Kotaku East

Japanese Fan Comics Could Die Under New Trade Deal

“Doujinshi” (同人誌) is Japanese for fan-created, self-published comics, magazines, and novels. While Japan has strict copyright laws, doujinshi tend to get a free pass and flourish. A new trade agreement could change that forever. Doujinshi is a proving ground for new artists, who can create a name for themselves through their self-published works and make…

Sake barrels at Meiji Shrine. Tokyo, Japan. By Luke Plunkett. 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!

Dragon Ball Z Toy Shows Why Fan Art Is Tricky

This is not official art. It’s fan art. Pixiv member Kanon Kamishima created the piece and uploaded it in 2013. This week, similar art was spotted on a Dragon Ball Z toy. The artist apparently had no idea. The art depicts Super Saiyan God Goku. It is not official, but has been widely circulated online…

Attack on Titan Creator Wants To Understand the Movie Hate

The Attack on Titan live action movie is not very good. It stinks. And the manga’s creator, Hajime Isayama, wants to understand the reaction to the picture. Earlier this month, Kotaku reviewed the live-action version of the popular manga and anime. The movie has been poorly reviewed and received in Japan. “We’re receiving the various…

Artist: Sheena Ringo | Track: Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri | Album: Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri (single) Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

In the Boruto Movie, Naruto Is a Terrible Father

We’ve seen Naruto as a hero and leader; now, in Boruto: Naruto the Movie we get to see him as a father. As it turns out, he’s pretty bad at it. That doesn’t mean this is a bad movie. Boruto is basically two movies in one film. The first (and by far the better of…

More Retro Style GIFs Show Modern Japan

Last December, Kotaku introduced the GIF art of Tumblr user 1041uuuha. The animated images were hauntingly poetic depictions of life in Japan. These latest ones are, too. 1041uuuha has created another set of GIFs that, once again, show banality as well as happiness, and even make statements about Japanese society. [All GIFs: 1041uuuha] Top GIF:…

More Than the Story Changes in Fire Emblem Fates

There are three versions of the newest Fire Emblem title: Fire Emblem Fates. Yet, it’s not just the plot that changes between each version, but the gameplay as well. To start, let’s take a look at the differences between Conquest and Birthright—and leave the DLC version of the game, Invisible Kingdom, for later. Of course,…

South Korea’s Poop Themed Coffee Shop

No, the coffee isn’t made from poop. The cup, though, does look like a potty. Recently, website Seoul Searching checked out Poop Cafe in Seoul, near Gyeongbokgung Palace. Outside, the cafe doesn’t look too different from other trendy Korean cafes. [Photo: Seoul Searching] Inside, the decor is poop themed—though, done tastefully. Well, as tastefully as…

Pikachu Marching Is Mesmerizing

Cannot. Stop. Watching. Like last year, another big Pikachu event was held in Yokohama, Japan. As with at other Pikachu parades, the synchronized marching was a sight to see. Impressive precision for people in Pikachu costumes. [GIF via MIYAGAYAOOTAHARA] [GIF via srkyoui77] From behind. [GIF via MIYAGAYAOOTAHARA] [GIF via 最新ニュース] They’re moving rather quick. Listen…

The Steins;Gate AR Game Gives You a Tour Of Akihabara

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Steins;Gate in Japan. As part of the celebration, a free augmented reality game was released for fans visiting the game’s location—otaku mecca Akihabara. So, of course, I decided to head over there and play it. Steins;Gate AR Rally uses the free iPhone/Android app Furatto Annai to direct you…

Artist: Buffalo Daughter | Track: Oui Oui | Album: Konjac-tion Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Artist: Kinoko Teikoku | Track: Chronostasis | Album: Fake World Wonderland Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Disney Japan’s Twitter Account Screwed Up

Disneyland might be the Happiest Place on Earth™, but Disney Japan’s Twitter account is one of the most oblivious places on the internet. Take a Disney Japan tweet from yesterday: It reads, “Congrats on a trifling day” in Japanese. Under that, it read, “A very merry unbirthday to you!” Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of…

When Video Game Perspectives Are Strange

If you really think about it, the in-game camera often makes little to no sense. This isn’t true for every game (and generally, I think games have gotten way better), but Twitter user NSKEEEEE uploaded a comparison between The Evil Within’s in-game perspective and what the actual P.O.V. would look like. [via NSKEEEEE] Certainly brings…

One Japanese Celebrity’s Disgusting Twitter Tradition

It’s summer! In Japan, that means muggy heat, fireworks, and cold noodles. But for one Japanese celeb, it also means covering oneself in insect shells. Note: Some readers might get grossed out by these images. I know I kinda did. Shoko Nakagawa—singer, TV personality, and reigning Pokémon queen—has been covering herself with cicada husks for…

The Sky Over Hakone. Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. By Martin Fu. 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!

Dragon Ball Super Looks Super Crappy

You are not looking are some fan drawn images. These are official images from Dragon Ball Super’s fifth episode. Fan drawn images probably look better! The images look stiff, rough, and incredibly awkward. Polished, they are not. Online in Japan, people are saying this is a “massive breakdown” (大崩壊 or dai houkai) of the anime’s…

Comparing Metal Gear Solid V: TPP‘s Graphics on Different Platforms

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC. Let’s see how the versions stack up. The game’s official Japanese page has comparisons between PS4/PS3, Xbox One/Xbox 360, and PS4/PC. You’ll have to do the PlayStation/Xbox comparisons yourself! Previously, we saw how Ground Zeroes…

Surviving Japan’s Biggest Geek Event

Each August, over a half a million people descend on Tokyo Big Sight for Comic Market. That’s a lot of people to contend with, and it’s brutally hot outside and in the convention center. If you are attending, here are some important guidelines to keep in mind. The bi-annual Comiket (Comic Market) showcases self-published manga…