On our most recent Japan LA Super Mega Fun Tokyo Trip we received two big bags of limited Gloomy Bear goods from Mori Chack, creator of the character, and we'll be giving them away to people who sign up for our Mind Over Manga Tour at Anime Expo this weekend! So drop by the Digital Manga booth (#510) and come talk to us!

The esteemed background artist, and art director on "Princess Mononoke," "Castle in the Sky," "Grave of the Fireflies" and many others has agreed to meet our Mind Over Manga tour this Aug. 21-27! He'll be sitting down to talk with the group, taking us through Nippon Animation, the studio where he worked with Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata on "Anne of Green Gables" and "Future Boy Conan," and introducing some of his staff from "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time!" So apply now to meet an anime legend... and keep checking back for more exciting announcements!

Fireworks season begins July 26 in Tokyo with the 30th anniversary of the Sumida River Fireworks. Around 22,000 fireworks will be set in this incredible display. The Tokyo Bay fireworks will be held every weekend from July to mid-August, with the climax at the second Saturday in August. The number of fireworks launched can reach 12,000, lighting up the whole eastern part of the city. For more information, click here.

A celebration of 30 years of Leiji Matsumoto's space epic will open May 27 at the Suginami Animation Museum.

Our friend Jamie at Japan L.A. let us know that the J-pop band Love Psychedelico will be in Los Angeles this Wednesday to play a show at Bordello near Little Tokyo. Admission is free with an RSVP, plus free Asahi from 9 to 10 p.m.