This article on Wired has got me thinking a little about the declining newspaper circulation in the UK. Essentially Japan has the highest newspaper circulation in the world, or close to it considering the size of the country. I'm sure you don't need to be told that the Japanese are also mad about their comics. They already have Adult, Horror, Sci-Fi, Childrens, and Fantasy comics published daily in print and online... so why not current affairs? Manga No Shimbun (Manga Newspaper), is an online newspaper that presents it's stories in a variety of manga styles to suit the tone of the story (serious stories get the realistic look and lighter news gets a more cutesy or stylized treatment etc.).

The challenge for the artists must be huge. I know that Japenese society is built on a very industrious foundation, but carpal tunnel syndrome must be rife in its comics and animation industry. Not to mention how one would begin to condense a major tragic event into a panel of drawings and speech bubbles.

The fact that the newspaper also has mobile phone/iphone applications to let you view the daily editions is a great way of getting the news to an ever increasingly digitized populous. Although many papers are accessible via the web and many have iphone apps the combination of a pictorial based product is an intriguing thought. Would this work in the west – I know there is a strong following of comics and Japanese culture in Europe and the USA, so an international division may not be a bad idea.

I know there is the temptation to say “But it's dumbing down/It's killing the language!” but it isn't is it? We already have 60 second TV and radio news giving us the day's bulletins in quick digestible bites, so I can't see how this would be much different. Besides, think of the acclaimed writers who are literary geniuses that work in comic books – Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, Alan Moore. If you base the product in good journalistic practice and accompany it with engaging visuals then maybe people will seek out more information, and then where would they go? Well it would have to be to a print or digital newspaper.

If it turns people back on to current affairs, that can only be a good thing right?

Wired article - Have a look at their translated comic pages in the article by by moving you mouse over the pictures.

http://www.newsmanga.com
Translated by Google

I've just stumbled across an upsetting article on http://www.side-line.com/ about Mick Karn the former bassist of the band Japan, and former ½ of Dalis Car (alongside Peter Murphey). In a statement on Karn's website it has been revealed that he has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer.


The statement reads:

“With great sadness we regret to inform you that Mick has recently been diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer. Mick is currently in a positive mood and undergoing further tests and treatment. His family and friends are close with him, supporting him in practical ways, and surrounding him with their love, friendship and care.

Mick has been struggling financially for some considerable time now and we are hoping that this appeal may help to raise funds for any necessary treatment and perhaps go some way towards providing a small degree of financial support whilst Mick's immediate family provide the care and comfort we would all wish for him. We are hoping that his friends, fans and musical colleagues will, over the coming months, offer any support they feel capable of giving. Quite aside from the sheer brunt of daunting medically-related costs, Mick's clear and major concern is for the security and well being of his wife and young son.

If you would like to make a donation whether as an individual or as a group, you can do so via the paypal link below which has been set up for this sole and express purpose. Any support you are able to give, no matter how small, could make a difference in helping Mick cope during this difficult period. His friends will be looking at a variety of ways to raise funds.

If you would simply like to leave your kind messages of support for Mick, please do so, here: Messages”

I've always thought of Karn as being somewhat under-appreciated by the wider music community. Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian's success somewhat overshadowed the rest of Japan who, as individuals as well as a unit, were truly talented and ground-breaking. I think that was proved the most by Mick Karn post-Japan when he collaborated with Peter Murphey on Dali's Car.



The news about Mick Karn has made me think a bit about electronic music in general. You may not have caught the Synth Britannia documentary on BBC4 yet (it's been repeated a few times, and I imagine it will be repeated a few times yet) it is a fantastic introduction to a rather complex field of music. Buter here is part one of nine courtesy of Youtube.




Get well soon Mick Karn
http://www.mickkarn.net/