VIZ PICTURES DEBUTS NEW SLAPSTICK GEISHA COMEDY MAIKO HAAAAN!!! ON DVD

Company Also Launches Special Giveaway Promotion To Coincide With Release Of Hilarious New Film About Japanese Culture And The Mysterious Geisha World

San Francisco, CA, June 20, 2008 – VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the DVD release on June 24 of MAIKO HAAAAN!!!, a zany romantic slapstick comedy, directed by Nobuo Mizuta, about a nerdy Japanese office worker and his obsession with the little-seen Maiko (apprentice Geisha) world. MAIKO HAAAAN!!! features English subtitles, and will be distributed by VIZ Media with an anticipated retail price of $24.98. A dedicated web site is also available at www.maikothemovie.com.

VIZ Pictures has also announced a special giveaway promotion to coincide with the DVD release. Fans are encouraged to go to www.maikothemovie.com and enter the contest before June 24. Ten random winners will be selected to receive a special MAIKO HAAAAN!!! movie package that includes the DVD, poster, Japanese style geisha fan and a wallet keychain.

From acclaimed screenwriter Kankuro Kudo of PING PONG, Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims and Takashi Miike's Zebraman, MAIKO HAAAAN!!! is a slapstick comedy with an energetic twist of manic Japanese humor that centers on a geeky salary man named Kimihiko Onizuka (Sadawo Abe, from KAMIKAZE GIRLS) who dumps his girlfriend because he believes he can only fall in love with an apprentice Geisha, otherwise known as a 'Maiko.’ He decides to pursue his dream of courting a real Maiko in Kyoto. The lavish and private Maiko Houses become a social barrier partly caused by a rival who is actually also a millionaire baseball player (Shinichi Tsutsumi). But Kimihiko remains undaunted and embarks on a wild journey using some outlandish premises to gain entry to the Geisha inner sanctum. Meanwhile, Kimihiko’s girlfriend (Kou Shibasaki) tries to win him back by leaving Tokyo to become a Maiko herself.

“Kankuro Kudo is a multi-talented creative force in Japan, winning critical acclaim as a comedian, musician, screenwriter, radio DJ and actor in addition to his talents as a film director,” says Manami Iiboshi, Director, Marketing, VIZ Pictures “His delightful new comedy, MAIKO HAAAAN!!!, puts a funny slant on the austere and seldom-seen world of geishas and audiences will delight in the outrageous events that transpire as one man takes his geisha fetish to a hilarious extreme. Domestic interest in Japanese cinema continues to grow, partly as a complement to the success of manga and anime, but it’s also gaining popularity with decidedly mainstream audiences drawn to the unique stories and characters these films present. As this interest grows, we invite everyone to enter a special MAIKO HAAAAN!!! giveaway and receive the VIZ Pictures newsletter which will give timely updates on new and upcoming releases and the latest in Japanese cinema!”

For more information on VIZ Pictures please visit: www.viz-pictures.com. For more information on other DVDs distributed by VIZ Media please go to www.viz.com.

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. For more information please visit www.viz-pictures.com. © 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 (graphic novel) 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; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.