Publishing giants Kodansha and Akita Shoten announced on Wednesday that they formed a partnership through their domestic and overseas copyright business.

Within the partnership, Akita Shoten will consign part of its copyright business operations - including manga - to Kodansha. Akita Shoten intends to take advantage of Kodansha's market expertise to expand its anime and drama adaptations amongst other copyright business, including expansion into overseas markets.

The first public display of their partnership will be at Germany's Frankfurt Book Fair 2009 (October 14th-18th), where their booth will showcase both Akita Shoten and Kodansha works.

Akita Shoten's manga titles include: Alien Nine Baki Battle Royale Black Jack Blue Drop ~Tenshi no Bokura~ Crows Cutey Honey Cyborg 009 Demon City Shinjuku Densha Otoko El Cazador de la Burja Hanaukyo Maid Team Ikebukuro West Gate Park Iron Wok Jan Jingi Koi Koi Seven Kurogane no Linebarrels My-Hime Ogenki Clinic Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Mei? Shinwa Scryed Seikon no Qwaser Space Pirate Captain Harlock Sundome Tetsujin 28 Gou Triton of the Sea Uch? Senkan Yamato Vampire Princess Miyu

• Alien Nine
• Baki
• Battle Royale
• Black Jack
• Blue Drop ~Tenshi no Bokura
• Crows
• Cutey Honey
• Cyborg 009
• Demon City Shinjuku
• Densha Otoko (Train Man)
• El Cazador de la Bruja
• Hanaukyo Maid Team
• Ikebukuro West Gate Park
• Iron Wok Jan
• Jingi
• Koi Koi Seven
• Kurogane no Linebarrels
• My-HiMe
• Ogenki Clinic
• Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meiou Shinwa
• s-CRY-ed
• Seikon no Qwaser
• Space Pirate Captain Harlock
• Sundome
• Tetsujin 28 Gou
• Triton of the Sea
• Uchuu Senkan Yamato
• Vampire Princess Miyu