Kotaku East Archives - Page 268 of 501

Depressing? Inspirational? Reverse Plastic Surgery Show Hits Korea

It’s come to this. There’s now a show in South Korea in which people with plastic surgery have more work done so they can look like they did…before plastic surgery. Called Back To My Face, the recently debuted South Korean television program features individuals who have had more than ten procedures done. So far, the…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2014

Kotaku East

Visiting a Real Life Pokémon Center

It’s an understatement to say that Pokémon is popular in Japan. “How popular” you might ask? So popular that it has its own Pokémon Centers that look as if torn straight out of the games. You can even buy pokémon there (well, stuffed ones anyway). Currently there are eight of these Pokémon Centers in Japan.…

By Richard Eisenbeis Published May 13, 2014

Kotaku East

Imagine Eating This Giant Parfait

You probably can’t handle this giant parfait. I dunno, maybe you can! I sure can’t. Well, not alone at least. This is Cafe Olympic, a restaurant in Nagasaki that calls itself “Parfait Heaven”—and for good reason as it specializes in huge parfait. How huge? The establishment’s jumbo size deserts start at 50 cm and max…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2014

Kotaku East

Watch Us Play a Game about Being Trapped in a Game

Sword Art Online was easily one of the most popular anime of 2012. And while the West never got the first game, Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment, on the PSP, it will be getting the updated version of the game, Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, for the Vita later this year. But how exactly does…

By Richard Eisenbeis Published May 13, 2014

Kotaku East

Behold, the Leaning Apartment of South Korea

A new apartment complex recently went up in Asan, South Korea. It went up, and then, it started to lean. According to Korean paper The Chosun Ilbo and Wiki Tree, the building was slated for completion by end of this month. However, it suddenly started leaning to one side. It’s believed that either a faulty…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2014

Kotaku East

A Hidden Sex Joke Found in Attack on Titan, It Seems

Inside jokes are not new to manga and comic books. They are, however, sometimes amusing and often immature. Nothing wrong with that! Online in Japan, folks are saying a recent issue of manga Attack on Titan has a lewd ditty. Originally a manga, Attack on Titan has spawned a hugely popular anime (above) as well…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 13, 2014

Kotaku East

Godzilla Made from Pine Tree Branches Is a Lovely Fire Hazard

In the movies, Godzilla is a creature born from a perversion of nature and created from nuclear waste. Taiwanese graduate student Li Yi-Kai’s version of Godzilla is different. It’s completely made up of natural waste: fallen branches. Li, a landscape architecture graduate student in Taiwan’s Nanhua University rose to prominence after photos of his home…

By Eric Jou Published May 12, 2014

Kotaku East

Report: China Wants a Dominant Computer OS

Windows, Android, Mavericks, iOS, these are just some of the world’s most popular operating systems, and they all have at least one thing in common: They’re all not made in China. Tired of using foreign created software to power their computers, China is looking to promote their own domestically created desktop operating system. As reported…

By Eric Jou Published May 12, 2014

Kotaku East

Eating Häagen-Dazs Vegetable Flavored Ice Cream

How about some nice Häagen-Dazs ice cream? With tomatoes and cherries? If that’s not your thing, you can always try carrots and oranges. Japanese site Gigazine did just that. As previously mentioned, Häagen-Dazs has released some interesting flavors in Japan. But these might be the most interesting. Ever. For the tomato and cherry flavor, Gigazine…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 12, 2014

Kotaku East

Oculus Rift Finally Lets You Kiss Hatsune Miku

We’ve already seen tech that allows us to shake hands with virtual idol Hatsune Miku. And now, here is tech that enables the world to make out with her. In case you were wondering, her lips are made from gummies. These are the same folks who created a Pocky eating game a few years back.…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 12, 2014

Kotaku East

Like Elsewhere, Chinese Airline Food Doesn’t Look So Great

As someone who travels by plane at least eight times a year, I consume a lot of airplane food. Of the variety plane food I’ve eaten over the years, Chinese airplane food has been probably on average the worst. Well, according to Chinese social networking site Weibo, I’m not the only one who feels this…

By Eric Jou Published May 12, 2014

Kotaku East

Meet Japan’s King of Farts

Everyone has something that makes them special. For 55 year-old Seiji Matsushita, that is being able to fart on command. Note: Some readers might find this content objectionable. Dubbed “The Great Man of the Fart World,” Matsushita was recently profile on Japanese program Monday Late Show. When asked what his profession was, Matsushita replied, “I…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 12, 2014

Kotaku East

Can You Spot the Differences in These Metal Gear Images?

Calling all Metal Gear Fans! Or people who like looking at things and spotting things that don’t look alike. Recently on 2ch, Japan’s largest bulletin board, a “spot the difference” thread popped up, complete with Metal Gear images that looked the same—but aren’t. For example, in the above image, there are slight discrepancies. Can you…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 12, 2014

Kotaku East

Chill Out with Japanese Snow Cone Art

The temperature is starting to warm up. It will be summer before you know it. And in Japan, summer means kakigori (かき氷) or the country’s version of snow cones. One restaurant has that down to an artform. Located in Okinawa, Kome Hachi Soba specializes in soba (buckwheat noodles), but in recent years, the establishment has…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 12, 2014

Kotaku East

Fancy Japanese Bananas Have Serial Numbers

Earlier today in Tokyo, limited edition bananas went on sale. They even had serial numbers. Yes, serial numbers. On bananas. As reported by Entabe, NariNari and on Excite News, Dole released the premium bananas at Takashimaya Department Store in Shinjuku this morning. The bananas were priced at 590 yen ($5.80) each, packaged in a special…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2014

Kotaku East

Kim Jong-Un Is “Getting Fatter,” Reports the Korean Media

Think being a dictator is easy? Ha! It’s stressful, and according to the South Korean media, it’s caused Kim Jong-un to pack on the extra pounds. Major South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo as well as South Korean cable news network YTN are reporting rumors from Free North Korea Radio that say North Korea’s supreme…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2014

Kotaku East

Taiwanese Dentist Dresses Staff in Skimpy Maid Outfits

Afraid of the dentist? A Taiwanese dental clinic thinks it has a solution: hygienists decked out in maid uniforms. Um, okay! For the past several years, maid cafes have been popular in Japan and have spread outside the country. Taiwan now has maid cafes of its own—there’s even a McDonald’s that has held special events,…

By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2014

Kotaku East

Japanese Manga Stirs Up Fukushima Nuclear Controversy

A famous Japanese food manga takes on the “truth about Fukushima.” The Japanese manga, Oishinbo (美味しんぼ) is a long-running food manga that has been ongoing since 1983. In his latest chapter that was recently published in the magazine Big Comic Spirits, author Tetsu Kariya depicted the manga protagonist, Shiro Yamaoka, as he returned from a…

By Toshi Nakamura Published May 8, 2014

Kotaku East

What Japanese Game Developers Learn from Each Others’ Games

Four developers competing in the same genre sit down to have a friendly conversation. The multi-player large-boss-hunting genre is huge in Japan. It’s hardly a stretch to say that the Monster Hunter series saved both the PSP and the 3DS in Japan. After the juggernaut that is Monster Hunter made its mark, every other Japanese…

By Toshi Nakamura Published May 8, 2014

Kotaku East

What Excites Japanese Gamers About the Xbox One

From a rocky start to now, with over 5 million units sold, the Xbox One seems to have found its footing. Next stop, Japan. But how will Microsoft’s black monolithic hope fare in a market where its predecessors haven’t exactly enjoyed the lion’s share? Following the September 4th Japanese release date announcement, Japanese gaming mag…

By Toshi Nakamura Published May 8, 2014