Brian Ashcraft

Arcade scrolling shooter Psyvariar is coming to the Nintendo Switch and PS4 in Japan as Psyvariar: Delta. According to Famitsu, the new release is based on a previous Psyvariar iteration and features improved graphics and new modes. No word on an international release.

Flipping Middle Fingers Becomes A Photo Trend Among Pop Team Epic Fans 

People in Japan have long known what flipping the bird means. But recently, it’s become more prevalent among Pop Team Epic fans. Of course, this doesn’t mean everyone is doing it. But fans are certainly striking “Pop Team Epic-style pose” (ポプテピピック風ポーズ or “Poptepipic-fuu poozu”) or simply “Pop Team Epic pose” (ポプテピピックのポーズ or “Poptepipic-fuu poozu”). While…

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is being turned into a stage production. Decants are scant, but it’s slated to debut in February 2019. Should be interesting to see how Gundam comes to life in the theater.

Dragon Heads. Nagasaki, Japan. By ShuYung Wu. 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: Cherub Rock | Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins | Album: Siamese Dream Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Kingdom Hearts III Features Retro Mini-Games

This weekend, Square Enix revealed that Kingdom Hearts III will feature playable retro-style mini-games. They include The Barnyard Battle, The Karnival Kid, Giantland and Musical Farmer. According to KH Insider, there will be over 20 in all.

This fall, the first Valkyria Chronicles is coming to Nintendo Switch in Japan via the Nintendo eShop. No word yet on an international release.

Frozen Coca-Cola Released In Japan

Summer is still a while away, but Coca-Cola is releasing “Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon” this week in Japan. It’s a Coke-flavored slushie style drink with, you guessed it, a twist of lemon. The drink comes in a squeezable pouch, and according to Entabe, it apparently took eight years to develop this product from conception. From the…

This weekend, Sega announced it was working on a brand new Sakura Wars game. Details are scant, but the game is set during a fictionalized Taisho Period in Tokyo and has the temporary title Shin Sakura Taisen (New Sakura Wars).

Grave Of The Fireflies‘ Movie Poster Has A Hidden (And Depressing) Secret 

Grave of the Fireflies is one of the saddest movies ever made. Decades after its original release, people have discovered a haunting, hidden image in the Japanese movie poster. Attention has been re-focused on Grave of the Fireflies after director Isao Takahata’s recent passing. Grave of the Fireflies is a 1988 Studio Ghibli movie about…

Always Remember Spring. Tokyo, Japan. By Nelson Diaz. 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: Ball and Chain | Artist: Social Distortion | Album: Social Distortion Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Promoting Avengers Reaches New Levels Of Annoying In Japan 

It often feels like the way movies are promoted in Japan are…peculiar. But Japanese moviegoers do complain about how posters are changed for their market. The same goes for commercials. Walt Disney Japan has released a series of ads for Avengers: Infinity War that awkwardly riff on Japanese internet culture. There are announcers saying “Very,…

Slowpoke Is Unexpectedly Fast When Crossing City Streets

Slowpoke is called that for a reason. It’s a slow Pokémon! Except when crossing the street, because then Slowpoke speeds up. This is how you imagine Slowpoke moving down the street. But that changes when the character crosses and intersection. All that running has to make Slowpoke tired. Kotaku East is your slice of Asian…

Looking Up. Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan. By Ben Wagner. 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: Kimino Mikata | Artist: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu | Album: Kimino Mikata (single) Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Sega Arcade Employee Admits To Making Up Robbery Story 

Yesterday, a 33-year-old employee at High-Tec Sega Kasai game center in Tokyo phoned the police, saying there was a robbery. The man later admitted this was a lie. According to Sankei Shimbun, the Sega arcade employee told the police, “A group of three men broke into the office and stole 2 million yen.” (That’s $18,721.)…

Japan Is Getting Two Cowboy Bebop Cafes

Cowboy Bebop is coming back! In cafe form, that is. This May, Cowboy Bebop cafes will open for a limited time in Tokyo and Osaka. The original Cowboy Bebop manga ran from 1997 to 1998, and the anime was broadcasted in 1998. It’s great. According to Anime Anime, the Cowboy Bebop Cafe will open May…

Yokai Watch 4 has been announced for Nintendo Switch in Japan. The game features a new hero and is slated for a summer release. No word yet on an international release.

If You Still Miss Dragon Ball Super, You Are Not Alone

It was a weekly ritual. Every Sunday morning in Japan, a new Dragon Ball Super episode would air. Not anymore. Now, it’s the latest GeGeGe no Kitaro series, but some fans still miss Dragon Ball Super. Do you? I know I do! My kids miss it, too, and so do these fans: But on the…