Life-sized bronze statues of Attack on Titan’s Eren, Mikasa and Armin were recently unveiled at the foot of the Oyama Dam in Oita Prefecture, Japan. The three characters gaze up at the dam, as if they were watching a Titan peer over. (There’s even a special AR app visitors to the dam can use to…
In Japanese, omiyage refers to a souvenir that’s purchased for others. Typically, these are snacks, and in Tokyo, perhaps the most famous of all is Tokyo Bananas—cream-filled cakes shaped like little bananas. Tokyo Banana has been ranked as the most popular omiyage two-years running! In the past few years, there have been a variety of…
As Sega Sammy announced it’s selling off its arcade business, the Tokyo-based game company also announced that it is asking 650 employees to retire voluntarily. With covid-19 impacting business, Sega is expecting what it calls “an extraordinary loss” during the current financial year. Sega Sammy Holdings was formed after Sega and Sammy merged in 2004.…
When the PlayStation 5 launches this month, Sony won’t be selling the console in stores. Instead, launch day sales will only be online. “In the interest of keeping our gamers, retailers, and staff safe amidst COVID-19, today we are confirming that all day-of launch sales will be conducted through the online stores of our retail…
Next January, the Henna Hotel (“Strange Hotel”) in Tokyo is doing a collaboration with The Idolmaster, the Bandai Namco sim filled with anime-style idols. As part of the tie-up, there will be more than simply Idolmaster art plastered in rooms and cut-out cardboard versions of the characters. At the check-in counter, holograms of the idols…
Open your wallets! Irelia from League of Legends is getting a limited edition statue that costs lots and lots of money. Shanghai-based collectible maker Infinity Studio crafted this 1/4-scale statue to mark League of Legends’ tenth anniversary. Measuring 24.8 inches, the detailed figure is limited to 800 pieces and made from polystone, PVC, and fabric.…
In years past, massive crowds descended on Tokyo’s Shibuya. But this year, with the global pandemic, things were supposed to be different. They were supposed to be virtual. Shibuya mayor Ken Hasebe, for example, asked people to avoid the area to prevent covid-19 clusters and instead visit a “virtual Shibuya” online to celebrate Halloween. In…
Times are tough. The world needs inspiration. The world needs a hero. YouTuber Tasty Hoon’s time has come. Tasty Hoon makes mukbang videos, which Kotaku first introduced back in 2013. They are clips or streams in which people watch someone eat. Tasty Hoon’s mukbang clips have added ASMR appeal. Late last month, Tasty Hoon tried…
Starting next year, Prime 1 Studio is releasing a pair of limited-edition Resident Evil 2 statues, featuring Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield blasting zombies. The Claire statue is 21.6 inches high, weighing 40.5 pounds, while the Leon one is 23 inches and 46 pounds. They are priced at $1,349 and will be out internationally.…
When Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai introduced Minecraft characters in Smash Bros. Ulitmate, he discussed their in-game music. At that time, he said, “Unfortunately, due to various circumstances, it turns out we cannot use the song playing in the original Minecraft.” Continuing, he pointed out that for such a frantic game, many of the tunes…
In the One Piece anime, the first 61 episodes make up the East Blue saga. Debuting in 1999, the TV anime was originally broadcasted at a 4:3 aspect ratio. Now the shows are getting remastered for a two-disc Blu-ray release in Japan, and the frame will be cropped to fit a 16:9 widescreen aspect. How…
For Norah Jones’s latest album, Pick Me Up Off The Floor, the singer has released a manga-version music video of her single “I’m Alive” featuring panels from Rumiko Takahashi’s Maison Ikkoku According to Viz Media, “’I’m Alive’ features Maison Ikkoku’s main character, Kyoko Otonashi, as she shares many similarities with the lyrics, which reflect finding…
During the 2016 Rio Olympics closing ceremony, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared out of a large green Warp Pipe, wearing a red Mario hat emblazoned with Tokyo 2020. But what did Abe think about the whole experience? In a recent interview with Nikkan Sports, Abe was frank, honest and refreshing about the whole…
At this year’s Toyama Gamers Day in Japan, it’s only fitting that the prize for the game Fight Crab in the King Crab Tournament is, wait for it, crabs. But, as Kai-You points out, not just one crab but a total of one hundred during the entire tournament. Why crabs? Well besides the fact that…
This year, more than ever, people are wearing face masks. Twitter user Shuka, who specializes in cyberpunk designs, created this cool-looking face mask. The mask has three different ways to wear it, from a chin guard to a mask and a full-face covering. I imagine wearing a filter or medical mask underneath would make quite…
Thirteen-year-old Seira Watanabe is a huge Godzilla fan. She has an impressive collection of figures and does an excellent impression of the kaiju’s roar. Recently, she wrote to Osaka television show Tantei! Knight Scoop, asking to go on a date with Godzilla. Tantei! Knight Scoop takes requests from viewers (often very silly ones), turning those…
Wonder what virtual idol Hatsune Miku is up to? Doing her part to contain covid-19, that’s what. The character has been appointed as a “Covid-19 Prevention Supporter.” Not sure what the hell that means? The Japanese government has enlisted an array of celebrities, athletes, business people, and one robot to make videos about preventing covid-19.…
During this global pandemic, Japan has issued a tourist ban. Currently, visitors from 159 countries are not able to enter the country. So what are Japan-starved tourists to do? In China, a Japan-themed street was created. As South China Morning Post reported earlier this month, there’s now a 330-foot street in Foshan to give locals…
South Korean news reports that a 20-something man has been arrested after lighting up around 100 cigarettes in the smoking room at an internet café According to The Korea Times, the suspect opened seven packs of cigarettes. He then began lighting, smoking them with both hands, and throwing the butts on the floor. Smoke began…
Back in 2016, when Pokémon Go first launched in Japan, the popular augmented reality game began a collaboration with McDonald’s. As of tomorrow, that will end. When the tie-up first started, around 2,500 McDonald’s restaurants doubled as PokéStops, while another 400 or so were Pokémon Gyms. According to Nikkei, the result was store sales increasing…
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