VIZ Media and Copyright Promotions to Bring the Best in Japanese Content to European Market

San Francisco, CA, September 14, 2005 — VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive manga and animation licensing and publishing companies, announced today a joint venture with London-based Copyright Promotions Licensing Group, Ltd. (CPLG) to drive the long term growth of its Japanese manga and animation brands in the European market. The new venture, called VIZ Media B.V., will generate new business opportunities and revenue streams by coordinating all aspects of brand development through a property’s lifecycle. VIZ Media and CPLG will each hold a 50% share in VIZ Media B.V., which will officially open in Amsterdam October 3, 2005.

VIZ Media B.V., with access to some of the most popular manga and animation properties owned by VIZ Media’s parent companies, Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan Inc., the largest publishing houses in Japan, and ShoPro (Japan) will become a market leader for successful Japanese manga and animation content in Europe. Able to manage all the rights associated with a property, including publishing, retail, broadcast, home entertainment, merchandising and promotional, the venture will be able to exploit fully opportunities across all categories to realize long-term growth of its properties. “

The demand for Japanese entertainment content by European audiences is growing substantially and we are pleased to partner with Copyright Promotions Licensing Group to bring exposure and mainstream acceptance of this genre to diverse demographic groups throughout Europe,” states Daniel Marks, Managing Director, VIZ Media B.V. “We believe that our partnership with CPLG, with their expertise in publishing, merchandising and promotions across Europe, coupled with our access to the best content and our experience in the U.S. and Japanese markets, will assure the success of this new venture.”

Among the first titles that will be offered by VIZ Media B.V. will be DEKO BOKO FRIENDS, MÄR and BLEACH. These titles reflect the diversity of offerings of the venture, which will manage content ranging from pre-school to boys action, girls manga to more niche sci-fi and fantasy properties.

“We are excited to partner with VIZ Media, LLC. With their outstanding portfolio and our experienced and expert management teams, we have found a recipe for success," states Katarina Dietrich, Director of Entertainment of CPLG. "As Europe’s leading licensing agency, we represent some of the world’s biggest names in entertainment, sports and brands and we believe our dynamic, highly innovative and committed teams will achieve our goal to accelerate the growth and profitability of Japanese manga and animation across the European continent.”

About Copyright Promotions, Ltd.

Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Limited (CPLG) is one of the world's leading entertainment, sports and brands licensing agencies with over 30 years experience in the industry. Headquartered in London, with dedicated teams in seven offices across Europe and international agencies servicing the rest of the world, Copyright Promotions has a structure that is unique in the licensing industry today. www.cplg.com

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), 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 Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.

Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.viz.com.

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