Brian Ashcraft

Sony’s PlayStation Business Is Doing Quite Well

Today, Sony announced the financials for all its business. Gaming, in particular, was a bright spot. Even with the sun setting on the PlayStation 4, year on year sales hit 52.2 billion yen and were up 11 percent for the company’s game business—something Sony called “a significant increase.” That breaks down to an increase in…

Track: Studio Ghibli Experience, Part 4 | Artist: Joe Hisaishi | Album: N/A

Pokémon Go Gyms Open At Sushi Restaurants In Japan

Earlier this month, Kotaku reported that Pokémon Go would be ending its collaboration with McDonald’s in Japan. Now, it’s been announced that the game is teaming up with a sushi chain. The conveyor belt sushi chain Sushiro is rolling out PokéStops and Pokémon Gyms at 562 locations across Japan. But, as IT Media adds, the…

Neon Is An Excellent Cyber Fashion Statement

When I first came to Japan about two decades ago, there was a lot of neon. But in the years that followed, those flickering tubs have been switched out for LED lights. Twitter user Tanago, a self-styled “Cyber Mom,” has designed what very well could be the first wearable neon-tube backpack. She’s taken it out…

Track: A Silly Symphony: The Skeleton Dance | Artist: Carl W. Stalling | Album: N/A

Japan-Themed Sims 4 Expansion Changed Out Of Respect For Koreans, Says Producer

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape expansion pack lets folks enjoy a hot springs mountain resort, but some parts caused enough of a backlash to be removed.

Track: Valium Skies | Artist: The Verve | Album: Forth

Remastered One Piece Anime Cropped For Widescreen

In the One Piece anime, the first 61 episodes make up the East Blue saga. Debuting in 1999, the TV anime was originally broadcasted at a 4:3 aspect ratio. Now the shows are getting remastered for a two-disc Blu-ray release in Japan, and the frame will be cropped to fit a 16:9 widescreen aspect. How…

Norah Jones And Manga Are A Good Combination

For Norah Jones’s latest album, Pick Me Up Off The Floor, the singer has released a manga-version music video of her single “I’m Alive” featuring panels from Rumiko Takahashi’s Maison Ikkoku According to Viz Media, “’I’m Alive’ features Maison Ikkoku’s main character, Kyoko Otonashi, as she shares many similarities with the lyrics, which reflect finding…

Former Japanese Prime Minister Wasn’t Thrilled With The Mario Olympics Stunt

During the 2016 Rio Olympics closing ceremony, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared out of a large green Warp Pipe, wearing a red Mario hat emblazoned with Tokyo 2020. But what did Abe think about the whole experience? In a recent interview with Nikkan Sports, Abe was frank, honest and refreshing about the whole…

Look At These Metal Gear Solid Air Jordans

Last year, film director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island) showed off some epic Pikachu Air Jordans. Now in 2020, he’s back with a pair of excellent Metal Gear Solid themed ones. Vogt-Roberts posted the custom AJ1s this week on Twitter to mark the anniversary of Metal Gear Solid’s PlayStation release in North America. Bud Sanfilippo…

Track: Wednesday Campanella | Artist: Shakushain | Album: Wednesday Campanella (single)

Team Of Makeup Artists Turns Celebrity Into Anime Character

Many talented cosplayers do their own makeup when transforming into the character of their choice. Japanese celebrity Yoko Kumada did not. That’s okay! To each their own! On her official YouTube channel, Kumada showed how a team of makeup pros turned her into Nezuko Kamado, one of the protagonists in the popular Demon Slayer anime.…

Forget Money, Japanese Esports Tournament Is Giving Away Crabs (Yes, Actual Crabs)

At this year’s Toyama Gamers Day in Japan, it’s only fitting that the prize for the game Fight Crab in the King Crab Tournament is, wait for it, crabs. But, as Kai-You points out, not just one crab but a total of one hundred during the entire tournament. Why crabs? Well besides the fact that…

Track: Wasurerarenaino | Artist: Sakanaction | Album: 834.194

Anime Movie Tops The Global Box Office

While movie theaters in the United States are in jeopardy, theaters in Japan just saw their biggest box office weekend ever thanks to the Demon Slayer feature anime. NHK reports that 3.4 million people saw Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train in theaters in Japan. The movie opened on a Friday, playing on 403 screens,…

Here’s An Excellent Cyberpunk Mask

This year, more than ever, people are wearing face masks. Twitter user Shuka, who specializes in cyberpunk designs, created this cool-looking face mask. The mask has three different ways to wear it, from a chin guard to a mask and a full-face covering. I imagine wearing a filter or medical mask underneath would make quite…

Teenager Finally Achieves Her Dream Of Dating Godzilla

Thirteen-year-old Seira Watanabe is a huge Godzilla fan. She has an impressive collection of figures and does an excellent impression of the kaiju’s roar. Recently, she wrote to Osaka television show Tantei! Knight Scoop, asking to go on a date with Godzilla. Tantei! Knight Scoop takes requests from viewers (often very silly ones), turning those…

Track: Can I Believe You | Artist: Fleet Foxes | Album: Shore

Hatsune Miku Is Helping To Prevent Covid-19 In Japan

Wonder what virtual idol Hatsune Miku is up to? Doing her part to contain covid-19, that’s what. The character has been appointed as a “Covid-19 Prevention Supporter.” Not sure what the hell that means? The Japanese government has enlisted an array of celebrities, athletes, business people, and one robot to make videos about preventing covid-19.…