Kotaku East

Kill Some Time with These Gundam Flash Games

You like Gundam? Do you have time to kill on some simple flash games? Then, boy, do I have the site for you. Japanese blog Kenkouna Seikatsu (Healthy Life) is about two things: Macromedia Flash and Gundam. Thus it has over a dozen Gundam flash games from across several genres. It’s got action games, quiz…

The Wii U Will Take Digital Money in Japan

Starting July 22, Wii U owners in Japan can use digital money cards to buy stuff through the Nintendo eShop. According to Nintendo, the digital money cards that can be used include Suica, Pasmo, Kitaca, Toica, Manaca, Icoca, Sugoca, Minoca, and Hayakaken. These cards are embedded with IC chips and are typically used to buy…

This Tokyo Apartment Building Is Named “Phil Collins”

Not only is the apartment building named after the British pop star, but even its sign looks like Phil’s autograph. Spotted by @ MartinTokyo, @IanFMartin and @sandrajapandra (via Buzzfeed), the building is officially called Phil Collins Musashino (フィルコリンズ武蔵野), with Musashino being the area of Tokyo where it’s located. A Phil Collins apartment! That’s kind of…

The Fart Cannon Is a Lethal Weapon

Have you ever wanted to launch a fart at someone? No? Well, a young gentleman named ARuFa has. And he made that dream a reality. Note: This article contains content some readers might find objectionable. Over on Japanese comedy site Omotopia (via Neatorama), ARuFa demonstrates how how he created a fart cannon, using a cardboard…

When A Game Is This Pretty, Who Needs Golf?

On Green, a new online golf game was revealed today during a Korean media event. It’s running on CryEngine 3 so, besides the pretty environment, golf ball physics will probably be top notch as well. Neowiz Games released two trailers for the game, one with characters (they remind me of Dead or Alive for some…

Japanese Actor Refused To Pronounce “Godzilla” in English

In English, Godzilla is said as, well, “Godzilla.” But in Japanese, it’s said (and written) different: “Gojira” (ゴジラ). According to actor Ken Watanabe, who appeared in the latest Hollywood version, he was asked to pronounce the word in English—or, at least, somewhat like it’s said English. “I was told by the director to pronounce it…

This Horror Film Should Be Exciting, So Why Am I Bored?

Japan recently released the trailer for the live action Kiseiju (寄生獣) aka Parasyte movie. While seeing one of my favorite manga of all time brought to life on the big screen should give me a hard-on that could be seen from space, in reality, it didn’t. In fact, it had pretty much the opposite effect.…

This Might Be the Best Trollface of 2014

It’s July. We’re at the halfway point. I know. But it’s really going to be difficult to top Japanese flyweight Takuya Eizumi‘s trollface for this year’s best. As first noted by website Cage Potato and r/MMA, Eizumi unleashed this epic trollface after winning at a hybrid wrestling Pancrase 259 match last month in Japan. The…

I Liked the Sound of Tri-Ace’s New Game Until I Learned More

Judas Code is the title of a new action RPG from Star Ocean series developer, tri-Ace. Everything about the game’s description sounded pretty awesome to me, until those dreaded 3 words appeared. It’s a futuristic action RPG! Check. It’s from tri-Ace! Check. It’s post-apocalyptic! Check. It’s for the PS Vita! I loves my Vita. Check.…

Psychoanalyzing Two of Japan’s Greatest Anime Creators

Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli fame. Yoshiyuki Tomino of Gundam fame. Both are two of Japan’s most famous anime creators. And psychiatrist Tamaki Saito gives his professional opinion on what makes both men tick. Saito is also the author of Beautiful Fighting Girl and helped popularize the idea of hikikomori, an acute type of social…

Here Are the Top Games in Japan for 2014 (So Far)

Now that we’re into July and 2014 is half over, how’s everyone’s year been? Good? Mediocre? Crappy? Okay, let’s talk games. We’ve passed the turnaround point for 2014. E3 is over and I’ve got TGS to dread look forward to. In Japan, game sales have been gradually declining over the years as console sales have…

Nippon Ichi Software has a teaser site for a “new title.” Wonder what it is… “New,” apparently!

Korean Street Explodes, Flips Car Like a Toy

The above footage is not from a movie or a TV drama. It’s real. And thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. Earlier this week in Seoul, South Korea, a water pipeline exploded, flipping a taxi into the air. NHKreports that the 56 year-old driver behind the wheel was not seriously injured. Below, you can see…

The Wii U Is Getting One Scary-Looking Game

If you like frightening games, good news. Here is the first trailer for the upcoming Fatal Frame game for the Wii U. Long-time fans of the Fatal Frame series know that these are some of the scariest games you can play. Fatal Frame: The Black-Haired Shrine Maiden will use the GamePad to see spirits that…

Japanese Schoolgirl Ninja Jumping Off Buildings

It’s summer in Japan. Students are starting to get out for vacation. Maybe they can spend their free time chasing each other around and jumping off rooftops. This video (well, ad) was shot in the idyllic city of Atami—apparently on a smartphone—as the two kids chase each other around, using ninja tricks like makibishi and…

Don’t Worry, Japanese Rice Paddy Art Is Still Incredible

Last summer, Kotaku introduced some of Japan’s amazing rice paddy art. And this summer? More amazing rice paddy art. As mentioned before, dyes are not used to create “tanbo art” (田んぼアート) or “rice paddy art.” Farmers and volunteers, instead, use different types of rice strains to create the colors, with some leaves a bright green…

Kendo Sure Looks Painful

Once upon a time, I thought about doing kendo. After watching this video, I have come to one conclusion: What the hell was I thinking? Co-directed by Vimeo user Simon Conlin, this video was created for the Canadian Kendo Federation to support the Canadian team when it competes in Tokyo next year. While kendo attacks…

One Piece Theme Park Opening in Tokyo Next Spring

To mark the 15th anniversary of the One Piece anime, the first One Piece theme park will open in Japan. Details are scant, and currently, there is only a teaser page that says this will be One Piece‘s “first theme park” (初のテーマパーク or “hatsu no teema paaku”) and that it will open at Tokyo Tower.…

Man in China Has Spent $32,000 Collecting Transformers

Transformers is quite popular in China. Heck, the latest film is set in the country. There are many diehard Chinese fans. One of them shelled out $32,000 for his collection. According to News 163 (via ShanghaiIst), retired soldier Zhang Wei has been collecting Transformers since 2002. So far, he and his wife have over 380…

You Know What Makes Blind Dates Better? Anime

Dating is tough. It’s not always easy to find a partner into the same things you are. Anime, for instance. Not everybody is into that. Wouldn’t it be great if there were blind dating events for anime lovers? In Japan, there are. Animax, the Japanese television network dedicated to anime broadcasting, is teaming up with…