Brian Ashcraft

Is there a new Tales game incoming? Namco Bandai launched a Japanese teaser site titled “Next Tales” that looks back at the series’ history.

Popular K-Pop Group Accused of Ripping Off J-Pop Group. Again.

On YouTube, Korean pop group Crayon Pop racks up millions of views. Their videos feature members wearing colorful and interesting outfits. And some are calling them rip-offs. On 2ch, Japan’s largest forum, people are accusing Crayon Pop of stealing outfits from million-selling Japanese group Momoiro Clover Z. The allegations have also appeared in the group’s…

They’re Making a Live-Action Lupin the Third Movie

The Japanese movie industry is turning beloved manga and anime Lupin the Third into a live-action feature film. How thrilling. Or nerve-racking. Or both! The movie is slated for a summer 2014 release. Above, you can see the first official promo image from the flick, courtesy of its official site and IT Media The movie…

Yes, Anime Style Electric Car Charging Stations Exist in Japan

Of course they do! Well, at least in one town. Hakone, Japan, which is located outside Tokyo, has Neon Genesis Evangelion electric car changers. Evangelion is set in Hakone, which is renamed “Tokyo-3” for the anime. In Hakone, as part of an Eva campaign and environmental promotion, IT Media reports that Evangelion branded Panasonic Elseev…

Bitcoin Mining Is Getting Out of Control

Bitcoins are digital currency that can be mined by computers solving mathematical puzzles. Over the years, they’ve shot up in value. They might make you rich! Maybe not! It’s a Bitcoin rush, and the mining operations are getting large, complex, and bonkers As website Hong Wrong points out, the puzzles are getting increasingly difficult. And…

There Are Three Words for This Ridiculous Final Fantasy Costume

One of them is bad. But that’s okay, I guess? Behold some of the latest Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII downloadable content. Today, Square Enix launched the first round of DLC for the game. The outfits, which come with weapons, are The Divine World’s Saint Clothing Style, The Final Liberation Clothing Style, and, wait for…

Japanese Cats that Look Like Yakuza Are Frighteningly Cute

Some cats are cute. Some are ugly, but still cute. These cats look like Japanese gangsters. They are scary in the most adorable way possible. If you’ve ever seen any Japanese yakuza movies or have played any of Sega’s Yakuza games, then you probably know what the gangsters of the Japanese popular imagination look like.…

StoryBundle, the outfit created by former Gizmodo editor Jason Chen, is back with a new bundle of video game-themed writings. Have a look!

Korean Gaming Pros Appeared on SNL in Counter-Strike Parody

This past weekend SNL Korea parodied Counter-Strike and featured appearances from top StarCraft players. Gaming giants Hong Jin-Ho (aka “YellOw”) and Lim Yohwan (aka “BoxeR”) made special guest appearances on SNL Korea Tipster Landon points out that there’s a reason why Hong and Lim are appearing together in this faux Counter-Strike set against the Imjin…

Can Anyone Find These North Korean Kids Smaller Guitars?

Never mind that these children don’t actually seem like children. That they come off as somewhat too perfect and too poised. Sure, they play too well. But, what the hell’s up with the jumbo guitars? It’s like they are playing cellos. Cellos that sound and look like guitars. Surely, they have child-sized guitars in North…

Awesome Gundam Models To Destroy Your Eyeballs

Late last week, the big Gundam model expo got underway in Tokyo. And if you like Gundam models or giant mecha, you’re going to love the plastic on display. These models and dioramas were completed by incredibly talented and passionate individuals—many of Japan’s best Gundam model builders. Have a look at the photos below, courtesy…

These Pokemon Cards Might Make You Cry

When you think of Pocket Monster cards, you probably don’t think misty-eyed family memories. Look at these three cards and you just might. In this card, you can see Tepig, one of the starter Pokemon in Pokemon Black and White. Surrounding Tepig is a mother, father, and their son, who is holding the Pocket Monster.…

Katy Perry’s Geisha Act Being Called “Racist”

During tonight’s American Music Awards, Katy Perry showed up dressed in a Japanese kimono. Or in a Chinese cheongsam. Or both, actually. Some folks online aren’t happy about that at all. And because of that, some are calling Perry’s performance racist. One Twitter user (via The Huffington Post) said Perry “nailed the traditionally ignorant costume…

Persona 5 Announced for the PS3

Atlus has finally (finally!) made an official announcement regarding Persona 5. It’s headed to the PlayStation 3 next winter in Japan. Here’s the game’s teaser trailer. No word yet on a Western release. トレーラー映像 / PERSONA5 [Atlustube@YouTube]

We Didn’t Ask for this Persona Music Game

But…we’re getting it. Well, the PS Vita is. It’s called Persona 4: Dancing All Night Slated for a fall 2014 release, the game is dubbed as a “sound action” title. Atlus isn’t developing Persona 4: Dancing All Night, but rather, Tokyo-based developer Dingo. (Who?) No word yet on a Western release. Persona Channel [Official Site]…

Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold, the latest Persona arcade fighting title, is headed to the PlayStation 4 next summer in Japan. No word yet on a Western release.

The 3DS Is Getting a New Persona Game. It Looks Different.

Tonight in Japan, Atlus just announced a new Persona game. It’s called Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, it’s slated for the 3DS, and it’s probably not what you are expecting. The RPG features characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4, which is cool. But the characters are cuted up “chibi” (“little” in Japanese) versions…

Chinese Housewife’s Mao Zedong Cosplay Will Blow Your Mind

There are not enough words to describe how good this former housewife is at pulling off Chairman Mao. These days, Chen Yan makes her living impersonating Mao Zedong. According to the mainland People magazine (via South China Morning Post), the 57 year-old Chen is one of a handful Mao impersonators in the country. Due to…

Crazy Man in a PS4 Costume Tries To Crash an Xbox One Party

On YouTube, Megwin TV is a Japanese comedy collective. One of its members dressed up in a DualShock 4 costume and tried to get into an Xbox One launch party. That not only takes some balls, but also a large fake controller. Trolling Xbone Launch in PS4 Costume [Megwin TV] To contact the author of…

Forget Google Glass, Sony’s Working on Smart Wigs

Sony has filed a patent for a “wearable computing device” that’s in a wig. It’s called SmartWig. Sony’s patent (via Engadget Japan), which was filed this past May but made public this week, describes a hairpiece with input sensors able to process data and communicate with another device. The techy bits would be hidden while…