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Oh My Goddess! Creator Kousuke Fujishima Confirms Marriage to Nekomu Otogi
Otogi changes name on Facebook
― Cosplayer Nekomu Otogi announced last week that she has married manga artist Kousuke Fujishima (Oh My Goddess!, You're Under Arrest), and that she is pregnant. Fujishima, on the other hand, stayed silent on the matter. He acknowledged the marriage for the first time on July 7, when he posted about it on Twitter. "I'd like to keep doing my best on the manga and raise t...
Shinobu Oshino Gets Commemorative Image for Winning #1 SHAFT Heroine Vote
'Madogatari' exhibit gets encore in Tokyo, adds Kizumonogatari II: Nekketsu-hen, March comes in like a lion
― SHAFT, the studio behind Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series among other anime, held an election at its Nagoya Madogatari exhibit, which took place from May 4-8, allowing fans to vote for their favorite SHAFT heroine. Over 8,000 ballots were cast. 1,800 people, over 20% of the...
Kumamiko Manga Creator Apologizes for Anime's Ending
"If there are people who feel uncomfortable... it's my responsibility"
― WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the ending of Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear. The ending of the anime series Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear was largely received negatively by viewers, and the manga's creator, Masume Yoshimoto, appeared to concur when he posted a comment about it on his Tumblr blog. Yoshimoto has since delete...
Player Creates Working Game Boy Advance With Pokémon FireRed in Minecraft
A Minecraft player who goes by the username Reqaug posted a video of a new kind of creation within the game: a working Game Boy Advance that can play Pokémon FireRed. The project is still a work in progress—Reqaug still plans add the game's dialogue and battle functions—but players who download the map have the added option of customizing their Pokémon levels within the virtual Game Boy Advance. I...
Winners of the Prince of Tennis Valentine's Day Chocolate Count Announced
Fans sent 112,863 chocolates to Prince of Tennis characters for Valentine's Day
― This past March, Prince of Tennis manga creator Takeshi Konomi announced that the results were in for Jump Square magazine's Prince of Tennis Valentine's Day character popularity contest, where fans are invited to send Valentine chocolates to there favorite character. Now, as promised, the winners have finally been ann...
Publisher Denies Rumors of One Piece Going to Monthly Serialization
Despite recent rumors among Japanese fans that One Piece may move to monthly serialization, Shueisha has officially denied it. Eiichirō Oda's One Piece manga has been serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shounen Jump magazine since 1997. It is still widely popular — last year, it set a Guinness World Record for "most published comic series by a single author." However in recent years the number of one...
Date a Boy Who Loves Sanrio With the Sanrio Boys Smartphone Game
Romance app to launch this fall
― Sanrio announced on Tuesday that it will release a romance game based on its "Sanrio Boys" (Sanrio Danshi) project. The iOS and Android game, titled Sanrio Danshi ~Watashi, Koi o, Shirimashita.~, invites players to date their favorite Sanrio-loving boy. The player character has five eligible boyfriends and can reach two types of endings. She can also bond with her be...
Monster Hunter Generations Video Teases The Legend of Zelda Toon Link Costume
DLC will be free in the west
― Many a famous anime and video game has made its way into Monster Hunter collaborations, from Mega Man and Metroid to Yu-Gi-Oh! and Yowamushi Pedal. Link from The Legend of Zelda appeared in Monster Hunter 4, and Toon Link made guest appearance in a Japanese DLC for Monster Hunter X. On Tuesday, Capcom announced that it is bringing the Toon Link collaboration west with M...
Official Studio Ghibli-Themed Menu Includes Soot Sprite Burger, Nausicaa Parfait
The upcoming Studio Ghibli retrospective exhibit, "The Great Ghibli Exhibition~From Nausicaa to Red Turtle~,” which opens July 7 in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, announced its exclusive themed menu on Tuesday. The themed food will be served at the “Museum Café THE SUN," which is adjacent to the exhibit area. One entrée is the “Black Burger,” which is served on a focaccia bun that has been darkened with b...
Japanese Poll Ranks Re:Zero Best Anime of Spring 2016
Anime from the Spring 2016 season have been wrapping up one by one. In order to find out which shows captured viewers' hearts the most, the Japanese website Anime! Anime! conducted a “Excellent Anime of Spring 2016” poll that ran from June 27 to July 3. Of the 820 people that participated, about 40% were in their teens. The gender ratio was close to equal, although there were slightly more men tha...
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Receives Limited Original Soundtrack Vinyl Record
Even in this digital age, the demand for vinyl records is still high among professionals and audio fans alike, and that fact is no different for anime fans' demand for a favorite series' soundtrack. That's why the complete, limited-edition vinyl record of the jazzy original soundtrack for Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt went on sale at the Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt DECEMBER SKY screening even...
Luffy's Sexy Gender-Swapped Figure Unveiled in Full Color
Back in March, MegaHouse's Portrait of Pirates (P.O.P.) Limited Edition B.B. figure line revealed its gender-swapped Tralfagar Law figure, and promised it would be the first in a series of One Piece figures. Now, after teasing a prototype, the line has unveiled its female version of Monkey D. Luffy in full color. Preorders opened on July 1 and the figure will ship in late October. The 21-centimet...
Godzilla to Make TV Anime Debut on Crayon Shin-chan
A collaboration episode between anime Crayon Shin-chan, originally by Yoshito Usui, and Godzilla will air July 22. The episode, “It's Shinnosuke vs. New Godzilla,” tackles the puzzling appearance of Godzilla in Tokyo Bay and features a battle between the monster and Shinnosuke and the Kasukabe Denfense Corps. This is the first time that Godzilla will appear in a Japanese television anime. As a Go...
Japanese Fans Choose Which Machines in Anime They'd Most Like to Ride
Mecha predominate, but don't take first place
― The Japanese anime and manga character database Charapedia, which frequently conducts polls gauging the popularity of anime characters, tried something a little different last week and asked its visitors which machines in anime they'd most like to ride or pilot. It left the definition of "machine" open to interpretation, so forgive any choices which mig...
Universal Studios Japan's Haikyu!! Statues are Highly Realistic
... Maybe a little TOO realistic....
― This month, Universal Studios Japan inaugurates Universal Jump Summer, a celebration of Japan's most popular manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump. Among the attractions is the Universal Jump Exhibition, which showcases exhibits from various Shonen Jump series: a quiz to prove your knowledge of Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo, trick art of My Hero...
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, Dragon Quest Monsters Super Light Smartphone Games Begin Crossover Event
After posting a countdown timer on the official website for smartphone game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, Square Enix revealed a collaboration between Final Fantasy Brave Exvius and another smartphone game, Dragon Quest Monsters Super Light. A short promotional clip for the crossover event is available in Japanese below. The collaborative event began on June 30, and will run until July 20 at 11:59 P...
Live-Action Gintama Film Seeks Extras
Also: home page can't decide which style of logo to use
― The recently announced live-action Gintama film from director Yūichi Fukuda will be shooting in the Tokyo area from early July to early September. It has also put out a casting call for extras. There is no age or gender restriction (although minors are asked for parental permission to participate). Extras are also asked not to photograph or fi...
Assassination Classroom Food Truck To Sell Koro-Sensei Pancakes
The second season of the Assassination Classroom anime wrapped up this week, and, to celebrate, an Assassination Classroom-themed food truck will be serving up pancake renditions of everyone's favorite yellow tentacled teacher in Odaiba. This special "Koro-Kitchen" food truck appeared for the first time last year with an eye-catching yellow design complete with Koro-sensei's wide smile, shown belo...
Gundam 00 Voice Actress Ayumi Tsunematsu Announces Pregnancy
"I will continue working as long as I can"
― Voice actress Ayumi Tsunematsu (Princess Marina in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Rurumu in Magi: Adventure of Sinbad, Maiya in Fate/Zero) announced on her blog on Friday that she is pregnant with a baby boy. Since my debut, I've played various mother roles (particularly in anime), and the time has finally come to be a mother myself. I am currently stable and pas...
Yowamushi Pedal Crew Teaches Bicycle Safety in Public Service Campaign
Collaboration with Chiba Prefecture and its mascot, Chiba-kun
― Although Yowamushi Pedal fans will have to wait until January before the next season of the anime, Chiba Prefecture will provide an additional opportunity for them to see their favorite characters in the meantime — and learn bicycle safety tips in the process. The prefecture, which borders Tokyo on the east and is the main setting f...
Sakamoto Ryōma Travels to New York for MetLife Web Series
Daisuke Ono plays historical figure for insurance ad
― Historical figure Sakamoto Ryōma explores New York in the first episode of a web series called “Ryōma Meets MetLife,” sponsored by life insurance company MetLife. Sakamoto and MetLife are roughly the same age, since MetLife was founded about 150 years ago in New York and Sakamoto will have been born 150 years ago this year. In the series, Sakamo...
Battery's Takumi & Kou Could Say Your Nickname After Anime's Premiere
Fuji TV is offering fans of the light novel series Battery a chance to hear their own nickname spoken by Takumi (Kouki Uchiyama) and Kou (Tasuku Hatanaka), the story's protagonists. If they visit the official website now, they can enter a nickname up to ten characters long, or they can follow Battery's official Twitter account and tweet their nicknames. The deadline for applications is July 5; the...
Mamoru Oshii, Kenji Kamiyama, and Kenji Kawai Visit Live-Action Ghost in the Shell Film Set
In June, Mamoru Oshii, Kenji Kamiyama, and Kenji Kawai paid a visit to the set of the live-action Ghost in the Shell movie; they are the director of the first two Ghost in the Shell anime films, the director of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and its spin-off film, and the composer of the first two anime films respectively. They spoke with Rupert Sanders, the live-action film's director, a...
Usamaru Furuya Speaks at Symposium on Teaching and Manga
Symposium examined manga as both teaching medium and subject
― Last weekend, the Japan Society for Studies in Cartoons and Comics held its 16th conference at Tokyo Polytechnic University in Nakano, Tokyo. On June 25 scholars presented their research (sample topics: "The Role Translation Plays in Spreading Manga Overseas: The Example of Manga Translated into Chinese" and "The Orphan Plot in Postwar Ma...
Sailor Moon's Black Lady Inspires Dark Crystal Earrings
The Premium Bandai store is releasing a pair of black crystal earrings fashioned after those sported by the Queen of Darkness, Sailor Moon's Black Lady, as part of its Sailor Moon character motif accessories series. The "Wicked Black Crystal Earrings" are already available for pre-order, with shipping scheduled for September. Priced at 15,120 yen (about US$147), they measure 4.8 x 1 cm (about 1.9...
Shonen Jump Rookie Contest Challenges Manga Artists to Impress Kentarō Yabuki
Manga artist asks for protagonists "the audience can empathize with"
― Think you've got what it takes to draw a compelling shounen manga? Shonen Jump Rookie is holding a contest for aspiring manga artists with Kentarō Yabuki (To Love-Ru, Black Cat, Mayoi Neko Overrun) as the judge. Although Yabuki may be most well-known for his fanservice harem comedies, any genre is acceptable; the choices listed on...
Live-Action Ghost in the Shell Producer Speaks About Casting Controversy
"Ghost in the Shell was a very international story"
― Since the first announcement that Scarlett Johansson was signed on to star in Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks Pictures' live-action Ghost in the Shell film, some fans have been calling for a recast, and the first image of Johansson in the role only fanned the flames. Many lamented that this was another case of Hollywood whitewashing, where a non...
Dragon Ball Z's Goku and Frieza Battle in 4D CG at Universal Studios Japan
Frieza promotes attraction in video
― Universal Studios Japan is debuting its Dragon Ball Z The Real 4-D attraction, a full-CG short featuring a battle between Super Saiyan Goku and Frieza, on Friday. Goku and Frieza may have battled in the manga and anime, but this short tells an original story where Frieza is revived by the Dragon Balls. Vegeta and other characters will appear on Goku's side. The ...
New Toyota Concept Car Mimics Initial D's AE86
Set to appear in British motor shows this summer
― Initial D's AE86 Sprinter Trueno may have been a humble tōfu delivery car, but it was formidable with Takumi at the wheel. As a nod to its role in getting manga and anime fans worldwide interested in drifting on Japanese mountain roads, Toyota UK has designed a concept car based on Takumi's vehicle. The car is a modified GT-86 (Scion FR-S in America)...
Itasha Food Truck Serves Japanese Comfort Food Anime-Style
Since July 2015, the Los Angeles based food truck Okamoto Kitchen has been serving Japanese cuisine out of their bright red, Akihabara-style itasha food truck, complete with cute anime maid character Haru-chan, who was designed for them by Tokyo animator Takuya Saito. Saito has worked on a variety of anime titles, including Blood-C, Empire of Corpses, Kimagure Orange Road, and Outlaw Star. Okamoto...
Short Story Contest Bans 'Traveling to an Alternate World' Fantasy
Plots involving travel to other worlds, in particular travel to fantasy-game style worlds, have become more and more common in anime based on light novels lately. Fans of the genre can enjoy Sword Art Online, Log Horizon, GATE, Konosuba, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Re:Zero, and more. One currently running Japanese short story contest, a collaboration between Bungaku Free Market and Shōsetsuka ni N...
Adventure Time's Frederator Studios Designs Hatsune Miku Figure With Mecha
Figures to go on sale at Anime Expo
― Frederator Studios (Adventure Time) designed a new Hatsune Miku collaboration figure for 1000 toys, and it will be available for the first time at Anime Expo 2016, from July 1-4. The "35MechatroWeGo&Hatsune Miku" figure features the popular blue-pigtailed virtual idol alongside her very own leek-wielding giant robot, complete with a transformation sequence that ...
20-Year-Old Cosplayer Announces Marriage to 51-Year-Old Oh My Goddess! Creator Kousuke Fujishima
Nekomu Otogi also reveals she's pregnant
― Well-known cosplayer Nekomu Otogi (20) announced her marriage to manga artist Kousuke Fujishima (51) on her blog and Twitter account on Wednesday. She also had one other surprise: she's pregnant. "I have an announcement to make to everyone," she wrote. "I have married manga author and illustrator Kousuke Fujishima. I have one more thing to report, I am pregn...
Gackt & T.M. Revolution Walk Into a Bar, Exchange Mannequins of Themselves
2 singers scheduled Okinawa concerts on the same day
― Singers GACKT and T.M. Revolution happened to schedule concerts in subtropical Okinawa on the same day this past Saturday, and they happened to meet at a dining bar. Gackt then sent a flower bouquet … and a mannequin of himself to T.M. Revolution's concert. The message on the flowers says "Congratulations on your Okinawa performance, from Gaku-ch...
Cosplayer Makes 'Kabane Sword' Light Up With LED
Just in time for this week's final episode of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Fukuoka-based cosplayer Maxi (@Maxifactory) has constructed cosplay version of Kurusu's Kabane Sword using LED lights to replicate the red glow. The battery box is housed in the hilt. 【甲鉄城のカバネリ】来栖の『カバネソード(金属皮膜刀)』完成!!普段は普通の日本刀ですが内蔵LEDで刀身がアニメのように赤く光ります!電池ボックスも柄に内蔵し外観に配慮!なんとか最終回に間に合いました!頑張ったのでRTください← pic.twitter.com/3JwWbPf...
Artist Takashi Murakami Illustrates 3rd Evangelion × Godzilla Crossover Image
7-Eleven begins campaign for crossover merchandise
― It began with an April Fool's joke illustration by Mahiro Maeda (Gankutsuou, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, Mad Max Fury Road), but the Evangelion × Godzilla collaboration is still going strong. Yuji Kaida drew a second image for the collaboration's web page, and the images have been used as giveaway items for viewers who preordered their tick...
Manga Artist Criticizes Messages in Pop Culture Validating Mediocrity
"Creative works that say this are lying to make sales"
― Japan is an enormously competitive and demanding society, as any fan of shounen action manga probably knows. Students go to cram school after their regular classes, office workers work late, and there's a frequently used word, ganbaru, meaning "to do your best." But manga artist Michihiko Tōei (Concierge, The Last Restaurant, Yōkai no Shi'ikui...
A Silent Voice Film's Theatrical Screenings to Offer Subtitles for Hearing Impaired
Theatrical screenings of Kyoto Animation's upcoming movie A Silent Voice will offer Japanese subtitles for the hearing impaired. It may not be surprising, considering the nature of the story, despite the act being somewhat rare. These subtitled screenings will run in every theater that is playing the film from September 24 through September 30, with a subtitled screening once a day. The official w...
Fans Take to Twitter to Wish Voice Actress Suzuko Mimori a Happy Birthday
Tantei Opera Milky Holmes/Love Live! voice actress turns 30
― Voice Actress and singer Suzuko Mimori is celebrating her 30th birthday this Tuesday, and fans on have brought her birthday tag to the top of the Twitter trends list in Japan with an outpouring of art and well-wishes. みもりん誕生日おめでとう!三森すずこさん じゅっさい!#三森すずこ生誕祭2016#6月28日はみもりんの誕生日 pic.twitter.com/nrWitZCKW9— 北原朋萌。◆7/3サンクリ A-24b (@KitaharaTomoe) Ju...
Dragon Ball Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Offered, Limited to 200 Copies
Prints will be exhibited, sold at Anime Expo
― Beloved series Dragon Ball is receiving quite the honor with the release of these limited edition Ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Hobby Stock, which sells a variety of anime goods, is releasing the "Ukiyo-e Woodblock Prints Dragon Ball Ryu-dama Picture Scroll," featuring an image based on the manga's first volume. This product is limited to just 200 prints, a...
Official Yuruyuri Manga Twitter Account Gets Off to Shaky Start
Magazine editor, manga artist apologize for unprofessional tweets
― Some official social media accounts have fun with their brands and try to put some personality behind their tweets, like Sharp and Tanita's Sharp-san and Tanita-kun, or the fake fight that burst out between Dragon Age and Young Ace. But sometimes these efforts... don't work out so well. On Saturday, an official Twitter account for th...
Studio Ghibli's Vehicles Picture Book Kicks Off New Series to Spread Ghibli Charm
Studio Ghibli released the Studio Ghibli Norimono ga Ippai ("Studio Ghibli Vehicles in Full") picture book on June 21. The 64-page full-color book includes pictures and commentary on almost every vehicle from the Studio Ghibli films, from the Nausicaa Möwe (Mehve in English) glider in Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind to Porco Rosso's Savoia S.21 prototype combat flying boat in Porco Rosso and th...
Pikachu Promotes Ketchup in Campaign Goods Line
The Japanese food company Kagome has announced a new “Ketchup Daze! Pokemon Campaign,” which will begin on July 1 and end August 31. Kagome, which sells tomato-based products and fruit and vegetable juices, has done two other Pokemon events previously, a “Pikachu Loves Ketchup Campaign” in June 2015 and a “Pokemon Home Cooking Campaign” in November 2015. Fans within Japan can participate by addin...
Dragon Quest-Style TV Series Yūsha Yoshihiko Returns in October
TV Tokyo announced on Friday that a third season of the Yūsha Yoshihiko fantasy TV series will air in October. Key visual from the first season Yūsha Yoshihiko ("Yoshihiko the Hero") is a parody of Dragon Quest and other RPGs with fantasy settings. The plot involves Yoshihiko (Takayuki Yamada) and three companions — the warrior Danjo (Shin Takuma), the villager Murasaki (Haruka Kinami), and t...
Relive Fruits Basket Memories with Wristwatches, Bracelet
The 1998 to 2006 shoujo manga Fruits Basket remains a favorite of many, and luckily the anime fashion shopping website Super Groupies is offering two pretty wristwatches and a bracelet with Fruits Basket motifs to fans eager to reconnect with the story and its characters. The wristwatches come in two models, "Banquet" and "Bonds." The Banquet watch is made of stainless steel, brass and cut glass....
Patlabor's Masami Yuuki Draws Gundam Thunderbolt Parody Manga
One-shot manga is a callback to Yuuki's 36-year-old debut manga
― In 1980, manga artist Masami Yuuki (Mobile Police Patlabor, Birdy the Mighty) launched his career with "The Rival," a parody of the then-recent Mobile Suit Gundam. With the compilation film of the Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt net animation series, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt December Sky, premiering on June 25, Yuuki returns to it...
Rogue Robots: Japanese Government Analyzes Risks of AI
Could Artificial Intelligence be dangerous? Could robots demand the right to vote, become criminals, or revolt against us? On June 20, the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs' Telecommunications Policy Research Institute released a report addressing the possible effects that network systems using Artificial Intelligence (AI) could have on society and the economy. According to this report, the ri...
Virtual Reality Ear-Cleaning App Gets English Release
The world of virtual reality has opened new doors to simulated intimacy, from dating, kissing, to full-on pornography. One act of intimacy that is particularly unique to Japan is mimi-kaki (ear-cleaning) which can be a bonding exercise between two people, not unlike a massage. Eisys Inc. has released its own virtual reality simulator of ear-cleaning and it's now available in English for iOS and An...
Voice Actors Hiroki Takahashi, Aiko Aihashi Welcome Baby Boy
"Filled with unimaginable joy"
― Voice actor couple Hiroki Takahashi (Jōnōchi in Yu-Gi-Oh!, Hisoka in the original Hunter X Hunter, Kenji in School Rumble) and Aiko Aihashi (Mina in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Myonhi in The Asylum Session) welcomed a baby boy on June 21. He weighs 2.882 kg (6.35 pounds) and is healthy. In a statement, they said they are "filled with unimaginable joy," promised to work harder, an...
68% of Japanese College Students Polled Have Never Seen Gundam
The internationally famous Gundam metaseries enjoys continued attention among anime fans, but in truth there may be an increasing number of people who have not seen a single episode of the original Gundam series. Yoshiyuki Tomino's first series aired in 1979, and with 2016 college freshmen being born as early as 1997 or 1998, the percentage that watched the show is steadily decreasing. The My Nav...
Godzilla Designer Shinji Nishikawa Holds 1st Solo Exhibition in Shibuya
Shinji Nishikawa, a manga artist and the designer behind Godzilla Vs. Biollante in 1989 and Godzilla FINAL WARS in 2004, opened his first solo exhibition titled "Shinji Nishikawa Original Exhibition Godzilla Various Phases" on June 23 on the first floor basement of PARCO GALLERY X in Shibuya. The exhibition features 100 pieces of artwork, including 50 new pieces of Godzilla and other monsters. Th...
Gundam Unicorn Joins the Fray in Independence Day: Resurgence Trailer
Banagher & Full Frontal comment on alien invasion
― Mobile Suit Gundam UC continues to intrude into the story of Independence Day: Resurgence, the upcoming sequel to the 1996 science-fiction action film Independence Day, in this Japanese trailer. Full Frontal: It's as huge as a planet! Banagher: Huh? Oh crap! Full Frontal: It manipulates gravity at will?! Banagher: This time, we'll destroy them for g...
One Piece Burning Blood Opens the Floor for Next DLC Fighters
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is opening up the One Piece Burning Blood roster to a fan vote for the game's next three fighters. The game already boasts 42 characters but that number will jump to 45 with the addition of either Kaku, Rob Luci, Magellan, Caesar Clown, Arlong, Kuro, Don Krieg, Vergo, Cavendish, Senor Pink, Diamante, Trebol, Tashigi, Rebecca, Nefeltari Vivi, Monkey D. Garp, or Cob...
Happy 20th Anniversary to the Nintendo 64 Console & Super Mario 64 Game
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Nintendo 64 gaming system, as well as the game Super Mario 64, which was released alongside it. The Nintendo 64, also known as code name Project Reality, was first released in Japan on June 23, 1996. It was released in the U.S. in September 1996 and in March 1997 in Europe and Australia. It failed to dominate the fifth generation console war but was still g...
Kumamiko Creator Remarks on 'Cruel' Comment in Final Episode Script
Wrote polite complaint on Tumblr
― WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the ending of Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear. The final episode of Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear aired on June 19, but it has met with a largely negative reception from its viewers. The artist of the original manga, Masume Yoshimoto, appears to concur, judging by a post on his Tumblr account. It has since been removed but screens...
Spirited Away's No-Face Finds New Calling as Shamisen Player
No-Face from the Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away has skill to enter a lot of careers. Competitive eating or espionage, for instance. Street performing on a tsugaru-jamisen for passersby was pretty low on the expected outcomes for the spirit. No-Face first appeared with his tsugaru-jamisen about a year ago and has since been spotted multiple times around Hachinohe in Aomori P...
UVERworld Vocalist Takuya∞ Announces Marriage
On Sunday, Takuya∞, the 36-year-old vocalist of the Japanese rock band UVERworld, announced on the band's official website that he has gotten married. He said only that the woman in question was an ordinary person that he had known previously, preferring to keep her full name and the exact details private. He asked that his fans please understand and continue to cheer him on as before, stressing ...
Kindaichi Case Files Crosses Over with X-Files to Promote DVD Rental
This year's 30th issue of Kodansha's Shonen Magazine includes a cross-over image between Seimaru Amagi and Fumiya Sato's Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo R (Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Returns) manga and the sci-fi/horror American television series The X-Files. Kindaichi stands in for David Duchovny's Fox Mulder alongside Miyuki Nanase as Gillian Anderson's Dana Scully. The promotional image was create...
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round's Fairy Tail Costumes Previewed in Video
Koei Tecmo American began streaming its mash-up trailer for Dead or Alive 5 Last Round's Fairy Tail costume pack. The 16 costumes are part of the PlayStation 4 Season Pass 4 and the Xbox One New Costume Pass 4. The previously release Gust costume pack and Newcomer Sets were also part of the same pass. The Fairy Tail costumes are rather modest by Dead or Alive standards but still include destructib...
All Out!! Rugby Anime Adds 3 More 'Sexy' Figures
Union Creative's Menshdge Technical statue line is filling out the team with three more figures from this year's upcoming rugby anime All Out!! Joining captain Takuya Sekizan, shy Sumiaki Iwashimizu, and Wing-position Masaru Ebumi is protagonist Kenji Gion and Etsugo Ōharano of the Kanagawa High School Rugby Club, and Atsushi Miyuki of the Keijō High School Rugby Club. Like the previous figures, ...
Mizuno Sponsors Uniforms, Cleats From Soccer Anime DAYS
A new collaboration between sportswear company Mizuno and the upcoming soccer anime DAYS has been announced. It will include Seiseki High School uniforms and spiked cleats from the characters Tsukushi Tsukamoto and Mizuki Hisahito. In order to promote the collaboration, the voice actors from the show were gathered and photographed wearing the sponsored uniforms. The company Mizuno, founded in 190...
Japanese Government Enlists Pirate Hunter to Track Down Illegal Streams, Downloads
The Japanese government is known for taking piracy seriously, whether its file-sharing, selling bootleg merchandise, or hacking mobile games. When it comes to illegal streaming content, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry employs automated methods to seek out copyrighted videos. YouTube has a similar algorithm, but pirates continue to adapt to circumvent having the content taken down....
Decorate Your Home With Girls und Panzer
The otaku curtain brand Curtain Damashii has created 10 new Girls und Panzer movie themed home décor items that promise to fulfill all of your girl-in-tank related decoration needs. These include curtains, two hanging signs, bed sheets, a comforter, a shower curtain, and two seat covers, all of which are shown below. IMG curtain.jpg IMG sheets.jpg IMG sign-1.jpg IMG comforter.jpg IMG sign-2.jpg I...
Matsuno Bros. Promote 'All-Free' Non-Alcoholic Beer in Animated Ad
The stars of Mr. Osomatsu are promoting their favorite drink to beat the summer heat in a new, animated campaign. Each brother will appear in his own commercial for Suntory's All-Free non-alcoholic beer, one airing each day on Suntory's YouTube channel. The first ad features Osomatsu (Takahiro Sakurai) introducing this summer's All-Free "Ichioshi Monogatari" campaign. In each commercial, one of t...
The Beatles Travel Through Time in Naoki Urasawa's Newest Manga Short
A new manga short by award-winning manga creator Naoki Urasawa (Master Keaton, Billy Bat, Monster) was published on the official website for Tokyo radio station InterFM897. The manga, created to go along with the TV program KKBOX Here comes THE BEATLES, celebrates the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' visit to Japan. Urasawa, a musician and Beatles fan himself, states that the theme of the manga i...
Nude Acrylic Stands of Magi's Sinbad, Mystras & Jafar Already Available
Movic is moving quickly to commercialize "that scene" from Magi: Adventure of Sinbad. Three of the characters, Sinbad, Sinbad, Mystras and Jafar, are appearing in little more than their birthday suits. These three acrylic stands of our heroes show them with only a fig leaf to hide their modesty. The stands will go on sale on June 25 and cost 1,200 yen ($11.50) each. They measure about 150 × 90 mm...
Osomatsu Expo Event Promises to Be Out of This World
Original movie planned for the event
― The unstoppable Matsuno brothers are getting their own traveling exposition this summer. Starting on August 3, the Osomatsu EXPO will take over the second floor of the Akihabara UDX building. The expo will have six sections, one named after each brother, and will have a "universe" theme inspired by the anime series' opening sequence. Besides materials from the a...
ThinkGeek's Twitchy Kitty Cat Ears & Tail Purrfect for Cosplay
ThinkGeek's newest releases include a little something special for cosplayers and cat-lovers alike. The Twitchy Kitty Electronic Tail and matching cat ears boasts automated movement that mimics a real cat. The clip-on, battery-powered black tail "swishes back and forth to express your emotions" and the remote-controlled, headband ears "let you share your emotion through your ears, the same way ca...
Wrestlers Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe Star in Garo: Ashura Special
TV Tokyo's acclaimed franchise Garo's 10th anniversary series Garo: Makai Retsuden, which began airing April 8, will feature a special, Garo: Ashura-, on July 1. The special will be a collaboration between New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and the Garo world and will include a competition between NJPW's Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe. The contents of the special have not been stated, however the ...
Super Groupies Creates Madoka Magica Loungewear
Otaku clothing site Super Groupies has announced a new line of Puella Magi Madoka Magica loungewear. The previously released Homura Akemi outfit is joined by outfits of four other characters, Madoka Kaname, Mami Tomoe, Sayaka Miki, and Kyōko Sakura. The outfits are modeled after the post-transformation magical girl costumes and include soul gem motifs. They are all made from a soft, fluffy materi...
Win My Hero Academia Prizes at Japanese Sushi Chain
Erasers, trading cards, and even a video game
― My Hero Academia fans with a penchant for sushi should plan a few trips to the kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) chain Muten Kurazushi, as it will offer several prizes related to the popular manga and anime franchise in the coming weeks. Kurazushi, like other kaitenzushi restaurants, lets customers pick their favorite sushi plates off of a conveyor bel...
Gundam Unicorn Replaces Statue of Liberty on Japanese Independence Day: Resurgence Poster
"Our two works are connected like soul brothers," says original author
― The poster for the upcoming action movie Independence Day: Resurgence shows the Statue of Liberty about to get crushed by a massive spaceship. But Lady Liberty just won't do for the Japanese poster. Instead, she has been replaced with a more iconic figure for local audiences: the Unicorn Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, a...
Cyclorama Relives Greatest Scenes of One Piece at Tokyo Tower
Also: concept art from One Piece Film Gold
― A cyclorama has opened at Tokyo One Piece Tower, a theme park devoted to One Piece inside Tokyo Tower. Cycloramas are round theaters with screens that stretch across the walls, giving viewers a 360° panorama. The room is called 360 Log Theater ~ The World of One Piece ~, and it shows a three-minute retrospective of the greatest, most emotional scenes from ...
Hyperkin's Smart Boy Lets You Play Game Boy Games on Your Android Phone
Self-programming required
― If you've long since discarded your Game Boy but yearn to relive the classics of yesteryear, video game peripheral maker Hyperkin has a nifty solution for your Android smartphone. The Smart Boy Developer Kit lets you insert the phone into a casing that closely mimics the original Game Boy, complete with a cartridge slot for your old games. This idea originated with an Apri...
Rino Sashihara Triumphs Again in AKB48 Senbatsu Election
Loss to Mayu Watanabe had been expected
― The 8th annual AKB48 Senbatsu (Selection) Election was held on June 18 in the Hard Off Eco Stadium in Niigata. For the second year in a row, Rino Sashihara of the spin-off group HKT48 won, having secured 243,011 votes. "I really, really, really thank you," Sashihara said to her fans. "I feel some sort of emotion about achieving a consecutive victory when Atch...
5pb. Head Wants to Make Erotic Chaos;Head, Chaos;Child Game
5pb./MAGES. head Chiyomaru Shikura (Steins;Gate) tweeted on June 10 that he would like to make an erotic game project based on the Chaos;Head and Chaos;Child games. The potential project would be for adults age 18 and older. 5pb. has not announced plans for such a game, and Shikura's comment does not indicate that actual project planning is underway. In his tweet, Shikura called the concept a "cra...
Man at Arms: Reforged Tackles Voltron's Blazing Sword
On their latest episode, the web series Man at Arms: Reforged, hosted by the stage combat weaponry shop Baltimore Knife & Sword, builds a flaming replica of Voltron's Blazing Sword. Every other Monday, the team, which includes swordsmiths Kerry and Matt Stagmer, master armourer and engraver Ilya Alekseyev, blacksmith Sam Salvati, goldsmith Lauren Schott, and fabricator John Mitchell, chooses and c...
Ghibli Retrospective Exhibit to Open in Tokyo in July
Also: Toshio Suzuki publishes memoirs
― With the retirement of Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki, it is widely acknowledged that Studio Ghibli has reached the end of an era. To celebrate its three decades of enchanting and inspiring audiences around the world, a major exhibit on Ghibli is opening in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo in July. Ghibli no Daihakurankai (The Great Ghibli Exhibit) will showcase memorab...
New Sailor Moon Chibi-Usa and Helios Figure Announced
A new figure of Chibi-Usa and Helios from Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon manga and anime series has been announced on the Bandai shopping site Premium Bandai. It reproduces the meeting between Chibi-Usa and Helios in Pegasus form. The silver pedestal at the bottom of the figure has the caption “Chibi-Usa & Helios.” Chibi-Usa is shown in her princess dress gently cradling Pegasus' face. This figure ...
Camera Crew Spotted for Live-Action Love Live! Sunshine!! Adult Parody Video
The picture below appeared on Twitter on June 14, showing a film crew with actors wearing costumes and wigs clearly resembling the girls of Love Live! Sunshine!! But it was on @TMA_Tama_eigyo, the account of TMA (Total Media Agency). TMA's adult oeuvre includes works such as Hahiru Suzumiya, Clonnad, Hinichijou ("My Not Ordinary Life") and Faith/ero. In 2014, TMA took aim at fans of Love Live! Sch...
Stereotypical Otaku Fashion Trending Among Teen Girls in Japan
In the last year, a surprising new fashion trend has emerged among teenage girls in Japan, “ヲタクコーデ," or "otaku coordinate." It mimics the stereotypical "un-stylish" anime nerd. The three staples of this style are checkered shirts, bandanas, and large glasses. It tends to also includes braided pigtails and loose, belted high-waisted jeans with the shirt tucked in. Frequently, the girls adopting th...
Pokemon Singer Sachiko Kobayashi to Appear in Phantasy Star Online 2
Will sing new Beat Mario song
― Enka singer Sachiko Kobayashi will make an appearance in the multi-platform video game Phantasy Star Online 2 in mid-August as the "PSO2 Ambassador of Goodwill to Earth." She will sing the song "Yōkoso Arks" ("Welcome Arks"), written by music game composer Beat Mario. The pair had earlier gained attention for their collaborations at Comiket in 2014 and 2015. Beat Mario...
Death Note, Rurouni Kenshin Actor Tatsuya Fujiwara Welcomes His First Child
34-year-old actor Tatsuya Fujiwara announced on his fan club website on Thursday that his first child was born. The gender and exact birthday of the child have not been shared. Fujiwara married his girlfriend of nine years in 2013. Fujiwara wrote, “This is a personal matter, but I have been blessed with a healthy child. The members of my family that I need to protect have increased, so I will nee...
Male Hunter × Hunter Fans Vote for Favorite Female Characters
Buzz Plus News asked male internet users "who is your favorite female Hunter × Hunter character?" It was a close race with multiple tied spots along the way and a lot of supporting character representation. Biscuit won first place by a jump. While she's typically a cute girl, when she get into her serious battle mode she transforms into a tougher, manlier appearance. It's possible that a lot of ma...
T.M.Revolution Enters the Fray at Comiket Dōjinshi Event
Between performing the theme song for a puppet television series, producing a male idol project, and releasing his 20th anniversary album, T.M. Revolution has found time to enter a new field. The singer and actor will make his debut at the Comic Market (also known as Comiket or Comike) dōjinshi event in August. Two listings for Takanori Nishikawa, T.M.Revolution's real name, recently appeared in t...
'Promised Town' Original 3DCG Animation Streamed
Creator IKEDA presented his seven-minute original 3DCG animation "Promised Town" on GYAO! and YouTube on Thursday. The work will be translated into 10 languages and distributed in 21 countries starting on July 1. Countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Spain, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, Indonesia, T...
Just Dance 2017 Includes 'PoPiPo' Hatsune Miku Song
Game slated for release in October
― The announcement trailer for Ubisoft's Just Dance 2017 rhythm game revealed on Monday that the game will include the Hatsune Miku song "PoPiPo." The game will ship in October. Lamaze-P composed the "PoPiPo" song, uploading it online in December 2008. The song has an official English arrangement. Both the original and English versions of the song have appeared in S...
Pokémon General Election's Bottom Choice Gets Special Event
Nintendo wants gamers to give Simisear another chance
― The Pokémon General Election 720 event crowned Greninja (Gekkōga) as the fan-favorite, but where there is a #1, there has to be a #720. The bottom choice was Pansear's evolution: Simisear (Baokkie), a fire-type monkey that first appeared in Pokémon Black & White. Exactly why little love was shown for Simisear is anyone's guess, but Pokémon Cente...
Puzzle & Dragons Cheat App Designer Arrested
A 21-year-old university student has landed himself an appointment with the Kanagawa Prefectural Police's cybercrime division for distributing a cheat application for the Puzzle & Dragons mobile game. Kanagawa police announced on Wednesday that they arrested third-year university student Yoshihiro Wakazono on suspicions of violating the Copyright Act for releasing his "Cheat Tools" app which alter...
Award-Winning, Shakespearean Actor Sir Ian McKellen Recites Fate/Stay Night Incantation
Sir Ian McKellen is regarded as one of the finest actors living today, known for his turns as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, Whale in Gods and Monsters, Magneto in X-Men and an extensive resume of Shakespearean roles from Richard III to King Lear to Macbeth. Sir McKellen recently appeared in an interview with the Chinese streaming service Bilibili where the critically-acclaimed actor was, for s...
Rose of Versailles Complete Music Collection Announced With Previously Unreleased Tracks
A complete CD collection of music from the Rose of Versailles anime series is scheduled for release on June 22. This three CD collection is priced at 4,980 yen (US$47) and will include many songs that were not previously available. For this project, a search was conducted through tapes owned by Universal Music and TMS Music. The songs found as a result of this search included the original karaoke...
ANN Readers: Food Wars! 2 is Summer 2016's Most Anticipated Show
Japan is cooling their heels waiting for Love Live!! Sunshine next month but Anime News Network readers are salivating for Shokugeki no Sōma: Ni no Sara. A total of 2,062 participants (47.7% male, 42.8% female, 3.1% other/neither/both) weighed in. Food Wars! barely inched ahead of the #2 choice, the anime adaptation of the time-travel romantic drama Orange followed by D.Gray-man Hallow. Where's Lo...
Novelist Sōseki Natsume Will Return From the Grave As Teaching Android
Perhaps the strangest turn in Japan's focus in android is reanimation of the deceased. 100 years after his death, acclaimed novelist Sōseki Natsume will rise again an instructor at Nishogakusha University. The University is marking its 140th anniversary by hiring a robotic Natsume to teach classes at is alma mater. Award-winning robotics researcher and Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, ...
Gendo Finally Steps Up as Support Character in Kai-Ri-Sei Million Arthur Mobile Game
Godzilla also takes on Shinji, Kaworu, Mari, Rei & Asuka
― Gendo Ikari, contender for worst anime dad, is stepping up to provide Kai-Ri-Sei Million Arthur players with something he never gave Shinji — support. Square Enix's mobile game is currently collaborating with Neon Genesis Evangelion. The game added Shinji, Kaworu, Mari, Rei and Asuka as gacha characters earlier and is now adding Gendo as a "S...
Godzilla Teams Up With PARCO Mascot in Film Trailer Spoof
Godzilla has spent much of his time up to the premiere of his latest film crossing over with Neon Genesis Evangelion, where the radioactive lizard finds himself at odds with Shinji's Unit-01. A new collaboration with the PARCO department store's Parcoala mascot appears to show the two creatures terrorizing Tokyo together. A commercial began streaming on Tuesday with footage taken from the Godzilla...
Nana Mizuki Performs Acoustic Set for MTV Unplugged in Japan
Singer and voice actress Nana Mizuki will give an intimate, acoustic performance for the MTV Unplugged program in Japan. The recording will take place on October 23 at the Maihama Amphitheatre. Fans who want to tickets to the performance can try their luck by entering a lottery. The URL to access the ticket application are on serial number cards sealed inside the Limited Edition of Mizuki's 34th s...
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