Free Event in West Hollywood Gives Sneak Peek at North America’s First Digital Weekly Manga Anthology Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZManga.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, invites Southern California manga/anime fans and pop culture enthusiasts to a very special launch event for the new Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha (Weekly SJ Alpha) on Saturday, January 28th at the West Hollywood Library in Los Angeles, CA. The event is FREE to attend and takes place between 2:00pm-5:00pm in the library’s Community Room. The West Hollywood Library is located at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069. Additional library details are available at colapublib.org/libs/whollywood. Each new digital issue of Weekly SJ Alpha will treat manga fans in North America to the latest chapters of some of the world’s most popular manga series only two weeks after they debut in Japan’s massively popular Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. The first issue of Weekly SJ Alpha goes on sale January 30, 2012, and will be available through VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Debut series will include Bakuman?, Bleach, Naruto, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, One Piece and Toriko. During the event, attendees will be able to preview the first issue of Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha content on several iPads that will be available, meet VIZ Media staff, and take advantage of fun photo opportunities with the world’s most popular ninja, Naruto, and Bleach’s Kon. Gift bags will be given away (while supplies last) and attendees can enter to win other fun prizes in a special raffle contest. Japanese snacks such as Pocky provided by Ezaki Glico USA and other refreshments will also be served while supplies last. “This launch event for Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha will give fans an exclusive advance look at our new manga magazine while offering a fun afternoon to celebrate its debut,” says Alvin Lu, Senior Vice President & General Manager. “Our new digital anthology will set an important new benchmark by offering the latest editions of some of the world’s most successful manga titles just a couple of weeks after their Japanese debut. We invite fans to join us on Saturday January 28th in West Hollywood for this exciting launch event!” Weekly SJ Alpha will be made available through an annual membership that provides 52 weeks of access to 48 weekly issues for just $25.99. Single issues of Weekly SJ Alpha can be read for four weeks for only $0.99. Each issue, once received on one device, can be read on all other enabled devices through the easy-to-use integrated VIZ Manga platform which includes the VIZ Manga Apps for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch as well as VIZManga.com. To prepare fans for the debut of Weekly SJ Alpha, VIZ Media is also offering the SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP, a limited collection of digital graphic novel speed-ups that will bring North American readers up-to-date with Japanese releases, in some cases jumping ahead of the print releases in North America. The SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP is ongoing on VIZ Manga with Naruto Volume 55-57, Bleach Volumes 49-52 and One Piece Vols. 61-63 available now (print editions forthcoming). For more information on Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit SJAlpha.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; and website at viz.com.