Brian Ashcraft

Track: Shin Takara Jima | Artist: Sakanaction | Album: Shin Takara Jima (single) Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Next year, Comic Con is coming to…Japan. Today at an event with Steve Wozniak (yes, Steve Wozniak) the dates were announced: Comic Con Tokyo will be held December 3 and 4, 2016 at the Makuhari Messe, which is in Chiba, not Tokyo.

Hooters and Namco Are Opening a New Arcade in Tokyo

This month in Tokyo’s Shibuya, Namco is bringing its gaming know-how to a new gaming establishment with Hooters. It’s called “Gaming Barside-B,” and according to Famitsu, this is an “interactive sports bar” that was designed in New York’s image. The establishment appears to have a couple kinds of cabinets, such as Namco’s Star Wars arcade…

Here’s a Pikachu Plush Toy for $360

German toy maker Steiff is churning out a special, high-quality Pikachu plush at a special, high-quality price. Cheaper than the Godzilla plush Steiff made last year, the Pikachu is priced at 45,000 yen (US$367). Steiff sold the world’s first teddy bear and its master artisans craft all its plush toys by hand. [Image: Steiff |…

Mt. Fuji. Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. By Sylvain Hamann 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!

Thank Namco for the Cola-Flavored Potato Chips

Thanks, Namco! I guess… The famed game maker has teamed up with Japanese snack maker Calbee for cola-flavored potato chips. The bags actually state that Namco produced these chips! According to 4Gamer, the chips were a joint creation between both companies, taking eight months of development. [Photo: 4Gamer] These chips will not be available in…

A Konami PR Person Just Got a Metal Gear Solid V Award Instead of Hideo Kojima

Tonight in Tokyo, Sony held its annual PlayStation Awards ceremony. Some of gaming’s most famous game developers gathered on stage to get awards for their games. Hideo Kojima did not. Maybe he was on vacation? Or maybehe’s attending The Game Awards in Los Angeles? Who knows. According to Yahoo! News Japan and Game Watch Impress,…

The Most Eagerly Anticipated Anime of Winter 2016

Time to get ready—and excited—for a new anime season. You might know what you are excited to see, but here’s what anime fans in Japan are looking forward to watching. Website Charapedia polled 10,000 anime fans in Japan, asking them which show they were more looking forward to. Out of that sample, 47.4 percent were…

This Gintama Dessert Sure Looks Like a Dick

If you think this looks like a penis, you are not alone. Gintama character Shinpachi did, too. In Gintama’s 38th episode, the characters built this snow penis sculpture, which most of the characters recognized as the legendary weapon called the Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon. Save for samurai-in-training Shinpachi who thought it looked obscene.…

King Kong at Family Mart. Tokyo, Japan. By Aaron Cuellar. 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!

Why Goku Looks ‘Uncool’ in Dragon Ball Super

It’s natural that anime characters change over time. Sometimes for the better, and other times for anything but. Over on 2ch, one commenter uploaded an image showing how Dragon Ball’s Goku now looks “dorkier” compared to his appearance in the past. [Image via 2ch] Hey, this is understandable! Goku is older. Age gets the best…

Track: Daddy | Artist: PSY | Album: The 7th Album Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Konami’s Pop’n Music Sure Looks…Different

Back in 1998, Konami released rhythm game Pop’n Music in Japan. The cabinets featured big colorful buttons, and the game had cute mascot characters that have roughly looked the same. Not anymore! The two mascot characters are Mimi, a bunny, and her best friend Nyami, a cat. The art style for both has been rather…

Nintendo’s Not So Subtle Hint to Buy New Hardware for Monster Hunter X

In Japan, Monster Hunter X is out, and it’s, as expected, a smash hit. No doubt Nintendo hopes people will buy more than the game. The Kyoto-based game company released a speed comparison between the Nintendo 3DS and the New Nintendo 3DS. You can play the game on either version of the hardware, but the…

Danganronpa is getting a new anime series. It’s called Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen and will air next year in Japan.

Mount Koya. Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. By izrofel 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!

This Could Be Japan’s Best Ramen Restaurant

It might even be the best on Earth, if you believe the Michelin restaurant guide, which awarded a single star to Tokyo ramen establishment Tsuta. This is a world’s first. This is a big deal—especially if you are into ramen. The announcement made the evening news in Japan. No other ramen restaurant anywhere in the…

The release date for Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness has changed in Japan. It was slated for February 25, 2016, but has been moved to March 31. The reason given is that more time is needed for quality reasons. The game doesn’t yet have an international release date.

Anime Character Leads to Poster Controversy in Japan

The city of Minokamo in Gifu Prefecture, Japan thought it would be a good idea to try to boost tourism with anime posters. One in particular, however, will not be used. The poster in question features a character named Kocho Yoshida (above) from the anime and manga No-Rin. Originally a light novel, No-Rin is a…

Japanese-Style Star Wars Art Shown at Buddhist Temple 

One of Kyoto’s most famous temples Kiyomizu-dera is a must see if you visit Japan. But if you’re in Japan this December, you can check out something rather unique at this World Heritage site: Star Wars art. Like the Mario and Luigi painting unveiled earlier this year, this is a Rimpa-style Force Awakens screen painting…