While E3 and the Tokyo Game Show have been scrapped in favor of virtual events, China Joy will go forward as planned—as an in-person event. As Shanghai Daily reports, the show will be held from July 31 to August 3. Special measures will be in place to help keep visitors and exhibitors safe. Besides submitting…
A state of emergency was declared in Japan due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Many people have stayed home, and businesses were temporarily closed. The whole world has been affected and changed by the virus. What does that mean for Japanese otaku culture? So much of this culture centers around people congregating in geek centers…
Since 1969, Sazae-san has been airing continuously, making it not only the longest-running anime in Japan, but in the entire world. The show is one of the few anime that everyone in the country knows, and it’s enjoyed by young and old alike. But because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, production is stopping for the…
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a smash hit in Japan. Some players aren’t content to discover what’s in the game on their own; they really want tips. A book’s worth of them, and they’ll willing to wait in line to get them There are three main New Horizons guidebooks on sale in Japan: one from…
In what seems like a story from a different time, the Nintendo Switch is drawing long lines of people in South Korea. As South Korean website The Qoo explains, people are at home and have lots of time to play video games. With Animal Crossing: New Horizons out, more Korean players are interested in getting…
When David Beckham appeared on China’s CCTV in a travel documentary, he explored parts of the country’s beauty. The TV channel, however, explored how to blur out the former soccer star’s tattoos. This reminds me of the time that Sailor Moon was completely blurred out in Thailand. Here’s Twitter user Tony Lin for context and…
Gundam designs are iconic and wonderful, especially the mecha heads. No wonder Twitter user Tomowo has been bringing them to life in cardboard. Tomowo also has brought the Eva Unit-01 from Evangelion to life. Just look at all the parts that go into each head: The finish results are excellent: Check out Tomowo’s full collection…
Last month, Kotaku posted what could have been this year’s last cosplay gallery. For an in-person show, that’s probably true! This spring’s Comiket, always a big cosplay draw, was canceled. However, the show was reborn in an online iteration, with cosplayers doing their thing even while in quarantine. Comiket (Comic Market) is the largest fan…
Artist Tokyo Genso imagines what Tokyo, the world’s biggest city, would look like in ruins. The results are beautiful and haunting. Via Spoon & Tamago, here is a look at his art. Here is a look at how Tokyo Genso puts together his art. For more, check out Tokyo Genso’s Twitter. You can buy his…
For a character who has been slapped on everything from vending machines to vibrators, it was only a matter of time before someone made a Hello Kitty gas station. I’m not sure whether this gas station in the Philippines is official, but it is very pink and covered in Kitty-chan. Photos started surfacing online late…
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a smash-hit manga. It has been adapted in an anime and an upcoming animated feature film. Late last month, an online game launched in South Korea with art that evoked Demon Slayer. But five days later service for the game ended. The demon-battling game launched on April 24. It…
A state of emergency has been declared in Japan, but new Pokémon threads have gone on sale at GU clothing stores in Japan, with folks lining up for them. At stores in Japan, such as supermarkets, there are now markers so people can ensure they are far enough apart from each other while they line…
Designed after Evangelion character Asuka Langley Soryu’s plugsuit, this guitar is a limited edition Fender Telecaster with an anime flair. Called the 2020 Evangelion Asuka Telecaster, it features all sorts of neat little details, like the number 2, referencing the Evangelion Unit 02 that Asuka pilots. There is also a Nerv logo tastefully placed on…
Twitter user Koshiyoda went above and beyond when her four-year-old asked her to make a computer. The result is this incredibly realistic laptop. The details on the cardboard laptop are incredible. Just look at how each letter and Japanese character is painstakingly added on each key. Instead of an Apple logo, Koshiyoda created a cute…
Xenoblade Chronicles was first released on the Nintendo Wii in 2010 in Japan. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition will be released on the Switch next month with new character models. Obviously, the graphics will be improved, but let’s see how so. As Kotaku previously reported, the Definitive Edition features revamped visuals and sound, a new user…
It’s not easy to find disposable face masks in Japan. The ones issued by the government are too small. And so, people in Japan have been making their own. Some have been doing so in the most creative fashion. Under the hashtag #自慢のマスクを見てくれよ (“Show the mask you’re proud of”), folks have been uploading their best…
Since a state of emergency has been declared in Japan over the pandemic, kids are out of school. Yet, when I look out my window here in Osaka, I see gobs of them milling about in the street and the parks, playing with each other. I think they should stay home! So does the Japan…
The crossover that the world has long deserved is here: Mario as Ultraman duking it out with Bowser as Godzilla. Bid Toys, known for mash-ups like this Tetsujin 28-meets-Pinocchio, is releasing these soft vinyl “Manultra” and “Koopala” figures later this month. I don’t see any copyright on these official images from the maker Bid Toys’…
A state of emergency has been declared in Japan. In recent weeks, the number of covid-19 cases has increased, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for an 80 percent reduction in person-to-person contact. Yet, some pachinko parlors refuse to close. Earlier this month, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike included pachinko parlors, along with bars and…
The customization tools in Animal Crossing: New Horizons are enabling players to show off their creativity. One of the most impressive things I’ve seen is Japan during the Showa era (1926-1989) being brought to life in Animal Crossing. When Japanese people use the word retro (レトロ) to discuss a building, town, or fashion, they are…
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