Top 10 anime ratings ranking (26 July 09)

1) Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) 10.5%

2) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 10.2%

3) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 6.9%

4) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 6.5%

5) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 5.6%

6) NARUTO (TV Tokyo) 5.4%

7) Inazuma Eleven (TV Tokyo) 4.5%

8) Anime Osaru no George (NHK Education) 4.1%

9) Anime Kawa no Hikari (NHK General) 4.0%

10) Mainichi Kaasan (TV Tokyo) 3.9%

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 27 July 09

1) Hayate no Gotoku Vol 20 (160,108)

2) Cross Game Vol 15 (106,249)

3) FAIRY TAIL Vol 16 (101,480)

4) Azumanga Daiou Ninensei Shinsouban (79,812)

5) Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi Vol 34 (75,959)

6) Zettai Karen Children Vol 17 (71,091)

7) Sakurahime Kaden Vol 2 (58,509)

8) Gakuen Alice Vol 19 (57,917)

9) Kami nomizo Shiru Sekai Vol 5 (56,837)

10) Angel Heart Vol 30 (54,576)

Nodame Orchestra to hold 6th concert in conjunction with the movie's screening

The Nodame Orchestra will be holding their 6th concert at The International Forum located in Tokyo on 31 October and 1 November. The orchestra was formed in 2006 when the drama adaptation was shown on TV and consists of musicians who were selected through a public audition. The upcoming concerts are held in conjunction with the impending release of the Nodame Cantabile movies as Part 1 is due to be screened from 19 December. Fans will get to hear the music pieces from the movie first through the concert. Tickets go on sale from 5 September.

Zoku Natsume Yuujin Chou DVD Vol 5

Title: Zoku Natsume Yuujin Chou DVD Vol 5
Catalog number: ANZB-3745
Number of discs: 2 (+CD)
Date of release: 26 August 2009
Price: 6,615 yen (inclusive of tax)
Total running time: 48 minutes
Contains: Episodes 12 and 13
Premium: original drama CD (first press only), 4 flower cards and 2 illustration cards

Higashi no Eden Radio CD - Eden Side

Title: Higashi no Eden DJCD "Eden of the East Housou-bu" Eden Side
Artistes: Various including Kimura Ryohei and Hayami Saori
Catalog number: FCCM-284
Produced by: Geneon Entertainment
Number of discs: 1
Date of release: 26 August 2009
Price: 2,940 yen (inclusive of tax)

Top 10 anime ratings ranking for the week ended 19 July 09

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 15.2%

2) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 11.2%

3) Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) 10.8%

4) One Piece (FujiTV) 10.6%

5) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 10.3%

6) Doraemon (FujiTV) 9.5%

7) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 5.6%

8) Atashinchi (TV Asahi) 5.2%

9) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 5.0%

10) Yatterman (NTV) 4.6%

More information on "Higashi no Eden" 2-part movie sequels

As announced previously, the first part of Higashi no Eden's movies titled "Higashi no Eden Gekijouban I The King of Eden" will be screened from 28 November this year. The 2nd part, "Higashi no Eden Gekijouban II Paradise Lost" will then be screened from 9 January 2010 which is straight after the New Year holidays. Both parts of the movie will be screened first in cinemas like Theatre Shinjuku, Theatre Diamond, United Cinema Toyosu before moving on to other nationwide cinema networks. With the screening date of Part 2 now decided, the pre-sale tickets will be made available from 1 August and contain premiums which differ from each other. Sales of the combined pre-sale tickets to Part 1 and 2 have been very good so far since the launch on 27 June with Theatre Shinjuku selling 1881 sets on Saturday and 3762 sets on Sunday during the first weekend while United Cinema Toyosu had fans queueing up as early as 5am for the tickets which ran out in just one hour. The individual tickets are selling at 1200 yen (inclusive of tax) each and will come with a free mobile phone screen cleaner.

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 20 July 09

1) Katei Kyoushi Hitman REBORN! Vol 25 (154,234)

2) Gintama Vol 29 (138,670)

3) Angel Heart Vol 30 (111,839)

4) Natsume Yuujin Chou Vol 8 (88,645)

5) PLUTO Vol 8 (86,472)

6) Initial D Vol 39 (83,074)

7) Hanma Baki Vol 19 (74,142)

8) Kuroshitsuji Vol 7 (66,954)

9) STEEL BALL RUN Vol 18 (64,344)

10) Masuda Kousuke Gekijou Gyagu Manga Vol 10 (55,918)

Top 10 manga to pass on to future generations (Oricon)

1) SLAM DUNK

2) ONE PIECE

3) Dragonball

4) Doraemon

5) Sazae-san

6) Meitantei Conan

7) Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouenmae Hasshutsujo

8) Chibi Maruko-chan

9) Hagane no Renkin Jutsushi

10) Hana Yori Dango

Top 10 anime ratings ranking (12 July 09)

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 16.8%

2) One Piece (FujiTV) 11.7%

3) Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) 11.6%

4) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 11.3%

5) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 10.4%

6) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 10.0%

7) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 6.3%

8) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 5.9%

9) Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (FujiTV) 5.8%

10) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 5.1%

Nodame Cantabile Part 3 ~ Finale to be shown from Jan 2010

The final installment in the anime series of "Nodame Cantabile" will be shown in the Noitamina slot from Jan 2010. This is in conjunction with the upcoming screenings of the real-life 2-part movie starring Ueno Juri and Tamaki Hiroshi to be shown at the end of 2009 and early 2010. The first part of the series was shown in 2007 and Part 2 was shown in 2008. Ep 9 of Part 2 holds the record of the highest rating for a Noitamina anime's single episode at 6.6% which is considered a feat because the Noitamina slot is near 1 am in the morning.

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 13 July 09

1) PLUTO Vol 8 (351,144)

2) Katei Kyoushi Hitman REBORN! Vol 25 (260,432)

3) Kuroshitsuji Vol 7 (256,164)

4) Gintama Vol 29 (204,432)

5) Natsume Yuujin Chou Vol 8 (130,397)

6) STEEL BALL RUN Vol 18 (99,842)

7) Ookiku Furi Kabutte Vol 12 (84,332)

8) XXXHoLiC Vol 15 (80,962)

9) Tomehane! Suzuzato Koukou Shodoubu Vol 5 (79,850)

10) Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu Vol 6 (78,288)

Top 10 anime ratings ranking (5 July 2009)

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 15.3%

2) Crayon Shinchan (TV Asahi) 10.7%

3) Dragonball Kai (FujITV) 10.7%

4) One Piece (FujiTV) 10.6%

5) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 9.4%

6) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 8.6%

7) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 6.8%

8) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 6.7%

9) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 5.7%

10) Inazuma Eleven (TV Tokyo) 4.9%

Nodame Cantabile movies' filming underway in Europe

"Nodame Cantabile", the hit manga which has released 21 volumes to date and boasts of a high sales figure of 29 million copies so far, will be made into a 2-part movie to be shown at the end of this year and next year. The author, Ninomiya Tomoko released her comments after the production press conference in Vienna, Austria on 27th and 28th June. She reminded the cast and staff to take good care of their health and wished them luck during the filming.

Ninomiya was on maternity leave for a while when she gave birth to her son. Shortly after she resumed the serialization of Nodame's manga, she was struck with acute appendicitis in June and had to be hospitalized. This led to a delay in the publication of Lesson 132 of the manga. As a result of her experience, she was very concerned that the tight schedule may take a toll on the production crew. She also expressed anticipation and excitement about seeing the classical concert scenes being brought to life in Europe's big and famous concert halls.

The movie, "Nodame Cantabile Saishu Gakusho Part 1" and "Part 2" are scheduled to be screened in cinemas from 19 Dec and next year's spring respectively. Currently, filming is going on in France, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria.

Nodame Cantabile Notebook

Title: Nodame Cantabile Notebook
Price: 525 yen (inclusive of tax)
JAN Code: 4543112236289
Dimensions: 145mm x 250mm x 5mm

Higashi no Eden Official T-shirt

Title: Higashi no Eden Official T-shirt
Produced by: graniph
Price: 2,625 yen (inclusive of tax)
JAN Code: 2009061810000
Available sizes: SS, S, M & L
Description: The reverse bears the logo of the CELECAO
Material: 100% cotton

Zoku Natsume Yuujin Chou DVD Vol 4

Title: Zoku Natsume Yuujin Chou DVD Vol 4
Catalog number: ANSB-3744
Number of discs: 1
Date of release: 22 July 2009
Price: 6,090 yen (inclusive of tax)
Contains: Episodes 9 to 11
Total running time: 72 minutes

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 6 July 09

1) Ookiku Furikabutte Vol 12 (301,945)

2) XXXHOLiC Vol 15 (258,048)

3) Kuroshitsuji Vol 7 (167,692)

4) Minamike Vol 6 (146,701)

5) BILLY BAT Vol 1 (145,120)

6) Kido Senshi Gundam THE ORIGIN Vol 19 Solomon-hen Zen (118,494)

7) Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Minagoroshi-hen Vol 2 (110,898)

8) Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai 2 (109,767)

9) Umineko no Naku Koro ni Episode 1: Legend of the golden witch 3 (96,191)

10) BAMBOO BLADE Vol 11 (93,688)

Top 10 anime ratings ranking (28 June 09)

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 18.6%

2) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 13.0%

3) Doraemon O-26 SP (TV Asahi) 9.7%

4) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 9.6%

5) One Piece (FujiTV) 9.4%

6) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 7.5%

7) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 6.7%

8) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 5.4%

9) Anime Osaru no George (NHK Education) 5.3%

10) NARUTO (TV Tokyo) 5.0%