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Kotaku EastJapanStreet Fighter‘s Ryu Wearing A Thong… In T-Shirt Form
As the virtual Tokyo Game Show grinds on, leave it to Capcom to spice things up with Ryu’s butt cheeks. As spotted by Twitter user GaijinHunter, Capcom has greenlit a collab t-shirt that is all business in the front with the word “Shoryuken” emblazoned on the front… …and a party in the back with Ryu’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 26, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanKonami Has An Esports School In Tokyo
Would you like to learn how to be an esports pro? Well, if you live in Japan, you can now pay Konami to teach you how! The school offers lectures and hands-on learning with Pro Evo, eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball (Konami’s big-headed baseball game), Dota, and Fortnite. Students not only practice playing, but they also…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 26, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanMicrosoft On Japan: “We Learn From The Past”
Let’s face it. Microsoft’s track record in Japan with the Xbox has not been good. In the past few years, Microsoft even stopped going to the Tokyo Game Show, but this year the company is back. At the virtual version of the show, at least. In a pre-recorded message, exec Phil Spencer talked about Xbox…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanXbox Series S Already Got A Price Cut In Japan
The Xbox Series S isn’t out yet, but in Japan, it’s already getting a price cut. Today, Microsoft Japan announced that the smaller next-gen console, originally priced 32,980 yen ($313) in the country, will retail for 29,980 yen, which with the current exchange rate is $285. As pointed out on My Game News Flash, that…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 24, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanA Game With The Word “Shit” Was Just Re-Released On The Nintendo Switch In Japan
When Super Tennis was originally released in Japan in 1991, the in-game tennis players would exclaim the world “shit”. The North American and UK versions, however, substituted “rats” instead. Today, Super Tennis was re-released on Nintendo Switch Online. Staying true to the original version, the Japanese version still contains the word “shit.” Purists would expect…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 23, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanJapan’s Latest Life-Sized Godzilla Is Coming Along Nicely
Last year, a new life-sized Godzilla was announced for Japan. Let’s check-in and see how it’s doing. Originally the giant Godzilla was slated to open in this summer, but it seems the global pandemic has slowed down construction. Below is a model of the intended work. While still under construction, it is shaping up quite…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 23, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanPS5 Preorders On Amazon Japan Were Also A Total Mess
When PlayStation 5 pre-orders started on Amazon Japan, the hardware sold out immediately. Then, the scalpers moved in and starting asking ridiculous prices for their pre-orders, reaching as high as 500,000 yen ($4,790). In Japan, the standard version of the console is priced at 49,980 yen ($478.70). Stores in Japan were not allowing customers to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 18, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanNintendo Officially Ends 3DS Production [Update]
Today, the official Japanese page for the Nintendo 3DS series, which includes the 2DS, announced that the consoles are no longer being manufactured. Update: September 18 – 12:42 am EST: Nintendo of America has told Kotaku that the Nintendo 3DS series of handhelds has been discontinued, issuing the following statement: “We can confirm that the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 17, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanThe Japanese Internet Reacts To The Xbox Series X and S
This week Microsoft showed off the Xbox Series X and S, and revealed the next-gen consoles’ price tags. So how has the news been received by the traditionally Xbox-spectic Japanese audience? Since the launch of the original Xbox, Japan has been an uphill battle for Microsoft. The company tried hard with the Xbox 360 to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 11, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanMask Specialty Shop Opens In Japan
When people in Japan buy masks, then typically shop at drug stores, purchasing disposable ones. But increasingly, clothing retailers have been offering washable ones and now there’s even a mask specialty store that just sells masks. This week Mask.com opened in Tokyo, selling over 200 different types of masks for prices ranging from 500 yen…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 11, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanJapanese Hotel Chain Has Pokémon Rooms
The Mimaru hotel chain has locations in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. While most of its rooms are apartment-type hotel rooms, some also include special rooms that are covered in Pokémon Not only are there Poké Balls emblazoned on the walls and beds, but there are also Pocket Monster plushies, dishes, mugs, clocks and snacks! These…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 9, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanIf Fall Guys Took Place In Real-Life Japan
On Twitter, folks have been using footage of people in Japan cramming into trains or racing through stations as tongue-in-cheek, real-life Fall Guys tributes. Below, Twitter user Genchariino used footage of rush hour on the Seibu Shinjuku Line for this clip, which is titled “This Is Japan’s Fall Guys”: Back in late August, Twitter user…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 9, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanTetsuya Nomura Wants You To Look Forward To 2022, Kingdom Hearts‘ 20th Anniversary
This year sucks. 2021 will hopefully be better, but Tetsuya Nomura has his eye on 2022. It’s a big milestone in the history of Kingdom Hearts The first Kingdom Hearts game was released back in March 2002. In a recent Famitsu interview, Nomura was asked what’s next for Kingdom Hearts, to which he replied, “2022…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 8, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapan“Ass Warp” Is A Good Translation For Super Mario 64 Glitch
In Super Mario 64, the Backwards Long Jump trick has been used to refer to a glitch that’s known in Japan as Ketsu Waapu (ケツワープ). Surely, there has to be a better English translation. Turns out, there is. In the original game, the glitch is used in Princess Peach’s Castle to get to the top…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 8, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanThe Death Stranding PC Case Is Subtle
With Death Stranding released on PC this July, emblazoned computer hardware and gear was only a matter of time. Here’s a look at the game’s upcoming PC case. Mind you, this (above) is a rendition of the actual case… It’s subtle, sure, but I don’t know how functional it is. Are those air vents enough?…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 4, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanThis Isn’t An Enormous Nintendo Switch, It’s A TV
The Nintendo Switch is a neat handheld you can connect to the television. One Twitter user, however, decided to turn a TV into a giant mock-up Switch. The result is excellent. Kai.mariosfun created this Switch-themed television board, with each of the giant faux Joy-Cons doubling as cabinets. The design is creative and wonderful. I love…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 4, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanAn Iconic Osaka Symbol Is Now Gone
One of the most iconic symbols of Osaka is the fugu (blowfish) paper lantern that hangs over the city’s Shinsekai area. This week, the lantern was taken down as the restaurant it advertises will close. The fugu-specialty eatery Zuboraya opened in 1920 and went on to become popular with tourists, with the blowfish lantern becoming…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanA Look At Tokyo Without Tourists
Typically, parts of Tokyo are overrun with tourists. These are not typical times. Because of covid-19, Japan has closed the country to tourists (until this month, it had also closed the country to foreign residents and even made it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, for permanent residents to leave and then re-enter the country). While…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 3, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanXbox Is Coming Back To The Tokyo Game Show, But Without Next-Gen News
In years past, Microsoft had massive Xbox booths at the Tokyo Game Show, going head to head with the likes of Sony. But, as it turns out, Japanese gamers aren’t really into Xbox! So, as well as missing the 2012 show, Microsoft really went M.I.A. starting in 2015. Now that this year’s TGS is virtual,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 2, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanLet’s See Life In Japan Over 100 Years Ago
It’s 2020. Perhaps you’ve been to Japan (or even live here), but if not you can always see copious clips of what life is like in the country. But what about, say, over a hundred years ago? There is video about, of course, but YouTube user Denis Shiryaev has upscaled footage taken in Japan between…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 2, 2020