Brian Ashcraft

China’s Space Capsule Hotel Has Robot Staff

It’s not staffed entirely by robots, mind you. There are earthlings on duty, too! Recently, a “space-themed” capsule hotel has opened in Shenzhen, China, reports website The Nanfang Insider. The hotel has a groovy 2001 vibe going on: There’s a robot doorman, it seems, and a waiter bot to bring you the drinks you order…

Someone Wants To Pay $9,000 for a Gundam Model

And no, it’s not made out of gold. But the winning bidder must be made out of money. According to Itai News, a completed RX-93 ν Gundam model sold for 926,001 yen (US$9,261) in an online auction. Bidding started at 100 yen, which is about one dollar. The actual model, in its unpainted and disassembled…

Rumors of Alleged Foxconn PS4 Sabotage Are Sketchy, At Best

Last month, Kotaku reported that student interns were allegedly forced to manufacture the PlayStation 4. With the PS4 now out, rumors have popped up that some of those alleged student interns sabotaged Sony’s gaming console. Those rumors are spreading online, but, juicy as they are, they’re very thin. Here’s what Kotaku has sorted through and…

Inside Japan’s Squirrel Gardens. Yes, Squirrel Gardens!

Hey, that’s what they’re called! The actual name is “squirrel garden” (“risu-en” or リス園 in Japanese). And if you like squirrels, this is a little slice of squirrel heaven. Recently on 2ch, a net user posted photos from a recent visit to a squirrel park. They’re zoos that specialize in squirrels, and depending on where…

The Worst Outfit Ever Worn on South Korean Television

Mind you, I haven’t seen every single get-up ever worn on Korean television, but I can confidently say this one is the worst. It really is. Either they picked the wrong background or the wrong outfit to go with said background. The outfit appeared on a Korean shopping channel. Last week, it began to go…

So Many Different Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes Bundles in Japan!

When Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes goes on sale next spring, Japanese gamers will have a bundle of different bundles to choose from. First, they can get the retail version, which is 2,980 yen (around US$30) and available for the PS4, the PS3, and the Xbox 360. They can also get a slightly cheaper…

Nintendo just bought a stake in NicoNico Douga’s parent company Dwango. The company provides content via smartphones, but Nintendo says it won’t be using Dwango for that. More on Siliconera.

There Are Japanese Temples for Boobs

There are several festivals in Japan dedicated to the phallus. At the very least, it’s only natural that there would also be a religious sites for breasts. This is Mama Kannon (formally “Ryuuon-ji”), and it’s a Buddhist temple in the Joudo sect. Kannon (aka Guanyin) is the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. Located in Aichi Prefecture,…

A Look at the PS Vita TV’s Innards

The PS Vita went on sale in Japan today. Know what that means? Somebody’s already taken the microconsole apart for your viewing pleasure. That somebody is Japanese site 4Gamer. Below you can see the console busted wide open, totally voiding the warranty. Living on the edge there, 4Gamer! PS Vita TV発売。取り急ぎ分解してみた [4Gamer] To contact the…

72 Year-Old Grandpa Paints Anime Art for Grandchild

In Japan, most little girls watch the magical girl anime Pretty Cure. Many adore it! One Grandfather decided the best way to delight his grandchild was to paint it. In watercolors. What a darling painting! So cool to see a grandfather go the extra distance to delight his grandchild. The watercolor depicts the characters from…

Red Panda Curry Is Best Served with Real Pandas

No, no, no! You’re not eating curry made from Red Pandas. You are eating a panda-shaped meal while you watch those furry critters frolic and play. IT Media reports that Safariland, an “animal park” in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is now offering “Red Panda Curry.” The curry is made to look like a Red Panda (meatballs form…

Cops Called for Underboob Cosplay Controversy

This weekend, there was a big anime event in Singapore called Anime Festival Asia. Many cosplayers showed up. And so did the police. According to forum Singapore HardwareZone, an older woman called the police after seeing a cosplayer dressed as the character Ryuko Matoifrom popular anime Kill la Kill. The outfit was Ryuko’s battle gear,…

Screw Burgers with Bacon Slices, You Want Bacon Cubes

You really do. Your heart and your arteries might not, but who cares what they think. Man, we’re talking burgers here. Burgers Lotteria, the most mental fast food chain in Japan (proof here, here, and um, here), is rolling out the Bacon Cube Deluxe Cheese Burger (Kakugiri Beekon Zeppin Chiizu Baagaa or 角切りベーコン絶品チーズバーガー). Priced at…

Knock on Your Car. You Might Save a Cat.

It’s fall! In much of Japan, the weather is getting chilly. And while we bundle up, cats want to stay warm, too. And sometimes, they crawl up next to car engines for warmth. Remember that before you start your car! In Japan’s Kochi Prefecture, a non-profit group launched a “knock knock” (“kon kon” or コンコン)…

Sega in Japan’s Biggest Restaurant Scandal of 2013

This fall, a series of restaurant scandals have been front page news in Japan. Several pricey eateries have admitted to lying about their menus. Establishments Sega owns, it seems, did as well. Yes, Sega runs restaurants in Japan. As The Guardian‘s Justin McCurry reported, luxury hotels and restaurants duped patrons by giving false menu descriptions,…

Sony boss Kaz Hirai recently said in Shanghai that Sony is working to release its home console in China. However, Sony explained it needed to first create a retail network that can support the PS4. As TechInAsia explains, specifics like a timeline, weren’t given.

China’s Monster Fish Ends Up in a Cheesy Photo Op

That’s one big fish. One really big fish. Your typical smaller grouper weighs between three and five pounds, but this is hardly typical. This is a goliath grouper. As SinoNet (via ShanghaiIst) explains, fishermen recently caught this 683 pound grouper fish near the Spratly Islands. It was then displayed in Dalang in southern China and…

Japan’s “Privacy Visor” Offers Internet Privacy and Incessant Giggles

When you step outside, anyone can snap your photo. And said photo could spread all over cyberspace—Twitter, Facebook, you name it. Heck, it could even end up here! Maybe you don’t want that. Maybe you want privacy. Maybe you don’t mind looking silly. Japan’s National Institute of Informatics is working on a “privacy visor.” The…

Kingdom Under Fire II Coming to PS4. It’ll Be Out…One Day.

Kingdom Under Fire II has been in development for a long time. A very long time. Originally announced in early 2008 as a PC and home console game, Kingdom Under Fire II was supposed to hit the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Delays followed, there were rumors of development problems, and the console game…

Eat Totally Fake Maguro Sashimi in Japan

Raw maguro (tuna) is served with rice as sushi or without as sashimi. One Japanese company is now introducing phony maguro you can eat. Imagine that! This faux sashimi is actually konnyaku (こんにゃく), which is a rubbery jelly made from a variety of potatoes. It’s actually very healthy and high in fiber. Natural tomato coloring…