There's a set iconography. Costumes or accessories that immediately evoke imagery and associations. For countless idol groups, the go-to iconography is the Japanese schoolgirl and all the youthful associations she entails.

You might have a notion of who you'd think could pull off the perfect Chun-Li. Then again, you didn't develop Street Fighter II so what the hell do you know?

Mai Shiranui from The King of Fighters isn't real. But a few days ago in Taiwan, you could've swore she was.

Earlier this week, Kotaku reported that a noodle cafe was opening in Tokyo's otaku (geek) mecca. What makes this cafe different from the plethora of cafes dotted throughout Akihabara is that Noodol Cafe features idols pouring hot water into instant ramen. Yep.

With over thirty members, you'd think it'd be no biggie if AKB48's 17-year-old Yumi Wakatsuki was M.I.A. Yet, this weekend when she didn't show at a Gran Turismo 5 event, people began wondering whether her absence wasn't merely because she was under the weather. People began wondering if she had been benched for one…

In Japan, "itasha" are cars covered with stickers depicting anime or video game characters. They've been around for a couple years now, and there are even gatherings of itasha enthusiasts.

Originally Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D was supposed to be out this December. Then, at September's Tokyo Game Show, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima said the game would be out in early 2012.

Aki Toyosaki is 24 years-old. A big Grand Theft Auto fan, she works as a voice actress, voicing Yui Hirasawa in K-On as well as Cinque in the upcoming Final Fantasy Type-0. She's an adult, and she'd be free to live her life as an adult.

Ever since Kamen Rider first fired up his motorcycle over forty years ago and kicked evil Shocker ass, one thing has been missing: a pleated-skirt and sailor-suit-wearing rider. That will change.

When Japanese people travel, they often take tours. Travel agents offer an array of packages from simple all-inclusive air-plus-hotel to bus guided tours complete with bus lady. This tour is a little different.

In May 2008, Hideo Kojima held a press conference for Metal Gear Solid 4 that was noteworthy for three things: The first MGS4 gameplay was shown, Hideo Kojima arrived with a silly haircut, and young model Akina Minami graced the stage.

If you've played a Japanese video game, watched an anime, or read a manga, you've seen them: schoolgirls. Idols, in particular, are the lighter, fluffy end of the spectrum. They stand for the fantasies of their fans.

The last Kotaku heard of Chiaki Takahashi, the voice actress canceled a book of underwear photos because of the earthquake. But that was April. This, this is not.

Japanese pop, rather Jpop, is pigeonholed as cute, ear saccharine. That might not exactly be fair. But there's no arguing, sometimes Jpop needs more guitars. More awesome hair. Sometimes it needs more metal.

Youth is at a premium in Japan. Video game characters are often in their teens (or younger). And in candy-coated world of idols, girls start young. But decade after decade, there's been one pin-up who keeps on keeping on: 45-year-old Natsuki Okamoto. And there's a reason for that. She puts out.

If super group AKB48 are idols you can see live on a daily basis, then Marshmallow 3D are idols you can cop a feel from.

This week, the biggest game in Japan is Rhythm Heaven. It was created by a man who was at one time the biggest record producer in the country: Tsunku.

Ever wonder why nerd heroine Shoko Nakagawa is the queen of Pokémon? Because growing up, she was lonely. Very, very lonely.

When Shape Boxing 2 originally went on sale, giant boob idol and former Sega arcade spokesgirl Megumi appeared in the game's commercials. At the time, I thought this was because she'd lost a lot of weight after having a child.