Japan

Manga creator Konami Sonoda of ChocoMimi fame has passed away due to breast cancer. ChocoMimi debuted in 2003 and a live-action version followed in 2007.

Manga Artist Goes Back And Redoes Old Illustrations

When a manga first starts, the artist is still usually finding how the characters look. With time, that changes, and over the course of the later issues, their appearance evolves. But what if an artist went back and redid those old illustrations? That’s exactly what Soichiro Yamamoto did. Creator of Teasing Master Takagi-san, Yamamoto went back…

Square Enix Hit With More Death Threats, Cancels Game Tournaments

Starting this weekend, there were supposed to be events for mecha arcade game Starwing Paradox at four cities across Japan. Those events have been canceled due to death threats. According to an official Square Enix statement, there have been several death threats made against Starwing Paradox’s management team. Square Enix has reported the threats and…

Anime Fans Visit Real-World Locations Of This Summer’s Hit Movie

Weathering With You is the hit anime of the summer. As with Your Name, the movie brings real-world Tokyo locations to life. Now fans are visiting those spots. This is what anime fans in Japan call seichi junrei (聖地巡礼) or a “pilgrimage to a sacred spot.” You can see the real-world versions of the Weathering…

Here is the trailer for Kyoto Animation’s Violet Evergarden spin-off anime, Violet Evergarden Side-Story: Eternity and the Auto Memories Doll. As previously reported, the movie will be released as planned next month 

Japan’s Most Famous Cosplayer Draws Huge Crowds

This is Enako. As Kotaku previously reported, she’s making some serious cash as a cosplayer. She’s also drawing massive crowds. Enako appears on mainstream Japanese television (here and here, for example) as well as in-game advertisements (below). She is making a name for herself as Japan’s most well-known cosplayer. During this and last year’s Comiket,…

3D Printing Makes Yu-Gi-Oh! Truly Spellbinding

One Twitter user has used a 3D printer to replicate the spell on the Yu-Gi-Oh! Polymerization card. The whole process looks rather complicated. And while the colors are slightly muted in the finished version, I think the result turned out extremely well. 

In Photos: 2,000 Dancing Pikachus (And Their Fans) Take Over Yokohama, Japan

The sixth annual Pikachu Outbreak is taking place this week in Yokohama, Japan, and 2,000 dancing Pikachus have taken over the city. I spent a night surrounded by giant electric mice, and those who love him. I’m not exaggerating when I say that Yokohama, a city about an hour outside of Tokyo, has been well…

Yokohama Train Station Covered With Pikachus

Each summer, a “Pikachu Outbreak” event is held in Yokohama. It features marching and dancing Pikachus. This year’s event not only featured the sights of Pikachu, but also the sounds. Sakuragicho Station, the adjacent station to where the event is held, was covered in Pikachus as you can see in these photos taken by Twitter…

Japanese News Station Apologizes After Misquote About Kyoto Animation Fire Victim

Fuji TV, one of Japan’s largest television networks, has apologized after an unfortunate misquote that called director Yasuhiro Takemoto an “idiot.” Takemoto was one of the victims of last month’s tragic Kyoto Animation fire. Yasuhiro Takemoto helmed some of Kyoto Animation’s most popular anime. The 47-year-old took over directing duties for Lucky Star and would…

Zelda Fans Protest, Smash PS4 Over Very Similar Chinese Game

Open-world game Genshin Impact has been described as an anime Breath of the Wild. Some Zelda fans in China are not happy about it. At all. The Chinese-developed RPG’s first gameplay footage was shown recently at the China Joy gaming expo. As ZhugeEX and CCN report, the game has been called out for allegedly copying…

Publisher Of Satoru Iwata Book Says Unauthorized Translations Will Be Subject To Criminal Charges

A collection of Iwata Asks interviews done by former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata was recently published in the book Iwata-san. The book is in Japanese, and there are talks about doing official translations. The book is being published by Hobonichi, the company founded by famed copywriter and Earthbound creator Shigesato Itoi. According to the official…

McDonald’s Cups Inadvertently Feature Sexual Imagery, Mocking Ensues

In Japan, McDonald’s has released a new series of cups for its McFizz soda drinks. The cups are supposed to show a young woman and a young man on each side. When you finish the drink, it looks like they are smooching on the lips. But people have found something else entirely. [Updated: 8/1/19, 7:28…

Forget Hug Pillows, Here Is An Anime Boy Hug Speaker

Instead of hugging a pillow, let this speaker hug you. Behold the hug speaker, ready to wrap you in music and a soothing embrace. The huge speaker depicts Ixa, the hero from Level-5’s Otome Yusha mobile game. You can wear him outside. Take him on dates (with other dates). Or get coffee together. And when…

Anime Made Realistic, Oh Goodness Why

Previously, Kotaku reported that the characters in one of Japan’s most beloved anime were getting realistic versions. They have and do they ever look awful. Sazae-san is the longest-running animated TV show in the world. Debuting in 1969, the anime is a cultural institution in its native Japan. The main character is Sazae, who is…

36 Confirmed Dead After Fire At Kyoto Animation, Suspected Arsonist In Custody [Updated]

A fire, suspected to be arson, at a Kyoto, Japan animation studio has left at least 36 people dead and hospitalized more with injuries. A 41-year-old man, allegedly seen pouring a flammable liquid at the site and setting it on fire, has been taken into police custody. This story has been updated since its original…

Fire-Themed Anime Edited After Kyoto Animation Tragedy

In the anime Fire Force, firefighters must contend with people who suddenly burst into flames. In the wake of the tragic fire at Kyoto Animation, the latest episode has been edited. As Yomiuri and ANN report, the episode was delayed but will be broadcasted today. The episode, however, will be edited with new narration and…

Man Allegedly Stole $13,900 Worth of Duel Masters Cards, Gets Arrested

A 33-year-old man has been arrested by the Tokyo police after he allegedly stole 34 Duel Masters cards worth 1.5 million yen ($13,907). Asahi Shimbun reports that on July 18 at around 5:20 a.m., suspect Kenshi Oba allegedly scaled construction scaffolding and broke into the second floor of a card shop. No staff members were…

Fans Mourn Following Kyoto Animation Tragedy

Last week, a fire set at Kyoto Animation left dozens injured and 34 people dead. There has been an outpouring of support from fans around the world. In Kyoto, people have been bringing flowers in memory of those who lost their lives and praying for the injured. As previously reported, people around the world have…

Free!, Kyoto Animation’s popular swimming anime series, was supposed to get new info tomorrow about its upcoming Free! feature film. Those announcements have been canceled. [Update July 18 – 5:06 am: An earlier version of this story stated that the movie itself had been canceled. That is incorrect. We regret the error.]