Brian Ashcraft

The Meaning Of Yakuza‘s Tattoos

In Japan, tattoos and the yakuza often seem inseparable. Not every gangster has a tattoo and not everyone with a full bodysuit is a gangster, but when pop culture depicts the underworld, anti-heroes come fully inked. Case in point: the Yakuza games. Skin deep they are not. But the same goes for Japanese tattoos, which…

Long-running Japanese game magazine Dengeki PlayStation is ceasing publication It debuted in 1994. The Dengeki website dengekionline.com, which isn’t focused exclusively on PlayStation, remains a popular source for gaming news in Japan and the broadcast show “Dengeki PS Live” will continue on its Youtube channel.

Still Chilly. Osaka, Japan. By Brian Ashcraft | Twitter 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 

Track: Koi no Ruuru・Atarashii Ruuru | Artist: Pizzicato Five | Album: The Band of the 20th Century: Nippon Columbia Years 1991-2001

Japanese Idol Group Charging Fans Who Don’t Wear Sickness Masks Because Of Coronavirus

Numerous events scheduled for the next few weeks have been canceled in Japan and abroad. Idol group 2o Love to Sweet Bullet isn’t rescheduling upcoming events, but rather charging extra for fans who don’t wear masks. 2o Love to Sweet Bullet isn’t a mainstream idol group. It’s what’s called a chika aidoru (地下アイドル) or “underground…

Nintendo Comes To The Rescue After 95-Year-Old Grandmother’s Game Boy Breaks

In the Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s largest newspapers, 70-year-old Kuniko Tsusaka recounted how her mother always had a Game Boy nearby to play Tetris. But when her mother turned 95 and her health started to suffer, her Game Boy stopped working. This was her mother’s third Game Boy, and Tsusaka, who lives in Chiba, wasn’t…

Wall of Glass. Tokyo, Japan. By Jon | Official Site 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 

Track: Bad Decisions | Artist: The Strokes | Album: The New Abnormal

Seven-Year-Old Wins A Pokémon Championship, Makes Everyone A Fan

Meet Simone Lim. She’s the new Pokémon Oceania International Juniors Championships champion. She faced off in Melbourne against the older and formidable Justin Miranda-Radbord. He’s defending champ with a long list of achievements, including 21-time Regional Champ. Lim seemed to come out of nowhere to claim her crown. This was her first year competing; she…

The Ghibli Museum in Tokyo will be closed until March 17 due to coronavirus concerns. The call to close the museum was made in accordance with Tokyo’s decision to cancel events in the next three weeks to help prevent the outbreak from spreading. The Ghibli Museum will refund purchased tickets. 

Rainy Night. Meguro, Tokyo, Japan. By Jesse Dijk | 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 

Track: Nankasa (Live) | Artist: Never Young Beach | Album: A Good Time

Japan’s Most Delicious Bread Is Melon Pan

Japan has brought the world some truly delicious treats, but one of the best of all has to be meron pan (melon bread). We know it tastes good, but how was it invented? And why is it called that? Typically, melon bread is fluffy bread with a sugar-covered cookie-type top crust. The exact origins of…

Here’s the teaser for the upcoming Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter – The Final/The Beginning movies. The Final, which opens in Japan on July 3, centers on Kenshin’s battle with a weapons dealer, while The Beginning, opening in Japan on August 7, recounts the swordsman’s younger days. No word yet on international releases.

Things Will Be Okay (Hopefully) Kyoto, Japan. By Nathan Rutkofske. 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 

Track: Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right | Artist: Bob Dylan | Album: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan 

One of Japan’s biggest cosplay gatherings, the Nipponbashi Street Festa in Osaka, will not be held this year due to coronavirus concerns. The Street Festa has been held annually since 2005 and draws as many as 200,000 people. This year’s event was supposed to kick off on March 15. There are no plans to reschedule. 

Pokémon Anime Accused Of Whitewashing

Gym Leader Bea from Pokémon Sword and Shield appears in the most recent episode of the Pokémon: Twilight Wings anime. Notice anything different about the character’s animated version? Below are Bea’s official game art and a screenshot from Pokemon.co.jp: More in-game images from event scenes: As Japanese site Hachima Kikou points out, here is how…

Tokyo Ramen Restaurant Won’t Allow Foreigners Because Of Coronavirus

Ueno Sanji, a ramen restaurant in Tokyo, is only allowing Japanese customers due to COVID-19 concerns. The owner (pictured) claims that this is not discrimination but his duty to protect his family, his employees and his loyal customers. There have been around 75,000 cases of people infected with coronavirus in China, followed by 104 in…

Exploring the Plum Blossoms. Osaka, Japan. By Malou Tibayan 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