NEWSWORTHY
Astro Boy manga sketches fetch record price at Paris auction
A rare series of sketches of Japanese manga artist Osamu Tezuka's robot character Astro Boy sold for a record €269,400 (¥35.1 million) at an auction in Paris Saturday. "It's a world record for this artist whose works are few in the market," said Eric Leroy, ...
NTT unit sued over plan to block sites hosting pirated manga
A lawyer sued a unit of NTT Corp. on Thursday demanding the network operator halt its plan to block access to websites that allow visitors to read pirated comics and books. The lawyer, Yuichi Nakazawa of Saitama Prefecture, said in the first such known lawsuit ...
Japan's pop culture and literature drive soft power
Anime, manga and Haruki Murakami may form an unlikely trinity, but outside of Japan they're responsible for filling Japanese Studies departments and sprawling convention halls with generations of the devoted.
Japan calls for 'emergency measure' blocking access to websites that pirate manga and anime
A government report calls for taking an “emergency measure” to block access to websites that pirate anime and manga, including Mangamura, Anitube and Miomio.
Internet piracy taking major bite out of Japan's famed manga culture
Japan's renowned manga culture is facing a crisis. The spread of smartphones and tablet computers allows people to read e-comics anywhere at any time. According to the Research Institute for Publications, annual sales of digital comics last year grew 17.2 percent from the previous year ...
What's in a tweet? Startup CEO sees endless storytelling potential
96 Problems has created an app that allows you to bring stories with you wherever you go — stories that can be followed in brief glimpses at social media.
Popular 'Detective Conan' comic to return after four-month hiatus
The long-running, popular Japanese serial comic "Detective Conan" ("Meitantei Konan") that has a strong fan base in Asia will resume next week after a four-month hiatus over concerns about the health of its creator, its publisher said Sunday. Making the announcement on April Fool's Day, ...
Publisher Shogakukan withdraws and apologizes for comic that mocks Genghis Khan
After it drew a barrage of criticism from Mongolians, Japanese publisher Shogakukan Inc. said Tuesday it is withdrawing the latest issue of a monthly cartoon magazine featuring an insulting picture of Mongolia's national hero, Genghis Khan. The March edition of "Korokoro Comic," which went on ...
Government eyes making permanent residency easier for 'Cool Japan' talent
The Abe government plans to make it easier for foreign nationals with expertise in animation and illustration to obtain permanent residency in a bid to attract talent and further promote Japanese pop culture overseas. A source said Monday that the government expects to change the ...
Sales of digital manga overtake print editions in Japan for first time
Sales of digital manga in 2017 surpassed their printed versions for the first time, an industry research institute said Monday, highlighting a shift in reader preferences. According to a survey by the Research Institute for Publications, sales of digital manga last year are estimated to ...
Netflix is animated about anime
Netflix's director of anime, Taito Okiura, tells me he feels like a local baseball player who got drafted into the U.S. Major Leagues. Except, he doesn't play the sport. A producer and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the industry, Okiura was offered ...
Japanese manga artist Kazuo Umezu wins award at French comic festival
Japanese manga artist Kazuo Umezu has been honored by one of Europe's largest comic festivals for "Watashi wa Shingo" ("My Name is Shingo"), featuring a robot that develops emotions, his publisher said Tuesday. The 81-year-old author was given the Heritage Award at France's 45th Angouleme ...
