Interest
— Archives —
- All
- •
- Anime
- Manga
- Novels
- Games
- Music
- Merch
- Events
- Industry
- People
- Live-Action
Text-only Compact View
Text-only List View
Text-only Grid View
List View with Images
Grid View with Images
Cocktail Prince Gets a Manga
Debuts in Monthly Sylph in December
― Cocktail Prince, a multimedia franchise about cocktails reimagined as attractive bartenders, is finally getting its first media release: a manga version, which will debut on December 22 in the February issue of Monthly Sylph. The manga will span five installments and will be drawn by Kina Azusa. The manga's story involves a different protagonist from the game and...
Voting Begins for Yomiuri Shimbun's Sugoi Japan Awards 2017
20 nominees each in anime, manga, light novel, and entertainment novel categories
― Voting has begun for the 2017 Sugoi Japan Awards, a project by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper to promote pop cultural works that fans feel are most deserving of foreign attention. Divided into four categories — anime, manga, light novels, and "entertainment novels" — the awards promote the works that have the "universa...
'Manners' Video for Kenji Kamiyama's Hirune Hime Anime Film Shows New Footage
Film by Ghost in the Shell: SAC director opens in March 2017
― Japanese entertainment news website Cinema Today began streaming a "manners video" on Friday featuring new footage for Hirune Hime ~Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari~ (Napping Princess: The Story of the Unknown Me), the new anime film by director Kenji Kamiyama. The video shows how to behave inside the theater, including: turn off cellphones...
Studio Ghibli Continues Animation of Chōjū Giga Scrolls With 3rd Ad
Totoro studio animates animals in 800-year-old "manga" to promote power company
― Studio Ghibli animated the famous Chōjū-Jinbutsu-Giga Emaki ("Scrolls of Cartoons of Birds, Animals, and People" or "Chōjū Giga" for short) for a third and final Marubeni Power commercial that debuted in Japan this week. In the video, titled "The Journey Continues," the rabbit runs away from the frog in tears as it begi...
Persona 5 & SuperGroupies Collaborate on Live-Action Short Film
SuperGroupies and the Persona 5 video game teamed up to promote the website's fashion and the new Persona installment in a stylistic short film. The short film was directed by Masatsugu Nagasoe and the stylist and art director was Tsuyoshi Takahashi. Takayuki Inada and Miki Saitō worked as creative directors on the short. SuperGroupies' also uploaded a behind-the-scenes making of the video to its ...
Full-Graphic Evangelion Kimono Project Now Taking Orders
Eva unit design chosen
― Fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion with a predilection for traditional Japanese fashion now have a chance to enjoy a rare treat: a furisode (long-sleeved) kimono featuring the Eva units. Developed by Tokyo Otaku Mode, a website specializing in Japanese pop culture merchandise and now expanding into original product development, the kimono was designed with responses to a fan su...
Tiger & Bunny Again Tops Fan Poll of Desired Anime Sequels
The Anime! Anime! website conducted a poll from October 27 to October 31 that asked fans which anime sequels they want to see. The poll divided anime in two categories: anime inspired by another original work (e.g. manga, light novel) and original anime not based on another work. The website held a preliminary survey on Twitter to select 30 titles to include in the poll. A total of 13,938 people t...
Controversial Artist Rokudenashiko Working with Film Team on LGBT Law Firm Doc
Documentary is currently raising funds on Kickstarter
― Artist Megumi Igarashi —pen name Rokudenashiko—gained the world's attention after the 44-year-old was arrested for distributing 3D printer data of her own genitalia as part of a backer reward for her crowdfunding campaign to construct a vagina kayak. She was found guilty and fined 400,000 yen (US$3,690) for the crime. She has since married Water...
Latest Japanese Sword-Turned-Pretty Boy is Designed by Yoshitaka Amano
DMM's Tōken Ranbu mobile game has been nothing short of a sensation among its female fanbase, inspiring two anime adaptations. The game is just one in a long line of "object turned into attractive guy/girl" and even Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D artist Yoshitaka Amano is getting in on the action. Amano is participating in Mori Art Museum's "The Universe and Art: Princess Kaguya, Leonardo da V...
7 Samurai Promote Nissin Cup Noodles With Sports
Nissin Cup Noodles set loose Freestyle Football champion Kotaro Tokuda in Brazil as its soccer samurai in 2014. The brand recruited more extreme sports-playing warriors for a promotional video it began streaming on Tuesday. The video begins with a surfing samurai taking the shores of Rio de Janeiro. Next, skateboarding, biking, skiing, slacklining, and Xpogoing samurai appear. The commercial concl...
Pokémon Go Event Brings 10,000+ Visitors to Quake-Hit Prefecture
Pokėmon Go launched its current Lapras event in Japan's northeastern Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures on November 11. The event offers increased numbers of Lapras in parts of the coastal region. One goal is to boost the economy of the area hit hardest in 2011's earthquake and tsunami disaster. More than 10,000 people visited Miyagi Prefecture for the event on Saturday alone. The prefecture...
Look Forward to Yuri!!! on Ice Large Face Cushion & Nendoroids
New Free! Eternal Summer figures also announced
― The Bandai Gashapon booth at Animate Girls Festival 2016 (AGF2016), held November 5-6, showed off a huge Yuri!!! on Ice surprise. Their Munimuni Marshmallow Mascot Big Version is a 27 inch soft cushion of main skater Yūri. As advertised on the display, where visitors could reach in and feel the pillow, Premium Bandai will start selling at the cute, c...
Conan O'Brien Rips Apart Final Fantasy XV: 'Why is This a Game?'
Late night talk show host Conan O'Brien has previously reviewed video games like Super Mash Bros. for Wii U on his segment "Clueless Gamer." O'Brien, who claims to know next to nothing about video games, tests out the latest offerings while providing comedic commentary. In his latest review, he plays Final Fantasy XV alongside actor Elijah Wood and grows increasingly frustrated with the game's pre...
Pokémon Go Players Bust 1.3 Billion Ghost Pokémon During Halloween Event
Niantic Labs' Pokėmon Go app held its first in-game event from October 26 to November 1. Despite reports that the game's popularity, which was at an all-time high during the summer, has waned, players still turned out for the Ghost-focused Halloween event. Game developer Niantic Labs told GamesRadar that players caught 1.3 billion spooky Pokémon over the five day period. Gastly was caught the most...
FigureX Announces Life-Size Version of Re:Zero's Rem
Emilia's main competition for Re:Zero's honorary "best girl" just moved forward a step. Subaru's dutiful and doting companion Rem will get a 1:1-scale figure by FigureX. The company wrote on its official blog on Monday that it is working on a life-size figure. More news may be announced next week, but until then the blog also included an illustration which will serve as the basis for the figure's...
Ai Yazawa Draws NANA Playing Cards, Cross-Over Mini-Manga
The January issue of Shueisha's Cookie magazine will be an oversized issue and bundle some new work by Nana creator Ai Yazawa. The magazine will have a double cover with artwork by both Yazawa and Taiyō ga Miteiru (Kamo Shirenaikara) creator Ryo Ikuemi. The issue will also bundle a deck of NANA playing cards and a mini-manga by Yazawa featuring characters from her series Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai and Go...
Nintendo Taps Into the Past for New Mini Famicom Commercial
Nintendo's Mini Famicom console is bringing 30 classic games in one easy built-in package. The company's latest commercial shows off several of the game titles but also seems very familiar. The commercial's layout is very similar to the original Famicom commercials that ran in 1983, even down to the hand model. The Nintendo Classic Mini Family Computer will come with (games listed in chronological...
Sony Releases The Seven Deadly Sins Meliodas Headphones & Walkman
Sony, in collaboration with The Seven Deadly Sins manga and television series, released a new Walkman and headphone pair styled after protagonist Meliodas. The back of the red Walkman bares Meliodas' Dragon's Sin of Wrath mark. The matching headphones show off the same mark on the right side and the series' logo on the left. The headphones are based off the h.ear on (MDR-100A) stereo headphone mo...
Proudly Bear Your Wings of Freedom with Attack on Titan Map Wallet, Character Smartphone Cases
From SuperGroupies comes the new Attack on Titan motif wallet and phone cases. The wallet is a large bi-fold featuring a map of the three walls and outside area in pleasant pastels for 7,800 yen (US$73). The smartphone cases fit iPhone 5, 5s, SE, 6, and 6s for 4,800 yen (US$45 and are designed after five characters. Eren Jaeger Jean Kirstein Levi Ackerman Erwin Smith Hange Zoë All items are avail...
Brave Frontier Collaborates With Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Game
Gumi announced on Friday that its A-Lim subsidiary's Brave Frontier smartphone game is teaming up with Square Enix's Final Fantasy Brave Exvius smartphone game for a special crossover collaboration. The collaboration is part of Brave Frontier's Third Anniversary Milestone Celebration, and it will run from November 9 through to December 7. Heroes from Final Fantasy Brave Exvius are appearing in Bra...
Character Designs for Four Ninja Rice Balls Unveiled
Yui no Shinobi game reaches 10,000 registrants
― The upcoming card-based smartphone game Yui no Shinobi casts different flavors of rice balls as ninjas. Although silhouettes have recently been unveiled, the true human forms of these classic Japanese snacks have not been known... until now. Marinated pollock roe transforms into Kara'aki Suketara. He is described as a cheerful, talkative and ostentatio...
Cup Noodles' Girls und Panzer Tank Ammo Round Package Priced at 32,184 Yen
Cheaper package holds more cups
― The Nissin Cup Noodles celebrating Girls und Panzer will go on sale on November 14. Nissin recently released more information about the two packages involved. The Tank Round Ammo Stocker set, which comes in a faux-wooden package, will hold six cup noodles, a poster, and a fake tank round. The poster features the girls of Anglerfish Team in their mascot's costume. (G...
Statue of Yu Yu Hakusho's Toguro Lets You Climb On His Shoulders
Part of Monster Strike crossover
― The younger Toguro from Yu Yu Hakusho is so vast and well-muscled that his older brother can ride on his shoulders. Now a life-size statue of the top half of younger Toguro is on display in Tokyo for shōnen manga fans to climb on. Elder Toguro wigs optional. Why take a piggyback ride on a Terminator-like villain? Why is he engrossed in a smartphone? The answer is th...
New Year's 67th Kōhaku Song Contest Gets Team Representatives
There are many New Year's traditions in Japan, like staying up to watch the sunrise, making a pilgrimage to a local temple, and tuning into the Kōhaku Uta Gassen singing contest. The program feature a Red team and a White team, each with a respective representative. For the program's 67th year, NHK announced actress Kasumi Arimura (When Marnie Was There, Strobe Edge, ERASED, March Comes in Like a ...
Hitch a Ride in Tokyo's Kinmoza! Anime-Themed Taxis
Visitors to Tokushima, home of ufotable, had a chance to ride around in Fate/stay night taxis in 2014. Attendees at Comiket 90 visited different areas of the convention in a taxi featuring the character Puro-sei-chan this past August. The latest itasha taxis are ten Kin-iro Mosaic: Pretty Days vehicles that hit the streets of Tokyo on Monday. Condor Taxi unveiled five different designs for the cha...
Love Live! Sunshine!! Anime Holds Worldwide 'Image Girl' Poll
The official website for the Love Live! anime franchise announced on Friday that it is holding a Love Live! Sunshine!! "World Image Girl Election." The voting period will run from November 18 to December 18, but a website for the fan poll has yet to launch. The poll will determine an Aquors poster girl for nine "regions" of the world: Australia, China, Germany, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, ...
Shonen Jump Editor Discusses My Hero Academia's Appeal, Possible Live-Action Adaptation
Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia is usually considered the successor manga/anime to Weekly Shonen Jump hits like Naruto and Bleach, combining the usual Shonen Jump formula of friendship, effort and victory with a unique character design and lead protagonist. Its editor, Kengo Monji, spoke with Japanese entertainment news site Oricon Style about what factors make the series a success. Monji poin...
Transforming Robot Prototype On Display in Orlando Next Week
Developers form LLP
― The J-deite RIDE, a car capable of transforming into a humanoid robot with a passenger inside, is nearing completion. The team responsible for building it plans to exhibit a 1.5-meter (about 5 feet) tall prototype at the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2016 in Orlando, Florida on November 14. It is slated for completion in the middle of 2017, when it will go into mass production and be m...
Code Geass 10th Anniversary Event Teases "Demon's Rebirth" — & Maybe More …
Fans decode possible secret message in event invitation
― A few lucky fans received a ticket and a fancy invitation to November 27's Code Geass 10th Anniversary event — and maybe a bit more ... The "Code Geass no Kiseki no Anniversary" invitation teases a secret code, and then slips in fine print at the bottom, "P.S. The answer is beneath "kai." コードギアス キセキのアニバーサリー特別招待状付きのチケットが届いた! pic.twitter.com/VkH...
Street Fighter V Jumps In Ring with Red Bull BC One Breakdancers
Red Bull's annual BC One breakdancing tournament will take place in Nagoya's Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on December 3 this year. To celebrate the event and pump up enthusiasm, the usual breakdancers are joined in advertising by other characters with a flair for smooth, athletic movement: the Street Fighter V roster. Red Bull cans will also be sold in Japan with Street Fighter's Ryu and Taisuke, J...
Audi Offers Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV Film Car for US$470,000
Audi Japan began streaming a promotional video on Friday for its The Audi R8 Star of Lucis car, a replica of the vehicle that appears in the Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV feature-length CG film. According to Audi's official website, the car manufacturer teamed up with the Royal Art Society of Lucis to create the car. Audi produced the car to celebrate the 20th birthday of Prince Noctis, the heir t...
Madoka Magica Collaborates With Chain Chronicle for Game Event
The Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie Part 3: Rebellion anime film is collaborating with the smartphone game Chain Chronicle: Kizuna no Shintairiku for an in-game event that started on November 8. The collaboration is offering exclusive Madoka Magica characters for the game. If players draw for the collaboration gacha lottery 30 times, they receive one campaign ticket. Using the ticket guarantee...
Japan's Tōhoku Region Gets Pokémon Go Lapras Event
Pokėmon Go held its very first in-game event from October 26 to November 1. The global event marked Halloween and offered increased encounters for spooky Pokėmon such as Gastly, Haunter, and Cubone. While that event was global, and The Pokémon Company announced it in advance, the augmented reality app unveiled a sudden surprise on Friday for trainers in Japan. The app's official Japanese Twitter a...
Hit the Court With Reebok's Kuroko's Basketball Sneakers
Although Tadatoshi Fujimaki's Kuroko's basketball manga concluded, the franchise is still a slam dunk in terms of popularity. The third anime compilation film will screen in Japan from December 3-16, and the film adaptation of Fujimaki's Kuroko no Basuke Extra Game sequel manga will open in Japan in spring 2017. Before the latest anime debut, Reebok is teaming up with Bandai to give fans a chance...
Take a Tour of Tokyo's 'your name.' Film Locales
Have you seen Makoto Shinkai's box-office hit your name. (Kimi no Na wa.) yet? Even if you haven't seen the anime, you could have the opportunity to experience part of the film's world. Japan's H.I.S. travel agency is offering a walking tour this month of the Yotsuya area of Tokyo's Shinjuku ward, a main part of the film's setting. The "Shinjuku Yotsuya Walking Tour" will start at Yotsuya Station,...
Sport Your Own Yuri!!! On Ice Yuri Plisetsky's Tiger Sweatshirt
Yuri Plisetsky's discovery of "Japanese fashion" in Yuri!!! On Ice was an iconic moment in the second episode that fans won't forget. It's no surprise that a replica of his wild sweatshirt is already online for pre-order. The sweatshirt will ship January 31 for 4,968 yen (US$46.58) through Tsutaya's online shop. The Yuri!!! on Ice anime premiered in Japan on October 6, and Crunchyroll is streamin...
See Like a Magical Girl With Sailor V Eyeglasses
The Sailor Guardians already joined forces with JINS and Bandai this year to release a line of Sailor Moon glasses frames. Character eyewear brand Maison Sabae is now teaming up with the magical girls to offer glasses that actually appeared in the Sailor Moon anime and manga. The company is modeling its first character glasses on the eyewear of character Sailor V, the alternate identity of Minako...
Fan Creates Pokémon Battle Demo for Augmented Reality Glasses
Fan KennyWdev uploaded a Pokémon RPG battle system they created named "PokeLens" for the Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality glasses to their YouTube Channel on November 6 . Pokémon Go already showed the world how Pokémon can operate in augmented reality, but this work takes it a step further. Rather than still relying on the phone screen, this augmented reality demo previews what a mash-up betwe...
Usagi Longs for a Ford Fusion in New Overdub Ford YouTube Commercial
Sailor Moon's Usagi Tsukino daydreams about a lot of things: a beautiful wedding dress, her debut as a celebrity superstar, and winning over the attractive Motoki at her nearby arcade. In a new overdub ad by Ford, she also imagines herself as the owner of a Lightning Blue Ford Fusion. Luna is also on hand to remind her that the car isn't just stylish, but also a practical choice. Ford has previous...
Shin Godzilla Celebrates Free Pocky Day in Softbank TV Commercial
Godzilla swoops in to destroy the city once again in a new commercial for the mobile phone service provider Softbank. The ad for Softbank's campaign "Good Shopping Day" on November 11 (also Pocky Day), meant to enticing people to shop more on that day, aired nationwide starting November 3, Godzilla's birthday. The commercial takes place in the world of Shin Godzilla and tells the story of Godzilla...
Yoshiyuki Tomino Celebrates Turning 75 with Presents from Gundam Voice Actresses
The official Twitter for Gundam Reconguista in G tweeted photos of their celebration with Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino for his 75th birthday that included some specially designed cakes. Tomino also received presents from voice actresses Minako Kotobuki (Gundam's Fram Nara, Noredo Nug) and Ayahi Takagaki (Gundam's Feldt Grace, Decil Galette, Manny Anbasada, Nobell). The same Twitter account adde...
Kūtei Dragons' 1st Volume Comes Bundled with Delicious Dragon Cooking Recipe
Kodansha released the first volume of a new manga by Taku Kuwabara, known for his previous work Tokkabu, called Kūtei Dragons (Airborne Dragons) on November 7. The ongoing fantasy travelogue began running in Kodansha's Good Afternoon magazine on June 7. A special item is bundled with the first volume: a recipe for delicious dragon cooking. The manga is a gourmet fantasy following the crew of the a...
My Hero Academia Creator Kōhei Horikoshi Will Make 1st Stage Appearance at Jump Festa
Kōhei Horikoshi is gearing up for a second television anime adaptation of his manga My Hero Academia by making a special appearance at this year's Jump Festa event. Horikoshi, who has never before appeared at a stage event, will be present at Jump Festa Super Stage at Makuhari Messe during the December 17-18 weekend. Horikoshi has previously appeared on television for interviews but he wore a gas ...
'Gum Kare!' Chewing Gum Boyfriends Time Travel Through Hokkaido in New Campaign
Lotte's "Gum Kare!" campaign about its personified gum brands that are “lovers for your mouth” is getting a fourth project. The campaign already inspired an idol-themed manga on the pixiv Comic website. "Gum Kare! Time Leap Shūgakuryokō" (Gum Boyfriend! Time Travel School Trip) video stars the protagonist, a female high school student who suddenly becomes a tooth. She's watching her favorite idol ...
Check Out the Animate Stores of Yesteryear via Photo Exhibition
Animate, Japan's largest purveyor of all things otaku, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The company has grown immensely since it was founded in 1983. It decided to drive home just how much by putting a photo retrospective on display last weekend at the Animate Girls Festival 2016 event. The photos were hung in the stairwell from the main Animate Ikebukuro shop between the eighth and ...
Nintendo Goes Retro for Classic NES Release
Brings back Power Line for tips
― Tons of companies are hopping on the retro bandwagon lately, including the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Now, Nintendo is celebrating the the 1980s for the launch of its NES Classic Edition console. The system is going on sale on November 11 in North America and Europe (Japan, on the other hand, is getting a Nintendo Classic Mini Family Computer [Famicom] on November 10...
Special Edition New 3DS Models Launch on Black Friday for US$100
Nintendo is rolling out a New Nintendo 3DS console on the cheap for customers on Black Friday. The handheld gaming system will be available in both white and black featuring classic Mario iconography. The even better part is the consoles will be available for US$100. Note that this is the New Nintendo 3DS, not the XL version (which retails for US$199.99). The company released its Solgaleo and Lun...
Dig Out Your Goth Gear, Alita: Battle Angel Opens Casting Call in Austin, Texas
The long-stalled Battle Angel Alita live-action film finally has its feet off the ground and is currently shooting in Austin, Texas. The film is starring Rosa Salazar (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, The Divergent Series: Insurgent, Man Seeking Woman) in the lead role with Academy Award-winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained) as Doctor Dyson Ido. There are still some open s...
Replicate Evangelion's Stark Episode Titles with Special Font Package
Both TV and movie fonts included
― The 1995 TV anime Neon Genesis Evangelion was a watershed moment for anime for many reasons. Its visceral depictions of combat with nebulous alien foes marked a turn towards harder fare in mecha action, the dynamics of Shinji's relationships with his two co-pilots influenced later depictions of female leads, and the psychological turmoil evident throughout the show ...
KochiKame Manga Gets Infinity Volume With Mini Scroll
The ∞ (mugen, or "infinity") volume of Osamu Akimoto's Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo ("Kochikame") police comedy manga shipped in Japan on Friday. The special book retails at 2,700 yen (about US$26) and bundles a 3.8-meter (about 12-foot) mini picture scroll. A KochiKame scroll that stands more than 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall was dedicated at Tokyo's Kanda Shrine on Septembe...
your name Inspires New Relationships with Matchmaking Events
Osaka gathering scheduled for November 12
― The hit anime film your name has been tearing up the Japanese box office for weeks, partially through its story's multiple-demographic appeal. Machicon Japan, an initiative by the company Linkbal, Inc., is taking advantage of this by organizing two events that bring your name fans together to share their thoughts and feelings about the movie and, hopefully,...
Watch Death Note's Ryuk Sing His Version of "Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen"
Ryuk, the macabre Shinigami (death god) from Death Note, is noted for his fondness for apples. It should be no surprise that to promote his latest movie, Death Note: Light Up the New World, he's performing his take on Daimaō Kosaka's viral hit "PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)." The video, much like other "PPAP" parodies, has caught on, racking up over 9 million views at press time. It's anyone's gu...
New Power Rangers Film Reveals Megazord Design, But in Toy Form
The official Twitter account for the Power Rangers franchise has revealed the first look at the Megazord that will appear in the upcoming new Power Rangers film. However, instead of revealing the Megazord design in gritty poster form as the film's Zords were originally revealed, the Megazord has been revealed through its tie-in merchandise. The upcoming interactive figure will have expandable win...
Chinese KanColle Ripoff Game Launches in Japan
Chinese game developer Moe Fantasy launched the Senkan Shōjo R (Battleship Girl R) smartphone game for iOS and Android devices in Japan on October 24. Even before the launch, Japanese net users were quick to notice something familiar about the game. The smartphone app is an apparent ripoff of Kadokawa Games' Kantai Collection (KanColle) browser game. In the new game's story, warships from various ...
Ayana Taketatsu Cosplays as Her K-ON! Character Azusa
Voice actress Ayana Taketatsu (Sword Art Online's Leafa/Suguha, My Wife is the Student Council President's Ui) posted pictures on her official Twitter account on Friday of herself cosplaying as her K-ON! character Azusa Nakano. One image showed her in the cat-eared persona of "Azu-nyan," and the other image shows her in a gravure image with Azusa's plain uniform. The 27-year-old became her teenage...
Kabaneri Compilation Films Audition Fans for Kabane Voices
Twenty slots available
― Fans of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress with an interest in voice acting will get a chance to contribute to the voice work in the compilation films premiering at the end of the year, as these films are auditioning voice work for the zombie-like Kabane using the music social media service nana. Interested fans must record their groans and screams, using the above scene as refer...
Japan's Hot Springs Join Anthropomorphization, Idol Craze
Lead character design revealed
― Although they are iconic features of the Japanese cultural landscape, hot springs are seen as somewhat old-fashioned today, and they are dealing with declining visitor numbers. To help drum up interest among the youth again, they are turning to Onsen Musume (Hot Spring Girls), a multimedia idol project by Enbound, Inc. with support from Tokyo Otaku Mode and Daiichi Ka...
Japan Celebrates Godzilla Day
Special film screenings, stores, and "live"-tweeting
― The influential monster movie Godzilla premiered on November 3, 1954. In a nod to its predecessor, this year's entry in the franchise, Shin Godzilla, used November 3 as the date when the monster first emerges out of Tokyo Bay. Accordingly, November 3 was celebrated as "Godzilla Day" in Japan this year. To mark the occasion, Toho Cinemas Shinjuku ...
Human Rice Balls Become Ninja Friends in App Game
From highway service stations to months to Christian denominations, Japan loves to turn inanimate objects or concepts into humans. Now, Visual Works is teasing a new game that anthropomorphizes unassuming rice balls into attractive male ninjas. The official website and Twitter account for Yui no Shinobi posted character silhouettes on Friday. Pre-registration is now open, and the "ninja friendship...
'17-Year-Old' Voice Actress Kikuko Inoue, Daughter Pose as Schoolgirls
The perpetually 17-year-old voice actress Kikuko Inoue and her actually 18-year-old daughter Honoka posed as high school students for promotional pictures. The mother-daughter duo are promoting Elecom's new "stereo headphones perfect for anime music." The pair appear as good friends waiting on a train station platform during their commute to school. They use their special headphones to make the ti...
Pokémon Trading Card Game Launches Throwback Website
The Pokémon Trading Card Game celebrated its 20th anniversary last month. Leading up to the event, the game got booster packs featuring the original packaging design, throwback commercials in Japan and a book collecting the original artwork from the game. The English side is also celebrating with a painfully accurate 1990s-style website. Clicking the launch link starts a dial-up modem sound effect...
Tite Kubo Returns to Twitter With Manga, Bleach Cosplay
Bleach creator Tite Kubo abruptly left Twitter without an explanation in September 2015. However, Kubo launched a new official Twitter account on Halloween this year. Although Kubo describes the return as "casual," his comeback is leaving a striking impression so far. お久しぶりです。久保です。ふらっと軽い気持ちでTwitterに戻ってきました。 pic.twitter.com/uBT0KouFtQ— 久保帯人 (@tite_official) October 31, 2016 Kubo's first picture pos...
J-World Tokyo Hosts Event For Naruto: Sasuke Shinden Novel, Previews Anime Visual
Indoor theme park hosts event for novel from December 1-January 9
― Namco's J-World Tokyo indoor theme park for Shueisha's Shonen Jump properties announced on Friday that it will have an event based on the Naruto: Sasuke's Story - Sunrise (Naruto: Sasuke Shinden - Raikō) novel. The event will run from December 1 to January 9. The theme park unveiled an anime visual for the event (seen below), and wil...
Pepper Robots' Turn as Love Live Idols Isn't Up to Snuff
The Pepper robot has proven its an adequate stand-in for its human counterpart in a number of career avenues, including manning a cell phone store, backing up Asian Kung-Fu Generation, brewing coffee, and officiating weddings. Pepper's versatile programming is impressive, but it looks like its not up to par with complicated choreography Japanese idols have to learn to entertain fans. Nine Pepper r...
'Bathing Boyfriend' Bath Product Line Launches Manga
Anna Takamura's Nyūyoku Kareshi -Hadaka de Aroma Healing- (Bathing Boyfriends: Naked Aroma Healing) manga launched in this year's 46th issue of Kadokawa's B's Log Comic magazine on Monday. Anime studio TMS Entertainment provided the original concept, and Takamura is illustrating the series. The manga adapts TMS Entertainment's line of bishōnen bathing products. The line debuted this past February ...
3rd Voice Actor Ramen Campaign Unveils New Recipes
Maruchan announced its third Voice Recipe campaign and app on Tuesday. Voice Recipe 3 introduces new recipes and characters. Members of the campaign's male idol group Donpuri4 and "fresh ramen girls unit" Okamochi Sisters teach ramen connoisseurs how to make unique dishes. The members of DonPuri4 are returning character Hikaru Higashimizu (voiced by Daisuke Ono), Bonito Misaki (Tetsuya Kakihara), ...
FOVE 0 Eye-Tracking VR Headset Collaborates With Sword Art Online Movie
Demonstration features Asuna explaining headset's features, reacting to user's eye movements
― Virtual reality headset company Fove, Inc. announced on Thursday that it will launch a collaboration with the Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale anime film in January. The collaboration will consist of a demonstration of Fove's "FOVE 0" eye-tracking VR headset, featuring the character Asuna explaining the feat...
Pokémon Fans Aren't Ready to Tell Serena Goodbye
Our intreprid protagonist is really growing up. In episode 47 of Pokémon XY & Z, Serena made her feelings to known to Ash in the frankest way possible. She's travelled with Ash since the start of Pokémon XY and has been a staple of Ash's crew for the last 140 episodes. When all of it culminated into Ash's first, genuine romantic experience in 20 years, fans went nuts. Needless to say, quite a few ...
Attack on Titan's Mikasa Gets Articulated Figure from McFarlane Toys
McFarlane Toys, the makers of posable figures from popular U.S. shows and games like The Walking Dead, Five Nights at Freddy's, Titanfall 2 and Gears of War 4 are adding Attack on Titan's Survey Corps. member Mikasa to its Color Tops toy line. The Color Tops toy line features prominent characters from popular brands in a collector's style window box. Each figure is posable and 7 inches in height;...
Crunchyroll Releases Map of Most Popular Fall Simulcasts for U.S., Canada
Crunchyroll released on Twitter maps of the U.S. and Canada late last week showing the site's most popular fall simulcast anime by state and province. In the U.S., Drifters appears the most popular in 20 states, followed by Yuri!!! on Ice in 11 states and Keijo!!!!!!!! in nine states. In Canada, Haikyu!! appears most popular as number one in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick. I...
Sony Apologizes for Keyakizaka46 Idol Group's Nazi-Like Costumes
Idol group Keyakizaka46 received a lot of backlash online after pictures of the members' Nazi-like costumes gained international attention this week. The group wore military-style black dresses, black silver-buttoned capes, and matching hats with bird insignia for the "Perfect Halloween" concert at Yokohama Arena on October 22. Sony Music Entertainment issued a statement on the costumes in Japanes...
Fan Video Sends Mario Into the Underworld
The popular Netflixs sci-fi horror series Stranger Things crosses over with Nintendo's famous plumber in a new live-action fan video where Mario enters the "upside down". "Super Mario: Underworld" by Andrew, Matthew and Seth McMurray sees Mario fall from his level into a forested area where previous mis-jumps by the player have caused Mario to fall to his doom. Things only get more disturbing for ...
Latest Emotional Webcomic Explains Why Quitting A Job Isn't a Cure for Depression
Japanese net users are delving into all kinds of emotional topics by publishing their manga online. Former idol fans, lonely office ladies, and anime fans have talked in detail about the dark side of their hobbies through this visual medium. A new manga by Twitter user @Sodium discusses the stress of Japanese work-life, a burden so great the manga's protagonist considers jumping in front of a trai...
Studio 4°C Animates Short About Kanji Aptitude Test
Short features mysterious boy fighting "Unknown" creatures
― The official Youtube channel of the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Public Interest Foundation (Nihon Kanji Nōryoku Kentei Kyōkai) began streaming an anime short by Studio 4°C titled "Chiryokumaru" on Monday to promote the Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (Nihon Kanji Nōryoku Kentei, or "Kanken"). The short centers on a mysterious boy who fights crea...
Toriko Manga Helped Raise Awareness of 'Autophagy' Before Nobel Prize
The scientific term "autophagy" grabbed attention throughout the scientific community after Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine this year for his work. The Tokyo Institute of Technology professor won the prize for discovering and clearly explaining the process of autophagy. Autophagy is the process where cells degrade and recycle its own components. The topic may have ha...
Multiple Memoirs Go Behind-the-Scenes of Studio Ghibli
Last year former Studio Ghibli animator, Hitomi Tateno, published her memoir Enpitsu Senki: Dare mo Shiranakatta Studio Ghibli (The Pencil Wars: The Studio Ghibli that Nobody Knew). The book offered insight on Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, and Isao Takahata and Tateno's own experiences working as an image motion checker. Since her memoir was published, several more staff members from the acclaime...
7-Meter Tall Straw Godzilla Goes on Display in Fukuoka
Every year, the small town of Chikuzen in Fukuoka prefecture holds its Dōntokagashi harvest festival. Despite the town's small population of approximately 30,000, they decided to celebrate in a big way. The town constructed a seven meter tall (23ft) tall replica of Shin Godzilla's titular monster out of bamboo and straw. The artists have faithfully recreated Godzilla's image down to his rippled sk...
Ghost in the Shell Hollywood Film Gets Exclusive Tokyo Event in November
In light of the Hollywood Ghost in the Shell film starring Scarlett Johansson and directed by Rupert Sanders, a special "Ghost in the Shell Exclusive Event" will take place in Tokyo on November 13. For public relations, Johansson will be visiting Japan, too, which is the first time since the film Lost in Translation 14 years ago. Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks Pictures' live-action Ghost in th...
Production I.G Creates Short Anime to Celebrate Iwaki Meisei University's New Nursing School
Iwaki Meisei University in Iwaki, Fukushima plans to open a new School of Nursing next April. This wouldn't typically be anime news, but Production I.G has created a short promotional video for the announcement titled "Ohai Alii ~Kagayaku Hi no Tame ni~ where "O'hai Ali'i" is a type of flower used in Hawai'i to create leis. The animated promotional video shows what student life will be like at the...
Keyakizaka46 Idol Group Members' Nazi-Like Costumes Raise Eyebrows
Keyakizaka46 is a sister idol group of Nogizaka46, which is in turn a spinoff "rival" group of the popular AKB48. Their relation to the popular idol groups isn't what's getting attention on the internet though, it's the group's recent off-color costume choices. Keyakizaka46 held a concert at Yokohama Arena on October 22 called "Perfect Halloween." During the show, the idols (ranging in age from 15...
Detective Conan Fan Buys Auctioned Mugs at Huge Markup
One Detective Conan fan may be drowning financial sorrows with two cups of coffee today. This year's 39th issue of Shogakukan's Shonen Sunday magazine offered a prize lottery for exclusive Shūichi Akai and Tōru Amuro "pair mugs." The lottery gave the mugs to 150 winners for free. A lucky recipient of the mugs who was looking to make some cash listed the set on the Yahoo! Auctions website. After 26...
Happy Halloween — Anime Style
It's Halloween, and this means lots of fun art and cool drawings from various artists, creators, games, and anime series. Below is a compilation of some of the ones we've seen so far this year. As usual, the entries are arranged alphabetically by title, or the artist's last name. Ajin ハッピーハロウィーン\(^o^)/10/31...ハロウィンですね!きっとIBMのコスプレをしてくださっている人がたくさんいますように...(´･_･')アニメ「亜人」好評放送中!!#亜人計画 pic.twitter.com/...
One Piece Campaign Raises Money to Revitalize Kumamoto Prefecture
Trains and One Piece-related rewards for philanthropy
― On October 24, Weekly Shonen Jump announced a One Piece campaign to raise funds for Kumamoto Prefecture, which was badly damaged by earthquakes in April this year. Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece and a Kumamoto native, celebrated the project with this artwork of the Straw Hat Pirates in front of Kumamoto Castle (which was damaged). Two tr...
Gintama Manga Gets 1st Exhibition in Tokyo This Winter
Exhibition runs from December 23-January 9
― This year's 48th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga is getting its first exhibition. The exhibition is titled "Rensai Kanketsu Sunzen Dai Gintama-ten: Tsuke ga Mawaru Mae ni Ketsu wo Fuke" (Big Gintama Exhibition On The Verge of the End of its Serialization: Wipe Your Butt Before You Pay ...
Cocktail Prince Mobile Game Streams Gimlet, Long Island Iced Tea, Mistia Royal Videos
Geechs' upcoming mobile game Cocktail Prince, which centers on attractive young males who represent cocktails, announced voice cast for three more characters on Thursday. The project also began streaming videos for the newly announced roles. The "Gentlemanly, Wholesome Otaku Mom," Gimlet Voiced by: Yūya Hirose Day Job: idol Height: 175 cm (5'9") Hobbies: gardening, reading He is kind and always sm...
Voice Actor Nobuhiko Okamoto's First Album Recalled
One song plagiarizes Kenichi Suzumura
― On October 27, a mere day after its release, the first album of voice actor Nobuhiko Okamoto, Happiece, was recalled by its label, Lantis. It had become aware that one song on the album, the unfortunately titled "Bokura no Catastrophe" ("Our Catastrophe"), shares the same score as Kenichi Suzumura's "Hitotsu" ("One"). This video compares the two songs. "Hitotsu...
Kingdom Hearts' Sora Appears in World of Final Fantasy Game
Official Twitter accounts for the World of Final Fantasy game and Kingdom Hearts series announced on Friday that Sora will be available as free DLC in World of Final Fantasy. Sora will be available this winter as a Champion players can summon. The release marks Sora's first appearance in a Final Fantasy world. The release of Sora in the game is a collaboration with Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Cha...
Ultra-Ultra-Rare Pokémon Card to Go on Auction
Estimated worth: $50,000
― Pokémon card collecting and trading have been common pastimes for 20 years, and many have childhood memories of fierce haggling for holographic cards or tearing through packets upon packets of cards hoping to find a Charizard. It's extremely unlikely, however, that you or anyone you know owns the Holy Grail, the Koh-i-Noor, the Fountain of Youth of all Pokémon trading cards...
Tokyo Politicians Cosplay for Ikebukuro Halloween Event
Governor and mayor dress up as Princess Sapphire, Mario
― Since 2014, the annual Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest has brought tens of thousands of cosplayers to Ikebukuro's streets to celebrate Halloween; it is also livestreamed on Nico Nico Douga. At this year's event on October 29, two local politicians appeared in cosplay: Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, impersonated Princess Sapphire of Prin...
Bandai's Tamashii Nations Collectible Line Holds 10th Anniversary World Tour
Bandai's Tamashii Nations line of collectibles is holding the Tamashii Nations 10th Anniversary World Tour from December 2016 to November 2017. The tour will visit ten locations to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the line known for anime figures. The tour will kick off at CCXP at Sao Paulo Expo in Brazil from December 1 to December 4. The tour will then visit Hong Kong, the United States, Japan...
Museum of Modern Art Acquires Original 176 Emoji
New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) announced on Wednesday that it has acquired the original set of 176 emoji for its permanent collection. The emoji will appear in MoMA's lobby beginning in December. Shigetake Kurita, creator of the original pictographs, confirmed the announcement on his Twitter page. Kurita created the emoji set for Japan's mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo, and they made their debu...
Poopman Plans Flash Mob in Shibuya This Sunday
Mascot hopes to spread smiles through power of poop
― Ah, Halloween. That magical, wonderful time of year when grown adults are free to wander the streets dressed in whatever silly costume they please, whether it be monsters, cultural icons, or... poop?!? That's right, Poopman is hitting the streets of Tokyo on October 30. He's planning a flash mob through Shibuya on 6 PM. Hopeful participants are to...
RADWIMPS Release your name's "Sparkle (original ver.)"
To appear on forthcoming album
― The Japanese rock band RADWIMPS has released the music video for their song "Sparkle (original ver.)." The "movie version" of this song, unusually, was released first — in the hit film your name. While the music video is primarily a reedit of scenes from the film, it includes several new scenes, mostly shots of nature and the protagonists staring at hourglasses. ...
Upcoming Smartphone Game Casts Ninja as Rice Balls
Meet honorable warriors Marinated Pollock Roe and Kelp
― The peaceful land of Inaho has vast territory, abundant natural resources, and all four seasons at once. Our hero's hometown, O-hitsu, is home to many yuinin, talented ninja who serve the local lord faithfully. But when our hero leaves the village for training, the lord dies and the land is partitioned. What's more, O-hitsu suffers an attack, a...
Hatsune Miku Undergoes Ballet Transformation for Isao Tomita Memorial Concerts
Hatsune Miku switches out her usual pop style for a classic ballet look for the upcoming Dr. Coppelius concerts, a special collaboration performance series in memory of the late composer and synthesizer artist Isao Tomita. The production announcement press conference at Tokyo Yotsuya JFIC Hall Sakura on October 26 announced the news and released an image. Also during the press conference, the staf...
Real Figure Skaters Endorse Yuri!!! on ICE
The new ice skating anime Yuri!!! on ICE is attracting fans who are actual ice skaters. First among these is Russian skater Evgenia Medvedeva, the 2016 World Champion, who has expressed her appreciation for the show — especially its more erotic scenes — on her Twitter feed. Perfect Just waiting next series .. #yurionice pic.twitter.com/XOKx7wrK2H— Evgenia Medvedeva (@JannyMedvedeva) Octo...
For all articles, see the archives