VIZ PICTURES ANNOUNCES THEATRICAL SCREENINGS OF MANGA INSPIRED FILM - NANA
IN LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK

Story of Two Women Searching For Love And Meaning Amidst the Hustle and
Bustle of Tokyo A Box Office Hit In Japan

San Francisco, CA, February 26, 2008 – VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ
Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has
announced a pair of new theatrical runs scheduled for New York and Los
Angeles of NANA, a live action film directed by Ootani Kentarou and
based on the best-selling shojo manga (graphic novel) series by Ai Yazawa.

NANA will screen in Los Angeles, March 21-27 at the IMAGINASIAN CENTER
and then in New York, April 4-10 at the IMAGINASIAN THEATRE. Press
screenings for both locations are also planned and theater information
follows at the end of this release.

NANA follows the adventures of two girls both named Nana. While they
share the same name, they couldn't be more different. Nana "Hachi"
Komatsu follows her boyfriend to Tokyo and hopes to make a new start,
while Nana Osaki, who arrives in the city at the same time, is a punk
rock beauty who has the ambition to make it big in the world of rock and
roll. Although these two young women come from vastly different
backgrounds, they quickly become best friends. What sets them apart,
however, is the stark difference between their lives. One Nana comes
from a small town, following her friends and boyfriend but ultimately
looking for her own goal to obtain, while the other Nana has a
single-minded aim to make her dream and band, the Black Stones, among
the best in Japan.

NANA performed well at the Japanese box office upon its release in 2006,
grossing more than 4 billion yen and staying in the Top 10 for several
weeks. The main theme from the film, “Glamorous Sky,” took the number 1
spot on Japan’s Oricon charts in its first two weeks of sales and
quickly sold over 450,000 copies. Another song from the film, “Endless
Story,” took the number 2 spot on the same chart in its first week of
release and sold over 300,000 copies. The English version of the manga
series has sold over 22 million copies in Japan, is published
domestically by VIZ Media under its SHOJO BEAT imprint.

“NANA presents a realistic and sometimes gritty portrayal of two modern
women searching for love, careers and a sense of purpose amidst the
urban bustle of Tokyo,” says Manami Iboshi, Director, Marketing, VIZ
Pictures. “The manga series on which the film is based has been
critically acclaimed and demonstrates the versatility of manga-inspired
plots to transition from print to film in such a compelling way. NANA
was warmly received at its U.S. premiere at the 2007 New York Anime
Festival, and we look forward to audiences in Los Angeles and New York
enjoying the film.”

Theatre information:

LOS ANGELES
Press Screening: March 5, 2:00pm
Theatrical Screening: March 21-27
IMAGINASIAN CENTER
251 South Main Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1033

NEW YORK
Press Screening: March 19, 2:00pm
Theatrical Screening: April 4-10
IMAGINASIAN THEATRE
239 East 59th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Ave.)
New York 10022
(212) 371-6682

About VIZ Pictures, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese
live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii
(cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each release from
a J-pop fan's point of view to serve manga and anime generation in North
America. VIZ Pictures titles include TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO, LINDA
LINDA LINDA, THE TASTE OF TEA, and PING PONG. The company will continue
to offer the hottest visual entertainment straight from the "Kingdom of
Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is
an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S.
publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of
Japanese animation such as the popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.
© 2006 VIZ Pictures, Inc

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