VIZ MEDIA AT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER
FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
PARTICIPATING IN THE JAPAN! CULTURE
+ HYPER CULTURE EXHIBIT
SPOTLIGHTING JAPANESE ART AND POP CULTURE

Visitors Invited To The VIZ Media Manga Café And Lounge To Sample An
Array Of Animation And Manga

San Francisco, CA, February 5, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of
the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive
publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced its
participation in JAPAN! CULTURE+ HYPER CULTURE, an exhibit taking place
February 5-17 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in
Washington, D.C. The dynamic exhibit brings together more than 450
artists, 40 performances, and more than a dozen free events to showcase
the best in Japanese theater and dance, music and fashion, architecture
and sculpture, poetry and literature, photography and film.

Throughout the exhibit, VIZ Media will welcome visitors to a special
Manga Café and Reading Lounge. A selection of some of the hottest manga
(graphic novel) series sweeping Japan and North America will be on
display for exhibit-goers to read for free amidst an area adorned with
related posters, signage and a display of vintage Japanese robot toys.
Popular manga series such as BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, NARUTO, INUYASHA,
HIKARU NO GO, and more will all be represented, along with screenings of
VIZ Media's most popular anime trailers. Manga author Robin Nishi will
also be on-hand to capture festival happenings in a daily drawing and
free workshop. This is an ideal opportunity for exhibit-goers to immerse
themselves in one of the most popular forms of Japanese pop-culture that
has now spread into a global phenomenon. More information on VIZ Media
is available at www.viz.com.

More information on the VIZ Media Manga Café and Reading Room is
available at:
http://www.kennedycenter.org/programs/festivals/0708/japan/events.cfm?genre_pick=FLM

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is America's living
memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Since opening in 1971, The John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has continued its efforts to
fulfill his vision—presenting the greatest performers and performances
from across America and around the world, nurturing new works and young
artists, and serving the nation as a leader in arts education. Located
in Washington, DC, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
presents an unmatched variety of theater, musicals, dance, ballet,
orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular, and folk music, and multi-media
performances for all ages and is one of the nation's busiest arts
facilities, presenting more than 2,000 performances each year. For more
information on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is
available at http://www.kennedy-center.org/.
Other notable exhibit components that serve as an ideal complement to
the Manga Café and Reading Lounge will be Robotopia Rising, a mechanized
extravaganza that highlights the science and culture of Japanese
robotics. The Genius Party Premieres will showcase a series of original
films by Japan's top anime talents, who were each selected by Director
and Genius Party Executive Producer Eiko Tanaka to create their dream
projects, and a marathon of anime premieres is also scheduled to screen
three new anime features.

More information on the Festival is available at:
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/festivals/07-08/japan/learn.cfm

“VIZ Media is honored to join with such a talented and future-inspired
group of artists for this unique exhibit at the famous The John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” states Liza Coppola, Sr. Vice
President, Marketing, VIZ Media. “Manga has become the epitome of modern
pop culture and its influence is readily seen in fashion, video games,
animation, live action film and modern youth culture. With roots in both
Japan and America, VIZ Media has served as a direct conduit for Japanese
pop culture for over twenty years. We look forward to everyone exploring
this unique exhibit."

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 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 and 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.