In "Meeting Mangaka, part one," Del Rey Manga's Dallas Middaugh talks about his experience meeting with various mangaka, including Rumiko Takahashi:

I've met three mangaka in my manga career. (Honestly, it could be more, but my memory fails me some days.)

Also available is a preview of Del Rey's upcoming manga Aventura by Shin Midorikawa.

ANN reports that computer drawing tablets maker Wacom has announced a new tablet/software package called Bamboo Comic:

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One Potato Two reports that Yen Press is currently looking for an intern:

Internship opportunity to work in the Yen Editorial Department at Hachette Book Group USA in our New York office.

Candidate will provide support to members of the Yen Editorial Department.

ANN reports that Frenchy Lunning, a professor from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) who organizes the Schoolgirls and Mobilesuits academic conference on anime and manga, has been awarded a fellowship from the Fulbright Program sponsored by the U.S. government, and will be traveling to Japan to conduct manga-related research:

In the spring of 2008, she will be working in Tokyo and Kyoto, studying the origins and development of manga. She plans to use her research as a basis for a book on the relationship between manga and traditional Japanese art.

According to YaoiSuki, BL manga artist Tohjoh Asami (creator of Denkou Sekka Boys) has passed away:

We've received word via the yaoi_daily_cafe LiveJournal community that Tohjoh Asami, the mangaka behind the very popular Denkou Sekka Boys (a.k.a. Thunderbolt Boys), has passed away. The details behind her death aren't clear yet; we'll get back to you as soon as we know more.

Canned Dogs reports that Star Ocean 2 character designer Koio Minato has written a post on his website criticizing Kodansha's Shounen Sirius magazine:

In his BBS, he says that he wants to quit working with Shounen Sirius. He explains that after he submitted the art early and having corrected the colours 4 times over for print, they had a miscommunication in the Kodansha offices which created very big printing miss when printing the cover for his manga, causing the colours to become bland and make the design look weird.

Although the original post from Koio Minato has been removed, a screenshot can be found here.

Perez Announced as New Chairman of the SPJA Board

Anaheim, California (October 24, 2007) -- The overseeing body of Anime Expo?? (the nation's largest anime/manga convention), the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), announces five (5) new additions to the Board of Directors. More information can be found on the website www.spja.org.

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Tokyopop is currently looking for a new Online Business Development Director:

TOKYOPOP has an exciting opportunity for a business development guru in the new media/interactive space. We are looking for an experienced professional to lead, sell, develop, and exploit the company's various opportunities from online, magazine, publishing, sponsorship and retail partnership opportunities. Our ideal candidate thrives in new media yet has the experience to push the boundaries in the more traditional publishing space. Prior experience and contacts in a similar industry is extremely helpful. Should have a strong interest and understanding of this fast changing teen/tween marketplace.

Via: Icarus Blog

Japan News Review is reporting that Kimimaro Ayanokouji, artist of the manga Tsuma no Kuchi Ichido Haritai Gum Tape, will be getting his own Nintendo DS game. The game will be called Mainichi ga tanoshii! Ayanokouji Kimimaro no Happy Techo. An online trial of the game can be found here.

Source: theOtaku

Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design announced that Naoki Urasawa, mangaka of Monster, 20th Century Boys and Pluto, will be a guest professor for its new manga course.

According to the university, Urasawa accepted the university's request be a guest professor, and will be teaching with his ex-assistant for a year.

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