The Eastern Edge

The Mangablog posted a news from someone who claims to be an insider the Kodansha is cutting the middleman and will set up shop themselves in the U.S. If that's true, so long Del Ray manga. Guess they'll have to stick to Sci-Fi.
It's a very interesting rumor, but one that makes sense. Setting up their own thing may be the only way Kodansha can complete with Shogakkan in North America (aside from making more popular comics, that is).

Also, very interesting and insightful commentary over at the Comicsnob about Tokyopops troubles.

It really is going to be interesting to see what's left and how it's aligned when the dust settles in a few years (5 years, 10 years? who knows).

In related news, I haven't been able to find a pic on-line and I unfotunately recycled the news paper which did have one, but the Daily Yomiuri reported that the government here has chosen a Parakeet mascot to raise awareness about Japan's new lay judge system.

A Parakeet!

I don't know what bird brain came up with the idea of a mimic to represent the judical system, but it is so ridiculous, yet so appropriate at the same time, that I don't even know what to say.

As much as I like Japan, does this country really have to have a breakfast cereal mascot character for everything? Even the police, Fire Deptment and public transit all have one.
Here's the Tokyo Fire Department mascot.

Bizzarre isn't it?

Then again, Canada is guilty of some pretty, uh... interesting mascots, too. They just don't get the media attention they do in Japan.

For example, meet "Dagan the Dragonfly", the Translation Bureau's mascot, which can be found in the Language Nook of the Government of Canada, where users can follow it through the intricacies of the language of Shakespeare. Its French cousin (gotta have a French cousin!), Virgule, lives in the Coin linguistique du gouvernement du Canada, guiding users through the traps and difficulties of the language of Molière.

In my book, The grandprize for the most insane mascot goes to Japan's ancient capital of Nara, whose municipal government came up with this gem.

Yup, you guessed it. Nara is famous for ancient Buddhist temples... And deer (deer literally roam free throughout the city). Not to mention questionable decision-makers in local government.