Brian Ashcraft

Track: Lost in the Supermarket | Artist: The Clash | Album: London Calling  Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment. 

Ronald McDonald’s Name Is Slightly Different In Japan

One of the world’s most famous corporate mascots has a slightly different name in Japan, where Ronald McDonald is known as Donald McDonald. In Japanese, the character’s name is written as ドナルド・マクドナルド (Donarudo Makudonarudo). Similarly, the McDonald’s backed charity is locally known as the Donald McDonald House. The burger chain first came to Japan in…

The Shirobako movie will open in Japan in spring 2020. The original manga and anime adaptation, both which were a behind-the-scenes look at the anime industry, debuted in 2014. P.A.Works, which handled the TV anime, is also doing the feature film. No word yet about an international release.  

The Curse Of The Yakuza Games

The Yakuza games and their spin-offs have long starred some of Japan’s biggest celebrities. Now that some of those celebs have ended up in trouble, there are rumblings of a Yakuza curse. Dun dun dun. Earlier this year, actor and musician Pierre Taki, who appeared in the Yakuza spin-off Judgment, was picked up on drug…

Tako Tako Osaka, Japan. By Brian Ashcraft | Twitter JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Track: Hunger Strike | Artist: Temple of the Dog | Album: Temple of the Dog Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment. 

Super Mario Maker 2 Creation Tips From A Nintendo Icon And A Level Design Guru

Need advice for Super Mario Maker 2? The game’s producer Takashi Tezuka has five helpful tips, and Chris Totten, the author of An Architectural Approach to Level Design, has ten more. Here are Tezuka’s tips, straight from the guy who produced Super Mario Maker 2 as well as had a hand in so many iconic…

Dotombori. Osaka, Japan. By Jeremy Weiss. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Track: Zensen | Artist: Ai Higuchi | Album: Zensen  Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment. 

The New Sailor Moon Anime Movie Looks To Please Fans

If you like the way the original Sailor Moon and Sailor Moon R anime looked, then you’ll probably dig Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie As Kai-You reports, Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi is overseeing the upcoming movie, while Kazuko Tadano, who was the character designer for the anime’s first two seasons, is returning as character…

Attack On Titan‘s Final Season Is Coming In Fall 2020

The final season of the Attack on Titan anime will premiere in fall 2020. A short teaser announcing the news has been released. In it, Mikasa is heard saying, “Eren, please, come back.” Attack on Titan debuted as a manga back in 2009. The first season of its anime adaptation premiered in April 2013. Next year…

Late Night Eats. Osaka, Japan. By Timothy Shill. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Track: You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Rock and Roll Circus) | Artist: The Rolling Stones | Album: The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment. 

How to Draw Detailed Buildings

Artist Thomas Romain is one of the few foreigners working in the anime industry in Japan. He’s done art direction on Symphogear and recently designed the mecha for Space Dandy. Today, he’s going to give us building drawing tips. Thanks, Thomas! Via his Twitter page (follow here, if you like), Romain was kind enough to…

Shinjuku. Tokyo, Japan. By Brian Ashcraft | Twitter JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Bandai Namco Announces New Action RPG Called Blue Protocol

Bandai Namco is developing a new online action role-playing game for PC. It’s called Blue Protocol, and right above is a currently-in-development screenshot. Via the official release, the game’s official English description is: The world is on the brink of devastation, now is the time to unite. March on with friends and strangers, and defeat…

Track: Vilia (Take 3) | Artist: John Coltrane | Album: Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment. 

Life In An Iconic Tokyo Building

This is Nakagin Capsule Tower. Built in 1972, it was designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa and a prime example of the Japanese architectural movement known as Metabolism, in which the concept was to design buildings that are organic and not static, making them reminiscent of living beings. The Nakagin Capsule Tower consists of a series…

Track: Manic Monday | Artist: Prince | Album: Originals Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment. 

One Punch Man is getting a fighting game. Titled One Punch Man A Hero Nobody Knows, it’s slated for PS4 and Xbox One. The Japanese release date is TBA, and the game has yet to announced for outside Japan.