

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From Icarus Publishing's blog comes a preview (NSFW) of the adult manga coming out in October 2007, based on Diamond Previews for August (Shipping in October 07).

Right Stuf is having a 33% off sale on all Icarus Publishing titles. The sale, which includes both trade paperbacks in stock and pre-order, lasts until July 18th.