Kotaku East

In Japan, There’s a “Girlfriend Coat” to Hug Lonely People

Behold, a coat. That will hug you. And whisper into your ear. Some Japanese students at the University of Tsukuba decided they’d put their effort into creating a coat that could give the sensation of being hugged from behind by their girlfriend. Make that, their imaginary anime sounding girlfriend. The result is called the Riajyuu…

Sega Is Selling a New Dreamcast Controller. It’s a Cute Backpack.

In an effort to appeal to hip Japanese teens (I think?), Sega is rolling out a Dreamcast controller…backpack. This, according to Japanese game site Gamer, is part of Sega’s new brand, “SegaKawaii”. In Japanese, “kawaii” (かわいい) means “cute” or “adorable”. The Dreamcast controller backpack is priced at 13,860円 (US$146) and is going on sale April…

Drakengard 3 Isn’t Just About Making A Sequel… Not Entirely

It’s been 10 years since Drakengard (Called Drag On Dragoon in Japan) was released for the PlayStation 2 and 8 years since the release of its sequel, Drakengard 2. Now, Drakengard 3 is on the way, and according to producer Takamasa Shiba, it’s the perfect time for it. “Everyone says the Japanese game market, particularly…

North Korean Propaganda Website Hacked, Apparently by Anonymous

Uriminzokkiri.com, the North Korean propaganda site, was hacked, it seems. As of posting, it is impossible to access the site. It’s gone dark. What’s more, Uriminzokkiri’s Twitter currently appears compromised and is tweeting, “Hacked” and “Tango Down” for various other North Korean propaganda sites—as noted by website North Korea Tech. Uriminzokkiri’s Flickr page is now…

Popular Manga Continues Its Fight Against Terror and Threats

The Kuroko’s Basketball terrorist has not yet been apprehended, but it looks like the threat rate has been reduced from a code red to a code orange at the Tokyo Big Sight event center. Last year, following anonymous threats against the popular manga Kuroko’s Basketball author, Tadatoshi Fujimaki, several events across Japan were changed to…

The Queen of Kerrigan Cosplay

Tasha from South Korean cosplay team Spiral Cats has outdone herself. Her take on StarCraft‘s Kerrigan is nothing short of spectacular. No, it is spectacular. Kerrigan is certainly not an easy character to bring to life. And look how Tasha did just that. Previously, Kotaku showcased the impressive cosplay work of Tasha and her Spiral…

Here’s How You Make Cracked iPhones Cool. I Guess?

Don’t let wrecked iPhone screens ruin your day. Turn that frown upside down. Or something! Here’s how Twitter user Inami made a cracked iPhone screen cool: An image of Sasuke from Naruto And voilà, a cool looking iPhone. Well, cool looking broken iPhone. 画面がひび割れたスマホをカッコよく見せる方法。[@inami4] Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you…

This Is Japan’s “Sad Keanu” Meme

Shoko Nakagawa is a superstar. She records music, she appears on TV shows, and she even voices Pokémon anime characters. You’d think she would be happy! Maybe she is. But, in this meme, she’s Japan’s equivalent of Sad Keanu. Awww. In Japanese, the meme is often called “Shoko is lonely” (“Shokotan Bocchi” or しょこたんぼっち). “Bocchi”…

It was only a few years ago that Hiroshi Yamauchi, the man who helmed Nintendo for over fifty years, was the richest man in Japan. Now, according to the latest Forbes rankings, he’s only the 13th richest. Hard times!

Creepy Woody, Angry Link and Friends Make Plastic Benches Fun

Japanese toy line Tomy Tec is releasing a series of train station benches. Boring, you say! Well, just look at all the possible figure hilarity these plastic seats make possible. Below is a series of photos from the Hobby Search Blog. They are wonderful. 駅ベンチ(オレンジ色タイプ/緑色タイプ)で遊ぼう！ [Hobby Search Blog] Kotaku East is your slice of Asian…

Chinese search engine Baidu is working on its own version of Google Glass. According to our pals at Gizmodo, it’s called Baidu Eye.

Report: 1.2 Million Chinese Died in 2010 Due to Air Pollution

You’ve seen China’s pollution. While it might look like something out ofscience fiction or a video game, the horrible air quality is very real. And according to a new report, it’s deadly. Chinese newspaper 21st Century Business Herald (via 47News) is reporting that in 2010, 1.23 million Chinese died due to air pollution in 2010.…

It’s Like Temple Run, But with Naked Chinese People and a Sex Doll

Apparently, these photos were recently taken in Beijing. However, it isn’t known who this couple is or what the hell is going on. Well, save for the part about running naked in public with an inflatable friend. We got that part. Warning: This article has content some readers might find objectionable. According to The South…

How to Make My Little Pony Cuter: Give It a Japanese Theme Song

Today, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic finally debuted in Japan. The name of the show is My Little Pony ~Tomodachi wa Mahou~ (マイリトルポニー〜トモダチは魔法〜). That last part means, “friends are magic”. They are! The show is also getting its own theme song, “Mirai Start” (ミライスタート) or “Future Start”. Voice actress Suzuko Mimori, who also voices…

Didn’t Like Hollywood’s Dragon Ball Movie? Well, Neither Did Dragon Ball‘s Creator

Hollywood’s take on Dragon Ball sucked. Sucked badly. If you thought that, you were not alone. Dragon Ball‘s creator Akira Toriyama wasn’t thrilled either. In an interview with Asahi (via 2ch), Toriyama talked about the ill-fated Dragon Ball movie, Dragonball Evolution “At the time of the live-action Hollywood version, the script didn’t really capture the…

Tokyo Train Station Is Covered in Final Fantasy. And It’s Awesome.

Shinjuku Station is all about Final Fantasy V. Spotted on the Keio Line’s platform, huge V-shaped pillars were draped in FF art. The v-shaped pillars are originally part of the station’s construction. Meaning? Square Enix didn’t add them, but was clever enough to incorporate the pillars into a campaign to promote the FFV‘s iOS release.…

This is the trailer for Gaist Crusher, a new 3DS title currently in the works at Capcom. It is a multiplayer-focused “Custom Armor Action” game inspired by both Mega Man and Monster Hunter. It is also part of a cross-media project aimed primarily at school-age children; a manga and an anime tie-in, and a line…

Infinity Moment Takes Everything You Know About Sword Art Online, and Turns It on Its Head

Back when I reviewed the second half of the anime Sword Art Online, I lauded the sudden, and completely unexpected, ending of the series’ first story arc. [*Note: This article contains major spoilers on the first story arc of Sword Art Online] The characters had been told that the only way to end the VR…

Former Yakuza Injured in Shooting at an Osaka Game Center

In the afternoon of March 31, a shooting broke out at game center in Osaka. According to Jiji Press (via The Tokyo Reporter), a former high-level yakuza was grazed in the left part of his chest. He was taken to a local hospital, and he is expected to recover. The wounded man was apparently a…

Sony is releasing a new DualShock 3 color for Japan: Metallic Gray. It’s out June 20, which is when The Last of Us launches in Japan. Supplies are limited. [SCEJA]