Viz Pictures has announced North American screenings of Ping Pong, a live action sports comedy directed by Fumihiko Sori.  Ping Pong is based on the five-volume manga by Taiyo Matsumoto (Black & White, No. 5, Blue Spring) and will be shown in New York, Chicago and Seattle in April and May.

Sori strived to capture the visual style of the manga in the film, which received eight nominations for the Japanese Academy Awards in 2003 and actor Shido Nakamura won the 'Newcomer of the Year Award' for his role as rival to the two table tennis-loving main characters.

Screenings:

New York--The Imaginasian

April 6-April 12, 2007

Chicago--Facets Cinematheque

April 27-May 3, 2007

Seattle--Grand Illusion Cinema

May 25-May 31, 2007

No information about the DVD release has been announced.