Bambino 14, Black Lagoon 8, Jepang Tenggelam 15 of 15 (Level Comics 22 September 2011 manga) [UPDATE3]

The Gave In to Anality Version — Final

Update 3: Reinstated Red River 10 and Shattered Knife 9—with details—as both ARE already available in stores, even if they still appear in the 28 September STO. (But for sure, Sky of Love 7 has been reskedded to the above street date.)

Also replaced the lead cover (formerly Lanfeust of Troy - Gading Magohamoth) because that Arleston & Tarquin ROMIC was also postponed (word is it streets on 12 October). Needless to say, I chose to omit its synopsis from this release list. So if it's a Then you saw it, now you don't, you know what happened.

Bambino! © Sekiya Tetsuji/Shogakukan [First serialized in Big Comic Spirits] · Black Lagoon © Hiroe Rei/Shogakukan [Serialized in Sunday GX] · Nihon Chinbotsu © Komatsu Sakyou and Ishiki Tokihiko/Shogakukan [First serialized in Big Comic Spirits]. Published in Indonesia as Bambino!, Black Lagoon and Jepang Tenggelam by Elex Media/Level Comics

In the penultimate Bambino!

Ban's still trying to win over mafiosi palates, but Coyote's cowardly brother Lorenzo interferes!

Above Bambino! preview extracted from a mechanical translation of バンビ～ノ！　１４ episode 143 sneak peek. Level's late-breaking version —

Ban returns to Japan, only to be told by Chef Tekkan to swing by Fukuoka. There Ban finds that his parents are getting a divorce, the apartment he calls home is up for sale, his ex-girlfriend is getting married and his best friend has become little more than a thug. Talk about problems! Can Ban overcome these non-food challenges?

Bambino! concluded in Japan with volume 15's April 2009 release. Bambino! Secondo's first tankou premiered in August that same year. Eight volumes of the sequel have been compiled as at August 2011.

More previews after the release list.

Level Comics manga (2011.09.22)

1. Bambino! 14 of 15 by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! 「バンビ～ノ！」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 14 (chapters 143-153) first published in Japan 2008.12

Awards
Winner, 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards for the Seinen/General category, tied with Kuromaru- & Natsuhara Takeshi's The Black Swindler (Kurosagi).

Related series
Bambino! Secondo (sequel; eight volumes as at 2011.08.30)

Adaptations
An 11-episode live-action adaptation starring Matsumoto Jun (Shogo Ban) and Kitamura Kazuki (Yonamine Tsukasa/Yona-san) aired on NTV from April to June 2007. The TV series reaped four awards at the 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor (Matsumoto Jun), Supporting Actor (Kazuki Kitamura), Best Director and a Special Award.

2. Black Lagoon 8 of 9+ by Hiroe Rei

Black Lagoon 「ＢＬＡＣＫ　ＬＡＧＯＯＮ」 by Hiroe Rei Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 8 (chapters 56-64) first published in Japan 2008.07

Other languages
English Black Lagoon (VIZ Media: nine volumes per 2010.07) and Chuang Yi: nine volumes as at 2010.10), French (Kazé Manga: tome 9 shipped 2010.10), Spanish (Norma Editorial Spain), German (Carlsen Comics: Band 9 per 2010.07), Polish (Waneko).

Adaptations
The 12-episode Madhouse anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Toyoguchi Megumi (Revy) and Namikawa Daisuke (Rock), aired in Japan from April to June 2006. The Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage second season (episodes 13 to 24) was telecast from October through December of the same year. The OAV sequel, Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail, premiered 17 July 2010, with the fifth Roberta's Blood Trail Blu-ray/DVD released 2011.06.22.

Related
The Sunday GX Comics 10YEAR'S CHRONICLE: Black Lagoon 1: Born to Rock (JP release: 2011.01), which contains the Black Lagoon Gaiden, and Black Lagoon 2: Rock to the Core (2011.02)

The Black Lagoon: Shaitane Badi light novel written by Urobuchi Gen and illustrated by Hiroe Rei (Black Lagoon side story; Shogakukan Gagaga Bunko, 2008.07)

3. Eternal Sabbath (ES) 6 of 8 by Souryo Fuyumi

ES 「ＥＳ」 ＥＳ　６ by Souryo Fuyumi Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 6 first published in Japan 2004.05

Other languages/Reissues
English ES (Del Rey: eight volumes), French (Glénat: eight volumes), Italian (Editions Star Comics)
Re-released in five bunko volumes (2006.10 - 2007.02)

4. Fight!! Ippo (Hajime no Ippo) 84 of 97+ by Morikawa Joji

Hajime no Ippo 「はじめの一歩」 by Morikawa Joji AKA Fighting Spirit Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 84 first published in Japan 2008.06

Volume 84 chapters:
Round 799: The Remaining Round
Round 800: That is Ippo Makunouchi
Round 801: Right and Left
Round 802: An Enviable Pit
Round 803: The Main Event and the Main Event
Round 804: A Higher Level
Round 805: Because of Their Meeting
Round 806: The Unexpected Possibility
Hajime No Ippo Gaiden: Naniwa Tiger
*NOT Level chapter titles

Awards
Best Shounen Manga, 1991 Kodansha Manga Awards

Related series
Hajime no Ippo Gaiden (one-shot prequel)

Other languages
French (Kurokawa: Ippo, Saison 2: Destins de Boxeurs Tome 16 shipped 2011.09.08) and traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 第一神拳 96 per 2011.08)

Adaptations
A 76-episode anime by Madhouse, starring seiyuu Kiyasu Kohei (Makunouchi Ippo), aired on NTV from October 2000 to March 2002. A sequel/special, Hajime no Ippo - Champion Road, came out in June 2003, followed by the spinoff Hajime no Ippo - Mashiba vs. Kimura OAV (2003.09). The 26-episode second season Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger was telecast from January to June 2009.

5. Giant Killing 7 of 21+ by Tsunamoto Masaya & Tsujitomo

Giant Killing 「ＧＩＡＮＴ　ＫＩＬＬＩＮＧ」 by Tsunamoto Masaya & Tsujitomo Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 7 first published in Japan 2008.10

Awards
34th Kodansha Manga Award for General Manga

Adaptations
Studio DEEN's 26-episode anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Seki Tomokazu (Tatsumi Takeshi), Okiayu Ryotaro (Murakoshi Shigeyuki), Mizushima Takahiro (Tsubaki Daisuke) and Ono Daisuke (Yoshida Luigi) aired between April and September 2010 on NHK.

6. Jepang Tenggelam (Nihon Chinbotsu) 15 of 15 by Komatsu Sakyou/Ishiki Tokihiko [Finale]

Nihon Chinbotsu 「日本沈没」 by Komatsu Sakyou/Ishiki Tokihiko AKA Japan Sinks Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 15 (chapters 122-130: Nihon Chinbotsu, Parts 1-9) first published in Japan 2009.02

Related
Based on the award-winning disaster novel by Komatsu Sakyou, also adapted into film and live-action TV.

7. Jio 18 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi

Jio 「６６６～サタン～」 by Kishimoto Seishi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 18 (chapters 69-72) first published in Japan 2007.10

Other languages
English O-Parts Hunter (VIZ Media: 19 volumes), French (Kurokawa: 19 volumes) and Italian (JPOP)

8. Miso-Com (30 Kon Miso-com) 11 of 13+ by Yonezawa Rika

30 Kon Miso-com 「３０婚　ｍｉｓｏ‐ｃｏｍ」 by Yonezawa Rika Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 11 first published in Japan 2010.10

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li: 待嫁熟女 11 per 2011.02)

9. Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori) 10 of 28 by Shinohara Chie »Not postponed

Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori 「天は赤い河のほとり」 by Shinohara Chie AKA Anatolia Story Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Volume 10 (chapter 23 and Illustration Gallery) first published in Japan 1997.08

Awards
Best Shoujo Manga, 46th Shogakukan Manga Awards (2000)

Reissues/Other languages
Reissued in 16 bunko volumes between 2006.11 and V16 2007.05
English Red River (VIZ Media: 28 volumes), Italian Anatolia Story (Editions Star Comics: 28 volumes), German (EMA/Egmont Manga and Anime), Vietnamese Dòng Sông Huyền Bí (Tre Publishing House) and traditional Chinese 赤河戀影 (Tong Li)

Adaptations
Eight drama CDs were released between 1997 and 2003.

Related
An artbook (Japan release: 1999.02.24), fanbook (2002.07.26) and a two-volume novel adaptation Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden Ma ga Jidai no Reimei written and illustrated by Shinohara Chie-sensei (2007.05 and 2007.09)

In addition, the following novels were published under Shogakukan's Lululu Bunko Novels label: Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden Tsuitachi no Tsuki (Japan release: 2008.10); Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden Mayu tsuki (JP: 2010.01); and Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden Jōgen (2010.06).

10. Shattered Knife (Oboreru Knife) 9 of 12+ by George Asakura »Not postponed

Oboreru Knife 「溺れるナイフ」 by George Asakura Kodansha Betsufure, shoujo Volume 9 first published in Japan 2010.01

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

European comics/BDs (2011.09.22)

1. [Series Premiere] Lanfeust of Troy - Gading Magohamoth (Lanfeust de Troy, Tome 1: L'ivoire du Magohamoth) by Christophe Arleston, Didier Tarquin (Soleil) »Postponed to 10.12
2. Marsupilami - Serbuk Sari Urticando (Le Marsupilami, Tome 4: Le Pollen du Monte Urticando) by Franquin, Batem, Yann (Marsu Production)

Read more »

Bambino! 8: It's Time To Make Tiramisu (Street date: 26 January 2011)

This seinen manga review is written in Bahasa Indonesia ^^

Bambino!
© Sekiya Tetsuji
Shogakukan
Published in Indonesia
by Level Comics

It's Time To Make Tiramisu
Bambino! 8 by Sekiya Tetsuji
Review by Lina-chan (Some rights reserved)
Rated: 8/10

Sinopsis
Masakan Ban memang kalah, tapi sisi positifnya adalah ia boleh kembali ke cucina, bukan sebagai asisten masakan utama ataupun appetizer, Ban justru kebagian menjadi asisten pasticciere. Tugas utamanya adalah membantu Chef Oda dalam membuat dessert khas Italia, mulai dari Italian Merengue, Tiramisu dan hidangan dolce lainnya.

Problem utamanya, Chef Oda adalah hikikomori (orang antisosial, Red.) yang keras kepala dan tidak suka menerima bantuan. Ban pun tidak hilang akal, ia mencoba meminjam buku resep dolce milik Chef Oda dan mempelajari cara membuat dessert yang penuh detail.

Ban yang belum bisa meluluhkan hati Chef Oda, terpaksa menghadapi satu masalah lagi. Mantan murid Chef Oda, Keigo Nagashima si super patissier yang juga merupakan pemilik toko dessert Saint-Exupery, datang ke Baccanale. Tujuan utamanya adalah mengajak Oda untuk lebih mengembangkan bakatnya. Ia pun mencoba merekrut Oda agar mau bergabung di tokonya. Sayang, Oda merasa lebih suka bekerja di Baccanale.

Read more »

Magister Negi Magi 22, Bambino! 6, Air Gear 14 (Level Comics 25 August 2010 manga)

Also, The Ravages of Time manhua volume 4. And with that this Level post wrote itself and I'm done...

NOT!

Mahou Sensei Negima! © Akamatsu Ken/Kodansha (Serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine)
Published in Indonesia as Magister Negi Magi by Elex Media/Level Comics

Negi and Kotaro take battle center stage to save Makie and their other enslaved comrades. Using the name “Nagi Springfield,” Negi becomes (in)famous. The quest for the other club members continues and hope glimmers on the horizon: It appears they can go home, using the last gate in Ostia. But before this happens, Negi must first become a wizard as strong as, if not stronger than his father.

Both Chuang Yi and Del Rey point out that Negi's sole recourse to shounen upgrade lies in tutelage from his father's outlandish rival, Rakan — with one of the lessons involving mastering a taboo spell. [Additions from Negima! 22: New Teacher and Chuang Yi's vol. 22 gratefully acknowledged.]

Bambino! 6 of 15 by Sekiya Tetsuji

After four days of Asuka and Hayama instruction, Ban is finally ready to serve Nogami. Everything is going great, and no customer complaints are forthcoming, but what's this? Nogami suddenly asks for a different waitstaff? What snafu did Ban commit now?

The other half of the synopses is after the list below.

Level Comics manga and manhua (2010.08.25)

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

1. Air Gear 14 of 29+ by Oh! great

AirGear 「エア・ギア」 by Oh! great Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 14 (Tricks 114-122) first published in Japan 2006.06

Awards
Best Shounen Manga, 2006 Kodansha Manga Awards

Other language versions/serializations
Air Gear is published in English by Del Rey (volume 14 released 2009.10.27 • Volume 15-17 street date: 2010.08.31). Other global releases: Korea (published by Haksan), Taiwan (Tong Li; in traditional Chinese), Singapore (Chuang Yi; in simplified Chinese: latest volume 28), United Kingdom (Tanoshimi, under license from Del Rey), France (Pika Édition; tome 23 ships 2010.09), Italy (Planet Manga), Germany (Heyne) and Sweden (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB/serialized in Manga Mania).

Adaptations
A 25-episode anime adaptation produced by Toei Animation and starring Kamakari Kenta as Ikki aired in Japan from April to September 2006. The Satelight-animated Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori -Break on the Sky- OAD shipped with volume 29 in July 2010. The side story cast seiyuu Okamoto Nobuhiko (Usui, Kaichou wa Maid-sama! anime) as Ikki.

Kamakari Kenta also reprised his Ikki role in the musical adaptation of Air Gear (2007.01), but due to illness was absent from the rerun Musical Air Gear vs. Bacchus Super Range Remix (2007.05). A new musical was expected to premiere April 2010.

2. Bambino! 6 of 15 by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! 「バンビ～ノ！」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 6 first published in Japan 2006.10

Volume 6 contains chapters:
54 ラッコッリエレ（集める）
55 アッサッシァーレ（味をみる）
56 インチーデレ（切り込みを入れる）
57 インチーデレ　2
58 アフォーコヴィーヴォ（強火で）
59 イマジナーレ（想像する）
60 レガーレ（撃ぐ）
61 レガーレ　2
62 レガーレ　3
63 レガーレ　4
64 レガーレ　5
65 レガーレ　6

Awards
Best Seinen/general manga, 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards (tied with Kuromaru- and Natsuhara Takeshi's The Black Swindler/Kurosagi)

Related series
Bambino! Secondo (sequel; four volumes as at 2010.06.30)

Adaptations
An 11-episode live-action adaptation starring Matsumoto Jun as Shogo Ban and Kitamura Kazuki as Yonamine Tsukasa/Yona-san aired on NTV from April to June 2007. The TV series reaped four awards at the 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor (Matsumoto Jun), Supporting Actor (Kazuki Kitamura), Best Director, and a Special Award.

3. Magister Negi Magi (Mahou Sensei Negima!) 22 of 31+ by Akamatsu Ken

Mahou Sensei Negima! 「魔法先生ネギま！」 by Akamatsu Ken Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 22 first published in Japan 2008.04

Volume 22 contains chapters:
196. Enter the New Heroes!!
197. Project: One Stone, Three Birds ♥
198. Life-Threatening Showdown!!
199. Ako's Heart-Pounding Examination Room ♥
200. Respective Strengths!
201. A New Master / Disciple Combo is Born ♥
202. All Negi's Got
203. Magical Girl Yue
204. If I Could Be Stupid... ♥

Other language versions
Negima! is published in English by Del Rey (Volume 27: Invincible released 2010.07.27 • volume 28 street date: 2010.10.26) and Chuang Yi (25 volumes). Chuang Yi also translates the manga into simplified Chinese (latest volume 30), while the traditional Chinese edition is published by Tong Li in Taiwan. Other global releases: United Kingdom (Tanoshimi, under license of Del Rey), France (Pika Édition; tome 26 shipped 2010.08.18), Spain (Glènat España), Germany (Egmont Manga & Anime; band 27 released 2010.08.02), Norway (Schibsted Forlag), Brazil (Editora JBC) and Croatia (Algoritam).

Adaptations
Xebec adapted manga chapters 1-38 (volume 5) into an anime series. Twenty-six episodes aired in Japan from January through June 2005, starring seiyuu Satou Rina as Negi Springfield. Previously, three OAVs were launched in 2004 to introduce the characters (Mahou Sensei Negima! Introduction Film).

Following the first TV series, two more OAVs were produced: Mahou Sensei Negima!: Haru (2006.10.25) and Mahou Sensei Negima!: Natsu (2006.11.22). An alternate retelling, Negima!?, aired from October 2006 to March 2007.

A third and fourth set of OAVs (actually OADs or Original Animation Disc) were bundled with the manga tankoubon (Mahou Sensei Negima!: Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba with volumes 23-25, 2008.08.17-2009.02.17; and Mahou Sensei Negima!: Mō Hitotsu no Sekai with volume 27, 2009.09.17). The second to fourth Mō Hitotsu no Sekai OADs released 2009.12.17, 2010.05.17 and 2010.07.17 respectively. The fifth OAD Mahou Sensei Negima! ~Ariadone-hen~ is scheduled for 2010.11.17.

An anime movie for the Magic World arc is expected to premiere in 2011.

A live-action drama adaptation was also produced and aired on TV Tokyo from October 2007 to March 2008.

4. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) 4 of 39+ by Chan Mou

Sanguozhi Qunxiongzhuan: Huo Feng Liao Yuan 「火鳳燎原」 by Chan Mou AKA Fiery Phoenix Burns Steppes Tong Li New Youth, seinen

Other language versions
Published in simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi (latest volume 38). The manhua is also released in Mainland China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan (by Media Factory as 三国志群雄伝　火鳳燎原; ongoing serialization in Comic Sangokushi magazine).

¹ Sources: Elex STO 25 August 2010 (release schedule) and Komikologi (synopses, unless indicated otherwise)
² All listed GN are priced at IDR 18,500 each.
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links for other language versions.

Volume previews continued

Air Gear 14 of 29+ by Oh! great

Aeon Clock pops up just in *cough* time to save Kazu and Emiri from a big pinch and faces the onslaught of the sadistic Gabishi head-on. Not to be outdone, the Time Manipulator struts his stuff. But overconfidence proves his downfall, and the fight once more swings in Gabishi's favor. Meanwhile, Emiri scrounges up the courage to also attack Gabishi, seeing as how Kazu's all but catatonic. But even a combined offensive can't take down Gabishi!

The Ravages of Time 4 of 39+ by Chan Mou

Warlord Dong Zhuo moves the capital to Chang'an. To ensure that Luoyang doesn't fall to Guandong troops, he torches the entire city. But before doing so, he sets up Liu Bian as bait to draw Yuan Shao to the palace where Dong Zhuo intends to incinerate them in Luoyang's flames. Elsewhere, the commander-less Canbing faces off with the peerless “War God” Lu Bu.

UP NEXT: Moar 25 August 2010 manga

m&c!: Oresama Teacher 1 by Tsubaki Izumi · You Can't Disappear from Me 2 · Shanaou Yoshitsune Genpei War 5 · Devil Boyfriend by Shigano Iori · Female Wolf's Boy 3 · The Ghost Conqueror 3 · Golden Age 11 · How to Be A Man 2 · Moon Light Dream by Mitsuki Kaco · Panta Pan 2 of 2 · The Story of Wang Feng Lei 5 · Sugar Family 3 · With You at Blue Rose by Washio Mie · Cherry 46/2010 · Bleach 1-6 and 7-12 box sets

Elex Media: Skip Beat! 17 · Q.E.D. 35 · Animal Doctor 1 by Sasaki Noriko · Detektif Conan Animasi TV 22 · Hell Girl 7 · InuYasha 48 · Katsu! 7 · LUM, The Invader Girl 25 · Natural Honey Dormitory 2 · Ogawa & Team Saito 1 by Sakyo · Nakayoshi Lovely: Apple · Shonen Star 71/2010

Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)

disclaimer

Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

• Elex Media: Spiral: The Bonds Of Reason 5 · Here We Are 13 · With My Brothers 7 · Crows 11 · Hell Girl 6 · Kariage kun 32 · Libero Revolution!! 12 · Look Up! 3 · Shinagawa Cat Story 2 · Shugo Chara 10 · Throbbing Midnight 9 of 9 · Nakayoshi 83/2010
• Level Comics: Until Death Do Us Part 1 by Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S · Gokusen 15 of 15 · Restore Garage 9 · Nurse Aoi 13 · Lucky Luke - Dalton Terjebak Badai Salju
• m&c!: Bleach 33 · Idol Shopping 2 · Ugly Duckling Become Swan 2 · A Badboy Drinks Tea 7 · Female Wolf's Boy 2 · Sandwich Girl 2 · The Impeccable Twins Final Chapters 11 · Long Hu Men 170 · Star Wars 8 · The Great Ants: Sirkus Keliling · Humor Pegawai Negeri: Pengurangan Jam Kerja · Humor Guru: Undian dan Jebakan

related monthly schedules

August 2010
Premiering The Running Bus by Sahara Mizu and Until Death Do Us Part by Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S

other invaluable resources

Wikipedia · ANN

Technorati tags

Level Comics · manga · manhua · seinen · shounen · AirGear · Bambino! · Magister Negi Magi (Mahou Sensei Negima!) · The Ravages of Time

Bambino! 3 by Sekiya Tetsuji (Level Comics seinen cooking manga; street date: 19 May 2010)

Bambino! © Sekiya Tetsuji/Shogakukan (First serialized in Big Comic Spirits)
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics
[Cover from Level Comics]

Bambino! 3 of 15

By Sekiya Tetsuji
Original title: バンビ～ノ！
Shogakukan, originally serialized in Big Comic Spirits, seinen
Volume 3 first released in Japan 2006.01
Published in Indonesia 2010.05 by PT Elex Media Komputindo/Level Comics

Synopsis

Wannabe chef Ban leaves hometown and loved ones for Tokyo where he finds himself working as waitstaff at a premier Roppongi trattoria.

Can Ban endure serving tasks (slicing bread toka) long enough to get back to creating scrumptious Italian dishes?

I don't know about Ban, but Level's Bambino! editor Tika-san enjoys “working” at (on) Trattoria Baccanale because of the droolicious food depicted in Sekiya Tetsuji's cooking manga, a trademark that likely extends to the sequel Bambino! Secondo (four volumes by 2010.06.30).

Awards

This series won the best seinen/general manga prize at the 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards, along with The Black Swindler (Kurosagi) by Kuromaru and Natsuhara Takeshi.

Drama adaptation

An 11-episode live-action renzoku starring Matsumoto Jun (Hayakawa Vito, Smile) as Shogo Ban and Kitamura Kazuki (Kusanagi Shunpei, Galileo: Episode Zero) as Yonamine Tsukasa/Yona-san (the waitstaff chief) aired in Japan on NTV from April to June 2007. The theme song We can make it! was performed by Arashi (of course). The TV series reaped four awards at the 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor (Matsumoto Jun), Supporting Actor (Kazuki Kitamura), Best Director, and the Special Award (which it shared with the Yamashita Tomohisa-starrer Proposal Daisakusen). More than the awards, friend recommendations make me want to watch the dorama (and start the manga, which I still haven't).

Level Comics Volume 3 street date: 19 May 2010

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) who thanks Level editor Lenny-san for the cover, blurb, and ambush interview of Bambino! editor Tika-san

disclaimer

Images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

other invaluable resources

7net Shopping · Wikipedia · DramaWiki

Technorati tags
Level Comics · manga · seinen · Bambino! · Sekiya Tetsuji · Shogakukan