Brian Ashcraft

Track: Hikouki Gumo | Artist: Yumi Matsutoya | Album: Yumi Arai The Concert with old Friends

How Japanese Arcades Are Trying To Protect Against The Novel Coronavirus

Japanese arcades are places where people gather. But in the age of covid-19, that’s difficult, especially with machines so close together and players touching the same buttons and joysticks. The novel coronavirus has hurt business for arcades. Mikado, above, had to launch a crowdfunding effort to help make up for lost income. As noted on…

October 2019. Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. By Pawel Sitnik | Instagram  JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Attack On Titan Live-Action Actor Haruma Miura Dies At 30

On July 18, actor Haruma Miura was found dead in his Tokyo apartment. He was 30 years old. As Mainichi Daily News reports, Miura made his debut as a child actor on a 1997 morning drama series, and went on to win the newcomer award at the Japan Academy Film Prize for his role in…

Let’s Get Nerdy About Japanese Sake In Ghost Of Tsushima

This weekend I stayed up far too late playing Ghost of Tsushima. I’m having a blast and think it’s good fun. But as a Japanese sake nerd, there were several things I quickly noticed. Note: This article contains some light spoilers. Besides being fortunate enough to work at Kotaku, I also write books about various…

Square Enix is launching a new label for action games called Balan Company. It’s an international development collective for games, moving images, and music. Currently, there is a website, which teases future announcements.

Kyoto Animation: Don’t Visit The Location Of The 2019 Arson Tragedy

In July 2019, Kyoto Animation’s Studio 1 building was set ablaze, leaving 36 people dead. The studio has since been demolished. Today, Kyoto Animation issued a press release, asking fans not to visit the site. “Any entry into the premises of Kyoto Animation 1st Studio is prohibited without permission,” reads the release. “Since the vicinity…

Track: Fly Me to the Moon | Artist: Tony Bennett | Album: N/A (Live At Home) 

Ultraman Themed Suit Is Serious Business

In the Ultraman series Ultraseven, there is an elite defense force known as Ultra Garrison. Japanese clothing brand Takeo Kikuchi is selling a suit modeled after the group’s uniform. Here is a comparison with the Ultra Garrison uniform, courtesy of Pure Invention author Matt Alt. The suit has all sorts of neat little Ultraseven details.…

Rainbow Bridge. Odaiba, Japan. By Pawel Sitnik | Flickr | Instagram  JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Company Is Sorry For Making Crappy Figures

IA and ONE are popular Vocaloid singing voice synthesizer characters in Japan. To celebrate their birthdays, a pair of new figures have gone on sale in Japan. They’re relatively expensive and, well, apparently not very good.  Each figure is priced at around 35,000 yen ($327). Above is concept art, and below is what fans are…

Pet Fish Is Trying To Finish A Pokémon Game

If you think finishing a Pokémon game takes a long time, try playing one as a pet fish. That’s exactly what one pet fish in Japan is doing. Mutekimaru Channel is tracking fish Mutekimaru (aka Maurice) as it makes its way through Pokémon Ruby. As Soranews notes, the fish is obviously not aware it is…

Track: Neko to Arerugii | Artist: Kinoko Teikoku | Album: Neko to Arerugii

An anime adaptation of the Capcom action role-playing game Dragon’s Dogma is coming to Netflix. It is set to debut September 17 with Netflix noting, “Only the Arisen can face the Dragon and defeat the apocalypse.”

Ghost Of Tsushima Is Being Praised By Japanese Critics

So far, the critical consensus is that Ghost of Tsushima does an admirable job of bringing 13th century Japan to life.

Track: Wrote for Luck (Think About the Future) | Artist: The Happy Mondays | Album: Bummed (Collector’s Edition)

Think Spider-Man, But With Plastic Bags

In Spider-Man, Peter Parker invented devices worn on his wrists known as web-shooters. Twitter user Tsukasa-3D invented his own shooters, but for shopping bags. Recently in Japan, even convenience stores have started charging customers for plastic bags and to avoid paying these charges, people need to bring their own. Using a 3D printer, Tsukasa-3D created…

Your Summer 2020 Anime Guide

It’s summertime. In Japan, right now, it’s the rainy season. Wherever you are, it might be hot and maybe even humid. So let’s stay inside and watch some anime! Below are this season’s latest shows. Which ones are you watching? Let us know in the comments below. Baki The Great Raitai Tournament Saga Studio: TMS…

This winter’s Comic Market has been delayed. (Earlier this year, the May Comiket was canceled.) According to the official site, organizers are hoping to hold the next Comic Market in May 2021 at Tokyo Big Sight. Last year’s winter Comiket saw 750,000 attendees. 

Through the Trees. Drivenik, Croatia. By Eduard Tucaković | Instagram JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!