Kotaku East

The Wii U Stumbles in Japan (But Don’t Count Nintendo Out)

If Japan is anything to go by, the Wii U hasn’t proven to be the smash hit Nintendo hoped it would be. Granted, hardware launches are tough. The 3DS had a difficult time getting off the ground. Now, it’s doing gangbusters. In Japan, the Wii U, however, is having a hard time lately. To put…

These Pikachu and Mario Skin Suits Cover You From Head to Toe

You thought the full body tights stopped at Totoro? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are more nightmares to be had. Many more. This post contains imagery and a subject matter not suitable for all readers. However, it is free of GIFs. In Japanese, these outfits are called “zenshin tights” (全身タイツ), with “zenshin”…

This Is How Japan Does Macho Plastic

Cobra is a classic Japanese manga about a space pirate named Cobra who has a cybernetic arm-laser connected directly to his brain. How cool is that? Pretty damn cool. Over the years, Cobra got a couple anime as well as a handful of video game adaptations. Personally, I dig the look of the sci-fi manga…

Namco is making a new Kamen Rider game called Kamen Rider: Battle Ride Wars for the PS3.

This Woman Keeps Spinning Around, and It’s Amazing

Last summer, a new art collective called “Rrrrrrrroll” started releasing GIFs. They were relatively simple GIFs: a woman spinning around. And when she’s not spinning like a record, other things are spinning around her. The result is fascinating. When Rrrrrrrroll first hit, the group of art friends started getting publicity on design and art websites.…

First Details about Killer Is Dead, the New Game from No More Heroes‘ Creator

Killer Is Dead is the upcoming action game from the folks behind No More Heroes and Killer7. The game follows 35 year-old Mondo Zappa, a suit-wearing executioner responsible for taking out heinous criminals with a katana. A gun that can turn into a drill is embedded in Zappa’s left hand—an augmentation he has no memory…

Inside the Rooms of Female Otaku

In Japan, the stereotype is that all geeks are dudes. Walking around nerd areas like Tokyo’s Akihabara and Osaka’s Den-Den Town, the large number of guys would lead you to think that. That would be incorrect. Yes, there are female geeks in Japan. Of course there are! Some of them are idols or wanna-be idols,…

In China, Cute Masks Combat Ugly Pollution

It’s flu season. Time to either protect yourself from getting sick, or, if you are already sick, prevent your illness from spreading to others. Hence, sickness masks. But not everyone who wears sickness masks are, well, sick! Sometimes their faces are cold. Sometimes the air is dry. But now, with pollution being recognized as a…

Nintendo Is Making Its Console Division and Its Portable Division into One Division

Nintendo is joining its home console and handheld divisions into one unit to streamline its hardware, reports the Nikkei. That means the two divisions, which have been separate, will not work in concert. So don’t be surprised if future Nintendo handhelds have greater interaction with the home consoles!

Why Final Fantasy VI‘s Kefka is the Best Video Game Villain of All Time

From Bowser and Dr. Robotnik to M. Bison and Dr. Wiley, gaming has had many iconic villains. But as well known as those villains are, some of the best villains are found in the Final Fantasy series. When you think of Final Fantasy villains, who immediately comes to mind? If you were playing games in…

Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata said there’s no new hardware for 2013. Instead, they will work at making amazing software.

Namco Bandai launched a teaser site for what looks like a motorcycle game.

See Yakuza 5’s Street Brawling, Taxi Driving, and Drum Playing in Action

After four main games and two spin-offs, you probably have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Yakuza 5: weapon-filled brawling action across Japan’s major metropolitan areas. While brutal and cinematic, the brawling aspect is only the smallest part of what you can do in Yakuza 5. Many side activities return from past…

Russia’s Method of Destroying Fake Chinese iPhones Is Interesting

Over 120 fake iPhone 4 and 4s handsets were confiscated in the Amur region of Russia. According to website English Russia, the country usually bulldozes pirated discs. This time, authorities decided to bulldoze the phones. A Chinese national brought the handsets into Russia, but did not have proof that they were genuine. He was fined…

Square Enix launched a teaser site. Is it a FFV remake? A FFVI remake?

This Iron Man Helmet Was Made of Grapefruit. For a Cat.

Cat cosplay is a thing. We’ve proven this over and over and over. So don’t be totally surprised by this! Be amazed. At once, the above photo is both totally adorable and completely badass. Nice sculpting work, too. In case you are wondering, the grapefruit is what’s called in English a pomelo. It’s a large…

Beijing’s Smog – It’s Like Living in Silent Hill All the Time

If you’ve read any international news regarding China recently, you’ll definitely have read about the environmental disaster that is Beijing’s air. Over the weekend and heading into the week, Beijing’s been covered in a terrible haze of “smog”, causing issues with traffic, air travel, and most importantly health. The Air Quality Index, an index used…

This Pokémon Nerd Hero Is Way Good at Drawing

One of my favorite things is watching people draw. I’m not very good at drawing, but there’s something relaxing about watching people who are. Late last year, Japanese celeb Shoko Nakagawa appeared on a variety program and was able to show off how talented she is at art (and how other celebrities aren’t!). Nakagawa, who…

Magazine with Scandalous Photo Goes on Sale in Japan

Young Magazine is a weekly manga that features serialized comics, like Initial D. Aimed at young males, the publication also features pin-up bikini photos. This week, the magazine features a questionable image of Tomomi Kasai, a former member of Japan’s biggest girl group AKB48. In the photo, Kasai is topless, and a young boy covers…

Over a thousand workers at a Foxconn supplier went on strike, demanding better pay.