Category > Events
Fans of Japanese culture will want to head over to Brighton from Friday 22nd June until Sunday 1st July 2012 for the return of the Brighton Japan Festival.
There will be plenty to see and do, including not one, but two matsuri festivals, a film festival, Japanese music and performances, traditional children's games, cosplay and so much more.
Read More... | Souce: Brighton Japan Festival
Category > Events
The successful London based Japanese culture event Hyper Japan have just announced the date for their next event. Hyper Japan 2012 Christmas is set to run from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th November 2012 at Earls Court in London. So save the date!
Read More... | Souce: Hyper Japan
London based fans of classic Japanese cinema will want to head over the to Barbican on 2pm Saturday 2nd of June 2012 to catch a special screening of Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood. This will include a screen talk by director Yukio Ninagawa.
Yukio Ninagawa also directed Cymbeline, which will be performed the Ninagawa Company and will run at the Barbican Theatre from at 7:15pm on Tuesday 29th May to Saturday 2nd June 2012.
Read More... | Souce: Barbican
Category > Events
The London MCM Expo is on the horizon for Friday 25th to Sunday 27th May 2012. If you're going and are artistic you will be pleased to hear that Letraset will be running a manga alley art competition. The theme for May's competition is Splish-Splash. The competition is divided into 2 categories, over 16 and under 16.
They'll be a great line up of over £120 worth of prizes for the winners, with plenty of goodies for runners up too.
Read More... | Souce: Letraset
Category > Gaming
The good folks from Nyu Media have sent us details of their latest gaming release Cherry Tree High Comedy Club (CTHCC).
The light-hearted anime-style adventure game features localization by Tezuka Productions. The game is due for launch on Friday 27th April 2012 directly from it's homepage.
It will then be released on Steam, GamersGate, GameTap and Impulse over the coming weeks.
Read More... | Souce: Nyu Media
Category > Events
With the London Comic Con MCM Expo just over a month away things are starting to rev up for it. T-shirt company Genki Gear have just unveiled their exclusive design for the May event, which is set to run from Friday 25th to Sunday 27h May 2012.
The t-shirt is available for pre-order from Genki Gear. You can collect at the Genki Gear stall at the Expo, or have it posted out to you after the event.
Read More... | Souce: Genki Gear
Category > Retail
The good folks from UK anime, manga and Asian pop culture publication NEO magazine have sent us the details of their latest issue. It's out now both on the high street and digital outlets.
Read More... | Souce: NEO Magazine
Category > Events
The London MCM Expo is more than a month away, things have started to rev up for the event already. On Saturday 26th of May 2012 the folks from Japan Underground and Neo Magazine have teamed up to host a night of Japanese and Korean music. The event will be held at Bloomsbury Lanes, a 5 minute walk from London's Euston Station. They'll be supplying a selection of party-rocking tunes from Japan's alternative scenes.
The event is over 18's only and entry is £5 on the door. Valid photographic ID will be required.
Read More... | Souce: Japan Underground
Fans of Japanese cinema in the UK will be pleased to hear about Third Window films latest cinema release. Mitsuko Delivers which has a due date of Friday 11th May 2012.
It'll open at the ICA in London and selected regional sites.
Read More... | Souce: Third Window films
For those cinema buffs in London looking for some Far Eastern cinema should head over to the Prince Charles Cinema in Chinatown to cat the Terracotta Film Festival from Thursday 12th April 2012 until Sunday 15th April 2012.
Ghibli fans will be interested in From up on Poppy Hill the studio's latest offering which will be shown on Friday 13th April 2012. It is from Goro Miyazaki, who also directed Tales From Earthsea.
The Terror Cotta Horror night triple bill does look like great fun!
Read More... | Souce: Terracotta Far East Film Festival
Category > Anime
The good folks from Manga Entertainment UK have sent us the details from their big licensing announcements at the Birmingham MCM Expo.
The big title in the line up is without doubt the highly anticipated Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Cosplay favourites Panty And Stocking With Garter Belt is dude for 2012 too. Along with Squid Girl which you may have caught on Crunchy Roll.
Read More... | Souce: Manga Entertainment UK
Category > Events
Fans of J-Rock Band Stereopony will be pleased to hear about their upcoming US tour.
They'll be at the following venues -
Tuesday April 10th 2012 Slim's San - Francisco
Wednesday April 11th Key Club - Hollywood Los Angeles
Thursday April 12th 2012 YOST Theater - Santa Ana
Read More... | Souce: Stereopony Offical Facebook Page
Category > Events
The good folks from UK anime, manga and Asian pop culture publication NEO magazine have sent us the details of their latest issue. It's out now both on the high street and digital outlets.
Read More... | Souce: NEO Magazine
Category > Events
London based readers looking for some art and culture will want to head over to the ICN Gallery 96-98 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4RH to see Part 1 of What is Ukiyo-e? The exhibition covers the popular and well known wood block prints, including Hokusai's famous Great wave Off Kanagawa.
The exhibition is set to run from Thursday 5th April to Saturday 28th April 2012 (please note the gallery is closed Sundays).
Read More... | Souce: ICN Gallery
Category > Manga
We've just been sent details from the good folk at GEN Manga about their latest release - Kamen Volume 1. The title will be available across the US through all good Diamond Comic Distributors and on Graphicly. You can also download the title from the GEN Manga Website.
Fans of comic books will be interested to hear that Marvel artist Harvey Tolibao did the cover for Kamen.
Read More... | Souce: GEN Manga
The good folks at Manga UK have sent us details an eagerly expected title Mardock Scramble: The First Compression. The 18 Rated title is use out on Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 16th April 2012.
We've reviewed a cinema screening of Mardock Scramble: The First Compression.
Read More... | Souce: Manga Entertainment UK
Category > Manga
The good people from JManga.com have just gone international. To celebrate the on-line manga service have launched a sign up promotion for new members.
From the Thursday 8th March 2012 to Wednesday 14th March 2012 if you sign up for a paid subscription you'll receive 5 books worth of bonus points with a $25 monthly subscription and 2 books worth of points a $10 subscription.
Read More... | Souce: JManga.com
Category > Events
Fans of new Japanese guitar acts will want to head over to London on Saturday 24th March 2012 to catch ASIDBLOW at Japan Underground Club night. The popular club event is set to run at a newly established rock venue The Pipeline 94 Middlesex Street, E1 7DA (in Liverpool Street). The event is set to start at 7pm.
Read More... | Souce: Japan Underground
Category > Events
London Based fans of Final Fantasy will want to keep Friday 2nd November 2012 free as that's when the Distant Worlds: Celebrating 25 years of Final Fantasy concert hits the Royal Albert Hall.
The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra plus choir will be performing. Arnie Roth is the Conductor and Nobuo Uematsu will be in attendance too.
Tickets will start from £25 to £65, plus there's a special VIP meet and greet ticket for £125 which gets you lots of great things.
We know the event is in November, so why are we mentioning it now? Tickets go on Sale on Thursday 15th March 2012 9am London Time. As always with popular events we advise booking early to avoid disappointment, but with this we can't emphasise this enough.
Read More... | Souce: Distant Worlds music from Final Fantasy
Category > Manga
Readers outside the US who have been longing to legally get their hands on some digital manga will be extremely pleased to hear that JManga.com have extended their access world wide.
The site allows you to get manga using a points based system. If you sign up by Sunday 4th March 2012, you'll get double the amount of points as a welcome. The subscription costs either $10 or $25 a month. They also have a free subscription.
Read More... | Souce: JManga.com
Category > Press Releases
The good folks from UK anime, manga and Asian pop culture publication NEO magazine have sent us the details of their latest issue. It's due to hit the shelves on Thursday 23rd February 2012 (available from WH Smith, Tesco and all good newsagents). It features their round up of the greatest anime movies of all time, with their own top 10 list, along with reader contributions.
Plus previews of anime, along with all the usual features and articles you'd expect. K-Pop fans will want to read the article on Korea's Japanese pop invasion with an analysis of the Oricon charts. We're interested in reading the report on the continuing aid efforts in Japan following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011.
Read More... | Souce: NEO Magazine
Category > Press Releases
US anime licenser Sentai Filmworks has announced they have licensed the second season of popular anime TV series, K-ON!, for release later this year. The anime outfit has stated that the 26 episode series will get a DVD and Blu-Ray release.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
Category > Press Releases
UK anime and manga fans looking for more UK based magazines to read will be interested to hear about MyM Magazine.
Issue 1 is due on Thursday 3rd May 2012. The magazine promises to bring great coverage of video games, anime and manga. The magazine's editor Tarik Alozdi will be at the Midlands MCM Expo on Saturday 18th February 2012 to show visitors what's to come.
We must admit we're very curious to see what content the magazine will have and how knowledgeable their writers will be.
Update: You can read our interview with MyM publisher Tarik Alozdi here.
Read More... | Souce: MyM Magazine
Category > Events
UK based readers who can get to the University of Hull on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March 2012 will want to head over to Platform 2012 East Yorkshire's huge gaming and entertainment expo.
They've got an an interesting line up of experts from the gaming industry plus a few familiar faces from anime and manga fandom too.
They'll be some retro gaming fun, a masquerade on the cosplay stage and plenty of panels from expert speakers.
Award winning cosplayer Natasha Lee Tyler (Missy Tetra) will be there to answer all those cosplay questions at talks and panels. Professional comic artist Sonia Leong will be there to explain all about manga.
They'll be a lot to see and do at this event, so it's certainly worth going!
Read More... | Souce: Platform 2012
Category > Retail
Hyper Japan 2012 Spring is all set to start on Friday 24th February and will run until Sunday 26th February 2012. One of the many things we like about the Japanese culture event is the all the different stalls and the wide variety of things they sell.
Every time you go you're always going to find something new and exciting. Graphic artist Amy Crabtree of Cakes With Faces will be there. You may have seen her stall at other events such as the London MCM Expo. At Hyper Japan she'll be launching an appropriately themed t-shirt called All the best stuff is from Japan. The colourful design is great to show off your otaku side.
The design is launched at Hyper Japan and you'll be able to pre-order at a special price and collect it at the event.
Read More... | Souce: Cakes With Faces
Category > Events
London based readers looking for some Japanese culture should head over to the Bunkasai - Japanese Festival on Sunday 11th March 2012. The event is set to run from 9:30am to 4:30pm at the Park Crescent Conference Centre. The event is to support the charity Aid for Japan, which aids survivors of the March 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami. The Bunkasai will run on the first year anniversary
Cultural highlights at the Bunkasai include the Tea Ceremony, Engeki play, Traditional Japanese dance, martial arts demonstration, Taiko drumming, and cosplay.
Advance tickets are now on sale.
Read More... | Souce: Bunkasai
Category > Gaming
London fans of video games will be very interested in two events hosted by the Japan Foundation titled Video Games in Japan: Past, Present and Future.
Event 1 - The Past: Game Over? focuses on how to preserve video game culture and why it's important to do so. Is set to run on Tuesday 22nd February 2012.
Event 2 - The Present and Future: Progress to the Next Level? Covers where the Japanese Video Game Industry is heading and is scheduled for Wednesday 23rd February 2012.
Both events start at 6:30pm at the Japan Foundation in London at Russell Square House, 10-12 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5EH .
Both events are free to attend, but booking via e-mail is required. E-mail event@jpf.org.uk with your name, details and those of any guests. As with all popular events we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation in London
Category > Events
Readers in London wondering thinking - Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught reading this website should head over to The Pipeline in Liverpool Street London on Saturday 4th and Tuesday 7th February 2012 to catch one of Japan's hottest new Queen tribute acts. The band are called Queer (yes, that's actually their name) and will be playing a warm up set as part of Japan Underground, keeping in theme for the night the even will have DJ sets of famous rock hits covered by Japanese artists, plus an 80s themed dress code. The fun and games begin at 7pm and is set to run until midnight.
Tickets can be bought for £5 in advance, or for £7 at the door for each show.
Read More... | Souce: Japan Underground
Category > Events
UK based gamers will want to head over to the MCM Midlands Comic Con in Telford on Saturday 18th February 2012 to see World famous videogame developer, director and producer Hironobu Sakaguchi. Best known as the creator of Final Fantasy Series he will be attending the comic con to talk about his career along with his latest project Nintendo's The Last Story for Wii which is due for launch on Friday 24th February 2012.
Read More... | Souce: MCM Midlands Comic Con
Category > Manga
The good folks from GEN Manga have sent us details of their latest Issue GEN 8.
It features a new story Let's Eat Ramen by Nagumo, the author of the seriesRadio de Go!
The on-line manga publisher distribute their monthly collection of doujinshi using a subscription model. You get to download and keep the PDF file for each issue too.
Read More... | Souce: GEN Manga
Category > Anime
Anime on Demand to simulcast new XEBEC series in January.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Events
UK anime and manga fans will want to make a trip over to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia. From Saturday 4th February 2012 until Sunday 24th June 2012, the venue will be hosting Japan: Kindom of Characters, a new manga exhibition that takes you inside the world of Japanese characters and asks you to consider what they represent.
It follows on from a tour of highly successful showings in cities such as Manila, Sydney and Madrid. Human-size 3D models of characters such as Ultraman and Pikachu welcome you into this colourful and substantial show. Over eighty graphics, photographs and films trace the history of cartoon characters by decade from the 1950’s to the 2000’s and provide insight into their fascinating backgrounds.
The event is organised in co-operation with the Japan Foundation. Admission is free. The event is daily and open from 10am to 9pm.
The Sainsbury Centre is the sole UK venue for this exhibition.
Read More... | Souce: Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
The good folks at Soda Pictures have sent us details of their latest UK cinema release. Tatsumi is an animated feature inspired by the life and work of manga artist Yoshiro Tatsumi, who is well known for this work A Drifting Life.
The animated movie is in Japanese with English subtitles. It's been produced in Singapore by an international team of animators (Phil Mitchel is one of the founders of Mainframe who are best known for Reboot and Transformers - Beast Wars).
The film is due out in cinemas on Friday 13th January 2012. It's been rated 15.
Read More... | Souce: Soda Pictures
Category > Events
London based fans of Maid Cafes and Anime/gaming/vocaloid/Japanese music and clubbing will want to keep Sunday 22nd January 2012 free when WOTA London returns. From 13.30 to 18.00 the event will be a Maids & Butlers Cafe run by Maid Planet, then at 18.00 until 22.00 it will be an Anison and A-Pop Dance Party. The venue this time around is B1F Royal George, 133 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0EA, near Tottenham Court Road Tube Station.
You can buy tickets on-line for a discount, either paying £4 for a Maid pass or £6 for a day pass. Alternatively you can turn up and pay £6 for a Maid Pass, £3 for a WOTA Pass or £8 for a day pass.
The event is for over 18's only.
Read More... | Souce: WOTA London
Category > Manga
Fans of seinen manga will be pleased to hear that GEN Manga have just released GEN 7.
The on-line manga publisher distribute their monthly collection of doujinshi using a subscription model. You get to download and keep the PDF file for each issue too.
Read More... | Souce: GEN Manga
We've received news from US Anime Distributor Sentai Filmworks that they've licensed Grave of the Fireflies. The Ghibli classic is emotional story of the cold realities of war, and often forgotten victims, the children.
Sentai Filmworks will begin digital distribution of the title this winter and a digital restored DVD will be released next year.
Read More... | Souce: Sentai Filmworks
Category > Retail
Genki Gear the company best known for their t-shirt range have released a selection of Christmas Cards. A pack of five costs £3.50.
Read More... | Souce: Genki Gear
Category > Press Releases
We've received news from Beckii Cruel's team about her current chart success with the single You Can't Kiss Me.
This week the single is number 2 in the Music Week Club Chart Breakers, with Chase and Status coming in number 1. The chart tracks the up and coming music which is getting played in the clubs. The DJ's pick up on it and feed in the amount of play it is getting.
Read More... | Souce: Beckii Cruel
Category > Events
London based fans of Japanese themed clubbing can start of the Christmas season at the Harajuku! Winter Ball on Sunday 4th December 2011. The popular event returns to Proud in Camden. This time around they'll be 9 rooms, projectors and plasma screens for a fun Japanese themed night. The fun is set to start at 7pm and will run until late.
You can book your tickets here. Cosplayers, Lolitas and other fans of Japanese fashion will be pleased to hear that if you go in themed dress your tickets are cheaper!
Read More... | Souce: Criminal Records
Category > Retail
We've received some rather interesting news from Digital Manga Inc. They've just opened a new site Anime Cel Art, which like the name implies is dedicated to selling anime cel art. They've currently got Naruto, Bleach and One Piece cels for sale.
Collectors should note, that these are not production cels used to make the anime as production now is digital. These are officially licensed reproductions. They are hand painted, and made exactly the same as production cels, but these images have never been used to make anime. As a result you get more for your money. You get a high quality image along with a background for a reasonable price.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Cel Art
Category > Events
It's not even the end of 2011 yet, but it still doesn't hurt to plan ahead, Hyper Japan 2012 is set to run on 24-26th February 2012 at Brompton Hall in Earl's Court.
They've sent us the details of two cosplay competitions they'll be hosting during the weekend. The World Cosplay Summit and the European Cosplay Gathering.
Read More... | Souce: Hyper Japan
Category > Manga
Independent Manga publisher GEN Manga have sent us news that they're now on Graphicly.com.
Graphicly.com distribute comics on Apple, Android, PCs and Macs, along with the Barnes & Noble Nook.
We caught up with GEN Manga in their New York offices earlier this year. One of the things they mentioned was their intention to expand from the main monthly volume. They've just done this releasing the first 6 volumes as a single anthology with over 900 pages of content in one file for $2.99.
They've also release the whole of the moe title VS Aliens as a complete standalone collection for $0.99.
Read More... | Souce: GEN Manga
Category > Manga
UK-based independent publisher and comic collaborative Sweatdrop Studios have sent us details of their latest publication. Sun Fish Moon Fish by Morag Lewis. The 256 page volume is a self contained story and is available now from Sweatdrop Studios' online shop and Amazon.co.uk.
Read More... | Souce: Sweatdrop Studios
Category > Events
Hatsune Miku fans in the UK will want to visit London's Apollo Cinema Piccadilly for an exclusive screening of the vocaloid's exclusive premiere event. They'll be showing Hatsune Miku Live Party 2011 39's Live in Sapporo, which features a holographic light show of the virtual diva.
The Sapporo performance was recorded in August 2011. It's set for a London screening on 28th November at 6.30pm and 29th November at 8.30pm.
The same venue will also be screening L'Arc-en-Ciel in December 2011.
Read More... | Souce: Apollo Cinemas
Category > Events
Fans of the hugely popular band L'Arc-en-Ciel will probably already know all the details of their 2012 world tour.
To warm up they'll be screening a special performance (recorded live from May 28th and 29th 2011) around the world.
London based readers will want head over the Apollo Piccadilly to catch the screenings on the following dates:
5th December 2011 - 6:30pm
Tuesday 6th December 2011 - 8:30pm
Details of screenings at other countries can be found on this official site.
Full details of the world tour is are still to be announced, but we have been sent details of the following locations and dates -
Hong Kong, Hong Kong - Asia World-Expo Arena - March 3rd, 2012 (Saturday)
Bangkok, Thailand - Impact Arena - March 7th, 2012 (Wednesday)
Shanghai, China - Mercedes-Benz Areana - March 10th 2012 (Saturday)
Taipei, Taiwan - TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall - March 17th 2012 (Saturday)
New York, USA - The Theater at Madison Square Garden - March 23rd, 2012 (Friday)
London, UK - indigO2 - April 11th, 2012 (Wednesday)
Paris, France - Le Zenith de Paris - April 14th 2012 (Saturday)
As always with popular events, we suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: L\'Arc~en~Ciel
Category > Anime
Just a quick reminder for those in the US (or those who can buy DVDs and Blu-rays from the USA). Section 23 films have sent us details of the Blu-ray release of Clannad. The complete collection is out now.
Buy Clannad now from Amazon.com.
Read More... | Souce: Section23 Films
Category > Events
NEO Magazine will be launching a Cosplay Idol Competition this weekend at the London Comic Con from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th October 2011. The winner gets a great load of swag including a laptop, pride of place in the NEO Cosplay Calendar, a dedicated feature in the magazine, plus a NEO goody bag. There are prizes for runners up too. So get sewing!
Read More... | Souce: London MCM Expo
Category > Manga
We've received details of a new manga title just out. Breath Deeply is a controversial medical thriller with a dash of romance. It's written by the husband and wife team known as Doton Yamaaki. Published in English by One Peace Books the company suggest readers forget what they know about manga when approaching this title. It's out now from your favourite book sellers.
Buy from Amazon.com
Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Update: We've now have a reviewed Breathe Deeply.
Read More... | Souce: One Peace Books
Category > Events
In London this time next week (Friday 28th to Sunday 30th October 2011) the London Comic Con MCM Expo will be well under way. As it builds up it seems like every other press release we get sent is about the Expo.
We've just received two press releases from them.
Square Enix will be showcasing the new Final Fantasy XIII-2 game, along with Hitman Absolution.
Screaming Matriarch will be showcasing a new limited edition Little Apple Doll.
Read More... | Souce: London MCM Expo
The good folks at Viz have sent us details of the up coming US release of Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Bonds which is due out on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday October 25th 2011.
To celebrate US based readers can watch on-line for a limited time a marathon of all five Naruto movies! The stream is avaiable this weekend until Sunday October 23rd 2011.
Read More... | Souce: VizAnime.com
Category > Events
Following on from our earlier coverage of the Zipangu Film Fest, we've just been sent the details of the full programme. The festival kicks off in London at the ICA from Friday 18th to Thursday 24th November 2011.
They've got lots of interesting things to watch. If you fancy some alternative animation then Beyond Anime: The Outer Limits will appeal.
Shirome has been described as somewhere between the Blair Witch Project and the X-Factor!
There's plenty more to enjoy, including some horror, retro films.
Read More... | Souce: Zipangu Fest