Brian Ashcraft

The “World’s First” Thigh-High Sock Store Opening in Tokyo

Next month, a store dedicated to thigh-high socks is opening in Tokyo’s geek district, Akihabara. That’s right, only thigh-high socks. Website Radio Kaikan reports that the shop is called “Zettai Ryoiki” (絶対領域) and opens on February 8. That’s “Knee-High Day,” an unofficial holiday and a Japanese pun on “two” (二 or “ni”) and “eight” (八…

A Japanese Bra That Only Opens If She’s “In Love”

A bra that can test “true love”? There’s an app for that. Oh, and of course, a bra. As website IT Media reports, Japanese lingerie maker Ravijour has developed a “True Love Test” as part of its 10th year anniversary. The company is marking that milestone with the theme “Mood Up.” And unusual underwear. You…

Ice Cream Can Get Bizarre in Japan

Your typical ice cream in Japan is rather vanilla. Things usually don’t get much crazier than green tea. But in some places, the ice cream gets downright strange. Viper ice cream, anyone? The above containers read “mamushi” (まむし) in Japanese, and on the label, right next to “almond,” that is exactly what’s listed as an…

Is Mass Effect‘s Commander Shepard in an Old Spice Ad?

It sure looks like him! But, what’s with the nunchaku? And is he riding a raptor? With a rastacap? The spot appeared on an Old Spice viral site called Flavorpatch.com and was noticed by Tumblr site Pirate Reject The armor does resemble Commander Shepard’s N7 Armor from Mass Effect 2. There are some differences, though.…

Square Enix Is Releasing a Life-Sized JRPG Sword

This is Erdrick’s Sword. A powerful sword, the blade appeared in the first three Dragon Quest games, earning its spot as an iconic video game weapon. And this spring, you can buy one. Square Enix is releasing a one-to-one scale Erdrick’s Sword for 21,000 yen or US$238. The sword measures over three and a half…

Attack on Titan Brings Nightmare Fuel to Subaru Commercial

The latest Subaru Forester commercial in Japan features some very unlikely and very large co-stars: “Titans” from hit anime Attack on Titan Originally a manga, the Attack on Titan anime is incredibly popular in Japan, spawning a photo meme and collectible merchandise as well as several adult movies. And pornography, we know, is always a…

Visiting This Village Is Like Entering a Studio Ghibli Movie

Or a Professor Layton game, or pretty much any idealized Japanese view of old Europe. And let me tell you, this place looks charming. This is Nukumori no Mori (ぬくもりの森) or “The Forest of Warmth.” Located in Shizuoka Prefecture, it’s a collection of shops and restaurants all done up in the same woodsy style. Online…

Welcome to Tangled Internet Cable Hell

And you thought your computer cables were in knots? Ha! Check out this internet spiderweb in Wuhan, China. Recently, photos of an area with one helluva tangled cable mess appeared on numerous Chinese news sites. According to reports, the cables are for the internet (though, I’d imagine there are some power and telephone lines in…

Learning English Made All Gooey-Cute

For many in Japan, learning English is hard. Good thing Nanami is here to help. Who the hell is Nanami? Nanami is the star of upcoming 3DS download title Let’s Study with Nanami! English Daily Conversation. Voice actress Nao Toyama brings Nanami, and this is not the first Nanami English game. This time around, students…

Pin-Up Models vs. Poultry Battle on Twitter in Japan

It’s the internet face-off of the century? Er, perhaps, the month. Or the week. Or the day. But hey, there’s chicken and selfies. Note: This article contains content some readers might find objectionable. And for selfies, Japanese bikini models have recently been using the hashtag #Guradoru Jikadori-bu (#グラドル自画撮り部) or “Bikini Model Selfie Club,” with “guradoru”…

Why StarCraft Pros Apparently Make Good Poker Players

Listen up. If you are world-class StarCraft player, then you’d probably make an excellent poker pro. So says Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier (pictured), a former StarCraft pro-gamer who’s gone on to make over US$11 million as a poker pro With the news that former StarCraft player BoxeR was turning to poker, Grospellier told website PokerListings why…

You Don’t Want To Live Next to China’s “Bacon Apartment”

Some people hang clothes on their balcony. This resident, it seems, hangs meat. Lots of it. Online in China, photos of what looks to be a butcher working out of an apartment have popped up online. If this resident is not a butcher, then he or she certainly has an interesting hobby. Large amounts of…

Real Version of Mythical Anime Sword Discovered in Japan

In the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime, there’s a reverse-blade sword called sakabato. An old, real-life version of this fictional sword was apparently discovered in Japan. Last October, what’s being compared to a real sakabato turned up in an old family storage cellar, located in Chiba Prefecture’s Shiroi City, that dates from the Edo Period…

The Delicious World of Japanese Doritos

This weekend I was shopping for snacks. I picked up a bag of corn soup-flavored “Gourmet” Doritos. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Most Doritos in Japan are typical Doritos—”Dorito-flavored,” if you will. But, like Kit Kats, Doritos also get an array of interesting flavors in Japan. The vast majority of them are…

Perhaps the Most Outrageous Celebrity on Japanese Television

This is Natsuki Okamoto. For years, she was a pin-up model. Now, she’s a commentator on a news program. You know, a talking head. And on the program, she wears outfits like this. I’m not kidding. She must be the most outrageous fashion plate on Japanese television. If you’ve ever watched television in Japan, I’m…

Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino just announced that he will direct a new, still untitled feature film anime, created with Hollywood’s Legacy Effects

French Fries with Chocolate: Disgusting or Delicious?

The idea sounds icky: Dipping french fries in chocolate sauce. But wait a minute! Sweet and salty? Hey, this might work. Or… maybe not. Last month, Kotaku reported that fast food chain Lotteria was rolling out “Dipping Fries” (つけポテ or tsuke pote) with Lotte’s Ghana-branded milk chocolate. The chocolate is severed in an edible tart…

Japanese Woman Got a Driver’s License Dressed as Chun-Li

Well, you gotta wear something when you get your license photo, don’t you? Previously, Kotaku reported that in Japan, you can dress up as whatever when you take your driver’s license photo—just as long as you are not wearing a hat. Also, it’s reported that unnaturally bright wigs are not allowed, either. Other than that,…

Chocolate Sauce Creates Incredible Video Game and Anime Art

You think drawing your favorite with paper and pencil is difficult? Trying drawing them with chocolate sauce on plates. In Seoul, there’s an anime, comic book, and video game shop called Saboten Store. As tipster Sang points out, the staff do cosplay and dress as maids, but this isn’t exactly a maid cafe per se.…

Our Real-Time Digital Retouching Future Looks Mental

Forget Photoshopping still images, the future looks like it could be retouching moving images in real-time. According to DesignBoom, directors Bálint Nagy and Nándor Lőrincz created what looks like a real-time digital photo manipulation of singer-songwriter Boogie as she performs her new track. However, if you look at the video’s credits, you see listings for…