Brian Ashcraft

NASA Mission Has Anime Mascots (Anime Mascots?)

NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are launching a satellite for next-gen rain and snow observation for the entire globe. This is an important mission and will help us better understand our planet’s water cycles. And it needs an important mascot. NASA decided to hold a contest to select a mission mascot. Since…

Kids Find New Studio Ghibli Anime “Boring”, But Adults Dig It

This summer, famed anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is releasing his latest film, Kaze Tachinu. According to reports, little kids are finding it “dull”. You don’t have kids, do you? Kaze Tachinu is a fictionalized animated biography of Jiro Horikoshi, who created the iconic World War II fighter plane, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Recently, there have…

In Japan, People Do Dumb Crap on the Internet, Too

Like watching people fall out of chairs? How about lighting firecrackers in their butts? Or on their faces? Kids, don’t try this at home—because people on NicoNico already have! Of course, Japan’s no different from any other country in that the internet offers a place for idiots and chaos to collide. Nico Nico is, in…

Looks like that “New Title” Namco Bandai has been counting down tois for the 3DS.

This Schoolgirl Is a Photoshop Disaster and Not an Evil Spirit

Some say this Japanese schoolgirl photo shows an evil spirit. Others say it’s just bad Photoshop. Everyone agrees that it’s pretty freaky. The photo apparently shows a brochure for a private high school in Miyagi prefecture. As awful as it sounds, look under the desk. Yikes! This image has been retweeted over four thousand times,…

Apple Investigating Alleged iPhone 5 Electrocution Death

Last Thursday, 23-year-old flight attendant Ma Ailun apparently died after being electrocuted by her iPhone 5. According to the Xinhua news agency, Ma was allegedly electrocuted when she answered her iPhone 5, which was plugged in and charging. The incident reportedly happened at Ma’s home. Since then, warnings about using iPhones while charging have been…

Chinese TV Rips Off Popular Japanese Anime?

One of this year’s most popular Japanese anime is Attack on Titan. The show isn’t only popular at home in Japan, but also in other countries, including China. There, the anime’s opening recently became a focus of internet controversy. A Hunan TV talent show called Happy Man Voice: Super Boy used featured a segment called…

Remember when Level-5 said it made the last Professor Layton starring the titular professor? Well, turns out Level-5 honcho Akihiro Hino is happy how the last Layton game turned out and recently said (via ANN), “I’m thinking I want to make a new Layton.”

Dumb Facebook “Joke” Leads to Swift Ice Cream Justice

Summer is hot. One way to cool down is with delicious ice cream. But after a recent Facebook joke, numerous people in Japan probably don’t feel like getting ice cream from this Japanese convenience store chain. Originally from the United States, Lawson is now one of the largest franchise chains in Japan, where it’s now…

Pokémon Modded to Skyrim for Some Reason

Just because you can do something, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. That didn’t stop Steam user DJSuperGenius from adding Pocket Monsters to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim The mod’s description might explain better. No, wait, strike that. Nothing can explain this. Pokémon? In Skyrim? Yes, you read that correctly. You now can Battle Pokemon,…

The Smelliest, Stickiest Pokémon Food Money Can Buy

In Japanese supermarkets, it’s not uncommon to see Pokémon branded food. Usually, it’s regular food, but with a Pocket Monster label slapped on it. There’s one Pokémon food, however, that currently stands out. And boy, it stinks. This is Pokémon branded nattou. Nattou (納豆) is made from fermented beans. It’s a slimy food that, if…

Korean TV Commercials To Delight, Amaze, and Baffle

Japan doesn’t have a monopoly on interesting and unusual commercials. Neighbouring South Korea has its fair share of peculiar ads. Some of them, like the RoboCop one, are classics. Others, you might not have seen. Have a look. (And yes, the last ad is Japanese.) CrusaderCast [YouTube] To contact the author of this post, write…

Namco Bandai is counting down to “New Title”. Whatever could this mean?

Why Nintendo Fans Are Called “Pigs” (and Other Things) in Japan

Not everyone in Japan loves Nintendo. Some people hate Nintendo. Like, really, really hate Nintendo. And online, those folks have nicknames for Nintendo diehards. Online in Japan, mean nicknames aren’t unique to Nintendo fans! Previously, Kotaku covered the mocking monikers given to Sony and Xbox fans on Japanese gaming forums and in blog comment sections.…

Bow Before Your Japanese Boy Band Overlords!

Have you ever heard of Arashi? It’s a Japanese boy band that’s so popular, that a poster of the group is drawing crowds, cameras, and grovelling. You might not know Arashi, but perhaps you’ve seen Letters from Iwo Jima? One of the stars, Kazunari Ninomiya, is a member of Arashi. The group has also appeared…

Japan Has the Cutest Construction Signs You’ll Ever See

Road construction isn’t what I would call “cute”. It’s hard work. Dangerous. Sweaty. There’s nothing cute about that. Japan, however, might beg to differ. Yes, Japanese construction workers are a tough and serious lot. The construction sites, though, often have signs with little anime style characters bowing and asking to pardon any trouble the construction…

Why the Grand Theft Auto V Trailer Depressed Hideo Kojima

Chin up, Hideo! Don’t let something like a new Grand Theft Auto V trailer get you down. “I saw the new GTA V trailer!” Kojima tweeted*. “It was awesome, way too awesome. This degree of freedom is surely the future of gaming! It’s at a different level from others. To be honest, it depresses me.”…

Oh Hey, It’s Kim Jong-il Immortalized in Wax

North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il is long gone. But his likeness lives on in this highly realistic statue given to North Korea as a gift of gratitude. Nothing says “thank you” like a wax dictator! As China Daily(via Beijing Cream) points out, China’s Great Man Wax Museum made the figure, Kim coat and all, and…

Would You Like To Buy One Thousand Famicoms?

The Famicom is an iconic game console. It established Nintendo as a gaming powerhouse. So! How would you like to own, oh, a thousand Famicoms? On Yahoo! Auctions Japan, a seller is offering a lot of one thousand Famicoms (above). Just look at that stack. Look at it! Goodness. The haul contains 480 Famicom consoles…

It’s Time Nintendo Brought Out a New Franchise, Says Shigeru Miyamoto

Nintendo has a stable of tried and tested games. But those of you who wished Nintendo would do something new, listen up. According to Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo will. In the latest issue of Famitsu, Miyamoto talked about a “new franchise”. Here’s the direct quote (translation via Kotaku‘s Toshi Nakamura): Famitsu: So, starting with…