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Bandai Visual Launches Free Magazine Website in Japan

The anime distributor Bandai Visual has launched a free Japanese magazine website called Yomban on Monday. The magazine offers original manga, novels, and essays aimed at one of Bandai Visual's core target audiences: males in their 20s.

As of February, the lineup includes:

Manga

• Ontama. by Mutsumi Sasaki (Happy Lesson)
• Bukatsu Shōjo Yū by AM-DVL (Original story by Trigun character designer Takahiro "Something" Yoshimatsu)
• Miss Maverick ni wa Sakarau na by Mizuki Sakakibara (in cooperation with Dance in the Vampire Bund creator Nozomu Tamaki)
• Band Yarō-ze! by Sokra Tesla (Original story by musician Porche Okite)
• Gachapokke by Daisuke Arakubo
• Garettoderowa ~Jo-ō Heika no Kashi Shokunin~ by Rami Hato

Novels

• Kaze to Tanpopo ~Wakusei-kan Monogatari~ by Banner of the Stars author Hiroyuki Morioka (characters: Sachiko Kōno, mechanic: Bakugan Battle Brawlers' Susumu Imaishi)
• Blood*Arm by Takahiro Ōkura (illustrated by Hitoshi Yoneda)
• Splash Zone ~Rakka no Jikū~ by Stellvia's Tatsuo Satō (illustrated by Gainax, Ryōta Hayatsu)

Essays

• Sekka Sange-roku by Alika Takarano
• Momōi no Oto by singer/actress Halko Momoi

Other Materials

• Cover calendar by Okama (February), Jun Suemi (March)
• Readers' illustration corner by Kakban
• Editorial staff blog from Aomono-yokochō (a train station in western Tokyo)

Source: animeanime.jp

Update: Yomban will add a novel written by Tō Enjō and illustrated by iqu in March.