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Kotaku EastJapanJapan’s Latest Giant Gundam Is Glorious And Nearly Finished
Finally! Almost! Japan’s latest one-to-one scale Mobile Suit Gundam statue is nearly finished. This latest giant Gundam has gone up near Yokohama’s Chinatown in the Yamashita Futo harbor in a special area that will be called The Gundam Factory. Previously, we checked in on the statue in early June. It was coming along great Shinto…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 5, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanGaming Masks Help Fight Covid And Exist In Japan
Gaming products love LED. If a company wants to make a gaming PC, a gaming keyboard, or a gaming mouse, light-emitting diodes are a constant. So these “gaming masks” should be no surprise. According to Famitsu, these Illumi-on branded gaming mask covers are outfitted with LED lights charged by USB. They come in black and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 4, 2020 -
Kotaku EastChinaChina Just Held Its Biggest Gaming Expo In Person
While E3 and the Tokyo Game Show have been canceled, China just held its biggest game expo, China Joy, complete with booths, demo stations, and cosplayers. Oh, yes, people were told to mask up. China Joy kicked off on July 31. When preregistering, visitors had to submit their health codes to show they were covid-free.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 3, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanSega Apologies After Producer Uses Slang To Mock Puzzle-Game Esports Pros
On a recent Sega livestream, Yakuza executive director and producer Toshihiro Nagoshi talked about the company’s iconic puzzle game Puyo Puyo. During the discussion, he said that Puyo Puyo esports players were “serious-looking kids.” He then hemmed and hawed, chuckled, and said that these pros seemed like they eat beef bowls with cheese. Beef bowls…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 31, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanStreet Fighter Pro’s Home Damaged After Freak Explosion [Update]
In Fukushima, Japan, a restaurant blew up in a freak accident. Street Fighter player Torimeshi, who signed a pro gaming contract last fall, lived right next door. In the above image, posted by Torimeshi, the red circle is his room. Thankfully, he was not at home with the restaurant blew up. Update 08/02/20 – 5:43…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 31, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanGhost of Tsushima‘s Kurosawa Tribute Is More Than Skin Deep
Ghost of Tsushima’s Kurosawa Mode is a black and white cinema-style filter that pays homage to the filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While it might seem like a surface-level nod to the Kurosawa films that inspired the game, the game reflects the famed filmmaker’s sensibility in more than just visual cues. Note: This article contains spoilers. Traditionally,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 30, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanKonami Launches A Line Of Gaming PCs
Besides developing video games, Konami has long making arcade, pachinko, and other amusement hardware. Now, add gaming PCs to that list. The PC gaming brand is called Arespear and features the tagline, “Advanced revolution of esports.” The name is from Greek mythology, combining “Ares” with the word “spear.” Currently there are three entries in the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 29, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanYakuza Director Praises Ghost of Tsushima, Says Japan Should’ve Made It
Toshihiro Nagoshi, Sega’s executive director of the Yakuza games, has many good things to say about Ghost of Tsushima Ghost of Tsushima is a worldwide hit, and it has been well received in Japan. In a recent Sega livestream (via Hachima), Nagoshi was asked about his thoughts regarding the game’s success. “To be honest, we…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 29, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanDragon Ball Themed Sweets Coming To Family Mart In Japan
Wagashi (和菓子) are traditional Japanese sweets made with mochi and sweet fillings to be enjoyed with tea. This week, Dragon Ball themed confections are going on sale at Family Marts across Japan. As evident in the ad copy above, which claims “Japanese sweets for men,” this appears to be aimed at dudes. (M’kay!) Priced at…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 28, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanSquare Enix Wants To Release Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2 As Soon As It Can
In April, Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII Remake. While speaking with Weekly Famitsu, the game’s developers revealed that part 2 is currently in production, picking up where the first remake left off. “While we are earnestly working on it [part 2],” co-director Naoki Hamaguchi told Famitsu, “we may make you wait, but please look…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 22, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanThe World’s Most Expensive Pokémon Card Breaks A New Auction Record
Last year, the ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator card sold for $195,000. That was the highest price paid for a Pokémon card. Until now. The Pikachu Illustrator card was given out to winners of a comic contest that was held in Japan in 1997-98. Thirty-nine of these cards were awarded, but only ten apparently still exist. Back…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 22, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanHow Japanese Arcades Are Trying To Protect Against The Novel Coronavirus
Japanese arcades are places where people gather. But in the age of covid-19, that’s difficult, especially with machines so close together and players touching the same buttons and joysticks. The novel coronavirus has hurt business for arcades. Mikado, above, had to launch a crowdfunding effort to help make up for lost income. As noted on…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanAttack On Titan Live-Action Actor Haruma Miura Dies At 30
On July 18, actor Haruma Miura was found dead in his Tokyo apartment. He was 30 years old. As Mainichi Daily News reports, Miura made his debut as a child actor on a 1997 morning drama series, and went on to win the newcomer award at the Japan Academy Film Prize for his role in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanKyoto Animation: Don’t Visit The Location Of The 2019 Arson Tragedy
In July 2019, Kyoto Animation’s Studio 1 building was set ablaze, leaving 36 people dead. The studio has since been demolished. Today, Kyoto Animation issued a press release, asking fans not to visit the site. “Any entry into the premises of Kyoto Animation 1st Studio is prohibited without permission,” reads the release. “Since the vicinity…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 17, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanUltraman Themed Suit Is Serious Business
In the Ultraman series Ultraseven, there is an elite defense force known as Ultra Garrison. Japanese clothing brand Takeo Kikuchi is selling a suit modeled after the group’s uniform. Here is a comparison with the Ultra Garrison uniform, courtesy of Pure Invention author Matt Alt. The suit has all sorts of neat little Ultraseven details.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 17, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanCompany Is Sorry For Making Crappy Figures
IA and ONE are popular Vocaloid singing voice synthesizer characters in Japan. To celebrate their birthdays, a pair of new figures have gone on sale in Japan. They’re relatively expensive and, well, apparently not very good. Each figure is priced at around 35,000 yen ($327). Above is concept art, and below is what fans are…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 16, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanPet Fish Is Trying To Finish A Pokémon Game
If you think finishing a Pokémon game takes a long time, try playing one as a pet fish. That’s exactly what one pet fish in Japan is doing. Mutekimaru Channel is tracking fish Mutekimaru (aka Maurice) as it makes its way through Pokémon Ruby. As Soranews notes, the fish is obviously not aware it is…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 16, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanThink Spider-Man, But With Plastic Bags
In Spider-Man, Peter Parker invented devices worn on his wrists known as web-shooters. Twitter user Tsukasa-3D invented his own shooters, but for shopping bags. Recently in Japan, even convenience stores have started charging customers for plastic bags and to avoid paying these charges, people need to bring their own. Using a 3D printer, Tsukasa-3D created…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanBathe In Red Water At The Evangelion Hot Springs
This month, the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun resort in Kanagawa, Japan rolled out a special Evangelion themed hot springs. In Evangelion, the Second Impact is a huge explosion in Antarctica after which the oceans run red with “blood.” At this onsen (hot springs) resort, the water in the slides and cave baths are colored red. This…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 9, 2020 -
Kotaku EastJapanJapan’s Roller Coaster Screaming Ban: “Please Scream Inside Your Heart”
As Japanese theme parks start to reopen, guidelines have been issued to (hopefully!) help ensure a safe experience for visitors, including visitors being asked not to scream on roller coasters. According to The Wall Street Journal, a video message tells park visitors, “Please scream inside your hearts.” Previously, Kotaku reported that haunted houses in Japan…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 9, 2020