Otaku

Following the launch of the English version of AkibaBlog, another English otaku news/community website, Akibanana.com, has been launched on Valentine's Day. The full press release can be found here.

Introducing Otaku culture in Akihabara to the world

HimeyaSoft USA has started the English version of AkibaBlog, which introduces "Otaku" culture in Akihabara, since February 14, 2008. Site URL: http://en.akibablog.net/

This is a translated version of AkibaBlog, originally written in Japanese by Mr. Geek.. He talks about "hot" news in Akihabara, one of the most popular subculture cities in Japan. The Japanese version of AkibaBlog, which has 20 million page views a month, is one of the most famous blogs in Japan that talk about Otaku information. AkibaBlog and HimeyaSoft USA get together this time and try to become world's leading information source of Otaku culture.

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Comic Techno, a monthly magazine from Deleter that contains doujinshi information and useful manga-drawing techniques, will cease publication after the release of issue 172, on sale 3/15. According to Deleter, one of the reason behind Comic Techno's discontinuation is due to the skyrocketing price of oil and other goods.

Source: Ultimatum

Canned Dogs is reporting that issue 10 of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday (2/6) will offer its readers a chance to obtain an alarm clock featuring Sanzenin Nagi, the heroine from Hayate the Combat Butler:

[The] alarm clock which will have the voice of Sanzenin Nagi from Hayate no Gotoku waking you up every morning. It only costs 980 yen (US$9) including shipping costs (Japan only).

Japanese otaku/doujin shop Toranoana has released its 2007 Tora Annual Books Ranking. Below are the top 20 titles (out of 200):

  1. DDD
  2. Hayate the Combat Butler
  3. Lucky Star
  4. Shingetsutan Tsukihime
  5. Haruhi Suzumiya
  6. Doujin Works
  7. KimiKiss -various heroines-
  8. Fate/stay night
  9. Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
  10. Touhou Gumonshiki ~ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense
  11. Read More »