Brian Ashcraft

The Most Energized School Kids in Japan

The internet is filled with hyperbole, but hyperbole, this ain’t. Don’t believe me? Just check out the above video. In elementary schools across Japan, students have morning assemblies. They take roll and greet each other. Younger grades are noisy, sure, but this class, however, is something else. The video is titled “Salutations Training” (あいさつ訓練 or…

Watch 1,700 People Play a Giant Game of Tag

In Japanese, tag is called “oni gokko” (鬼ごっこ). This weekend, approximately 1,700 played the game at a stadium in Tokorozawa, Japan. The fifty oni (demon) were “it” and wore red tights so they’d be easy to identify. There were referees, and once you got tagged, you were out. The event was held by New Balance.…

Nurses Cosplay as Flight Attendants at a Chinese Hospital

In the city of Huai’an, a group of registered nurses is now working at a local hospital, dressed as flight attendants. According to CNTV and People’s Daily, twelve nurses went through a one-month flight attendant etiquette training course. Instead of typical white outfits, these nurses actually wear flight attendant uniforms, while working at the hospital.…

Hello Kitty Fire Extinguishers Exist in Japan. No, Really.

Why wouldn’t they? From vibrators to kendo gear, Hello Kitty has been slapped on just about everything. As pointed out by the Sankei Newspaper, Japanese fire extinguisher company Hatsuta is launching a line of Hello Kitty fire extinguishers, priced at around $80. They’re designed to be kept at home (you know, should you have a…

There’s a new King of Fighters game! It’s…a network-based mobile game that’s based on KoF 2012 but has role-playing game elements. Called King of Fighters M, it will be out the first half of this year in South Korea. No word on a Western release. [Thanks, Sang!]

The Joy and Sadness of Playing Pokémon

Earlier this year in Japan, the Pokémon Dragon King Competition got underway. Kids duke it out with cards and consoles. There were smiles, tears, and Pocket Monsters. In the below video, you can see a short digest movie, which the Pokémon Company uploaded to YouTube this week. ポケモン竜王戦2014　ダイジェストムービー [PokemonCoJp via Siliconera] To contact the author…

Perhaps the Best Cardboard Gun You’ll Ever See

YouTube user Yamaoku constructed a DSR-1 sniper rifle from cardboard, making his model from over 500 pieces. The result is incredible. As far as do-it-yourself cardboard gun models go, it’s going to be hard to top this. Real hard. Oh, wait. Yamaoku also constructed a Barrett M82 as well. This might be even better. Whaddaya…

New Dragon Ball Game Headed to the PS4

The latest issue of Jump reveals that a new Dragon Ball game is in store for the PlayStation 4. It’s the first DB title to be announced for the PS4. There’s no release date yet, and this being a Japanese announcement, no word on a Western release. PS4で『ドラゴンボール』シリーズ最新作が発売決定 [ゲーハー黙示録] To contact the author of this…

Chinese Developed Oculus Rift Competitor Hit Kickstarter

It’s called the ANTVR Kit. It looks to be a Oculus Rift challenger. That is, should it get funded and, more importantly, live up to its promises. This VR system is from a small Beijing-based team called, wait for it, ANTVR. Courtesy of TechInAsia, here’s how the developers say their system stacks up agains the…

“Let It Go” Recreated in Minecraft Won’t Bother You Anyway

We’ve already seen “Let It Go” paired with Grand Theft Auto and recreated with Hatsune Miku. Now, let’s see it in Minecraft. Via IT Media, this clip comes via Nico Nico user Miya. Below, another clip shows how the Minecraft version stacks up to the Disney scene, complete with the Japanese take on the Oscar…

This Chinese Public Toilet Looks Like the U.S. Capitol Building

Politics? No, potties! Spotted in eastern China, this public restroom appears modeled after the the United States Capitol. That’s right, as you can see in these photos courtesy of Au123, this is an iconic American Neoclassical building reborn as a toilet. 安徽一公厕外观似美国国会大厦 [Au123] To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find…

Yes, the Vagina Boat Finally Became a Reality

Very important update! Maybe you were thinking, “Hey, what happened to that vagina boat?” Well, good news: The vagina boat finally set sail. Warning: This article has content some readers might find objectionable. The heck is the vagina boat, you say! Last summer, Kotaku reported that a Japanese artist named Rokudenashiko was crowdfunding her dream…

Fight Chinese Pollution with a Goofy Nose Mask

Pollution sucks! But there are ways to protect yourself, such as surgical masks or even heavy duty gas masks. One Chinese company, MaiXingRen, is offering another solution: a nose mask. MaiXingRen says its Nose Air Filter Mask can filter out 99 percent of those hazardous tiny particles in pollution—making it, the company claims, more effective…

Japan Is Getting a New Pokemon Downloadable Game. It’s Free!

Soon, a new downloadable Pokemon game will be released in Japan—free of charge. Called Thief and 1,000 Pokemon, the 3DS game has players amass an army of Pocket Monsters via StreetPass. Those Pokemon are then used in battle. The more you have, the better your chances are for winning. The game will be available in…

Japan’s “Totally Looks Like” Meme Is Totally Amusing

In English language cyberspace, there is a “totally looks like” meme. You’ve seen it: two different photos are compared because, well, they totally look like each other. Japan has a similar meme. As previously explained, in Japanese the meme is called “kanzen ni icchi” (完全に一致) or “complete match.” Below, you can see a collection of…

Attack on Titan Creator Apologies for Sex Joke

In the latest issue of Attack on Titan, there is a hidden sex gag. Today, the manga’s creator Hajime Isayama apologized on his blog. Apparently, he didn’t know about it until after the fact. The manga editor in charge of Attack on Titan explained via Twitter that an assistant allegedly added the gag without Isayama…

Play Minecraft? Want to learn Japanese? Check out Tofugu for more on Japanese languages lessons being offered in Minecraft.

Japan Getting a Shake That Tastes Like Chewing Gum

Did I say “bubble gum”? No. I did not. Chewing gum. At Lotteria fastfood restaurants in Japan, a minty chewing gum flavored shake will go on sale this July. No, you cannot chew the shake itself. And this isn’t just a peppermint flavored shake. Yahoo! Japan is very clear that it’s Green Gum flavored. Lotteria,…

Did This Japanese Anime Rip Off Glee?

Or is an homage? Or just a kwinky-dink? Whatever this scene from popular anime Love Live is, it sure resembles an episode of Glee. As pointed out on Japanese bulletin board 2ch, the recently aired sixth episode of Love Live‘s second season has a scene in which the characters are sewing costumes. One of the…

You Can Visit the Sphinx in…China

Unlike the real Sphinx, which is made of stone and located in, uh, Egypt, this full scale reproduced is made steel and painted cement. It’s also located in northern China. China Daily reports that this was used for a film shoot. Visitors can even go inside and take a tour. I always think these kind…