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Kotaku East
Cop Flashed a Schoolgirl While Dressed…As a Schoolgirl
Cosplay is a fine hobby. Heck, if you are into cross-dressing, that’s fine—who am I to judge? But flashing people is not cool. Flashing schoolgirls is definitely not cool. And neither is flashing schoolgirls while dressed as a schoolgirl. According to Japanese media reports, a 37 year-old policeman was arrested for exposing his genitals to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Try To Survive This Round of Plastic Fever
Kyoto-based figure maker Volks held its seventh “Hobby Round” show in Tokyo this weekend. At it, Volks unveiled a host of new and upcoming figurines and models. There’s the usual bishoujo (“beautiful girl”) insanity, but also Volks military vehicles and mecha. What always makes Volks so interesting is how varied its range is. Check out…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Three of Japan’s Biggest Game Makers Joining Forces
Sega. Capcom. Namco. The three game companies are collaborating on a new role-playing 3DS game called Project X Zone The game features characters from the three game makers. So Capcom is bringing Ken and Ryu from Street Fighter, Zero and X from Mega-Man, Jill and Chris from Resident Evil, and Dante from Devil May Cry…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Foreigners in Stupid Japanese T-Shirts
You know “Engrish”? The incorrect and strange English that appears throughout Japan is something some English (and even Japanese) speakers enjoy laughing at. You see funny English on signs, company slogans, and, most often, t-shirts. Hahaha, right? But what about when foreigners don t-shirts with goofy Japanese? More hahaha. Japanese and English are very different.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2012 -
Kotaku EastA Whole Bunch of Crazy Anime Mashed Up for Your Gaming Pleasure
For years Bandai Namco has been releasing mega crossovers of giant robot anime—ranging from Gundam to Evangelion to Voltron—in the Super Robot Wars series. But having made many other types of anime tie-in games in the past, giant robot anime aren’t the only anime Bandai Namco holds the licenses for. So earlier this year they…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku EastFrench Presidential Candidate Goes Green with Final Fantasy
Above, French presidential candidate Eva Joly makes her pitch as the country’s Green Party representative. While she might not be familiar to Kotaku readers who do not follow European politics, the music playing underneath the campaign spot should be. It’s from Final Fantasy X If American presidential candidates can quote Japanese anime, why can’t French…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Gundam High Fashion Sure Is Bizarre
You are looking at Gundam inspired clothes. You know. Gundam. Giant mechas. Colorful uniforms. Gundam. Starting this April, a new men’s shop called “Strict-G” is opening in both Tokyo and Shizuoka. It will feature Gundam flavored clothing and accessories from Japanese brands, such as Edwin. Bandai Namco is also producing “original” clothing items, such as…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku EastDressing Final Fantasy as Assassin’s Creed Still Looks Underwhelming
Yes, yes. Japanes role-playing game Final Fantasy XIII-2 is getting downloadable costumes that include Mass Effect and Assassin’s Creed outfits. If you didn’t find the screenshots thrilling, here is the AC trailer…you might find thrilling. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: I really don’t understand the point of these cross game costume…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku EastThis Anime Crossover is Complicated, Chaotic and Blessedly Original
Heroes Phantasia, the anime crossover RPG, has playable characters from a total of nine different anime. But how lame would it be if you could only choose three or four party members like most JRPGs? Fear not! Heroes Phantasia has a complex battle system that allows you a grand total of 16 characters in battle…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Japan Tries To Figure Out Why Everybody Loves One Piece
While the overall sales in manga are slowly declining in Japan, there is one notably strong on-going series: One Piece. The manga’s latest volumes, volume 64 and 65, have both sold over 4 million copies each in their first print run. In 2010, volume 57 of One Piece sold a record-breaking 3 million copies in…
By Toshitaka Tachibana Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Your Girlfriend or DotA? An Online Love Story.
It could be a complete fabrication. Or it could be a true story. Regardless, a love story is making the rounds online in China. It’s not just any love story. It deals with addiction, DotA, and one decisive match. The boyfriend in the story, as website Tech In Asia pointed out, seems like a jerk.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku East
From Persona to Baseball Hot Pants
Lisa Yoshiki sure is busy. When not cosplaying as virtual idol Hatsune Miku in glossy magazines, she’s appearing on stage in the recent Persona theatrical play. And when she’s not doing that? She’s doing other things, like appearing at Japanese baseball games. Yoshiki, who grew up wanted to be a manga artist, recently threw out…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku EastJamming to The World Ends With You Remixes in Kingdom Hearts 3D
As Kotaku‘s own Kirk Hamilton pointed out last week, one of the most amazing things in Square Enix’s DS hit, The World Ends With You, was its techno/pop/rap soundtrack. While we aren’t getting a new game in the series anytime soon (if ever), we are getting the next best thing, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku East
China Gets Its First Female Street Fighter Champ
Xiao Zhao became her country’s first female Street Fighter champion after coming out on top at a Super Street Fighter IV: AE v2012 tournament. Playing as Dhalsim, she defeated her competition at the Nanning Mario Arcade Center in Guangxi last month. Her prize? Besides self-satisfaction and that large cardboard cutout, Xiao Zhao was awarded an…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku East
North Korea Has a Tractor Simulator. It’ll Plough the Fields of Your Mind.
The wizards in North Korea created this: a computerized simulator that teaches students how to drive a tractor. It may not be pretty (it’s certainly not), but goodness, doesn’t it look amazing? This photo was taken at the Samjiyon Schoolchildren’s Palace in Samjiyon, North Korea. It’s an institution that specializes in after school programs for…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Akaneiro Is the Next Game from American McGee’s Spicy Horse
Game designer American McGee and his Shanghai-based Spicy Horse are known for their vivid fantasies and brilliant art design. The studio’s upcoming title Akaneiro: Demon Hunters looks to be no exception. Spice Horse has already done its twisted take on Alice in Wonderland. With Akaneiro, the studio is putting its spin on Red Riding Hood—in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 10, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Bad Chinese People, Stop Effing with the Robot Policemen!
Japan’s Nikkan Spa recently posted images of a Chinese robot cop “patrolling” the streets. Despite looking humanoid, the “RoboCop” in question was far from a robotic police officer. They also look nothing like RoboCop. RoboCop will shoot you in the face. These will not. Standing at attention, the near two meter tall sentries are not…
By Eric Jou Published April 9, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Another Porn Star in the Running for a Yakuza Game
What is it with Sega’s Yakuza games and adult video stars? Whatever it is, another could be promoting the next one. Her name is Sakura Kiryu. Sega selected a host of ladies from across the country (Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya) for its “Miss Yakuza” competition. Only five of the fifteen will be selected…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 9, 2012