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Anime Boston 2024 Hosts Yuya Hirose, Yuki Watanabe as Guests of Honor
Event takes place on March 29-31
― The staff of Anime Boston announced on Friday that the 2024 event will host voice actor Yuya Hirose and Tsuburaya Productions' Yuki Watanabe as Guests of Honor in association with HIDIVE. Hirose portrays Yuki Wakura in Chained Soldier, Yuta Hibiki in SSSS.GRIDMAN, Alto Goldfield in Kinsō no Vermeil, and Isumi Haruka in IDOLiSH7. Watanabe has worked on the production...
Manga Creator Yū Asai Dies, Manga Creator Husband Motoyuki Asai Hospitalized After Traffic Accident
Motoyuki Asai is in serious condition
― The Twitter account for manga creator Motoyuki Asai stated on Thursday Motoyuki and his wife, fellow manga creator duo Yū Asai, were in a traffic accident on March 2. Yū died on March 6 while Motoyuki is currently hospitalized with bone fractures and is in serious condition. A close relative, who made the announcement on Twitter, stated in another Twitter post ...
Former Crunchyroll Executive Miles Atherton Joins Anime Trending Site's Board
― The anime news and statistics website Anime Trending announced on Thursday that Miles Atherton (formerly Miles Thomas) has joined the site's board of directors as an advisor. Atherton joined Crunchyroll in 2013 as a sales consultant. He eventually became a content analyst, brand manager, and then the senior manager of social media and editorial programming before becoming the director of audience ...
Kanako Takatsuki Announces Absence from Love Live! Koshien 2024 Due to Health
Voice actress returned from medical hiatus in November 2021
― Kanako Takatsuki, voice actress for Hanamaru Kunikida in the Love Live! idol franchise, revealed to fans on Instagram on Tuesday that she will not be participating in the Love Live! Series Presents Unit Koshien 2024 event due to her health. Takatsuki wrote that anxiety regarding her adjustment disorder flaring up again caused symptoms to ...
Actor Masaaki Maeda Dies at 91
Maeda voiced Carozzo "Iron Mask" Ronah in Mobile Suit Gundam F91
― The Sankei Shimbun reported last Friday that actor Masaaki Maeda died on February 27 due to ischemic heart failure. He was 91. There was a funeral held for immediate family. Maeda was known for the Ken-chan and Jiken Kisha television series. Maeda played Carozzo "Iron Mask" Ronah in Mobile Suit Gundam F91. His other roles include Shog...
Chibi Maruko-chan Anime's Lead Voice Actress TARAKO Dies at 63
TARAKO voiced Maruko in ongoing anime for 35 years
― The Sponichi Annex news website reported on Saturday that voice actress TARAKO (Maruko in Chibi Maruko-chan) died at the age of 63. The cause of death was not revealed. There will be a funeral for family. TARAKO is best known for her starring role as Maruko in the long-running and ongoing Chibi Maruko-chan. She played the character for 35 years, an...
Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama Dies at 68
Creator's long-running Dragon Ball franchise has inspired anime, sequels, spinoffs
― Famed manga creator Akira Toriyama died on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma. He was 68. His family held a private funeral. Toriyama's family is not accepting gifts, visits, or offerings, and is also not accepting interviews. Bird Studio, Toriyama's design and production studio, are planning to hold a comemmorat...
Staff of 'Biggest' Pirated Anime Site Aimed at Japanese Viewers Found Guilty
"B9GOOD" piracy site's operator, 3 staff arrested in 2023
― Japan's Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), an organization that aims to reduce worldwide piracy and actively promote the international distribution of Japanese content, reported on Monday that the four people arrested in 2023 in suspicion of being associated with "B9GOOD," one of the "largest" anime piracy sites aimed at Japan...
Manga Creators Takehiko Inoue, Yumi Tamura, Animator Atsushi Wada Win Agency for Cultural Affairs' Media Arts Awards
Awards ceremony takes place on March 12 in Tokyo
― The Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs announced the winners of the 74th "Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Fine Arts Recommendation Awards" on Wednesday. Manga creators Takehiko Inoue (Slam Dunk) and Yumi Tamura (7SEEDS, Don't Call It Mystery) won in the Media Arts category, and animator Atsushi Wada (Ikim...
Anime Producer Kouichirou Itou Faces New Accusations of Obscene Acts With a Minor for Money
Itou was previously arrested for a separate charge for allegedly soliciting nude photos from a minor
― The below article contains references to child sexual assault. 52-year-old anime producer Kouichirou Itou, who was arrested in late February for allegedly soliciting a 15-year-old high school girl for nude photos, faces new accusations from Wakayama Prefectural Police. The authorities charged Itou o...
NHK Airs Gosho Aoyama Documentary on April 28
Professional Shigoto no Ryūgi Mangaka Gosho Aoyama SP
― Gosho Aoyama is the newest subject of NHK's Professional Shigoto no Ryūgi (style of professional work) documentary series. The episode will go behind-the-scenes with the manga artist and airs on NHK BS Premium 4K on April 28, as well as NHK General on May 2. The 72-minute episode follows Aoyama over the course of seven months from May 2023 and f...
Voice Actress Yui Ninomiya Goes on Hiatus Due to Health
Aikatsu Friends! voice actress, Classroom of the Elite performer to concentrate on resting
― The staff of voice actress Yui Ninomiya announced on her official X (formerly Twitter) account that her activities will be suspended as of Tuesday due to poor health, and she will concentrate on resting. The announcement did not state Ninomiya's illness or a possible date of her return. Ninomiya is best known...
2 Men Face New Accusations After Arrest for Posting Shonen Jump Images Early
Suspect Samir Musa allegedly admitted to also posting Weekly Shōnen Magazine images
― The two foreign nationals who were arrested earlier this month for allegedly posting images of manga from Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine faced new accusations on Sunday by the Kumamoto and Niigata prefectural police's joint investigation unit. This time, the suspects are also accused of posting images of man...
Leiji Matsumoto, Yuki Hijiri Honored With Contribution Award at Japan Nihon SF Taishō
Both manga creators awarded posthumously
― The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ) on Friday posthumously awarded late science-fiction manga creators Leiji Matsumoto and Yuki Hijiri with the Contribution Award in its 44th Nihon SF Taishō Awards. Matsumoto died in February 2023, and Hijiri died in October 2022. Matsumoto's notable works include Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Galaxy Expres...
Voice Actress Reina Kondo Goes on Hiatus Due to Health
Kondo cancels events to prioritize treatment
― Voice actress Reina Kondo and her agency Hirata Office announced on Twitter on Friday that she is going on hiatus because she has not been feeling well. After consulting with her doctor, she has decided to prioritize treatment. She is taking a break and will then continue to work with restrictions. Kondo will not appear at the "Seiyū Grand Prix presents ...
C/FO Co-Founder Mark Merlino Dies
Co-founder of 1st anime club in North America was also one of the founders of Furry fandom
― The Prancing Skiltaire announced on Twitter on February 20 that Cartoon/Fantasy Organization co-founder Mark Merlino has died. Earlier this month, a GoFundMe campaign was launched for Merlino to help fund his hospice care. While the GoFundMe was originally launched to help pay for Merlino's medical bills afte...
Police Arrest your name. Producer Kouichirou Itou on Suspicion of Soliciting Minor for Nude Photos (Updated)
Itou allegedly solicited girl in 2021; police investigating for other victims
― Wakayama Prefectural Police arrested 52-year-old anime producer Kouichirou Itou for allegedly soliciting a 15-year-old high school girl living in Nagano for nude pictures of herself. Itou admitted to the charge, though according to authorities he claimed that he had "done it with other people, so [he couldn't] tell if it ...
Godzilla Minus One Live-Action Film, Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo Anime Film Producers Win Fujimoto Award
Godzilla Minus One producers win general award, Kitarō Tanjō: Gegege no Nazo producer Keisuke Naitō wins rookie award
― Japan's Eiga Engeki Bunka Kyōkai (Film Theater Culture Association) announced the winners of its 43rd annual Fujimoto Awards on Monday. Godzilla Minus One live-action film producers Hisashi Usui, the late Shuji Abe, Kenji Yamada, Kazuaki Kishida, Gō Abe, and Keiichiro Moriya receive...
The Boy and the Heron Anime Film Wins 2 Awards at Annie Awards
Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 also wins 2 awards; Suzume shut out
― The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announced the winners of its 51st Annual Annie Awards on Saturday, and Hayao Miyazaki's latest feature film The Boy and the Heron (Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka) won two awards. Hayao Miyazaki won the award for Best Storyboarding for a feature film, and animation director Takeshi Ho...
Niigata Int'l Animation Film Festival Honors Kazuki Higashiji, Takeshi Honda, Others
maboroshi art director, The Boy and the Heron animation director, Lonely Castle in the Mirror scriptwriter win Kōji Fukiya award
― The Niigata International Animation Film Festival announced on February 16 the winners of the Kōji Fukiya and Hiroshi Okawa awards, which include maboroshi (Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Kōjō, pictured at right) film art director Kazuki Higashiji and The Boy and the Her...
NTV Apologizes After Sexy Tanaka-san Creator Hinako Ashihara's Death
NTV conducts investigation into Ashihara's apparent suicide
― Warning: this article contains statements about a possible suicide. If you or anyone you know is suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a suicide prevention organization in your country. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available by calling 988. In Japan, the TELL LifeLine service is avai...
GoFundMe Campaign Launched for C/FO Co-Founder Mark Merlino
Campaign is raising money to support Merlino's hospice care
― A GoFundMe campaign was launched on Wednesday for Cartoon/Fantasy Organization co-founder Mark Merlino to help fund his hospice care. While the GoFundMe was originally launched to help pay for Merlino's medical bills after he was hospitalized on December 23 after suffering three micro strokes, the campaign updated on Friday to announce tha...
Yoko Shimomura Honored With Game Developers Choice's Lifetime Achievement Award
Shimomura has composed for Kingdom Hearts, Street Fighter franchises, more
― The organizers of the 24th annual Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) revealed on Friday that composer Yoko Shimomura will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Shimomura began her career at Capcom in 1988, and she is perhaps best known in the West for composing the score for the Kingdom Hearts series, and she has also cont...
Voice Actor Sean Letourneau Starts GoFundMe Campaign After Cancer Diagnosis
Dub voice actor revealed testicular cancer diagnosis on Wednesday
― Voice actor Sean Letourneau (24) started a GoFundMe campaign on Wednesday to help pay for medical bills. Letourneau was diagnosed earlier this year with testicular cancer. Letourneau wrote that the "ultrasounds, specialist visits, CT scans, surgery fees, and general toll of the entire event has left me financially devastated and over...
Man Sentenced to Year in Prison for Threatening Voice Actress Yui Ishikawa
Tokyo court: Fukuta Kishimoto had been punished for similar offense before
― The Tokyo District Court sentenced 25-year-old Fukuta Kishimoto to one year in prison for threatening to kill voice actress Yui Ishikawa (Mikasa in Attack on Titan, Kyururu in Kemono Friends 2). In its decision, the court noted that Kishimoto had already served time for a similar offense, but still made death threats again. ...
The World of Narue Manga Creator Tomohiro Marukawa Dies at 53
Manga creator had been planning new work
― Kadokawa's Monthly Shonen Ace magazine revealed on Friday that manga creator Tomohiro Marukawa died of ischemic heart disease on January 25. He was 53. Marukawa launched The World of Narue in Monthly Shonen Ace in 1999, and ended the series in December 2012 at 13 volumes. The manga won a Seiun Award in 2014. The manga inspired a 12-episode television anime s...
Oshi no Ko, The First Slam Dunk Win TAAF's Top Awards
Takehiko Inoue, Takeshi Honda, Daiki Nakazawa, YOASOBI also honored
― The Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF) announced the winners of its Animation of the Year awards for works and individuals on Thursday. Oshi no Ko won the television category and The First Slam Dunk won the animated film category. The winners of the individual awards are as follows: Original Work/Screenplay Category: Takehiko Inoue ...
Transformers Comic Book Artist José Delbo Dies
San Diego Comic-Con International awarded Delbo its Inkpot Award in 2013
― Argentinian comic book artist José Delbo died on February 5. He was aged 90. He was known for his work on Transformers comic books for Marvel Comics amongst many other works. His family made an announcement regarding his passing. Some of Delbo's earliest work in the United States include The Spectre and Wonder Woman with DC Co...
Robotech Voice Actor, Writer, Director Greg Finley Dies at 76
Finley played Captain Gloval, Anatole Leonard in Robotech franchise
― Voice actor Tony Oliver posted on Facebook on Friday that actor, writer, and director Greg Finley died on February 1. He was 76. Finley voiced Captain Gloval and Anatole Leonard in the Robotech franchise, as well as Victor Kyōfu Densetsu: Kaiki! Frankenstein. He also served as a staff writer on the series. Finley provided numerous ...
Takayuki Kondō, Daisuke Ono to Stop Performing as TRD Duo on June 26
Duo formed in 2021 as a musical unit
― TRD — Takayuki Kondō and Daisuke Ono's "technologic vocal unit" — announced in a new YouTube video on Friday that the duo will end their activities after the release of their album What's Going On?. The album will ship on June 26. The duo expressed their gratitude to their fans for their support through the years. The album will contain 10 tracks and a special e...
Man Pleads Guilty on Trial for Threatening Voice Actress Yui Ishikawa
Defendant also threatened Ishikawa, director TATSUKI in 2020
― Fuji News Network reported on Friday that 25-year-old male Fukuta Kishimoto pleaded guilty in trial for threatening voice actress Yui Ishikawa (Mikasa in Attack on Titan, Kyururu in Kemono Friends 2). After being arrested in December, he admitted in court to posting on a message board that he would stab Ishikawa with a knife and kill her....
Sexy Tanaka-san, Sand Chronicles Manga Creator Hinako Ashihara Dies in Apparent Suicide (Updated)
Manga creator had been reported missing on Sunday
― Warning: this article contains statements about a possible suicide. If you or anyone you know is suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a suicide prevention organization in your country. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available by calling 988. In Japan, the TELL LifeLine service is available at 0...
Shinya Komatsu's Afternoon Yawns, Henry Yoshitaka Kiyama's The Four Immigrants Manga, Moto Hagio Win Angoulême Awards
Festival held Master Classes, exhibitions by Moto Hagio, Hiroaki Samura
― The 51st Angoulême International Comics Festival has announced its winners as of Saturday. Henry Yoshitaka Kiyama's Four Japanese in San Francisco 1904-1924 (The Four Immigrants Manga) won the Heritage Selection category. Additionally, Shinya Komatsu's Afternoon Yawns (Gogo no Akubi, pictured right) volume 1 won a Special Jury ...
Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light Project's Real-Life Father Dies
"Indy" inspired live-action series about father/son bonding over Final Fantasy XIV game
― The live-action Final Fantasy XIV Dad of Light (Final Fantasy XIV: Hikari no Otōsan) series' director Kiyoshi Yamamoto revealed on Twitter on Wednesday that the real-life father who inspired the series has died. Known as "Indy Jones" in the blog and in the series' representation of Square Enix's Final Fantasy XI...
Kyoto Court Sentences Man to Death in Kyoto Animation Arson Case (Updated)
Suspect found guilty for arson that killed 36 people, wounded 32 others at Kyoto Animation on July 18, 2019
― The Kyoto District Court handed down a guilty verdict on Thursday to Shinji Aoba, the suspect of the arson murder case that killed 36 people and wounded 32 others at Kyoto Animation, sentencing him to death. The prosecutors for the case announced their intent to seek the death penalty for Aob...
Koji Kondo Enters Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame
27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony to be held on February 15
― The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) announced on Wednesday that they will honor Nintendo composer and sound director Koji Kondo as a Hall of Fame inductee at the 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas on February 15. The ceremony will be livestreamed. Kondo began working for Nintendo in 1984. ...
Singer Akira Kushida Hospitalized for Acute Pancreatitis
'THE KING 2024' concert with other artists on January 28 has been postponed
― The staff of Japanese singer Akira Kushida announced on Tuesday that he was recently diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and has since been hospitalized. Because of his current condition, "THE KING 2024" concert scheduled for January 28 will be postponed. 事務所より串田アキラの体調に関しましてご報告先日、串田が体調不良を訴え、医師による診断の結果、「急性すい炎」との診断を受け、入院を致しました。...
Maboroshi, The Boy and the Heron, Godzilla Minus One Win at Mainichi Film Awards
Toshio Suzuki also wins Special Award
― The 78th Mainichi Film Awards announced its winners on Friday. Mari Okada and MAPPA's original anime film Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Kōjō (Maboroshi) won the Animation Film Award, and Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron won the Noburou Oofuji Award, which honors animated works that offer new forms of creative expression. Additionally, St...
Manga Creator/Animator Haruo Takahashi Dies at 76
Storyboard artist of 1971 Tensai Bakabon, Lupin the 3rd television anime
― Japanese news agency Kyodo News reported on Monday that manga creator and animator Haruo Takahashi has died on January 12 at a hospital in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. The cause of Takahashi's death was not disclosed. He was 76. A funeral will be held by his family, with Haruka Takahashi, his eldest son, serving as chief mourner. Man...
Osamu Tezuka's The Shinsen-gumi Manga Gets Live-Action Show
Live-action Kaguya-sama: Love is War film's Hayato Kawai directs, Hugtto! Precure's Fumi Tsubota pens scripts
― TV Asahi announced on Tuesday that it is producing a live-action series adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's The Shinsen-gumi manga with the title Kimi to Yukite Saku ~ Shinsen-gumi Seishun Roku~ (With You I Bloom ~The Shinsen-gumi Youth Chronicle~). The series will air within TV Asahi's "Super Bar...
Voice Actor Junichi Suwabe Discharged From Hospital After Surgery
Suwabe will return to work after recovering at home
― Voice actor Junichi Suwabe revealed on Twitter on Thursday that he has been discharged from the hospital following his surgery after a week. He stated that his progress post-surgery is going well, and that everything is going as planned. After recovering for a week at home, he will return to work when he is ready. Suwaba announced on December 8 t...
Voice Actor Kōtarō Nakamura Goes on Hiatus Due to Ill Health
Actor not returning to Dr. Eggman role in Sonic Prime season 3
― The official Japanese Twitter account for the Sonic Prime animated series announced on Wednesday that Kōtarō Nakamura will not be able to voice the characters of Dr. Eggman, Mr. Dr. Eggman, and Dr. Done It in the show for its third season due to Nakamura's ill health leading to him going on a temporary hiatus. Mitsuaki Kanuka will voice...
Enka Singer Aki Yashiro Dies at 73
Yashiro performed theme songs for The Gokusen, Tottemo! Luckyman anime
― The Million Plan agency announced on Tuesday that Japanese enka singer Aki Yashiro has died on December 30, due to a type of collagen disease. She was 73. A private funeral was held on Monday, with only her staff attending, in accordance to Yashiro's wishes. Yashiro's agency plans to hold a farewell party, and will announce more...
Manga Creator Tarō Nami Dies at 79
Tetsuya Chiba's youngest brother died on December 30
― The editorial staff of Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine announced on Tuesday that it had received word that manga creator Tarō Nami (real name Shigeyuki Chiba) died. Nami's oldest brother and fellow manga creator Tetsuya Chiba confirmed on his blog that Nami died on December 30 at 6:30 p.m. at home, surrounded by his family including many grand...
Hayao Miyazaki Wins Best International Filmmaker at Astra Awards
Suzume loses to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse for Best Animated Feature
―
The film critics in the Hollywood Creative Alliance (formerly the Hollywood Critics Association) awarded Hayao Miyazaki the Astra Award for Best International Filmmaker at the awards show on Saturday night. Suzume (Suzume no Tojimari) was also nominated at the show in the Best Animated Feature category, but lost to Sony'...
Actor Christian Oliver Dies in Plane Crash
Oliver played Snake Oiler in 2008 live-action Speed Racer film
― Actor Christian Oliver (real name Christian Klepser) and his two daughters Madita Klepser (age 10) and Annik Klepser (age 12) died on Thursday due to a plane crash. They were in a small plane that crashed into the sea off a Caribbean island. The pilot and plane owner Robert Sachs also passed away. Oliver was 51. The Royal St. Vincent an...
In Memoriam
To those who left us in 2023
― Shuji Abe Producer
Robot founder, producer for Godzilla Minus One, Stand By Me Doraemon Frank Agrama
Harmony Gold founder Yasunori Arai
Drummer for rock band BAAD
Slam Dunk Naoto Asahara
Novelist
Kanojo ga Suki na Mono wa Homo de Atte Boku de wa Nai Yusuke Chiba
The Birthday band's singer, guitarist, and songwriter
The First Slam Dunk, Zombie-Loan theme songs Keijiro C...
Anime Boston 2024 Hosts Band Queen Bee
Band have performed theme songs for Oshi no Ko, Undead Unluck, more
― The staff of Anime Boston announced on Friday that the 2024 event will host Japanese band Queen Bee. The band formed in 2009, and have performed theme songs for Dororo (TV 2019), Oshi no Ko, Raven of the Inner Palace, Tokyo Ghoul:re, Undead Unluck, and Chainsaw Man. The group have also performed theme songs for the Sadako live-acti...
Godzilla Minus One Producer Shuji Abe Passes Away at 74
Founder of Robot, Shūji Abe Office; producer of Always: Sunset on Third Street, Lupin III THE FIRST
― Film producer Shuji Abe passed away on December 11. He was 74. His family held a private funeral. Abe (not to be confused with the manga creator of the same name) founded the film production company Robot in 1986 after he stopped working at Japanese advertising agency ADK. The production company work...
Godzilla Suit Actor Kenpachiro Satsuma Passes Away at 76
Actor contracted interstitial pneumonia in November
― Actor Kenpachiro Satsuma (real name Yasuaki Maeda) passed away of interstitial pneumonia on December 16 according to a social media post shared by his family. He was 76. Satsuma first contracted the illness in November. The official Twitter account for Godzilla in Japanese shared a Tweet in memory of the actor. The Tweet thanked him for his work ...
Kunihiko Ikuhara Wins Lawsuit Against Woman Claiming Plagiarism
Anime director owed 1.21 million yen in damages
― Bengoshi.com reported on Wednesday that Revolutionary Girl Utena and Penguindrum director Kunihiko Ikuhara won his lawsuit against an unknown woman who alleged that he had plagiarized her work. The court ordered her to pay Ikuhara 1.21 million yen (about US$8,500) in damages for defamation and obstruction of business. Bengoshi.com has posted an image ...
Akira Toriyama, Ryousuke Takahashi, Toshio Furukawa, Yuji Ohno, More Win TAAF's Lifetime Achievement Awards
Shunzō Katō, Sukehiro Tomita, Shūichi Seki, Chikara Yamamoto also honored
― The staff of the Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF) event announced the winners of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Awards on Thursday: Producer
Shunzō Katō (Anpanman films, The Rose of Versailles, Akira) Manga creator
Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball manga, Dr. Slump manga, Dragon Quest game series character design) Scriptwriter
Suke...
Rock Band KANA-BOON Halts Activities for Rest of Year; Takahiro Koizumi, Hayato Koga Leave Group
Announcement follows tabloid report last week about drummer Takahiro Koizumi
― Rock band KANA-BOON announced on Monday that the band will halt their activities for the rest of the year. The announcement also stated that drummer Takahiro Koizumi and guitarist Hayato Koga will leave the group, after the agency terminated their contracts. The band are canceling all their appearances and performances for...
Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds Documentary Debuts on Disney+ Worldwide in Spring 2024
Documentary premiered during Tribeca Festival on June 17
― Disney+'s Japanese YouTube channel began streaming a trailer for Glen Milner's Hideo Kojima – Connecting Worlds documentary on Friday that reveals that the documentary will debut in spring 2024. Variety confirmed that Disney+ will stream the documentary worldwide. Kojima Productions posted a trailer in June (below) with the same footage but w...
Voice Actor Junichi Suwabe Announces January Hiatus for Surgery
Return date yet to be announced
― Voice actor Junichi Suwabe revealed on his personal blog on Friday that he will go on hiatus for a few weeks from work beginning January 1 to undergo surgery at the recommendation of his doctor. He said the treatment is not related to any chronic illness and will resolve his medical condition after it is performed. Suwabe also announced that due to the unplanned hia...
Keiko Yamamoto Steps Down From Role of Shōta Yamada in Chibi Maruko-chan Anime
Final episode with Yamamoto as character airs on December 17
― The staff of the Chibi Maruko-chan anime announced on Sunday that Keiko Yamamoto will step down from voicing the character of Shōta Yamada after the episode that will air on December 17. Yamamoto has voiced the character since January 1990. The staff have not yet revealed who will replace Yamamoto, but the new voice will debut in the epis...
Singer Ado Holds Concert Tour in Asia in February
Tour travels to Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Jakarta
― The official website of singer Ado announced on Friday that she will hold a concert tour in Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, and Jakarta in February. Ado's tour will also continue to America and Europe in March and April. The concert tour will go to Thunder Dome in Bangkok on February 2, then Taipei Music Cente...
Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty in Kyoto Animation Arson Case
Kyoto District Court scheduled to announce verdict on January 25
― Japanese news website The Mainichi reported on Thursday that prosecutors for the arson murder case that killed 36 people and wounded 32 others at Kyoto Animation are seeking the death penalty for the arson suspect, Shinji Aoba. Meanwhile, the defense is seeking for Aoba's acquittal or a reduced sentence, arguing that he was suffering ...
Yusuke Chiba, Singer-Songwriter of Rock Band The Birthday, Passes Away at 55
Zombie-Loan, The First Slam Dunk singer announced esophageal cancer diagnosis in April
― The official Twitter account of Japanese rock band The Birthday announced on Tuesday that the band's singer, guitarist, and songwriter Yusuke Chiba has passed away on November 26. He was 55. Chiba announced in April that he was going on hiatus to get treatment for esophageal cancer. Chiba's family held a private ...
Voice Actress Saya Aizawa Goes on Hiatus Due to Poor Health
Voice of THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls' Hiromi Seki, Uma Musume's Mejiro Ardan
― The talent agency Stardust announced on Friday that voice actress Saya Aizawa is taking a hiatus from work due to her poor health. The agency added that for now, she is limiting her work except for some projects to prioritize her medical care. She aims to return to work as soon as possible. Aizawa's roles include Hirom...
Eufonius Composer Hajime Kikuchi Passes Away at 44
Vocalist riya: Band was preparing to mark 20th anniversary
― The Eufonius musical unit's vocalist and lyricist riya reported on her X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday that the band's composer Hajime Kikuchi (standing left in the photograph) passed away due to acute heart failure on November 16. He was 44. His family held a private service. In her message, riya noted that the band members had ju...
13 Dogs Manga Creator Keijiro Cho Passes Away at 59
Private wake was held on November 24
― The Twitter account for 13 Dogs manga artist Keijiro Cho revealed on November 20 he passed away on November 18. He was 59. Cho's eldest daughter wrote the Twitter post. She added there was a wake for close family members held on November 24. Cho made his debut as a manga artist in 1989 in Kodansha's Weekly Morning magazine with "High school High sky," which ear...
One Piece, Naruto Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Ennosuke Handed Suspended Sentence
Ennosuke had been arrested on suspicion of assisting his parents' suicides
― Warning: this article contains statements about suicide. If you or anyone you know is suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a suicide prevention organization in your country. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available by calling 988. In Japan, the TELL LifeLine service is ...
'Like the Clouds, Like the Wind' Novelist Kenichi Sakemi Passes Away
Sakemi's debut novel Kōkyū Shōsetsu inspired Studio Pierrot's 1990 TV anime film
― Novelist Kenichi Sakemi passed away on November 7 due to respiratory failure. He was 59. His family held a private funeral. Sakemi was born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1963. He debuted as a novelist in 1989 with the palace intrigue novel Kōkyū Shōsetsu (The Royal Harem Tale). The novel won the first ever grand prize of th...
X Japan Releases Statement Confirming Passing of Band Member Heath
Heath died of colorectal cancer on October 29
― X Japan released an official statement on Saturday confirming the death of the band's bassist Heath (real name Hiroshi Morie) of colorectal cancer on October 29. He was 55. The full statement reads: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of XJAPAN's esteemed bass player HEATH
after his battle with colorectal cancer, on October 29th, 2023,...
Voice Actor Yousuke Naka Passes Away at 93
Voice of Nobita's father in Doraemon, Ehrenberg in The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These
― The agency Mausu Promotion announced on Friday that voice actor Yousuke Naka passed away on October 20. He was 93. His family held a private funeral service. Naka was born in Chiba Prefecture on March 30, 1930. His roles in anime included Nobita's father in Doraemon, Ehrenberg in The Legend of the G...
Voice Actress Haruko Kitahama Passes Away at 86 Due to Chronic Lung Disease
Voice of Baron Ashura in Mazinger Z, Ichimatsu & Todomatsu in Osomatsu-kun
― Voice actress Haruko Kitahama passed away on November 2 due to a chronic lung disease. She was 86. Her relatives held a private funeral. Kitahama was born in Tokyo on July 1, 1938. She had a long career voicing numerous characters in anime and games, and she also worked as a dub voice actress for Western films, as a televisi...
Yoshiki Responds Following Reports of X Japan Bassist Heath Passing Away Due to Cancer
Yoshiki cancelled U.S. appearance on November 3 to go back to Japan
― Yoshiki gave a response on Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter) following a report by Shogakukan's Josei Seven magazine that Japanese band X Japan's bassist Heath (real name Hiroshi Morie, age 55) had died of cancer in October. Yoshiki stated that the report had come out despite the wishes of relatives. He did not confirm nor deny the...
Ghibli Composer Joe Hisaishi Inducted Into Order of the Rising Sun
Award honors individuals who make significant contributions to country
― The Japanese government honored composer Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Nausicaa, My Neighbor Totoro) with the Order of the Rising Sun Award, Gold Rays with Rosette for his significant contributions to the country on Friday. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications revealed the honorees of the annual Autumn Conferment ...
Manga Creator Machiko Satonaka Honored as Person of Cultural Merit
Creator of Lady Ann, "Pia no Shouzou" interested in A.I. manga
― Manga artist Machiko Satonaka received this year's Person of Cultural Merit honor last week, along with 19 other recipients. The Mainichi reported that Satonaka is interested in creating a manga that uses A.I. Satonaka made her debut in 1964 with the "Pia no Shouzou" manga. She has created many more works with strong heroines since, inc...
Megumi Hayashibara Steps Down as Voice of Hello Kitty After 33 Years
Hayashibara announces 'graduation' on character's birthday
― Voice actress Megumi Hayashibara announced on her blog on Wednesday that she is stepping down as the voice of Sanrio's mascot character Hello Kitty. Hayashibara has voiced the character since 1990. (November 1 is the day Sanrio celebrates as the character's birthday, and Sanrio is marking the character's 50th anniversary next year.) Hayashi...
Screen/Voice Actor Junya Ikeda Arrested for Alleged Fraud
BāRU agency cancels Digimon Adventure/Ensemble Stars! voice actor's contract
― The talent agency BāRU announced the cancellation of screen and voice actor Junya Ikeda's contract on Monday, after being informed that the actor has been arrested for participating in special fraud. The agency added that the staff has not been able to directly talk to Ikeda regarding the incident, as he is currently prohi...
Hana-Kimi Creator Hisaya Nakajo Passes Away at 50
Author's defining romance work Hana-Kimi inspired 2 Japanese live-action series, Taiwanese series
― Manga creator Hisaya Nakajo passed away on October 12 at 8:52 p.m. due to a heart condition. She was 50. Nakajo was born in Osaka on September 12, 1973. She won the Hakusensha Athena Newcomers' Awards in 1993 for her Manatsu no Hanzaisha manga. Her first major manga serialization was Heart no Kajitsu, ...
The Vampire Dies in No Time Manga Creator Itaru Bonnoki Reveals Illness
Bonnoki has had constant back pain due to ossification of ligamentum flavum
― The Vampire Dies in No Time manga creator Itaru Bonnoki revealed on Twitter that following testing, he has been diagnosed with ossification of the ligamentum flavum, or OLF. OLF is the thickening of the ligament in the spinal column that can lead to the narrowing of the spinal canal, which can cause nerve damage. Bonnoki st...
Voice Actress Miyuki Ichijou Passes Away at 76
Detective Conan's Jodie Starling voice actress was 76
― Talent agency Production Baobab announced the passing of voice actor Miyuki Ichijou on Tuesday due to multiple organ failure. She was 76. Ichijou was born on August 23, 1949 in Iwate Prefecture. Ichijou was known for her roles as Jodie Starling in Detective Conan, Yoshii in The House of the Lost on the Cape movie, Michiru in Little Twins, Misa T...
Voice Actor Daisuke Hirakawa Goes on Brief Hiatus to Treat Sudden Hearing Loss
Diabolik Lovers, Free! voice actor to get treatment for sudden hearing loss
― Voice actor Daisuke Hirakawa and his staff announced on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday that he will go on a short hiatus to receive in-patient treatment for sudden hearing loss. 平川大輔より、皆様にお知らせです。 pic.twitter.com/udui50BG8L— 平川大輔official (@DH_official__) October 25, 2023 In his official message, Hirak...
BUCK-TICK Vocalist Atsushi Sakurai Passes Away Due to Brainstem Hemorrhage at 57
Visual kei band's singer passed away on October 19
― BUCK-TICK vocalist and frontman Atsushi Sakurai passed away on October 19 at 11:09 p.m. Japan Time due to a brainstem hemorrhage. He was 57. His family held a private funeral, and his agency plans to announce a location for a public memorial later. BUCK-TICK was scheduled to perform a fan club concert at KT Zepp Yokohama on October 19, but canceled...
Anime Music Composer Yūya Saitо̄ Arrested for Voyeurism
Precure composer allegedly used camera for upskirt footage in Tokyo
― The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested anime music composer Yūya Saitō on Monday for violating a filming voyeurism act. Saitо̄ was allegedly secretly using a mobile camera in his totebag pocket to take upskirt footage of a junior high school girl on the JR Akabane Station platform in Tokyo. A Metropolitan Police Departme...
Kunihiko Ikuhara Sues Woman Who Claims Plagiarism of Illustrations
Woman allegedly harassed Ikuhara, claiming anime director plagiarized her work and demanded apology
― The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported on Monday that Revolutionary Girl Utena and Penguindrum director Kunihiko Ikuhara faced claims on social media from an unknown woman who alleged that he had plagiarized her work. Ikuhara has denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit against the woman, with the...
Singer/Songwriter Shinji Tanimura Passes Away
Alice musical group founder performed theme songs for Turn A Gundam, Great Conquest: The Romance of Three Kingdoms anime
― The official Twitter account for singer and songwriter Shinji Tanimura revealed on Monday that Tanimura passed away on October 8. A funeral was held with close family members on Sunday. The account stated that Tanimura passed away with a peaceful expression on his face. He was 74...
Voice Actress Masako Nozawa Wins Kan Kikuchi Prize for Cultural Contributions
Voice of Dragon Ball's Son Goku, Kitarō won as one of Japan's voice-acting trailblazers
― Voice actress Masako Nozawa received one of the 71st Kan Kikuchi Prizes on Wednesday. The annual prize is awarded to notable figures in literary, film, theatrical, sports, newspaper, broadcast, and other fields of culture from the past year. Nozawa was awarded "as a traiblazing representative of Japanese voice a...
Live-Action Gannibal's Yuya Yagira Wins at Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards
Actor wins "Asian Excellence Award" for role in horror series
― Actor Yuya Yagira won the Asian Excellence Award at the Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards in Busan, Korea on Sunday for his role in the live-action adaptation of Masaaki Ninomiya's Gannibal horror manga. The live-action series premiered in December 2022 and aired for seven episodes. Disney+ and Hulu are streaming the show worldwid...
Shining Force Artist Yoshitaka Tamaki Passes Away
Tamaki also worked on Little Buster Q, Landstalker, and Alundra
― Shining Force artist Yoshitaka Tamaki passed away on July 13 after battling lung cancer. According to Wikipedia, he was 55, although Dengeki Online reported he was 58. His official Twitter account had revealed on September 29 the artist had been receiving medical treatment as he continued to work up to his death. The funeral was atten...
Actor David McCallum Passes Away at 90
McCallum starred in Batman: Gotham Knight, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., NCIS
― Actor David McCallum (voice of Alfred in Batman/Batman: Gotham Knight, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., NCIS) passed away due to natural causes in New York on September 25. He was 90. McCallum was born on September 19, 1933 in Glasgow, Scotland. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin in the The Man from U.N.C.L.E. television...
Blue Exorcist Manga Takes 1-Month Break After Author Gets COVID-19
Manga first launched Jump SQ. in 2009
― The official Twitter account of Kazue Katō's Blue Exorcist manga announced on Wednesday that the series will take a break for a month as the artist recovers from COVID-19. The manga will return in the December issue of Shueisha's Jump SQ. magazine. Katō added that a planned autograph signing would be also be delayed until January. Katō launched the manga in Ju...
Aoi Yūki Restarts Musical Activities
Yūki had taken temporary break as solo singer in 2017
― Voice actress and singer Aoi Yūki announced on Friday that she is restarting her musical activities as a solo singer this year. She had taken a temporary break from her career as a solo singer starting in 2017. Yūki may gain inspiration for her new music from messages from her Discord server. Yūki explained that after her latest "petit" album To...
Tsuruhime-ja! Manga Creator Yoshiko Tsuchida Passes Away
Tsuruhime-ja! inspired 49-episode anime in 1990
― The official Twitter account for Yoshiko Tsuchida's Tsuruhime-ja! manga announced on Saturday that Tsuchida passed away on Friday. She was 75. 【訃報】9月15日午前9時51分土田よしこ先生 逝去しました。 pic.twitter.com/alcK1CBa0i— つる姫じゃ〜っ！ (@hagemasujo) September 16, 2023 Tsuchida was born in Tokyo in 1948. She worked as an assistant to Fujio Akatsuka (Himitsu no Akko-chan, Osom...
The Heroic Legend of Arslan Manga Takes 1-Issue Break
Artist Hiromu Arakawa to be admitted to hospital to undergo tests
― The October issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine announced on September 8 that Hiromu Arakawa's The Heroic Legend of Arslan (Arslan Senki) manga will take a break and will not publish a new chapter in the magazine's next issue on October 6. Arakawa explained in the announcement that she will need to be admitted to a hospital ...
Johnny's Head Julie Keiko Fujishima Resigns, Admits Late Founder Sexually Abused Minors for Decades (Updated)
Actor Noriyuki Higashiyama becomes new president
― The below article contains references to sexual abuse and child abuse. Talent agency Johnny & Associates held a press conference on Thursday to announce that Julie Keiko Fujishima, the current president of the agency, is retiring as president. Fujishima also publicly admitted for the first time that the agency's late founder Johnny Kitagawa did sexua...
Studio Ghibli VP Junichi Nishioka: 'The Boy and the Heron is Not Hayao Miyazaki's Final Film'
Nishioka: "[Miyazaki] is already coming into the office with new ideas"
― Reporter Eli Glasner of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) posted on Twitter on Thursday that Studio Ghibli's vice president Junichi Nishioka told the company that "The Boy and the Heron is not [Hayao] Miyazaki's final film and that he is already coming into the office with new ideas." Exiting news for fans of Hayao Mi...
Nintendo Posts Video Message from Mario Ambassador Charles Martinet, Confirms New Voices for Super Mario Bros. Wonder Game
Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto thanks Martinet in video message
― Nintendo streamed on Thursday a video message on Twitter from Mario Ambassador Charles Martinet and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto regarding Martinet's departure from the role of Mario. The video also confirms that there will be new voices for some characters in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a new 2D platforming game for Nintendo Switch. H...
San Sebastian Film Festival Honors Hayao Miyazaki with Donostia Award
SSIFF opens with Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron film on September 22
― The San Sebastian Film Festival (SSIFF) announced on Friday that it is awarding Hayao Miyazaki the honorary Donostia Award for career achievement. Miyazaki will virtually receive the award during the event's opening ceremony on September 22. This year's SSIFF will open with the European premiere of Hayao Miyazaki's latest featur...
Voice Actress Ami Maeshima Returns From Hiatus
Maeshima to continue role as Aya Maruyama in BanG Dream franchise
― Voice actress Ami Maeshima revealed on Friday that she has returned from her hiatus. In addition, she will return to the role of Aya Maruyama from the BanG Dream franchise, despite previously announcing that she was stepping down. Maeshima began a hiatus on all entertainment activities last November, and it was scheduled for several ...
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