Kotaku East

In Another World, Japan Got the PS4 First

It was bad enough that Japan has to wait an extra 3 months for Sony’s newest console, then the Japanese PS4 release commercial just had to rub salt into the wound. But had things gone a little differently, that ad would have shown Japanese gamers celebrating while the rest of the world waited. In an…

One of Korea’s Most Talented Game Artists Leaving NCsoft

After eight years, illustrator Hyung-Tae Kim is leaving NCsoft. Earlier today, Kim confirmed the departure on his blog. Known for his work on the Magna Carta series (and more recently, Blade & Soul), Kim is perhaps the most well-known Korean game illustrator in the West. Korean fans might have felt something was up when Kim’s…

Counting Down New Year’s Eve with Hardcore Japanese Gamers

New Year’s is the biggest holiday of the year in Japan. But don’t tell that to these folks. They’ve got arcade games to play. On a recent episode of Monitoring (an observation TV show that, um, monitors folks), footage of various places, such as a laundromat, on New Year’s Eve were shown. The purpose was…

In Japan, the Cycle of Dependency Has Gone Viral

Japan’s latest internet meme is going in circles. What started out as an anti-drug poster image depicting the dangers of drugs and the cycle of chemical dependency quickly turned into a fiasco of strangeness and hilarity with a slightly cynical undertone. The original poster is as follows (With translations added below): ①The Vicious Cycle of…

Meet the Most Humble Man in China

Billionaire Guangbiao Chen is not one to brag about his many accomplishments. Why do that when his business card can do it for him? Chen, who once sold “Good Person Guangbiao Chen” canned air in China, recently claimed he wanted to buy The New York Times. Think there’s enough space on his business card for…

New 3DS App Will Make a Manga Artist Out of You

Well, it probably won’t, but it couldn’t hurt. This is Comic Koubou (コミック工房 Comic Workshop), a new 3DS download-only app for easy manga creation. It’s obviously not as high-end as software like Manga Studio or Clip Studio Paint, and you probably won’t see a lot of published manga artists releasing pieces they drew on their…

Japanese Kids Show Host “Loves Cock,” Apparently

This has to be one of the most unfortunate uses of the English language on Japanese television. Ever. Morning show Miburi TV is a children’s dance program hosted by choreographer Sasuga Minami, who teaches new moves to children and wears a peculiar outfit with some very choice lingo. “Miburi” (身振り) means “gesture” in Japanese. The…

Hold Your Horses, Don’t Get Excited about Consoles in China…Yet

Earlier this week, China’s State Council sneakily released a document about regulations in the nifty Shanghai Free Trade Zone. Due to this release, media outlets have been calling China’s archaic 13-year ban on video games consoles to be over. I’m here to rain on everyone’s parade. The new official documentreleased on Monday by the Chinese…

A Visit to Japan’s Bunny Cafes

Let’s see. Japan has cat cafes, owl cafes, squirrel gardens, and penguin bars. So, of course there are bunny cafes! Called “usagi cafe” (うさぎカフェ), the furry establishments have been around for a few years now and really started to take off in 2012. But don’t think there’s a bunny cafe on every street corner in…

Behold, The Most Embarrassing PS Vita Game of 2014

The ridiculous Senran Kagura series is getting a cooking-themed rhythm game for the PS Vita. The game’s animated opening could be the most mental thing you’ll see all day. Titled Deka Mori Senran Kagura, the game is headed to the PS Vita this March in Japan. “Deka Mori” (デカ盛り) refers to “huge food servings.” Note:…

Is This New Anime Trolling South Korea and China?

This week, Soni Ani Super Sonico The Animation began broadcasting in Japan. The series features Super Sonico, the mascot character for Tokyo-based game developer Nitroplus. And one short, subtle sequence is raising eyebrows among some online in neighboring South Korea. Here are stills of the sequence in question, courtesy of South Korean site MLBPark: Did…

The Wall Street Journal has a smart analysis of China’s nebulous lifting of the console ban—namely, what it means, and why game makers shouldn’t get excited just yet. The takeaway? The latest announcement apparently adds little to what Kotaku already reported last fall.

Another Penis-Shaped Building Erected in China

And it’s not the first phallic-looking Chinese building in recent memory, either. Remember the golden one in Beijing? The latest effort is also the tallest penis building in the city of Jinan. The structure is going up in the city center, where it towers over all. Have a look at photos (courtesy of CNR.cn) from…

Can You Tell What’s Chocolate and What Isn’t? Asks Japanese TV Show.

Perhaps, this gentleman is biting a door handle. Or perhaps, he is eating a door handle made of chocolate. In Japan, “sokkuri sweets” (“sokkuri” or そっくり means “looks like”) are deserts and confectionaries that look like other things. Traditionally, they look like other food—for example, here are some cakes that look exactly like ramen noodles.…

Watch Us Play Madoka Magica: The Battle Pentagram

Late last month, Japan got a new Madoka Magica game: Madoka Magica: The Battle Pentagram for the Vita. Half visual novel and half 3D brawler, The Battle Pentagram gives fans of the anime a new original story with the popular cast of magical girls. But how does it look in action? Watch us play in…

Beyond the Boundary Creates a World of Beauty, Humor, and Young Love

Back in November, I called Beyond the Boundary a must-watch of the fall season. Two weeks back I called it one of the top five anime of 2013. So now, let’s break down in detail what makes Beyond the Boundary so great. Good – Thrown into a Mysterious World The world itself is perhaps the…

StarCraft Pro Gaming Legend Is Coming Out of Retirement

Former pro gamer Hong Jin Ho (aka “YellOw,” pictured) has been spending his retirement as a Korean TV star. Today, however, it was announced that Hong is coming back to the StarCraft: Brood War eSports arena. Good news, indeed! According to Naver (via tipster Sang), GomTV is revising the StarCraft 1 eSport tournament in what…

Man Arrested After Allegedly Forcing Child To Play Grand Theft Auto IV

In Japan, Kyoto Prefectural Police have arrested a 28 year-old man. His crime? Allegedly forcing an elementary schooler to play Grand Theft Auto against the child’s will. According to reports in MSN Japan and Yomiuri Online, the suspect, a 28 year-old male nurse named Maasa Kawabata, allegedly made his wife’s nine year-old son from a…

In Japan, McDonald’s Just Released Disgusting-Looking Cheese Fries

McDonald’s is releasing “vintage” style American burgers in fries in Japan as part of a limited time promotion. The fries—called “Classic Fries with Cheese”—look icky. Sure, cheese fries themselves look kinda icky! But these aren’t cheese fries. There’s not melted cheese goodness to be found. Above, you can see the McDonald’s promotional image, which, of…

First Peek Inside Japan’s Dark Souls Cafe

Last December, From Software announced it was rolling out a Dark Souls themed cafe. Yesterday, it opened in Tokyo. Let’s have a look inside. The Dark Souls Cafe is a collaboration between the game’s developer and Australian-themed eatery OZ Cafe. It’s for a limited time only, serving Dark Souls themed food and drink and plastered…