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Kotaku EastJapanWith Japan Closed To Tourists, Empty Buildings In Akihabara Are Increasing
With Tokyo still under state of emergency orders due to covid-19, and the country closed to tourists, businesses relying on visitors have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. As John Daub from the Only In Japan YouTube channel points out, “Akihabara is one of the places that has changed the most over the last…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 8, 2021 -
AnimeLet’s Compare Tough Anime Dudes To Their Live-Action Movie Versions
One of the fascinating things about live-action adaptations is comparing how the actors bring the animated characters to life. So, with the upcoming Tokyo Revengers movie, let’s do just that! What can make live-action anime or manga adaptations so difficult is the ensuing film can look like people playing dress-up instead of embodying the characters…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 8, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanFighting Game Legend Tokido Appears In BMW Ad In Japan
Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi isn’t only one of the greatest Street Fighter players ever, he would also like to tell you about the BMW 2 Series. Tokido was recently featured in a short Japanese TV segment called Go Next, which is sponsored by the German car company. In the program he talks about how there was…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 7, 2021 -
CulturePokemonLogan Paul Wore A Pokémon Card To Mayweather Fight, Says It’s Now Worth A Million Dollars
There wasn’t a knockout in tonight’s Logan Paul versus Floyd Mayweather exhibition fight. One clear winner did emerge: Pokémon card collectors, Paul included. When the YouTuber entered the ring, he wore a Charizard card around his neck the way other fighters would wear gold and diamonds. The card is a first edition, gem mint 10-graded…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 7, 2021 -
AnimeEvangelion Teams Up With Japanese Sake Maker To Recreate Misato’s Apartment
If you’ve seen Evangelion, then you’ve watched Misato Katsuragi drink at home. Her beer of choice? Ebisu. Her sake? Dassai. This is not cheap sake and underscores the fact that Misato takes her drinking seriously. Plus, as evident in the anime, Misato has a wide variety of different Dassai releases—not just the brewery’s standard stuff,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 6, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanCar Crashes Into Japanese Arcade, Thankfully No One Was Hurt
Last week in Hiroshima, a sedan plowed into an arcade at a little after 9 pm, knocking over a row of bicycles and smashing through glass. The game center was still in operation, and fortunately, no one in the car or arcade was hurt In the above image from FNN, you can see the car…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 6, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapan18-Year-old Artist Draws Incredible Portraits On Her Smartphone
Mejiro, an 18-year-old artist in Japan, was recently featured on the country’s national TV news for art she draws on her smartphone. “I drew this on my smartphone,” she said, holding up a portrait on her phone. Mejiro doesn’t use a stylus, but her finger as she draws directly on the screen. Her illustration app…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 6, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanCup Noodle Will No Longer Have Stickers Close The Lids
If you’ve ever bought Cup Noodle in Japan, you are familiar with the plastic sticker that’s used to close the lid after hot water is added. In Japanese, that sticker is called futa-dome shiiru (フタ止めシール) or “lid-stopping sticker” or better yet, “lid-fastening sticker.” Nissin, the company that makes Cup Ramen, will no longer use them…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 4, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanLife-Sized Slowpoke Plushie Going On Sale In Japan
Priced at 49,500 yen ($450), a life-sized Slowpoke will be available for pre-order later this month. Who wouldn’t want that? This is a Pocket Monster with its own messed-up theme song, postal truck, and mailbox. Everyone loves Slowpoke. As the official Japanese site explains, the plushie measures 25 inches high, 29.5 inches across, and 59…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 4, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanTaito Releasing Mini Arcade Cabinet Filled With 40 Games
Taito have unveiled a new mini arcade cabinet called the Egret II Mini, designed after Taito’s 1996 Japanese full-size cabinet. The mini version is packed with 40 games, dating from 1978’s Space Invaders to arcade titles from the 1990s. Have a look below at the games that have been announced so far. Ten more games…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 4, 2021 -
CulturePokemonProfessional Photographer Takes Excellent New Pokémon Snap Pictures
New Pokémon Snap is about a Pokémon photographer who takes photos of Pocket Monsters. But what happens with a real pro turns his or her eye on the game? Ayato is a professional photographer who shoots for Red Bull in Japan as well as D. League, a professional dance league. Recently on Twitter, he’s been…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 3, 2021 -
Kotaku EastBukkake Noodles Get A Safe For Work Name In The U.S.
In Japan, bukkake udon is a traditional noodle dish that’s especially popular in the summertime. The word “bukkake” refers to the “splashing” of the savory broth. Yes, it also means something else. (In the above photo, broth has yet to be added to the noodle dish. You can see how the noodles were made here.)…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 3, 2021
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