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Castle in the Sky Flappter Model Great for Play and Display
The Premium Bandai site is taking preorders of a model vehicle from one of Studio Ghibli's classic films. Pre-orders are now being accepted for the Flappter, the motorized flying vessel used in the 1986 movie Castle in the Sky. This detailed piece boasts a wingspan of 421mm (16.5 in) and a rustic brass finish to truly emulate its depiction in the movie. It also comes with a removable display stand...
Pikachu Invasion Returns to Yokohama in August
The cutest parade of Pokemon is returning to Yokohama in August. The "Odoru? Pikachū Tairyō Hassei-chū!" (Dance? Pikachu All Over the Place) event will bring a plethora of Pikachu from August 8-16 to venues around Yokohama's Minato Mirai district. There will be at least 1,000 Pikachu marching and dancing. Organizers state the flood of Pokemon will make the area like a Pikachu theme park. The offic...
Ultraman Transforms Into Salamander in Artist's Statue
The titanic kaiju-bashing hero Ultraman has unlocked a new form! ...Well, not really. But he has been given a new look! やっとこれ撮影したw pic.twitter.com/LPAflWnL94— 井上裕起 (@inoue_yuki) June 13, 2015 Tweet: "Finally took this photo!" Ultraman has been re-imagined as a tiny salamander statue courtesy of artist and Ultraman fan Yuki Inoue. It was recently featured as part of an art exhibition in Takashimaya...
Upgraded Sailor Moon Crystal Star Powder Compact Gets Anime Commercial
Ads for the newly updated version of Sailor Moon's Crystal Star compact with Shining Moon Powder make-up debuted on Wednesday. Like the previous ad for the Moon Stick eyeliner, the video uses clips from Sailor Moon Classic and Sailor Moon R. Originally released in 2013, the powder compact was one of the first items created in the Miracle Romance make-up line as part of the magical girl series' 20...
Sony President Shuhei Yoshida Takes a Ride in a Starfighter
Sony made major announcements at E3 this week, including a long-awaited Final Fantasy VII remake that had fans like Shokotan geeking out. Electronic Arts also announced more details on its Star Wars Battlefront PlayStation 4 game and put Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida in the cockpit of a Starfighter. The video is meant as a tease for how immersive the game is for players. The EA S...
Pokémon Character Designer Sugimori Shares Original Gym Leader Sketches
Ken Sugimori, the original character designer behind the successful Pokémon video game franchise, posted his original design sketches for the series' first generation Gym Leaders. The sketches show shirtless Brock (Takeshi), Misty (Kasumi) in her swimsuit, Lt. Surge (Matis), and Erika. 初代ゲームボーイの開発はドット直描きだった事も多くデザインの紙資料が少ないのです pic.twitter.com/nUMeurPLia— 杉森 建/KEN SUGIMORI (@SUPER_32X) June 16, 2015...
Good Smile Company to Present 500 Nendoroid Exhibition at AX 2015
Good Smile Company, the Japanese hobby manufacturer behind Nendoroids and the Figma figure series, will put a vast display of their products at this year's Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Like its name implies, the Nendoroid 500 Exhibition will feature 500 of the interchangeable figures. Good Smile Company launched its Nendoroid line almost a decade ago in 2006 and has since released over 500 figures f...
Goose House's Anime Covers Will Brighten Up Your Day
The seven-piece J-pop music group Goose House loves to have a little fun when they're not attaching fantastic songs to heart-wrenching anime. The group's YouTube channel uploads in several bursts of acoustic versions of their various songs. Among them are delightful covers of many different anime songs. "Sousei no Aquarion" by AKINO (Aquarion) "Guren no Yumiya" by Linked Horizon (Attack on Titan) ...
Brock Makes a Play for Nurse Joy with Shirtless Figure
Ever one to try and impress the ladies, Pokemon Gym leader Brock (known as Takeshi in Japan) shows off his chiseled features in this new shirtless figure of the character. Game Caption: "Pewter City Pokemon Gym Leader Brock- Strong, Hard, a Man of Rock" The figure stands 120mm (about 4.75in) tall and is sculpted to recreate his pose from the classic Pokemon Red and Blue games. It is currently bein...
Gurren Lagann Singer Shokotan Geeks Out Over FFVII Remake
A popular J-pop singer known for her obsession with otaku culture has chimed in with her own commentary on a recently-announced video game. FF7リメイクまじかあああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああ— 中川翔子@おせんべい (@shoko55mmts) June 16, 2015 "FF7 REMAKE? ARE YOU SERIOUS?????" In a series of recent tweets, Shoko Nakagawa—known by her stage name, Shokotan—has expressed her enormous excitement for the ...
AKB48 Members Take on the Bright Lights of New York City
While idol hopefuls were waiting in anticipation at the AKB48 Group Draft Kaigi 2015 event, several members of the AKB48 were in New York City for the annual Japan Day event in New York City's Central Park on May 10. In addition to their scheduled performance that day, AKB48 also got to hit the town and try American hamburgers, ride The Beast Speedboat ride out to the Statue of Liberty, peruse gif...
Proplica Line to Arm Sailor Moon Fans with Spiral Heart Moon Rod
Sailor Neptune's mirror also announced
― The Sailor Moon Proplica family is about to see a new addition. The upcoming installment of Bandai's Proplica product line, made to recreate the many tools of Sailor Moon's vast array of weapons in stunningly realistic detail, will be the Spiral Heart Moon Rod. The replica comes complete with lights and sounds made to Sailor Moon's Moon Spiral Heart Attack and...
No. 5 Seed Tennis Pro Kei Nishikori Unwinds with Dragon Quest
Even a professional sports player answers the call of the controller from time to time. After making it all the way to the quarterfinals of the 2015 French Open, Japanese professional tennis player Kei Nishikori will probably use some of his downtime to catch up on some sorely-missed Dragon Quest. According to a recent interview, the 25-year-old spends much of his holiday away from the tennis scen...
3D Motoko Kusanagi Sets Foundation for Ghost in the Shell Realize Project
The effort to bring to life the advanced technology featured in the popular sci-fi franchise Ghost in the Shell is now making waves. The Ghost in the Shell Realize Project, announced back in 2014, has created a website that presents a 3D model of the main protagonist, Motoko Kusanagi, that can be viewed in various poses from every angle controlled by one's mouse. The model was developed using pho...
Haikyu's Tobio Gets Punny Transformation into Flying Fish
Karasuno High School's top volleyball setter Tobio Kageyama is getting some weird merchandise thanks to a rather clever pun. Starting in July, Tobio will be reimagined as a "tobiuo" or a "flying fish." Judging by the character's expression, he isn't too pleased about the transformation. The planned goods include clear files, cell phone straps, cushions, and button pins. Prices range from 378 yen (...
Mosoko Miyatsuki Teaches How to Draw Sad Faces in 2nd Wacom & Manga University Instructional Video
The American branch of Wacom, a company that makes digital drawing tablets, has released its second video with mangaka Mosoko Miyatsuki (Ani ga Rival!) and publisher Manga University. In this video, Miyatsuki teaches viewers how to draw a character with a sad expression using an Intuos Manga Pen & Touch Small tablet and the Celsys software Clip Studio Paint Pro program. Miyatsuki (also known as Sa...
Tokyo Ranked The World's Most Livable City
Fukuoka also ranked #12
― Every year, British magazine Monocle conducts "Quality of Life" survey for cities around the globe. The survey looks at a number of metrics including international flights to the location, crime rates, the number of sunny days, tolerance, unemployment rate, upcoming developments, electric car charging ports, culture, the number of bookshops, green space, street life, and how...
Former Truant Japanese Student Inspired by Akira Toriyama Publishes 1st Manga
Shoichi Tanazono's life could have turned out a lot differently. He found himself unable to get along with his homeroom teachers and began skipping his courses or coming to class very late. His stint as a truant student lasted from elementary school through junior high. "I was filled with anxiety, feeling inferior about not attending school and worrying about what kind of adult I would become," Ta...
Sneak Peek at nano.Ripe, Fo'xTails, OLDCODEX Summer 2015 Anime Themes
Also: OLDCODEX's "Lantana" charts on Oricon
― With the summer 2015 anime season on its way, studios are selecting which bands and which songs will accompany their upcoming TV shows. Here are a few (shortened) music videos for the anime set to premiere this summer. First up is Non Non Biyori, which premiered in 2013 but will get a second season this summer. The first season's opening theme featured na...
Game Symphony Japan to Hold Concert of Classic Sega Music
Also: Final Fantasy VII, Secret of Mana, EarthBound
― Game Symphony Japan is scheduling a concert for October 10 exclusively featuring music from classic Sega games. Although the program includes many Sonic the Hedgehog tunes, it also delves into other games from Sega's vast catalog, including 21 selections from NiGHTS into Dreams... alone. The complete list of Sega titles represented is: Sonic the ...
ANN Readers: Your Top 10 Food Wars! Characters
On Monday, Weekly Shōnen Jump announced the results of its Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma character poll. Japanese readers selected protagonist Yukihira Sōma as their favorite. We opened our own poll to see how fans following along with Viz's manga releases and the anime adaptation streaming Crunchyroll felt about the competitive cooking series' chefs. Except for a few change-ups, ANN readers' taste...
Diabolik Lovers' Kanato Gets Gloomy Bear Crossover
Mori Chack's creepy-cute Gloomy Bear mascot is getting cross-over merchandise with Rejet's Diabolik Lovers vampire otome game and anime series. The merchandise melds the original Gloomy Bear with the vampire Kanato Sakamaki's eye-patch wearing stuffed teddy. The exact merchandise and release dates will be announced in the future. 【コラボ】アニメ「DIABOLIK LOVERS」と「GLOOMY」のコラボが決定!逆巻カナトが大切にしているぬいぐるみ・テディがグル〜...
Love Live!'s Rin's Next Sega Collaboration Announced
And the winner is....
― Rin Hoshizora of Love Live! School idol project is Sega's new "image girl," and a poll was recently conducted to determine what her next game collaboration would be. The results are in, and the winner is... Puyo Puyo, the classic cutesy puzzle game! While we'll have to wait until late July to see what the Rin x Puyo pairing will look like, here's what Puyo Puyo art looks like ...
Neko Atsume Casual Cat Game Gets CDs, Too
Includes Vocaloid music, background theme, stickers
― Fans of the game app Neko Atsume, which allows you to accumulate lots of cats without coming off as a crazy person, are being rewarded with not one, not two, but three different CDs, each in honor of different cat varieties. The CDs, which are called Neko Atsume Love, will mostly feature Vocaloid tunes. The White Cat version will include "Shironek...
Snow Miku Joins Forces with Hokkaido Baseball Team
Fans treated to her rendition of team's theme song
― Snow Miku, a version of Hatsune Miku that promotes Hokkaido's winter sports and festivals, isn't taking the summer off this year. Instead, she's joining the local baseball team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham-Fighters, to promote the Asian Festa 2015, a celebration of Japan's neighbors in East Asia. This poster pairs her in a modified Fighters uniform wit...
Love Live! Super Fan Appears in Men's Fashion Magazine
A major fan of the hit anime series Love Live! School idol project has been photographed in a men's fashion magazine flaunting his tastes. "The Liver [Love Live fan] blood that flows through my body is boiling!" "I found something to put you in a trance!" The model, who goes by the name Nuppe Sōiumono, also enjoys Is the Order a Rabbit? and Tōken Ranbu. "The 2-D wave is rippling through Shibuya no...
Nana Mizuki YouTube Channel Uploads Concert Footage to Promote DVD
On June 9, the official YouTube channel of J-pop sensation Nana Mizuki posted two full performances taken from one of her recent concerts in order to promote its upcoming Blu-Ray and DVD release. These videos come from the Nana Mizuki Live Theater 2015 -Acoustic- concert that took place across January 17 and 18 of this year in the Saitama Super Arena. The songs currently on YouTube are "Scarlet Kn...
Kantai Collection Comiket Circles Edge Ahead of Touhou Project Again
A fan count from this summer's Comiket 88 catalog is showing that Kantai Collection again leads in dōjin circle numbers. A total of 1,846 circles revolving around the moe-character card battle game beat out the 1,496 circles dedicated to the Touhou Project series. This marks the second time in a row for Kantai Collection. The franchise had 1,840 circles versus Touhou Project 1,744 at Winter Comik...
Robotics Engineers at Work on Real Transforming Car Robot
They aim to be completed by 2017
― With transforming robots such an integral part of Japanese popular culture, and with the success of the Transformers film series spreading the image worldwide of giant robots reconfiguring themselves into cars, many wide-eyed kids have wondered: could this be real? Now a team of Japanese robotics engineers are trying to make it happen. Project J-deite has commenced ...
Link 'Races for Rupees' in Fan-Made Legend of Zelda Short
Animator Callegos Yavolitak created a fun short animation starring Legend of Zelda's Link. In the video, the intrepid adventurer finds himself without a sturdy shield and short on rupees. Undeterred, he does what Link does best — break all the pots he can find. Yavolitak has more videos on his YouTube channel, many featuring characters from the Team Fortress 2 game.
Real Tōken Ranbu Bikinis Inspire Crossplay Art
The online shopping website Famima.com announced a new wave of merchandise based on the swords-as-boys mobile and PC game Tōken Ranbu. The site announced t-shirts, yukata, a coin purse, hair accessories, and themed bikinis just in time for summer. The three designs mirror the symbols used by Tsurumaru Kuninaga, Mikazuki Munechika, and Kogitsunemaru. Most of the accessories are designed for the gam...
Castle in the Sky Robot Makes Cameo in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Director a big fan of Studio Ghibli
― Film-goers who watched the latest Marvel superhero spectacle, Avengers: Age of Ultron, may have noticed a line in the credits expressing gratitude to Studio Ghibli for its permission to use the robot from Castle in the Sky. It wasn't immediately clear how this robot was used, but in advance of the film's Japanese release, director Joss Whedon has clarified that ...
Gigantic Girls Invade Tokyo in New Video Project
On this day, Tokyo received a grim reminder: they live in fear of the giant girls. Production on an intriguing new project known as "Tokyo Gigantic Girls" has recently started up. Presented as a landscape art project, J-drama director Hiroaki Matsu heads this strange new endeavor that features women in various Tokyo locations doing rather mundane activities...except they're giant. These skyscraper...
The Grudge Event Invites Couples to Bond in Fright
Explore spooky hospital, theater, or monkey park
― If you've ever watched a scary movie or visited a haunted house with other people, you know that being terrified brings people closer together, sometimes in more than one way. An upcoming event in three Japanese cities will capitalize on this frightened intimacy to (hopefully) start some relationships. The event, called Kimodameshi Con ("Courage Test...
Durarara!!×2 Ten Leads in Most Anticipated Summer 2015 Anime
Pick your favorite in ANN's poll!
― Durarara!!×2 Ten, the follow-up to winter's Durarara!!×2 Shō, is leading the pack for the most anticipated anime premiering in July. It's interesting to note that Durarara!!×2 Shō ranked #2 for its respective season, and was the #1 choice by ANN readers. However, despite ranking high with Charapedia voters, nico nico's voters weren't as enthuastic after the show en...
French TV Program toco toco Will Host Art Director Shichiro Kobayashi
The French television program toco toco hosts a variety of Japanese artists from bakers to film directors, and asks them to discuss their favorite place in Japan. Previously, the show was limited to those who understood French, but the program's corresponding YouTube channel now offers the episodes with English subtitles. The series will interview award-winning anime art director Shichiro Kobayash...
Voice Actress Cristina Vee's Mascot Makes Game Debut with Veecaloid Pop
Cristina Vee's mascot, the English voice actress of Rei Hino/Sailor Mars (Sailor Moon), Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica), and Mio Akiyama (K-On!) is making her video game debut in the iOS mobile game Veecaloid Pop. The game is out today for US$1.99. The game stars Vee as a "Veecaloid" named Milky. The character is designed by Skullgirls' Alex Ahad. Vee voices the character and sings in th...
Super Mario Bros. Cafes to Open In Japan
In celebration of the 30-year anniversary of the very first Super Mario Bros. game, the world-renowned Nintendo franchise is teaming up with Tower Records to open up special Mario-themed cafes in various Japanese cities for a limited time. Known as the Super Mario Brothers x Tower Records Cafe, this new eatery will take over locations at Tower Records Shibuya, Omotesandō, and Ebisu. Naturally, the...
Subtle Tony Tony Chopper Rumble Ball Necklace is Beautiful
The One Piece Premium Collection of highly collectible trinkets sees its newest item dedicated to the Straw Hats' cutest crew member. The Premium Collection now presents the Tony Tony Chopper Sakura and Snow Rumble Ball jewel pendant. Stylized after the special pill that grants the medical reindeer access to his many combative forms, this special pendant consists of a spherical metal shell, eithe...
Kyoto Garbage Fairy Mascot Reminds Residents to Recycle
Local mascots come in all shapes and sizes, from the very popular Kumamoto Prefecture's Kumamon and Funabashi's Funassyi, to the less enthused Matsubara City's Matsubara-kun. Usually their purpose is to generate tourism to their respective areas, but Kyoto's recent addition has a more conservative approach. Specifically, environment conservation. Gomi no Yōsei (lit. "Garbage Fairy") appeared in a ...
Upcoming Gintama Episode Features Gender-Swapped Characters
The 275th episode of Gintama features some characters undergoing an interesting change on June 10. The series' main cast is getting gender-swapped. Protagonist Gintoki Sakata and members of his freelancing Yorozuya group will see major changes in their appearances. Gintoki, for example, has been renamed "Ginko Sakata" while an alternate version of Isao Kondō can be seen through Goriko Kondō. While...
Lego Builder Takes Kaneda's Bike to the Next Level
1,091-piece model is remote controlled for cruising
― Sariel's LEGO® Technic Den is a YouTube channel dedicated to creating amazing LEGO models. Sariel, with some assistance from LEGO aficionados the Arvo Brothers' detailed book and stickers, created a remote control version of Kaneda's bike from Akira. The entire bike is 36.8cm (about 14.5 inches). Due to the model's size, Sariel used two PF M motor...
One Piece Creator's VIP Party Has Star-Studded Guest List
One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda decided to cut loose from his usual grueling work schedule and throw a house party with 100 of his closest (and famous) friends last weekend. The party looks like a One Piece fan's dream with many of the series' cast members in attendance. The star-studded guest list included Mayumi Tanaka (Monkey D. Luffy), Kotono Mitsuishi (Boa Hancock, Sailor Moon), Tohru Furuya (...
Love Live! Mobile Game Fest Draws 40,000 Attendees
This past weekend saw a major turn-out for a special Love Live! event. The special Love Live! School Idol Festival Thanksgiving Festival 2015 event drew over 40,000 fans across the two days. This storm of people came out to celebrate the many achievements that the mobile rhythm game, Love Live! School Idol Festival has made in the past two years of its release, having reached over 10 million user...
RWBY Japanese Dub Cast Includes Saori Hayami, Yōko Hikasa, More
The July issue of Kadokawa's Newtype magazine announced the Japanese dub cast of Rooster Teeth's anime-style RWBY web series on Wednesday. The web series, which follows four girls with unique weapons and powers who are training to hunt supernatural "Creatures of Grimm," was licensed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Japan for distribution and merchandising in Japan last year. The series streamed ...
Pokémon Art Academy Competition Announces Winners
Organizers of the Pokémon Art Academy competition announced six winners on Monday. The contest, which asked competitors to draw their favorite Pokémon and a cosplaying Pikachu, used the Pokémon Art Academy drawing game for the 3DS and 2DS. The "Dress-Up Pikachu" winners are: by Xime by Ashley by Me! The "Favorite Pokémon" winners are: Primal Kyogre by Mireil Tangrowth by Gosha Chespin by Gabi The...
South Korea's Transforming, Bi-Pedal Robot Wins DARPA Contest
International teams of robotic engineers descended on Pomona, California last weekend to compete in the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) annual robotics contest. A total of 25 robots from Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, China, South Korea, and the United States attempted to complete a series of trials to find out which could best assist during disa...
Sanrio Stores Heading to U.S. Universal Studios Theme Parks
Sanrio's Hello Kitty and her crew of cute mascots are heading to Hollywood and Orlando for their first official theme park collaboration. Universal Studios theme parks will open Sanrio-dedicated shops with exclusive merchandise featuring the likes of Chococat, My Melody, Badtz-Maru, Purin, and Keroppi. Character sweets will also be sold. The shops will open later this year. Hello Kitty already has...
Japan NEET Population Sees a Decrease for 2nd Year
The NEETs of Japan are continuing to shrink in number. As of 2015, the population of NEETs has gone down by 30,000 and now total about 560,000, according to a recent government cabinet meeting. This marks the second consecutive annual decrease among the number of NEETs in Japan. Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications estimated the number was near 630,000 in December 2012, with wo...
41st Single AKB48 Senbatsu Election Results Are In
The votes have been counted up for the 41st Single AKB48 Senbatsu Election. The members of the famous idol group with the highest amounts of votes will participate in the recording of the upcoming 41st single. The group member with the most votes is Rino Sashihara, who last topped the election back in 2013. As the top-voted in the general election, Sashihara will represent the other members as th...
My Hero Academia's Horikoshi, Other Japanese Artists Tweet their Splatoon Art
The recent popular Wii U shooting game Splatoon is being whimsically portrayed in pieces of art created by various Japanese artists. Among them is Shonen Jump manga artist of My Hero Academia, Kohei Horikoshi. スプラトゥーン、スタッフさんと楽しんでいます。 pic.twitter.com/hVxS3eLChP— 堀越耕平 (@horikoshiko) June 5, 2015 "Having fun in Splatoon with the staff." In a recent Tweet, Horikoshi posted some art depicting the most ...
Professional Kickboxer Will Give Clients a Literal Kick of Motivation
Professional kickboxer and model Hitomi Nogata is looking to boost her internet fame by offering a literal kick in the pants to anyone willing, for absolutely free. Willing participants have their "kick ass" videos uploaded to Nogata's YouTube channel. So far, at least a dozen people have signed up. One participant was Akira Muramoto, a 22-year-old representative of a Tokyo venture company. He com...
Discover Your Anime Birthday Twin With a Handy Website
If you've ever flipped through a manga, you'll find character profiles tucked between chapters that reveal everything you wanted to know about the series' stars, like favorite foods, height, strengths and weaknesses, and of course birthdays. This can be fun to find out, especially if you're one of the people born on a not so fortuitous day, like April 1 or December 24-25. Commiserating with Cardca...
Hello Kitty's Next Partner Is Bandai Namco's Tales of Game Franchise
Art with Xillia's Milla teased, with more to come; August exhibit to sell goods
― Bandai Namco Enterainment announced at Sunday's "Tales of Festival 2015" that its Tales of game franchise is the latest one to link up with Hello Kitty. The event unveiled an illustration of Tales of Xillia's Milla with Sanrio's feline icon, and collaborations with other Tales of characters will debut later. The "Tales...
Top 10 Food Wars! Characters Revealed
Let us know your favorite character in our poll!
― From April 3 to May 6, Weekly Shōnen Jump conducted a readers' poll to determine the top 10 characters in Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma competitive cooking manga and anime series. The results will be announced in their latest issue on Monday. The confident and skilled protagonist, Yukihira Sōma, has triumphed, with a decisive lead over the runners-up,...
Solve Two Psycho-Pass Mysteries in Public Mystery Games
Prevent a terrorist bomb or recover stolen Dominators!
― Two different mystery games will be held in Osaka and Nagoya based on the hit anime series Psycho-Pass and Psycho-Pass 2. In the Osaka game, the Public Safety Bureau must race to prevent a forthcoming terrorist attack at a shopping mall, while in Nagoya, the Enforcers must retrieve their stolen Dominators. In both, players assume the role of a ...
Aya Uchida's 'Blooming!' Track Gets Music Video Preview
Singer and voice actress Aya Uchida is releasing her second solo album, "Blooming!" on July 22. The 11-track album comes in three versions, bundling a music video Blu-ray or DVD, or as a stand-alone CD. Uchida debuted a music video preview for the album's title song on Thursday. Fans may be familiar with Uchida's work as the voice of Love Live's Kotori Minami and Yuruyuri's Kaede Furutani. She's a...
Nana Mizuki Teaches Us the Proper Way to Eat Eel
Also: three food recommendations
― Nana Mizuki (Hinata in Naruto, Fate in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, Cure Blossom in Heartcatch Precure!) is now the "image girl" (celebrity spokeswoman) for Nakau, a Japanese restaurant chain specializing in donburi (rice bowls) and noodles. A new commercial featuring Mizuki in a kimono advertises Nakau's eel set meal, Unamabushi, and explains that there are three p...
Chūnichi Dragons Baseball Team Collaborates with Ace of Diamond
Voice actor discussion, special screening and merchandise
― The Chūnichi Dragons, a Japanese baseball team based in Nagoya, is holding a crossover event on August 9 with the baseball manga/anime Ace of Diamond. Voice actors Ryota Ohsaka (Eijun), Takahiro Sakurai (Kazuya) and Hiro Shimono (Norifumi) will have a discussion on the field at Nagoya Dome, the Dragons' stadium, followed by a special screen...
Jun Fukuyama Plays Sports with Other Voice Actors in New TV Show
First episode will feature basketball with Kuroko's Basketball veterans
― Veteran voice actor Jun Fukuyama (Makoto in Kuroko's Basketball, Lelouch in Code Geass) loves playing sports (and watching them too). But sadly, the life of a voice actor isn't exactly conducive to staying in shape. As he writes on his official website, "Day in and day out, I'm cooped up in a studio." What's a restless voice ac...
Sound! Euphonium Songs Now Available for Pianists
Yamaha publishes piano versions of three songs
― Pianists inspired to sit in front of the keyboard again after watching Sound! Euphonium are now in luck. Yamaha Music Media is publishing three songs from the anime — "DREAM SOLISTER" (the opening theme), "Tutti!" (the ending theme), and a piano melody, "Hajimari no Senritsu" ("Melody of Beginning") — as a piano score. The pieces are all grad...
T.M. Revolution to Hold Men-Only Concert in Okinawa in August
T.M.Revolution, a J-pop singer who often contributes theme songs to anime (Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings 2's "Sword Summit," Soul Eater's "resonance," Rurouni Kenshin's "Heart of Sword - Yoake Mae"), will perform a men-only concert at Namura Hall in Naha, Okinawa, at 5:30 PM on August 30. He added the concert upon fan request. T.M.Revolution has held exclusively male concerts before, but this is h...
Maryland Governor Seeks Federal Funding After Riding Japan's Maglev Train
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan took a trip to Yamanashi to try out Japan's record-breaking Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) bullet train. Travelling with him were executives from the Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail LLC (BWRR), who, after enjoying a 27-mile-long ride, headed back to Baltimore with the intention of bringing the technology stateside. "There is no question that this is the future of transp...
Studio ARMS Also Looking for Production Assistant, Lists 145,000 Yen Monthly Salary
Anime lovers, animation studio ARMS also has an entry level production assistant opening for anyone willing to work for 145,000 yen (about US$1,150) a month. Production assistants will work closely with directors and producers to meet production deadlines. The job listing states that those starting as production assistants get acquainted with the entire process of creating anime and could move up ...
Pokémon Pop-Up Boutique Opens in L.A. for 1 Month
Los Angeles Pokémon fans can get their hands on some exclusive merchandise starting this Saturday. A pop-up boutique is opening in the Japan LA Pop Culture Shop with exclusive designs by Omocat, Onch Movement, and Japan LA Pop Culture. A celebration will be held tomorrow from 6–10 p.m. to mark the shop's opening and will include celebrity DJ Amy Pham, character photo opportunities, and nail artist...
Fox's Animation Domination Spoofs Evangelion With Michael Bay Version
Fox's Animation Domination High-Def took viewer's long held complaints of Shinji's reluctance to pilot Unit 01 and turned it on its head. The video re-imagines Neon Genesis Evangelion helmed by big-budget action film director Michael Bay. Long gone is the awkward teenager and in his stead is a stereotypical sex-craving, ultra-confident action hero. Note: Video contains strong language and may not ...
Kadokawa Envisions 'Cool Japan' Headquarters in Saitama
The monolithic publisher Kadokawa Shoten is envisioning an all-encompassing home for The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "Cool Japan" initiative on a nine acre plot in Tokorozawa, Saitama. The complex would take over a former sewage treatment plant and draw foreign visitors to the often neglected Saitama area. Dubbed the "Cool Japan Forest Vision" thanks to the site's lush greenery, Kadokaw...
Sega Promotes Alien: Isolation Game With Saga City's Creepy Eel Goby
Swiss artist H. R. Giger designed an iconic monster when he penned what became the fearsome antagonist of Ridley Scott's Alien horror films. The alien's design was unlike anything on the screen when it debuted in 1979, with three terrifying forms including the snake-like Chestburster. Nature, however, is always carrying out its own horror movie and the creepiest scenes are underwater. Odontamblyop...
Wacom & Manga University Team Create 'How to Draw Manga' Instructional Video Series
The American branch of Wacom, a company that makes digital drawing tablets, has teamed up with mangaka Mosoko Miyatsuki (Ani ga Rival!) and publisher Manga University to create a series of "How to Draw Manga" instructional videos. In the first video, Miyatsuki teaches viewers how to draw a character with a happy expression using a Wacom Intuos Manga Pen Tablet. Wacom's Japanese branch has released...
Swords-as-Girls Tenka Hyakken Franchise Follows in Tōken Ranbu's Path
Further details have been disclosed of a new franchise set to run in Dengeki G's magazine. Tenka Hyakken ("Abundant Heaven, Hundred Swords") will feature famous swords anthropomorphized as girls. According to the plot outline, these sword maidens (called the "Mitsurugi") pledged to live peaceful lives after the era of warfare, but are now returning to battle an undisclosed foe during an alternate ...
One Piece Ship to Anchor at Japanese Theme Park
Cruise, stage show offered
― Ahoy, landlubbers! The Thousand Sunny, the preferred vessel of the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece, is paying a call at the port of Laguna Ten Bosch, a theme park in Gamagori, southeast of Nagoya. Interested fans are invited to board the ship for a few hours to partake in a cruise. They will be treated to a stage show, music and a toast to the Straw Hat crew. Commemorative...
Dragon Ball Manga Editor: Series Should Have Ended After Frieza
Dragon Ball Super will premiere in Japan in about a month as the first new Dragon Ball television series since Dragon Ball GT debuted in 1996. Franchise fans are understandably excited to see their Super Saiyan heroes on their televisions again. Comedian Kendo Kobayashi held an interview for Livedoor News with Akira Toriyama's previous editor at Shonen Jump and current head of Shueisha, Kazuhiko T...
Pony Canyon Books to Novelize Megurine Luka Vocaloid Song
Pony Canyon Books (Ponycan Books) have collaborated with Japanese music publisher Exit Tunes to release a new light novel based on a 2009 Vocaloid single. This novel is inspired by and named after the song "Hoshikuzu Utopia" which was performed by Vocaloid 2 character Megurine Luka, who made her first appearance back in 2009. It was written by novelist Kaori Inoue with supervision by otetsu, the ...
Gear Up for Golf with New Gundam Equipment
The Premium Bandai online shop has recently announced interesting new products for anyone planning to hit the golf green this summer. Inspired by the popular Mobile Suit Gundam giant robot franchise, the shop is now selling golf caddy bags modeled after various mechs from its different shows. Four different bags of two differing varieties are up for grabs. The caddy bag comes in both white and gol...
Optical Camo Motoko GitS Figure Disappears Before Your Eyes
Union Creative is slated to release a new statue of Ghost in the Shell's Motoko Kusanagi in mid-camouflage. The statue measures 250mm (about 9.8in) high and is painted until approximately the knee, where the figure becomes see-through. The figure will ship in late September and retails for 11,880 yen (about US$96). The optical camo version is only available online at Union Creative's shop. A full...
Seraph of the End Cosplayers Take Tokyo by Storm
Cosplayers portrayed Ferid Bathory (left), Crowley Eusford (center), and Mikaela Hyakuya (right) A weekly special event launched on May 17 in Tokyo dubbed the "Vampire Attack." Inspired by the Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign anime, this event followed three cosplay models portraying characters from the show and traveling across the city. The event occurred every Sunday for three weeks, ending on...
Japanese Art Site pixiv Adds Voice-Over App for Aspiring Seiyū
The Japanese art website pixiv allows amateur and professional users alike to create an account and share their artistry with the world. The site is expanding beyond visual art and is offering a voice-recording option. The feature will allow aspiring voice actors to collaborate with artists to create VOMIC-like works, or artists can dub over their own art. Pixiv released its Pixvoice app for iPhon...
Fans Debate Over Omitted Scene from Recent JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode
The anime adaptation of the wildly-popular JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc recently saw the full-blown return of one of Japanese fiction's most infamous characters, DIO, brandishing his trademark evil personality and terrifying Stand powers. While this final chapter of the world-renowned third part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has been highly anticipated, some fans have chim...
New 'Superhuman Sports' Research Group Looking to Bring Dragon Ball to Life
A recently formed group manned by researchers, designers, and artists are looking to meld sports with the augmented reality, power suits, and robotic enhancement devices to bring the worlds of Dragon Ball and Harry Potter to life. The Superhuman Sports Society (S3) plans to see the fruits of their imagination take form as early as October 10 in Tokyo. S3 is organizing a superhuman sports festival,...
Diomedéa Production Assistant Opening Lists 1,800,000 Yen Salary
The Japanese animation studio Diomedéa currently has a position open for a new production assistant, offering a 1,800,000 yen yearly salary, which equates to roughly US$14,500 a year. The position also offers flexible working hours. The selected candidate's wage will also be dependent on their experience. The job is being offered for full-time and is open to those currently working as well as 2016...
Twitter Users Discuss the 'Absolute Area' of the Ponytail
Net users in Japan are currently chiming in on a relatively new and strange trope for fictional female characters: the "Absolute Area" of the ponytail hairstyle. Image from TV Tropes The Absolute Area, or "Zettai Ryouiki", is a name for the area of bare skin between a girl's skirt and the stockings or socks she wears with them; the amount of skin that can be seen in between these article of cloth...
Twitter User Creates Hestia's Knife from Danmachi
Twitter user Nachtgreif recreated Bell Cranel's powerful knife forged by Hephaestus from Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Nachtgreif, who works as an Anisong DJ, noted that since he isn't Bell, he had to use a little help to make the plastic knife glow. 俺はベルくんではないので、こうやって光らせます #danmachi pic.twitter.com/anzEvXSdnb— WAN Hohenheim (@Nachtgreif) May 30, 2015 しまっちゃうよー #danmachi pic.twi...
Sailor Moon Classic Scenes Used in Miracle Romance Eyeliner Commercial
Though arriving a few months later than promised, Premium Bandai now has for sale a brand new addition to the Sailor Moon-inspired Miracle Romance makeup line. The company debuted a commercial featuring scenes from Sailor Moon Classic and Sailor Moon R to promote the eyeliner. Announced back in February, The Moon Stick Liquid Eyeliner, created by Creer Beaute, is now available on the online Premiu...
Naruto, Yakitate Japan Singer TiA Moves onto Next Round in Brooklyn 'X' Factor
Japanese pop-singer Tia is competing in a singing competition in New York tonight. Tia qualified for the final round of the competition after winning the Cheryl Pepsii Award for her performance of Whitney Houston's rendition of "I Will Always Love You" at the Apollo Theater. 音楽の殿堂 アポロシアターアマチュアナイトに出場してきました。I performed at Apollo Theater .I got second place and advanced to next round . Show off is Se...
Love Live! Rin's Acecook Ramen Commercial Streams
After much preparation and pushing back its midnight launch due to safety concerns, Acecook's Love Live! ramen is now on sale. The company "hired" μ's member, the cheerful and athletic Rin Hoshizora, to represent the brand. In her commercial, Rin introduces the "I Love Onion Pork Shoyu Ramen" and "I Love Leek and Spicy Pork Ramen" flavors and the special display cards featuring the anime's cast bu...
Ayuru Ōhashi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Hibiku Yamamura Leave Toritori Talent Agency
Company merged with Trias Pro to become Power Rise
― Voice actresses Ayuru Ōhashi (pictured right), Atsumi Tanezaki, and Hibiku Yamamura each announced separately that they are leaving the Toritori Talent Agency. The announcements come at the same time as Toritori merging with the Trias Pro talent agency. The new company changed its name to Power Rise. Ōhashi announced she will go freelance. Tanezaki...
Neko Atsume Casual Cat Game Gets Web Manga
The recent popular entertainment app is brought to new territory in the form of cute little short comics, as announced on Twitter. 大人気アプリ『ねこあつめ』がデンシバーズhttp://t.co/2eo9V4qyvEにてマンガ化!! その名も『金言ねこあつめ』(著者:つきみゆい、監修:Hit-Point)ヽ(•̀ω•́ )ゝ pic.twitter.com/pRwuojqzmi— デンシバーズ編集部 (@denshi_birz) May 29, 2015 Neko Atsume, the casual game in which players can live out a "crazy cat person" fantasy by setting out to...
Nichijō's Keiichi Arawi Designs Robot Garage Kit Packaging
3D CGI modeler Kazushi Kobayashi (Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, Reideen) is also the sculptor behind Sentinel's MechatroWeGo toy robots. The models are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and cost 2,200 yen (about US$18), making them affordable to collect. You can also find them available for import for US$38.99. The series of garage kits and figures are getting a boost through a ...
Godzilla's Nuclear Origins Glossed Over in PlayStation Game
Godzilla's origins as a monster born from nuclear radiation and atomic bomb testing is well known. Shunsuke Fujita, the producer of the Godzilla PlayStation 3 and PS4 action game even admits "radiation is something that can never be disassociated with Godzilla." However, this bit of Godzilla's history is mysteriously absent from Fujita's game and he and the rest of the staff are mum as to why. The...
Tiny Pikachu Figures Makes For the Perfect Drink Companion
The makers of Cup no Fuchico, the popular series of perch-on-cup drink companions, is collaborating with Pokemon's Pikachu, offering a line of PUTITTO figures that includes playful poses. There are six variants in total, including a secret pose. Each blind box figure will sell for 300 yen and will launch at the end of this month. Kitan Club has previously collaborated with Disney, Kantai Collectio...
Eevee Evolutions Captured in Silver & Gold Necklaces
The new wave of Eevee merchandise continues with a series of necklaces. There are nine necklaces for each of the evolutions represented on a silver, gold, or rose gold pendant with a semi-precious or precious stone. The price varies depending on which metal the buyer chooses. The jewelry is being made in a collaboration with K Uno. Options include: Eevee with a diamond. The diamond was chosen for ...
L.A. Area's Gallery Nucleus Exhibits Hatsune Miku
The Gallery Nucleus in the Los Angeles suburb of Alhambra announced that it will be displaying an art in an exhibition focusing on virtual idol Hatsune Miku from July 2-19. The exhibit is titled "Hatsune Miku Dreams of Electric Sheep" in reference to Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? novel from which Blade Runner was based. The exhibit is a collaboration between the gallery and...
Oodles of Love Live! Noodles Stocked at Akihabara Animate
Distribution rescheduled over safety concerns
― To promote the upcoming Love Live! movie, the Akihabara branch of Animate, a major anime goods retailer, is selling cup ramen featuring the Rin. It comes in two flavors, onion and leek. It can be bought individually for 200 yen ($1.61) or in 12-cup boxes for 2,400 yen ($19.40). The boxes come with a free clear file featuring Rin holding a steaming bowl ...
Danmachi Dōjinshi Event Has Disappointing Turn Out
Is Danmachi's popularity hanging by a string?
― On June 14, a dōjinshi event dedicated exclusively to the popular light novel and anime series Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? ("Danmachi" for short), Dungeon Kumikyoku, will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center in Hamamatsu Town. Dungeon Kumikyoku will have room for a hundred dōjin circles and a large cosplay spac...
Hello Kitty Cosplays Love Live! Girls
Various character goods available
― To celebrate the upcoming Love Live! movie, Hello Kitty is donning the costumes of Love Live!'s cast. These ultra-cute versions of the μ's girls will appear on clear files (350 yen/$2.83)... ... ballpoint pens (450 yen/$3.63)... ... towelettes (750 yen/$6.05)... ... plushies (which come in two varieties, one selling at 1,500 yen/$12.11 and the other, bigger version...
Hanshin Tigers Baseball Team Gets Special Manga Issue
Rumiko Takahashi among manga artists included
― To celebrate the 80th anniversary of Nishinomiya's storied baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers, Big Comic Original is printing a special issue devoted entirely to them. It will include manga about the Tigers from manga artists who count themselves in the "Tiger Faction"; a double-sided pin-up featuring Urusei Yatsura's Lum and AKB48 singer Sayaka Yamamoto...
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