HOUSTON, August 30, 2007—Newtype USA, the top anime magazine in North America, leads off the fall anime season with a blast of beautiful characters, romantic entanglements and political drama with its exclusive cover and feature on The Story of Saiunkoku. Already a hit with both male and female viewers, Saiunkoku takes its royal setting and infuses it with enough modern drama and action to satisfy all kinds of fans—and Newtype USA has the scoop on what makes it so special!

But that’s not all! The September 2007 issue has another incredible exclusive—a behind-the-scenes tour of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, including in-depth interviews with the cast and crew! Plus, Newtype USA delivers the goods on other hot shows you’re watching right now, along with a sneak preview of the latest shows out only in Japan. Whether you want the skinny on stateside releases or a sneak-peek at what’s hot in Japan, Newtype USA has got you covered!
September also comes stuffed with stupendous extras, including a DVD with three full anime episodes: Xenosaga, Red Garden and Ramen Fighter Miki. The pullout poster stars the gorgeous Misaki Nakahara from Welcome to the NHK, and manga maniacs will adore the latest installment of CLAMP’s KOBATO, inserted right into the middle of September’s issue!

Also inside the September issue:

Features on Mushi-Shi, Shin chan and Welcome to the NHK
Sneak preview of 9 new shows playing only in Japan!
The latest on the Evangelion movies
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja – best anime game ever?
More features! .hack//Roots and My-Otome
Con coverage blowout: Is your cosplay pic in this issue?
Review crazy! Every new anime DVD and manga reviewed!
The official art of Gunbuster 2

Availability
Newtype USA Vol. 6, Issue 9 is available September 1, 2007

On August 30th, the FINAL FANTASY VII 10th ANNIVERSARY Gallery reception was held to showcase the history of “Final Fantasy VII” from SquareEnix.

Fans of the series can read the history and look at the various memorabilia and merchandise for the popular RPG series.

The gallery will be open to the public on August 31st through September 2nd and is located at the Spiral Garden in Tokyo and is free to the public.

Dengeki Online recently posted photos from Square Enix of the FINAL FANTASY VII 10th Anniversary Gallery.

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Image linked from Dengeki Online

Dengeki Online recently posted screen captures for “Ace Combat 6″, an exclusive title for the XBOX360.  The game will be released in the US on October 25th.

View more of the screen captures from the game

Talent/models Oshikiri Moe (27) and Ebihara Yuri (27) are the faces for Ameba Blog (ameblo) the duo’s latest project for ameblo is a stocking promotional on the blog titled “F*ingKOKOZO” which the duo promoted the stockings that they produced.

The media asked the two about their fellow friend Koike Eiko who recently gotten married to pro-wrestler Sakata Wataru.  The two were asked if marriage was on the horizon for them and both quickly answered “no”.

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Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports

Actress Koike Eiko (26) and pro wrestler Sakata Wataru held a press conference to announce their marriage.  The two met while Koike was a commentator for Japan’s PRIDE fighting championship and have dated for five years.

With over 150 people from the media in attendance, the happy couple held a press conference and interview with the media.

It was learned that Koike waited a year after her grandfather’s first year anniversary of his death  before getting married.

Also, that Sakata moved to Nagoya and lived together with Koike.  When asked if there will be a third member in their family, Sakata told media that Koike was not pregnant.

As for the wedding ceremony, the couple will have one next Spring.

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Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports

Former Morning Musume leader Yoshizawa Hitomi (22) may have graduated from the group but she still has some involvement with the futbol activities and this time its a special support person for the “FIFA Women’s World Cup CHINA 2007″.

The event ends on September 10th but the FUJI TV coverage of the sporting event will begin on September 3rd.

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Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports

Images linked from Akibablog.net 

Don’t you just love the things you can find in Akihabara.  The place is never ending for some really weird and perverted things.  But what caught my eye in a recent blog posting on akibablog.net was the tentacle monster action figures.

I’m sure there are many ideas of wanting to create that special scene from “La Blue Girl” or “Urotsukidoji”.

Looking at the pictures, no need to worry of a shortage, plenty of stores have them in stock.  I often wonder how a collector or owner displays these in their room…  Ehh?

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In the latest Wai Wai translation of a Shukan Asahi article, Iijima Ai is definitely keeping her fans all happy through her suggestive blog postings.

According to the article, Iijima posted, “I was thinking the other day that ever since my life started, it has lacked sensuality,” Shukan Asahi quotes Iijima posting on her blog. “I haven’t got a boyfriend. I haven’t even got a sex friend. Oh my god, I’m dying for a bit. I’ve just got to have some nooky.”

“The comments were typically Iijima in that they easily shocked. Her request for advice from visitors to her blog elicited over 300 replies, many from men predictably willing to meet her and alleviate her plight.”

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Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo® HD Remix is now available on PLAYSTATION®Network for $10.00.

One of the most addictive games of all time has just gotten better! Capcom’s incredibly popular puzzle game is updated for the new generation with newly created 1080p HD graphics, several new games modes, improved game balance, new stage background courtesy of Udon Entertainment, online play and more.

In Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, players compete in intense versus battles of wit and speed. As a linked pair of gems descends from the top of the screen, players move and rotate them to form groups and piles of the same color. By destroying these groups of gems with either a crash or rainbow gem, players can send counter gems to fall onto their hapless rival. When the opponent’s screen is filled up and no more moves are available, the player wins the game.

Features:
· Three different gameplay options:
o X-Mode: play in classic Puzzle Fighter style

o Y-Mode: gems automatically break when three or more gems of the same color line up in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally

o Z-Mode: players move a 2×2 cursor around the screen rotating the positions of the highlighted gems; more gems are added from below, moving all the current gems toward the top

· Game balance options for X-Mode
o Original X-Mode or a newly rebalanced X’ mode that makes every character a compelling choice

· Counter Gem Edit – allows players to create their own drop pattern

· Multiple online gameplay options:
o Ranked Match – using the TrueSkill system players are matched 1-on-1 based on their ranking points

o Player Match – non-ranked, casual Quarter Match setup allows players to view ongoing matches and stand by to become the next challenger

· Worldwide rankings and leaderboard

Everyone I know who listens to Japanese music has a point of time they can reference when they started to become fans. And I am seldom asked, who was the first Japanese music artist that caught my attention.

Although later in the 80’s, I became smitten with Moritaka Chisato. The actual person that actually caught my attention first was Matsuda Seiko and Nakamori Akina for JPOP.

For Japanese rock, I have not listened to Japanese rock music until an international hour on my favorite alternative rock station back then in Los Angeles, KROQ, did a feature on female Japanese rock groups.

I was introduced to the Go-Bangs with their song “Special Boyfriend”, a female rock band inspired by the Go Go’s and the Bangles (which the DJ said the name was derived from) and Princess Princess. I would spend the next six years trying to find a Go-Bangs album.

But if I had to pick one artist that first generated my interest in the music, although I heard Matsuda Seiko first, the truth is for a song, Nakamori Akina caught my attention first.

A soft spoken woman, with a low sexy singing voice and very sexy. The song was “TATTOO” and fortunately with youtube.com, you can experience that nostalgia of Nakamori performing the song on television that year.