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Kotaku EastJapanJapan’s Super Nintendo World Looks Amazing, Sure, But Also Kind Of Small
Yes, we can all probably agree that the upcoming Super Nintendo World looks incredible. On the inside, it’s amazing, but on the outside, it looks somewhat small. This is something that we’ve previously heard. When Bloomberg’s Kurumi Mori checked out the park in a press previewlate last month, she did say, “I do want to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 7, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanDitto Makes For An Excellent Pokémon Sofa
When you see that purple amorphous Pokémon blob, don’t you just want to sit on it? Good news, now you can! Ditto (aka Metamon in Japan) has been transformed into a sofa, which makes sense because it can transform into anything. The sofa looks very soft. The Ditto cover can be removed and put in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 4, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanSilent Hill and Gravity Rush Creator Keiichiro Toyama Has Left Sony
Keiichiro Toyama first made a name for himself, writing and directing the first Silent Hill while at Konami. In 1999, he joined Sony’s Japan Studio, and today he’s announced that he has left to form his own studio. While at Japan Studio, Toyama was creative force, creating both Siren and Gravity Rush. Stylistically, the games…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 3, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanIn Japan, There’s A Chiropractor For Gamers
If you play video games for a long stretch at a time, it’s probably taken a toll on your body. In Japan, there’s now “gaming chiropractic” to help iron out those aches and stiff joints. Bauhutte, which makes gaming chairs and beds, has teamed up with a chiropractic clinic in Hyogo, Japan for a handful…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 2, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanJapan’s Newest Life-Sized Gundam Officially Unveiled
The time has come. The wait is over. Japan’s latest one-to-one Gundam is finally finished. As previously reported, this latest giant Gundam has gone up near Yokohama’s Chinatown in the Yamashita Futo harbor in a special area that will be called The Gundam Factory Yokohama. What makes this particular 59-foot Gundam interesting is the degree…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 2, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanSega Shows Old Handheld Prototype Publicly For The First Time
In 1995, Sega released the Genesis Nomad in North America. The 16-bit portable was a handheld console with an LCD screen and able to play Genesis cartridges. In a recent YouTube clip, Sega’s Hiroyuki Miyazaki showed off the hardware’s prototype for the first time. Here is the Nomad’s final product version. The design is in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 30, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanThirty-Four Years Later, Ys 1 and II Are Getting PC Floppy Disk Ports
Japanese game developer Nihon Falcom has announced that decades after their original releases, both Ys1 and Ys II are getting ported to the X68000, a Japan-only PC from Sharp that first went on sale in 1987. In 1987, Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished was first released on the PC-8801, then later that same year on…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 30, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanFirst Look Inside Super Nintendo World, Which Opens In Japan Next February
Here it is. What we’ve all been waiting for. This is the first look inside the eagerly anticipated Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Osaka. Announced in 2015, the park was originally slated to open this year, but due to the global pandemic, it was delayed. Super Nintendo World has been coming along nicely!…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 30, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanWhat Smash Bros. Creator Masahiro Sakurai Thinks Of The PlayStation 5
“I was able to snag a PS5 on launch day!” Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai begins in his latest Weekly Famitsu column. He was fortunate enough to get a pre-order at a chain retailer, noting that the supply outweighed the demand and that it seems he was quite lucky. None of this should be surprising,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 26, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanSquare Enix Aims For Work-Life Balance With Permanent Work-From-Home Option
In Japan, the global pandemic has led to some—but certainly not all—Japanese companies have employees work from home. Square Enix wants to make this choice permanent for its employees. “Rather than utilizing work from home solely as a means of preventing infections during the current pandemic, the Company will establish it as a permanent and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 25, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanCustom Gundam Paint Job Looks Like Stained Glass
Over the years, we’ve seen an array of custom Gundam models. This has to be one of the best. Gundam model builder Sui transformed a Nu Gundam Clear Version kit by painting the edges of the clear armor black. Sui then painted the panels with water-based clear paint, keeping the necessary transparency to give the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 24, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanThe Official Metal Gear Solid Boots Are Kind Of So-So
Japanese fashion brand Super Groupies is collaborating with Konami for a series of Metal Gear Solid themed items. Let’s have a look! Above and below, you can see the Foxhound labeled boots, with the gray color inspired by Solid Snake’s Sneaking Suit. The made-to-order boots are 19,800 yen ($190) and are reminiscent of Super Groupies’…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 24, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanAssassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s Japan Release Marred By Bloodless Confusion
Last week, when Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was released, players in Japan noticed that the game didn’t show blood effects during combat. Some wondered if there was a glitch preventing the optional bloodshed. Ubisoft Japan did announce that there were differences between the North American and Japanese versions, such as a topless woman character who’s covered…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 19, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanA Pokémon Go Event In Japan Is Probably A Bad Idea Right Now
Yesterday, it was announced that Kyoto city was going forward with a real-world Pokémon Go event to be held on November 22. Today, there was a realization that, yeah, this is probably not a great idea. As Mainichi reports, the Pokémon Go City Spotlight was to be held in Kyoto as well as in Busan…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 19, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanHere Are Japanese Launch Sales Figures For PlayStation 5 And Xbox Series X/S
Curious to know how the PlayStation 5’s launch went in Japan? What about the Xbox Series X and S? Well, good news, because Famitsu is reporting the first Japanese sales numbers for both new consoles. According to Famitsu, between November 12 and November 15, the PlayStation 5 sold 118,085 consoles in Japan. (Note these numbers…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 18, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanA Poop-Based Game Released In Japan To Save Lives
There is a game called Unkore, and it features anthropomorphized anime-style versions of intestinal bacteria. While this might seem rather silly, it’s not. The goal is to help others, which is driven home with the game’s tagline: “There is a life that can save in the shit.” Unkore sounds like it could be a riff…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 18, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanMarried Couple Shows Off Slick Arcade Dance Moves
Riri and Penko are a husband and wife dance game team who perform some extraordinary routines. Riri is a dance game world champion, winning top prizes in competitions for Dance Dance Revolution, Dancerush Stardom, and Pump It Up. Together with Penko, the two compete as the Panda-san Team. Recently, the couple showed off a freestyle…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 18, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanTurning A PlayStation 5 Into A Yu-Gi-Oh! Character
When the PlayStation 5 was first shown, fans had a good time ribbing it for the console’s looks. In particular were those who made comparisons with Seto Kaiba from Yu-Gi-Oh! Note the high, white collar and the black shirt. The character does look like a PlayStation 5—or maybe, a PlayStation 5 looks like Seto Kaiba.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 17, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanAn Excellent EarthBound Jacket With Nintendo History
Next February, an EarthBound (aka Mother 2) embroidered jacket will go on sale in Japan. This type of jacket is called a sukajan (スカジャン), which are very much Japanese—yet their American roots and influence are undeniable. The tops appeared in Japan during the Post War Occupation. American troops began getting Japanese designs sewn into their…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 17, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanCute Animal Crossing Clothing To Wear At Home
It’s 2020. People are staying home for obvious reasons. But! That doesn’t mean we should forgo looking absolutely adorable. Japanese clothing brand Gelato Pique is releasing a line of Animal Crossing loungewear because it’s safer to be cute at home. Included are sets of character-themed hoodies and shorts, a hooded blanket with ears, and the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 16, 2020