Japan

Here Are Some Terrific Paper Gundam Masks

Diorama artist Satoshi Araki has crafted some very cool-looking Gundam themed face masks. These are made of paper, and Araki doesn’t guarantee their efficacy (these aren’t exactly N95 masks), but does point out the crafts might be good diversions for those staying at home. Araki includes plans which can be printed out on paper and…

In Japan, Bubble Tea Shops Turn Into Face Mask Vendors

Last year, the bubble tea business was booming in Japan. This year, with the novel coronavirus, a state of emergency has been declared in Japan. There are fewer people going out, and when they do, it’s just to buy essentials like food and face masks. As noted on bulletin board 2ch and sites like Hachima,…

The Sound Of A Japanese Arcade Is A Beautiful Thing

2020 is a terrible year, but it’s also a time to appreciate the things we might’ve taken for granted—like the ambient noise at a Japanese arcade. Game center Techno World in Japan’s Iwate prefecture streamed over four hours of sound from inside its arcade as cabinets played demo scenes, waiting for coins and players who…

Behold, Gundam Models…In A Bottle

You’ve seen a ship in a bottle before, right? Expert model ship makers build ships in glass bottles to show off their serious skills. One Gundam model maker, it seems, is doing something similar. Twitter user Risshii has been building Gundam models in Jack Daniel’s bottles for the past few years. The shape of Jack…

New Anime Episodes For Pokémon, One Piece And More Delayed Due To Coronavirus Covid-19

The novel coronavirus is impacting the production of anime in Japan. With a state of emergency declared, voice actors aren’t going into the studio, which makes recording new episodes difficult, if not impossible. Because of this, a number of shows will be delaying future new episodes and in their place reruns will be aired. As…

Man Recreates Cloud Strife’s Buster Sword In Cardboard

Previously, we saw the iconic Final Fantasy VII blade carved in pencil graphite. Now, let’s see it recreated in cardboard. YouTuber Crafty Transformer uploaded the clip below showing how he brought the Buster Sword to life in cardboard. In the walkthrough, Crafty Transformer shows each step along the way (unfortunately the closed-caption subtitles are only…

Domino’s Japan Releases Pizza Covered In Boba From Bubble Tea

Last year, bubble tea’s popularity exploded in Japan. Now, Domino’s decided to release a pizza covered with those tapioca starch pearls. With a state of emergency declared in Japan, perhaps Domino’s decided it was a good idea to bring bubble tea’s bubbles to people. On pizza. As Kotaku previously reported, a bubble tea boom caused…

Final Fantasy VII Remake Has Very Realistic Air-Conditioning Units

Final Fantasy VII Remake might be set in a fantasy world Gaia and have stupid doors, but that doesn’t make the game lacks realistic air conditioning units. Players have noticed all the A/C units throughout the capital city Midgar. Similar units are seen throughout modern-day Japan, where central air is uncommon for apartments and houses,…

Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy Voice Actor Keiji Fujiwara Has Died

Keiji Fujiwara was a veteran voice actor with an impressive resume in anime and Japanese games. Today, it was announced that he has passed away at the age of 55. His talent agency announced that Fujiwara died from cancer. As Oricon reports, Fujiwara had taken a break from voice acting from August 2016 to June…

Internet Cafes Shut Down In Tokyo Due To Coronavirus Covid-19, Putting People Out On The Streets

In Japan, internet cafes or manga cafes haven’t only been places where people got to surf the internet and read comics. Due to their low prices, they have become homes for some. Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, these establishments are temporarily shuttered in major Japanese cities. According to AP, around 4,000 people live in…

There Are Evangelion-Themed Tamagotchi Now

In 1996, the Tamagotchi was first launched in Japan. The pet-sim toys were a smash hit. Now, in 2020, Tamagotchi is back and getting special Evangelion-themed versions. There are Rei-, Asuka-, and Eva-01 Test Type-themed Tamagotchis going on sale in Japan this June, with the Tamagotchi featuring special Eva-themed animations. So cool, right? This is…

Game Shops And Electronics Stores In Japan Finally Get Wise About Coronavirus Covid-19

People in Tokyo and Osaka are being told to stay home. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared a state of emergency as the number of novel coronavirus covid-19 cases increase. And now, select electronics and game shops are finally getting the message. Earlier this month, Kotaku reported that long lines gathered at the Yodobashi Camera…

$300 Controller For Hatsune Miku Project Diva On Nintendo Switch And PS4

Hatsune Miku is no stranger to big, expensive controllers. The latest Hatsune Miku games are no exception. Peripheral-maker Hori is rereleasing a dedicated controller for the Switch game Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega 39, as well as one for the PS4 game Hatsune Miku Project Diva Future Tone DX. The controller’s original run sold out,…

Japan’s Game Rating Board Is Closing For A Month, Impacting Future Releases

Starting today, Japanese game rating board CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization) is closing down until May 6. The decision was made in regards to the Japanese government declaring a state of emergency in the wake of increasing coronavirus covid-19 cases in Japan. According to CERO, it is difficult for the group to continue operating during…

PPAP Singer Returns, Wants You To Wash Your Hands

Remember the song “PPAP”? Singer Pikotaro is back with a new version of his 2016 viral hit. Gone are the pens, pineapples and apples. Instead, in their place are hands and soap. Watch the video below, and remember to wash your hands. Don’t touch your face, either. 

Hey Osaka, This Isn’t A Good Time To Line Up For Nintendo Stuff

Just as the Japanese government prepares to declare a state of emergency as the number of cases in big cities increases, people lined up in front of Yodobashi Camera in Osaka’s Umeda for the Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch and Ring Fit Adventure. Both have been selling out, and this Yodobashi Camera, one of the biggest…

This Friday, the 96th compiled One Piece volume was released, bringing the total number of copies of the manga in print to a staggering 470 million. As Mantan Web (via ANN) reports, the total consists of 390 million copies in print in Japan and another 80 million in print internationally. 

Japan Plans To Distribute 2 Masks Per Family, Inspiring These Meme Images

Yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the government’s plan to provide face masks to 50 million households in Japan, targeting those in areas where the novel coronavirus is spreading. Each household will get two washable masks. Online, people are reacting this as they always do: with memes. Stocks of disposable masks have been running…

Nearly 11 Years Later, Modern Warfare 2‘s Japanese Localization Is Finally Fixed

When Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 first came out in Japan back in December 2009, players were not happy with the subtitles in the game’s most infamous scene. As Kotaku reported at the time, in the “No Russian” sequence, the Japanese language voice track did not say the equivalent of “Remember, no Russian” (as…

Man Makes Excellent Gundam Themed Masks

Usually, cosplay builder Gekidan makes helmets and armor. These are not usual times, and recently, he’s been making Gundam-themed masks. When he ventured outside in the Mobile Suit Gundam mask, Gekidan used the hashtags #自作マスク (“self-made mask”) and #ウィルス対策 (“virus countermeasure”). Its design appears to be the most functional. Gekidan isn’t only making Gundam themed…