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Kotaku East
When a Normal Lady Chases After Nerds
There are single male geeks. There are female geeks. They’d probably make good couples. But what about when a non-nerd chases after geeks? A recent news program on TV Asahi’s Super J Channel detailed just that. In it, Kayo Tanaka, 31, said she was keen to get married. All her friends have been getting married,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2012 -
Angry Birds, the Chinese Pop Song
Liu Dong, or “Jocelin” as she calls herself in English, is making the transition from search engine staffer to Chinese popstar! Her debut tune should sound familiar: It’s apparently a love song called “Angry Birds” (愤怒的小鸟). The song debuted on Chinese search engine Baidu’s music streaming service, Baidu Ting. Jocelin works in human resources at…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This English Text Book Is Cruel
Often, you see incorrect English in Japan. It doesn’t look natural. This might be due to a mistranslation or incorrect word choice. Sometimes you see stuff that’s totally correct—perfect. And then there’s this: correct, but oh so cruel. The English corresponds exactly with the Japanese—much to the amusement of many online in Japan. This excerpt…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Lupin the Third, The Hell Are You Doing with That Car?
Lupin from Japanese anime Lupin the Third drives a Fiat 500 in the classic flick Lupin the Third: Castle of Cagliostro. The car is very much part of the character’s lore. No wonder Fiat launched a special limited edition Lupin Fiat 500 in 2008. That’s easy to get your head around! This? Less so. Suzuki…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
PlayStation Hacker Arrested for Drug Possession
George Hotz, sued by Sony for hacking the PS3, has been arrested in Sierra Blanca, Texas. The 22 year-old was busted for possession of marijuana. According to website Above the Law, Hotz was on his way to the SXSW conference in Austin when he was stopped at a border patrol checkpoint in the West Texas…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
The Beautiful (and Bloody) Cosplay of Saki Hanamura
Her work is idyllic at times. At other times, it’s risqué and racy. And then it can be downright gory. Say hello to Saki Hanamura. Hanamura is one of Japan’s most well known cosplayers and has appeared in photo discs with a variety of different cosplayers. Her work is equally as varied. “I like mysterious…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This $400 Steel Battalion Bundle Doesn’t Include a Tank
It does include a jacket, helmet cap, and bag like Steel Battalion character W. Powers sports in the game. There’s also the game’s soundtrack and a book, too. All yours for ¥35,000 or US$420 via Capcom’s online shop for a limited time. イーカプコン限定で [4Gamer]
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku EastReport: Japanese TV Burned Old Man. There Was a Cover-Up.
Japanese television can get extreme: people doing crazy stunts, people getting hurt. According to a recent published report, one network went too far. In 2003, late night Japanese variety show Taikutsu Kizoku: Un Noble Ennuyeux had an old Japanese man walk on fire, calling him “The Rambo of the Orient”. Fuji TV, one of the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
These Are Not Nintendo Characters
Nope! They are dressed as Nintendo characters, though. Koei Tecmo is putting iconic outfits in the latest hack-and-slash Dynasty Warriors game, Dynasty Warriors VS, as unlockable items. To be fair, only the costumes will appear in the Nintendo 3DS game, but look at that sample characters model Koei Tecmo released? Link gone all Dynasty Warriors.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This Cosplayer Is Hungry Like a Wolf
This is South Korean cosplayer Hyun-Ah Cho. That’s not her cosplayer name. Oh, no. Her cosplayer name is “Wolf”. The Seoul resident tackles a wide variety of games and anime with her cosplay. Though, she sure seems to like fighting game Guilty Gear. There’s a lot of Guilty Gear! When not cosplaying Wolf says her…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2012 -
Kotaku EastWhy The Hell Am I Not Playing this Korean Girl Group Game?
In Asia, Girls Generation is huge. And in their native South Korea, the girl group has shilled DSi units for Nintendo. Yet, the group does not have its own game. But if it did, would it look like this? This is a fan creation. It’s totally made-up and headed to stores sometime between never and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Press This Arcade Button. A Real Person Will Appear.
One of the best things about Japan is the service. The service is generally great. One of the things that makes it so great? Call buttons. Instead of sitting in a restaurant waiting around for a waiter or waitress to make his or her way towards your table, you can press the call button, and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This Xbox 360 Game Demo Is Ten Hours Long. Wait, What?
This spring, Japanese adventure game Root Double: Before Crime*After Days is coming to the Xbox 360. The game’s limited edition bundle costs ¥9,240 (US$112), while the regular edition is ¥7,140 ($87). That’s a lot of money. How can you be sure it’s worth it? Well, you could play the game’s demo. Make that, the game’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2012 -
Kotaku EastCleaning Your Girly Skinsuit Is a Pain in the Ass
Kigurumi, those folks who dress head-to-toe as characters, know. Keeping one’s skinsuit clean and in good shape is no easy task. Just watch this instructional video and be freaked out learn for yourself. Kigurumi Skinsuit (Zentai) Care [YouTube via Chris Person]
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Another Peek at What Metal Gear‘s Creator Is Working On
Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid, is not only working on a new game, he’s also working on a new game engine. Oh, and he’s also hiring up for the “next” Metal Gear. Busy guy! But Kojima’s also been nice enough to provide a peek into what’s going on at his studio, Kojima Productions.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2012 -
New Final Fantasy Versus XIII Info? Hrm…
Square Enix has been making Final Fantasy Versus XIII for a long, long time. Gamers aren’t playing the game yet; rather, they’re playing the waiting for it game. The Versus designer, Tetsuya Nomura said the latest info about the title is ready to roll, but… But…. “We’re almost done with preparing the latest info for…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Why this Ridiculous Zombie Game Rings True
Yakuza: Dead Souls is goofy. It’s silly. It’s a parody. The game looks like it has borrowed pages from both the Left4Dead and Resident Evil handbooks. Yet wrapped inside that hammy exterior is something surprising: reality. When the game was originally about to be released, the Tohoku Earthquake hit. Yakuza: Dead Souls, with its images…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2012
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