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Nintendo Switch Fan "Wins" 17,500-Yen Auction for Catalog
The new Nintendo Switch console, which launched worldwide on March 3, is proving popular in both Japan and the Americas. With the device sold out in most stores, fans are clambering to get their hands on this year's hottest gaming commodity. Of course, eager fans who turn to the world of online auctions need to be cautious. A Yahoo! Auctions bidder in Japan may be learning a hard lesson this week....
Nintendo in Legal Battle with Real-Life Mario Karting Rental Service
Patent Office rejects Nintendo's claim to "MariCar"
― The Shinagawa-based company MariCar lets customers get a taste of the popular Nintendo video game series Mario Kart in real life by renting go-carts, along with Mario-themed costumes, to drive along the streets of Tokyo. Nintendo is not pleased, and took legal action against MariCar despite MariCar's claim that it had an understanding with the gam...
Terrifying New Re:ZERO Mabeast Revealed
The Three Great Mabeasts of Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- are terrifying creatures with the potential to wipe out humanity. The story mostly focuses on the White Whale, but on March 9 the official Re:ZERO Twitter account revealed the identity of another one of equal horror and brutality. The Great Rabbit — seen here as drawn by Re:ZERO character designer Shinichirou Otsuka — m...
Gamer Completes Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 60 Minutes
It took only a day for one of the first The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild speedruns to show up on YouTube. YouTuber Venick409 completed the game's main story line in 84 minutes, but admitted it could be done faster since they wiped while fighting the final boss. Venick has already bettered their time, shaving it down to an hour and five minutes. They are currently holding second place on the...
Relive the Final Fantasy Franchise in 30th Anniversary Trailer
Fans of Japanese RPGs have likely been touched in some way by Square-Enix's Final Fantasy franchise over the last 30 years. You can ask any gamer, and they'll be able to recall which Final Fantasy hero stuck with them, be it Terra, Cloud, Squall, Zidane, Tidus, or Lightning. Square Enix is revisiting all the heroes starring in the series in a new streaming video. Final Fantasy is celebrating its 3...
Shoot Hoops With 3D Kuroko's Basketball Characters at J-World Tokyo
Namco's J-World Tokyo indoor theme park will debut the Kuroko's Basketball Special Room ~Kuroko, Kagami-hen~ 3D attraction on March 12. The five-minute attraction will run at the theme park until May 31. Visitors will wear 3D glasses to interact with Kuroko and Kagami in a gym. In the attraction's story, visitors see the Seirin High basketball club preparing for the Winter Cup and try to join the ...
Take Home Your Own Power Ranger from Build-A-Bear
Build-A-Bear has continued to update its exclusive line with pop culture characters to entice both children and collectors. Characters like Charmander, Pikachu, Eevee, and Sonic the Hedgehog have found their way into the workshop. The company is expanding its line-up with special costumes that can be worn by Pokemon and Bears alike who want a Mighty Morphin' power. U.S., Canada, and U.K. Build-a-...
Mr. Osomatsu Siblings Show Off Feminine Side for Department Store Project
The Marui department store chain's Rakuchin Kirei Shoes are collaborating with the female Joshimatsu (Girlymatsu) alter egos of the main characters of the Mr. Osomatsu anime. The first part of the promotional campaign marks the characters' debut as the A6. idol group. People can visit the collaboration website to take a personality quiz and determine which Joshimatsu character they are. After comp...
CIA Operations Hacking Household Devices Have Pokémon Code Names
There could be more Starmies on your phone than you think
― On March 7, the international document archive WikiLeaks disclosed a trove of evidence that America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is hacking into computers and household devices to conduct surveillance. The disclosure has reignited a somewhat dormant debate about the right to privacy versus the state's imperative to secure its citizens...
Compile Heart's New Teaser Site Pits Team Butt vs Team Boobs
Video game developers are putting T&A at the forefront lately, teasing boob-centric games like Omega Labyrinth Z with sites asking visitors not to touch giant breasts. The site is just the most recent in what the Senran Kagura game franchise made into an art. Company Compile Heart, the makers of the Neptunia franchise, won't be outdone by breasts alone. The company opened its own teaser website as...
Dragon Ball Z's Android 18 Gets 2nd Busty Figure
Figure maker MegaHouse revealed its second buxom Dragon Ball Z Android 18 figure on Wednesday. The figure is part of the Dragon Ball Gals figure line that highlights the curves of female characters' bodies. Android 18's outfit from the Cell Games Saga inspired the figure's design. The busty figure stands about 200 millimeters (about 8 inches) tall. The figure costs 9,250 yen (about US$81) before ...
Chain Chronicle Opens Attack on Titan Collaboration Teaser Site
The smartphone game Chain Chronicle 3 is teasing an upcoming collaboration with Attack on Titan on a recently opened teaser site. The game, which previously crossed over with Persona 5 and Madoka Magica, is keeping its secrets in the proverbial basement for now. Players can pre-register to get notifications as soon as the collaboration starts. Attack on Titan Season 2 premieres on April 1 and will...
Former Morning Musume Idol Mari Yaguchi Claims to Have Seen UFO in Mexico
Former Morning Musume idol group member Mari Yaguchi retired in 2013 after singing theme songs for anime like Orphan and One Piece, yet she's still making headlines. Yaguchi confessed in an interview with paranormal magazine Monthy Mu that she strongly believes in extraterrestrial life and even witnessed a UFO herself while she was in Mexico. Yaguchi was on site for work and saw the UFO near the T...
To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness Manga's Lala Gets Life-Size Figure
Kentaro Yabuki and Saki Hasemi's To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness manga concluded in the April issue of Shueisha's Jump Square magazine on Saturday. The series' four main characters feature on the cover of the issue. To mark the manga's end, the issue announced that Lala Satalin Deviluke will get her own life-size figure. The retail price of the figure remains undecided, but the the order period is ...
School Rumble Theme Singer Yuko Ogura Announces Divorce
33-year-old singer, actress, model, and mother of two Yuko Ogura announced on Sunday that she divorced her husband, 46-year-old hairdresser Isao Kikuchi on March 3. Kikuchi was involved in an extra-marital affair last year while Ogura was pregnant with their second child. Ogura gave birth in November and is returning to work in television where she promised to live strongly as a single mother. The...
Ghost in the Shell Song Opens Louis Vuitton Collection at Paris Fashion Week
Designer Nicolas Ghesquière is continuing to infuse anime influences into the Louis Vuitton fashion brand. Previous collections referenced the likes of Sailor Moon, Ghost in the Shell, and even Akira. Now that Masamune Shirow's manga and anime adaptation are making headlines again thanks to the upcoming Hollywood live-action film, Ghesquière is returning to the cyberpunk world for the Fall 2017 co...
Samuel L. Jackson Happily Admits He Enjoys Anime — And Hentai
Actor Samuel L. Jackson is no stranger to anime and camp. He voiced the lead and produced Gonzo and Spike TV's Afro Samurai, starred in the live-action version of Kite, and has a reoccurring role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nick Fury. He's been a Jedi and saved an airplane overrun with venomous snakes. In a video produced with Wired, Jackson decided to do what most people avoid at all cost...
Pokémon Go Holds Snorlax Event in Quake-Hit Kumamoto
The official Japanese Twitter account for Niantic's Pokémon Go smartphone game announced a Japanese regional Snorlax event on March 2. To help revitalize the areas affected by the Kumamoto earthquakes last April, Snorlax has increased spawns in all of Kumamoto Prefecture, as well as Yufu, Ōita and Beppu, Ōita. Unlike the original Pokémon games, trainers will not need Poké Flutes to wake and catch ...
Yowamushi Pedal New Generation's Next Tie-In Ad is for Rice Snacks
After a long race on their cycles, the guys of Yowamushi Pedal New Generation need to load up on carbs. The group's snack of choice is onigiri made Kameda Kaki no Tane brand snacks. The tie-in is also acknowledging protagonist Sakamichi Onoda whose in-universe birthday is today. Yowamushi Pedal New Generation premiered in January and Crunchyroll is streaming the series as it airs in Japan. The ani...
Gainax Co-Founder Thinks Miyazaki's Return to Feature Filmmaking Will Fail
Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki reportedly said at the end of February that Hayao Miyazaki is starting preparations to work on a new feature film. While most fans are rejoicing at the news, some critics believe the director's possible new project will see lackluster results. Gainax co-founder Toshio Okada (pictured at right), also known as "Otaking," said on his Okada Toshio Zemi streaming pr...
Monster Hunter XX's Felyne Companion Gets Sketchy Makeover
Hiroshi Takahashi's popular Crows and Worst manga series follow delinquent school boys with yankee haircuts that try to establish dominance in their hard-knock schools. The series have inspired multiple live-action adaptations, video games, and crossover campaigns. The latest is with Monster Hunter XX Nintendo 3DS game, a title that isn't even out yet but is already doubling down on weird campaign...
Japanese Men Pick Yuri on Ice! Singer As Top Guy to Hug
The singer of the Yuri on Ice! opening theme "History Maker" is inspiring more than fictional skaters to embrace. Dean Fujioka is Japanese men's top choice of "Man I Want to Embrace Me" according to a poll by Nikkan Spa! Every year the magazine asks 500 men between the ages of 30 to 49 questions and publishes the results. This year, the magazine went the romantic route and asked participants what ...
Authorities Arrest Self-Proclaimed 'Lupin of Saitama' Thief
The world's greatest thief met his match in Saitama. 33-year-old Yoshinobu Ichinotake, the self-proclaimed "Lupin of Saitama" was apprehended by officers from the Takeminami Police Station in Kawaguchi, Saitama on March 2. The prolific thief admitted to stealing 820 handbags totaling about 1.55 million yen and picking pockets for 166 million yen over the course of two years. When captured, he insi...
Improve Your Art With Manga Background Drawing Book
While drawing books that focus on poses, styles, and body proportions are a dime a dozen, few focus on the less glamorous aspect of background art. Terrific background art isn't anything to scoff at though and can very easily became a character in its own right. Tsutomo Nihei's smudgy city infrastructures give his works a feeling of desolation while studios like P.A. Works and Kyoto Animation have...
Yamakan Discusses Criticism of His Comments About Idol Stabbing
Refers to Japan as "dirty garbage nation"
― Anime director and Ordet animation studio founder Yutaka Yamamoto (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Fractale, Wake Up, Girls!) has received harsh criticism for his comments relating to the stabbing of 21-year-old female singer Mayu Tomita (pictured below left). Yamamoto, also known as "Yamakan," said on his blog that he believes he does not deserve this b...
Nintendo Switch Console Survives Multiple 5ft Drops
Meanwhile Minecraft creator Notch is not so impressed with console's design
― Nintendo's new Switch console dropped on Friday, but YouTube channel GizmoSlip decided to take the term literally. The channel is dedicated to durability testing new devices, specifically by dropping them over and over again until they break. In the nine minute video, the Switch dropped multiple times but Link keeps on runn...
Irregular at Magic High School AnimeJapan Booth Will Measure Your Magic Power
The Irregular at Magic High School booth at this month's AnimeJapan event will transform into the "Labratory of Magicraft" and give attendees a chance to measure their magical potential. The booth will be Japan's first magical engineering research exhibition and will be staffed by volunteer researchers aiming to make magic a reality. They will measure visitors' "Psion" using a device developed by ...
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Already Completed in 84 Minutes
Nintendo dropped its latest Zelda title, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, for the Wii U and Switch on Friday. The open world spin on the well-established series gives players more freedom to explore at their own pace, even if that pace means completing the main story thread in under two hours. YouTuber Venick409 uploaded his speedrun of the game on Saturday. The video contains spoilers, so...
Ride Universal Studio Japan's Rollercoaster With Attack on Titan's Levi
Universal Studios Japan currently has its "Cool Japan" attractions in full swing, bringing to life Godzilla, Evangelion, Case Closed, Monster Hunter, and of course, Attack on Titan. The theme park's Hollywood Dream rollercoaster is currently playing "The Real" version of the Attack on Titan theme song "Guren no Yumiya." Thrill-seekers can also pick Levi to accompany them on the rollercoaster. A re...
Comedian Ayako Imoto Joins Team Skull in Pokémon Sun & Moon Commercial
Recent celebrity commercials for the Pokémon Sun & Moon games thus far all included athletes. New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, wrestler Saori Yoshida, and sprinter Usain Bolt adopted trainer personas and teamed up with a Pokémon. The latest commercial from Japan is shirking that trend by bringing in comedian Ayako Imoto. In the video, Imoto has joined Team Skull and is investigating an Al...
Soccer Star Kengo Nakamura Endorses Soccer Manga Football Nation
Voice-over in commercial, comment on book sash
― The soccer (football) manga Football Nation, drawn by Yuki Ōtake, now has a major fan endorsement: that of Kengo Nakamura, midfielder for Kawasaki Frontale and recipient of 2016's J. League MVP Award. On the sash that adorns the newly published 10th volume, Nakamura "highly praises" the series with the comment: "I imagine myself implementing these theo...
Pikachu and Friends Head to the Beach for April Ichiban Kuji Lottery
Pokemon towels, bags, snowcone pouch, and more
― If you're planning a tropical vacation or just pining for the sunny days of summer, the April Ichiban Kuji lottery has goods for you. Perhaps inspired by the tropical island setting of Pokemon Sun and Moon, It features Pikachu and several other Pokemon like Lapras and Slowpoke enjoying the beach. With these bags, towels and more in tow, you'll be able...
Monster Hunter Stories Seeks Voice Actors for Two Felyne Roles
Will appear in 34 episodes
― Starting a career in voice acting is a struggle, as several recent anime have shown. It can take many, many auditions and years of coping with low pay and inconsequential roles before one can establish a reputation as a bankable voice actor, something only realistic for a very few. For two lucky people, the anime Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON just might be that break the...
Seminar in Kyoto to Examine Anime's Regional Promotion Potential
The Eccentric Family used as example
― In January, The Eccentric Family was designated as Kyoto's Special Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of the part it has played in drumming up interest in the city. (The anime takes place in an alternate version of Kyoto with tanuki and the mythical Japanese creatures, the tengū.) On March 14, the quirky anime will be featured in a business seminar at the Kyoto ...
Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki Manga's Protagonist Named Nagoya Ambassador
The main character of Masaki Andō's Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki (Yatogame-chan Observation Diary) four-panel manga has been appointed as Nagoya Tourism Cultural Exchange Mission Ambassador. Yatogame-chan will promote the appeal of the city of Nagoya as its ambassador. The manga centers on the life of Yatogame-chan, a girl who speaks in the blunt Nagoya dialect. Ichihinsha's Monthly Comic Rex maga...
Manga Artist Inio Asano Draws Cover for Asian Kung-Fu Generation Tribute Album
It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since the punk-rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation got together, but multiple albums and awards later and the foursome are still going strong. The group has performed theme songs for hit shōnen anime like Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Bleach and recently provided the theme song "Re:Re:" for last year's mystery crime series ERASED. Manga artist Inio Asano (...
Pokémon Go Developer's Ingress Game App Inspires Slice-of-Life Bishōjo Manga
Before putting out its hit Pokémon Go app, Niantic developed the augmented reality app Ingress. The game's website promises science fiction mystery and intrigue — which is apparently perfect for a slice-of life comedy manga. Arai Harumaki's Ingress-teki Nichijō -Chloe-san no Baai (Ingress everyday: In the case of Chloe.) manga follows a young man named Ibuki who bumps into a girl named Chloe and a...
Easter-Themed Prince of Tennis Art Teases New Product
A new concept visual from merchandiser Movic hints at upcoming products featuring the characters from Prince of Tennis. The Easter-themed image shows Ryōma, Inakichi Nitobe, Ichiuma Kita, Keigo Atobe, Hikaru Amane, and Bunta Marui is pastels and rabbit-style accessories. Movic will start rolling out the products at the end of March. Fans will have to wait just a bit longer to see how far down the...
Cipher's Minako Narita Celebrates 40 Year Career Anniversary
Manga creator Minako Narita debuted on the scene 40 years ago at the age of 17 with the manga series Miki & Uti in LaLa magazine. North American readers are probably most familiar with Narita's series Cipher, a bombastic 80s extravaganza about twins that swap places with one another at school and work. The manga was adapted into a mostly musical OAV of sorts. Publisher Hakusensha celebrated Narita...
Ghost in the Shell Live-Action Film Props Go on Display at Art Expo
Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell in inspiring everything from high tech robots to live-action films. Dreamworks and Paramount's film staring Scarlett Johansson is set to premiere in the U.S. at the end of month and then in Japan on April 7. Before the film kicks off overseas, Japan is planning the Ghost in the Shell World Art Expo 2017 event at the Seibu Gallery in the Seibu Ikebukuro departme...
Yuri!!! on Ice Unveils Latest Round of Merch
The award-winning anime Yuri!!! on Ice became last season's hit. Accordingly, the anime merchandise market has received an influx of products inspired by the figure-skating show. On Wednesday alone, four different companies unveiled their latest Yuri!!! on Ice products. The Shinjuku Marui Annex department store in Tokyo is holding the "Ice Castle Hasetsu Branch Office in Shinjuku Marui Annex" eve...
Panasonic Streams Anime Short to Honor Its Car Navigation System
First of three parts
― To celebrate the four awards won by its car navigation system, the Strada CN-F1D (the 2016 Good Design Award, Car Good of the Year 2016, the 2016 Nikkan Jidōsha Shimbun Accessory Award, and the Auto Sound Web Grand Prix 2016), Panasonic has commissioned a series of short anime, "Strada with Blu-Ray." The series was written by Sumiko Umeda and drawn by Kēshin; it stars Sōichiro ...
Ciao Magazine Bundles PriPri Chi-chan!! Automatic Vacuum
The April issue of Shogakukan's Ciao magazine bundled the Pri Chi Osōji Robo CHI-01 autonomous robotic vacuum on Friday. The vacuum inspired by Hiromu Shinozuka's PriPri Chi-chan!! manga, which runs in the magazine, is the first home electronic device to bundle with a magazine in Japan. The YouTube Channel Omocha Daisuki Dōga (Toy Love Videos) began streaming a video previewing the vacuum on Wedne...
Granblue Fantasy Lottery Campaign Has Some Strange Grand Prizes on Offer
Boiled fish paste tube on a solid gold stick, anyone?
― The smartphone RPG Granblue Fantasy is nearing its third birthday, and to celebrate, Cygames is rewarding its players with a lottery campaign. This might seem like a typical event, but what's drawing attention to this particular campaign is the decided quirkiness of some of the prizes on offer. The lucky grand prize winner will receive a whoppin...
Transform Into Yuri!!! on Ice's Victor, Yūri for US$550+
Ballet and dance clothing maker Chacott's designer Yūko Sagiri designed the outfits that the figure skaters wear in Yuri!!! on Ice. Chacott revealed real-world versions of Victor and Yūri's trademark costumes on Wednesday. Sagiri supervised the creation of the replica costumes. Victor's outfit costs 75,600 yen (US$664), and Yūri's outfit costs 62,640 yen (about US$550). Only 100 of each costume w...
Kanan Matsūra Steals the Show in 3rd Single Animated Music Video
The mature Kanan Matsūra stars as the center in Aqours' third single, "Happy Party Train." As the title suggests, the animated music video features train imagery, but everything doesn't look happy. "Happy Party Train" is slated for release on April and will include three songs: the namesake track, "SKY JOURNEY," and "Shōjo Ijō no Koigashitai." The single will also bundle a Blu-ray or DVD with the ...
New Manga Explores Dietary Habits of a NEET
Lazy, but still interested in fine dining
― NEETs (people Not in Education, Employment or Training) are usually stereotyped as lazy louts who lounge around the house all day eating high-calorie snacks and frozen foods. But just because you don't have a job or school doesn't mean you can't enjoy good food. In fact, all that free time means you can put that much extra energy into fixing up a scrumptiou...
ToraCon Otaku Marriage Consulting Proves Popular With Women
The ToraCon marriage consulting office dedicated to helping otaku find love opened in Akihabara, Tokyo last Saturday. AbemaTV began streaming a video report about the service on Wednesday. Many women are reportedly registering with ToraCon. In the video, a woman in her 30s spoke to AbemaTV on the condition of anonymity. She said, "I looked at Twitter and ran over. [It will be good] if I can find a...
Maya Okamoto Sings Theme Song for Fictitious '90s Anime
"ZANAM, Femme Fatale of Destiny"
― Voice actress Maya Okamoto had many roles in the 1990s, like Orihime in Sakura Wars, Harumi in The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, Ono in Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo, and Minato in Martian Successor Nadesico. Since then she has provided voices for dubs of Hollywood movies, but roles in anime have been hard for her to come by. She's found a novel s...
Kaito's New Ao no Flag Manga Trends #1 on Twitter
Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ online manga app revealed on Wednesday that Kaito's Ao no Flag (Blue Flag) romance manga had become a #1 trending term on Twitter. Have you heard of it? Don't worry. Most people outside of Japan's Twitterverse have yet to hear about the series because it debuted only one month ago. Kaito (Cross Manage, Buddy Strike) just launched the series on the app on February 1. The fif...
Play Shogi With Rei in March Comes in Like a Lion 360° VR Pilgrimage Video
It is no secret that anime pilgrimages are a growing trend in Japan. Some fans might even go on pilgrimages to visit the shooting locations of live-action works based on manga or anime. Asmik Ace began streaming a 360-degree virtual-reality pilgrimage video for the live-action March comes in like a lion films on Tuesday. Viewers can explore the setting of March comes in like a lion in the video. F...
Shōnen Jump Celebrates 50 Years With Commemorative Events
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Weekly Shōnen Jump, Shueisha's male-targeted magazine known for serializing some of the industry's most popular manga series. The magazine currently serializes Gintama, My Hero Academia, Haikyu!, One Piece, Food Wars!, Hunter x Hunter, and Black Clover but some of its other popular works include Naruto, Shaman King, Assassination Classroom, Toriko, Bakuman.,...
Upcoming Light Novel Ties Record for Title Length
They just keep getting longer, and longer, and longer.......
― Japanese light novels have a reputation for unusually long titles. Many of them are so long, bookstore browsers can get a fair idea of what the story is without having to read the plot summary. The list of light novels published in the last two months should give you some idea of how these look. Among the list is a novel slated for public...
Morning Show Recreates Fuji's 'White Whale' Technique From Prince of Tennis
The informational entertainment morning program ZIP! attempted to recreate Prince of Tennis character Shusuke Fuji's Hakugei (White Whale) technique on Wednesday. Former professional tennis player Takefumi Satō joined the show's regular cast to attempt the feat. To use Hakugei, Fuji hits the ball with a super backhand slice, which makes it hop. Then the ball falls suddenly at the baseline. Due to ...
Beat Takeshi Discusses In This Corner of the World's Tokyo Sports Film Award Win
Director, comedian, actor, and television personality Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano) isn't shy to express his opinion on Japan's anime and film industry. In 2014, he expressed what he saw as mutual back-patting between film companies, cinemas, and newspapers with the added bonus of stating that he dislikes animation and Miyazaki's works. When the anime film In This Corner of the World won Best Film...
Tezuka's Phoenix Transformed Into Kemono Friends Character
Mine Yoshizuki draws iconic Phoenix for exhibition this month
― The anime girls of Kemono Friends have captured the attention of audiences in Japan, starring in virtual reality and other fan works. The series is definitely at its peak, if for no other reason that series is crossing over with one of anime and manga's greatest influencers, Osamu Tezuka. The Hankyu Umeda Gallery on the 9th floor of the ...
MIT's Super Smash Bros. Melee AI Dominates Against Pros
Scientists at MIT have developed an artificial intelligence that is an actual challenge to its biological gamer counterparts. The CSAIL team trained a neural network in the fine art of Super Smash Bros. Melee and the result was so impressive that it can knock out top ranked players. The team's lead research Vlad Firoiu told TechCrunch that the AI balances a calculating strategy with reckless aband...
81Produce Asks Fans to Stop Harassing Voice Actors
Voice talent company 81 Produce, the agency of Takuya Eguchi (My Love Story!!'s Takeo, Re:Zero's Julius) and Wataru Hatano (ReLIFE's Kōshi, STARMYU's Sakuya), issued a request to voice actor fans on Tuesday. The request relates to recent extreme actions of fans such as the stabbing of 21-year-old singer and songwriter Mayu Tomita (pictured at right, no relation to the former AKB48 member of the sa...
Live-Action Peach Girl Star Makes Peach-Shaped Prayer
Part of PR event for upcoming film
― On February 28, Mizuki Yamamoto (Momo), Kei Inoo (Kairi), and director Kōji Shintoku attended an event at the Tokyo Daijingū (Great Tokyo Shrine) to promote their upcoming film Peach Girl, a live-action adaptation of the manga of the same name. As the shrine is popular among the lovelorn, Yamamoto hung an ema on a blossoming peach tree to pray for success for her ...
Limited Edition One Piece Mihawk, Shanks Woodblock Prints Cost 17,500 Yen
The HKDS Online store added limited edition woodblock prints of One Piece's Shanks and Dracule Mihawk on Monday. The art is priced at 17,500 yen each (US$154) and limited to only 200 pieces per design. The wood prints are joining Sanji, Roronoa Zoro, Trafalgar Law, Sabo, Portgas D. Ace, and Luffy. The artwork is first carefully carved by artist Norikazu Yamaguchi before being pressed on "Sesshu-h...
Company Releases 1st License-Free 3DCG Actress
Japan has previously employed an android to star in a feature film, but Yūno Takasaki may be the first "free-to-use" digital actress. Gugenka from CS-Reporters, Inc. released the license-free actress on Monday. Her creator, CG artist Takuya Igarashi, points out on the official page that Yūno has several "fetish points" that can be enjoyed. The downloadable actress is shown in both her regular clot...
Japanese Theme Park Is Taking Final Fantasy's Bahamut to the Disco
One of the Final Fantasy series' most iconic summons is letting its hair down at an upcoming virtual reality dance party event in Japan. Square Enix is teaming up with the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Sasebo, Nagasaki for the "Bahamut Disco" attraction in July. Partygoers won't have to wear a VR head mount to enjoy the event. Instead they'll dance the night away in "450-degree" video space that re...
Wake-Up Girls! Yutaka Yamamoto Criticizes Attacked Idol
"You can't help how it looks when you return a present."
― Anime director and Ordet animation studio founder Yutaka "Yamakan" Yamamoto (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Fractale, Wake Up, Girls!) commented about a news story of a man getting sentenced to 14 years in prison for stabbing 21-year-old female singer Mayu Tomita (no relation to the former AKB48 member of the same name) on his blog on Tue...
Saori Hayami Voices Finland Mascot in Short Anime
The Embassy of Finland in Tokyo debuted a short anime about its Twitter account mascot "Fin-tan" on Monday. The Twitter account polled followers on who they would like to hear voice Fin-tan, and voice actress Saori Hayami was selected from the suggestions to voice the character. The short is the first anime to star an embassy's mascot. It was created in part to celebrate the 100th anniversary of F...
Haikyu!! Boys Make Cameo in High School Study Booklet Commercials
Juggling the many aspects of high school life can be brutal. There's the classes themselves, extracurricular sports, hobbies, hanging out with your friends, dating, maybe even a part-time job. It's easy for your grades to start slipping amidst the bustle. That's the predicament the boys of Haikyu!!'s Karasuno High faced in season 2. One way they could've coped with it is with Shinken Zemi Kōkō Kōz...
Kemono Friends Dominates Winter Anime on Twitter Rankings
This season's surprise sleeper hit is the most talked about winter 2017 anime series on Twitter, according to the Kadokawa Ascii Research Laboratories. The content and information trend analytics company revealed its research for the most Tweeted anime series between January 24 and February 21, crowning Kemono Friends as the top show by a large margin. The show had 1,257,696 Tweets made in the giv...
Pikachu's Easter Merchandise is Pastels-a-Plenty
Spring is in the air anime and games are coming 'round to celebrate Easter by embracing flower, egg, and rabbit motifs. This is especially true for Pokemon's one and only Pikachu who is adorning itself with a flower crown and posing with painted eggs for a line of merchandise. "Pikachu's Easter" goods will appear in Pokemon Center stores throughout Japan starting on March 18. The items range from...
Virgin-Killing Sweater Finds New Appeal on Male Cosplayers
Male crossplay is hardly a rare sight at Stateside conventions. Men have enthralled congoers as Hestia but have also found barriers to their hobby at Japanese conventions. A current trend, the "virgin-killing sweater," took over pixiv and garnered commentary from Takuya Eguchi and Sanrio mascot Kirimi-chan. During its height, female models posted numerous snapshots on Twitter and Instagram while w...
Idol Nana Asakawa is the Detective Conan 'Shadow Person' Gravure Model
The identity of Detective Conan's 'Shadow Person' gravure star was revealed to be none other than 17-year-old idol and actress Nana Asakawa. Publisher Shogakukan revealed the SUPER ☆ GiRLS member as the girl behind the mask in this year's 14th issue of Weekly Shōnen Sunday on March 1. In the issue, Asakawa wears a black full-body leotard to take on the role. She also appears in more standard gravu...
Haikyu!! Characters Hunt Eggs at Easter-Themed J-World Event
Japan has traditionally ignored Easter, but recent years have seen more amusement park decorations and themed chocolates inspired by the bunny- and egg-filled holiday. Namco's J-World Tokyo indoor theme park will hold a Haikyu!!-themed event this spring to celebrate Easter, which falls on April 16 this year. The "Haikyu!! Karasuno Easter in J-World" event will be held from March 11 to May 7. Durin...
Anime-Focused 2.5D Musical School Opens in Tokyo in 2018
Jikei college group's Tokyo School of Anime will add a program devoted to 2.5D musicals in April 2018. The school will be the first of its kind in Japan. Tokyo School of Anime defines 2.5D musicals as those that are inspired by anime, manga, and video games. The school's website features cast images from the Haikyu!!, Kuroko's Basketball, and other stage adaptations. The new program will host the ...
Ancien and the Magic Tablet Crosses Over With 5 GungHo Games
Ancien and the Magic Tablet's heroine Kokone is traveling to some new locations in her dreams. She and other characters from the film will appear in five different GungHo game titles, including Puzzle & Dragons, Divine Gate, Seventh Rebirth, Summon Board, and Kerihime Suites. Details, including each game's respective collaboration launch date, will be announced in the future. Ancien and the Magic ...
Tomokazu Seki Pens Book for Aspiring Voice Actors
Also: Mitsuo Iwata publishes memoir
― Tomokazu Seki has performed a wide range of roles in anime, like Shinya in Psycho-Pass, Domon in Mobile Fighter G Gundam, Yotarō in Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū, Lieutenant Sakuma in Joker Game, and Chichiri in Fushigi Yugi. He also teaches aspiring voice actors at a training school. He's now putting his expertise to even better use and publishing a book, Seiyū ni...
One Piece, Naruto, More Manga Creators Commemorate Final Makibao Volume
Popular manga creators like One Piece's Eiichiro Oda and Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto showed their support for colleague Tsunomaru in this year's 11th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Playboy magazine on Monday. Tsunomaru ended his Taiyō no Makibaō W (The Rising Sun from the Ocean) manga in the 20th volume on Februray 17. The volume also serves as a capstone the entire Makibaō series that began in 1995 wi...
Olympian Usain Bolt Joins Team Skull in Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon
The world's greatest sprinter Usain Bolt is seen rolling with Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon adversaries Team Skull in a new ad. Bolt challenges the viewer to a Pokémon battle where he will invariably run circles around the competition before deploying Pikachu's Thunderbolt attack. Bolt is the Olympian and third professional athlete to appear in a Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon ad this year. New York Yank...
Naoki Urasawa Manga Documentary TV Series Returns for 4th Season
NHK's documentary television series Urasawa Naoki no Manben (roughly translated, "Naoki Urasawa's Manga Exertions") will return for a fourth season on March 2. Veteran manga artist Naoki Urasawa (Monster, 20th Century Boys; pictured right in below image) hosts the program that showcases prominent manga artists. The show discusses the guest manga artists' individual styles, work methods, and workpl...
Yui no Shinobi Ninja Rice Ball Smartphone Game's Opening Video Streamed
The official website for the upcoming card-based smartphone game Yui no Shinobi began streaming the opening video on Friday. The video features visual kei band Kiryu's theme song "Gekkabijin." The website also began streaming a character video last Friday that previews the main character's voices. The anthropomorphized ninja rice ball characters represent flavors such as tuna mayonnaise, walleye p...
Yuri!! on Ice's Futon Covers, Calendar, Soccer Collaboration Revealed
After teasing silhouettes earlier this month, M's Factory revealed its Yuri!!! on Ice Japanese futon covers on Wednesday. The polyester covers with special illustrations of Yūri, Victor, and Yuri are available for pre-order now. If unexpected visitors arrive, people can flip the covers over to the plain white back and conceal the risqué ice skaters. Each futon cover costs 9,000 yen (about US$80),...
First Foreign Female Pro Shōgi Player Inspired by Naruto
Attains second kyū (rank)
― On February 20, Karolina Styczynska of Warsaw, Poland, attained the second kyū (rank) in women's shōgi, a chess-like board game primarily played in Japan. This officially makes her a professional player — the first time a foreign woman has done this. She managed a come-from-behind victory against Minami Sadamasu, a more advanced first-dan (level, considered higher tha...
JoJo's Festival to Be Held at the Real 'S City'
Anime and manga can be obtuse about its settings, only stating that live in "Prefecture M" or "X City." An upcoming festival celebrating Hirohiko Araki's Jojo's Bizarre Adventure traveling to "S City Morioh Town," or in this case Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture. Morioh Town is the setting of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable. The festival will host an exhibition celebrating the ser...
New Awards Show to Honor Anime-Business Collaborations
Kadokawa's Takeshi Natsuno, Madhouse's Masao Maruyama head selection committee
― Anime committees frequently arrange collaborations, or cross-promotions, between their works and other businesses, be they restaurants, theme parks, car companies, video games, or traditional craft enterprises. It's a mutually beneficial partnership that brings in a new crowd to whatever the business is selling while rai...
Kirby Transforms Into Plushes, Pouches for 25th Anniversary
Character goods maker San-ei Bōeki revealed new merchandise on Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of a certain pink, puffy character. Hal Labratory and Nintendo released Hoshi no Kirby (Kirby's Dream Land) for Game Boy in 1992 and Hoshi no Kirby Super Deluxe (Kirby Super Star) for Super Famicom (SNES) in 1996. To celebrate the original game's anniversary, San-ei Bōeki is offering Kirby plushe...
Hideaki Anno to Present Selection of His Favorite Tokusatsu at Shinjuku Theater
Over 50 works from about 50 years
― It's no secret that Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shin Godzilla, His and Her Circumstances) is a big fan of tokusatsu (special effects-heavy Japanese action stories). Astute viewers can pick up the influences in his work, he recreates scenes from them in Insufficient Direction (a manga by his wife, Moyoco, on their life together), and he's even curated a m...
Next Sword Art Online Game Goes Analog
Board game designed by Love Letter's Seiji Kanai
― Sword Art Online may be about players trapped in a video game, but its latest game incarnation takes a step back to a more accessible format: the board game. Sword of Fellows puts players in the roles of Kirito and Asuna as they level up in the MMORPG Sword Art Online with the ultimate goal of escaping the game. Players progress through different sce...
A3! Mobile Game Theme Tops Oricon Chart
Downloads now exceeds 2 million
― The "ikemen-raising" mobile game A3! burst onto the scene late last month, generating over 800,000 downloads in three days. 300,000 of those downloads took place on its launch day. The game's popularity continued to grow, as download numbers raised to 1.5 million in two weeks and finally topping two million downloads by February 21. It's not just the game itself that...
ToraCon Offers Marriage Consulting for Anime Fans in Akihabara
For various, oft-debated reasons, young Japanese struggle to form romantic relationships or even successfully mingle with each other socially. For fans of subcultures like anime, manga and video games, finding a loving partner can be doubly difficult. That's why ToraCon, a marriage consulting office aimed at these fans, is opening this weekend, and in the most appropriate place — Akihabara, t...
Celebrate Pokémon Day on February 27
Next Monday is the 21st anniversary of the day the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue Game Boy games went on sale in Japan. The Pokémon Company is offering a host of Pokémon Day celebrations to mark the occasion. A special version of Pikachu will appear in Niantic's Pokémon Go smartphone game beginning on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET. Every Pikachu that players encounter until March 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET...
Japanese Environment Ministry Fights Climate Change with Moe
"Mirai Kimino" teaches "Ima Kimino" how to be more environmentally responsible
― As part of the international agreement on lowering carbon emissions reached in Paris in 2015, Japan has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2030. To educate ordinary Japanese about the energy-efficient lifestyle choices they can make to meet this goal, the Ministry of the Environment has launched a "...
One Piece's Portrait of Pirates Swimsuit Figure Line Adds Kalifa
MegaHouse's Portrait of Pirates (P.O.P.) Limited Edition B.B. (Bathing Beauty) figure line unveiled a new Kalifa figure on Thursday. The former Iceberg secretary shows off her sexy side in a swimsuit inspired by her typical black dress from the One Piece anime. The new figure is about 120 millimeters (about 4.7 inches) tall. Kalifa is the 10th entry in the B.B. figure line that also includes gend...
Gundam Creator Yoshiyuki Tomino Praises In This Corner of the World
Video discussion with director Sunao Katabuchi for new entertainment website
― AG-ON Premium, a Japanese web portal for pop culture news including anime, video games, and voice actor-related information, will open on March 17. To drum up anticipation for the website's launch, it has released a preview: the first part of a video discussion between Yoshiyuki Tomino, creator of the Mobile Suit Gundam se...
Magikarp's Official Love Song Gets Dance Video
Love it or hate it, the Asian carp Pokémon known as Magikarp got its own official song last year. The "I Love Koiking" song showcases all of the fish's faults and weaknesses, but it is ultimately an ode to everything that makes Magikarp special. The official Pokémon website added a page on Friday that features a dance version of the song. The song's original animated music video is four minutes lo...
Real-Life Mario Karting Company Sued by Nintendo
Company claims it had prior understanding with Nintendo
― The Shinagawa-based company MariCar lets visitors combine a tour of Japan's flagship city with geeky pleasure and the thrill of racing with its Mario Kart-themed go-cart tours. Customers don costumes from Nintendo's popular Mario Kart series (or of other well-known characters), then go careening through the streets of Tokyo through famous dist...
Golden Bomber Band Makes Appearance in Chibi Maruko-chan Special
Visual kei rock band Golden Bomber will appear as guests in the Chibi Maruko-chan 1-Hour 30th Anniversary Special on March 19. The four members will voice a father, grandfather, mother, and grandmother that visits the Sakura household at the beginning of the program. Kenji Darvish is voicing the grandmother who appears wearing his trademark face makeup. Golden Bomber currently perform the series' ...
Monster Hunter XX Game's Campaign Offers Real Beekeeper Suit, In-Game Items
Capcom is holding a sweet Twitter campaign in the lead-up to the release of its upcoming Monster Hunter XX (pronounced as "Double Cross") Nintendo 3DS game on March 18. The "318 Honey, Please Campaign" will offer increasing numbers of in-game rewards to players depending on how many times they tweet with the project's hashtag from February 23 to March 10. In addition to in-game rewards, Twitter us...
20th Century Boys, Beck Live-Action Director Producing Panda Bikini Group
Idol groups are continually expanding into more niched territory to stand out. Options run the gambit from religious to heavy metal, sci-fi fairies to yuri-bait, cougars to the unemployed, raving chainsaw killers to sister wives, and more than a few have opened up the option to date. With all this variety, wearing a bathing suit seems rather blase. Live-action film director Yukihiko Tsutsumi added...
Morning Two Manga Magazine Celebrates Cat Day with Special "Morning Nyan" Collection
Cat festivals held across Tokyo
― February 22 is Cat Day in Japan, so deemed because of its three 2s ("two" sounds like nyā, "meow," in Japanese). To celebrate the occasion, the seinen manga magazine Monthly Morning two included a special section to its April issue called "Morning Nyan." It involves no less than 15 cat-related manga, including Yomawari Neko ("The Cat Night Watchman"), Neko no Kohana ...
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