Brian Ashcraft

A Solitary Box Of Shame For Smokers 

Smoking breaks seem like a good time, no? Well, that is, if you smoke. It’s a moment to step away from work, chat with others, and relax. This new Japanese smoking box looks like no fun at all.  In Japan, there are in-door smoking compartments with filters, but at most offices, when people want to…

Once Again, Japan Lines Up For The PlayStation VR

Today, the PlayStation VR went on sale. Earlier this summer when pre-orders got underway in Japan, folks lined up. And today? Those without them did exactly the same thing.  Japanese retailers only got a limited number of units for those who didn’t pre-order, so at many large shops, people actually had to line up for…

E-sports will soon be a college major in China, reports The Nanfang. Last month, China’s Ministry of Education announced that students could earn degrees in “Competitive Video Games,” and the first e-sports class will be taught next year at Hunan Sports Vocational College.

Namco’s Schoolgirl VR Game Gets Inevitable Erotic Game Knock Off

Of course it did. Of course.  In Namco’s PlayStation VR title Summer Lesson, you interact with a schoolgirl as her summer tutor. The 12-years-old-and-up rated title is not an adults-only game. VR Kanojo, however, is.  The folks at adult PC game company Illusion are releasing a VR demo called VR Kanojo (VR Girlfriend) that looks…

Gamla Stan. Stockholm, Sweden. By Ray Ivey. 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: Waterfall (Demo) | Album: The Stone Roses 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition | Artist: The Stone Roses  Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

How Japan Made a Digital Godzilla 

Godzilla Resurgence, its first made-in-Japan ‘Zilla film in twelve years. The latest entry is a smash hit in Japan. While I had mixed feelings about it, the digital effects work extremely well. While Hollywood has used computer graphics on both its Godzilla movies, Japan has used a suit actor right up until Godzilla: Final Wars…

Studio Ghibli Color Designer Michiyo Yasuda Has Died

One of the most memorable, evocative features of Studio Ghibli films is their use of color. The woman responsible for that has passed away. She was 77. Michiyo Yasuda collaborated with Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata long before they established Studio Ghibli, working on films like 1972’s Panda! Go, Panda! and as a color designer…

Meme Alert! Anime Inspires Chest-Balancing Challenge 

In Getsuyoubi no Tawawa (Tawawa on Monday), the heroine Ai-chan is able to balance her phone on her chest. Now, women and men online are seeing if they can do it, too.  The meme, it seems, started in South Korea, but now Japanese Twitter users are also uploading their efforts. The hashtags for this meme…

From the Park Hyatt. Tokyo, Japan. By John Cipriani. 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: Bonnie And Clyde | Album: Initials B.B. | Artists: Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

“Die For One Piece,” Says Creator Eiichiro Oda

One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has a crazy work schedule. He barely sleeps. Most of his day is spent doing the manga, so if you are going to work with him, he wants you to be willing to die for it. In an One Piece Gold interview uploaded by 2ch, former One Piece manga editor…

Starting October 14, totally official Persona 5 food and drinks are coming to Tokyo’s Shibuya. Here’s a look at what will be on the menu. The Los Cabos restaurant in Shibuya is doing a promotion for the game, and it runs until November 23. Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you…

Leap. Indian Ocean off the coast of Busselton, Western Australia. By Charlez Chong. 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! 

Boom Boom Satellites Singer Michiyuki Kawashima Has Died 

Michiyuki Kawashima, who sang and played guitar for Boom Boom Satellites, passed away on October 9. He was 47 years old. According to the band’s official Facebook page, Kawashima died of a brain tumor. The wake and funeral will be private, but there will be a farewell event for fans at a later date. In…

Track: Sakura Drops | Artist: Utada Hikaru | Album: Sakura Drops/Letters Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Dragon Ball Super Gets Another New Form 

Dragon Ball Super is getting super good and super bonkers. Case in point? The most recent episode. Note: This article contains spoilers. The latest episode did reveal that Black Goku is really Zamasu, while the other Zamasu is from a different timeline. While this episode has a fight that is totally insane, for Trunks fans,…

Your Fall 2016 Anime Guide [Update]

The leaves are changing colors and the weather is cooling down. You can smell it in the air. It’s fall. And you know what the means? New anime. This month a slew of new shows are debuting. Here’s a massive list of what is coming out so you can figure out what you want to…

Dragon Ball‘s Goku Voice Actress Makes It Look So Easy 

It will never cease being amazing to see Masako Nozawa do the original Japanese voices of Goku, Gohan, and Goten.  The 79-year-old began voicing Goku when the Dragon Ball anime started in 1986 and has been involved with the franchise ever since then, voicing a whole host of characters throughout the different series. She’s also…

Bleach Logo Reworked By Japanese Sex Industry

If “Bleach” isn’t a very good name for this kind of business, then how about “Burning”? As spotted on 2ch, the above establishment has reworked the Bleach logo and name. In case you have forgotten what the Bleach logo looks like: And the “Burning” one: 2ch commenters confirmed that, yes, this was a fuzoku establishment…