News

Daily Links of the Day: File-Sharing, Saiyuki Musical

Japan's Internet Providers to Disconnect File-Sharers

Four organizations that represent about 1,000 Japanese Internet providers have agreed to disconnect the accounts of users who allegedly and repeatedly share files illegally. The organizations will hold a panel with the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers and the Association of Copyright for Computer Software to discuss the guidelines for the process. The announcement comes despite concerns on privacy and freedom of use of telecommunications. Source: Yomiuri Shimbun via Yahoo News and Icarus Publishing

Saiyuki, Sunset on Third Street Manga Go on Stage

The Saiyuki mythical adventure manga from Kazuya Minekura (Bus Gamer, Wild Adapter) will be adapted into a stage musical in Japan this September. Saiyuki Kagekiden: Go to the West will play in Tokyo's Ginza district from September 13 to September 21. The nostalgic post-war manga Sunset on Third Street will also get a non-musical theatrical play. Source: Animate, Sports Nippon

Hakaba Kitarō Scores Noitamina Slot's Highest Ratings

The 11th episode of Hakaba Kitarō scored the high ratings ever for Fuji TV's late-night Noitamina anime slot on March 13. According to Video Research, the episode had an overall rating of 5.8% in Tokyo's Kanto area, surpassing the previous high of 5.5% earned by Nodame Cantabile's episode 2 in January of 2007. At one point during the airing, the Kitarō episode had a instaneous rating of 7.3%. Thus far, the series has had an average rating of 5.0%, higher than the timeslot's previous record-holder for average ratings (Moyashimon at 4.6%). Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan via Saishin Anime Jōhō

JoJo's Araki Draws for New Online Ultra Jump Egg Mag

Shueisha's Ultra Jump magazine is launching an online Ultra Jump Egg spinoff. Drawings of the magazine's mascot character appear randomly on the website's top page, including one by JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Hirohiko Araki. Source: Canned Dogs