Kotaku East

PocketStation on the Vita is Nostalgic, But Nothing More

Back in 1999, Sony released the PocketStation in Japan. Like the Dreamcast’s VMU, the PocketStation allows you play various minigames from compatible PS1 titles on its small black and white screen. And now that it’s available for the Vita, I decided to see what America missed out on. In reality, PocketStation for PlayStation Vita isn’t…

There Are Three Words for This Ridiculous Final Fantasy Costume

One of them is bad. But that’s okay, I guess? Behold some of the latest Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII downloadable content. Today, Square Enix launched the first round of DLC for the game. The outfits, which come with weapons, are The Divine World’s Saint Clothing Style, The Final Liberation Clothing Style, and, wait for…

Japanese Cats that Look Like Yakuza Are Frighteningly Cute

Some cats are cute. Some are ugly, but still cute. These cats look like Japanese gangsters. They are scary in the most adorable way possible. If you’ve ever seen any Japanese yakuza movies or have played any of Sega’s Yakuza games, then you probably know what the gangsters of the Japanese popular imagination look like.…

Studio Ghibli’s Newest is a Beautiful, Heart-Wrenching Film

It was only four months ago that The Wind Rises, Studio Ghibli’s previous film, hit theaters across Japan. But Hayao Miyazaki is not the only director over at the studio to have a movie out this year. Isao Takahata (of Grave of the Fireflies fame) released his own film, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, this…

Korean Gaming Pros Appeared on SNL in Counter-Strike Parody

This past weekend SNL Korea parodied Counter-Strike and featured appearances from top StarCraft players. Gaming giants Hong Jin-Ho (aka “YellOw”) and Lim Yohwan (aka “BoxeR”) made special guest appearances on SNL Korea Tipster Landon points out that there’s a reason why Hong and Lim are appearing together in this faux Counter-Strike set against the Imjin…

Can Anyone Find These North Korean Kids Smaller Guitars?

Never mind that these children don’t actually seem like children. That they come off as somewhat too perfect and too poised. Sure, they play too well. But, what the hell’s up with the jumbo guitars? It’s like they are playing cellos. Cellos that sound and look like guitars. Surely, they have child-sized guitars in North…

Awesome Gundam Models To Destroy Your Eyeballs

Late last week, the big Gundam model expo got underway in Tokyo. And if you like Gundam models or giant mecha, you’re going to love the plastic on display. These models and dioramas were completed by incredibly talented and passionate individuals—many of Japan’s best Gundam model builders. Have a look at the photos below, courtesy…

Arcade Tokens Mistaken for Real Chinese Money

Arcade tokens have always been a form of currency. Oftentimes, they come in the form of smaller or lighter coins with cute, arcade-themed decals; but what happens when an arcade token is minted like actual legal tender? For the buses in Shenyang, China, it means unscrupulous passengers getting free public bus rides. Earlier this month…

Chinese Indie Creates Movember-Inspired Shaving Game

Movember is coming to an end and a shave may be coming up for those that grew their beards in support for men’s health issues. However, for one Chinese independent developer, the shaving has only just begun. Beard Power, a recently released mobile game by Little Big Fun in Beijing, China, is a game where…

These Pokemon Cards Might Make You Cry

When you think of Pocket Monster cards, you probably don’t think misty-eyed family memories. Look at these three cards and you just might. In this card, you can see Tepig, one of the starter Pokemon in Pokemon Black and White. Surrounding Tepig is a mother, father, and their son, who is holding the Pocket Monster.…

Katy Perry’s Geisha Act Being Called “Racist”

During tonight’s American Music Awards, Katy Perry showed up dressed in a Japanese kimono. Or in a Chinese cheongsam. Or both, actually. Some folks online aren’t happy about that at all. And because of that, some are calling Perry’s performance racist. One Twitter user (via The Huffington Post) said Perry “nailed the traditionally ignorant costume…

Telling the World About China’s Dissidents, One Playing Card at a Time

An entrepreneur in Dallas got in touch with me last month saying he had a product called Political Prisoners of China Playing Cards, asking if I’d like to review them. Chinese political prisoners. Playing cards. Dallas. I live in Beijing. It made no sense. How could I say no? To field test, I got in…

Persona 5 Announced for the PS3

Atlus has finally (finally!) made an official announcement regarding Persona 5. It’s headed to the PlayStation 3 next winter in Japan. Here’s the game’s teaser trailer. No word yet on a Western release. トレーラー映像 / PERSONA5 [Atlustube@YouTube]

We Didn’t Ask for this Persona Music Game

But…we’re getting it. Well, the PS Vita is. It’s called Persona 4: Dancing All Night Slated for a fall 2014 release, the game is dubbed as a “sound action” title. Atlus isn’t developing Persona 4: Dancing All Night, but rather, Tokyo-based developer Dingo. (Who?) No word yet on a Western release. Persona Channel [Official Site]…

Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold, the latest Persona arcade fighting title, is headed to the PlayStation 4 next summer in Japan. No word yet on a Western release.

The 3DS Is Getting a New Persona Game. It Looks Different.

Tonight in Japan, Atlus just announced a new Persona game. It’s called Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, it’s slated for the 3DS, and it’s probably not what you are expecting. The RPG features characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4, which is cool. But the characters are cuted up “chibi” (“little” in Japanese) versions…

My First Few Hours of Lightning Returns in Pictures

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII hit store shelves all across Japan yesterday and you can bet it has already found a home on my PS3. So last night, I sat down and spent a good five hours with the game—all the while jotting down notes and taking pictures for your enjoyment. [Spoiler Warning: Of course,…

Chinese Housewife’s Mao Zedong Cosplay Will Blow Your Mind

There are not enough words to describe how good this former housewife is at pulling off Chairman Mao. These days, Chen Yan makes her living impersonating Mao Zedong. According to the mainland People magazine (via South China Morning Post), the 57 year-old Chen is one of a handful Mao impersonators in the country. Due to…

The Beauty of RWBY‘s Fight Scenes Will Make Your Jaw Drop

Over the last few months, the good people over at Rooster Teeth (the group behind machinima hit Red vs Blue) have been producing their own original game and anime-inspired web series called RWBY. And while it’s hardly deep, its first season provides enough action and imagination to draw anyone in. Good – Fairytale Elements Abound…

Crazy Man in a PS4 Costume Tries To Crash an Xbox One Party

On YouTube, Megwin TV is a Japanese comedy collective. One of its members dressed up in a DualShock 4 costume and tried to get into an Xbox One launch party. That not only takes some balls, but also a large fake controller. Trolling Xbone Launch in PS4 Costume [Megwin TV] To contact the author of…