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Kotaku EastJapanMacross Designer Hospitalized After Tragic House Fire
Earlier today, there were Japanese news reports of a single-story wooden house catching fire in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. According to anime maker Studio Nue, the house’s inhabitants were Kazutaka Miyatake and his wife Tomoko. Kazutaka Miyatake created mechanical designs for some of the most iconic anime ever, including Space Battleship Yamato, Macross, Mobile Suit Gundam…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 25, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanA Totally New Metal Saga Game Announced For Nintendo Switch
This week, a completely new Metal Saga has been announced to mark the franchise’s 30th anniversary. It’s called Metal Saga: Hangyaku no Rouka (The Beacon of Rebellion) and is bound for the Nintendo Switch. Metal Max was first released in 1991, and due to trademark issues, the games in the franchise have been released under…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 25, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanJapanese Idol Group Criticized For Covid-19 Disinfection Measures
During recent indoor concerts for Japanese idol group AKB48, attendees were sprayed with “Virus Buster Water” as a precaution against covid-19. AKB48’s management tweeted out footage of the “disinfection gate” contraption in a now-deleted tweet with a voice-over saying how the Virus Buster Water was to make a safe environment for fans. The Virus Buster…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 24, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanOfficially Branded Resident Evil Booze
Herbal spirit Cocalero is collaborating with Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness to help promote the upcoming Netflix show. The name “Cocalero” refers to coca leaf growers, and this herbal spirit is a blend of 17 botanicals, including guarana, ginseng, juniper, and non-psychoactive coca. As Paste Magazine points out, this Incan spirited spirit is actually made in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 24, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanNew Japanese TV Drama About Manga Fan Who Loves Shipping
Baki The Grappler is a manga (and anime, pictured) about dudes beating the crap out of each other in an underground material arts tournament. In 2019, sociologist Junko Kaneda wrote a book about viewing it through a Boys’ Love lens. It’s now being adapted into a live-action TV series in Japan. Boys’ Love (BL) manga…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 21, 2021 -
Kotaku EastSouth KoreaSouth Korean Politician Wants To Protect Esports Leagues From Sudden Shutdown
In order to protect esports players and fans from the mercy of companies, South Korean Congressman Dong-su Yoo has proposed a bill to prevent esports leagues from being suddenly shut down unilaterally. Inven Global reports that the bill requires game companies to first make an announcement or even try to switch hosts for the leagues.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanWoman Arrested For Allegedly Sending Customer Bottled Water Instead Of PS5
Ikuko Tokuoka, a 41-year-old unemployed woman in Shiga, Japan has been arrested for fraud after allegedly sending a customer two bottles of water instead of a PlayStation 5. FNN reports that another woman had purchased the PS5 from the suspect for around 65,000 yen ($596) earlier this year. The PS5 arrived cash on delivery, but…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapan“Nintendo Marriage” Trends In Japan After Celebrities Tie The Knot
Earlier today, soon after singer Gen Hoshino and actor Yui Aragaki announced they had gotten hitched, the phrase “Nintendo-kon” (任天堂婚) or “Nintendo marriage” began trending on Twitter in Japan. No, the couple probably did not have a Mario-themed wedding (well, not as far as I know!), but rather the term refers to how both Hoshino…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 19, 2021 -
Kotaku EastChinaChina Building Full-Sized Titanic Replica As Tourist Attraction
At the end of this year, a theme park in Suining, China is slated to finish a full-sized version of the Titanic. Around $155 million has been spent on the replica, which is being built in a landlocked province. So no worries about it getting out to sea and meeting a grim fate! Xu Junnian,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 17, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapan93-Year-Old YouTuber Loves Racing Games
This grandpa loves cars. During the 1960s he was a taxi driver in Tokyo, and drove dump trucks from the 1970s through the 1990s. He’s driven loads of classic Japanese domestic models like the Mazda Savanna RX7. The man loves cars. And now, at the age of 93, he’s playing racing games. In the video…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 14, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanDaigo Umehara Hospitalized After Contracting Covid-19 But Is Feeling Better
This weekend, it was announced that Daigo Umehara, one of the greatest Street Fighter players of all time, had contracted covid-19. He has since been hospitalized to get the care he needs as the esports pro came down with pneumonia. According to a tweet from Umehara’s official account, he was experiencing a high fever and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2021 -
Kotaku EastSouth KoreaStarcraft II Great TaeJa Is Retiring Once Again
Today, Yun “TaeJa” Young Seo has announced he’s retiring from professional StarCraft II play. “There are few individuals who have been as impactful as TaeJa in the path for Team Liquid to grow to where it is today,” wrote Victor “Nazgul” Goossens—Team Liquid co-founder—in a statement. “We started working together when he was 17 years…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 12, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanCard Shop Employee Arrested For Alleged Assault Over Mask Request
Late last month, 27-year-old Kazuhiro Arita traveled from Osaka to Fukuoka. While there, according to News 24 and ANN, a 55-year-old man warned him about not wearing a mask, provoking Arita to allegedly punch him repeatedly in the head. The incident happened at around 11 pm on May 1. At that time Osaka was under…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 12, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanFatal Frame Returns As A…Pachinko Slot Machine
Hoping for a new Fatal Frame? Looks like you’re going to have to wait. In Japan, a new Fatal Frame pachislo (pachinko-slot) machine has been announced. Developed by Tecmo, the first Fatal Frame debuted on the PS2 in 2001, while the most recent entry, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, was released on the Nintendo…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanYoko Taro Has Some Story Ideas For Monster Hunter Rise
Yoko Taro did not make Monster Hunter Rise, but he certainly has some ideas for the game’s plot. On Twitter, the Nier creator listed out a version of the plot he concocted while playing through the game. Youtuber and Monster Hunter expert Gaijinhunter did a translation of Yoko’s suggestions, which can be read below: As…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanEvangelion World Closes At Japanese Theme Park
If you didn’t visit, you missed your chance. The Evangelion World attraction at the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park closed this past Sunday. The news was announced via the park’s official Twitter. As Kotaku previously posted, Evangelion World included a bust of a life-sized EVA-01 unit, clocking in at around 30 feet tall. ANN adds that…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanOver Twenty Years Later, Nintendo Fan Completes Famicom Game Collection
Back in December 2000, Somari began a Famicom game collection with the 1986 title Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble. And now, as of this spring, the YouTuber finally owns all 1,053 games for the consoles. What makes Somari’s collection so interesting is that it’s not just a collection of games, but also their boxes…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 7, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanMade In Abyss Game Gets Slapped With Adults-Only Rating In Japan
Surprised to see the game based on Made In Abyss receiving an adults-only rating? If you’ve seen the anime, you might not be. The video game adaptation has just been given a CERO-Z. That’s Japan’s adults-only, 18-years-old-and-up rating. While the screenshots look fairly cute, the original anime does have its share of blood and gore—a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 6, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanAlmost Twenty Years Later, Muv-Luv Characters Sure Look Different
Muv-Luv debuted as a visual novel way back in 2003. Now, in 2021, it’s getting a new anime series this fall. The official site has launched, and as one would expect, the character designs have changed. The basic designs haven’t radically changed, but as Hachima Kikou reports, understandably, styles and sensibilities are certainly different! See…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 4, 2021 -
Kotaku EastJapanTokyo Is Getting An Esports Gym
This month, an establishment calling itself “Esports Gym” will open in Tokyo. It claims to be the first in the country. According to the official release (via Sankaku Complex (NSFW)), the Tokyo Metro is one of the founders of the establishment, a business that also claims to differ from other gaming establishments. Here, members pay…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 4, 2021