Kotaku East

Track: Boku no Rock n Roll | Artist: Six Lounge | Album: Shinonome Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Old Japan Meets Disney 

John Ramirez loves Japan. He’s also a Disney storyboard artist. This is where things get interesting. “I try to mix my love of animated characters and old Japanese photos for a laugh,” Ramirez tells Kotaku. Many of the images are from the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Disney and Disney-influenced characters appear…

These Are Not Photos, But Incredible Pencil Drawings

Japanese artist Shinichi Furuya can wield all sorts of magic with pencil and paper. Furuya is a middle-aged salaryman, but in his free time, as pointed out on Ota News, he draws portraits of famous Japanese female celebrities like Satomi Ishihara, Rino Sashihara, and Suzu Hirose. It’s not surprising that his work has been featured…

The Psycho-Pass Visual Novel is Messed Up

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is set somewhere within the first eight episodes of the first season of cyberpunk dystopian animePsycho-Pass. And it’s made me do things so messed up that it’s hard to keep playing. [This post contains spoilers for the first two cases of Psycho Pass: Mandatory Happiness.] In the world of Psycho-Pass, Tokyo is…

Bukchon Hanok Village. Seoul, South Korea. By Lexi S 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!

Japan’s Coolest-Looking Capsule Hotels

If you are visiting Japan, stay in a capsule hotel. At least for a night. It’s part of the experience. And here are some of the coolest-looking capsule hotels the country has to offer. Previously, Kotaku published a guide to capsule hotels. Now, via Matome Naver, here’s a list of some chic capsules. Recently opened…

Erased Is the Perfect Melding of Time Travel and Murder Mystery

What would you do if you were nine again and were the only one who had a chance to prevent a murder? Erased is the story of Satoru, a 29-year-old aspiring manga artist who spends most of his time working pizza delivery. However, his life is not without a touch of the supernatural. Occasionally, Satoru…

Here’s a teeny tiny bit more on that full-CG Gantz anime feature: According to Natalie, it’s titled Gantz:0, it’s based on the Osaka chapters, and it will hit Japanese theaters on October 14.

Ueno Park Earlier This Spring. Tokyo, Japan. By Aaronsxedge Tokyo 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 Internet Reacts to Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell 

Last week, the world got its first look at Scarlett Johansson as Major Kusanagi in Hollywood’s upcoming Ghost in the Shell movie. The decision has been controversialin the West, and here is what some, certainly not all, of the folks online in Japan are saying. The decision to cast Johansson as Motoko Kusanagi, an augmented-cybernetic…

Moving Arcade Cabinets Is Tricky in Japan

Ever wonder how they get cabinets in and out from Japanese arcades’ upper floors? At Club Sega, with cranes! Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.

Voice actor Tarako is taking over the role of antagonist Monokuma in the Danganronpa series, Famitsu reports. Last year, it was announced that previous voice actor, 82 year-old Nobuyo Oyama, was suffering from dementia and unable to do voice acting work.

Every Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Ever Sold, All In One Place

To be exact, that’s 7,649 cards in total. To promote the new Yu-Gi-Oh! animated movie Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions, here’s a full set of all the cards that have gone on sale since 1999. Incredible to see them all displayed like this in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station. Think how long it would it take…

Sky Building. Umeda, Osaka, Japan. By Jason Smith. 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!

A First Look Inside the Sailor Moon Museum Exhibit

Tomorrow on April 16, a special Sailor Moon exhibition is opening in Tokyo. Today, a special preview was held, so let’s have a look at what to expect. Aspreviously mentioned, the exhibition will be held at the top of Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. On display, there will be original color art as well as…

Multimedia artist Baiyon, known for his art and sound work on PixelJunk 4am and PixelJunk Eden, is joining Q-Games as a full-time Creative Producer, the company announced today. Good news for those who are fans of both Q-Games and Baiyon.

The Up-All-Night Stream Plays Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness [Stream Over]

Confession time: I have never played a Star Ocean game. Luckily, with the fifth game in the series now out in Japan, now is the perfect time to correct that. And you’re all welcome to join me as I do. Update: The stream is now finished. You can watch all five plus hours at the…

Totally Official Pokémon Lingerie 

Over the years, people have made numerous Pokémon-themed lingerie. Those have been totally unofficial. Until now. Via Kai-You, here is a new collection of Pokémon undergarments for Yummy Mart, a new Japanese lingerie brand spun off by lingerie company Peach John. These are officially licensed, but sadly, not for sale. Probably for the best as…

Plum Blossoms. Gion, Kyoto, Japan. By Fran. 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!

Report: Live-Action Pokémon Movie Rights Spark Bidding War

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Pokémon Company has been meeting with Hollywood studios to launch a big-screen, live-action version of Pocket Monsters Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Legendary Entertainment could come out on top, beating out Warner Bros. for the rights. (Though, Sony is said to also be interested.) The entertainment trade publication…