Kotaku East

First Look Inside Tokyo’s New Godzilla Hotel 

Earlier this year, Kotaku brought word of a new Godzilla-themed hotelopening in Tokyo’s Shinjuku. The photos were mere renderings. Now, we get a real look inside. In this video from Jiji Press, you get a peak inside a Godzilla View Room and the much larger Godzilla Room. The hotel also serves special ‘Zilla themed sweets.…

The Time Hayao Miyazaki Went Off on America

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan’s most celebrated anime creators. He also has the reputation of being a bit outspoken of his opinions. Like how using an iPad is like masturbation, or that time he said he hated cars because they were American. Wait, what? An image has recently surfaced on Japan’s popular online billboard,…

Japan’s Biggest Game Heads West, And Might Not Work

The Yokai Watch games are hugely popular in Japan. For good reason, they’re a lot of fun. The third numeric entry in the series was recently announced, and it’s got me thinking. And worried. Yokai Watch took Japan by storm last year, selling more games than anyone and even beating Pokémon at the movie box…

Two Years Later, Smash Bros. Creator’s Arm is Still Busted

It’s been over two years since Smash Bros. creator, Masahiro Sakurai, first revealed that he was suffering from calcific tendinitis in his right shoulder and while from his tone, it appears his condition has improved, he obviously has not yet fully recovered. In his semi-weekly column in Weekly Famitsu, Sakurai lamented on the recent release…

New Japanese Airport Terminal Has a Running Track

So travellers can run—or more realistically, walk briskly—between gates. This is just one of several clever design elements at Narita Airport’s new low-cost terminal. In the video below, you can see the terminal and hear designers talk about their innovative ways to save money (and still make a striking airport). Click on “CC” for English…

Level-5’s next big thing is Snack World. There will be a manga, anime, and games. But we’ll have to wait and see if this catches on like Yokai Watch has in Japan.

Christian Schoolgirl Manga Debuts in Japan

Japanese Christian newspaper The Christ Weekly has a new comic strip to teach readers about Christian values. Her name? Pyuuri-tan (ピューリたん). You know, like as in “Puritan.” Oh boy. In Japanese, the word for “Puritan” is “Pyuuritan” (ピューリタン). “Tan” (たん）is also a slang for the informal name marker “chan” (ちゃん) and is a nickname often…

Yokai Watch 3 will be set in the U.S. The previous entries in the huge-in-Japan franchise were set in, well, Japan. In the upcoming game, the main character’s father is transferred to the States, and the trailer is quick to point out what’s American and “totally different from Japan.” Heh. To contact the author of…

Japan Invented the Selfie Stick. In 1983. 

You might have heard the story about the American who invented the original selfie stick about a decade ago. Thing is, it was apparently invented in Japan earlier than that. Much earlier. Back in 1983, Japanese camera company Minolta released the Minolta Disc-7, a camera that was years ahead of its time. As Camerapedia explains:…

The New Gunslinger Stratos Anime Looks Crappy

With time, some anime look better. Then, there are others that get worse and worse. Take the new Gunslinger Stratos anime, for example. Gunslinger Stratos is originally an arcade game developed by Square Enix. That game looks fantastic, and it’s oodles of fun. But the new anime doesn’t feature the sheen and polish Square Enix…

Your Complete Spring 2015 Anime Guide

With the spring comes new anime—50 of them to be exact. But with so much anime, how do you know which ones to watch? Check out the trailers and brief blurbs below to see which of them catches your interest. [*Note: Series ordered by premier date. Should an anime have begun simulcasting, I have linked…

Sony Exec Dies a Bunch in Bloodborne

But, then again, doesn’t everyone? Often we see bloggers and YouTubers stream games. I don’t recall ever seeing a Sony exec do it before. Then again, I haven’t really been paying attention. In this video (via tipster Sang), Shiro Kawauchi, the head of Sony Computer Entertainment Korea, streams himself playing Bloodborne—and dying a whole bunch.…

Poll: Last Season’s Most Popular Anime Is…

It’s April. Time for a new anime season. Time for new anime. But, before we get too deep into what’s new, let’s look back at what’s old. And more importantly, which anime were the most popular of the past winter season. Website Yusaani polled readers, asking them to name their favorite. As with most polls,…

The Best Japanese Cosplay Photos. Officially. 

Like, there was a voting and everything. Here are the results of the first Nippon Cosplay Photo Contest. The winners were picked by fellow cosplayers and members of the general public. Voting for the finalists was held last month at the Nipponbashi Street Festa and online. The grand prize winner, Gvgexvs0919, got a trip worth…

How Tokyo Has Changed in the Past Fifty Years

Everywhere changes. New York, London, and, yes, Tokyo. But perhaps in Tokyo, like many huge cities in Asia, the changes have been more noticeable. Recently Japan’s biggest web forum 2ch, net users have been posting photos that show how the world’s largest metropolis has changed over the past several decades. Here, you can see Tokyo…

Naruto Exhibit Opening in Japan

Later this month, an exhibition to mark Naruto’s conclusion kicks off in Tokyo. On display, there will be original art, a theater showing Naruto scenes, and displays that bring the manga and anime to life—and more. Also, Famitsu and Fashion Press report that visitors will be able to purchase original items, and nearly thirty restaurants…

People Say This Looks Like a Anime Penis

Make that an “adorable” anime penis. This month, Knights of Sidonia’s second season kicks off in Japan, and the show’s trailer shows the character Tsumugi Shiraui with her phallic probe form. Note: This article contains content some readers might find objectionable. Her really, really phallic probe. Over on Japanese forum 2ch, after the teaser for…

Super Mario Bros. Screenshot Recreated with 14,000 Toothpicks

Who knew toothpicks could be such a good substitute for 8-bit graphics? I sure didn’t. Twitter user BitBlt Korry recreated the Super Mario Bros. start screen with painted toothpicks. As you can see, some of the toothpicks stick out further, giving the tableau’s front some cool depth. [Photos: BitBlt_Korry] This little hidden Mario is a…

‘Jackie Chan’ Translation Fails Are the Best Translation Fails

Everybody knows Jackie Chan. He’s a martial artist, an actor, a filmmaker, a singer, and more. What he is not is a bus stop in Sichuan, China. As noted by Austin Ramzy (via Eric Jou) on Twitter, the bus stop named “The University Jackie Chan Campus Station” is apparently a computerized translation fail. The institution…

Naruto‘s Son Has a Silly Name. Here’s Why. 

Boruto? Really? We’re really going to run with this? This is…”Boruto.” He is Naruto’s son, and first appeared in Naruto: The Last Movie. Now, as recently confirmed, he’s getting his own spin-off movie. It’s called Boruto. As announced this week, it will be out August 7 in Japan. Actually, the title is Boruto: Naruto The…