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Kotaku EastSouth KoreaLeague of Legends Pro Suspended And Fined For Hate Speech
Kim “OnFleek” Jang-gyeom, a League of Legends pro for Sandbox Gaming, has been fined and will be suspended for hate speech. Inven reports that Kim made a racist remark during a stream. As translated by Ashley Kang, a writer for ESPN Sports, Kim wrote, “The only good Chinese is a dead Chinese.” “It has been…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 10, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanAnother Tokyo Arcade Is Closing Due To Covid-19
This has been a bad year for Tokyo arcades. The one-two punch of the global pandemic and Japan’s travel ban has meant few customers, which has squeezed the industry’s bottom line. Landmark Tokyo arcades are shutting. Add Arcade Playland Carnival in Shinjuku to that list. Unfortunately. The arcade’s official Twitter account announced that on November…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 10, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanIn Japan, Sony Will Stop Servicing The Original PlayStation 4
With the PlayStation 5 launching this month, a new console era has begun. Sony is driving that point home by revealing that it will no longer service launch PS4s in Japan Via Twitter, Sony announced that on December 25, service for PS4 CUH-1000/CUH-1100 series of consoles would end in Japan, and individuals needing their consoles…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 10, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanGo Ahead And Crawl Inside A Pokémon
This has been a rough year. What better place to seek warmth and comfort than inside a Pocket Monster? Premium Bandai is releasing what it’s calling a 絶対に出たくない (zettai ni detakunai or “I don’t want to go out”) Metapod, suggesting that folks climb in while working from home. It’s priced at 35,000 yen ($335) with…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 9, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanNew Attack On Titan Statues Erected In An Excellent Location
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 9, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanFamous Tokyo Snack Gets A Pokémon Twist
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 9, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanIn Japan, Sega Just Asked 650 Employees To Retire Voluntarily
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.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 6, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanThe PlayStation 5 Will Only Be Sold Online At Launch
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 5, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanAnime Holograms To Work At Japanese Hotel
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 4, 2020 -
Kotaku EastHere’s a League of Legends Statue That Only Costs $1,000
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.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 4, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanHalloween Was Supposed To Be Virtual In Tokyo But Wasn’t
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2020 -
Kotaku EastSouth KoreaMan Defies The Odds, Figures Out How To Enjoy Cheese With Chicken
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 2, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanCheck Out These Resident Evil 2 Collectible Statues, Each Priced At $1,349
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.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 30, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanMasahiro Sakurai’s Hardest Smash Bros. Challenge: Minecraft Music
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 29, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanRemastered One Piece Anime Cropped For Widescreen
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 23, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanNorah Jones And Manga Are A Good Combination
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 23, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanFormer Japanese Prime Minister Wasn’t Thrilled With The Mario Olympics Stunt
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 22, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanForget Money, Japanese Esports Tournament Is Giving Away Crabs (Yes, Actual Crabs)
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 21, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanHere’s An Excellent Cyberpunk Mask
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 20, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanTeenager Finally Achieves Her Dream Of Dating Godzilla
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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 20, 2020