In 2016, comedian Pikotaro went viral with his song “PPAP.” Earlier this year, he released a song to encourage people to wash their hands. Now, he’s back, and this time he’s hanging out with an electric rodent. The new song is called “Pikataro and Pikotaro” (Pika to Piko in Japanese). In much of it, Pikataro…
The Sega Akihabara 2nd arcade, which was formerly known as Akihabara Gigo, is closing at the end of the month because 2020 sucks. The arcade, a two-minute walk from Akihabara Station, is famous for its Sega-emblazoned escalators and is an area landmark. The official notice states that the arcade’s last day of operation is August…
Originally a light novel, Haruhi Suzumiya launched an iconic anime and manga in the 2000s. The manga is ongoing, but there hasn’t been a new Haruhi novel since 2011. Until now. This November, a new Haruhi volume will be released in Japan. According to Japanese site Kai-You, it will be out November 25. Titled Suzumiya…
This summer, VR-controlled robots are coming to select Family Mart convenience stores in Japan. As Time Out Tokyo reports, these robot employees are being introduced to improve efficiency and lower costs, as offsite workers will control the robots to stock store shelves. But… seeing the robots in action, the efficiency argument is odd. Because, one…
If you were to imagine what official Kingdom Hearts III boots would look like, you might imagine buckles, straps and chains. Plaid too, maybe! That pretty much sums up these boots. Japanese clothing company Super Groupies, whose slogan is “Anime into Fashion!”, created this officially licensed footwear inspired by Sora, Riku, Kairi, Roxas, and Axel.…
In July, Yakuza executive director and producer Toshihiro Nagoshi used slang to disparage puzzle game pro players during a livestream. Sega soon apologized, and now, nearly a month later, so has Nagoshi. As previously reported, Nagoshi had said that Puyo Puyo esports players seemed like they eat beef bowls with cheese. The term chiizu gyuudon…
If you are in the market for a hug pillow and like Pokémon, here’s one that looks like a giant, chopped off Pikachu tail. Priced at 8,658 yen ($81.31), the hug pillow measures 110 cm (43.3 inches) and sure looks comfy. While this was previously released in 2018, the tail will be re-issued this December.
Japan is famous for vending machines. While most sell soft drinks and coffee, there are some unusual ones selling batteries, umbrellas, and bottles of sake. Add insects to that list. In Japanese, the word 昆虫食 (konchuushoku) means “insect eating”. During the past few years, it seems, there has been an increasing number of vending machines…
It’s summertime! It’s hot. Time to eat popsicles and—if you are in Japan and like Pokémon—perhaps buy the used sticks for hundreds of dollars. On June 1, as Kotaku previously reported, Garigari-kun popsicles were teaming up with Pikachu for a limited collab. A box of six Pokémon Garigari-kun cost 350 yen ($3.30), but according to…
Tokyo discount store Takeya has launched a “smile campaign” with staff wearing masks emblazoned with photos of their smiling grin. Honestly, they look kinda creepy. This is a good idea and in a terrible, most unusual year, I appreciate the sentiment. But…yikes! I’ve worn masks in the past due to seasonal allergies, but now because…
While video game bars are popular in Japan, they do operate in somewhat of a gray area. In 2018, for example, there were instances in which video game bars were shut down over copyright claims. People were even arrested. Video game bars typically let customers play games for free while charging them for drinks. The…
Later this month, ramen chain Kourakuen in Fukushima will begin trialing robot waiters to bring patrons hot, steaming bowls of ramen. Called K-1, the robot is supposed to help with social distancing in the age of covid-19, offering contactless service and reducing the burden on restaurant staff. K-1 is outfitted with voice guidance as well…
Last year, the first Pokémon manholes were installed in Japan. A year later, there are now one hundred of them in the country. Pokémon manholes, dubbed Poké Futa (ポケふた) or Poké Lid, have been installed in a variety of prefectures, including Hokkaido, Iwate, Fukushima, Kagawa and more. The latest six are in Tokyo’s Machida, making…
In Kyushu, Japan, a married couple wanted to celebrate turning seventy the best way possible: with a giant Totoro. Turning seventy years old in Japan is koki (古希), the word referring to the fact that in the past the milestone was rarer than today. To mark the birthday, the couple wanted to do something for…
On August 17 at 1:30 am, the alarm at the Ninja Museum of Igaryu in Mie, Japan went off. CBC News reports that the door to the office had been broken into and a safe with two days’ worth of proceeds totaling over 1 million yen ($9,400) had been stolen. The safe is said to…
Flash, from major Japanese publisher Kobunsha, is reporting that the owner of the Robot Restaurant hosted a Nazi-themed event in 2017. Robot Restaurant is a popular Tokyo tourist destination, featuring singing, dancing, and robot-like contraptions. According to Flash (via Tokyo Reporter), 69-year-old Keiichi Morishita, chairman of Morishita Group, hosted an event in which swastika-emblazoned Nazi…
To protect from the novel coronavirus, stores in Japan (and around the world) have installed plastic barriers. They might be effective, but they’re rather dull. Twitter user Takumi Armory, a company which specializes in fantasy-themed props, has created this anime magic spell-style divider that it says can “defend against viruses.” Priced at 15,000 yen ($143),…
Compile Heart has announced a Neptunia game for the PS5. Titled Go! Go! 5D Game: Neptune re★Verse, the game currently does not have a release date. However, the announcement was made on the tenth anniversary of the series. Can you believe it? Ten years of Neptunia
In 1988, Studio Ghibli released My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies as a double feature. The Hayao Miyazaki film followed the adventures of two sisters with a mysterious fuzzy friend, while Isao Takahata’s film dealt with two siblings experiencing the horrors of war. At first glance the movies don’t appear to have much…
Earlier this year, The Pokémon Company released a handful of ASMR videos. Now they’ve released a new one. As Kotaku previously explained, auditory sensory meridian response, or ASMR, is a tingling sensation that comes from listening to certain sounds.
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