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Date: 11/1/2005

Latest News
1-3-05 (6:44PM EDT)---- Cyndi Lauper Meets With Puffy AmiYumi
American singer Cyndi Lauper is in Tokyo this week to meet with Puffy AmiYumi (Sankei Sports has a picture of them together). Puffy recorded a track on her new covers album "The Body Acoustic" which releases in Japan on the 9th. It was the first time the 3 girls met in person. Lauper said she saw the advertisement of the animated cartoon Hi Hi PUFFY AMIYUMI around New York. When Cyndi requested a handshake, Ami Onuki said she was deeply moved because she jhad listened to Lauper since she first was interested in western style music as a school child. Cyndi did a live concert for J-WAVE on Thursday, about 2000 people gathered. She said she would return to Japan in April.
1-3-05 (2:54PM EDT)---- Longest Running Manga Serials
What is the reigning longest running manga serial published in Japan? Coming in first place is Osamu Akimoto's Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo (1976-) (This is the Police Station in Front of Kameari Park in Katsushika Ward) with 146 volumes released (vol. 147 will hit the market soon). Arriving in second place is Takao Saito's Golgo 13 (1968-) which has 138 volumes released. Runners up include Kazuo Koike's Jitte Monogatari (110 volumes), Biminbo (92 volumes), Abusan (84 volumes) and Haguregumo (80 volumes), Jojo No Kimyou Na Bouken (80 volumes), Kotaro Makaritooru (80 volumes), Minami No Teiou (78 volumes), Shizuka Naru Don 74 (volumes), Hajime No Ippo (73 volumes), Keirin Yarou (56 volumes), Yousei Kuni No Kishi (51 volumes), Ouke No Monshou (50 volumes), Garasu No Kamen (42 volumes).
1-3-05 (2:19PM EDT)---- Ishihara Satomi To Star In N's Darama
Japanese actress Ishihara Satomi will star in Fuji Television's upcoming drama "N's (nurse)". The series will start airing on January 10th 2006. This will be the first drama role for the actress. The story tells of passionate nurse who fights against the manager of a hospital and doctors who thinks medical treatment is mere business. N's is based on the popular manga by Koshino Ryou titled N's Aoi and serialized in Kodansha's Morning magazine.
1-3-05 (2:01PM EDT)---- Aiko And Mero In Crayon Shinchan
It's been revealed Japanese snowboarding star Mero Imai and Skiing champ Aiko Uemura will voice characterizations of themselves in an upcoming episode of the Crayon Shinchan TV series. The roles come as part of a public service for the Ski Association of Japan. The episode "Let's go skiing (temporary title)" will broadcast in front of the Turin Olympics. It's said that the skiing population in Japan has been reduced by half from 15 million in the latter half of the 1970's to only seven million people now.
1-3-05 (1:46PM EDT)---- First Original Manga To Be Marketed On Cell Phones
In an industry first BitWay and Kodansha are teaming up to offer mobile phone delivery of two full-color manga works on the 16th of November. mune kyun keiji 2 miruku cc and hou eru majan nyuumon moejan! will be offered to third generation Vodafone units, expanding to NTT DoCoMo and KDDI by next January. Serials will cost 105 Yen each.
1-3-05 (1:20PM EDT)---- Gackt In Dirge Of Cerberus
Watch Impress mentions reports Japanese rocker Gackt will provide music themes for the upcoming Square / Enix Game Final Fantasy VII: Dirge Of Cerberus. Addtionally he will also appear in the game as a character.
1-3-05 (1:09PM EDT)---- Moegaku Video
The official website for the Moe English learning software Moegaku has uploaded windows video files of the game's OP and commercial ad.
1-3-05 (12:47PM EDT)---- Visit With Kojima
Konami TV has video of one lucky French fan who got to meet with Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima in Japan.
1-3-05 (12:02PM EDT)---- Gundam Otaku To Blast Off In Fall 2006
Former Livedoor Director Daisuke Enomoto announced he will depart into space next autumn as the fourth Russian Space Tourist. Enomoto will stay in the International Space Station for about 1 week when his Soyuz rocket docks with it after a launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. He contracted the 20 million dollar trip with the USA based Space Adventures last November. His medical inspection has been completed and training in Russia was started in October. He reiterated plans to build a Gundam model and cosplay while in space. Only 6 Japanese have ever been launched into orbit.
1-3-05 (11:40AM EDT)---- DICE Airs In Japan
Animax mentions Bandai Entertainment and Xebec's TV collaboration DICE is scheduled to air under the title "Dinobreaker" from Tuesday, Dec. 6th at 18:30. The work first aired in the U.S. in 2004. The Japanese dubbing and packaging is being handled by the network as it's debut "Animax Original Anime".
1-3-05 (11:27AM EDT)---- Free Anime Stream
Gyao Animation has began freely streaming episodes of the anime TV series kaitei shounen marin, toppojijo and kurenai sanshirou. supa fisshingu guranda musashi begins running Nov. 11th.
1-3-05 (10:55AM EDT)---- Anime / Manga Gaming
IT Media has some images from SEGA's Private Show 2005 Autumn where they announced After Burner Climax, Metal Slug 6 and Virtua Fighter 5.
Rakuten has details of Konami's Gradius Portable, set to release to PSP on February 9th, 2006. The game will include past titles Gradius I-IV. An emulator style instant save and pause system can be done from the pause screen at anytime during game play. Additionally, some omake media will be included on the UMD such as original video from GRADIUS DELUXE PACK (PS), GRADIUS III&IV (PS2) and GRADIUS (PS). A music gallery is also added covering Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius III and Gradius IV. The music from the X68000 edition of Gradius and Gradius II has also been added.
1-3-05 (10:43AM EDT)---- Gundam SEED Destiny Complete Best Debuts
Oricon reports that the new CD release, Gundam SEED DESTINY Complete Best has debuted in second place on it's daily album chart. The opening and ending themes by TM Revolution and Hitomi Takahashi that became number 1 hits are collected on the CD. A complete best album was released for the Gundam SEED TV series in 2003 which also hit second place, with 332,000 units sold.
1-2-05 (11:11PM EDT)---- Be Beautiful Announces New Yaoi Manga
Be Beautiful, North America's leading yaoi graphic novel publisher, made news this weekend at Yaoi-Con 2005 in San Francisco, CA, announcing four new releases in its yaoi line, a new Signature Edition DVD of Kizuna: Bonds of Love, based on the best-selling yaoi graphic novel of all time, and a special contest letting fans name yaoi superstar Ms. Kazuma Kodaka's newest work.
To a packed house of energetic fans, Be Beautiful's publisher, Masumi Homma O'Donnell, spoke about Be Beautiful's rapid growth and current status as the foremost North American yaoi publisher, and the constant, overwhelming support the imprint has received from readers every step of the way. "There is no question that American readers love the yaoi genre, and that yaoi is becoming accepted within the mainstream markets," she said, referring to the female-oriented illustrated romantic graphic novel genre featuring "impossibly beautiful men."

Introducing Ms. Kazuma Kodaka, author of Kizuna: Bonds of Love and Japan's best-selling yaoi author, Ms. O'Donnell noted that the ten volume Kizuna series has been reprinted over 35 times since its first publication in 1992, resulting in sales in excess of ten million units, making Kizuna the best-selling yaoi graphic novel in Japanese publishing history. In addition to the US and Japanese editions, Kizuna has been translated into various Asian languages, and in Italian and German editions for the European markets. "I am happy to be able to show my work to English-speaking readers," Ms. Kodaka commented. "It has always been my dream to share my vision with a world-wide audience." Showing its continued dedication to both yaoi manga and Yaoi-Con, Be Beautiful unveiled five of its 2006 releases for the first time:

Midaresomenishi:
A tale of samurai love by Kizuna author and Yaoi-Con 2005 Guest of Honor Kazuma Kodaka, Ms. Kodaka herself made a surprise appearance at the Be Beautiful panel to make this announcement. Midaresomenishi is the story of the samurai Shirou, a man with violently red hair and a temper to match. Shirou is sent away to become a priest, but bandits capture him and his brother, Fujimaru, along the way. Shirou submits to becoming the bandit leader's love slave in order to spare his brother punishment; however, the event leaves Shirou forever changed. Midaresomenishi follows Shirou and his sexual odyssey throughout feudal Japan in search of the one man who can tame him. Violent, tragic, beautiful, and graphic, Midaresomenishi is the story of a man who lives by the sword and dies for love.

Midaresomenishi is coming in 2006, but before it does, Be Beautiful is giving fans a chance to be involved in the book's creation, allowing visitors to http://www.bebeautifulmanga.com/ to vote for one of three possible English titles. The poll is open until December 1, 2005 with the winning name to be announced the following day. One lucky voter will be selected to win the eight-foot Midaresomenishi banner unveiled at Be Beautiful's Yaoi-Con panel, autographed by author Kazuma Kodaka.

Boku No Koe:
From Youka Nitta, author of Embracing Love. Boku No Koe follows a young voice actor who dreams of making it big in the industry, but when he finally gets his chance he gets cold feet. Surrounded by voice acting legends, he can't help but feel insignificant. Will his seniors take him in and show him everything they know about voice acting -- and love?

YEBISU Celebrities:
By Shinri Fuwa. At a design firm called Yebisu Graphics, only the best ? and the best looking ? are accepted. It's a place for classy design, classy society, and classy love affairs. The cute new part-timer, Haruka Fujinami, happens to catch his boss's eye. Is he only getting teased, or is there something more between them?

Play Boy Blues:
By Shiuko Kano. Junsuke is the number one companion in a host club where Shinobu used to work. They have been in a relationship for a year, but as they start to get serious, Shinobu questions his commitment. With Junsuke's active lead, their relation has developed significantly but is sometimes disturbed by jealousy and pride. Where is their love going to end up with?

Kizuna: Signature Edition DVD:
Both episodes of Be Beautiful's Kizuna OVA will be made available in a special Signature Edition in March 2006. Collecting both volumes into one, the Signature Edition includes a special audio commentary by Kazuma Kodaka, a video interview with Kodaka, footage of her Japan Society and Kinokuniya appearances, and -- for the first time -- an English-language audio track in addition to the Japanese.

1-2-05 (10:53PM EDT)---- TYO Establishes Animation Course
TYO will start a new course dealing with animation in the Department of Art at Nihon University. The Department consists of eight subjects such as movie, art and literature, plays, and broadcasting. Names such as Yoshiyuki Tomino, Noboru Ishiguro, Junichi Sato, Shi Aoyama and Kentaro Miura were all graduates of the school.
1-2-05 (10:17PM EDT)---- Nihonbashi Becomes Otaku's Sacred Ground In Osaka
We previously reported that Osaka's Nihonbashi district was rapidly becoming the Suginami of the region with many CG animation companies setting up shop there. Now Asahi Shimbun reports it has rapidly become the Akihabara of Osaka as well. According to their report, Otaku hobby shops, maid coffee shops, specialty merchandise stores etc. have all sprung up in the area. In all it's currently estimated that there are about 50 otaku related shops in Nihonbashi, accounting for about 10 percent of all shops there. An Information paper called "Otamapp" is published every other month listing many spots of interest. First was published in July, 5,000 copies were said to have disappeared in one week. The area got it's big start as an "electric town" in the 1940's where many shops sold radio parts. Computers were sold there in the 1980's. The specialty store of the Otaku hobby increased rapidly from the end of the 90's.
1-2-05 (9:52PM EDT)---- Teacher Designed Cardgame Takes Off
Asahi Shimbun reports a Japanese teacher designed his own "History Character" and "Administrative Division" cardgames and they've been picked up in elementary schools nationwide. Tsutomu Mitsuhashi (39) of Chiba prefecture got the idea when the Pokemon trading card craze took off several years ago. The cards use a combat system that lets players work in teams. He handrew illustrations for more than 140 types of cards during the winter break last year. 20,000 cards were sold in April when a company, shingakusha sold it via the direct sale of the school for 350 Yen each. It is said that one hundred poem-cards with will hit the market in December.
1-2-05 (9:14PM EDT)---- China Needs 150,000 Workers In Animation Industry
According to a statement released by The embassy of the people's republic of China in Japan the nations of China, Japan and South Korea have come to a new cooperation agreement which will hopefully strengthen their respective animation industries. It's said China currently has about 10,000 people working in animation in the country while the demand for that type of talent had gone up to 150,000 people. The statement was issued from Chengdu on November 1st. It was agreed the special talent of the cultural industry of China, especially the talent of the animated cartoon is very insufficient, and a big support of South Korea and Japan is hoped for in respect of the talent training now.
1-2-05 (8:47PM EDT)---- Comic SEED Publication Suspended
Penguin Shobo announced they are indefinitely suspending the publication of Comic SEED. The move comes as the company's Penguin Bookstore Ltd. is liquidated. Additionally on Thursday it was revealed the HP will not be able to be updated in the future and all contents will be removed. The following statement was issued: "Thank you truly for the readers' strong rootings over three years." Serials published in the monthly manga anthology included hanamusubi by nakashima chizuna, arufa +a by kohi, -hitaki- by haruo and yaezaki kaoru, shiritsu irodori ryou koukou chou nouryoku bu by ishida akira, yoikonomirai! by kiduki akira, gemuya san by harukaze michinin, akeometsu! by kazumi yoshiyuki, yuai etoranze by seise hiroki, taigan jouju komomodesho! by marunosuke, not simple by ono natsume, anshanka by sai maya, rili:f by kanou matsuru and w-edge by chuushin akira.
Although not mentioned officially, it's been reported via some blogs that the bookstore had suddenly declared bankruptcy. According to those same sources prospects of a restart for the magazine are not high. All book titles released through the publisher are expected to fall out of print as well.

1-2-05 (8:35PM EDT)---- Totoro Lawn Art
The Daily Tohoku reports a PTA has produced lawn art associated to Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro in the yards of five households and the schoolyard of a local elementary school in Japan. The theme is the cat bus from the film. The size of the art produced is 50 meters in width and 40 meters in length. The outline was drawn with vinyl tape in the first ten days of October, and fertilizer was added along the line.? As a result, the part where the fertilizer was laid gradually turned blue. Production was postponed because the state of turf was bad last year though this school made the schoolyard a lawn in 2001 managed by the "Mowing corps" organized by PTA etc. The plan was to produce lawn art at the same time each year. The character for "Welcome Home" was added under the picture of the cat bus.
1-2-05 (8:33PM EDT)---- Mega Hobby Tsubasa Chronicle Figures
Mega Hobby is gearing up to release a series of high quality Tsubasa Chronicle figures in November based on the popular CLAMP Manga and anime TV series. The set includes characters Sakura, Shou Ookami, Kuro Kou, Mokona and Tomoyo. The 120mm tall figures will sale for 630 Yen each. Sale has been scheduled nationwide in Japan among large animation and hobby shops.
1-2-05 (8:10PM EDT)---- Limited Edition Zac II Model
Famitsu mentions Bandai Network's LaLaBit Market is gearing up to release a 1/12 assembly type model kit 'HY2M 1/12 MS-06S ZAKUII 2005 REAL COLOR VERSION'. The model is of the Zac II MS piloted by Char in the Mobile Suit Gundam series. It will be a limited edition release with only 350 units to be produced. The price is 260,000 Yen. The assembled product is 1.47m tall and about 30kg in weight. Attached with easch is a "Metal premium plate with serial number".
1-2-05 (7:25PM EDT)---- Monster Farm 5 To Be Bundled With OAV
Tecmo has announced the latest version of it's popular Monster Farm virtual pet fighter / rpg will include a DVD featuring a special OAV. Known as Monster Rancher in the USA, Monster Farm 5: Circus Caravan will hist retailers across Japan on Wednesday, November 16. A 5 minute video clip along with 2 other video previews of the OAV and game can be streamed here. Actress Kumiko Endo is taking charge of the voice of the hero Jurio. It's said a special monster appears in the game when the DVD is used.
1-2-05 (7:58PM EDT)---- Tokimeki Coming To PSP
Konami Style has some details on their long running dating sim Tokimeki Memorial which will be soon coming to PSP. It carries the subtitle of Forever With You and is scheduled to release in the spring of 2006.
1-2-05 (7:17PM EDT)---- Saitama City Awarded
Saitama City has been selected to receive the Manga No Nichi Bunka Taishou for 2005. The prize is awarded to the person or team that contributed to the spread and development of manga production. An awards ceremony was held in Tokyo on the 31st. In the past, Kochi Prefecture etc. that sponsored "Cartoon Koshien" took the prize established in 2003 by the Japan Cartoonists Association which consists of three publishing companies.
1-2-05 (6:43PM EDT)---- FAVO Comic Pack
For the aspiring digital manga artists out there WACOM has just announced a November 4th release in Japan for their low priced FAVO Comic Pack. The set is composed of a pen, A6 size tablet and six software titles for comics / illustration creation etc. A retail price has been set at 8,988 Yen. The set iscompatible with Windows 98 SE/Me/2000/XP. The pen tablet set is marketed towards illustration creation fans. The set has been the continuous leader in sales for six months, since it's first relase. The pen and tablet included is an evolution of a previous release which had about 60% customer base in women aged 10-20's. Moreover, four of the six bundled software titles are upgraded and support was added for the newest functions. The tablet includes a scroll wheel which controls image's orientation. Reading resolution is plus or minus 0.5mm and the speed of reading is 100 points or less/sec in 0.0125mm. The pen relies on pressure to draw and includes an eraser. The interface is USB. Software titles bundled include Full spec version paint software "Pixia" for Wacom, graphic tool "ComicStudio" only for the cartoon of Selshis, and The watercolor soft "Watercolor LITE", etc. The guide book by five artists including the CG making technique is attached to Pixia.
1-2-05 (6:31PM EDT)---- Cup Noodle In Space
PCWEB mentions a new commercial spot for Cup Noodle partially filmed on the International Space Station. The theme of the CM spot is "NO BORDER" and has a soundtrack by Mr.Children. Therein Russian cosmonauts Valery Tokarev Sergei Krikalev filmed parts of the commercial in the Zvezda module. A Soyuz rocket took up the movie camera material, the cup noodle, and the 2 cosmonauts on October 1 this year. The commercial was filmed in orbit and the tape returned to Earth on the 11th. It is said that there was a big restriction in the machinary that can be brought into space because of the special environment. Likewise, Nissin Foods had to make a special verison of Cup Noodle for the space shot because the usual recipe would scatter, possibly breaking down peripheral machine parts. A Sony HDV camcoder "HVR-Z1J" was used to film the CM. The cosmonauts were directed in how to film the scenes needed via real time video link. After it's development in 1971, Cup Noodle has been put on the market in 80 countries (some have special localized flavors). Total sales have reached as many as 23 billion food items.
1-2-05 (5:56PM EDT)---- Rakugo Tennyo Oyui
On August 31 in Asakusa the production announcement for the new TV animation Rakugo Tennyo Oyui was made. The Project commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Shadan Houjin Rakugo Geijutsu Kyoukai's (traditional comic story telling art society) establishment. The society was created to preserve the handed down Japanese traditional performing art of comic story to future generations. Focusing on variety hall performances in Tokyo, about 100 comic storytellers are currently actve within the organization. Norihiro Takamoto has been confirmed as director on the new series, well known seiyuu Noda Junko and Sachiko Kojima will star.
1-2-05 (4:41PM EDT)---- Daibuster Chara Sketches
Web Anime Style has posted some of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's original sketches of the character Nono from the Daibuster OAV.
1-2-05 (4:30PM EDT)---- Yurikamome Gets Mascot
If you've ever been out to Tokyo Big Sight and the artifical island of Daiba for events such as the Tokyo Anime Fair or Comike chances are you took the Yurikamome Line train to get there. Originating from Shimbashi station, Yurikamome offers one of the most breathtaking visual experiences to be had in Tokyo as it winds it's way through Minato-ku, across the famed Rainbow Bridge and finally winding up at Ariake station. The train itself was Tokyo's first fully automated transit system, controlled entirely by computers with no drivers on board. It doesn't rely on traditional rails but rides an elevated concrete track on two rows of rubber wheels. Now Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Yurikamome has appointed a new mascot to represent their transit system. Yurimo is a black-headed seagull (yurikamome in Japanese) which commonly resides in Tokyo Bay and is the official prefectural bird. The mascot was announced at a ceremony at the Yurikamome Shinbashi station (Minato Ward) on the 30th. There was a naming contest for the character which started in August and the winner of a 50,000 Yen prize and railway / hotel vouchers was 14 year old Isamu Fukuhara of Adachi Ward. According to the company, there were 9,361 entries submitted and 120 of those suggested the name Yurimo. Although the line currently reaches Daiba via a single route, a new portion of track is being constructed now that will connect Ariake station back to the mainland via to Toyosu (Koto Ward) on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line. Construction will wrap in March, 2006.
1-2-05 (3:36PM EDT)---- Gaiking Web
TV Asahi's official Gaiking website has opened.
1-2-05 (3:36PM EDT)---- TFC Marks Down Saikano DVD's
TOHOKUSHINSHA FILM CORPORATION (www.tfc.co.jp) announced the Saikano TV animation will be released to DVD at new low price in the "She The Ultimate Weapon-Special Value BOX-" to be released January 27, 2006. The 6 disk set (5 TV and one omake disc) will retail at 15,750 Yen. The old price for the previous DVD release was about 30,000 Yen. Original creator Shin Takahashi will do an original illustration for the BOX. Saikano serialized from January, 2000 to October, 2001 in weekly "Big Comic Spirits" published by Shogakukan. 3.5 million copies of the seven volume tankabon were sold.
1-2-05 (2:25PM EDT)---- Maiahi No Doragostea Din Tei-Love Murder Threat Tie-in
As we had previously reported, an animation released by AVEX entitled "Maiahi no Doragostea Din Tei-Love" had recently come under fire in Japan. According to an anti alcohol / drugs civic group, a portion of the animation promotes heavy drinking and have demanded it's deletion. The animatiion features the popular character nomaneko. It was announced on September 30th that Avex's application for a registered trademark on the character would be withdrawn. Protests came due to the cat's resemblence to the 2ch mascot.
Now a 23 year old suspect has been arrested in Tokyo's Koto Ward Shirakawa for allegedly posting threats to the popular Japanese internet board 2 channel. The threats refer to murdering an employee of the Japanese record label AVEX. The same suspect reportedly also made posts about killing Sendai fourth grade elementary school girls. When the suspect's personal computer was confiscated and searched a record was found of a post to two channel from September mentioning "The employee of AVEX is murdered with cutlery". What's more the suspect mentioned being repulsed by the use of the 2ch mascot Nomaneko in the label's release of Maiahi no Doragostea Din Tei-Love.

1-2-05 (2:13PM EDT)---- Americans Access Anime "Underground"
The Daily Yomiuri has an article on the digital "underground" of anime on the internet. It's mentioned that specialty sites related to the download of Japanese animation media have been springing up rapidly. 1 such site was said to get 17 million hits in 1 and a half years. File sharing and copyright issues are also discussed.
1-2-05 (1:58PM EDT)---- Salt Lake City's First Anime Store
The Salt Lake City Tribune has a report on the city's first anime specialty retailer, Tokyo's Anime House.
11-2-05 (1:52PM EDT)---- Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Float In Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
www.macysparade.com
For Puffy AmiYumi, the Japanese rock phenomenon whose imaginary exploits are immortalized weekly in the hit Cartoon Network original series Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi- what could possibly be next? A custom-built float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, of course, where they will perform live to an audience of over 50 million viewers.. The vibrant Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float, which will feature the performers as well as giant-sized, puppet versions of their cartoon alter-egos, is the latest Macy's Parade entrant for Cartoon Network. As Ami and Yumi glide down Broadway on Thanksgiving Day, their presence will mark the beginning of a spirited holiday licensing and merchandising campaign headlined by a global partnership with toy giant Mattel.
Designed and crafted by the magic-making artists at the Macy's Parade Studio, the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float is modeled after the cartoon duo's decked-out, mystical tour bus. A life-sized puppet of well-intentioned but stingy, band manager Kaz, will be piloting the musical bus and large bobble-head editions of the duo's favorite felines, Jeng Kan and Tekirai, are also on board. The real-life Ami and Yumi will not only dazzle fans with their music as the float cruises through Manhattan, they will also perform a 90-second song in front of Macy's -- Herald Square, the World's Largest Store and the heart and center of the Parade. Every year some 2.5 million people line the streets of New York to view the Parade in person and another 50 million tune in to watch it on television.

"The Macy's Parade is one of the most respected and adored American institutions," said Dennis Adamovich, senior vice president of marketing for Cartoon Network. "Perhaps the most highly anticipated event of the holiday season, the Parade also provides a spectacular platform for us to present and celebrate our popular cartoon characters with a large family audience. Puffy AmiYumi fans will also enjoy a rare treat - seeing the band perform live on television for millions of people."

"We are delighted to be a part of this wonderful family tradition," said Kim McQuilken, executive vice president of Cartoon Network Sales and Marketing. "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a perfect way to celebrate the start of this festive season. In addition, the exposure we can offer our licensing partners at this event is unprecedented and frankly, matchless. It's a great opportunity to launch this budding franchise and entertain Puffy fans nationwide."

"For everyone in the Macy's organization, one of the highlights of the current Parade year has been our exciting partnership with Cartoon Network," says Robin Hall, Executive Producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "This creative collaboration has helped us develop a concept that really breaks the mold; the new Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float's unique design and dazzling scale bring a fantastic energy to the Parade."

Fans will be able to recreate their own rocknroll adventures with the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Mattel toy line which will be on shelves nationwide. Fashion dolls in the likeness of Ami and Yumi that sing and speak in both Japanese and English, spunky small dolls inspired by the animated characters, engaging playsets, toys and a "Rockin' World Tour" transforming tour bus are just a few of the items that will available. Through December 15, coupled with another popular Cartoon Network series Codename Kids: Next Door, the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi merchandise will be featured in a special, limited-time-only toy shop in the midst of the Toys R Us flagship store in New York's Times Square.

11-2-05 (11:19AM EDT)---- Rockman EX: BEAST Site Launch
The official website for the forthcoming TV series Rockman EX: BEAST is now online at: www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/rockman_beast/.
11-2-05 (11:01AM EDT)---- Blood+ Covered In 'Television'
Kadokawa's weekly 'Television' magazine has given Production I.G.'s Blood+ some major exposure with the #45 issue released on Wednesday in Japan. A 5 page full color feature examines the franchise using 7 keywords.
11-2-05 (10:29AM EDT)---- First Gundam Z Movie DVD Ranks #1
While Gundam Zeta Movie 2 "Lovers" fights it's way up the charts from a 5th place (120 million Yen gross) debut this past weekend, the DVD of the first film "Heirs to the Stars" has been ranked #1 according to the Oricon weekly DVD sales charts for October 24-30th. The actual release was made on October 28th, beating out the Hollywood film Batman Begins which was released to DVD in Japan on the same day. 200,000 copies of the first part of the "new translation" trilogy have been sold according to Bandai Visual. ?
11-1-05 (6:35PM EDT)---- Nintama Rantarou Play
A theatrical play based on Soubee Amako's Nintama Rantarou was performed in Hikone City Nose-cho on Ocotber 30th. About 1,350 people attended the show, titled "shinobi tama ran tarou doku take jou no himitsu no dan".
11-1-05 (6:27PM EDT)---- Nagasaki 1945: Answers No Kane Screens In Hiroshima
Hiroshima City's Salaon Cinemas will debut the animated film, Nagasaki 1945: Answers No Kane in theater from December 5th. Cinema Caravan which is based in the city has joined the production committee of the project.
11-1-05 (6:08PM EDT)---- Maaya Sakamoto Concert In Roppongi Hills
Fan favorite anime voacalist Maaya Sakamoto performed her first live concert in two years on the open-air stage of Roppongi Hills arena on the 29th of October. About 3000 people turned out. Sakamoto is known for her work in Gundam SEED DESTINY and for dubbing the Japanese voice for Natalie Portman in the recent Star Wars trilogy of films.
11-1-05 (5:41PM EDT)---- Takarazuka Girls' Operetta Troupe Performs In South Korea
Japan's Takarazuka Girls' Operetta Troupe will perform for the first time in South Korea since the end of World War II. Currently scheduled for November 11-13th shows, the troope will put on their most popular stage show ever in the musical drama The Rose Of Versailles. The play is based on the Riyoko Ikeda manga. set in the French court at the time of the French Revolution. The stage drama, first ran from 1974 to 1976, then again in 1988-89, drawing an audience of about 4 million, centers on a royal guard commander who is really a girl who was reared as a boy and who disguises herself as a girl to woo a Swedish count away from Marie Antoinette in an effort to derail some political intrigue in the Palace of Versailles.
11-1-05 (5:25PM EDT)---- Kadokawa Shoten Announces Overseas Movie Strategy
The 3 movie companies of the Kadokawa group (Kadokawa Movie, Kadokawa Herald and Asmik Ace) announced their new overseas strategy "Global Kadokawa Film Project 2006" in Tokyo on October 28th. According to the plan, the producer who handled Academy Award winning work "Chicago" and the Weinstein brother's new company "Weinstein Companies" will make films based on several of their properties such as Koji Suzuki's short story "Drift Ship" and the popular comic "Tomy" in the United States. The CN Gamera collaboration was announced at the event as was the Korean co-production of "Chakushin Ari Final".
11-1-05 (5:22PM EDT)---- Seiyuu Storybook Reading Tour
Longtime anime seiyuu Miyazawa Tadashi is part of a new seiyuu caravan which going around to Japanese schools and doing public readings of picture books. The group recently visited a Tottori area school on the 26th of October. Three voice actors active in TV animation roles will visit 19 venues through November 10.
11-1-05 (4:28PM EDT)---- Kanzen Maid Sengen
For those outside the loop, Japan's housemaid craze has spawned the first maid idol singing unit to enjoy large success. Kanzen Maid Sengen "Complete Housemaid Declaration" is composed of nine popular housemaids who worked various Akihabara cafes. Now the group has performed their first live campus festival at Nihon University on the 29th of October. About 1500 attended the event. The group announced their debut in Tokyo July 9th and went on to perform their first street live July 10th and release 2 singles to the market. The group's members are: Yuri, Emi, Hitomi, Chihiro, Konomi, Kozue, Rion, Ringo, Hime, Hinaki and Hou. Sankei Promotion Advance manages the unit.
11-1-05 (4:00PM EDT)---- Nakagoshi Earthquake Manga
Japan's Great Nakagoshi Earthquake that measured seven on the rictor scale occured in Niigata Prefecture on October 23, 2004. Now, one year later Nagaoka's Kabasawa Hiromi who gave birth to her second daughter on the day following the quake will publish a new docu-manga story based on the experience Kodansha's Nov. 1 issue of BE-LOVE magazine. The title of the story will be Tenshi Ga Kure Ta Egao (Smile That The Angel Gave).
11-1-05 (3:42PM EDT)---- Shoko Hamada Cosplay Declaration
Japanese idol and model Shoko Hamada was out at electronics stores in Tokyo's Akihabara for the commemoration sale of her new DVD "Shokoratie". She said she was trying to stay in shape and will not stop cosplaying even though she's growing up. Hamada turns 20 years old on New Year's Day 2006. View some pics of her at the event on Sponichi Annex.
11-1-05 (3:09PM EDT)---- Kodansha's e-Manga
Japanese publisher Kodansha has released a monthly web manga magazine called e-Manga since 1997. You can view the November, 2005 issue (Vol.64) at the above link. Therein you can find many free manga serials.
11-1-05 (3:06PM EDT)---- Bobby Valentine Featured In Manga
It's been announced that the story of former MLB player and current Japanese team manager Robert Valentine will be portrayed in a new manga. Valentine heads the Chiba Lotte Marines led the team to to a second-place finish in 1995. The baseball veteran will be featured in Yamada Rejii's Zetsubou Ni Kiku Ku Suri (One On One), serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Young Sunday. The manga is known for including various famous people within it's storyline in an interview style setting and has featured such well known names as Yoko Onno and Osamu Tezuka in the past. The official serial website is here. On a side note, Bobby Valentine told Yahoo News he was happy managing in Japan according to an October 22nd article.
11-1-05 (2:01PM EDT)---- Akino Arai 20th Anniversary
Akino Arai is a well known anime singer, song-writer, and lyricst. She's composed the soundtracks to Outlaw Star and Noir but is probably best known outside of Japan for her work with Yoko Kanno on the Macross Plus soundtrack. For that OVA series / Movie Arai contributed very well recognized tunes such as Idol Talk, Voices and Wanna Be An Angel. We's now coming up on the 20 years since her professional debut in 1986, with the song "Beautiful Planet". A special 20th anniversary album is being produced titled Sora No Uta. The release of a special CD+DVD combo is set for 11.23 at a 3,500 Yen retail. The CD only release will occur on the same day for 3,045 Yen. The tracklist is as follows: 1. sarii no biidama 2. kakusei toshi 3. voices 4. super toniku 5. kouseki rajio 6. hiru no tsuki 7. Moon Light Anthem 1991 8. Silent Stream 9. neko no shinzou 10. gareki no rakuen 11. Satellite Song 12. natsukashii uchuu (umi) 13. kirei na kanjou 14. furu purachina 15. Wanna Be An Angel. 16. sora no uta ver.
11-1-05 (1:43PM EDT)---- Lupin III Site Relaunch
The official Japanese Lupin III website has been revamped at www.lupin-3rd.net.
11-1-05 (1:35PM EDT)---- Fans To Idols
Asian Week has an article by Ray Nagar which talks about Geneon Entertainment USA's Anime Expo Idol competition.
11-1-05 (1:31PM EDT)---- HKBN Digital Offers Animax
IPTV reports HKBN (Hong Kong Broadband Network) has launched a service called "HKBN Digital TV". The basic package now includes eight movie and drama channels. Among them: Animax - A highly popular Japanese animation channel dedicated to animation fans of all ages. The line-up includes Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Princess Sarah, Captain Tsubasa and Detective Conan.
11-1-05 (1:01PM EDT)---- World's Largest Anime DVD Shopping Guide Launches
Shoppertron, the world's largest fan focused Shopping network, is please to announce the launch of our latest shoppers guide to Anime DVDs and Movies with more than 4000 titles listed.
Shoppertron is the world's largest shopping guide to the Anime DVDs, Movies and special edition sets. Shoppers can search and locate the best prices across more than 4200 items on 240 products at 31 online retails stores in just a 1 click! The service allows Anime fans to find the best stores and prices carrying their favorite Anime titles. Visitors can also track new releases, pre-orders and save even more with our exclusive super deals listings. If that's not enough, shoppers who can't find what you are looking for can login to our shopping forums and talk with other fans about Anime and other related topics. Shoppertron is now live and available to the public on the Internet at: http://Anime.Shoppertron.com

11-1-05 (11:16AM EDT)---- Takara To Sell All Broccoli Stock
After last Monday's move by Takara to sell roughly 20% of it's 51.6% stake in Broccoli, the company has revealed on Tuesday, plans to sell the reaming shares sometime in November. It is expected that transfers will be made to several other companies, such as Asian Groove Inc. Takara was the largest shareholder in Broccoli, claiming 51% or more of issued shares. Takara is currently advancing the arrangement of amalgamation with Tommy in March of next year.
11-1-05 (10:30AM EDT)---- Evangelion Perfume
Would you rather smell like Rei Ayanami or Asuka Langley? Now Bandai Network's LaLa Bit Market gives you the option with the just announced eau de toilette (designer perfume) related to the 2 Evangelion characters. Both fragrances were created by aroma professionals and mixed based on the personality and image of the series' teen female leads. The Ayamani Rei fragrance is said to smell lik Marine floral that changes an artificial feel to that of motherhood. The Asuka Langley fragrance is said to smell like a spicy floral that carries the impression of transience somewhere based from two facades. The perfume is unisex and can be used by men and women. The bottle is designed like an entry plug with Ayamani Rei's stamped 00 and colored a pearl white and Asuka Langley's stamped 02 and colored a red pearl. The NERV marque is stamped on top of the bottle's cap. The price is like the designer brands too, with a retail of 8400 Yen for an 18mL bottle of each respectively. Production will be done in stages based on the orders received. Sale begins on November 1.
11-1-05 (10:19AM EDT)---- Tactical Roar Web
The official website of the coming ACTAS, Inc. / Bandai Visual animation series Tactical Roar has gone live at www.tactical-roar.com. Broadcasting begins from January, 2006 in Japan. New details on staff have been posted such as director Fujimoto Yoshitaka, series writer Hyoudou Hajime, character designer and total art supervisor Itou Takeshi, concept supervisor Ogura Shinya, mecha designer takakura takeshi and series music composer Nanase Hikari.
11-1-05 (9:46AM EDT)---- Evangelion Radio Special
The radio programs "Shin Seiki Evangelion: The Tenth Anniversary" and The "Tenth Shin Seiki Evangelion Anniversary Special Show" will be broadcast in the Kanto region November 2 and in the Kansai district November 3. Scedule is as follows: RF radio Japan 27:00-28:00 on Wednesday, November 2; Radio Osaka Thursday, 3rd 24:00 of November-25:00. Special guests on the show include Megumi Hayashibara (Rei Ayanami), Kotono Mitsuishi (Katsuragi Misato), Yuko Miyamura (Souryu Asuka Langley), King Records Managing Director Toshimichi Otsuki, Kadokawa Shoten Managing Director Shinichiro Inoue and Head of Kadokawa Shoten's anime / manga division magazine group Takashi Watanabe.
11-1-05 (9:40AM EDT)---- XXXHOLiC Movie Preview
In addition to a confirmed TV series release, Production I.G. has uploaded a Web Pamphlet from their recent Production I.G Exhibition held at Shibuya Parco on Friday, October 21. Five works were featured there by the studio. One is titled "Theater Version XXXHOLiC: Midsummer Night Dream".

Source: Anime News Service

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