Sega's New PS4 Game Shows A Different Side Of A Japanese Superstar

Previously Kotaku mentioned how Judgment, the PS4 game with Japanese superstar Takuya Kimura, lets players beat up enemies with a sex toy. That was just the beginning.

Takuya Kimura is one of the most famous celebrities in Japan. He was a member of the boy band SMAP, he appeared in some of the highest rated Japanese TV dramas ever and he even voiced Howl in Howl’s Moving Castle. Fans refer to him simply as “Kimutaku.”

(In case you missed it, you can check out our own Tim Roger’s translation of the demo as well as his Takuya Kimura explainer.)

Here's Takuya Kimura.. The actor who plays Detective Takayuki Yagami in Judge Eyes. It looks just like him as well 👌🏽.. #JudgeEyes pic.twitter.com/ABTd5yKu0A

— RONIN714 (@TheLastRonin714) September 11, 2018

For many Japanese players, the appeal of Judgment is going bananas with Kimutaku. And that, you can most certainly do

温めますかフィニッシュでもちゃんとドロップアイテムもらえるんだぁ～。#ジャッジアイズ #PS4share https://t.co/D6WqRwzPcr pic.twitter.com/wae8waVlRc

— K−TAMU (@sizue_san) December 9, 2018

キムタクいつビーム撃てるようになったんや草生えるわこんなん pic.twitter.com/0VsGmD7bfl

— メト.ロン星人ヤキュウボウ (@AlienMetron_Cap) December 13, 2018

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1073171287952941056

You can destroy a yakuza office

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1073166074777100289

You can make a dramatic exit

日本危険ネ！怖いヨ！
外国人にトラウマ植え付けるキムタク #PS4share pic.twitter.com/DKIwuCmpE1

— Eiji (@EijiERJ) December 7, 2018

You can destroy a convenience store, among other establishments

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1073019161213689856

Even though you are playing a character that Kimura brings to life, you’re really just playing his celebrity persona

出ましたキムタクの　ちょっと待てよ！#ジャッジアイズ #PS4share pic.twitter.com/ATBf4NTA3n

— 名乗る名前はない (@h_y515) December 4, 2018

For example, in Judgment, his character says, “Chotte mateyo” (Hey, wait a minute!), which the character he played in the 1997 TV drama Love Generation said. It’s since become a famous Kimutaku catchphrase

カメラを向けるとポーズとって目線をくれる海藤さんがかわいすぎる！！ #ジャッジアイズ #キムタクが如く #PS4share pic.twitter.com/HRnRwK8bjf

— K−TAMU (@sizue_san) December 13, 2018

In Judgment, that’s not all you can do with this Japanese icon

さなちゃんとデート。ストーリーの都合上キムタクのご尊顔がぼこぼこやん。#キムタクが如く
 #PS4share pic.twitter.com/JWQm00zisO

— 成瀬雪花 (@naruse326) December 13, 2018

ゲーセンなうw #ジャッジアイズ #キムタクが如く #PS4share pic.twitter.com/YwJ6pMehzL

— K−TAMU (@sizue_san) December 13, 2018

ジャッジアイズプレイ♪
初めての自撮with自販機and室外機w
キムタクもキャラになるとかわいく思える摩訶不思議アドベンチャー🎵#ジャッジアイズ #キムタクが如く pic.twitter.com/wH3526sqRF

— 鏡＠夢旅人 (@511mirror614) December 13, 2018

As in Yakuza 6, you can take selfies

キムタクでボコボコにしてやりました☆ pic.twitter.com/vKIjad1HMy

— てれれ (@terere_ereret) December 13, 2018

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1070269635583299585

Lots of selfies

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1073011005964267520

You can buy panties and tell the clerk that they’re not a gift and will be used asap

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1073057366893969408

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1073062979644485632

You can visit a place of prostitution

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1073414941791510528

The establishment lists options, which in-game are tongue-in-cheek puns on sexual services. Those listed, for example, include “Dave” (デイブ or deibu) in Japanese instead of “vibe” (バイブ or baibu), which is short for “vibrator.” Many of the other words stand for much more explicit things.(Obviously, the game won’t show explicit sex!)

https://twitter.com/embed/status/1072475377300398080

Kimutaku’s persona has always seemed carefully managed. As with boy band members in Japan, his image has been largely clean and fairly tame by American celebrity standards.

On Japanese TV, he’s been presented as a fantasy male, able to sing, act, dance, cook—do anything well, really. Granted, in SMAP comedy skits, Kimutaku wasn’t afraid of dressing up in silly costumes (like a dog or in outrageous Shibuya fashion) and act ridiculous. Even though he might be investigating things in Judgment, the possibilities play against his cool guy image