Brian Ashcraft

Men Dress Up as Dragon Ball Characters, Then Make a Rap Video

Because, really, why the heck not? Obviously, this is more interesting if you understand Japanese, but the refrain is in English, so there’s that. The whole thing is rather charming. These gents are actually comedians whose schtick is that they dress up as Dragon Ball characters. They’ve appeared on television, doing their DB bits (here,…

​Chinese Counterfeiters Misspell Japanese Beer Brands

Doh! If you are going to try to fool Japanese people, it’s very important not to make simple Japanese language fails. Two of the biggest Japanese beer brands are Asahi and Kirin. According to 47 News, a 44 year-old Chinese national was recently arrested in Tokyo after it was discovered he was allegedly importing phoney…

In Tokyo, There’s a Second-Hand Shop for Booze

Across Japan, there is a chain of second-hand shops called Hard Off. There is also a used book retailer known as Book Off. And now, there’s also a store specializing in second-hand alcohol called Liquor Off Located in Tokyo, Liquor Off wants to buy your unwanted booze. No wonder the shop says “Please sell” in…

Hire a League of Legends Tutor in South Korea

Maybe you play online League of Legends. Maybe you suck. And maybe you wish there was a way to get better. Well, in South Korea there is. According to gaming site Gamemeca (via tipster Sang), a Korean company is rolling out a new service called “Punching” that enlists eSport athletes to give players tips in…

For Some Folks, “Side Mouth” Ruins Anime Faces

You know how sometimes anime characters have mouths on the side of their faces? Does that bother you? Or are you totally cool with that? Recently on 2ch, Japan’s largest internet forum, a thread disc popped up on how this anime mouth style is “upsettingly gross.” Below, you can see the drawing the original commenter…

Yesterday Was a Highly Unusual Day in Japan

A handful of incidents happened yesterday in Japan. Some of them were truly awful and others were odd or surprising. On Twitter, people have been rounding up them as “The Incidents of June 29” (６月２９日の出来事). Let’s have a look. Note: This article contains content that some readers might find objectionable. [Photo: Straits Times] The day…

Chinese Monster Hoax Wasn’t Really Gollum, But a Video Game Ad

Earlier this week, a Chinese man was camping with friends in the Huairou region when he seems to have spotted a monster-like creature that somewhat resembled Gollum from Lord of the Rings. The man said he was “terrified.” He snapped photos and uploaded them online. They spread like wildfire. According to Taiwanese site ET Today,…

The Destruction of Tokyo’s Geek District Looks Like This

One day, this will all end. All of it. Even Tokyo’s geek center, Akihabara. But what will that day look like? Perhaps, something like this. Tumblr site Little Treasures, which often posts composite and digitally altered pics, recently uploaded these two images. Both were titled, “Akihabara.” Fantastic. It’s like something out of Akira. Here you…

Fighting game Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena is being turned into a stage play. Film director Shutaro Oku, who previously directed the Persona 4 theatrical production, is helming the production. It will be written by Jun Kumagai, who wrote Persona 4: The Animation as well as the Persona 3 and Persona 4 plays.…

Inside South Korea’s Penis Restaurant

If you miss the sign in Pocheon City for the restaurant Deolmusae, no worries. You can always look for the giant erect penis. Think I’m joking? Note: This article contains content some readers might find objectionable. Nope! Not joking! [Photo: Joins] Yes, I believe that’s a dick oven. Wait until you see the wall map…

Gamers Hit With Criminal Charges Allegedly Made Tons Of Money

Yesterday, Nexon announced that charges were being pressed against three Sudden Attack gamers for allegedly cheating online. Today, new reports reveal that the teens’ apparent underhanded gaming tricks supposedly earned them $80,000. According to a report published today by Yomiuri, one of Japan’s largest newspapers, two of the suspects, a 17 year-old high school student…

This Must Be the Strangest Exercise Video of 2014

This week, delivery company Sagawa Express is releasing an exercise DVD that features men in delivery uniforms. Dancing. In front of delivery trucks. No, I am not joking. Yes, you can buy it for around the equivalent $30. It is an actual product. For sale. Once again, I am not joking. If anything, this looks…

Soon, You Can Walk Under the Giant Gundam’s Crotch

Is this a dream? No! This is very real. Soon, people in Tokyo will be able to walk between the giant Gundam’s legs. Until now, a perimeter has kept people from standing directly underneath the huge mecha’s most important unit. But, as IT Media reports, between July 19 and September 25, folks will have a…

The Best Pokémon 3DS Drawings Aren’t the Most Accurate

Nintendo 3DS game Pokémon Art Academy aims to teach players how to draw Pocket Monsters the right way. But what if you don’t want to learn to draw the right way? What if you just want to screw around? You can do that, too. As Kotaku previously covered, the game gives player tips on how…

More Crappy Animated Images for Your Amusement

Making anime is difficult! There are all those frame to animate. There are deadlines. It’s rough work. And sometimes, the end result isn’t quite up to par. Previously, Kotaku showcased bad animated images, which are called sakuga houkai” (作画崩壊). As mentioned before, not all these types of images are accidents! Some are drawn this way…

Gamers Hit with Criminal Charges for Cheating Online [Update]

In Japan, online game company Nexon is pressing charges against three gamers, ages 17 to 18, for obstruction of business. In short, the gamers were allegedly using in-game cheats for online FPS Sudden Attack. That, it seems, was hurting the game and Nexon. Update: According to Nexon, it’s the police who are pressing charges. Yomiuri…

Do You Think the Lupin Movie Will Be Terrible?

This isn’t the first Lupin The Third trailer, but it’s the longest one to date. It also gives us a good look at the live-action version. Well, whaddaya think? Will it suck? The movie opens in Japan on August 30 and will be directed by Ryuhei Kitamura of Azumi and Godzilla: Final Wars fame. Kitamura…

Japan’s Prime Minister Accidentally Tells Women To Die

Yesterday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched a new blog to support women. The wording on the blog is most unfortunate. Above, you can see the top image for the website with Abe’s grinning face. In English, “shine” means to sparkle and glitter. In Japanese, “shine” can be read as 死ね (literally, “shine” written in Roman…

Two Japanese Vending Machines Brutally Murdered

When you think of vending machine robberies, you probably think of folks sticking their arms up into it and swiping a drink. You don’t think of a heartless bastard ripping out the machine’s heart. Well, maybe you do! That’s what recently happened at Samukawa High School in Kanagawa, Japan. Two vending machines, stocked with Kirin…

NASA Concept Aircraft Looks Like a Flying Vegetable

NASA dubbed this futuristic aircraft concept the “Supersonic Green Machine.” Online in Japan, it’s being compared to a vegetable. A flying vegetable. Twitter user K0ZiR0 created the above image, comparing the NASA aircraft to the negi, or what’s known as a Welsh onion in the West. The negi is the flying object at the bottom…