Manga

A Kamen Rider, a guitarist (BECK Live Action), a high school leader (Hana Kimi Live Action 2007), a funny cop (Tokyo Dogs); these are among the quirky characters Mizushima Hiro has played so far. After a long hiatus, the actor makes a comeback by choosing another interestingly whimsical project for himself—the live action for Black Butler, which he will co-star with the rising actress Gouriki Ayame.

This live action film adaptation has been taken off from Yana Toboso’s popular work, Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler), and will be released early next year. Keep Reading

BANDAGE star Kii Kitano will lead the cast of Rieko Saibara’s Jōkyō Monogatari live action project. The story is a loose autobiographical plot of Saibara herself, who has written the mangas Mainichi Kaa-san and Onnanoko Monogatari. The live action adaptation will be of film, and will hit the theaters in August. Alongside Kitano are the actors Fumino Kimura, Asuka Kurosawa (Himizu, Jellyfish Eyes, Ushijima the Loan Shark), Ittoko Kishibe (Onmyoji, Hula Girls) and Asaka Seto (Death Note). Keep Reading

Chibi Maruko-chan creator Momoko Sakura’s another hit manga series is getting a live action drama adaptation which is launched on April 1. The Nagasawa-kun comedy series will be starred by Hitori Gekidan as the lead role. Originally a part of the Chibi Maruko-chan cast, the Nagasawa-kun comic focuses on one of the characters and gives smart but really hurting jokes with his blunt speeches.

Hitori Gekidan is known for his roles in Ikigami, Dororo and Densha Otoko. Keep Reading

2 new mangas are coming your way, courtesy of Shueisha’s Bessatsu Margaret Magazine! Just recently, the publication has announced titles from two well known manga creators, taking a debut in their own pages. The official website for the company has revealed that Aiji Yamakawa (Chocolate Underground) and Yoko Kamio (Boys Over Flowers) will be launching their spanky new plots. Take a look at the previews here:

Aiji Yamakawa will be launching her Stand Up! Keep Reading

Another shoujo-romantic manga comes to life as Kaoru Tada’s classic, Itazura Na Kiss, is announced to have a drama adaptation starting on March 29. The project will have a working title of Itazura Na Kiss ~Love in Tokyo~ and will star the newcomer model and actress Honoka Miki in her first lead role. She will star as Kotoko, opposite 25-year old Yuuki Furukawa who will play Naoki. Miki has just revealed she is a great fan of Tada’s works, and owns all of the manga’s volumes. Keep Reading