Kotaku East

Today, The Famicom Is 33 Years Old

On July 15, 1983, the Family Computer was released in Japan. Video games were never the same. Shortened to the “Famicom,” the system went on to spawn countless classic titles and proved that home consoles were not some passing fad. Thank you for that, Famicom! The console was also reborn as the Nintendo Entertain System,…

Sadly, Metal Gear Pachinko Has Beautiful Cutscenes 

It’s a shame they’re in this and not, you know, a video game. This is seven minutes and 36 seconds of Metal Gear pachi-slot, which Kotakufirst introduced last month. Look at these cutscenes! They feel wasted. Just imagine a Metal Gear Solid 3 remake that looks like this and then start feeling slightly glum. Sigh.…

Shojo Manga Vs. Hard-Ass Manga

If you’ve ever wondered how shojo manga, which is aimed at young women, is different from tough guy manga, which is aimed at young dudes, then these comparisons should make it totally clear. You probably know what shojo manga is. Classic examples include Sailor Moon and Boys Over Flowers. In Japanese, “tough manga” is “kouha…

Desperate To Play Pokémon Go, Korean Gamers Travel North

There’s apparently only one place to play Pokémon Go in South Korea. This is it. While it’s not officially out in the country, Inven (via tipster Sang) reports that it can be played in Sokcho and sent reporters there to make sure. Elsewhere in the country it cannot be played, even through unofficial downloads, because…

Earlier this year, a live-action Terra Formars hit theaters. It was terrible. A source tells Cyzo that the movie did so poorly in Japan that plans for a sequel have apparently been scrapped.

Japanese Video Game History Is Disappearing

It really is. We better do something about it, because bits of Japanese video game history have already vanished forever. This weekend at BitSummit, game preservation was in my mind as I sat down to talk with Grasshopper Manufacture’s Goichi Suda. He, perhaps, is as good as anyone to discuss Japanese game history with as…

China’s Version of Pokémon Go 

Pokémon Go is not out in China. But that isn’t stopping fans from trying to play the game and developers from, well, yeah. For those with Apple IDs linked to China’s App Store, Quartz reports that people can buy Apple IDs that are registered in countries where the game is out. Though, even if you…

Here’s the most recent trailer for Branching Paths, a documentary that explores Japan’s indie gaming scene. It’ll be out this July and you can learn more on the doc’s official site.

Visiting Itsukushima Shrine. Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. By Philipp Muigg. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

Your Summer 2016 Anime Guide

It’s hot outside. Let’s stay in and watch some anime. That’s right, it’s time for the Summer 2016 season. Here’s a round up of the latest shows and where you can watch them. Are there any you’re especially keen on? Hit us up in the comments below. Active Raid: Special Public Security Fifth Division Third…

Japanese Fans Are Impatient About Pokémon Go

The country that created Pokémon still hasn’t seen an official Pokémon Go release. Imagine being the dude who has to tell folks in Japan that they need to wait a bit more before that happens. Kento Suga is said dude. Yes, Pokémon Go was playable in Japan for a spell yesterday for those who downloaded…

Fushimi Inari. Kyoto, Japan. By Mike Taibleson. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

The Japanese Pokémon Go website has changed its release date from “July 2016″ to simply 2016, Kotaku reader Joey points out.

Sailor Moon Cosplay Works Well With Figure Skating

This isEvgenia Medvedeva. She’s a 16-year-old champion Russian figure skater. And she totally loves Sailor Moon. She not only watches the anime, but recently did a special Sailor Moon themed skate program: Which made news in Japan: Medvedeva is also studying Japanese and can apparently sing the Sailor Moon theme in its original language. HerInstagram…

One Piece Creator Appears on Japanese TV, Doesn’t Show His Face

Can you blame him? I’m sure if you created the best-selling manga in Japanese history, you might enjoy keeping your privacy. In the past, Oda has been photographed for Japanese magazines, and googling him, turns up a fistful of photos. Most of them, however, are not recent. Japanese TV program Densetsu no Shunkan wanted to…

The Gantz CG Anime Continues To Look Great

Nice work. This keeps looking very, very promising. Previously, we got a short glimpse of the upcoming Gantz:O. Now, we get a longer one, and damn, it’s difficult not to get excited. The movie is based on the Osaka chapters, and it will hit Japanese theaters on October 14. No word yet on an international…

Yakushima. Kagoshima, Japan. By Kenneth Choy. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!

This Anime Seems Too Lewd For One Japanese TV Channel 

Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia follows the adventure of a Kizuna, a schoolboy who recharges battle hardened anime girls with sexy time. The show opens with just that. While there isn’t explicit nudity (do butt cheeks in skimpy underwear count?), not much is left to the imagination. The rest of the episode is packed…

Behold, The Official Catbus For Adults

Goodness. Here is a look at the official Catbus for really big kids. You know, grown-ups. Above, via Twitter user Icecream 37, we get a look at the outside (and inside) of the newly unveiled bus. Previously, Kotaku reported that a Studio Ghibli exhibit was getting a special Catbus for adults. Until now, only children…

Reports out of Japan state that manga Gintama is going into its final arc. The manga launched back in 2003 and has spawned anime, video games, and an upcoming live-action adaptation.