Kotaku East

The Game Creators You Love Won’t Be Making Games Forever, You Know

Game creator Masahiro Sakurai has been in the game (so to speak) for a long time now. He’s currently working on Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. But how long will he continue developing games? This week in Weekly Famitsu, Sakurai talked about how long a developer can…

Japan’s Nerd Heroine Has Amazing Criteria For a Boyfriend

Japan’squeen of Pokémon is looking for a boyfriend. Can you meet her standards? Got a set of nunchucks? Shoko Nakagawa is Japan’s nerd heroine – an open geek who proudly displays her love of Pokémon, cats, and anime wherever she goes. She is currently the Pokémon captain for the weekly children’s TV show, Pokémon Smash!,…

First Look at the New Tales Game

The next Tales game marks the franchise’s 20th anniversary. It’s a PS3 exclusive. And it’s titled Tales of Zestiria. As Namco Bandai explains, the word “zest” in the title refers to “passion” or “zeal.” Or, well, zest! The game features four character designers: Mutsumi Inomata, Kosuke Fujishima, Daigo Okumura, and Minoru Iwamoto, and it will…

Man Allegedly Stole Nearly $200,000 to Buy Cat Food

Well, the accused gentleman does have 120 cats. And that’s a lot of cats. According to Asahi News, Osaka police arrested Mamoru Demizu for repeated counts of suspected thievery. The 48-year-old unemployed man is alleged to have committed 32 robberies, supposedly making off with around 19,200,000 yen or US$186,800. He’s alleged to have stolen cash…

Total Gundam Freedom Leads to Crazy Customizations

You buy a Gundam model kit. There are instructions. There’s art on the box. There’s the anime. All of this stares you down, giving you something to live up to. Well, screw that. Earlier this month, a Twitter user uploaded a photo of a customized Gundam model with the hashtag, “For Gundam Models, It’s Okay…

A Closer Look at Kirby’s New 3DS Game

Kirby’s back! And he’s looking… as good as he always does, really. It’s Kirby! Nintendo updated their official Japanese-language website with new stuff for the upcoming (and somewhat freshly announced) 3DS Kirby game, Triple Deluxe, in which you’re on a quest to help Kirby’s archenemy, the kidnapped King Dedede, inside his kingdom in the clouds.…

The Worst Japanese Product Name in Recent Memory

If Japanese companies are going to use English, “dick” might be a good word to give the shaft. Especially, if it’s written as “Dickinin”—which, you know, looks like “dickin’ in” or “dick in in.” Not exactly the imagery you want to evoke for sore throat medicine. The medicine’s commercials features Kill Bill star Chiaki Kuriyama…

The Attack on Titan Porn Looks Absolutely Mental

You know the rule: If it exists, there’s porn of it. And typically, adult video adaptions of games or anime look rather whatever. Who cares! This Attack on Titan porno, however, looks totally bonkers. Note: This article contains content some readers might find objectionable. First of all, the costumes—pics courtesy of Asagawo Blog—seem true to…

Japan Reacts to the Godzilla Trailer

Finally! The world gets its first trailer for Hollywood’s upcoming Godzilla film. What did you think? You might have an opinion. I might. Japan definitely does. Internet users on Japan’s largest bulletin board 2ch have chimed in with their opinions regarding the teaser. This isn’t the first time Japanese net users have given their two…

The Witch and the Hundred Knight lands in the West next March. Per the company’s announcement, Nippon Ichi Software’s quirky monster-devouring hack n’ slash game is hitting European PS3s on March 21, and North American ones four days later, on the 25th. You can read our impressions on the Japanese version here

A Dark Souls Cafe Is Coming to Japan. Yes, an Actual Cafe.

You’ve played Dark Souls the game. And next January in Tokyo, you can patron Dark Souls the cafe! From Software, the game’s creator, says the goal is to recreate the game’s mood in the form of an eatery. And on January 6, Australian themed bar OZ Cafe in Tokyo’s Nishi-Azabu will be reborn as Dark…

Jon Stewart Claims Responsibility for Perverted Anime

On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart ridiculed the octopus logo for the recently launched spy satellite NROL-39. He quipped that the logo was one scared schoolgirl away form being a popular comic in Tokyo. And voilà, the show added just that. “Yes, yes, I invented that type of porn. Yes, that was me.” No, Stewart…

Want These Limited 3DS XL Handhelds? There’s a Catch.

These two very rare 3DS XL units can you yours! If, that is, you sign up for Flets Hikari internet service in Japan. Inside Games reports that new Flets Hikari customers have the chance to purchase a limited edition “Mario White” or “Mario Silver” 3DS XL. Each is limited to a hundred units and priced…

The Most Realistic Sailor Moon Lingerie Money Can Buy [Update]

By definition, Sailor Moon underwear isn’t going to be realistic. The Sailor Moon characters wear sailor suits, not lingerie. But these satin threads are officially licensed, so that counts for something! According to website Natalie, Japanese lingerie company Peach John is teaming up with the famed anime and manga series for a line of Sailor…

A Relaxing Stroll in 800-Pound Iron Shoes

Everyday, I take a walk. It’s good for health, I think. While I wear sneakers, Beijing factory owner Zhang Fuxing wears iron shoes. Each shoe weighs over 440 pounds… each. Zhang has been wearing his iron shoes to walk 15 meters for the past seven years. He tells AP (via SCMP) that the iron shoes…

The Costume Editor Is My Favorite Time-Waster in Lightning Returns

Sure Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII has great gameplay and fun musical quirks, but let’s be serious: We don’t care about that. We’re all here just because we want to dress up Lightning in awesome costumes. There are dozens of unlockable costumes in Lightning Returns to choose from—many of these being inspired by the outfits…

An Inside Peek at the Patlabor Movie

In Japan, they’re making a live-action Patlabor. And so far, it looks great. Next year will seea 12-part episodic live-action Patlabor, with each episode clocking in at 48 minutes. The following year will usher in a feature film. Famed director Mamoru Oshii, who co-created Patlabor and is noted for The Ghost in the Shell anime,…

Lupin III VS Detective Conan Wastes Much of Its Crossover Potential

When you think of great anime detectives, Detective Conan is probably the first one to come to mind. And when you think of great anime criminals, you probably think of Lupin III. So it’s no surprise that Lupin and Conan are starring in Lupin III VS Detective Conan: The Movie which opened last weekend in…

“Round Head” Plastic Surgery Seems Excessive, Even for South Korea

For better or worse, South Korea is famous for its plastic surgery. Maybe the procedures help some put a better face forward. One offers a rounder head. One plastic surgery clinic in Seoul claims to offer the surgery for those “ridiculed” for having a flat or sunken back of the head. The procedure takes under…

The Kill La Kill Soundtrack Has Funny Titles, But Awesome Songs

For all its over-the-top action and side-splitting humor, my favorite part of this season’s breakout anime, Kill la Kill, may just be its awesome soundtrack. And as it hits shelves on Christmas day here in Japan, it’s pretty much the best Christmas gift I could hope for. The soundtrack was composed by Hiroyuki Sawano—whose music…