Based on the master's lifework, Bunka Broadcasting has revealed they will air the Mamoru Oshii scripted radio drama "Kerberos Koutetsu No Ryouken" (Hound of the Steel Kerberos) on May 31st in Japan. Kawai Kenji will provide music. It's been revealed this work and the delivery of related images are being handled by a newly formed company called Raiden involved in wireless broadcasting and Internet streaming. Oshii said the planned cross media promotion and collaboration could lead to a new film adaptation. After the planned broadcast, the drama may be packaged with related design materials in the form of a CD or DVD. A 3DCG trailer and interview for the project will be offered online free of charge.

Opening on June 17 in Japan, the first of 2 upcoming live action DEATH NOTE films are garnering enormous attention overseas. Based on the bestselling manga with 14 million copies in circulation, 8 Asian countries are confirmed to be planning a release of the film. Additionally, offers of interest poured into the Nippon Television booth from 50+ companies located in Europe and America at the Cannes film fest. Golden Harvest has just closed on negotiations for the Hong Kong release. Companies in Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore are said to be close to completting negotiations as well. Screenings are expected to start as early as the summer.

GONZO and Nippon Travel Agency are teaming up to run a tour to Anime Expo this summer. Expected to bring a contingent of Japanese to convention, the tour is scheduled for June 30th - July 4th. Participation is 248,000 Yen. The Witchblade anime is a big feature of this tour and the official title is "Anime Witchblade Presents Anime Expo Tour 2006". Besides, the con, GONZO USA will be visited.

Source: Watch Impress

There's a draconian bit of thought crime legislation pending in the land of the rising sun. Japan's government is pushing for the passage of an anti-conspiracy law with potentially far-reaching consequences. Called the Kyoubouzai Hoan (conspiracy or collusion law), the legislation appears headed for passage in the diet (parliament) as soon as next week. In its present form, it could result in Japanese citizens being detained or punished for merely agreeing with one another. In combination with another statute that permits detention without charge, the new law could have a chilling effect on civil liberties, including freedoms of speech and assembly and the right to organize. On May 21st a group called the The Anti Conspiracy Crime Girls and the Kyoubou Zai Ni Hantai Suru Hyougen Sha Tachi No Kai ("associations of those who express opposition to conspiracy crime") set up shop on Nakano, Tokyo street corners passing out handbills (flyers) with information to educate the public on the dangers of the new conspiracy crime bill. Otaku were a target of this campaign and at Nakano Sun Plaza one group of girls were dressed as housemaids passing out handbills containing educational manga imagery. The maids successfully distributed over 1000 of the handbills. You can see pictures of the maid activists at the below Labornetjp link. Sources: Sixth Column | Labornetjp | More Maid Pics (Kyobozai Official Site)

Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso's otaku status and love of manga is well known even outside of Japan. His favorite title is publicly known as Golgo 13, from which it's rumored he learned many political skills. and Now, a new interview article conducted with the minister is garnering alot of attention in the Japanese otaku blogoshphere. Appearing the inagural issue of Kodansha's new "Mechabi" (describing itself as an "otaku information synthesis magazine"), the piece is titled "Taro Aso - Kontentsu Gaikou, Soshite Roozen Meiden Giwaku Ni Kotaeru" ("Taro Aso - It Answers The Contents Diplomacy And The Rozen Maiden Doubt"). The title references a widespread internet rumor that minister Aso was observed reading a volume of Peach-Pit's Rozen Maiden manga while inside the VIP Room of the Diamond Premiere Lounge of Haneda Tokyo International Airport in 2005. The truth of that inncident is said to surface in the interview. The magazine is due on store shelves in Japan June 2nd. A recent entry in the Mechabi Editorial Office Blog seems to indicate the magazine is trying to distance itself from endorsing Minster Aso politically with the coverage, emphasizing only to focus on the otakuness and manga affinity of the man.

We first reported on Dolby's HD2 Emotion high def audio demonstration being held in Omotesando Hills, Tokyo on May 15th. The demo has been such a success, Dolby has extended the originally 2 week scheduled event to 3 weeks, increased the seating capacity and added new content. In particular, Dolby has seen a huge response to the original anime content (Warner Bros. Pictures' Brave Story and Production I.G.'s Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, 2nd Gig) being screened to show off their audio experience. To that end they are adding three new episodes of "Ghost in the Shell S.A.C. 2nd GIG". The plans are to screen the 25 min episode run two times a day. A special attraction for anime fans is said to be in preparation as a finale of the event on the final day. Phileweb has images and reports from HD2 Emotion.

Japan's international image has not been the best in recent years. With the 60th anniversary of WWII having come and gone, past wounds inflicted by the empire are still fresh in some parts of Asia. Roger Pulvers writes about in the Japan Times: Between October 2005 and January 2006, the BBC World Service conducted a poll to find out which countries were considered in a favorable light. Nearly 40,000 people in 33 countries responded, choosing Japan as "the country that has the most positive influence on the world." Only two nations taking part did not regard Japan highly: China and South Korea. This overall sanguine result was referred to by Foreign Minister Taro Aso in a speech he delivered April 28 at Digital Hollywood University, an educational institution located not, as its name would suggest, in Anaheim, the California haven for ardent Disney fans, but in Akihabara, the Tokyo refuge for armies of post-analog geeks. In his speech, Aso waxed enthusiastic about Japan's future as a cultural leader around the world.

Based on the manga by Rurouni Kenshin creator Nobuhiro Watsuki, Buso Renkin is destiend for it's own anime TV series adaptation with a scheduled fall start in Japan. The comic serialized in Shueisha's Shonen Jump in Japan between 2003 and 2005. VIZ Media holds the North American license, with a planned English version release for vol. 1 starting on August 1, 2006. The title's English translation litteraly means "Weapon Alchemist". The shonen story with adventure and comedy elements deals with school students who fight off monsters with magical alchemical devices. Confirmed staff positions include Director Takao Kato (Sorcerer Hunters, Zoids, Rockman.EXE), Series Compostion by Akatsuki Yamatoya (Naruto, Zatch Bell, Fullmetal Alchemist), Chacter Designer Takami Akio (Shaman King) and Animation Production by XEBEC. Jun Fukuyama (Gankutsuou-Albert de Morcerf) will voice hero Kazuki Muto, Yuzuki Ryoka (Armitage Dual Matrix-Naomi Armitage) will voice Tokiko Tsumura. All things considered, this anime has a very high likelyhood of international distribution.

A "new print version" of Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind was screened at the 59th Cannes International Film Festival on the 18th. Being showed in the "Cannes Classics" section, it's said viewers formed a line at the doors a full hour prior to the showing. The 450 person theater filled to overcapacity with very enthusiastic fans and it's said a collective shout of joy filled the theater when Miyazaki's name appeared on the ending credits.

Source: ANS

Shoji Horibuchi, president of Viz Media, aparently has big plans for San Francisco's Japantown. He envisions a building dedicated to Japan's modern pop culture and he's doing all he can to make it a reality. When the Hokubei Mainichi building at 1746 Post St. went up for sale, Horibuchi and Viz snapped it up and immediately began trying to create the "J-Pop Center." He hopes to house several businesses inside the building including a cafe, a Kinokuniya annex bookstore as the main tenant, and his primary reason for the purchase a movie theater. He plans to specialize in Japanese films, including animation. There is also a possibility of theater usage for live performances related to Japanese culture. Initial plans are for the theater to seat 160. Once torn down and rebuilt, the building would total five floors, with the cafe in the basement, the bookstore at street level, the theater comprising the second and third floor, and the fourth and fifth dedicated to offices. The fifth floor is reserved for the offices of Viz's new Japanese film distribution venture, "Viz Films."

Source: Nichibei Times