Kotaku East

The most worthless 3DS game in the world? Probably Monster Hunter 4, which sold a colossal 4 million copies in Japan, more than almost anything else. Now they can’t give them away; witness a whole pile of minty-fresh copies in this 100-yen (about $1) bin outside the store Surugaya in Akihabara today.

I’m in Japan! Tokyo Game Show begins later this week, but I’ll be joining Ashcraft in bringing you news of whatever else I find while exploring Tokyo starting… now. Here is a plate of Hinoya, my current favorite Japanese curry. It is a perfection of the form. I’m trying not to just eat this exclusively…

The Genius Of The Dragon Ball Manga

It’s not just the characters who make Dragon Ball so great. It’s not just the stories that they tell. It’s also the way Akira Toriyama lays out the manga. It’s truly wonderful. Here’s why. Website Nikaidorenji provided a look at how logical the Dragon Ball manga flows. (Dragon Ball is certainly not alone in this…

Making CG Japanese Schoolgirls Is Difficult

This is Saya. According to her co-creator, Yuka Ishikiawa, bringing her to life was not easy. The hurdle, Ishikawa explained via Twitter, is “quite high.” The CG schoolgirl model needs to contain a certain softness as well as the purity of her age. In short, it needs to look like a real person. Mission accomplished,…

How Anime Art Has Changed: An Explainer

Anime, you’ve changed! To be honest, the look of it is always changing. Styles and fads suit each age, so let’s see how anime has evolved over the past few decades. On 2ch, a commenter uploaded the following image below, which Kotaku has translated into English: I quite like this as it gives a good,…

Metal Gear Motion Capture Actor Is Excellent At Twirling Guns

This is Tornado Yoshida. He recently appeared in costume at this year’s World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, twirling pistols and all. Look at this guy go at it. Yoshida isn’t just some Metal Gear super fan—he did the Ocelot motion capture for Metal Gear Solid. He is Revolver Ocelot’s pistol-spinning in the flesh. And here…

Danganronpa V3 Is Banned In South Korea [Update]

Released earlier this year in Japan, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony has been rejected by South Korea’s Game Rating and Administration Committee. Update August 3 – 6:00AM: Sony Computer Entertainment Korea released a statement saying that due to the Game Rating and Administration Committee’s decision, it will not be releasing Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony in South…

The Pokémon Anime’s Timing Was Perfect For Breaking News 

When news breaks in Japan, text is directly inserted into broadcast shows so viewers can stay up to date on what’s happening. During last Thursday’s episode of Pokémon Sun Moon, news broke., and the way it coincided with the onscreen antics was perfect. That evening, there were reports that politician Tomomi Inada was going to…

Kirby Made From Cardboard

Twitter user RMX_Dice completed a cardboard Kirby by slicing each individual piece of cardboard and placing each layer on top of the next. Below you can see the completed work: Here is the schematic RMX_Dice created: This past spring, the work was still connected to the back slabs. But now, the sculpture is free-standing and amazing.…

The New Final Fantasy XV Invincible Suits Look Terrifying 

Earlier this year, Square Enix revealed “muteki suits” (invincible suits) as an upcoming free download. Immediately, they were compared to Power Ranger costumes and soon scrapped. Square Enix has now released the new suits. They are scary. In case you missed Kotaku’s earlier coverage, here are the old muteki suits. Notice how they kind of…

Long Lines And Sell-Outs For Dragon Quest XI In Japan 

Water is wet. Sugar is sweet. And Japan loves Dragon Quest. In the least surprising news of the weekend, the latest DQ release drew long lines. At some locations, the game sold out. Website Inside Games covered the Tokyo launch, reporting how over 200 people lined up at the Bic Camera in Ikebukuro. Another 200…

Like Initial D? According to YouTuber DriftHunterAlbo, he met the grandson of the Fujinoya Tofu Shop (reportedly, the real-life Fujiwara Tofu Shop). The shop, which has since been destroyed, was even used as a location for the 2005 live-action flick. The front of the shop is now on display at the Ikaho Toy, Doll and…

Steins;Gate 0 Is Getting An Anime 

Visual novel Steins;Gate 0 was originally released in Japan on the PS3, PS4 and the Vita in December 2015. It came out in the U.S. the following year. Since the source material is a visual novel, it should lend itself to an excellent anime adaptation. It wouldn’t be the first. The original Steins;Gate anime turned…

Here’s Dragon Quest XI’s remote play on a PS Vita. Looks nice, no? Ditto for the Slime nails. DQXI will be released tomorrow in Japan on the PS4 and the Nintendo 3DS. 

Switch Sales Are Causing Problems In Japan 

In Japan, the lines for the Nintendo Switch have been hell. The way that retailers are deciding who gets the consoles just caused big woes for one of Japan’s most famous electronics chains. In an effort to seemingly be “fair” and stymie the gray market, major chains like Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, and Toys “R”…

CG Woman Selling Beer In A Japanese Supermarket

If you’ve ever been to a supermarket in Japan, you’ll know that throughout the store, there are people offering free samples and prompting various products. They are real flesh and blood humans. This Asahi beer salesperson is not. In Japan, this is called “demonstration sales.” Via Game Over, you can watch a nine minute Japanese…

The PlayStation 4 has surpassed an estimated 5 million consoles sold in Japan, according to Media Create. That’s as of July 23, and with Dragon Quest XI coming to the PS4 this Saturday, expect those numbers to get a bump. 

Scenes From Hit Anime Your Name Look Very Familiar 

Your Name is one of the most successful anime movies ever released in Japan. Not only has it made a bunch of cash, but it’s also a great film. However, a new YouTube clip alleges that Your Name lifted several sequences from other anime movies. In the comparison below, via Yaraon!, the Your Name scenes…

Splatoon 2 Had A Big First Week Of Sales In Japan 

In its first three days on sale, Splatoon 2 sold an estimated 670,955 copies at Japanese retail. Typically in Japan, new Pokémon games sell well over a million copies in their first few days out. For example, Sun and Moon sold 1,905,107 copies at retail. That’s at the extreme end of the spectrum, and generally…

Some Of Anime’s Most Famous Poses And Techniques

Certain anime studios—and even certain creators—have signature moves. Hallmarks or calling cards, if you will. Let’s have a look! On Twitter (via Togetter), people were talking about famous poses and stylistic techniques in anime (and manga). This article was originally published on June 5, 2015. “Gainax Stance” In Japanese, this is “Gaina Dachi” (ガイナ立ち), and…