I won’t be posting the news until later because I’m tied up this morning with a press conference and other complications. But in the meantime, here’s a nice press release from the folks at Manga University about a regional award for their books. MU is unique in that they are located in Japan and use Japanese talent to produce books in English for an American audience.
TOKYO, February 15, 2008 – Manga University’s “Kanji de Manga” series, which uses comic illustrations to teach students how to read and write Japanese, is the recipient of one of this year’s Business Innovation Awards presented by the prefectural government of Saitama, Japan.
In announcing the awards this month, Saitama Governor Kiyoshi Ueda praised the series’ creator, Japanime Co. Ltd., for spreading Japanese language and culture throughout the world. Japanime publishes the books under its Manga University imprint. Co-authored by Japanime founder Glenn Kardy and manga artist Chihiro Hattori, “Kanji de Manga” is available in seven different languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish and Finnish. Nearly 250,000 copies of the books have been sold worldwide.
Five volumes are currently available. “Kanji de Manga Special Edition: Yojijukugo,” which will feature Japanese idioms, goes on sale in April, while “Kanji de Manga Vol. 6” will be released this September.