Japan’s biggest superhero Ultraman is no stranger to cars. In the early 1970s, Return of Ultraman featured a rotary engine-powered Mazda Cosmo Sports. Now, in 2017, there’s a Ultraman-themed Toyota 86 going on sale in Japan.
Earlier this month in Beijing, a Chinese movie company announced an upcoming feature film called Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman. The CG movie stars robots, a dragon, and Japan’s most famous hero, Ultraman. Make that, a rip-off version of the superhero.
The studio behind the Disaster Report games, Granzella, is teaming up with Namco Bandai for a unique spin on the series: Surviving Ultraman and kaiju fights. It’s called City Shrouded in Shadow, and I think it’s a brilliant idea. No word yet about a Japanese release date or if this will get a Western release.
The great thing about Ultraman is that the series still uses good old fashioned special effects: people wearing suits, miniature cities, and dudes throwing as much dirt as they possibly can.
Actually! The vast majority of Japanese television is rather tame. But every year or so, there are a couple shows that are, ahem, unusual. Bless them.
Can't a person just walk around the city dressed as Ultraseven without being questioned by the cops? Is that too much to ask? Guess so!
You know kaiju, right? Those Japanese-style monsters now have their own watering hole, which serves booze and eats. There's an important rule, though: No superheroes allowed. Don't you dare break it!
A book featuring Ultraman, the popular Japanese superhero series, has been banned in Malaysia. The government says there are concerns over public safety.
If you've seen Ultraman, you probably know these characters. Chances are, though, you've never seen them like this.
Tetsujin 28-go is a Japanese manga and anime about a boy who controls a giant robot. You might know it as Gigantor. It was also released in South Korea, where the gentleman who owns this restaurant fell in love with the cartoon. Bless him.
Stone statues play a prevalent role in Japanese life. You see them at Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines, and you also see them in front of houses and businesses or in gardens as decoration. Ditto at cemeteries.
Godzilla and his atomic breath are one of the most recognizable metaphors for the atomic bombings of WWII—and they're also icons of Japanese pop culture. With a steady supply of Kaiju movies, giant monsters nestled themselves comfortably in video games, creating a huge library of monster mayhem-based titles. We have…
Whether it's the Power Rangers, Ultraman, or Kamen Rider, male Japanese superheroes have one thing in common: they are tough and masculine. These poses aren't.
You thought the full body tights stopped at Totoro? That's just the tip of the iceberg. There are more nightmares to be had. Many more.
In years past, you'd always see them outside convenience stores and in parking lots, coping a squat next to their Subarus and Hondas, smoking cigarettes. They were tough looking. They were thugs. And they'd sit like they're squeezing out turds.
Earlier this month in Tokyo, Bandai showed off some of its latest figurines. Iconic characters were recreated in sculpted plastic. Many of the figures were aimed at older collectors, and one set in particular depicted stood out: the crucifixion of the Ultramen.
Makaon has a hobby. She likes to make sculptures of pop culture characters as well as insects, animals, and more. But she doesn't use clay. She doesn't use stone. Makaon uses cans.
Across Japan, it's harvest time. In September, the rice turns a golden hue. The color—my favorite—is koganeiro (黄金色). Scarecrows stand watch over the rice fields. Most scarecrows in Japan are rather pedestrian—what you'd think a scarecrow would and should look like.
Look. At. That. Japan is getting a giant Gundam box. Previously, there was only concept art, but the actual thing was recently showed at the Chara Hobby figure event outside Tokyo. That wasn't the only thing on display.
A Chinese cook is the brains behind these noodle-slicing robots. Japanese superhero Ultraman inspired the appearance, but necessity inspired the concept: last year, the cook needed help slicing the Northern Chinese dish "knife cut noodles" and created a robot friend to pitch in.
