VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER OF HOKAGE FOR A DAY CONTEST

NARUTO Fan Dinah Baergas Wins The Opportunity To Meet NARUTO Creator Masashi Kishimoto At The 2016 New York Comic Con

VIZ Media has announced the Grand Prize winner of its Hokage for a Day Promotion to celebrate NARUTO and the upcoming first-ever U.S. appearance by the manga series creator Masashi Kishimoto at the 2015 New York Comic Con (NYCC) in October. Over the past 6 weeks, NARUTO fans submitted one-minute YouTube video entries describing what NARUTO means to them.

Dinah Baergas of New York, NY submitted the winning video. She was inspired by NARUTO to pursue her passion for art and is now a student at Parsons. In addition, she is always taking action to improve her local community. Watch the winning video at: viz.com/hokage.

As the Grand Prize winner, Baergas will have the opportunity to meet NARUTO’s creator Masashi Kishimoto during NYCC, and also join in several of Kishimoto’s events during the show.

For her written entry that accompanied the video, Baregas wrote: “In 2005, I was introduced to a new type of character - the ever youthful Might Guy. I confused him for merely a role of comic relief, but later found he was a genuine though humanly flawed shinobi. My role model. Kishimoto's characters made me who I am today, and I only wish to be granted the opportunity to meet my hero, Kishimoto himself. If chosen, you can expect kid Guy to make a dynamic entry right into NYCC! Thank you for your consideration and for supporting the fans.”

VIZ Media and ReedPOP, in partnership with The Japan Foundation, will welcome Masashi Kishimoto for a very special series of personal appearances at the massive pop culture convention that will take place October 8^th-11^th at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. Full details on the show are available at: www.newyorkcomiccon.com.

VIZ Media New York Comic Con Masashi Kishimoto Panels & Special Events Include:

Thursday October 8^th

5:30PM – 6:30PM         VIZ Media Presents: An Evening with Masashi

                                      Kishimoto, Creator of NARUTO

(Main Stage 1-D)

The creator of the global phenomenon known as Naruto makes his first appearance outside Japan! The legendary Kishimoto Sensei will discuss his career and creative process and answer questions about his work. Attendees will also have a chance to win some very special prizes. This Panel of a lifetime is brought to you in partnership with the Japan Foundation.

Saturday October10^th

11:30AM – 2:00PM       VIZ Media Presents: BORUTO: NARUTO THE MOVIE

                                      Premiere

(Hammerstein Ballroom – 311 W. 43^th St.)

Masashi Kishimoto, creator of Naruto, makes his Executive Producer debut and will introduce the North American English-subtitled premiere of the most anticipated Naruto movie yet! Naruto Uzumaki protects the Hidden Leaf Village as the 7^th Hokage, while Boruto, his troublesome son resents his father's responsibilities that take his time away from him. Seeing this, Sasuke takes Boruto under his wing, while Sasuke's only daughter, Sarada, dreams of being Hokage one day. This Panel of a lifetime is brought to you in partnership with the Japan Foundation.

Come early - the first 100 attendees in line for BORUTO: NARUTO THE MOVIE will get to attend a special Saturday signing session at 10am with Masashi Kishimoto!

In addition, Kishimoto will participate in a pair of signing sessions and in-store appearances as part of New York Super Week. Full details are available at newyorksuperweek.com.

Additional information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at www.Naruto.com.

For more information on manga titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

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