New Ouran High School Host Club Special Chapters are Coming!! Kuro Lala!! and More!!

I just got Lala 9 today and there's an Ouran special chapter in it!  There I will postpone the last two releases scheduled this month to get that out ASAP.
The chapter will be continued into Lala 10!  Ouran will also be on the cover of Lala 10!  So we will be getting at least 2 special Ouran chapters!  Yay!

Kuro Lala!!

There also something call "Kuro Lala"  (Black Lala) coming out in September.  This is part of Lala magazine's 35th anniversary.  I will do my best to get my hands on this Special collection of material from the folks at Lala.  If it's like the Natsume Yuujinchou special magazine, then it will sell out immediately.  If you want a copy, please let me know, and I'll place an order for you when I buy my copy.

And finally, some goodies from Lala 9.  Here are some Lala 35th anniversary commemorative illustrations from our favorite artists!

Hana to Yume Announcements!

• It looks like there will be some special "Hana Kimi" chapters starting in issue 17.  I'm still trying to verify this.
• There are special "The Scarecrow of Oz" and "Furou Kyoudai" chapter in the latest issue!

Treasure....

 Treasure...get your own...

Sweet Freebie in Hana to Yume 11

Do you want a sweet "Gakuen Alice" stationary set?  Then you better get Hana to Yume Issue 11!  I bought my copy from Sanseido Books (they will mail it to you if live too far away to pick it up.).  It should also be available from Akadot in about 2 - 4-weeks. (continue to see pictures of the freebie)

Also! The next issue of Hana to Yume will include a compilation book with one-shots from new mangaka and the series debut of "Liselotte and Witch's Forest" from Natsuki Takaya ("Fruits Basket").  That sounds interesting!  I'm looking forward it :)!

Hana to Yume Girly All-Star Calendar

Yay! Check out the lovely freebie calendar that comes with Hana to Yume issue 1/2011!  I will be making wallpaper after I get through with the high priority releases for this month.  Anyhow, if you want your own calendar to hang on your wall, buy yourself a copy of the magazine.  I bought mine at Sanseido Book Store.  Unfortunately, Amazon Japan doesn't stock Hana to Yume, so I can't provide you with a link.  Akadot, though, does stock the magazine, but it comes in stock 4 - 6 weeks after the Japanese release.  I will provide a link to Akadot when the magazine in in stock.

Anyhow...my favorite page is the "Hana to Akuma" illustration for January 2011.  Now if only the editors of Lala magazine would reconsider and put out a decent calendar.

One-shot Sequels!!!

W00t!  Well, color me happy!  Look what came with Hana to Yume Issue 24/2010!  A wonderful book with sequels to "The Scarecrow of Oz" and "Furou Kyoudai." *Hana to Akuma Spoilers Ahead*  Also in Hana to Yume issue 24 is the final chapter of "Hana to Akuma" which features (highlight white space to read) Hana and Vivi's wedding and off into the distant future -- half demon half human babies!!!  Unfortunately, Hana got old and died...but Vivi's happy happy with his kids.  Don't know what's going on with fandom, but I'm tempted to finish up the last three chapters... Update! It looks like translation of "Hana to Akuma" has resumed!  Hooray for Kokoro no Oasis!

Oh, and if you are wondering what the other two one-shots are, I don't know yet, but I'll find out and see if they are worth translating.

Anyhow, a bunch of unanticipated manga and vacations got thrown at me, so I have to re-prioritize and re-jigger the schedule for the next few months.  There's too much good stuff and not enough staff.  But, as a "manager" I cannot take on anymore staff...so I have re-jigger things.

Hana to Akuma Chp 54 Spoilers + Hana Kimi News

I got Hana to Yume Issue 19 today.

The freebie is a pair of Monochrome Kids paper clips:

Here's the latest on Hana to Akuma:

Here are a few of the key pages that summarize the events in "Hana to Akuma" Chp 54 (Sorry for the ever changing summary that I wrote earlier).
Links to the Hana to Akuma Chp 54 Highlights:  (Zip)(PDF)


There's nothing about how many chapters are left in the series.

Other news: there's a new volume of "Hana Kimi" coming out.  It's called "Hana-Kimi: Afterschool."  It appears to be a compilation of the extra stories that came out after the official end of the series.

I wonder if this means there will be a Viz version for the US?  That would be wonderful :)!

Hana to Yume Issue 16 -- Good Stuff (Spoilers!)

My copy of Hana to Yume Issue 16 came in 4 days early (I hope Lala 9 is this early too! -- can't wait!!!).  Anyhow...here's a couple of spoilers.

Gakuen Alice -- confession and Luka gives support!!!!  It's very cute (!!!) and bittersweet.  I almost feel like putting this chapter out myself.

Hana to Akuma Chp 52-- Vivi is in the process of leaving and there a nice 2-pages spread of a kiss scene.  I was pretty shocked.  Hmm...but is Vivi really leaving?  Poor Hana is left crying and begging him not to go.  There are some nice flashbacks to when when Vivi found Hana at his gate when she was an infant.  The end message said that the story would be resuming in issue 18 and at that point the story will be rushing into it's final chapters (very similar language to Ouran ending announcement).

I can't say much for this issue's freebie.  It's a "Love so Life" metal box with a hinged lid.  The first thing that came to mind was putting mints or candies in it -- but I can't be sure if it doesn't contain any lead...

Unfortunate Hana to Yume isn't available through Amazon, so unless you've got a Japanese bookstore near you, the only place I know of in the State to get it is from Akadot.  Unfortunately, Akadot lags about a month behind, so up to issue 14 are currently available.  Here's a link if you interested, though:

Link to Hana to Yume Issues from Akadot

You could probably also get a subscription to the magazine through Sanseido books (it'd get to you within a week of release, too).  It's not listed in their online shopping offerings, but I'm sure if you give your nearest location a call, a subscription can be arranged.  Here's a link to Sanseido Books in the US:

Sanseido Book Locations in the US