For the sake of my sanity and the fact it is almost one in the morning, I am not going to attempt to rewrite the following news stories at all. Normally I do, but I'd rather not have my brain explode. Apologies to all.
Viz Hints That "Kubo is Coming"
The North American publisher Viz Media has released an online banner that says "Kubo is coming" with a red, white, and blue color scheme reminiscent of the Bleach manga's logo. The company is also inviting people to sign up for the Shonen Jump mailing list in connection with the banner. Tite Kubo is the creator of Bleach manga in Shonen Jump. In the past, Viz Media has hosted fellow manga creators Matsuri Hino (Vampire Knight), Rumiko Takahashi (Inuyasha), Arina Tanemura (The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross), and Nobuhiro Watsuki (Rurouni Kenshin) at the Comic-Con International event in San Diego, California.
Source
Anime News Network
Spider-Man's Stan Lee Interviewed about Ultimo Manga
The Japan Times newspaper has published an interview with Spider-Man and X-Men co-creator Stan Lee about the world of manga and his Ultimo collaboration with Shaman King co-creator Hiroyuki Takei. The interviewer, Otaku USA magazine editor-in-chief Patrick Macias, talked with Stan Lee about Ultimo and other comic topics in a separate podcast he posted last month. Ultimo premiered in Japan in Shueisha's Jump SQ.II inaugural magazine issue on April 18, and Viz Entertainment plans to publish Ultimo in North America in a format that has yet to be decided.
Source
Anime News Network
For those of you wanting to know what ULTIMO is about, here's a manga link.
Hi guys falenangel8 here reporting the news or lack there of I hope you enjoy it.
Bleach Movie Hit’s the Big Screen in the U.S
National CineMedia’s Fathom brings anime back to the big screen for two nights only in the U.S. debut of the epic action anime hit, BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY in more than 300 theatres across the country on June 11th and 12th at 7:30 p.m. local time.
Adapted from the popular animated television series and best-selling manga (graphic novel) series, the BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY in-theatre event promises to be the ultimate anime experience and features an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the talent behind the characters and a first-time ever interview with acclaimed Japanese director Noriyuki Abe.
Tickets for this special anime event (which has been dubbed in English for American audiences) are available at presenting theatre box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.
http://animenewsi.com/index.php?itemid=10429&catid=245
It is Time to Put your Ninja Skills to the Test!
Bandai Collectible Games will be running an official Naruto CCG Kage Tournament at this year’s Anime Expo® 2008 held from July 3 - 6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.
The Kage is the leader of the Village and Naruto CCG Players are separated intodifferent Villages based on where they live. Anime Expo® 2008 attendees will be able to witness and participate in the Leaf Village Kage CCG tournament with winners receiving amazing prizes including the PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment systemand the PSP® (PlayStation ® Portable) systems, iPod®, booster packs, bragging rights as well as qualifications for the next ninja level tournament: Sannin (伝説の三忍, Densetsu no Sannin; "Legendary Three Ninja"). Best of all, the top finisher who lives inCalifornia, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii or British Columbia will win freeairfare to the Sannin tournament held at GenCon Indianapolis.
Bandai Collectible Games will be running a Kage tournament on Saturday (July 5, 2008)with the finals on Sunday (July 6, 2008) at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC);Room 303AB.
Prizes Include a Sony PlayStation® 3, Sony PSP®, iPod®, Naruto Booster Packsand and Much More!
www.anime-expo.org
More Tiny Things From Japan
Fancy laptops are becoming fashion statements because of sleek models like the MacBook Air. But if you really wanted to stand out from the crowd, you could get the Vye Mini-v S41, a tiny laptop that is available only in Japan — or through Dynamism.com, which imports high-tech gadgets to the United States from Asia.
The Vye Mini-v S41 weighs 2.7 pounds — less than the MacBook Air, which is a little over three pounds. Unlike the Air it has a built-in DVD reader and burner. The seven-inch touch screen twists and swivels, turning the laptop into a tablet PC, while the standard keyboard and trackpad make it a full-fledged Windows Vista computer.
Those with large hands may find it hard to get used to the tiny keyboard. The touch screen, however, makes it easy to tap and drag windows and icons.
Although this machine, which Dynamism sells for $1,499, won’t beat bigger laptops in performance, it’s nice to know you can tuck it under your arm and be the undisputed champion of geek cred anywhere you go.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/technology/personaltech/08computer.html?_r=1&sq=japan&st=cse&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&scp=1&adxnnlx=1210847268-b2IFd8CPvAmx2PKJnpka4g
-fallenangel8
Remember how when you were little, your mom/dad/grandparent/sibling/whatever told you to never play with matches? Well, this is why:
Some cops in Nagoya had taken a middle-aged man in for questioning after being arrested for violent behavior. Even though there is a no smoking rule at the station, they gave into a request for a cigarette and lighter--most likely in an attempt to play nice and get answers. What they forgot to realize was that the man had poured kerosese all over himself... while in front of other cops. He had refused to take off his soaked clothes and once the ADD Moment for the cops was over, he was a suicidal ball of fire. He died on Monday of injuries and disiplinary actions are being sought for the negligent cops.
I can't help but to laugh at this. Even if no one told you someone was soaked in kerosene, you should certainly be able to smell it. *shrugs* Oh well; call me a sadist.
Sources
JapanProbe
Japan Today
The Shimotsuma City Flower Festival in Ibaraki Prefecture has a few problems this year. The police has ordered that a field of volunteer-grown flowers to be burned. How come? They were papaver setigerum poppies... a.k.a.: opium poppies.
The authorites are investigating how the seeds got into the country in the first place. The Japanese take drugs and drug abuse very seriously, so someone is going to have some hell to pay. The festival usually draws about 2000-3000 visitors a year, a number which could possibly drop this time around.
Source
JapanProbe
If you hear, let alone read, the word "Vegesh", what comes to mind? Probably not liquor, unless you're Japanese.
The newest drink from Asahi/Kagome, Vegesh is a mixture that includes 20% vegetable juice, 20% fruit juice, and 4% alcohol. Ingredients include asparagus, pumpkin, lemon and pineapple, amongst other things.
Jeezum crowe, them crazy Japanese. What will they think of next?
Source
JapanProbe
Akihabara seems to have outdone itself again. Popopure, the first maid cafe and animation studio opened last month in Tokyo's geekiest district. When customers are not being waited on by the waitress-maids, they can go over to the studio portion and lend their voices to the "Popo no Bōken" (The Adventures of Popo) anime sponsored by Tokyo Hi-Vision Eizou. Inside the cafe there are framed anime drawings and anime non-stop on a 50-inch television.
"Two animators, "Tomoe" and "Saaya," have been actually producing the entire three-minute anime project — from drawing the original sketches to coloring and editing the final animation. There are three characters in the anime; if there are not enough customers to fill all the roles, the maids will step in to voice them. As a memento of the visit, the café offer customers a "Dialogue Recording Memorial DVD" of the anime with their dubbing performance."
Source
Anime News Network
