Brian Ashcraft

Japan-Themed Street Opens In China For Travel-Starved Tourists

During this global pandemic, Japan has issued a tourist ban. Currently, visitors from 159 countries are not able to enter the country. So what are Japan-starved tourists to do? In China, a Japan-themed street was created. As South China Morning Post reported earlier this month, there’s now a 330-foot street in Foshan to give locals…

Cats Vs. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

Now that Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is out, people have a chance to see what it’s like first-hand. But they’re not alone. Cats do, too. As noted on My Game News Flash, Twitter and YouTube users in Japan have started setting up circuits in places their cats have already claimed. Curious feline friends are…

Track: The Shape Returns | Artist: John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, Daniel Davies | Album: The Shape Returns 

Man Lights 100 Cigarettes In Internet Cafe, Gets Arrested

South Korean news reports that a 20-something man has been arrested after lighting up around 100 cigarettes in the smoking room at an internet café According to The Korea Times, the suspect opened seven packs of cigarettes. He then began lighting, smoking them with both hands, and throwing the butts on the floor. Smoke began…

Let’s Watch Hayao Miyazaki Have An Ice Cream Float

Earlier this year, the Ghibli Museum was temporarily shuttered due to coronavirus concerns. In July it opened at reduced capacity, and regular ticket sales resumed last month. The museum also decided to revamp its café Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Ghibli recently checked out the renewed Mugiwara Boushi Café. It’s been turned into a self-service…

Track: Teen Age Riot | Artist: Sonic Youth | Album: Daydream Youth 

Latest Evangelion Trailer Reveals A January Release Date

The years-in-the-making Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 was supposed to be out this year. It was delayed due to covid-19, and the eagerly anticipated movie’s latest trailer now reveals a January 2020 release date. Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 is slated to be the fourth and last entry in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, the…

Monster Hunter Fans Point Out A Problem In The Movie Poster

If you had issues with the live-action Monster Hunter trailer, the movie poster might also give you pause. In it a Diablos looms over star Milla Jovovich, who is wielding fire dual blades. But… As Twitter user Xyless points out, fire is the least effective element against the monster. My Game News Flash reports that…

Pokémon Go Is Leaving McDonald’s In Japan

Back in 2016, when Pokémon Go first launched in Japan, the popular augmented reality game began a collaboration with McDonald’s. As of tomorrow, that will end. When the tie-up first started, around 2,500 McDonald’s restaurants doubled as PokéStops, while another 400 or so were Pokémon Gyms. According to Nikkei, the result was store sales increasing…

In Japan, Nintendo Delays Detective Game Remakes For Switch Until Next Year

In September 2019, Nintendo revealed that remakes of the first two Famicom Tantei Club games were heading to the Japanese Switch sometime this year. Today, the Kyoto-based game company announced the games would be delayed until 2021. The first in the adventure game series, Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Koukeisha, was released on the Famicom Disk…

Track: In The Air Tonight (2015 Remaster) | Artist: Phil Collins | Album: Face Value (Remastered) 

PS4 System Software Update 8.00 Goes Live

Sony’s latest PlayStation 4 software update is launching today, tweaking a host of existing features. As the PlayStation Blog details, there will be updates to Party and Messages, bringing noticeable changes to the UI, streamlining them, and linking them more closely. Instead of having separate groups, both Party and Messages will now use the same…

Actually, Metal Gear Solid V Players Didn’t Destroy Every Nuke In The PS3 Version, Konami Now Says

Earlier this summer, a cutscene nestled deep in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’s PS3 version was triggered because, it seemed, players had located and destroyed every single nuke in the game. Konami now says that disarmament was not achieved. According to the Tokyo-based game company, one player’s “improper conduct” caused the cutscene to play.…

Track: Like No Other (2006 Remastered Version) | Artist: Electronic | Album: Get The Message: The Best of Electronic 

In Japan, KFC Installs Lockers For Contactless Ordering

At four locations in Japan, KFC is rolling out pick-up lockers for contactless ordering. Customers order and pay via their phones, and their meals will be put into lockers. After the order code is entered, the door opens, and the customers can take their food. You can see it in action below: It can be…

Joy-Cons are getting a price cut in Japan. Nintendo announced that as of November 6, the standalone Joy Cons will be reduced to 3,740 yen ($35) from 4,480 yen ($42) each. No word yet whether price cuts will be in effect elsewhere.  

Digital Mask Lets You Express Anime Emotions

Say hello to the E2-Mask Z. This face-covering headset uses AI to read expressions of happiness, sadness, anger, and more and then render those emotions via an anime avatar. Developed by the Hirata Takegawa Lab, it certainly should be possible to change the avatar from an anime girl. The idea is that this digital face…

Track: New World Coming (darkDARK Remix) | Artist: Nina Simone | Album: New World Coming 

Your Fall 2020 Anime Guide

It’s October. Things have been tough. We should take a break. We should watch anime. Have a look below at what anime are airing during this fall’s season. Are there any you’re especially into? Let us know in the comments. Adachi and Shimamura Studio: Tezuka Productions Genre: Drama, Girls’ Love, School, Slice of Life, Romance…

Porn Company Opens “Adult Theme Park” In Tokyo

This weekend, a Japanese porn maker Soft on Demand opened what it calls “an adult theme park” in Tokyo. Perhaps 2020 isn’t exactly the best time, no? Note: The article contains content some readers might find objectionable. Called SOD Land, it’s located in a five-floor structure that’s filled with bars staffed by adult video performers.…