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Idolish 7 Characters Get First Figures by Tamashii Nations
Rival group Trigger gets manga by Arina Tanemura; new in-game idols introduced
― Two of the idols from the Idolish 7 "big media-mix project" are getting figures as part of Tamashii Nation's Figuarts Zero line. Pre-orders opened on Friday for the Riku Nanase and Sogo Ohsaka figures. Both of the characters' poses are based on original key art for the franchise. Each figure costs 5,400 yen (US$47). Rik...
Miyavi, Yoshiki Turn Out for KISS x Ukiyo-e Project Debut in West Hollywood
American rock group KISS debuted its commemorative ukiyo-e art prints at the Morrison Hotel Gallery at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood over the weekend. The prints show the band members as samurai, oni, and with Momoiro Clover Z. The premiere also drew star-studded attendees, including X Japan leader Yoshiki and Japanese rock star Miyavi. Miyavi, although primarily a singer and guitari...
1 In 10 Emotional Viewers "Cried" At Pokémon Super Bowl 50 Advert
The Pokémon franchise aired a nostalgia-inducing commercial for its 20th anniversary during the Super Bowl football game on February 7. The minute-long video has since been viewed more than 22 million times on YouTube and the shorter, 30-second ad that aired on TV has garnered its own 825,000 views. Fans, charmed by the "Train On" message or just happy to see Gyarados on their TVs, took to Twitter...
Prince of Tennis Valentine's Chocolates Flood Konomi's Office
Perhaps against better judgment, the editors of Jump Square magazine reinstated the annual Prince of Tennis character popularity contest. Readers took up the helm again, sending boxes upon boxes of chocolates to Jump Square for their favorite Prince of Tennis character. Manga creator Takeshi Konomi snapped a picture of his flooded office on February 12 and posted it on Twitter on Tuesday. The staf...
Mikasa Voice Actress Plays More of Koei Tecmo's Attack on Titan Game
KOEI Tecmo posted the second video showing Attack on Titan's Mikasa voice actress Yui Ishikawa playing the company's Attack on Titan game on Wednesday. Yui Ishikawa and KOEI Tecmo's producer Hisashi Koinuma celebrated Mikasa's birthday with the first video last week. Koei Tecmo Games' Omega Force subsidiary (Warriors/Musou franchise) is developing the game for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PS ...
Love Live! Girls Get Minty Fresh in Newly Animated Chewing Gum Ad
Maki Nishikino voted by fans as Kissmint campaign girl
― Love Live! fans had a chance to vote for which μ's idol member will be the campaign girl for Glico's Watering Kissmint chewing gum last year, and they chose Maki Nishikino. To celebrate, Glico posted a newly animated television commercial featuring Maki and the μ's tune "Angelic Angel": Fans voted after buying one of 16 different gum variants (...
Titans Aim to Take Over Shinjuku Station With Giant Scratch-Off Poster
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia put up a giant scratch off poster of 50 fearsome Titans in Shinjuku Station on Monday. The poster is part of the "Wall Shinjuku Recapture Strategy" campaign to promote KOEI Tecmo's Attack on Titan game for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PS Vita. The game will hit store shelves in Japan on February 18. The poster measures 12 meters in length and is 2.4 mete...
The Boy and The Beast Promotes Shibuya Tourism With Location Map
To celebrate the home video release of Mamoru Hosoda's The Boy and The Beast film on February 24, the Shibuya tourism office will distribute "The Boy and The Beast × Shibuya Location" maps showing places in Shibuya that appeared in the film. In addition, the Studio Chizu Shop in the Loft Yokohama store opened on Monday. The store will give out a limited number of The Boy and The Beast clear files ...
New Manga Anthology Mixes Boys-Love and Zombies
A new boys-love manga anthology from Enterbrain is combining romance and and the very undead. The collection is titled B's-LOVEY Anthology: BL of the Dead. The listing describes the works as a collection of the "ultimate love stories" taking place in a world of zombies where a lover is "the only sustenance I have to survive this world." The volume includes stories by Homerun Ken, Hidesato Kimura, ...
Space Brothers Creator Introduces 3D Printer Studio, Workplace in French TV Program
The French television program toco toco began streaming its interview with Space Brothers manga creator Chūya Koyama on Sunday. In video, Koyama takes viewers to FabCafe Tokyo in Shibuya, a venue that specializes 3D printing. Visitors can watch their creations come to life using equipment at FabCafes in Japan, France, Thailand, and Taiwan. After exploring the FabCafe, Koyama introduces his studio ...
Oreimo's Kirino Drums Up Voters for Japan Election
Recruited by Ministry of Internal Affairs to spread the word
― Last year the voting age in Japanese elections was lowered from 20 to 18. To help get out the word and combat widespread voter apathy among the young, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has launched a campaign called "18-sai Senkyo" (The 18-Year-Old Election) to drum up voter turnout among 18- and 19-year-olds for this su...
Enjoy Craft Beer and Burly Men at Macho Bar in Tokyo
Get picked up while quaffing regional brews
― Macho 29, a group of muscle-bound men fond of showing off their impressive biceps, is opening a special Macho Craft Beer Bar for one day in Tokyo. The bar pairs well-crafted muscles with craft beer, both of which hail from different parts of Japan. Hyōgo Prefecture (where Kobe is located) is represented by Koala Koarashi and Rokko Beer, a fruity beer that...
Valentine's Day Greetings — Anime Style 2016
KanColle, Love Live! Sunshine!!, Fate/stay night, and more
― Today is Valentine's Day, that special time of year when couples go the extra mile for a romantic evening together and when singles go the extra mile to stop being single. It's celebrated in Japan too, although there it is especially centered around women giving chocolates to men they associate with — although romantic activities are p...
Young Black Jack's Yūichirō Umehara Tours Tezuka Museum
Tries out coloring, animation
― Yūichirō Umehara, who plays Kuroo Hazama (Black Jack) in Young Black Jack, toured the Tezuka Osamu Manga Museum in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, which honors the manga artist Osamu Tezuka, the original creator of Black Jack, among other famous early anime and manga. The museum is currently holding a special exhibit on Young Black Jack called Hazama Kuroo no Roots wo Sa...
Persona 3's Protagonist Sports Sony Audio Products in Anime Promo Ad
Campaign for Sony high-res audio products launches on March 1
― Makoto Yūki, the name of the Persona 3 protagonist in the four-part Persona 3 anime film project, is sporting a pair of Sony headphones as well as a Sony Walkman in a new animated commercial titled "Persona 3 The Movie meets 'Walkman'." The commercial features Yumi Kawamura's song "Boku no Akashi" (My Proof), which serves as an insert so...
Mamoru Miyano Learned to Drive Thanks to Initial D
Trilogy's last film opened last weekend
― Shin Gekijō-ban Initial D Legend 3 -Mugen-, the last film in the new Initial D trilogy, premiered on February 6. Mamoru Miyano, who plays the main character, Takumi Fujiwara, attended a screening at the Shinjuku Piccadilly theater in Tokyo, along with Daisuke Ono (Ryōsuke Takahashi), Yūichi Nakamura (Keisuke Takahashi), Minoru Shiraishi (Itsuki Takeuchi), Tom...
Ultraman's Mom Ends Stint as Fashion Model
Final fan event to be held on Valentine's Day
― Ultraman Taro's mom, Mother of Ultra, has been a fashion model for AMU Plaza Hakata, a shopping center in Fukuoka, since 2014. She's been called "history's biggest model ever" and has become an unlikely hit in Fukuoka. Yet on January 25, she announced that she is resigning from her position. To give her fans a touching farewell, Mother of Ultra will hol...
Auditions Open to Be GACKT's Leading Lady in Upcoming Film
"Wild, beautiful woman" sought
― The Japanese singer and actor Gackt will play the leading role in an upcoming film, Kāranukan. It will be set in his native Ryūkyū Islands. Gackt's character, Hikaru Ōyama, is a photographer graced with "beauty, knowledge and strength" on a photo shoot in the Yaeyama Islands far to the south of mainland Japan. One day, a sunbeam blinds him while he's taking a model's ...
Smartphone Game Dekamusu Pits Hero Against Giant Girls
All-female country overrun by mysterious marauding maidens
― A recent smartphone game, Dekamusu, gives the old kaijū (giant monster) genre a unique (and raunchy) spin. Its name means "Giant Girls," and that's what the monsters are: skyscraper-sized girls on a rampage. The game is set in the fictional all-female country of Amazones. Its main exports are high-quality perfume and cosmetics, and it attra...
Amazon Opens Dragon Quest Online Store
Amazon Japan has opened an online store for fans of Dragon Quest. The shop makes hunting down those hard-to-find 30th anniversary items just a little bit easier. Franchise fans can look by character type from Slimes to vinyl characters or product type. The store carries trading cards, nano block sets, candy, cosplay, puzzles and home goods. Some of the current best sellers are a trick treasure ch...
Japanese Anime Fans Pick Their Ideal Marriage Partner
Anime fans in Japan have love on the brain, thanks in part to this weekend's holiday. Charapedia asked its readers which anime or manga character they'd most like to tie the knot with and live together happily ever after. What kind of qualities did voters look for in a husband or wife? Female characters with a gentle disposition or traditional feminine qualities ranked highly. Male characters with...
Saint Seiya Fan in Peru Gets Guinness World Record For Largest Collection
The Guinness Book of World Records awarded Jorge Luis Vásquez Flores of Peru with a certificate recognizing him as the owner of the world's largest Saint Seiya memorabilia collection last month. Vásquez began collecting items related to his favorite television anime over 20 years ago and has amassed a collection of 6,688 items from action figures to magnets. Vásquez's collection is nearly twice th...
Sailor Moon's Cosmic Heart Compact Joins Proplica Toy Line
Sailor Moon's Cosmic Heart Compact from Sailor Moon S is getting the high-end Proplica treatment from Bandai. Sailor Moon fans can now practice yelling "Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up!" with the sixth item in the toy line. The item is only available for pre-order for a few more weeks before Bandai ships the items in May. Each compact is 7,020 yen (US$62) and runs on three batteries to power the LED l...
Mr. Osomatsu Inspires Live-Action Gay Porn Parody
The current anime hit, Mr. Osomatsu, won appreciation not just for its wacky comedy antics, but for the plethora of possibilities for shipping among its cast of six young men. Accordingly, DMM, a Japanese video website, is taking preorders for a gay pornographic parody of the series and its most popular shipping (in Japan), Ichimatsu and Karamatsu. The porn, called IchiKara Hajimeyō! ("Let's Start...
Horror Fan Recreates Junji Ito Characters Using Make-Up With Creepy Results
Horror manga artist Junji Ito is the brain behind the terrifying tales in Fragments of Horror, Gyo, Uzumaki and Tomie. His art style is distinctive for its sunken eyes and mastering the creepy smirk. Twitter user @mamakiteru has brought the horrifying creations to life one at a time through the clever use of make-up. Yōkai Kyōshitsu 伊藤潤二先生作品「溶解教室」のワンシーンを一人二役しました♪♪ pic.twitter.com/bo5TXugbRG— いくら ...
Columbia Records Reveals Dragon Ball 30th Anniversary CD Set's Track Listing
Columbia Records is releasing a three disc CD and DVD set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Dragon Ball anime's television premiere. The company listed the accompanying DVD's line-up but the actual songs on the two disc set were still a mystery. Columbia Records updated with all 38 tracks. Here's what you'll find on the set. Disc 1 "Makafushigi Adventure!" by Hiroki Takahashi (Dragon Ball ...
Register Your Marriage With The Merry Pirates of One Piece
The cast of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon have appeared on several marriage registration designs but there's no reason other franchises shouldn't get in on the martial bliss. Konin Todoke, the company behind the Sailor Moon registration forms, are introducing the cast of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece series for couples. A total of 10 designs are available. One features the Straw Hat pirates while the ot...
Ghost in the Shell Realize Project Sets Sights on Half-Size Tachikoma
The Ghost in the Shell Realize Project launched in 2014 with the goal to bring the sci-fi tech from Masamune Shirow's franchise into the real world. Since its launch, the project has introduced a 3D model of Motoko Kusanagi, superhuman sports, optical camouflage, virtual reality, and humanoid robots. One group is pushing the robot angle by working on a functioning, half-size Tachikoma. Developers ...
Hideo Kojima Counts Down the Top 10 Films of 2015
Video game director Hideo Kojima launched the first episode of his "Hideo Tube" video series on Thursday. The pilot episode counts down his picks for the top 10 films of 2015 with guest and novelist Kenji Yano. Both men saw their fair share of films last ear, with Yano admitting to going to the cinema at least 100 times (although 11 were just to watch Mad Max: Fury Road). Kojima admits he lost cou...
Studio Seeks US$10,000 for Fatal Fury Live-Action Fan Film
Time Window Studio is hoping to garner financial favor to the tune of US$10,000 for its film Embers, a fan film based on SNK's fighting game franchise Fatal Fury. The campaign notes that the film will be a live-action version of the Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle anime TV special. The project does not appear to be endorsed by SNK. The project has a total of five to eight minutes shot with green scre...
Japanese Artists Play 'Picture Telephone' for PiTaPa Ad
The game of "telephone" is simple. A group of players sit in a line, the first whispering a sentence into the next player's ear. Each player does the same and the end result is often something wildly different than what was said at the start. The company Surutto KANSAI took a new spin on this concept to promote its PiTaPa ticketing smart card system. The company met with artists, a total of 10, ha...
Mikasa Voice Actress Plays Koei Tecmo's Attack on Titan Game
Yui Ishikawa celebrates Mikaasa's birthday before PS4/PS3/Vita game's February 18 launch
― Koei Tecmo posted the first video showing Attack on Titan's Mikasa voice actress Yui Ishikawa playing the company's Attack on Titan game on Wednesday. At least one more video is teased with Ishikawa and Koei Tecmo's producer Hisashi Koinuma. As Ishikawa notes in the video, Wednesday, February 10 also happens to...
Hideo Kojima Will Launch YouTube Channel 'Hideo Tube'
Video game director Hideo Kojima has another project up his sleeve for when he isn't working on his new studio Kojima Productions or visiting his fellow creative friends J.J. Abrams and Avi Arad in California. Kojima is launching a YouTube program dubbed "Hideo Tube" tomorrow. Thanks for waiting, maybe tomorrow HIDEO TUBE "top 10 movies in 2015" will be up on YOU TUBE! Guest: Mr.Kenji Yano pic.twi...
Momoiro Clover Z & KISS Collaboration Get Ukiyo-e Art Prints
American rock group KISS and Japanese idol group Momoiro Clover Z joined forces last year on a new track "Yume no Ukiyo ni Saitemina." The song got a full animated and live-action music video with art by Sushio (Kill la Kill) and got a huge digital launch in 120 countries. Japan marked the event with an official postage stamp. This year the group is returning to Japan—in the form of traditional u...
Kana Hanazawa Sings 'Prius! Impossible Girls' Song
Toyota's "Prius! Impossible Girls" project released its first song "Shijō no Koe" (Test Drive Voices) produced by Oster Project with the Vocaloid GUMI late last month. The song is part of the company's overall campaign turning 40 car parts into girls. One of the parts, and arguably the lead, is the 2ZR-FXE engine voiced by Kana Hanazawa. The voice actress returned to the role to sing the engine gi...
Sailor Moon Gets 4th Round of Candy Compacts
The Sailor Moon candy compacts gashapon continue to be popular. Bandai has released three variations so far, covering all of Sailor Moon's compacts, Chibi Moon's compacts, the Silver Crystal, the Starry Music Box, and Luna-P. The latest round of the "Minaturely Tablet" line are special color versions of the Crystal Star compact to represent each of the original five Sailor Guardians. The theme is...
Get a Closer Look at Yukai Engineering's Singing, Dancing Hatsune Miku Nendoroid
At this year's WonderFest Winter, Yukai Engineering's iDoll Tokyo in partnership with Good Smile Company, debuted a Hatsune Miku figure that can sing, dance, and communicate. The Hatsune Miku by iDoll x Nendoroid was presented as a live exhibit that showcased the figure's abilities. Hatsune Miku utilizes 10 articulated joints to dance, react to questions, and assist users in conjunction with a sm...
Cardcaptor Sakura's 3rd Ending Theme Inspires SD Figures
The third ending theme to CLAMP and Madhouse's Cardcaptor Sakura anime series is inspiring three super-deformed figures. The song "Fruits Candy" shows Sakura, Kero, and Tomoyo making sweets together. The three figures recapture that with a tiny 5cm-high Sakura holding a fancy cake, Tomoyo holding a box of chocolates, and Kero looking ready to eat next to a giant chocolate heart. All three figures...
BPO Publishes Viewer Complaint About Man Catching Brother Masturbating in Anime
The Japanese Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO) watchdog group has recently published viewer complaints from January, one stemming from a masturbation scene from a late night anime program. According to the complaint, the scene featured a man teasing his brother after catching him masturbating. The parents stated that while the anime airs during a late night block, the ...
Mr. Osomatsu's 'Fapping in Progress' Sign Recreated as a Tissue Box Cover
The trend of raunchy tissue box covers continues with Mr. Osomatsu. This cover hearkens back to the series' 13th episode where Osomatsu makes a signboard that reads "Fapping in Progress" after accidentally walking in on his brother Choromatsu. The signboard is a visual reference to the common "Construction in Progress" signs used in Japan, although the bowing construction worker is replaced with ...
Goku Cosplayer Takes His Flying Nimbus to Taipei
Goku took his flying nimbus out to play in the streets of Taipei, avoiding traffic and delighting kids. YouTuber "YEKON1" constructed the cloud using an electric board and covering it fluffly yellow and white stuffing. The crew was inspired by a previous take on a similar concept. PrankvsPrank's Jesse rode through the streets of New York City on a "magic carpet" made using an electric skateboard. ...
Puzzle & Dragons Collaborating With BLEACH Soon
The characters of Tite Kubo's Bleach manga are ready to face some fantastical monsters in the Puzzle & Dragons mobile game. Gung Ho Online Entertainment announced on Monday that Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime, Uryu and more will appear in the game soon. The Puzzle & Dragons mobile game has previously collaborated with Crows x Worst Attack on Titan, Ghost in the Shell, DC Comic characters, Dragon Ball Z Ka...
Get the Skinny on GSC, Fate Series Figures from WonderFest
Toymakers and collectors came out to play at this year's Wonder Festival Winter event on Sunday at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. Below you'll find a selection of upcoming and current releases for the popular Fate/Stay Night franchise and Good Smile Company's upcoming releases. Fate series There was nary a booth didn't have a Saber figure or a character from the Fate/Grand Order role-playing game. Anip...
Mr. Osomatsu x Margaret Magazine Collaboration Announced
Hana Yori Dango creator draws Dōmyōji in Ichimatsu's sweatshirt
― A collaboration between the increasingly popular Mr. Osomatsu anime series and the shōjo manga magazine Margaret is in the works. This year's sixth issue of the magazine will include a special crossover when it's released on February 20. The magazine will bundle a special clear file and include crossover work by Saki Aikawa (Meikyū Rom...
Original Pokémon Soundtrack Issued on Limited Edition Pokéball Vinyl
The Pokémon Red & Blue video games' soundtrack are getting the vinyl treatment. Moonshake records has added every one of Junichi Masuda's original compositions for the game onto 500 red and white vinyl records that looks like a Pokéball. Additional tracks from the anime series are also included. The limited pressing is available at Turntable Labs until supplies run out for US$49.95. The Pokémon C...
Nestlé Reminds Candy Fans That Sake KitKats Are Not for Kids
Nestlé's KitKat chocolates debuted a new Japan-exclusive flavor this month: sake. The item was created to appeal to tourists and demand quickly had online shops stocking the snack for import around the world. The flavor includes actual sake powder, and unsurprisingly, the possible side effects that come with consuming alcohol. The packaging notes that the chocolates, with their 0.8% alcohol conten...
English-Language Naruto Yaoi Fanfiction Reworked into Japanese Drama CD
Setting modernized, but characters still recognizable
― Circle K Sunkus, a Japanese convenience store chain, is taking preorders for a yaoi drama CD called Yours for an Hour. What makes this particular CD noteworthy is its origins: an English-language fanfiction posted on FanFiction.net in 2010 by Hic iacet Mori (who is credited as the original author), also known as "Yours for an Hour." That story w...
Chihayafuru, Love Live!, Macross Delta Among Sculptures at 2016 Sapporo Snow Festival
It's deep in the middle of winter, and in Hokkaido, Japan, that means it's time for the Sapporo Snow Festival, that island's celebration of snow, ice, skiing, skating, and all things winter. It's most famous for its exhibition of snow sculptures, which frequently reference trending pop culture. This year does not disappoint, with several creations celebrating Japan's signature anime. The upcoming ...
Pack of Cute Guys Puts the "Gum" into "Shinsengumi"
Third incarnation of "Gum Boyfriends" project
― If you've ever developed romantic feelings for your chewing gum, then it's likely that you're a big fan of Gum Kare! (or Gum Boyfriends), a project by the food corporation Lotte that anthropomorphizes Japanese gum brands into cute boys. The project was launched in 2014 and includes six gum-based characters. The main character is an "extremely ordinary s...
New Chinyūki Theater Ad Warns Patrons Against Using Cell Phones
Japanese theater patrons this month may find themselves being admonished not to using cell phones during the movie from an unlikely source: Chinyūki. The ad features Tarō (Ken'chi Matsuyama) bickering with his companion, Genjō (Kana Kurashina), apparently very profanely. But it turns out Genjō's chain isn't the only one Tarō's yanking. The tagline promises "A truly BLEEPing live-action movie." Chi...
Japanese Anime Fans Pick Which Characters They Want to Get Valentines From
Wide spread, though K-ON! is popular
― Valentine's Day is approaching, and in Japan that means women must give chocolates to their male coworkers, colleagues, classmates or friends. But of course there's a romantic element to it still, and men daydream about getting fine chocolate from their secret crushes. The college student-oriented website My Navi Gakusei no Madoguchi polled 205 male college stud...
Learn How to Draw Character Designs with Kill la Kill's Syūichi Iseki
Course oriented towards aspiring animators
― In December 2015 and January 2016, animator Syūichi Iseki (Kill la Kill, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, The Mystic Archives of Dantalian) taught an online course on character design. That course is now available for purchase. The course is divided into four parts. Part 1 is an introduction and discusses the differences between character design for anim...
Aichi Prefecture to Build Major Convention Center at Nagoya Airport
Could it be home to Comiket in 2020?
― The 2020 Olympics has thrown the future of Comic Market (or Comiket), Japan's biggest dōjinshi convention, into doubt. Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe, Tokyo's biggest convention centers, have been earmarked to hold Olympics events. There is a scarcity of other suitable events spaces in the Tokyo area. A Comiket questionnaire recently asked dōjin circles whet...
Take a Closer Look at Pokémon's 20th Anniversary Nendoroids
The Pokémon Company International kicked off 2016 with a series of announcements to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pokémon Red & Blue. Included in that announcement were Nendoroids of the game's classic starters' evolutions and protagonist. The first of these Nendoroids are the characters Red, his rival Green, and Mew. They also come with a backpack and two Pokéball accessories. Both character...
Columbia Records Marks Dragon Ball's 30th Anniversary with CD Set
Dragon Ball anime series is in the middle of its 30th anniversary celebrations. V Jump published the Dragon Ball 30th Anniversary Super History Book, a look back at 30 years of one of Japan's most famous manga anime. Columbia Records is also celebrating with a three disc CD and DVD set. The track line up for the CD is still forthcoming, but Columbia did announce the seven videos included on the D...
New PreCure Illustration Collection Chronicles Heroines From Original to Latest
From Futari wa Pretty Cure in 2004 to this year's Mahō Tsukai Precure!, Toei's giant magical girl franchise has introduced 12 television series and even more tie-in films. An upcoming illustration collection will take fans through the timeline with 78 pages full of sketches, commentary, and artwork. Bonus posters are included in the back of the book. Futago Kamikita×All Precure Illustration Colle...
Cerevo Inc's Psycho-Pass Dominator Gets Release Date
Cerevo Inc. first introduced its impressive replica of The Dominator from Psycho-Pass last summer. Originally dubbed the Dominator Maxi, the highly-realistic prop includes lights, sounds from the anime series, and an expanding Eliminator mode. The Cerevo version goes above and beyond previous Dominators created by Bandai's Proplica line and Ichiban Kuji's release with a camera viewer and wireless...
Japanese University Tests Aspiring Students Using JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
"How many countries did the Joestar group pass through?
― It's college entrance exam season in Japan, and high school seniors are flipping through textbooks and study guides and crunching out math problems long into the night. At times like these, it's best to put down the manga and focus on your studies, right? Well, one university shows that a little understanding of manga can be educational too. ...
ERASED, Durarara!!, Dagashikashi Top Ranked for Winter 2016
We're four weeks into the Winter 2016 anime season. Japanese fans on Charapedia and Nico Nico Douga weighed in on their most anticipated shows in December, selecting Assassination Classroom and ERASED, respectively. Anime News Network readers also weighed in, selecting Assassination Classroom as the #1 choice, followed by Durarara!!×2 Ketsu, Snow White with the Red Hair, Ajin, and Fairy Tail Zero....
Kobe Women's University Produces Time-Travel Anime Short
Stars Takahiro Sakurai, Eri Kitamura
― The History Department at Kobe Women's University has an unusual idea for attracting students: a 12-minute anime short starring a time-traveling rabbit. Titled Historical, it is part one of an anticipated series of three episodes. The anime focuses on Shiki Kanotsuno (Ayaka Fujimoto), a high school senior with an upbeat personality but no clear idea of where she...
Final Fantasy Artist Yoshitaka Amano's 'Candy Girl' Character Gets High-End Merch
The Ginza Mitsukoshi department store is hosting a pop culture-focused "Discover! Tokyo" event until February 16 with exclusive items designed by Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D artist Yoshitaka Amano. The department store's seventh floor will feature an art gallery of Amano's work and merchandise featuring his "Candy Girl" character. Some of the items for sale include a 100% silk scarves (19,...
New Halloween Eli Ayase Figure is Spooky & Sweet
Pre-orders are opening on Friday for Alter and MegaHouse's Halloween-themed Eli Ayase figure. The 1/7-scale figure was first shown off at the Mega Hobby Expo in November and shows the school idol and student council member in a bustier, mini-skirt, garters, and witch hat. She also wears pumpkin-orange shoulder puffs with bat wings and totes a jack-o-lantern full of candy. The figure is based on t...
Lord Krishna in Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final Gets Negative Reception from Hindu Statesman
Rajan Zed, the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, is none too pleased about the depiction of the Hindu deity Krishna in Sega's Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final role-playing video game. The Nintendo 3DS role-playing game is slated for release in Japan next week. It features the god wearing a feathered fedora, tailed coat, shorts, and boots with a golden flute. Zed pointed out that allowing...
Meat-Loving Zeushi-kun Gets Brand New Animated Short
Japan's National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations' meat-loving mascot "Zeushi-kun" will get a new animated short on February 10. The previous ads' stars will return to reprise their roles. "Zeushi-kun" is a character created by ZEN-NOH, Japan's National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations, to promote the sale of domestic meats. Zeushi-kun (Kana Hanazawa) is a p...
Arina Tanemura Draws Idolish 7 Project's 'GOOD NIGHT AWESOME' Album Jacket
The Idolish 7 "big media-mix project" has already collaborated with anime studio NAZ and BONES for the group's animated music videos while also including a smartphone game, music releases, manga, and a serialized novel. Manga creator Arina Tanemura (Full Moon O Sagashite, The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura) drafted the original character designs for the proj...
Future GPX Cyber Formula Celebrates Bleed Kaga's 20th Birthday With Wine
The racing anime Future GPX Cyber Formula first premiered in Japan in 1991, but the series itself takes place in the future. One of its supporting characters, Bleed Kaga is celebrating his in-universe 20th birthday this year the way most people do when they reach legal drinking age: with alcohol. The Shiraito Shuzo Company will offer a limited run of sparkling Chardonnay Rosé wine in his honor. O...
New Shiseido Ad Shows Make-Up's Versatility by Transforming 1 Woman into 8 Looks
Hair care and cosmetics company Shiseido previously used make-up to transform a room of high school boys into convincing female counterparts. The company is sticking with the theme of their products versatility with a new ad. The looks range from vampy to geisha to decora with one catch: they're all the same model. [Via Rocket News 24]
'Prius! Impossible Girls' Car Parts-as-Girls Project Adds Vocaloid Song in Latest Promo
Toyota's "Prius! Impossible Girls" project debuted last month with 40 car parts reimagined as girls, some even assigned voice actresses like Kana Hanazawa. On January 25, the site added its "Real Voice Song" section with the track "Shijō no Koe" (Test Drive Voices) produced by Oster Project with the Vocaloid GUMI. The song utilizes the thoughts of 50 Prius test drivers sang by GUMI. Toyota instruc...
Hatsune Miku iDoll Nendoroid Will Dance Her Way Into Your Heart
Hatsune Miku has seen many transformations. Fans have tried their hands at different techniques to bring the Vocaloid to life. Good Smile Company and Yukai Engineering's iDoll Tokyo might have finally nailed it down with a Hatsune Miku Nendoroid that both sings and dances. The video also hints at some communication abilities. iDoll first created its concept idols, Hikari and Miki, both pint-sized...
Pokémon, One Piece, Eva, Rose of Versailles Prepare for Valentine's Day
You could send chocolates to your favorite tennis prince or chow down on potato chips this Valentine's Day. On the other hand, there's plenty of limited edition anime goods to enhance the romance, whether it's edible Eva Units or adorable cards to help you catch all the hearts. The Pokémon Company, One Piece, The Rose of Versailles, and Neon Genesis Evangelion will all offer their own tie-in for ...
Anime, Manga Stars Come Out to Pay Respects to Late Shigeru Mizuki
Prolific manga creator Shigeru Mizuki, the mind behind award-winning works like Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, and Showa: A History of Showa Japan (Comic Showa-Shi) and the favorite Kitaro passed away at the age of 93 in November. A large memorial service was held on Sunday at the historic Aoyama Funeral Hall in Minato, Tokyo. The service was hosted by Mizuki's wife and chief mourner Nunoe Mura ...
Nintendo Planning Attractions at Universal Studios Japan Theme Park
Hot on the tail of Universal Studio Japan's second wave of "Cool Japan" attractions opening last month, Nintendo is throwing its hat into the ring. The company announced plans to expand its character licensing for attractions at the theme park in Osaka, with no other details. The Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka currently hosts "4D" experiences and rides based on Neon Genesis Evangelion...
Wazamonogatari Novel Promoted with 2nd 8-Bit Game Video
NisiOisin's second light novel volume in the "Off Season" of the Monogatari Series got a second 8-bit game promotional video. The video is designated as the first in the "Kyūketsuki Quiz-Hen" (Vampire Quiz Chapter). In the video, Koyomi's sister Karen Araragi retrieves red books before Shinobu appears. The game can be played by scanning the website's QR code on a mobile device. Players traverse a ...
Dragon's Dogma Online Arms Characters With Potato Chip Bag Shields
Street Fighter collaboration also announced
― CAPCOM's Dragon's Dogma Online game is arming its fantasy-themed characters with a flavorful shield. Staff announced a collaboration with Calbee potato chips at Chiba Makuhari Messe at the Tōkaigi 2016 (Game Party Japan 2016) event last weekend. The announcement was made as part of overall updates for the game's 'Season 1.3.' Players will be able to obtai...
Sanrio Characters Fantasy Theater Casts Kirimi-chan as Mermaid, White Rabbit, Mercury
Sanrio's singing salmon-fillet mascot has transformed into a magical girl and garnered fans from collectors to voice actors. Sanrio's upcoming puzzle game app Sanrio Characters Fantasy Theater casts the company's stable of mascots as familiar fairy tale characters. Kirimi-chan is returning to the sea in the game as The Little Mermaid where she might woo Prince Cinnamoroll and transform into a huma...
Takashi Miike Gives Interview on Upcoming Terraformars Live-Action Film
Explains why all-Japanese cast was used
― The famous Japanese director Takashi Miike (Ace Attorney, Yatterman, Sukiyaki Western Django) recently gave an interview with the Japanese cinema site Eiga Natalie on his upcoming film, Terraformars. When asked why he had changed the original manga's multinational cast into one that is all-Japanese, he replied that "the best thing to do with the budget and t...
Comiket Questionnaire Implies Possible Move Westward in 2020
Shortage of usable facilities in Tokyo region
― A recent questionnaire distributed to dōjin circles that attend Comic Market (Comiket), Japan's largest dōjinshi convention, implied that the 2020 Comiket events might move out of the Tokyo region. The question is, "If Comic Market cannot be held in the capital region due to the 2020 Olympics, would you participate if it was held in Osaka or Nagoya?" Th...
Crying Politician Ryūtarō Nonomura is Back
Behaves bizarrely in trial
― Hyōgo prefectural assemblyman Ryūtarō Nonomura became a pop culture sensation in Japan in 2014 when he apologized at a press conference for alleged embezzlement of public funds on trips to hot springs resorts. While politicians often make public apologies in Japan, Nonomura's was in a class of its own, thanks to his exaggerated behavior, including dramatic crying, fist pu...
Celebrate Valentine's Day with Nana Mizuki's New Potato Chip Flavor
On January 28, 20 lucky winners of a contest held in October got to tour the factory of Calbee, a Japanese snack foods company, with a special tour guide: Nana Mizuki, the singer/voice actress who's the new face of Calbee's "Poterichi" line of potato chips. They also attended a surprise birthday party for Mizuki (she turned 36 on January 21), got to taste her homemade curry, and heard what Calbee...
Japan's KitKat Flavors Now Include Sake
Nestlé's KitKat chocolates are well known for their Japan-only flavors like grilled potato, cherry blossom, fruit parfait, and more. Many of these are only available in particular areas of the country and serve as regional souvenirs while others, like Green Tea flavor, are Japan-exclusive and popular with tourists. Green tea is seen as quintessentially Japanese, and Nestlé is looking to add anothe...
Snow Miku Sky Town Reveals Gorgeous Miku Kimono Figure
Snow Miku Sky Town, the shopping area in The New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, is one of three retailers selling a gorgeous Hatsune Miku figure starting on February 1. The 1/8-scale figure depicts the virtual idol looking serene in a red kimono with cranes printed on the fabric. She carries a parasol by a spray of mums and roses while a bird alights on her hand. The figure is created by Stronger b...
Isetan Shinjuku Will Sell Limited Lupin the Third Ukiyo-e Prints
Custom Italian suits, kimono, trench coats also for sale
― The Isetan Shinjuku Store's Fashion Museum will hold a Lupin the Third themed event from February 3-8. "LUPINISSIMO IN ISETAN 2016" will sell Ukiyo-e prints of the famous thief and his crew. Six different designs will be available, including a print signed by creator Monkey Punch. The prints were created using the Takezasa-Do woodblocking te...
Cold Snap in Japan Prompts Debate Over Proper Schoolgirl Fashion
Cuteness or comfort?
― While America's east coast struggled through a historic blizzard last weekend, East Asia faced a similar problem: a record-breaking cold snap which brought sleet to subtropical Okinawa, hypothermia to Taiwan, and snow in Vietnam. Mainland Japan also witnessed bitter cold, with temperatures dropping to -9° C (15° F) in Kansai and snow 50 cm (19.5'') deep in Kanto, sending the co...
Sanrio Boys Project Gets Manga on MangaOne App, Sho-Comi Magazine
The cute guys of "Sanrio Danshi" (Sanrio Boys) project are expanding into the world of manga. The company opened the project's official website last week with four yet to be revealed sections. On Friday, the website opened its "Manga" section and announced the characters will be adapted by Mai Andō (Amakute Zuru Iwana no Naka) on the MangaOne app beginning in April followed by a different manga ad...
Asuka Nishi Wins 2015 Best Fundoshist Award
Award honors those who have done most to popularize Japanese loincloths
― Forget about elaborate kimono or ornate samurai armor: The traditional Japanese clothing that the Japan Fundoshi Association wants you to care about is the fundoshi, or loincloth. Every year the association honors the "fundoshist" that does the most to popularize the traditional underwear with the Best Fundoshist Awards. This y...
Virtua Fighter Figmas Retain Classic Polygon Designs
Sega's original Virtua Fighter 3D fighting game debuted in arcades in 1993 with its line-up of polygonal brawlers. Akira Yuki , Pai Chan, Lau Chan, Wolf Hawkfield, Jeffry McWild, Kage-Maru, Sarah Bryant, Jacky Bryant, and Dural battled their way into gamers' hearts in eight titles and earned the franchise the moniker "grandfather of 3D fighting games." Good Smile Company's figma line is honoring ...
To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness Artist Creates 1-of-a-Kind Tissue Box (NSFW)
Box contains an uncensored surprise
― The tissue box has two popular uses: it's a companion when you're laid up with a cold or if you're having some private time. The latter is referenced as a joke in anime series quite often. Bachelor pads strewn with used tissues or a character staring at a blue computer screen reaches for one. The audience know the implications. To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness manga...
Former Sailor Uranus VA Megumi Ogata Reacts to New Sailor Moon Crystal Cast
"Enjoy the differences between the old and new anime"
― Just in time for Sailor Uranus's birthday, the new cast members of Sailor Moon Crystal were announced on January 27. Among these was Junko Minagawa as Haruka/Sailor Uranus. Megumi Ogata, who played the role in the original Sailor Moon anime series, reacted to the announcement on Twitter. Ogata admitted to being surprised at the volume of message...
Project Diva X Celebrates Megurine Luka's 7th Birthday With Medley Video
The official YouTube account for Sega's Project Diva game franchise began streaming a medley video from the Hatsune Miku Project Diva X game on Friday to celebrate Megurine Luka's seventh birthday. Crypton Future Media first released Megurine Luka as the third Vocaloid2 software on January 30, 2009. The video features the following songs: "Ai Dee" by Mitchie M "Akahitoha" by Kurousa P (White Flame...
Get Your Heart Pounding with The Top 20 Anime & Manga Love Confessions
If you're trying to get in a romantic mood for Valentine's Day or get some inspiration for your own love confession, Charapedia has compiled the Top 20 anime and manga love confessions based on user votes. Which moments were the most heart-pounding? Check out the answers below but Beware of Spoilers. The Most Heart-Pounding Anime & Manga Love Confessions Hitagi Senjōgahara to Koyomi Araragi (Monog...
Pirated Manga Artist Gujira Not Quitting After All
Lands deal for English-language version with FAKKU
― Last weekend, we reported on the erotic manga artist Gujira, who threatened to quit after discovering that his manga had been downloaded illegally 25,000 times. The news prompted a debate on Twitter over piracy and how to fight it, as well as lamentations from Gujira's fans and fellow dōjinshi artists about his impending departure. Gujira clarified...
New Idol Group 'Lilygirl' Appeals to Yuri Fans
Mika Ichinose & Haruhi Nakajima star as high school drama students
― A new project, Lilygirl, will showcase idol groups that express yuri (schoolgirl homosexual) relationships. A short film was made that features Mika Ichinose (also of the idol unit Kamiyado) and Haruhi Nakajima (also of the idol unit Junes Princess). They play sophomore students at a girls' high school who are both in the drama club...
Participants Dismantle 180,000-Brick Dragon Quest Builders Wall in 3.5 Hours
The Dragon Quest monsters depicted on the 80-meter wall covered in Lego-like bricks in Shinjuku Station were dismantled in about three and a half hours by fans. The wall was part of an advertising campaign for the launch of Dragon Quest Builders for PS3, PS4, and PS Vita on Thursday. Passer-byes could remove the 180,000 blocks to "defeat" the depicted monsters and reveal a mural underneath. When t...
One Piece FamilyMart Lottery Includes Kimono Nami, Robin Figures
FamilyMarts across Japan will launch a One Piece lottery campaign early next month with a variety of prizes. Two standouts are figures of Nami and Robin in kimono but lucky customers can also win a Furoshiki style handbag, desktop figures, party plates, and handkerchiefs. The lottery prizes include: Prize A: Nami figure Prize B: Robin figure Prize C: Furoshiki style handbag Prize D: Party plate P...
Sailor Moon Crystal Stationery Shows All 10 Sailor Guardians
The official website of the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal anime unveiled the visual for the anime's third season on Monday, followed by cast announcements on Wednesday. The key visual was the first look fans got of the characters drawn by the series' new character designer Akira Takahashi. Fans get a look at some more images for the series that were created for an campaign with AEON retail ...
Dengeki G's Announces Love Live! Sunshine Mini-Units Name Poll
The original Love Live! starred nine girls who made up the idol group μ's. Within the group itself were mini-units of three girls each with their own name designations and singles. The group "Printemps" includes the characters Honoka, Kotori, and Hanayo, lily white includes Umi, Rin, and Nozomi, and BiBi includes Eli, Nico, and Maki. Dengeki G's Magazine will run a poll starting on February 1 for ...
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