Actress Shinobu Otake is the latest celebrity to sign a contract with Avex's management agency. Since its establishment last June, the agency has attracted major talents such as Koyuki, Saki Takaoka, and Shido Nakamura.

Otake will leave her current management, SIS Company, at the end of February and will officially begin her contract with Avex on April 1. She apparently has hopes of advancing her career to an international level.

Anime Matsuri has announced that the band NIRGILIS will attend this year's convention as a musical guest, joining Bespa Kumamero and Aural Vampire. NIRGILIS has done theme songs for "Eureka Seven" and "D.Gray-man."

Anime Matsuri is being held on March 21-23 in Houston, Texas.

Management company FREE-WILL, which handles bands such as Dir en grey, has announced a rock event called Clash Against Commercialism. The concert will be held on April 6 at the Nokia Theatre Times Square in New York.

So far, the line-up includes 12012, ANTI FEMINISM, RENTRER EN SOI, and the studs. The event's official MySpace page suggests that more artists will be added.

Tickets go on sale today, January 25.