Brian Ashcraft

Hayao Miyazaki Says Cutesy Anime Voices Are “Unbearable”

Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is known for iconic anime like My Neighbor Totoro. He’s also known for telling it like it is. If he thinks using the iPad looks like masturbation, then he’s gonna damn well say that. But this time, he’s talking about voice acting—cutesy voice acting that he finds “unbearable”. Recently, Miyazaki divulged his…

According to the official site, it looks like famed anime director Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, etc.) is involved with the live-action Patlabor movie. That’s good news! The movie is due out in 2014.

There’s Another New Pokémon 3DS XL, You Know

Nintendo isn’t releasing one new jumbo-sized Pokémon XY 3DS handhelds for Japan, but two new 3DS XL units. Previously, Kotaku posted the blue and black one that features two new legendary creatures—Xerneas and Yveltal. Here’s the other! It’s in “Premium Gold” and only available at Pokémon Center retailers in Japan this October when the game…

Japanese Toilet Candy Is a Big Hit!

Things weren’t exactly easy. In fact, many stores in Japan didn’t even want to carry the product. Sweets that you drink out of a plastic toilet? Eh… But now, Moko Moko Mokoletto is flushed with success. In Japanese “moko moko” (もこもこ) means “fluffy”, and the candy’s box reads, “Delicious fluffy foam overflowing from a cute,…

Capcom announced that Sengoku Basara 4 will be out in early 2014 on the PS3.

Goats Work at Amazon Japan. Like, Actual Goats.

Amazon Japan has harnessed (hired?) goats to manicure the grounds at its distribution center in Gifu Prefecture. And the most interesting part? Amazon isn’t even the first internet company to do this! According to Doshin Web, the goats are being brought in once a week until fall to eat weeds and mow the lawn—with their…

According to the latest issue of Famitsu, Dragon Quest X gets a Windows release in Japan on September 26.

Japan’s “Draw the Owl” Meme Has a Harry Potter Twist

You’ve seen that draw the fucking owl meme image, right? It’s a parody of a how-to draw book. Japan has a version of that, but instead of the owl, it features Draco Malfoy. You know, from Harry Potter. Harry Potter has been incredibly popular in Japan thanks to the movies and the books’ excellent Japanese…

The Atlus Brand Will Carry On, Says Japanese HQ

Atlus’s parent company is in trouble. It’s being investigated and going through what sounds like bankruptcy. Scary times. But wait! The good news is that Atlus USA previously told Kotaku that it was “unaffected” by the Index Corporation proceedings in Japan. Index Corporation is Atlus’ parent company. But what about Atlus Japan? You know, where…

“Warped” Lolita Doll Comparisons Piss Off Model

“Twenty year-old Katie Lawrence lives her life as a human doll,” the Barcroft TVannouncer says. “Katie is obsessed with Lolita fashion.” Katie Lawrence, however, begs to differ. On June 27, Barcroft TV uploaded a video called “Real Life Human Doll”. The two minute clip follows a young woman named Katie Lawrence. It shows her putting…

Predator Riding an Alien? Star Wars Samurai? Now, This Is Cool.

Takayuki Takeya is one of Japan’s most talented—and unusual figure sculptors. His work is sometimes dark and even disturbing, but it’s always interesting and often very cool. Recently in Tokyo, Takeya’s work was on display at 3331 Arts Chiyoda. This was his first exhibit in over a decade. Have a look: Takeya might be best…

How One Man Wants To Bring an Iconic Anime Glider to Life

In the classic Japanese anime Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, the heroine Nausicaä flies a glider called a “Mehve”. The anime might be a work of fiction, but the glider isn’t. Not any more. Since 2003, Kazuhiko Hachiya has been working on a real-world Mehve—an actual single seat glider just like in Nausicaä.…

That Quirky RPG IS Getting Another Sequel

Remember The Denpa Men? Well, it’s getting another sequel. This is the third entry in the cute RPG series. You can see the trailer above. The game will be released on August 7 as a download in Japan. 「電波人間のRPG3」プロモーションムービー [4Gamer] To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter…

According to a Famitsu leak, Tokyo Jungle is apparently headed to PlayStation Mobile for Android, complete with a new overhead view. Reportedly, it will be out July 10 and will initially be priced at 300 yen in Japan.

Want Your Drink with a Slice of Triforce?

Well, you can get it at a 10th anniversary event in Kyoto for Japanese t-shirt maker King of Games. More here. 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,…

This Funny English Book Will Never Help You at School. Never.

For many in Japan, English is a hard language. Most textbooks are dull. Not this one. Titled English Words That Don’t Appear on Tests (試験に出ない英単語), the book is packed with ridiculous words, phrases, sentences, and photos that will never help you on any examination. But they might make you giggle. For example? These are even…

Parents Dress Child as a Nightclub Host

This is Ryuchalo. He’s four years old. And he appears in grown-up men’s fashion magazines. Heck, his Facebook page lists him as “Ryuchalo, the four year old host”. Let me explain: “Four years old” as in pre-school and “host” as in a paid male drinking companion. In Japan, host fashion is…different. Little Ryuchalo sports “host…

Lightning as Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII for Pre-Order Bonus

Lightning returns alright. This time, she can dress up in Cloud Strife’s Soldier 1st Class Uniform and swing his Buster Sword. But there’s a catch! According to the PlayStation Blog, those who pre-order Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII for the PS3 get the costume DLC. Um. Okay. Neat? Eds note: The press release also says…

Why Xbox Fans Are Called “Gropers” in Japan

The Xbox consoles are not popular in Japan. That doesn’t mean those game machines lack hardcore fans. They certainly exist in the region. And online in Japan, there’s a disparaging nickname for them: “gropers”. The Japanese word is “chikan” (痴漢), which translates as “groper” or “molester”. “Chikan” is certainly not something anyone wants to be…

More Terrifying Than Clickers? Last of Us Glitches

Like some games, The Last of Us has had its share of bugs. Annoying, but that’s what patches are for! But in the meantime, the bugs can strike terror in the hearts of gamers everywhere. Or, you know, make them burst out laughing. Here’s a look at some of the more amusing Last of Us…