Kotaku East

The Up All Night Stream Plays Rhythm Heaven: The Best + [Finished]

I’ve played a lot of music games in my day, but none do I love more than the Rhythm Heaven games. So join me as The Up All Night Stream plays the brand new Rhythm Heaven: The Best + and let me show you why. Update: Stream Complete! But you can see it in its…

When CG Animation Goes Wrong and Boring

This is an image of Ganba no Bouken or The Adventures of Ganba. The anime debuted in the mid-1970s. Now, they’re making a CG version, and damn, it looks tragic. I quite like Ganba! So do many Japanese people. No wonder it’s one of the country’s most beloved anime. Ganba was originally based on a…

That Harvard-Stanford genius story? Kotaku has confirmed that it was a hoax, as suspected. We’ve added more to our original report.

How Japan Began Making Otome Games

In Japan, there is a genre of games specifically targeted at women. Called “neo-romance games” or “otome games” (maiden games), most are essentially harem romance stories with the genders reversed. But it wasn’t always this way. Tecmo Koei was a pioneer in the field creating the first neo-romance game for the Super Famicom (The Japanese…

Okubo Station. Tokyo, Japan. By Kappuru. 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!

Former Employee Sues Bandai, Alleges Racism

An ex-Bandai employee’s lawsuit alleges discrimination and racism in the work place. According to My News LA, Tony Le, a Vietnamese-American, isn’t only suing Bandai America Inc. and Bandai Namco Holdings USA Inc., but also some of his former bosses over alleged discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination, among other claims. The suit, My News LA…

There Are No Favorites in Smash Bros, Says Its Creator

Apparently, some Smash Bros. players out there are frustrated at the strength of characters like Kirby and Pit – both characters from franchises that director Masahiro Sakurai created. Because if Kirby beat you, it’s obviously the creator’s fault. “With Smash Bros., every now and then someone will vent their misplaced anger towards me.” Sakurai wrote…

The Harvard + Stanford Genius Story Is Bullshit [Update]

The Korean media dubbed Sara Kim the “Genius Girl.” A young math whiz so brilliant that two elite universities, Harvard and Stanford, offered her dual admissions. Her father, an exec at Korean game company Nexon, must have been proud! Other people, however, were suspicious. Update: 6/12/16 – 4:00am. We’ve now also been able to directly…

Old Yakuza Are Tough as Nails in Beat Takeshi’s New Movie

Once a yakuza… Always a yakuza. From comedian, actor, director, and generational phenomenon, Takeshi Kitano (aka “Beat” Takeshi) is a new movie of generational conflict between old-school Japanese gangsters and current-generation scam gangs. Titled Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen, the movie focuses on a retired Japanese mafia member, Ryuzo, who is taken in by one…

Inari Shrine. Kyoto, Japan. By Martin Sturk. 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!

Awaodori in Koenji Tokyo, Japan. By Jason Arney 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!

Miffy, the Cute Character, Turned into a Brutal Zombie

In this clip, Hong Kong is under attack. The threat is real. The threat is Miffy. That’s right, Dick Bruna’s adorable rabbit isn’t so adorable in this faux movie trailer from YouTubers Gun N Cult. To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter@Brian_Ashcraft Kotaku East is your slice…

The Horrible Evolution of Anime’s Most Lovable Brat

Things are bound to only get worse from here. Much, much worse. Anime and manga characters change! That we know. And since Crayon Shin-Chan debuted in the early 1990s, the character has transformed. It’s been an on-going change. In this image, which was recently posted on Japan’s 2ch as well as Tumblr over the years,…

An Easy Way To Turn Your Cat into Totoro

All you need are some paper cut-outs, maybe some googly eyes, and a cat. Don’t forget the cat! That’s very important. For a while now, Twitter users in Japan have noted that the backs of cats look like Totoro from the iconic Studio Ghibli movie My Neighbor Totoro. [Via purple_spicy72] Whaddaya think? If you can’t…

Japan’s Newest Trend: Katana Women

One of the newest Japanese buzz words is “katana joshi” (カタナ女子) or “katana woman.” You know, for ladies who are really into Japanese swords. [Photo: tom_0129] The phrase “katana joshi” has been trending on Twitter, while numerous national news programs have been introducing the fad. [Photo: mokuren3100] [Photo: news__sokuhou] [Photo: Story_terror] The text asks, “Why…

Artist: Sheena Ringo | Track: Honnou | Album: Shouso Strip Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Cosplay Isn’t as Glamorous as It Looks

People in fancy costumes. Slick photos. Cosplay sure can seem glamorous. But like on any photo shoot, loads of smart trickery that’s anything but lavish goes into pulling off those amazing photos. Last year, Kotaku published photos showing the “fantasy” and “reality” of cosplay. These latest photos are in a similar series, showing behind-the-scenes pics…

Track: Watashi Igai Watashi Janai no | Artist: Gesu no Kiwami Otome | Album: Watashi Igai Watashi Janai no (Single) Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: The Kotaku Import Preview

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a massive game—and one I am still not even close to finishing. However, with over 70 hours of gameplay under my belt, I think I am finally ready to tell you what this game is all about. Sometime in the near future, two alien races battle near Earth. Recognizing that the…

Chinese Movie Allegedly Rips Off Pixar’s Cars

This is The Autobots. It’s due out next month in Chinese theaters The Autobots, eh? But it’s not just the title that seems familiar… Japanese morning show Sukkiri (via Naver) is reporting that this new made-in-China animated movie features designs that seem to resemble Pixar’s Cars. The show says it could be a rip-off! Oh?…