Brian Ashcraft

Japanese Clothing Store Pulls Nazi Necklaces 

Japanese retailer Shimamura has stopped selling Nazi-style swastika pendants. For the time being, apparently. Yesterday, a Twitter user pointed out that the swastika pendant was being sold with a tank top for 980 yen ($8). The photo spread all over Japanese internet sites, appearing on 2ch, the country’s most popular bulletin board. According to Yahoo!…

Another Large Godzilla Appears in Tokyo, But It’s Made of Sand

This month, a large Godzilla sculpture appeared in Tokyo. It’s made of sand. Hope it doesn’t rain! This sand Godzilla sculpture popped up in Shinjuku Central Park. Earlier this year, another Godzilla appeared in Shinjuku, towering over the streets below. That statue is part of new Godzilla-themed hotel rooms. [Photo: KONFUNK] [Photo: maruzo0717] [Photo: maruzo0717]…

Mass Effect Makes for a Cool Custom Motorcycle

In South Korea, a blogger named Tipytipy recently uploaded photos of his bike. His Mass Effect themed one, that is. [Photo: TipyTipy] Via tipster Sang, the bike is an Aprilia RS4 125 with custom decals designed to make the motorcycle look like the Normandy SR-2, one of the Mass Effect starships. [Photo: TipyTipy] [Photo: TipyTipy]…

When GIFs Meet Traditional Japanese Art

Japanese prints come to life when they’re turned into GIFs. Website Spoon & Tamago reports that an animator who goes by the name Segawa 37 created an animated series of “floating world images” (ukiyo-e), uploading the GIFs to Twitter. Ukiyo-e was popular in Japan from the 17th through the 19th century. The prints feature some…

What’s Next for Naruto‘s Creator? A Sci-Fi Manga, Perhaps!

After Masahi Kishimoto finishedthe Naruto manga, he began work on a spin-off with the character’s son, Boruto. But, Kishimoto has already decided what he’s thinking about next. And he hopes it will be bigger than Naruto In a recent Japanese magazine interview (via Anime Matome), Kishimoto talked how he’s finished with the iconic manga and,…

Shinjuku. Tokyo, Japan. By Justin Epperson 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!

One Piece Rendered in Realistic 3D

You might have seen One Piece before, but you’ve probably never seen it like this. In the scene, we have Ace, Gold Roger, and Garp. Chinese artist Zhong Zhengxiang created the image, using tools like Maya, Mudbox, ZBrush, and Photoshop. It’s an original tableau, and on ZBrush Central, the artist explains what the work means:…

Track: You’re So Cool | Album: True Romance Soundtrack | Artist: Hans Zimmer Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

How To Make Incredible StarCraft Cosplay 

Back in 2013, Kotaku introduced a spectacular cosplay of StarCraft’s Kerrigan. This week, cosplayer Tasha shows how the costume was done. As pointed out by tipster Sang, Tasha recently documented the whole thing on her blog. It took four days to do the body alone and then another seven hours for makeup and to get…

The Official Metal Gear Timeline

Do you know where Metal Gear Solid falls in the chronology? What about Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker? Or Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake? For the past three decades (three decades!), the Metal Gear games haven’t been released in chronological order. For example, last year’s Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is set in 1975,…

SNK Playmore Wants To Turn Video Game Fans into Pachinko Fans

Pachinko is big business. But as SNK Playmore president Koichi Toyama explained, more Japanese in their twenties are less interested in pachinko. The solution? Turn gamers into pachinko players. Eh… SNK just unveiled a new pachinko-slot machine based on its 1989 arcade shooter Beast Busters to mark the game’s 25th anniversary. “Our mission as pachinko-slot…

Shrine Island. Itsukushima, Japan. By Daniel Venooker. 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: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence | Artist: Ryuichi Sakamoto | Album: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence Soundtrack Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

The Correct Way To Cut Attack on Titan Cake

The Attack on Titan live-action movie isn’t very good. That doesn’t mean it’s not making lots of money. Funny, that. Widely panned in Japan, the Attack on Titan movie has been racking up a decent enough box office—enough, at least, for a press conference to show gratitude for the movie’s “smash hit” status (as well…

Truly Awful-Sounding Tokyo Curry 

This is newly opened Curry Shop Shimizu. The establishment’s signature dish is served up in a squat toilet-shaped plate for good reason. According to the restaurant, the “unko curry” (poop curry) is made from “exceedingly healthy ingredients,” such as green tea, goya, and cocoa powder. The result is “awful-tasting curry.” It’s not actually made from…

Gundam Designer Creates a Mecha Inspired Car

Kunio Okawara is one of Japan’s most famous mecha designers. For years, he’s created iconic machines for Gundam anime. Now, he’s turning his talents to designing an electric car. The two-seater, named Ex Machina, was shown earlier this year at a retrospective of Okawara’s 40-year career. According to Okawara (via AmiAmi), the vehicle “should be…

Ramen in Shibuya. Tokyo, Japan. By Michael Shaffer 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: Main Theme | Artist: Toshiaki Tsushima | Album: Battles without Honor and Humanity Soundtrack Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Poll: What Japanese Gamers Want in the Final Fantasy VII Remake

So, they’re remaking Final Fantasy VII. It won’t be exactly the same and things will change. But what do you want in the game? Some Japanese gamers were asked just that. Note: The answer to this poll might contain spoilers if you’ve never played FFVII. According to My Navi, 444 of its readers were asked…

Phantasy Star Online 2 is coming to the PS4 next year in Japan. The PS4 version will be playable at next month’s Tokyo Game Show. The game was first released in Japan on PC back in 2012.