Brian Ashcraft

The New Monster Hunter 3DS Is No Monstrosity

To mark the release of Monster Hunter 4, Nintendo is once again releasing a special MH4 branded handheld. It’s classy looking. Priced at 19,800 yen (US$200), the Monster Hunter 4 3DS is bundled with a download version of the game and will be out November 7. Monster Hunter 4 already got special handhelds when it…

Japan Has Too Many Penguin Bars

Recently, a “penguin bar” opened in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro. It’s not the first. There are at least three others. Does Japan really need all these penguin bars?! Besides booze and food, these establishments have live penguins that swim, waddle, and eat dead fish—as penguins do (though, usually not in bars). According to MyNavi, the newest penguin…

Our First Good Look at Kingdom Hearts III Gameplay

Here’s our first real look at Kingdom Hearts III in action since the brief snippet of gameplay shown inthe announcement trailer back in June. Check out massive enemies, new weapons, and a mature Sora who doesn’t seem to have aged a bit. Kingdom Hearts III is slated for the PS4 and Xbox One. The release…

Glorious New Zelda 3DS XL Puts Light And Dark In Your Hands

In Europe, Nintendo is releasing a new Legend of Zelda themed 3DS XL. It sure is pretty. The 3DS XL takes its visual motif from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and it looks to be a clear reference to Hyrule/Lorule dual world. The limited edition Zelda 3DS XL will be available when…

Pikachu Is Pretty Good at Parkour

There’s also some freerunning, gymnastics, and even fishing. No lighting-based attacks, though. Pikachu Parkour/Freerunning [kumakumafilms@YouTube Thanks, Kade!] To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune…

Introducing Japanese “Wine” for, Uh, Cats

Today in Japan, bottled wine created especially for cats goes on sale. This is not a joke. Apparently. Pet supplement company B&H Lifes is rolling out “wine exclusively for cats” that is called “Nyan Nyan Nouveau.” In Japanese, “nyan nyan” (ニャンニャン) can refer to a cat’s meow as well as people screwing. Here, it refers…

Anpanman creator Takashi Yanase passed away on October 13 in Tokyo. He was 94. May he rest in peace.

Getting Married on a Tokyo Train Isn’t Exactly Romantic

But it sure is memorable. Yesterday, a young couple got married while riding public transportation in Tokyo. The young 20-something year-old couple, Nobuhiko and Sayaka, held their wedding ceremony on Tokyo’s Yamanote Line, reports FNN. Serving 29 stations, the Yamanote Line is not only Japan’s busiest train lines, it’s one of the busiest in the…

The New PS Vita Torn Apart

The new PS Vita was recently released in Japan. You probably know it has a new LCD screen. But what do the rest of its innards look like? Blue, orange, black, and gray, it seems! Japanese site 4Gamer took apart the new Vita for your viewing pleasure. In case you missed it, here are Kotaku‘s…

Surviving Two Traumatic Japanese Pranks Is Not Easy

Some pranks are very clever. Some are complicated. The above prank is very simple, but incredibly effective. The woman being tricked is actress Aki Takejo. This wasn’t the only prank she endured. Below, someone gives her a teddy bear with a bomb in it, telling her not to drop it. あき竹城ドッキリ１ [ikebukurosarah@YouTube] 百人隊ドッキリ [blackcataaa2010@YouTube] To…

“Chinese Food” Is The True Sequel To Rebecca Black’s “Friday”

The folks behind “Friday” are back! For better or worse, it’s not a day of the week that is getting immortalized in YouTube this time, but a cuisine. This is “Chinese Food.” Stupid? Offensive? Genius? If You Liked Rebecca Black’s “Friday,” You’ll Love “Chinese Food” [Gawker] To contact the author of this post, write to…

The Successor to “Duck Lips” Is “Sparrow Face”

Remember when people were doing pouty duck lips? In Japan, the pouty-faced look has evolved. The result is “Sparrow Face.” In Japanese, “duck lips” are called “ahiru-guchi” (アヒル口) or literally “duck mouth.” This week, Twitter and Japan’s biggest online forum have been buzzing over the latest forced expression, which is called “chun-gao” (チュン顔 or ちゅん顔)…

Perverts Are Making Pokémon X/Y All Salacious

Pokémon X/Y are not sexualized games. Yet, some players keep pointing to instances that seem unintentionally so. Damn them! Both X and Y allow players to interact with their Pocket Monsters by petting them. In Japan, however, this function is one reason why some Twitter users are dubbing the game “eroi” (エロい), or “erotic,” because…

Hey Internet, Hamsters Don’t Get Cuter Than This

Is this hamster heaven? It sure as heck looks like it. YouTube user Heibonkinoko loves hamsters—and loves not only making videos of his pet hamsters, but also building little playhouses for them. The results are both adorable and creative. This is wonderful. Heibonkino [YouTube viaIT Media] To contact the author of this post, write to…

Calling Pikachu “Slow” Leads to Destroyed Childhood Dreams

Pikachu is not slow! Except for when he’s crossing the street in South Korea. Courtesy of YouTube and tipster Sang, the above video is titled “Pikachu, the Childhood Destroyer.” At around the thirty-second mark, as the crosswalk is ticking down the seconds before the light changes, someone says, “Pikachu is too slow. Shit, there are…

Chinese Newspaper’s HQ Now Looks Like a Golden Penis

You might have already known that the new People’s Daily headquarters, first erected this spring, looks like a schlong. But did you know it now resembles a golden one? Chinese site iFengreports that the building is now being covered with golden paneling to reflect light and make everything think, “Oh hey, that’s a golden dick.”…

First Look at Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix

Next year, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix will hit the PlayStation 3. Here’s your first peek. The new remix includes Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, which was previously a PS2 Japan exclusive, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, which was previously on the PSP and also a Japan exclusive, and HD remastered cinematics for…

Rapper Says GTA V Stole His Music

Grand Theft Auto V is packed with tunes. But according to rapper and music producer Daz Dillinger, the game uses two of his without permission. Now, he wants Rockstar to pay up or to destroy all unsold copies of the game. Dillinger’s tracks “C-Walk” and “Nothin’ But the Cavi Hit” appear in the game. But…

“Cosplay Driver’s Licenses” Exist in Japan

Good news if you are a cosplayer! And if you have a car. And if you need to renew your Japanese driver’s license. You can legally pose for your license while cosplaying. Granted, this isn’t a mainstream trend by any means, but owning a “cosplay driver’s license” is certainly possible in Japan, where they’re also…

Okay, This Japanese Fast Food Chain Has Gone Mad

Should I get the rib patty? Or the beef patty? Or the fried shrimp patty? What about the cheeseburger? Screw it, you can get them all. At once. Behold the “With Everything Burger” (“zenbu nose baagaa” or 全部のせバーガー). Priced at 1,130 yen (US$11), it comes with lettuce, cabbage, egg, a slice of cheese, a cheeseburger,…