Last week’s news on Manga sales drop in Japan…

From ANN

Manga Sales in Japan Decline for Fifth Consecutive Year

Figures released by Japan’s Research Institute of Publications show that sales of manga in Japan fell to 481 billion yen (about US$4.1 billion) in 2006, a decrease of 4% from the previous year…

…the Reseach Institute for Publications also found, sales of manga for mobile phones are rising…

Ray’s take: Are we witnessing the slow exitinction of traditional media formats? Anime companies are having problems selling DVDs in US, and the sales of printed manga has been dropping. However, one thing that I do agree is the fact the plots get boring as hell. If one sees the 1000th moe maid cafe waitress with super powers fighting for love, justices and keeping her clothes on, one would get really tired of it.

Of course, I’ve never gotten tired of a little ecchi, but I have never been a hurry to go out and buy them, either. BTW, I like Claymore, Black Lagoon, D.Gray Man (but it’s turning shonen battle cliche), and this manga titled (in Chinese): 終極感應, translates into English it’s roughly: Ultimate Sense/awareness [Editor’s Note: The English title that the author came up with is “Until Death Do Us Apart”. No it’s not romance. It’s about a blind swordsman in today’s Japan, a secret organization fighting crimes, and a 12 year old girl who has the ability to predict some of the future.]. These all have excellent plots and great characters. The drawings are good, too.

Author: Ray

I'm a hardcore Anime Fan and I'm proud of it. I know so many things and I've acquired so much knowledge you wouldn't believe. But my love is anime. I've been drifting in this world for so long that I don't even know what an anchor means. I've seen so many shows that I've lost count. The only thing I'm sure of myself is that I care for the lowly and disenfranchised. I hate the rich and powerful and I love what I do, or what I can do. I like anime and I don't mind watching different types of shows. I have experience in different types of Japanese animation. I would be called an "expert" in a bizzaro world. One day, I'd like to start a revolution. I love the US, pizza, beer, sashimi, Chinese food, and steak. But I love freshly baked bread more than a well-aged steak. In reality, if I were born Japanese I'd be a real, hardcore Otaku. I love to love and I can hate strongly. I'm passionate in nature and I don't mind shedding tears. I can be reached at rayyhum777 at animediet. My Twitter is rayyhum777 at twitter.