Anyone think importing has hit a decline?

:smt023

Altered, as in TOTALLY in English, but with that "Japanese" layout. It took me ages to succumb to Japanese magazines, but now, I think they're far superior. I find it boring to be reading things in mere columns.

Anyways, Newtype (and a bunch of Jump stuff) is fully translated and available. Newtype even goes from right to left (which not even all Japanese mags do).

I can't speak for the UK (I assume since you went home for 2 months and didn't go through the reverse culture shock it's not as bad) but Japanese influence has definitely hit at some point within the last 7 years. You can even by translated mangas at Borders books.

Of course staying in Waikiki I hear more Japanese than I did in Shibuya.