Kotaku East is about one thing: bringing the weird, the cool, the silly, and the fascinating from the far east to you, the audience. There's been plenty of that this year: the New 3DS. Link, as a girl called Linkle. Batman on a Japanese highway. Cosplay and memes galore. And more. Lots more.
From January to December, here's sixty-six of Kotaku East's best stories from 2014, in no particular order:
Real Version of Mythical Anime Sword Discovered in Japan
What's more, this is actually the first concrete proof that they used these types of blades back then. It's an important archeological find.
Hideo Kojima and Shinji Mikami Talk Horror Games
Two industry greats engage in some playful banter about what they do best.
Japanese Kids Show Host "Loves Cock," Apparently
Poorly thought-out wardrobe choices happen from time to time in the Japanese media. This is one of the more egregious examples.
Attack on Titan Brings Nightmare Fuel to Subaru Commercial
Subaru takes one of Japan's most popular series, and runs with it. The results are intense.
Cats Are the Cutest Guides to Japan
These two are mascots for a Japanese travel company, and, well, you can't do much better than advertising with kitty-cats. Lots of beautiful scenery. And cats of course.
Some Say Frozen Ripped Off a Japanese Anime. Here's Why.
We try to find out what, if anything, Frozen has to do with the 80's Saint Seiya anime.
You Are Not Looking at an Anime Image
It's a plastic figure, and a really cool one at that. If you look at the rest of the photos, there will be double takes.
My, My Zelda, How You Have Grown
Legend of Zelda has changed a lot since the first game. Here, we compare the various versions of a few important characters.
Is This the World's First "Sexual Home Appliance?" Probably Not!
Yeah, probably not, but the advanced model does have Bluetooth for some reason. So it has that going for it, I guess. Note that this post's NSFW.
The Most Infamous Swimming Pool in Japanese Pornography
This pool has been home to many, many porn shoots, becoming ingrained in public consciousness and rising to a memetic status. Another NSFW post.
Ten Letdowns for Foreigners Visiting Japan
In which we discuss the results of a newspaper poll asking one hundred tourists what they didn't like about the country.
Nintendo Just Announced a New 3DS. It Has Another Analog Stick.
Nintendo showed off their latest handheld in a special Nintendo Direct at the end of August. It's basically an improved 3DS which, sadly, still isn't out in North America or Europe.
The New 3DS Is the Portable Nintendo Should've Released Years Ago
And here are our impressions of the New 3DS, in the form of an import preview.
Bank Teller Laughs at One Truly Awful Robber
Yes, that is a meat cleaver, and the bank teller is behind safety glass.
"Panda Dogs" Born in China
Weaponized levels of cute.
Kpop Groups Called "Too Sexy" for South Korea
Public opinion in South Korea is different when it comes to the music industry becoming more and more risqué, hence the controversy.
The Creator of Smash Bros. Needs a Vacation
Sakurai worked on the new Smash Bros. games literally 24/7, to the point of becoming injured. So yes, he definitely needs to do anything but work.
One Man's "Terrible" Cosplay Makes the Internet a Better Place
The guy actually started a Low-Cost Cosplay trend with this. It's quite fantastic.
The Man Who Saved Final Fantasy XV
We talk to director Hajime Tabata to find out how the game that was once known as Final Fantasy Versus XIII became Final Fantasy XV.
It's The Snacktaku Fried Insect Special
This one isn't NSFW, but beware of the squirmy scorpion GIF. If you survive that, you can witness some cute ball-shaped panda plushies. And fried bugs, I guess. If that's your thing.
Crimea's Attorney General Spawns Anime Fan Art
It's odd, to say the least, that this was the one thing that managed to captivate the East out of the whole Crimea business. Odd, but not unexpected.
So Far, The Best Prank of 2014
I still think it's the best prank of 2014. Or the most elaborate, at least.
The Men of Final Fantasy XV Are Making Some Unhappy
Not everyone is satisfied with the game's male-only party, but the issue is deeper than it seems, with gender roles and target audiences coming into play.
How Anime Art Has Changed: An Explainer
The difference is staggering—we take a look at what changed exactly, and how.
How to Identify the Basic Types of Anime and Manga
In which we explain what those strange, foreign labels, like Shonen and Josei, mean.
Young Cosplayer Lost Over 100 Pounds After Fat Shaming
It's a stunning transformation, and the girl seems happier for it. A good ending to a bad tale, overall.
The Video Game Anime That's Taking Japan by Storm
The first Yokai Watch game popped up in 2013, and since then it's pretty much taken over Japan. Some people call it the second Pokémon.
The New Final Fantasy XV Trailer Has Renewed My Faith
Final Fantasy XV got a few trailers this year, but this was likely the one that spawned the most hype. A perfect trailer, with a perfect ending.
Japan's "Totally Looks Like" Meme Is Totally Amusing
This one isn't limited to people, mind. There's animals and objects too.
Things You Probably Don't Know About Tetsuya Nomura
Nomura's currently working on Kingdom Hearts III, and he's had a long and fascinating career. Here, he talks about who he is and how he came to be the way he is.
Ash Ketchum from Pokémon Is Insanely Strong
A very observant Twitter user connects some dots, which leads to a hilarious revelation (or a plot hole, if you want to look at it that way.)
An Anime Figure You Will Never Forget
You know this one. The guy from Hunter x Hunter? With the hair? Classic.
Anime Characters Announcing They're Pregnant Is a New Meme
It's a simple Photoshop meme, but it really took off. It lends itself well to shots of people being shocked.
Japan's Next Big Trend Could Be "Neo Gals"
Fashion trends come and go in Japan. This is one of the latest, and it's pretty wild.
Chinese Students Delight the Internet with Graduation Photos
Graduation photos crossed with movie posters, too!
No, China's Depressed Youth Do Not Keep Cabbages As Pets
This was a classic case of a misreported story. Luckily, we were there to help clear things up.
Behold, the Forever Alone Pod
You, too, can shut yourself into this small box for the low, low price of $8,000. In return, you get fancy LED lights and shelves for your favorite toys.
Bad Tattoo Baffles Japanese Soccer Fans
Bad Japanese or Chinese tattoos have been a thing since the dawn of modern tattooing, and they start affecting everyone when they're spotted by vigilant Japanese Twitter people.
Japan's Prime Minister Accidentally Tells Women To Die
This is why you don't mix English and Japanese unless supervised.
How to Identify Anime and Manga Genres
A sequel to our earlier basic anime/manga tutorial. Here, we take a look at some genres, like mecha, monster battle, harem, and yes, hentai.
More Crappy Animated Images for Your Amusement
You guys liked our off-model anime frame compilation last year, so we did another one this year.
Inside South Korea's Penis Restaurant
Penis statues, penis fountains, penis souvenirs... there's even a penis tree. NSFW, obviously.
Yesterday Was a Highly Unusual Day in Japan
A series of unrelated incidents propelled June 29 to meme status in Japan.
Cosplay Porn Outfits Fetching Thousands of Dollars
Cosplay porn has high production values costumes-wise, so the outfits sell for quite a lot. NSFW post.
I Don't Think The Human Face Is Supposed To Do That
Manga characters make weird faces, and amazingly, this guy can pretty much do them all.
Japanese Politician Freaks Out, Spawns Internet Memes
This meme got a surprising amount of traction, inspiring plenty of fanart and even going beyond Japan.
The Naruto Manga Ends Next Month
November 10 marked the end of an era, with one of Shonen Jump's longest-running series coming to a conclusion after over fourteen years and 700 chapters. The anime is still running, though.
Japanese Gamers Explain Why the PS4 Isn't Selling There
The PS4 arrived in Japan early this year, and public reaction was lukewarm at best. A few gamers chime in on what might have happened.
How Pikachu Has Changed Over the Years
Pikachu got redesigned quite a few times since he debuted in the late nineties. We take a look at a few version to see what changed.
So Far, the Chinese Xbox One Has Room for Improvement
Late September saw the arrival of the Xbox One in China—the first officially released console there in a long time—but there were problems. In this impressions piece, we talk about what those problems were, and still are.
The Fart Cannon Is a Lethal Weapon
Human ingenuity at its best.
Japan's Xbox One Launch Looks Sad As You'd Expect
The Xbox One also launched in Japan this year, but people were even less interested in it than the PS4.
The Xbox One Is Doing Truly Awful in Japan
Sadly, the sales data agreed with the photos of empty lines: Japan has basically turned away from the Xbox One.
Studio Ghibli Is Not Dead Yet
Hayao Miyazaki made a few comments on Ghibli's "demise," which then caused a ton of doom and gloom to spread around the internet. It's a complex matter, but for now, Studio Ghibli is safe.
Buying Japan's Most Popular Toy Was Crazy Hard
One symptom of Yokai Watch's iron grip on Japan: ridiculously popular toys that are sold out everywhere.
There's A Female Link, And Her Name Is Linkle
An unexpected character pops up in the "previously unseen rejected characters" section of the artbook accompanying Hyrule Warriors.
These May Just Be China's "Hottest" Pro-Gamers, Says Chinese Game Site
Esports players have fangirls (and fanboys) too, not just "regular" sportsmen.
Batman Spotted on a Japanese Highway
We later found out that this guy is a welder in his forties, and that he actually commutes to work dressed like that. Hardcore.
The Internet Reacts to the New Pokémon Fighting Game
The official announcement of Pokkén Tournament in August came as a surprise to many people—pleasant for some, not so much for others.
More Silly Schoolbook Drawings from Japan
Another holdover from last year, humorous schoolbook doodles are always fun to look at.
How I Lost Weight Watching Anime
With anime, all you need to do is watch, so you're free to pursue other activities while chewing through a series. Like, say, exercising.
Don't Be Silly, Hello Kitty Is a Cat
This past summer, some people got it into their heads that Hello Kitty is not a cat, with some general confusion over how anthropomorphic characters exactly work. So of course, we stepped in to try and clear a few things up.
The 20th Anniversary Edition PlayStation 4 Is a Thing of Beauty
This gorgeous silver PS4 was perhaps the best thing to come out of Sony's PlayStation Anniversary celebrations, held in early December. It sold out everywhere pretty much immediately.
This Japanese Television Conspiracy Has Familiar Faces
We investigate a conspiracy theory about reoccurring-random street interviewees and supposedly staged news reports.
Let These Amusing Japanese Internet Photos Brighten Your Day
If there's one thing Japanese netizens are consistently good at, it's humorous pictures. We collected a few of them here.
Some of Japan's Most Memorable Twitter Pics of 2014
And finally, as closing, another round of fun images.
It's been a good year. Here's to another one.
Questions? Comments? Contact the author of this post at andras-AT-kotaku-DOT-com.