Kotaku East

Japan’s Most Wanted Criminal Trolls Cops with a Cat

In what must be one of Japan’s most unusual investigations ever, the alleged culprit behind a series of online threats continues to slip past Japanese police. This time, there’s a cat involved. Yes, a cat. Last summer, a Japanese animator was taken into police custody after remote-controlled threats of a killing spree were sent from…

Holy Sorcery Story is a Japanese role-playing game about making a legendary curry. Yes, curry. That’s awesome.

Welcome to Vending Machine Hell, Where You’ll Be Threatened with Brutality

Castration. Cutting off fingers. Photos of your genitals shown publicly forever. These aren’t just idle threats. They’re vending machine threats. It’s like a ring of Hell Dante missed, but with fizzy drinks and canned coffee. There’s a cluster of fifteen vending machines in Tokyo’s Akihabara, the city’s gaming and geek district. The unmanned machines are…

To Train This Charizard Action Figure, You Don’t Need Badges. You Need Money.

While you might come up short with badges to train Charizard, you probably have enough cashola to do that. Slated for an April release, the fully poseable action figure is priced at ¥3,990 (US$46)—though, I’ve seen it priced at around $30 online in Japan. The Charizard figure is part of Bandai’s D-Arts line of action…

Psycho Pass is a Compelling Cyberpunk Mystery (And It’s Only Half Done)

Nearly two decades ago, Japan redefined the cyberpunk genre with the groundbreaking anime Ghost in the Shell. A police mystery, Ghost in the Shell used its futuristic framework to explore the relationship between cybernetics and the very nature of the human soul. This season in Japan marks the release of a new anime that is…

The Guy Who Made Bayonetta Is Not Interested In Valve and PC Gaming. That’s Common In Japan. [UPDATE 2]

Over the weekend, Hideki Kamiya—director of Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, Okami, Viewtiful Joe, and Bayonetta—was asked over twitter about his opinion of Valve, Steam, and PC gaming in general. He responded thusly: While Western readers may feel that Kamiya not knowing about Valve is akin to an American developer not knowing about Nintendo,…

When You Can Rent Friends, You Are Never Forever Alone

It’s not easy making friends. For some in Japan, it’s even harder. Enter “Rental Friend”. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the country’s largest newspaper, a Tokyo based firm called Client Partners offers a “Rental Friend” service—among other services—at its locations across the country. The article recounts how last summer, one lonely 25 year-old named Kouichi…

A Game With Fast Cars, Racing Action, and… Hardcore Anime Pornography!?

Moero Downhill Night Blaze is the latest adult visual novel in the Moero Downhill Night series of street racing-themed games. In most visual novels (“adult” or otherwise), the gameplay is little more than a few major choices set up in a choose-your-own-adventure type story. However, Moero Downhill Night Blaze moves well outside the visual novel…

Hey Ladies, Want Long Legs? Go to a Japanese Arcade.

But, who doesn’t want long legs? In the past few years, especially after leggy Korean popstars like Girls’ Generation (above) hit it big in Japan, long limbs have definitely been in. For those who want added proportions, there’s an easy answer: Head on over to your local Japanese video game arcade. Twitter user Tanichan101 uploaded…

Professor Layton Chocolate Snacks Don’t Look Puzzling. They Look Delicious.

For a limited time only, beloved puzzle game series Professor Layton is getting its own chocolate treats in Japan. This month, candy company Glico is rolling out “Professor Layton’s Riddle Solution Break Chocolate”. The chocolates come in two flavors: gateau chocolate or English tea sponge cake. The bite sized chocolates come with one riddle card…

Sending Tweets While Doing Yoga Is Truly Madness

Ah, Twitter. Japan loves you so. Like the rest of the world, Japan has gone gaga for the microblogging service. But surely, even the most active Twitter users can take a break while working out, right? This image shows a Japanese magazine article on “Mobile Tweeting Yoga”, with various tweet-friendly yoga exercises, like the Tree…

Crackdown On Multiple Game Accounts Leaves Some Honest Gamers Locked Out

Ma Hong (a pseudonym) spent at least 10 hours every day over the last 5 years playing the same old MMORPG. She put a lot of care and effort into each of her characters, so much so that they were considered well equipped by many of the top gamers in the game. Late last week,…

Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata says a “free to play” model might be used for new games with no established fan base.

Human Butt Pillows Are Both Expensive and Creepy

Soine-ya is a “snoozing with women” establishment that first opened in Tokyo’s gaming and geek district, Akihabara. Since then, Soine-ya has become popular enough to open another branch in Tokyo’s Shinjuku. Soine-ya is just sleeping with women, not sleeping with women. But for a price, you can rest your head on some woman’s tush. A…

A poll of 1,000 Japanese folks revealed that only 15% want to buy a WiiU. Over 50% don’t feel like buying one!

The Alien from Aliens Was Originally Chinese, Alleges Flea Market Art Find

Swiss surrealist artist H. R. Giger is credited with designing the Alien (née Xenomorph) from the iconic movies and games. The character appeared in a 1976 work by Giger. But could it be actually much older than that? That’s what one internet user named Zhao is claiming in China. This painting, Zhao blogs, was allegedly…

Corrupt Chinese Officials Gamble with Taxpayers’ Money in Arcades

Arcades in China have an unfortunate association with gambling parlors, due to the fact that gambling in all forms is technically illegal in China proper, sans Macao. Normally, arcade gambling dens are deemed low class establishments where locals gamble away their money in backrooms, however one business executive for a Chinese State-owned enterprise ended up…

The Lonely World of Japan’s Roadside Arcades

Saitama is located outside Tokyo. And like most areas surrounding giant cities, it gets a bad rap and has earned the nickname “Dasaitama” (ダ埼玉). That’s a word play on “Saitama” and the Japanese word for uncool, “dasai” (ダサい). I’d agree if there weren’t ramshackle roadside arcades which are more than desolate and decrepit. They’re endearing.…

Naruto and .hack// game studio CyberConnect2 is working on three original titles

A Gallery of Hamburger Horrors

The service you get at McDonald’s in Japan is world class. The staff is polite and prompt, and there’s still a focus on presentation. So it’s a shame that McDonald’s just screwed things up. In Japan, McDonald’s is mucking things up with a special promotion. Called “Enjoy! 60 Second Service”, the concept is that if…