Viz Media Ponders Integrity & Honesty in New Manga Itsuwaribito

A Delinquent Orphan Raised By A Monk Decides To Tell Only “Good” Lies To Help People

San Francisco, CA, December 8, 2010 – Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will release creator Yuuki Iinuma's manga (graphic novel) series ITSUWARIBITO on December 14th. The new series will be published under the company's Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry and MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Utsuho's truthfulness as a child resulted in an enormous catastrophe, and he decided to lie from that day forward. Raised in a village of orphans by a monk, Utsuho is an unrepentant troublemaker. The monk eventually inspires him to help people, but there's no way Utsuho's going to lead an honest life! Instead, he's going to use his talents for mischief and deception for good!

“Creator Yuuki Iinuma uses the dichotomy of integrity and lying as the basis for an interesting new story that ponders if honesty is indeed the best policy,” says Carrie Shepherd, Managing Editor. “An Itsuwaribito is an expert at sneaking, trickery, and theft. In the series, Utsuho vows to tell lies, but only 'good lies,' that help people. He fights evil with methods typically thought of as immoral, with lots of intense action along the way. We hope readers will contemplate whether the end truly justifies the means in this engaging new series from Shonen Sunday!”

For more information on ITSUWARIBITO or other Viz Media Shonen Sunday titles, please visit: www.ShonenSunday.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 (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 the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, 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 website at www.VIZ.com.