Yakitate!! Japan 7, Midori Days 8/8, Dragon Brothers 5/5, Hayate no Gotoku 8, Flash of Wind 23 (Elex Media 14 January 2009 manga)

Yakitate!! Japan © Hashiguchi Takashi/Shogakukan

Delivery schedules ungrudging, their penultimate volumes will reach stores two days from today, and their conclusions, a week after. I'm talking about Midori's Days and Dragon Brothers—volume 8 and 5 of which are streeting 14 January 2009.

If you're collecting these two shounen titles, I suggest you stop by this and next week at your favorite bookstore/newsstand for these four Elex Media manga. If you're dragging your feet (though I really, truly, positively doubt that you are), you can read my translation of the last Midori Days blurb (after the list, after the cut).

Meanwhile, the other finale releasing next Wednesday is the second Doraemon Movie 3 - Nobita Drifts In The Universe. Have to tell you, though, that this volume carries a price tag of IDR 20,000.

By popularity
The Most Popular Get! this sked remains volume 7 of Hashiguchi Takashi-sensei's Yakitate!! Japan, the last installment of which came out last October.

NOTE
Before I get to the list, I have to say that (1) I try to always credit the sources of my information, images, and summaries; and (2) I spend time researching these manga (if you're an EMO forum regular, you know that Elex only provides the Indonesian title, volume number, manga-ka, and price). So, if you're going to use my posts as a resource, please do me the courtesy of acknowledging where you got your information with a link back. Thank you.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Elex Media manga (2009.01.14)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.

1. Bikings 2 of 8 by Fudo Jun

Bikings 「 バイキングス 」 by Fudo Jun Kodansha Gekkan Shounen Magazine, shounen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2006.12

2. Charming Junkie (Nosatsu Junkie) 12 of 16+ by Fukuyama Ryoko

Nosatsu Junkie 「 悩殺ジャンキー 」 by Fukuyama Ryoko Hakusensha Hana to Yume, shoujo Volume 12 first published in Japan 2008.01 Title picked up for English distribution by TOKYOPOP, dropped after six volumes.

3. Detektif Conan Seri Animasi TV (Meitantei Conan) 16 by Aoyama Gosho

Detektif Conan Seri TV Animasi (Meitantei Conan) by Aoyama Gosho
Shogakukan, shounen
Regular Meitantei Conan manga serialized in Shonen Star

4. Doraemon Movie 3 - Nobita Drifts In The Universe (Last) (Nobita's Adventure: Drifts in the Universe) by Fujiko F. Fujio [Finale]
5. Dragon Brothers (Souryuuden) 5 of 5 by Tanaka Yoshiki, Megumi Koji [Finale]

Souryuuden 「 創竜伝 」 by Tanaka Yoshiki, Megumi Koji Kodansha Weekly Shounen Magazine, shounen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2006.02 Serialized in the Indonesian Shonen Magz

6. Flash of Wind (Kaze Hikaru) 23 of 25+ by Watanabe Taeko

Kaze Hikaru 「 風光る 」 by Watanabe Taeko Shogakukan Flowers, josei Volume 23 first published in Japan 2007.11 Published in English by VIZ Media (11 volumes, ongoing; volume 12 street date: 2009.02.03)

7. Geobreeders 10 of 14+ by Ito Akihiro

Geobreeders 「 ジオブリーダーズ 」 by Ito Akihiro Shonen Gahosha Young King Ours, seinen Volume 10 first published in Japan 2004.08 Title formerly picked up for English distribution by CPM Press (license expired) Has a one-volume spin-off Geobreeders AA or Geobreeders Atomic Attack by Ito Akihiro-sensei and Imakake Isamu-sensei.

8. Ghost Sweeper Mikami (GS Mikami Gokuraku Daisakusen!!) 29 of 39 by Shiina Takashi

GS Mikami Gokuraku Daisakusen!! 「 ＧＳ美神　極楽大作戦！！ 」 by Shiina Takashi Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 29 first published in Japan 1998.01

9. Hayate the Combat Butler (Hayate no Gotoku) 8 of 18+ by Hata Kenjiro

Hayate no Gotoku 「 ハヤテのごとく！ 」 by Hata Kenjiro Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 8 first published in Japan 2006.09 Published in English by VIZ Media (nine volumes, ongoing)

10. Imaginary Beasts (Genjuu no Seiza) 8 of 14 by Akino Matsuri

Genjuu no Seiza 「 幻獣の星座 」 by Akino Matsuri Also romanized as Genjyu no Seiza Akita Shoten Horror Comics Special imprint, shoujo Volume 8 first published in Japan 2003.10 English version Genju no Seiza published by TOKYOPOP (eight volumes)

11. Jungle Boy 6 of 8 by Nakamura Rie

Jungle Boy 「 ＪＵＮＧＬＥ　ＢＯＹ 」 by Nakamura Rie
Akita Shoten Mystery Bonita, BL
Volume 6 first published in Japan 1996.04
Indonesian version published in a left-to-right format

12. Libero Revolution! 5 of 13 by Tanaka Motoyuki

Libero Revolution!! 「 リベロ革命！！ 」 by Tanaka Motoyuki Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2001.01

13. Midori's Days (Midori no Hibi) 8 of 8 by Inoue Kazurou [Finale]

Midori no Hibi 「 美鳥の日々 」 by Inoue Kazurou Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 8 first published in Japan 2004.10 Published in English by Chuang Yi (three volumes, ended) and VIZ (eight volumes, complete)

14. Ranma ½ 34 of 38 by Takahashi Rumiko

Ranma ½ 「 らんま１／２ 」 by Takahashi Rumiko Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 34 first published in Japan 2003.08 Published in English by VIZ Media (36 volumes, complete/condensed)

15. Rough 8 of 12 by Adachi Mitsuru

Rough 「 ラフ 」 by Adachi Mitsuru Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 8 first published in Japan 1989.03 Series rereleased in six wideban, seven bunkoban, and 4 My First Wide editions Translated into French by Glenat

16. Yakitate!! Japan 7 of 26 by Hashiguchi Takashi

Yakitate!! Japan 「 焼きたて！！ジャぱん 」 by Hashiguchi Takashi Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 7 first published in Japan 2003.05 Published in English by VIZ Media (15 volumes, ongoing; volume 16 street date: 2009.03.10) Serialized in Shonen Star, the Indonesian version of Shonen Sunday

NOTE | Detective Conan Seri Animasi TV 16 and Doraemon Movie 3 - Nobita Drifts In The Universe (Last) retails for IDR 21,800 and IDR 20,000 respectively. The rest of the tankou are priced at the usual IDR 13,800.

Source: Elex Media STO 14 Jan 2009

more of niki's blah blah

By popularity - continued
At last check, Midori's Days 8 trails front running Yakitate!! Japan by three votes. Tied for third place are Hayate the Combat Butler 8 and Rough 8. My take on the reasons behind their popularity: Midori Days is ending, so the number of votes is self-explanatory. Not to mention that Midori is one of the top 5 favorite manga serialized in Shonen Star (Indonesian version of Shogakukan's Shonen Sunday anthology), according to a 2007 poll.

Likewise self-evident is the we've only been waiting for the next tanko forever Hayate (its most recent installment was last seen early August). As for Rough, well, it's an Adachi Mitsuru-sensei manga. Nuff sed.

Advanced release
One of the two titles tied for fourth-place, Charming Junkie 12, is an advanced release—as in unscheduled, not included in the January 2009 Komikologi bulletin. I think I've sed something to this effect before: quick manga fixes = win.

Shonen Sunday-heavy even without Shonen Star
Of the 10 shounen titles this release, seven were/are originally serialized in Shonen Sunday: Ghost Sweeper Mikami, Hayate, Libero Revolution, Midori Days, Ranma ½, Rough, and Yakitate!! Japan.

(BTW, the latest edition of Shonen Star will go on sale tomorrow. Issue 49 will probably street sometime later this month, if we can believe the January Komikologi.)

VS the monthly schedules
And speaking of monthly plans, eight of the manga here are December 2008 imports, with two of them actually being reprinted in January's Komikologi newsletter. As for the pure January skeds, they are Jungle Boy 6 (volumes 7-8 were (mistakenly?) slotted in December) and Midori Days 8.

And the Most Patience-Stretching Award goes to...

Kaze Hikaru © Watanabe Taeko/Shogakukan

Flash of Wind (Kaze Hikaru) volume 23!

Prior to this volume, the most recent release of Watanabe Taeko-sensei's josei manga came out mid-May last year. This newest volume 23 is even one of the December to January reskeds I was talking about above.

Because this here manga's "award"-winning, here's the synopsis.

 SPOILER! warning

(just in case)

After discovering that Tominaga Sei is actually female, Saito Hajime tells Okita Souji that he will marry her. This news grieves Okita. Meanwhile, danger stalks Kondou Isami in Hiroshima. Who is behind it?

Another summary—

Midori's Days 8
Midori no Hibi by Inoue Kazurou

I know you prolly watched the anime but in case someone now reading this hasn't...   another SPOILER! warning.

Synopsis

Kota and Ayase finally confess their feelings to Seiji, but Seiji chooses Midori! Except for some strange reason, Midori chooses to part from Seiji...

What will happen to Seiji x Midori pink iro rabu rabu now?

Indonesian synopses from Komikologi Elex January 2009, translated by huamulan03

Technorati tags
manga, josei, seinen, shoujo, shounen, Bikings, Charming Junkie, Flash of Wind, Genjuu no Seiza, Geobreeders, Ghost Sweeper Mikami, Hayate no Gotoku, Jungle Boy, Kaze Hikaru, Libero Revolution, Meitantei Conan, Midori Days, Nobita's Adventure: Drifts in the Universe, Ranma ½, Rough, Souryuuden, Yakitate!! Japan

UP NEXT

• m&c! 14 January 2009 manga

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) who really should catch up on her Kaze Hikaru reading

disclaimer

Cover images used here are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

available

• Level Comics: Perfect Girl Evolution 18, X 18, Love Affair 2, Tokyo Juliet 2 (2009.01.07)
• Elex Media: Otomen 2, Rough 7, MÄR 7, Cross Game 12, Ask the Angel (2009.01.08)
• m&c!: Princess Princess 1, My Heavenly Hockey Club 7, Born to Cook 2, Tsunamix 2/2 (2009.01.08)

other upcoming manga

• 2009.01.14: Harlequin: Dark Heritage, Harlequin: Marriage Without Love, Nurse Aoi 9, (Level Comics)

other invaluable resources

7&Y (images and release dates) | Amazon Japan (images) | Baka-Updates Manga (release information++) | Ubook (release dates)

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