Kotaku East

Hey Osaka, This Isn’t A Good Time To Line Up For Nintendo Stuff

Just as the Japanese government prepares to declare a state of emergency as the number of cases in big cities increases, people lined up in front of Yodobashi Camera in Osaka’s Umeda for the Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch and Ring Fit Adventure. Both have been selling out, and this Yodobashi Camera, one of the biggest…

This Friday, the 96th compiled One Piece volume was released, bringing the total number of copies of the manga in print to a staggering 470 million. As Mantan Web (via ANN) reports, the total consists of 390 million copies in print in Japan and another 80 million in print internationally. 

Japan Plans To Distribute 2 Masks Per Family, Inspiring These Meme Images

Yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the government’s plan to provide face masks to 50 million households in Japan, targeting those in areas where the novel coronavirus is spreading. Each household will get two washable masks. Online, people are reacting this as they always do: with memes. Stocks of disposable masks have been running…

Nearly 11 Years Later, Modern Warfare 2‘s Japanese Localization Is Finally Fixed

When Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 first came out in Japan back in December 2009, players were not happy with the subtitles in the game’s most infamous scene. As Kotaku reported at the time, in the “No Russian” sequence, the Japanese language voice track did not say the equivalent of “Remember, no Russian” (as…

Recycled Metal Reborn As Excellent Sculptures

This is the work of Kreatworks, a studio in Phatumthanee, Thailand that specializes in recycled metal art. The members of the studio have over ten years experience making these steampunk and dieselpunk infused works. The sculptures can range in size from 50 cm to 270 cm, and each one is coated in a lacquer to…

K-pop Star’s April Fools Joke: Pretending To Have Coronavirus Covid-19

Today is April Fool’s Day. Pranks probably aren’t a good idea this year! Pretending you have covid-19 is definitely not. K-pop star Jaejoong, member of the popular group JYJ, announced his fake sickness on Instagram earlier today. Jaejoong wrote that he had contracted the virus, adding (as translated by Koreaboo), “It was careless of me…

Man Makes Excellent Gundam Themed Masks

Usually, cosplay builder Gekidan makes helmets and armor. These are not usual times, and recently, he’s been making Gundam-themed masks. When he ventured outside in the Mobile Suit Gundam mask, Gekidan used the hashtags #自作マスク (“self-made mask”) and #ウィルス対策 (“virus countermeasure”). Its design appears to be the most functional. Gekidan isn’t only making Gundam themed…

The Merits And Demerits Of Using Animal Crossing: New Horizons For Telecommuting

Due to the global novel coronavirus covid-19 pandemic, many people are not only staying at home but working there. In Japan, the editorial department of game site Inside decided to hold meetings in the happiest place there is: Animal Crossing There were merits to meeting up online in New Horizons. According to Inside, those include:…

Coronavirus Covid-19 Is A Pandemic, But Comic Market Still Seems Scheduled For May [Update: It’s Canceled]

Yesterday, the World Health Organization officially declared covid-19 a pandemic. The NBA suspended the season. E3 was canceled. The Osaka sumo tournament banned in-person spectators. But Japan’s Comic Market, dubbed the largest fan event on Earth, still seems slated for this May. Update: 3/27/2020, 7:30 p.m. EST: IT Media reports that this May’s Comic Market will…

People Are Adding Dragon Ball‘s Yamcha To Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Some players have been adding Yamcha’s infamous pose to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. But why? The pose is well known, but the reason is more than how striking (and humorous) it looks in New Horizons. Rather, Yamcha’s birthday is March 20, which is the day Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released.  When New Horizons was…

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, People Are Decorating Excellent Rooms

Not only are people crafting wonderful outfits in the latest Animal Crossing, but they are also decorating interesting and wonderful rooms. Of course, room decoration isn’t new to the Animal Crossing games. But the release of New Horizons has sparked players’ creativity, resulting in an array of living spaces. Let’s take a look! In case…

Play Animal Crossing: New Horizons In Japanese, Get A Dreaded Compliment

Anyone who speaks Japanese and has spent time in the country has heard it: nihongo ga ojouzu (“Your Japanese is good”). Even Animal Crossing isn’t safe from this inevitable and dreaded compliment. That’s exactly what happens in Animal Crossing: New Horizons if you play the game in Japanese. Below is a screenshot from a North…

Capcom’s Human Anatomical Reference For Artists 

Over 20 years ago, Capcom created an anatomical reference guide that is apparently still in use today when bringing characters to life. According to Gamasutra, Capcom art director Toshiyuki Kamei discussed the guide at GDC in 2017. (Capcom Japan published it online.) Kamei said that the guide dates back to the mid-1990s and was overseen…

Professor Turns Into An Anime Schoolgirl To Teach His Students

With classes moved to the virtual space due to coronavirus covid-19 concerns, a digital art professor at Shanghai University’s Fine Arts College has created different avatar versions of himself to help students concentrate during live-streams and recorded lessons. Professor Jiang Fei cycled through different versions, including monsters and robots. But according to China’s The Paper…

Here is a look at the live-action version of popular cycling manga Yowamushi Pedal. The movie is slated for an August 14 release in Japan and stars Kentaro Ito and Kanna Hashimoto. No word yet about an international release. 

Japanese Porn Company Makes 200 Movies Available For Free Due To Coronavirus Covid-19

Because of coronavirus covid-19 concerns, “social distancing” has become the word of the day. Folks are at home. They might need something to do. Well, thanks to one Japanese adult video maker, they can watch adult videos for free. As reported on Livedoor News, Japanese porn maker Soft on Demand has made around 200 videos…

How To Wear Sickness Masks Without Fogging Up Your Glasses

If you wear glasses, like I sometimes do, you know that sickness masks fog them up right quick. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has tips on how to avoid that. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, there are two ways to prevent fogging up: One is to simply fold the top fourth of the…

Canceled Otaku Event Will Still Be Held Online

Each spring, over 150,000 people gather at the Makuhari Messe convention center outside Tokyo for the Nico Nico Cho Kaigi (Super Meeting). The event, sponsored by the company behind the Nico Nico video platform, brings together fans of anime, gaming, cosplay, music and more. This year, that will happen online. Because of coronavirus COVID-19 concerns,…

Anime Trope For Glasses Made Real

When glasses-wearing characters in anime are shown from their profiles, the sides of their frames are often, but not always, removed to show their eyes. It’s a stylistic and artistic convention. Now, it’s being brought to real life. Japanese design firm EkōD Works created these glasses. The studio is known for its tongue-in-cheek designs, and…

League of Legends pro Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has donated 30 million Korean won ($25,000) to the prevention of Covid-19. His team SK Telecom 1 will also be donating all money made from this week’s streaming.