Entertainment News Apr 9, 2021
'Attack on Titan' manga series concludes run of almost 12 years
The series is popular in Japan and abroad, and is set to be made into a Hollywood film.
National | Regional Voices: Hokkaido Dec 13, 2019
U.S. digital publisher boosts reach of Japanese 'light novels' in English-speaking world
"Isekai Rebuilding Project," a fantasy novel by a Hokkaido-based writer who publishes under the pseudonym Yukika Minamino, has become available to English-reading audiences through a website run by an American digital publisher of Japanese novels aimed at teenagers and young adults. The addition of Minamino's ...
National / Crime & Legal Sep 17, 2019
Four Japanese publishers have filed a damages lawsuit with a court in New York against several U.S.-hosted websites that allow visitors to view manga, alleging "massive" copyright infringement. The publishers say that the websites, which offer content in Japanese, are successors of the now-shuttered pirate ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Jun 29, 2019
Japanese politics finds ways to target youth
by Philip Brasor
The Liberal Democratic Party's campaigns to encourage younger generations to take an interest in politics stirs media criticism.
National / Crime & Legal Feb 26, 2019
15-year term sought for editor at Japanese comic publisher over death of his wife
Prosecutors on Tuesday sought a 15-year prison term for the editor of a hit comic magazine over the death of his wife in 2016. Pak Jong Hyon, 43, deputy editor of major publisher Kodansha Ltd.'s Morning magazine, was indicted in January 2017 on a charge ...
Books / Reviews Dec 16, 2017
Playing War: Children and the Paradoxes of Modern Militarism in Japan
by Nicolas Gattig
In an old magazine photo, a baby enjoys "children's heaven" — perched in a tank-shaped stroller and, the caption jokes, going to Manchuria. In a manga released by U.S. Forces Japan, two cute doe-eyed characters — the bunny-boy Mr. USA and the Japanese schoolgirl ...
National / Crime & Legal Jan 11, 2017
Police suspect top Kodansha editor staged wife's slaying to look like suicide
A deputy editor of major publisher Kodansha Ltd. who has been arrested on suspicion of killing his 38-year-old wife last August may have disguised the murder to make it look like a suicide, investigative sources said Wednesday. The suspect, 41-year-old Pak Jung-hyun, who was arrested ...
Entertainment News Dec 9, 2016
Japanese actor Hiroki Narimiya retires following allegations of illicit drug use
Hiroki Narimiya, a popular Japanese actor recently alleged by a magazine to have used illegal narcotics, will retire from show business, his agent said Friday. The agent said, however, that it could not confirm any such use by the 34-year-old actor through a drug test, ...
National Oct 4, 2016
Publisher lodges protest after Amazon Japan deletes over 1,000 e-book titles
The Kodansha Ltd. publishing house said it has lodged a protest with Amazon.com Inc.'s Japan unit, saying the online retailer unilaterally withdrew all of more than 1,000 titles from its subscription-based e-book service. Another publisher, Kobunsha Co., likewise said Monday that its 550 titles have ...
National Oct 29, 2013
Kodansha manga to get same-day global release
by Tomohiro Osaki
Starting Wednesday, major publishing firm Kodansha Ltd. will make new manga installments digitally available in English worldwide on the same day they're released in Japan. Kodansha hopes the business decision will help curb the increasing threat to its overseas sales posed by bilingual anime fans ...
Business / Corporate Mar 7, 2013
Apple on Wednesday launched Japanese-language electronic books in Japan, a move likely to further intensify competition with online retailer Amazon.com Inc. E-books purchased via Apple's website iBookstore can be read on such devices as iPad tablet computers and iPhones. Users will be able to download ...
Editorials Jun 20, 2010
The pervasive influence of digital media was highlighted on June 7 by the announcement of recommendations for changes in the authorized list of kanji for everyday use. A government advisory panel has proposed adding 196 kanji and removing five for a total of 2,136 ...