It seems to be awards season in Japan; the latest are the 32nd annual Kodansha Manga Awards, which were announced yesterday. Shugo Chara! got the nod for best children’s manga; none of the others are licensed yet, but they are: Saikyō! Toritsu Aoizaka Kōkō Yakyūbu (Best Shonen Manga), Kimi ni Todoke (Best Shojo Manga), and Moyashimon (Best General Manga). Moyashimon is also known as Tales of Agriculture, and here is Wikipedia’s summary:
The series follows Tadayasu Sawaki, a first-year college student at an agricultural university, who has a unique ability to see and communicate with bacteria and other micro-organisms.
Yes, please! Del Rey, phone home. Ed has more comments at the MangaCast. (The image is, I believe, the cover of vol. 5 of Moyashimon, gently lifted from the Kodansha website.)
Here’s a find: Erica Friedman recommends Manga Gunkan, the blog of translator Anastasia Moreno, which is written in English and Japanese. Well worth a click!
Gia is going to Anime Central this week, and she’s taking questions for the panels—which will include one by the elusive ADV.
This blog post is titled “My issues with manga,” but it’s really more about issues with fandom and popular attitudes toward manga than manga itself. I look forward to part 2. (Via When Fangirls Attack.)
Tokyopop’s new direction: In his latest Flipped column, David Welsh talks to Tokyopop’s Bryce Coleman about their new line of color graphic novels from around the world.
News from Japan: ANN has the dope on three new manga serials launching in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine, by the creators of Inugami, Suzuka, and Samurai Deeper Kyo. And sports manga creator Tetsuya Chiba has a one-shot scheduled to run in Big Comic this month.
Not manga, but a good read: Ten mistakes you probably will make in Japan. (Via Japanator.)
Reviews: Let’s start right up with Carlo Santos’ latest Right Turn Only!! column at ANN, where he gives the pros and cons on Dororo, Gun Blaze West, Kannazuki no Miko, and lotsa other stuff. And there are some new reviews up at Manga Village: Charles Tan on vol. 1 of Gyo, Dan Polle on vol. 1 of Toto! The Wonderful Adventure, Sabrina on vol. 1 of Black Cat, and Lori Henderson on vol. 3 of Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation. At the Manga Maniac Cafe, Julie is under the weather but still manages to pen several micro reviews. Lissa Pattillo reads vol. 5 of Black Sun, Silver Moon at Kuri-ousity. Holly Ellingwood reviews vol. 2 of Short Sunzen and vol. 15 of Sgt. Frog, and Scott Campbell checks out vol. 1 of Rose Hip Rose and vol. 13 of Kekkaishi at Active Anime. Erica Friedman takes a look at vol. 2 of Strawberry Panic at Okazu. Ferdinand has an update on vol. 4 of Kashimashi at Prospero’s Manga. Connie takes a look at vol. 1 of Fairy Tail at Slightly Biased Manga. Eva reviews vols. 1 and 2 of The Guin Saga (light novels) at MangaCast.
I have seen all 12 episodes of the Moyashimon anime, and holy crap bacteria are cute!!! I hope someone picks this up Stateside.
I’ve noticed Del Rey gets a lot of titles with anime properties – Suzuka, the Wallflower, and now even Mammotte Lollipop got licensed, and that anime came out a few years ago. Yozakura Quartet anime was announced just after volume one of the manga came out here.
Pity none of the manga that won awards are licensed yet.
Kimi ni Todoke I’ve seen a few times when I check the Japanese Manga Bestsellers, and I’ve always wondered about it. It seemed really popular, as it was up there with a lot of famous titles. It looks like a sweet by fun and slightly quirky manga that’s drawn well, judging by the cover. It looks like Viz style. I hope they pick it up.
And Moyashimon….I can’t seem to think of a company that would want to take it. But I’ll buy it anyday!
wow! those completely colored graphic novels look sweet! i really want to read Orange. that is simply one of the coolest covers i’ve ever seen. i think it’s great they are branching out. before my mom actually bought it for me, i had discovered the Sailor Moon mangas myself. and i picked them up and thought, ‘not only is this really little, it’s in black and white, eww!’. so i think that for all non-manga/comic fans, this may be another way to get them interested. i really can’t wait for these releases. heck, i bought the Phoenix Rising comic book simply for the art style, i don’t even read western comics usually!
btw, love your blog,i check it everyday!