Top 10 anime ratings ranking (21 Sep 09)

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 14.2%

2) Crayon Shinchan (TV Asahi) 13.0%

3) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 12.2%

4) One Piece (FujiTV) 9.2%

5) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 9.0%

6) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 8.9%

7) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 7.9%

8) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 7.1%

9) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 6.4%

10) Mainichi Kaasan (TV Tokyo) 5.8%

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 28 Sep 09

1) Kimi ni Todoke Vol 9 (178,612)

2) Ahiru no Sora Vol 25 (166,689)

3) FAIRY TAIL Vol 17 (164,980)

4) Mahou Sensei Negima! Vol 27 (149,143)

5) Kekkaishi Vol 26 (145,212)

6) Soul Eater Vol 15 (142,798)

7) Air Gear Vol 26 (139,508)

8) Hajime no Ippo Vol 89 (133,627)

9) ONE PIECE Vol 55 (110,067)

10) MAJOR Vol 73 (108,255)

Aoi Bungaku Series starting from 10 Oct 09

NTV will be showing an animation series titled "Aoi Bungaku Series" which comprises of 6 famous literature works from various leading authors. The series will begin from 10 October at 1.20am (1.50am for the first OA) on Saturdays.

The idea for the series began when Shueisha re-published the 6 novels in a new version with covers drawn by famous manga artists Obata Takeshi (Death Note), Kubo Taito (BLEACH) and Konomi Takeshi (Shin Tennis no Oujisama). Based on their drawings, MADHOUSE will be in charge of producing the anime series.

Actor Sakai Masato will be playing the lead characters for each story as well as take on the role of a narrator. The six stories include works from Daizai Osamu - "Ningen Shinkaku" (4 episodes), "Hashire Meros" (2 episodes), from Sakaguchi Ango - "Sakura no Mori no Mankai no Shita" (2 episodes), from Natsume Souseki "Kokoro" (2 episodes) and from Akutagawa Ryuunosuke "Kumo no Ito" (1 episode) and "Jigokuhen" (1 episode). This is the third time that Sakai Masato tries his hand at voice acting and he has re-read the novels so as to prepare for the recording.

Crayon Shinchan's author, Usui Yoshito passes away

"Crayon Shinchan" author Usui Yoshito passed away after slipping from a cliff at Mount. Arafune and his body was found on 20 Sep 09. Crayon Shinchan's publisher, Futaba held an emergency press conference where they revealed that the last picture in Usui's digital camera was a topdown view of the cliff. It is believed that Usui slipped and fell down the cliff while taking this picture.

Usui had always loved to go on hiking trips in the mountains alone while taking pictures. However, this was the first time he visited Mount. Arafune and it turned out to be his last as well. According to police investigations, Usui had taken about 30 pictures of the scenery at Arafune. As the camera was still in the "on" mode when the body was found, it is said that Usui could have fallen right after taking this picture. In addition, there were no letters found on Usui thus the police has ruled out suicide or murder since it is highly likely that this is an accident.

With regards to the future of Crayon Shinchan's TV anime and movies, Futaba said that they are in the midst of negotiations with the related parties and Usui's family. Meanwhile, Usui's funeral will be held soon where only family members will attend. There are also talks going on as to whether to hold a farewell ceremony for Usui. As for the monthly Crayon Shinchan manga release, the publisher said that they have enough material until the Dec issue which will be published on 5 Nov. However, it is uncertain what they will do after that. Meanwhile, there will be a commemorative feature in the Nov issue which goes on sale from 5 Oct.

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 21 Sep 09

1) ONE PIECE Vol 55 (366,160)

2) Kimi ni Todoke Vol 9 (355,500)

3) Ouran Koukou Host Club Vol 15 (154,506)

4) Gintama Vol 30 (130,932)

5) WORST Gaiten (128,792)

6) Vagabond Vol 31 (104,924)

7) Kaichou wa Meido-sama! Vol 8 (66,322)

8) Chihayafuru Vol 6 (61,089)

9) 7SEEDS Vol 16 (59,099)

10) Garasu no Kamen Vol 44 (48,189)

Eden of the East Compilation SP Air Communication

In conjunction with the upcoming launches of the "Eden of the East" movies i.e. "The King of Eden" from 28 Nov and "Paradise Lost" from 9 Jan 2010, there wil be a compilation SP titled "Air Communication" shown during the morning and late-night slots at selected cinemas from 26 Sep onwards. This is in response to requests from fans and they may catch the screening at Theatre Shinjuku and Theatre Diamond in Tokyo and Osaka's Theatre Umeda. This SP is not a mere compilation of scenes from the anime series but rather contains new revelations which were not explained in the series.

On the first day screening, cast members like Kimura Ryouhei who plays Takizawa Akira and Tamagawa Sakiko who plays Juiz will make appearances with the director Kamiyama Kenji.

Top 10 anime ratings ranking (13 September 09)

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 18.3%

2) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 13.1%

3) Doraemon Tanjou (TV Asahi) 11.2%

4) One Piece (FujiTV) 11.1%

5) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 9.1%

6) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 8.7%

7) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 8.0%

8) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 7.6%

9) NARUTO (TV Tokyo) 5.7%

10) Lilo and Stitch (TV Tokyo) 5.6%

Top 10 most anticipated manga sequels (Oricon)

1) SLAM DUNK

2) Hana Yori Dango

3) Dragonball

4) DEATH NOTE

5) Hikaru no Go

6) Touch

7) Itazura Na Kiss

8) Love Complex

9) Candy Candy

10) Rurouni Kenshin

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 14 Sep 09

1) ONE PIECE Vol 55 (1,121,685)

2) Vagabond Vol 31 (288,225)

3) Gintama Vol 30 (203,750)

4) Ouran Koukou Host Club Vol 15 (170,016)

5) Kaichou wa Maid-sama! Vol 8 (85,971)

6) Garasu no Kamen Vol 44 (84,957)

7) Beruze Babu Vol 2 (68,072)

8) Junjou Romantica Vol 12 (62,146)

9) Kyou wa Nekomura-san Vol 4 (53,966)

10) Nodame Cantabile Vol 22 (46,428)

Top 10 anime ratings ranking (6 Sep 09)

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 16.8%

2) Tezuka Osamu's 80th birthday commemoration - Jungle Emperor (FujiTV) 13.1%

3) Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) 12.6%

4) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 12.0%

5) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 11.8%

6) One Piece (FujiTV) 11.1%

7) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 9.3%

8) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 8.4%

9) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 7.2%

10) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 6.8%　　

Top 10 bestselling manga for July 09 (Mangazenkan.com)

1) ONE PIECE

2) 20 Seiki Shounen

3) SLAM DUNK

4) NARUTO

5) Hagane no Renkin Jutsushi

6) Fujiko F Fujio Complete Collection

7) Cross Game

8) Sora no Ma ni Ma ni

9) Gintama

10) Hana no Keiji

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 7 Sep 09

1) Garasu no Kamen Vol 44 (241,633)

2) Mei-chan no Shitsuji Vol 10 (158,414)

3) Meitantei Conan Vol 65 (102,917)

4) Clover Vol 22 (89,308)

5) Nodame Cantabile Vol 22 (83,326)

6) Bokutachi wa Shitte shimatta Vol 7 (77,051)

7) Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Minna Goroshi Hen Vol 3 (67,459)

8) Hagane no Renkin Jutsushi Vol 23 (65,700)

9) Suki desu Suzuki-kun! Vol 4 (64,362)

10) Fate / Stay night Vol 10 (59,710)

Top 10 favourite music-themed manga (Oricon)

1) Nodame Cantabile

2) NANA

3) Kei-on!

4) BECK

5) Detroit Metal City

6) Piano no Mori

7) Tenshi no Uta

8) Pride

9) Soranin

10) Itsumo Pocket ni Chopin

Top 10 anime ratings ranking (30 Aug 09)

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 14.3%

2) Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) 12.3%

3) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 10.8%

4) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 10.1%

5) One Piece (FujiTV) 8.9%

6) Meitantei Conan (FujiTV) 8.1%

7) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV0 6.6%

8) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 6.3%

9) Atashinchi (TV Asahi) 5.8%

10) NARUTO (TV Tokyo) 5.5%　　　　　　

20th Century Boys' movie adaptation Part II Blu-Ray Disc breaks sales records

The Blu-Ray Disc version of "20 Seiki Shounen - Chapter 2 - Saigo no Kibou" released on 28 August 09 by VAP broke DVD sales records as announced in Oricon's latest DVD / Blu-Ray Disc charts dated 7 September. The title's BD version sold 7,717 copies between the period of 24 August to 30 August thus breaking the highest record for Japanese Blu-Ray Disc movie releases so-far (not taking anime releases into consideration). The previous record holder was a related title, "20 Seiki Shounen - Chapter 1 - Owari no Hajimari" which sold 7,251 copies. As for the DVD version, 32,000 copies of the normal version and 12,000 copies of the deluxe version have been sold so far, thus making "20 Seiki Shounen" the No.1 title on the weekly DVD charts.