Brian Ashcraft

A Look Inside Japan’s Reptile Cafes

So far, Kotaku has introduced an array of animal cafes in Japan: cat cafes, black cat cafes, owl cafes, bunny cafes, squirrel gardens and even penguin bars. Now, check out the country’s reptile cafes. In Japan, there isn’t simply one reptile cafe. There are several, such as the Yokohama Subtropic Teahouse in, well, Yokohama, Reptile…

Terrifyingly Large Insect Found in China

No, I wasn’t planning on sleeping tonight anyway. Or the rest of this month, for that matter. Earlier this month in Sichuan, China, the Insect Museum of West China went on an expedition and found the largest dobsonfly of its kind, Xinhua reports. Look at those mandibles. They are pure nightmare fuel. If you are…

Yokai Watch Used to Score Sex, Says Dubious Magazine

Let me say that I don’t believe the suspect magazine article in question. However, I do think that this is a rather interesting, if not totally unfortunate, example of just how popular Yokai Watch has become in Japan. Note: This article contains content some readers might find objectionable. Earlier this year, Kotaku first reported that…

What Pikachu Food Really Looks Like

This weekend in Tokyo, the Pikachu the Movie XY Exhibit opened in Roppongi Hills along with the Pikachu Cafe. Visitors got a hands-on look at the Pokémon movies as well as a chance to scarf down Pikachu burgers. Let’s have a look at the festivities! According to some Twitter users, those hoping to eat at…

Studio Ghibli Might Quit Making Feature Films, Says Report

This summer, there’s a new Studio Ghibli movie. According to one reported insider, it could be Ghibli’s last. Studio Ghibli is best known for iconic anime like My Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Last year, the creator of many of Ghibli’s best known works, Hayao Miyazaki, retired from making feature…

As Far As Shower Scenes Go, This Is Pretty Funny

Hot and steamy. Usually shower scenes are sexy. Screw that! This one is unintentionally different. Just look at the water shooting off those fake eyelashes. The above images are from drama After Aura (光環之后) from popular Chinese internet company Letv.com. The dramas the company shows are rather slick, and After Aura is an over-the-top potboiler.…

Let’s See How Cosplayers Compare To the Characters They Love

Cosplay is about love—love of a particular work or love of a specific character. Recently on Twitter in Japan, cosplayers have been comparing their cosplay pics with the original source material they brought to life. As noted on Ameba News, cosplayers have been using the hashtag #原作の隣に自分のコスを貼る, which translates to “Putting my cosplay next to…

The Wii U Will Take Digital Money in Japan

Starting July 22, Wii U owners in Japan can use digital money cards to buy stuff through the Nintendo eShop. According to Nintendo, the digital money cards that can be used include Suica, Pasmo, Kitaca, Toica, Manaca, Icoca, Sugoca, Minoca, and Hayakaken. These cards are embedded with IC chips and are typically used to buy…

This Tokyo Apartment Building Is Named “Phil Collins”

Not only is the apartment building named after the British pop star, but even its sign looks like Phil’s autograph. Spotted by @ MartinTokyo, @IanFMartin and @sandrajapandra (via Buzzfeed), the building is officially called Phil Collins Musashino (フィルコリンズ武蔵野), with Musashino being the area of Tokyo where it’s located. A Phil Collins apartment! That’s kind of…

The Fart Cannon Is a Lethal Weapon

Have you ever wanted to launch a fart at someone? No? Well, a young gentleman named ARuFa has. And he made that dream a reality. Note: This article contains content some readers might find objectionable. Over on Japanese comedy site Omotopia (via Neatorama), ARuFa demonstrates how how he created a fart cannon, using a cardboard…

Japanese Actor Refused To Pronounce “Godzilla” in English

In English, Godzilla is said as, well, “Godzilla.” But in Japanese, it’s said (and written) different: “Gojira” (ゴジラ). According to actor Ken Watanabe, who appeared in the latest Hollywood version, he was asked to pronounce the word in English—or, at least, somewhat like it’s said English. “I was told by the director to pronounce it…

This Might Be the Best Trollface of 2014

It’s July. We’re at the halfway point. I know. But it’s really going to be difficult to top Japanese flyweight Takuya Eizumi‘s trollface for this year’s best. As first noted by website Cage Potato and r/MMA, Eizumi unleashed this epic trollface after winning at a hybrid wrestling Pancrase 259 match last month in Japan. The…

Psychoanalyzing Two of Japan’s Greatest Anime Creators

Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli fame. Yoshiyuki Tomino of Gundam fame. Both are two of Japan’s most famous anime creators. And psychiatrist Tamaki Saito gives his professional opinion on what makes both men tick. Saito is also the author of Beautiful Fighting Girl and helped popularize the idea of hikikomori, an acute type of social…

Nippon Ichi Software has a teaser site for a “new title.” Wonder what it is… “New,” apparently!

Korean Street Explodes, Flips Car Like a Toy

The above footage is not from a movie or a TV drama. It’s real. And thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. Earlier this week in Seoul, South Korea, a water pipeline exploded, flipping a taxi into the air. NHKreports that the 56 year-old driver behind the wheel was not seriously injured. Below, you can see…

The Wii U Is Getting One Scary-Looking Game

If you like frightening games, good news. Here is the first trailer for the upcoming Fatal Frame game for the Wii U. Long-time fans of the Fatal Frame series know that these are some of the scariest games you can play. Fatal Frame: The Black-Haired Shrine Maiden will use the GamePad to see spirits that…

Japanese Schoolgirl Ninja Jumping Off Buildings

It’s summer in Japan. Students are starting to get out for vacation. Maybe they can spend their free time chasing each other around and jumping off rooftops. This video (well, ad) was shot in the idyllic city of Atami—apparently on a smartphone—as the two kids chase each other around, using ninja tricks like makibishi and…

Don’t Worry, Japanese Rice Paddy Art Is Still Incredible

Last summer, Kotaku introduced some of Japan’s amazing rice paddy art. And this summer? More amazing rice paddy art. As mentioned before, dyes are not used to create “tanbo art” (田んぼアート) or “rice paddy art.” Farmers and volunteers, instead, use different types of rice strains to create the colors, with some leaves a bright green…

Former Dictator Manuel Noriega Is Suing Over Call of Duty

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega is taking Activision to court over his depiction in Call of Duty: Black Ops II Noriega appears in a Black Ops II mission called “Suffer with Me” as both an in-game character and in news clips. Courthouse News Service reports that Noriega, who is currently serving a prison sentence in…

Kendo Sure Looks Painful

Once upon a time, I thought about doing kendo. After watching this video, I have come to one conclusion: What the hell was I thinking? Co-directed by Vimeo user Simon Conlin, this video was created for the Canadian Kendo Federation to support the Canadian team when it competes in Tokyo next year. While kendo attacks…