Brian Ashcraft

Nintendo’s Old Japanese Websites Are An Internet Time Trip

During the late 20th century, Nintendo launched websites to promote games and hardware. At the time of writing, some of those websites are still live, providing an opportunity to visit the internet of yesteryear. The earliest sites date from the early 1990s during the Super Famicom era. It’s amazing that these websites are still live.…

Matsumoto Castle. Matsumoto, Nagano. By Tjidde Tempels. 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!

Uniqlo Commercial Pulled In South Korea Due To Subtitle Translation

In a recent Uniqlo commercial, 98-year-old fashion model Iris Apfel talks with 13-year-old fashion designer Kheris Rogers. The commercial is in English, and the Korean-language subtitles have caused the Japanese clothing company to pull the ad. Viewers are accusing the subtitled commercial of forgetting the horrors of Japan’s forced occupation. Apfel speaks English in the…

If You Visit Kyoto In October, Check Out This Spooky Parade

While Halloween in Shibuya might get lots of attention because of the massive crowds (and chaos), Kyoto has an annual yokai parade that sure looks like spooky fun. The parade, which was held this year on October 19, is called Ichijo Hyakki Yakou (Ichijo’s Night Parade of the Hundred Yokai). The street Ichijodori, one of…

Manga artist Hideo Azuma has died from esophageal cancer. He was 69. Azuma created numerous manga, including Nanako S0S (Nana the Supergirl) and Little Pollon. In 2005, he published the award-winning Disappearance Diary about his struggles with alcohol addiction. May he rest in peace. 

Foggy. Tribalj, Croatia. By Eduard Tucaković | Instagram | 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: Something For Your M.I.N.D. | Artist: Superorganism | Album: Superorganism

Out of the 33 people injured in the Kyoto Animation fire, 27 of them have returned to work, Kyodo News reports. The tragic fire has left 36 dead. The 41-year-old man suspected of starting the blaze has been taken into police custody.  

Five Words You Must Know Before Visiting Japan

Ah, Japan! On a regular basis, I get emails from readers wanting to know about where they should go on their trip to Japan. Where should I stay? What should I eat? Questions like that. For a moment, forget that. I always feel like visitors to Japan are asking the wrong questions. Instead of asking…

Man Arrested For Allegedly Violating Yu-Gi-Oh’s Trademark With Fake Cards

A 27-year-old university student has been arrested in Fukui, Japan, after selling phony Yu-Gi-Oh cards at a flea market. The fake cards featured Dark Magician Girl and Blue-Eyes White Dragon and went for 86,000 yen ($792) and 46,000 yen ($423) respectively. According to Fukui Shimbun Online, the suspect was quoted as saying, “I didn’t know…

At this year’s Monaco Manga Anime Game International Conference Kyoto 2018, talks are slated to be given by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Yu Suzuki, and artist William Simpson. There will also be a cosplay performance. For more, check out the official site.  

Shrine Deer. Nara, Japan. By Robert Rubsam. 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!

Pokémon Sword & Shield Gigantamax Variants Are Getting Weirder

It’s official. Here are the Gigantamax versions of Pikachu, Eevee, Charizard, and Meowth. Gigantamaxing bumps up their battle stats, increases their size and changing their appearance, making them all strange, big, and glowy. That version of Meowth sure is something! It looks like a nod to the long-cat meme, but glowing and with yellow eyes.…

Track: This Letter | Artist: Belle & Sebastian | Album: Days of the Bagnold Summer

Man Arrested After Sending Death Threats To Hideaki Anno’s Studio

A 35-year-old resident of Okayama, Japan is in police custody after making death threats to Hideaki Anno’s Studio Khara. Best known for the Rebuild of Evangelion anime series, Khara received threats over SNS that evoked the Kyoto Animation tragedy. According to Livedoor News, Noriaki Inukai was arrested for making the threats, to which he has…

Here is a Gundam head that’s also…a glasses case. It’s called the Gundam Head Case and is priced at 39,980 yen ($368). Pre-orders start soon and supplies are limited! No word on an international release.

Badly Behaved Foreigners In Japan Discussed On Beat Takeshi’s TV Show

Japan is hosting the Rugby World Cup. Fans from all over the world are attending, and a percentage of them have been rowdy. On TV Tackle, one of Beat Takeshi’s television programs, the issue of poorly behaved foreigner tourists was once again a topic of discussion. There has been footage of rugby fans causing chaos,…

A Thief. Battambang, Cambodia. By Robert Rubsam 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: New World | Artist: Bjork | Album: Selma Songs

Final Fantasy Mobile Game Getting Live-Action Musical In Japan

Free-to-play role-playing-game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius will be turned into a musical for the stage next March. Final Fantasy Brave Exvius debuted on mobile in Japan on October 22, 2015, and went worldwide in June 2016. According to IT Media, the musical version will be written by Fumiya Matsuzaki, who previously penned the Super Danganronpa…