Toshi Nakamura

Smash Bros. Creator Loves Lightning Returns‘ Battle System

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, the third and final(?) chapter of the Final Fantasy XIII saga, came out in Japan last November, and what do you know, it’s pretty good. At least Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai thinks so. I think at this point, saying Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is the best installment of…

Japanese Developers on the PS4’s Strengths and Weaknesses

The PlayStation 4 comes out in Japan in one month. The privileged who got to pick up theirs out west have been enjoying it for over two months now, but over in Japan gamers and developers alike are anxiously awaiting its release. This week, Weekly Famitsu gathered the opinions of some notable Japanese game developers…

Devoid of Details, Japanese Still Want Persona 5 So Damn Bad

Atlus proves that sometimes, name value is all you need. The 2014 game lineup is looking pretty exciting so far. With the upcoming release of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in Japan, Japanese gamers have a lot to look forward to. Japanese gaming magazine Weekly Famitsu asked its readers what games they were looking…

Xbox One Will Suit Japanese Rooms Just Fine (Apparently)

2014 is here. Seriously, when is the Xbox One coming out in Japan? Apparently there are some issues Microsoft needs to address first. Microsoft has previously expressed their commitment to the Japanese market. However, with the complexities involved with different cultures, customs, standards and regulations, they have been hesitant to make any definite statements on…

One Thousand Japanese Gamers Polled about the PS4

The PlayStation 4 isn’t out in Japan. The whole world is playing the console, but Japan isn’t. So how enthusiastic are Japanese gamers for the release of Sony’s black monolith next month? Japanese gaming mag Weekly Famitsu put out the call this week, asking 1,000 gamers for their thoughts on the upcoming PlayStation 4 release.…

In Another World, Japan Got the PS4 First

It was bad enough that Japan has to wait an extra 3 months for Sony’s newest console, then the Japanese PS4 release commercial just had to rub salt into the wound. But had things gone a little differently, that ad would have shown Japanese gamers celebrating while the rest of the world waited. In an…

In Japan, the Cycle of Dependency Has Gone Viral

Japan’s latest internet meme is going in circles. What started out as an anti-drug poster image depicting the dangers of drugs and the cycle of chemical dependency quickly turned into a fiasco of strangeness and hilarity with a slightly cynical undertone. The original poster is as follows (With translations added below): ①The Vicious Cycle of…

New 3DS App Will Make a Manga Artist Out of You

Well, it probably won’t, but it couldn’t hurt. This is Comic Koubou (コミック工房 Comic Workshop), a new 3DS download-only app for easy manga creation. It’s obviously not as high-end as software like Manga Studio or Clip Studio Paint, and you probably won’t see a lot of published manga artists releasing pieces they drew on their…

Yakuza‘s Producer May Hate GTA, But He Certainly Respects It

Yakuza series producer Toshihiro Nagoshi has previously stated that he hates Grand Theft Auto. You wouldn’t think so when he was asked which one of last year’s games impressed him the most. Japanese gaming blog 4Gamer recently asked 151 game developers this question: “Of games released in 2013, what title impressed/amazed you the most?” Among…

It Just Wouldn’t Be New Year’s Without Anime Girls on Wooden Plaques

In Japan, New Year’s isn’t just about the dropping of the ball. It’s the turning of a new leaf, and with it come numerous traditions from fortune telling to warding off evil spirits and drawing cute anime girls on wooden plaques… Wait, what? The notorious “ita-ema” (痛絵馬) are back again this year in full force…

Comiket’s Not Just About Comics. It’s Also About Awesome Cosplay

Comic Market, aka Comiket is a bi-annual 3-day indie manga event. But it’s not just about manga. As the biggest and most famous indie manga event in Japan, cosplayers come out in droves. And this year’s winter Comiket 85 was no different. Be it sweltering heat or frigid cold, if there are crowds of fans…

Online Now: Takahide Hori (AKA YAMIKEN) has posted the full video of his short film, Junk Head 1, online. Hori has enlisted the aid of professional translator, Emily Balistrieri, for the full version’s English subtitles.

The Best Way to End My Year is With a Bloody Tony Stark

While 2013 has been a pretty awesome year for movies and video games, on a personal level, it’s been pretty crappy. What better way to send if off than with the latest beat up bundle of awesome from Hot Toys. Straight out of last summer’s blockbuster, Iron Man 3, is the un-suited Tony Starkin his…

Japan’s Biggest Gaming Phenomenon of 2013

Without a doubt, the biggest gaming phenomenon of Japan this year involved the game which had anime girls as battleships. It’s too bad that most people outside of Japan can’t play it. When I firstwrote about Kantai Collection (艦隊これくしょん) – aka Kan Colle (艦これ) – it was back in July and the game was proudly…

More 2014 Resolutions From Japanese Game Developers

2013 was a great year for gaming. After what was accomplished this year, let’s see what Japanese game developers hope to do in 2014. We’ve seen a sample of what some Japanese game developers have in mind when looking towards the year to come. Japanese gaming magazine Weekly Famitsu, however, asked 100 developers in their…

Japan’s Newest Island Looks Like Snoopy

South of Japan, a new island is currently in the process of forming a very familiar character. Roughly 177 miles from the Japanese mainland lie the Bonin Islands. There, at this very moment, an active volcano is in the process of rather violently creating a new island. Originating very close to Nishi-no-shima (西之島, Western Island),…

See What These Japanese Game Developers Resolve for 2014

As 2013 draws to an end, we look forward to 2014. And with a new year, comes new resolutions – even for game developers. Japanese gaming magazine, Weekly Famitsu, asked 100 game developers what their key phrases resolutions for 2014 were. Take a look at what some of them had to say. Daisuke Ishiwatari –…

That Lightning Returns Aerith Costume Wasn’t Meant for Everyone

One of the highlights of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is all the costumes you can play around with. Aside from the costumes included in the game and the DLC costumes, Square Enix also has a limited Aerith from Final Fantasy VII costume and weapons. Well, it was supposed to be limited. The Aerith costume…

Kingdom Hearts Director Addresses the Remaining HD Remake Left to Do

With Kingdom Hearts I.5 HD Remix out and II.5 HD Remix on the way next year, there’s nothing left to re-tell as we prepare for the eventual release of Kingdom Hearts III. Oh wait, yes there is. The HD collections of the Kingdom Hearts saga currently cover every previously released console game in the series…

Check Out the Most Amazing Warship Models You’ll Ever See

Holy cow… Models are awesome. The more detailed the better. Still, there is a limit to how detailed you can make things depending on the scale. When it comes to battleships, usually the largest scale models you’ll find on sale are 1/350 scale. If you want bigger, well you’re kind of out of luck –…