Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 31 August 09

1) Meitantei Conan Vol 65 (383,086)

2) Hagane no Renkin Jutsushi Vol 23 (222,823)

3) Nodame Cantabile Vol 22 (195,975)

4) Daiya no A Vol 17 (172,154)

5) Azumanga Daiou 3nen sei (119,534)

6) Sangatsu no Lion Vol 3 (106,419)

7) Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Vol 18 (87,381)

8) Aria no Kishi Vol 17 (85,139)

9) LIAR GAME Vol 9 (84,583)

10) capeta Vol 20 (80,702)

Top 10 anime ratings ranking as of week ended 23 Aug 09

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 13.6%

2) Doraemon (TV Asahi) / Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) / One Piece (FujiTV) 11.0%

5) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 9.8%

6) Dragonball Kai (FujITV) 9.2%

7) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 6.1%

8) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 6.0%

9) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 5.2%

10) Anime Osaru no George (NHK Education) 5.0%

Monster's anime version to shown in the US from Oct 2009

VIZ Media, an American manga and anime distribution company, announced that the anime version of "MONSTER" is to be shown via the Sci-Fi Channel from 12 October 09 onwards. This cable channel is targeted at youngsters and is owned by a major broadcasting station, NBC. "MONSTER" will be shown during the timeslot of "Ani-Monday" at night. This is considered a feat as major US TV channels rarely show Japanese anime except for specialized channels.

The manga version has received lots of accolades in Japan including the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Award and the Shogakukan Manga Award. All 17 volumes of the manga have been released and sales of the manga are expected to climb higher with the launch of the anime which spans 74 episodes and was produced by Madhouse. In addition, DVD releases of the anime are also being planned.

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 24 Aug 09

1) Hagane no Renkin Jutsushi Vol 23 (849,067)

2) Nodame Cantabile Vol 22 (733,157)

3) Sangatsu no Lion Vol 3 (275,213)

4) NARUTO Vol 47 (177,698)

5) BLEACH Vol 40 (126,979)

6) Sukitte Ii na yo Vol 3 (96,205)

7) Shin Tennis no Oujisama Vol 1 (83,145)

8) Amanchu Vol 1 (68,948)

9) Bakuman Vol 4 (66,110)

10) Monster Hunter Orage Vol 4 (58,485)

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora's real-life movie adaptation

The real-life movie adaptation of "Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora" will be shown in spring next year. Kutsuna Shiori who gained fame through her appearance in the Pocky CMs will be starring as the lead character, Rika who is hospitalised due to a heart ailment and meets Yuuichi played by Ikematsu Sousuke. The story is based on the same-titled novel by Hashimoto Tsumugu. Other cast members include Ooizumi who plays a doctor in the hospital while the theme song, "15 no Kotoba" is sung by Abe Mao.

Top 10 anime ratings ranking for the week ended 16 August 09

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 14.1%

2) One Piece (FujiTV) 9.7%

3) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 9.2%

4) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 8.8%

5) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 6.7%

6) Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) 6.5%

7) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 6.2%

8) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 5.2%

9) Pocket Monster DP (TV Tokyo) 5.0%

10) Yatterman (NTV) 4.9%

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 17 August 09

1) NARUTO Vol 47 (783,827)

2) BLEACH Vol 40 (589,661)

3) Bakuman Vol 4 (242,745)

4) Shin Tennis no Oujisama Vol 1 (223,834)

5) Eyeshield 21 Vol 36 (165,014)

6) Toriko Vol 5 (139,650)

7) To Love-ru Vol 15 (129,490)

8) Nurarihyon no Mago Vol 6 (126,714)

9) Monster Hunter Orage Vol 4(125,381)

10) Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro Vol 23 (85,874)

Top 10 anime ratings ranking for the week ended 9 August 09

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 17.3%

2) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 11.8%

3) Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) 10.6%

4) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 9.0%

5) One Piece (FujiTV) 8.6%

6) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 6.5%

7) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 6.4%

8) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 6.1%

9) Pocket Monster (TV Tokyo) 5.5%

10) Yatterman (NTV) 4.8%

Top 10 favourite baseball manga of all time

1) Touch

2) MAJOR

3) Dokaben

4) ROOKIES

5) H2

6) Kyoujin no Hoshi

7) Captain

8) Ookiku Furikabutte

9) Samurai Giants

10) Daiya no A

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 10 Aug 09

1) Pandora Hearts Vol 9 (119,155)

2) Moyashimon Vol 8 (107,679)

3) Saki Vol 6 (94,426)

4) Saiyuuki Gaiten Vol 4 (89,565)

5) GUNSLINGER GIRL Vol 11 (72,944)

6) Otomen Vol 8 (69,086)

7) Initial D Vol 39 (52,820)

8) Keroro Gunsou Vol 19 (51,644)

9) Aozora Eeru Vol 3 (47,830)

10) Kiyoku Yawaku Vol 10 (45,407)

Top 10 anime ratings ranking (2 Aug 09)

1) Sazae-san (FujiTV) 17.6%

2) Chibi Maruko-chan (FujiTV) 11.6%

3) Crayon Shin-chan (TV Asahi) 10.3%

4) Doraemon (TV Asahi) 10.2%

5) One Piece (FujiTV) 10.1%

6) Dragonball Kai (FujiTV) 8.2%

7) Meitantei Conan (NTV) 5.9%

8) Yatterman (NTV) 5.0%

9) Fresh Puri Kyua! (TV Asahi) 5.0%

10) NARUTO (TV Tokyo) 4.7%

Top 10 bestselling manga for the week ended 3 August 09

1) Moyashimon Vol 8 (194,146)

2) Hayate no Gotoku Vol 20 (112,193)

3) Cross Game Vol 15 (102,200)

4) FAIRY TAIL Vol 16 (93,159)

5) Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu vol 9 (88,092)

6) GIANT KILLING Vol 11 (84,448)

7) Saki Vol 6 (83,430)

8) Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu Vol 3 (76,794)

9) Aa Megami Sama Vol 39 (74,711)

10) Keroro Gunsou Vol 19 (60,562)

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.