Brian Ashcraft

Gucci Has A $1,620 Esports Watch For You To Buy

Italian fashion brand Gucci is teaming up pro esports organization Fnatic for a limited edition watches that are inspired by its League of Legends team. The quartz watches are Gucci’s stainless steel Dive watches on a rubber strap. Limited to 100 pieces, the watch takes its cue from the organization’s LoL team with “FNATIC” engraved…

Here’s a first look at The War of Genesis: Remnants of Gray, a remake for the first War of Genesis games, for the Nintendo Switch. Developed by ReG Studio, it will be released in South Korea in 2022. No word yet on an international release! (Thanks Sang, for the tip!)

Because Of Covid-19, Meeting Pop Idols In Japan Has Changed

In the pre-novel coronavirus world, Japanese pop idols held meet-and-greets with fans in which they’d shake hands and pose for pictures. Now, they’re doing it, too, but things have changed. As reported by News Gamme, a series of precautions are being taken for an idol group Momoiro Revolution’s recent live event. For example, fans were…

Last month, Kotaku reported that the in-person 2020 Tokyo Game Show was canceled and would be an online event. Today, organizers announced that Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online will be held for five days from September 23-27 through an official TGS channel with streams, videos, and an esports tournament. 

Track: Symphony (SalaAM ReMi Mix) | Artist: Marvin Gaye | Album: You’re The Man

In Japan, An Esports Facility Is Opening For Elderly People

On July 2, an esports center aimed at senior citizens will open in Kobe, Japan. Called ISR Esports, it will only cater to people who are aged 60 years old and up. The established is open to those who have never played a video game before, with staff on hand to help. First, seniors are…

Earth Defense Force 6 Announced, Scheduled For 2021 In Japan

Earth Defense Force 6 has been announced on a teaser site. It’s slated for 2021 in Japan, and it has giant bugs. Of course! Platforms are TBA, but the first screenshots certainly look current-gen. So far, the game has been announced for Japan. No word yet on an international release date. If you’ve never played…

Here Are Some Official Pokémon Purses And Bags

Japanese fashion brand Samantha Vega is teaming up with Pokémon for a line of purses and bags. As seen on At Press, there are different themes in the collection, and while a couple of the bags just look like purses with Pokémon face slapped on it, that Poké Ball one is especially excellent. Ditto for…

Let’s Check Out Masahiro Sakurai’s Living Room!

With more people working from home due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, we have gotten a window into all sorts of folks’ homes. This time, it’s Masahiro Sakurai! Yesterday, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai revealed that Min Min from ARMS was joining the fray. This time, though, Sakurai filmed the announcement himself from…

Track: Maybe I’m Amazed | Artist: Paul McCartney | Album: McCartney

In Taiwan, Pizza Hut Created Ramen Pizza

Ramen burgers exist, so why shouldn’t ramen pizza? Thanks to Pizza Hut Taiwan, it does.  (Previously, Kotaku introduced ramen crust pizza, but this time, it’s ramen pizza!)  According to Elle, this is a collaboration between Japanese ramen restaurant Menya Musashi and Pizza Hut. The result is ramen, slices of pork, spring onions, and half an…

A Device To (Maybe) Help You Get Out Of Zoom Meetings

With people at home, enough more of our lives have gone online. In Japan, on-nomi, short for “online drinking parties,” are a way for people to gather in Zoom and drink. But what if you are ready to log out? This gag device might help. Maybe not! This is being referred to as an online…

Track: In Between Days | Artist: The Cure | Album: In Between Days / Stop Dead

The PlayStation PocketStation Makes For An Excellent Backpack

Remember the PocketStation? Released in Japan for the original PlayStation, it was a Memory Card peripheral outfitted with LCD screen and the ability to run software. Turns out the PocketStation’s shape works very well in backpack-form. Twitter user Yoshito created this PocketStation backpack. It’s not working or playable, of course, but does feature the white…

A Kamen Rider Store Is Opening In Japan

In a country with Ultraman, Godzilla, and Gundam stores, it was only a matter of time before an official Kamen Rider store opened in Japan. On July 1, the Kamen Rider Store Tokyo will begin serving customers. It’s located on Tokyo Character Street, a hub of anime and manga related shops in Tokyo Station. As…

Track: My Own Version of You | Artist: Bob Dylan | Album: Rough and Rowdy Ways

Long Lines In Japan For Uniqlo Face Masks

While some people in the United States are refusing to wear masks, people in Japan are lining up for them, especially at clothing retailer Uniqlo Lines for masks were common earlier this year during the initial novel coronavirus outbreak, with mask shortages causing people to wait in front of drugstores for the latest shipments. Now,…

First Look At Studio Ghibli’s Upcoming CG Movie

As previously reported, Studio Ghibli is doing a long-form adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones’ novel Earwig and the Witch. Here is a first look at what the full CG adaptation will look like. The following screenshots were published by Comic Natalie. Titled Aya to Majo (Aya and the Witch), the movie won’t play in theaters…

Condom Maker Creates Promotional Anime

Okamoto Industries, one of Japan’s biggest condom manufacturer, has created an online anime series to promote safe sex. Dubbed Condom Battler Goro, the show takes its stylistic cue from classic Japanese anime, including Dragon Ball, Pokemon, Fist of the North Star and Yu-Gi-Oh, among many others like Ashita no Joe. According to PR Times (via…

After 30 Years, Namco Bandai Releases New Version Of Amusement Arcade Game

If you’ve ever been to an arcade in Japan, you’ve probably seen Wani Wani Panic. It’s similar to Whac-A-Mole, but with alligators, and is a mainstay of Japanese game centers. (Whac-A-Mole was invented in Japan and licensed to Bandai in 1977.) Originally released in Japan in 1989, Wani Wani Panic did come to North America…