Brian Ashcraft

Japan’s Straw Beasts Are Huge, Wonderful, and Highly Flammable

It’s fall in Japan. And like every fall, rice is harvested, leaving behind straw to be hung and dried. In some rural areas, though, the rice straw has a special use: Making giant beasts. Kagawa Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture have the most famous “straw art festivals,” which are large straw sculpture displays. Traditionally, straw was…

The Amazing Chalk Art of Japanese Classrooms

Why spend all your time at school studying? Especially when you can spend your time drawing on blackboards. Last year, Kotaku first covered three Japanese high school students who were causing waves online with their chalk art. After class or during recess, they would draw anime and manga characters, making brilliant use of negative space.…

Ever Wonder Why Nintendo Is Slightly…Different?

Nintendo is not like its rivals. Nintendo is like Nintendo. Here’s why. Sometimes that results in truly odd ideas—rather, ideas that seem odd at first, but then are ultimately taken up by rivals. These are ideas that actually become “normal.” Sometimes it leads to spectacular failures. But you can always count on Nintendo to do…

Baby Crawling or Doggy Crawling: Which Is Cuter?

Now, this is a difficult question. A really difficult one. YouTube user Kenji Chen uploaded this clip of his little one crawling with his two huskies. Or maybe, he uploaded a clip of his two huskies crawling with his son. Whichever, the result is adorable 第一屆胖胖糖爬爬大賽 [Kenji Chen@YouTube] To contact the author of this post,…

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is dated for Japan. Out December 26, it will also include “The Eternal Calm” and “Last Mission.” No word about a Western release.

Burger King Has a “Black Ninja” Burger in Japan. No, Really.

Dark outfits. Throwing stars. Burgers? When you think of ninja, you probably think of their lore. You don’t think of Burger King. You might now. For a limited time, Burger King is rolling out the “Black Ninja.” As NariNari points out, the burger uses black buns like last year’s Premium Kuro (Black) Burger. At the…

Report: College Students Forced To Make the PlayStation 4 [Update]

While the PlayStation 3 was originally produced in Japan, Sony now outsources its hardware assembling to the Asian electronics mega-manufacturer Foxconn. So, the PlayStation 4 is being made in China. And according to reports, thousands of college students were forced to manufacture it. Shanghai’s Dongfang Daily (via China.com) reports that “thousands” of students from Xi’an…

The Best Hangover Cure is Sprite, Say Chinese Researchers

Researchers at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou in China analyzed 57 different drinks, looking for the best hangover cure. They claim they found it: Sprite. Sprite might not erase hangovers all together, but the fizzy drink could shorten those icky feelings you get from getting hammered and help your body breakdown the booze. After drinking…

Arrested for Selling Fake iPhones Made of…Clay

I’m pretty sure this isn’t a real iPhone. Call it a hunch. Japan’s News24 reports that in South Korea, three men were arrested for selling nearly 300 iPhone boxes filled with clay to a Chinese merchant for the equivalent of rough US$150,000. The clay filled boxes were sealed in plastic and weighed as much as…

Glitch Turns GTA V Into An Accidental Bloodbath

In this dramatic Grand Theft Auto V cutscene, Michael and his friend Trevor have a heated conversation. A stupid-AI bug makes it even more so. Warning: This clip might contain spoilers, blood. The bug has police officers firing on both characters as they talk at Michael’s house. If only the cops could’ve given a fuck…

Report: They’re Making a New Pokémon Game Starring Pikachu

Pikachu, I choose you! For a starring role in the next Pokémon game, that is. Later this month, Japanese broadcaster NHK is airing a profile on Pokémon Company honcho Tsunekazu Ishihara. The profile will feature, of course, interviews with Ishihara as well as provide an exclusive look at the company. But there’s more: According to…

I Cannot Bear This Video

I really can’t. Which is just me baring my feelings. And while I’ve barely seen it once, bear with me as I share it with you and the rest of the internet. Top Secret Title [SgtScrubbleBubbles@YouTube] To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft

The PlayStation 5 Probably Won’t Be a Console, Says Tekken Producer

This fall, the PlayStation 4 will finally be released. Enjoy that physical media playing game console thingy! As one game producer says, it could be the last of its kind for PlayStation. In a recent interview in Famitsu, Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada of Namco Bandai talked a bit about the future of the PlayStation, its…

North Korea Still Sucks at Photoshop [Update]

Can someone please help the North Korean government out? The propaganda ministers stink at Photoshop. Please get them to sign up for a class at their local community college. Or maybe Dennis Rodman can help. As frightening as North Korea can seem, honestly, the country’s inability to master the art of Photoshop should leave doubts…

Don’t Become a Thing, Freaky Furby Make Up

For years, big anime-style eyes have been popular in Japan. Now, one Japanese fashion mag is introducing “doll style make up.” Please don’t catch on. Please. The make-up is designed to make your eyes look like a plastic doll’s. The image, via Twitter user @yun___yu, is from Popteen, which is one of Japan’s most popular…

Don’t Hold Your Breath For Nintendo Games On iOS (Or Android)

When recently asked if Nintendo was planning on putting out titles on smartphones, company honcho Satoru Iwata replied, “Nobody knows the distant future. Or if I’ll be president. However, what I can say is, ‘At present, no.'”

Dragon Quest is coming to smartphones in a big way. Square Enix is bringing Dragon Quest I to Dragon Quest VIII to iOS and Android. Look forward for the onslaught to start this winter when Dragon Quest I is re-released in Japan. Subsequent sequels to follow. No word about a Western release.

I Dare Hollywood to Pull Off a Stunt Like This

These days movies are all about CG graphics. They’re closer to video games than good-old fashioned analog film. So we’ll leave it to real life to accidentally dazzle us with amazing stunts. This black box video was taken in a South Korean parking lot. It starts slow, but please, stick with it. 서커스를 하시는 김여사…

Japan Discovers The Secret Of Unlimited Chocolate

Remove one piece of chocolate from a chocolate bar. Swap two other pieces, and voilà, you have what sure seems like an endless supply of chocolate. Of course, it’s not. The above GIF, created from this video by YouTube user Mariano Tomatis, shows how the trick appears to result in the same-sized chocolate bar. However,…

Japan’s Newest Superheroes Are Fruity

When I heard that Japan’s newest superhero show was based on fruit, I scoffed. How silly! And then, I saw their outfits. That changed everything Above, you can see the transformation (変身 or “henshin”) for the latest Kamen Rider series, Kamen Rider Gaim. Somebody sure had fun thinking this one up! Of course, Kamen Rider…