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1/8-Scale Tachikoma Delayed Until After August
Cerevo adds 'quadrupedal walk' function
― Connected hardware developer Cerevo's 1/8-scale Tachikoma "smart toy" will not be released in June. The company announced that the toys are now expected to ship after August. The delay may be worth the wait though, as Cerevo decided that the toy needed a "Quadrupedal Walk” function instead of just rolling from place to place. The company put up a video on Fri...
New Kyoto Starbucks Location Opts to Blend In
Originally a Seattle-based coffee shop, there's no denying that Starbucks is a worldwide franchise. Japan is no exception, often getting exclusive Frappuccino flavors that leave the rest of the internet drooling. The company has also become synonymous with overexposure, each location (perhaps exaggeratedly) only a few blocks from the last. That kind of branding can turn into an eyesore, especially...
Takuya Eguchi's IDOLiSH 7, Business Shellfish Characters Cross Over
Popular voice actor Takuya Eguchi took on the strange role of a business mollusk as part of the "Kaishain" (Clamployees) animated characters last month. Eguchi voices Higai, a middle-ranked employee who wants to avoid excessive personal damage at all costs. However, the character's perception of situations may not always be accurate. The character made an appearance on the "It's Morning! Kaishain"...
Gainax Fukushima's Masamune Datenicle Web Series Holds 1st Talk Event in Tokyo
Last year, Gainax Fukushima debuted its web short anime series Masamune Datenicle it produced to promote the town of Date in Fukushima Prefecture and its native son, 17th-century warlord Masamune Date. A total of four episodes are streaming. It first premiered in April 2016, but over a year later the cast and staff are appearing at a talk event in Tokyo for the first time. Interestingly, the talk ...
Elusive Kemono Friend Tsuchinoko Slithers into Sgt. Frog Manga
Kemono Friends character designer and Sgt. Frog manga creator Mine Yoshizaki combined his two series in recent chapter of Sgt. Frog. While the Shoebill and Japanese-crested Ibis have appeared in chapters in the past, the most recent brought out the elusive tsuchinoko. The serpent is one of Japan's Unidentified Mysterious Animals (UMA) described in folklore as a fan of drinking and deceiving humans...
Attack on Titan Saves Next Dance for Welcome to the Ballroom
The second anime season of Attack on Titan ended on Saturday and while fans eagerly await season three next year, the staff are passing the torch on to Tomo Takeuchi's Welcome to the Ballroom anime adaptation that premieres at Anime Expo on July 2. Fan favorite character Levi was drawn in a coat and tails ready to waltz with Welcome to the Ballroom series star Tatara Fujita. Kodansha Comics is pub...
Feast on Tokyo Ghoul Art at Shinjuku Station
Manga artist Sui Ishida doesn't just draw the very popular Tokyo Ghoul manga; he's also active on Twitter, where he sometimes shares his digital artwork to over 880,000 followers. And now, for a limited time, fans can see a selection of Ishida's beautiful art framed in a physical gallery. This mini-museum is displayed in Shinjuku Station from June 19 to June 25. Commuters can admire the art as the...
Hayao Miyazaki Says He Won't See Mary & The Witch's Flower Film, But Tells Director Yonebayashi 'Good Job' (Updated)
Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki praise film
― Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (pictured right) revealed at a special talk event on Thursday for Studio Ponoc and his upcoming Mary and the Witch's Flower (Mary to Majo no Hana) anime film that he talked with that Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki when he finished the film. Yonebayashi said that he brought the film and visited...
Voice Actors Nana Inoue, Mitsuhiro Ichiki Deliver Healthy Boy
Voice actress Nana Inoue announced on Twitter on Wednesday that she gave birth to a healthy boy. Inoue said, "This is a report! I safely gave birth to a healthy boy on June 15 at 5:27 a.m.! Also, the two of us left the hospital today! I was supported and able to do my best from all of the help and encouraging words from everyone before the birth. Thank you very much!" Inoue also said she had to sp...
Kadokawa Launches Historical Manga Series with Macross, Yuri on Ice Artists
Publisher Kadokawa Shoten launched a new manga line on Wednesday to entice fans of popular creators to learn more about history. The non-fiction line is called Manga Jinbutsu-den (literally: Manga Biographies) and includes cover illustrations from Tadashi Hiramatsu (Yuri !!! on ICE), Haruhiko Mikimoto (Macross) and Kazuma Kaneko (Megami Tensei series). The series launch kicked off with a biography...
Say 'I Choose You' With Pikachu Marriage Registration Forms
One couple already turned their wedding into a full-blown Pokémon bash in December. Pikachu wedding rings also debuted last year. Couples in Japan will soon be able to make the Pokémon franchise's connection to their married life even more official. The August issue of Recruit's Zexy marriage information magazine will bundle a Pikachu-themed marriage registration form on Friday. The marriage form ...
Detective Conan Creator Appears on Sherlock Holmes Anniversary Program
Detective Conan creator Gosho Aoyama will lend his mystery expertise on a television program commemorating Sherlock Holmes' 130th anniversary on NHK on June 24. Aoyama will be joined by playwright and Holmes fan Kōki Mitani. Megumi Hayashibara, who stars as reoccurring character Ai Haibara in the Detective Conan anime series, will narrate the program. Sherlock Holmes first appeared in Sir Arthur C...
Romance Comedy Manga Chronicles Struggles of Having No Face
Romantic comedy manga like Monster Musume have focused on the struggles of interspecies romance. What do you do when a harpy needs to lay an egg or a lamia needs to shed her skin? These intriguing twists on the romantic fiction have led to a whole new subgenre about wooing monsters of every stripe. Haru Itaki's Kanojo ni Awaseru Kao ga nai, or literally "I Have no Face to Meet Hers" takes a whole ...
Alleged ClariS Photos Reveal Parts of Secretive Singers' Faces
The musical duo ClariS is known for being secretive about the true identities of its singers. The duo debuted in 2009 after the original members, Clara and Alice, met in elementary school. Instead of showing their faces like most performers, the singers use anime-style illustrations to represent themselves on CDs and merchandise. Even after Alice left in 2014 and Karen replaced her, the closest th...
Pokémon, Yuri!!! on Ice, Detective Conan Top Japan Character Awards
The Character Brand Licensing Association (CBLA) announced the winners of its Japan Character Awards 2017. The awards acknowledge Japan's best brands and characters for the previous fiscal year. This year marks the association's ninth award year. The top prize went to the Pokemon franchise. CBLA acknowledged the brand for successfully integrating the adult market with the launch of Pokemon Go and ...
Growth Squadron Nobiranger Web Anime Promotes Nutrition for Kids
A new educational web anime is aiming to teach viewers the nutrients they need to live a healthy life. This is anime though, so those nutrients are represented as a super hero sentai team. Seichō Sentai Nobiranger (Growth Squadron Nobiranger) stars Lactoferrin (Kouichi Yamadera), Vitamin B (Natsuki Hanae), Calcium (Yūsuke Tonozaki), Magnesium (Fuyuka Ono), and Arginine (Inuko Inuyama). Together, t...
Marriage, Graduation Announcements Overshadow Idol Rino Sashihara's 3rd AKB48 Election Win
The 9th annual AKB48 Senbatsu Election featured an unprecedented announcement this year. The event to reveal the vote count was held at the Tomigusuku Municipal Central Community Center in Okinawa on Saturday. Ririka Sutō, a 20-year-old member of the NMB48 idol group, announced that she is getting married. Sutō ranked 20th in the election. Sutō said, "I fell in love with someone for the first time...
Fly on Goku's Nimbus at J-World Tokyo Theme Park
Namco's J-World Tokyo indoor theme park is introducing a roller coaster with no track, carts, or seat belts. The new ride is a virtual coaster namely, a 3D motion simulator where riders are taken on Goku's nimbus cloud through the world of Dragon Ball Z. 3D goggles are worn while riders view a large screen. Wind, speed, sudden drops and elevations are all simulated like a real roller coaster. The ...
Multi-National Maid Café Opens in Akihabara
Akihabara is a haven for unique maid cafés, from establishments targeting Russophiles to maid workout partners. A new spot opened on Friday offering a multinational experience with servers from Brazil, China, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, the U.S., France, and Indonesia. Dubbed "Sugoi Kawaii," the cafe is "of, by, and for gaijin" (foreigners). Sugoi Kawaii is called a café but its menu specializes in al...
Kemono Friends Producer Asks Fans Not to Watch Anime Illegally
The producer of the hit anime series Kemono Friends issued a strong request to his Twitter followers on Tuesday. Yoshitada Fukuhara stated that he's fine if viewers can't afford to buy series, he only asks that they don't resort to illegal means to watch anime. 違法アップロード動画見ている人って、著作権違反行為の片棒担ぐことになるから止めたほうがいいですし違法にアップした人に広告費で儲けさせているだけ。本来そのお金を手にするはずだったクリエイターの元には1円も入りません。ファンならお金を払えとは言いませんがせめて違法サイトは見ないで...
Variety Show Discussion Pits Veteran Voice Actors Against Younger Counterparts
A staff member at an anime production company recently described the difficulties that young voice actors in Japan have entering an industry that experienced voice actors dominate. The topic has gained some buzz online, but it may be difficult to get an accurate picture of the state of the voice acting industry when discussions tend to become one-sided. TV Asahi's Aruaru Bansankai variety program ...
One Piece Crew Look to the Future in Eye Drops Commercial
Santen Pharmaceuticals is teaming up with the One Piece crew to keep eyes moist and fresh this summer. The company began streaming its commercial featuring Luffy, Zoro, Nami and more on Monday. The crew are shown with bottles of Sante FX brand eye drops. Santen is releasing Sante FX Neo Luffy and Sante FX V+ Law drops as part of the campaign. A second wave with another commercial is planned for th...
Eren Jaeger's Yuuki Kaji Stops By Suspicious Peeing Titan
Voice actor Yuuki Kaji, the voice of Eren Jaeger in the Attack on Titan anime series, made a trip to Helsinki, Finland to check on a suspicious Titan with extraordinarily poor manners. 【梶】イベント会場に向かう道中、巨人が…⁉︎しかも、お花摘んでる途中でした!恐るべき、フィンランド!!とりあえず、心臓捧げときました。 pic.twitter.com/74YnitYutD— 梶裕貴@staff (@KAJI_staff) June 16, 2017 The statue is titled "Bad Bad Boy" and was created by artist Tommi Toija. The eig...
Anime Industry Member Discusses Production Committee System
The anime industry episode of NHK's Close-Up Gendai+ program has become a topic of widespread discussion online since it first aired earlier this month. The show depicted the dark side of Japan's anime industry in which animators receive low wages for long hours of work. Many people have posted reaction to the program, including Mobile Suit Gundam Wing director Shinji Takamatsu. Takamatsu believes...
Reconstructed Hotarumaru Sword Finally Revealed
The reconstructed Hotarumaru, a lost national treasure since the Allies confiscated swords after World War II, was revealed to the public and dedicated to the Aso Shrine in Kyushu on June 17. The event is notable not only because Hotarumaru is finally coming home to his centuries old resting place but because the reconstructed sword was funded thanks to crowdfunding and appealing to fans of the Tō...
Eva Fishing Gear Expands to Include Tackle Bag, Tote
Throw out a life buoy because this Evangelion merchandise is out to sea. Last month, Shinji and Asuka prepped for fishing with an officially licensed Eva Unit 01 fish grip. Essentially, an expensive piece of gear that grabs a fish by the mouth when it's reeled in so it can make a graceful landing into the boat. The fish grip, known as a GRASPER made by the company DRESS, is getting its own add-on...
Shoko Nakagawa Picks Dragon Quest for 'Girlfriend Date' Pictures
Late last month, voice actor Kouichi Yamadera started off a Twitter trend storm by posting a picture that he said "You can use as 'On a date with my boyfriend.'" Friends and colleagues joined in from Megumi Ogata to Daiki Yamashita. Some were playful while others were downright silly. Cicada-loving Shoko "Shokotan" Nakagawa joined in by offering a Dragon Quest focused imaginary date in the Univers...
Get Anime's Best Hairstyle with SNOW App's JoJo Stamps
Video communication app SNOW is following up its line of Attack on Titan stamps with a new one sure to give users the best hairstyle anime can offer. The app is collaborating Hirohiko Araki's live-action JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable film to give users Jōsuke's (in)famous pompadour. The app also offers Okuyasu's brother Keichō Nijimura's hair or if two or more users take a photo...
Cup Noodle Anime Ad Imagines Kiki's Delivery Service's Kiki, Tombo as 17-year-olds
Manga creator Eisaku Kubonouchi, BUMP OF CHICKEN band participate in new "Hungry Days" ad campaign
― Nissin Foods revealed a new anime ad for its Cup Noodles on Monday based on Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's Kiki's Delivery Service film. While the original film follows 13-year-old protagonist Kiki, the new ad imagines Kiki and Tombo as 17-year-old high schoolers in the city. They share some arche...
Sailor Moon, My Melody Collaboration Reveals Bag, Plush, Table, More Goods
The Sailor Moon franchise revealed the latest installment in its line of My Melody collaboration merchandise on Monday. The project is part of a celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sailor Moon anime. The newly revealed lineup of 22 items includes: Luna plush: 2,500 yen (about US$23) My Melody plush: 2,800 yen (US$25) Mascot Luna: 1,600 yen (US$14) Mascot My Melody: 1,800 yen (US$16) C...
Humans Are Off the Menu at Attack on Titan Cafe Collaboration
With an unending supply of tempting treats in sight, pesky Titans may soon decide to put something besides humans on the menu. The buffet-style restaurant chain Sweets Paradise is collaborating with the second season of the Attack on Titan television anime to host a special cafe. Although there is no apparent explanation, the collaboration is featuring Attack on Titan's main characters as sailors....
Tokyo Neighbors Web Series Gives Frank Look at Being Gay in Tokyo
If you recently read the English release of My Brother's Husband by Gengoroh Tagame or are following along with the Queer Japan documentary interviewing Tagame, Rokudenashiko, and others and want to know more about what it's like to be queer in Japan, a 12-part YouTube series is bringing more light on the subject. Tokyo Neighbors is currently being released as a labor of love and focuses on living...
Rest Your Head on Gundam's Acguy, Z'Gok Pillows
The Premium Bandai online shop unveiled a new set of Gundam-inspired "rest head cushions" on Friday. The shop is offering MSM-04 Acguy, MSM-07 Z'Gok, and MSM-07S Z'Gok designs. The pillows feature cute, super-deformed versions of Gundam's amphibious mobile suits. The pillows show only the robots' heads, as if they are lying in wait in the ocean to prepare for an attack. The pillow line released Z...
The irregular at magic high school Film Marks Premiere With Rice Balls
After unveiling bean dogs, pickles, and nippers, The irregular at magic high school film is continuing its series of unique promotional campaigns with rice balls. The film's newest promotion will release real rice balls on Saturday, the same day that Gekijōban Mahōka Kōkō no Rettōsei: Hoshi o Yobu Shōjo opens in Japan. The film is collaborating with the Onigiri Society to offer the "strongest rice...
Takara Tomy is Not OK With Twitter's Profile Pic Change
The person in charge Japanese toy company Takara Tomy's Twitter account woke up to a harsh reality after the service launched an update on Thursday. One part of the update was the change in Twitter users' profile picture shape from square to round. Here is the reaction to the update that Takara Tomy's account posted on Twitter: な、な、な…なんじゃこりゃぁああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああ!!!!!!!!!!!!!な...
Iced Cup Noodle Will Keep You Cool in the Summer Heat
Cup Noodle is always attempting to reinvent consumers' notions of its microwavable noodles. Whether invoking nostalgia, gamers, or chocolate. Its latest is a refreshingly cold meal of noodles on ice. Cup Noodle Somen is meant to be enjoyed ice cold and has a light citrus flavor. Cup Noodle Somen Yuzu flavor is a blend of wheat noodles and sea bream broth flavored with chicken, kombu, and of course...
Fragrance Company Releasing Sumo-Scented Perfume
What does one of Japan's top athletes smell like? Is it the spring fall of cherry blossoms or the distinct scent of horses and hay? According to fragrance company J-Scent, the smell is more akin to eucalyptus and anise. The company is releasing its third line of fragrances on July 3 and while yuzu citrus is par for the course, and ramune is only slightly head-turning, a fragrance imitating a sumo ...
Fan-Made Kemono Friends Fighting Game is Complete
Dōjin circle StudioS' Kemono Friends fighting game released a promotional video on Friday. The group finished the game and it is now available for order via Toranoana and DLsite. The game is slated for release on July 16. Kemono Friends is a popular dōjin topic. Director and animator TATSUKI helmed this anime season's unexpected hit and spawned another surprise when his circle's booth at the Comit...
City Criticizes Junior High for Ordering 'Obscene' Light Novels for Students
The city council of Kadoma, Osaka criticized a municipal junior high school on Wednesday for purchasing light novels for its student library collection that "have obscene and lascivious depictions." The city council questioned the decision to purchase the novels with public funds. After students at the school requested light novels, the female teacher in charge of the library searched online for l...
A.I. Program Creates Practically Perfect In-Between Animation
The ongoing plight of underpaid labor in Japan's animation industry has stirred up different suggestions, including utilizing computers to take the place of low wage animators. Yuichi Yagi is developing once such program that creates in-between animation using its artificial intelligence. The program uses Dwango's deep learning neural network to fill in the gaps between key frames from Mages' Idol...
Relive 20 Years of the Gust's Atelier Video Game Series
Game developer Gust's Atelier game series is celebrating 20 years of weapon creating, monster fighting, fantasy goodness with Atelier Liddy & Sule: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Painting and Atelier Online: The Alchemist of Blasel games. Before you gear up to play the latest installments, let's take a look back at the previous games. The Atelier series launched in 1997 with Atelier Marie: The Al...
Kemono Friends Bus Tour Heads to Safari Park in July
If going to see the upcoming Kemono Friends stage play or orchestral concert isn't enough, fans of the anime will soon be able to participate in a themed bus tour. Sankei Tours is holding "Japari Bus Tour Gunma Chihō Yuki" on July 29. After departing from Tokyo, participants will visit Gunma Safari Park. They will explore the park and go on a safari walk. Voice actresses Yuka Ozaki (voice of Serva...
Saint Tail Holds Contest to Create Manga's 'Next Generation'
Kodansha is holding a contest through Pixiv for fans of Megumi Tachikawa's Saint Tail to become the artist for the "next generation" version of the manga. The contest asks fans to create the story of a new phantom thief who appears in Seika City. Applicants must follow three guidelines to ensure their new Saint Tail characters share their most important qualities with Tachikawa's original characte...
Hatsune Miku Enters the World of Osamu Tezuka for New Exhibition
Hatsune Miku has traveled beyond her electronic musical roots to be a virtual girlfriend, a racing queen, and the mascot of Hokkaido's snowy winters. Manga god Osamu Tezuka has left his own indelible mark. On what would have been his 90th birthday his works like Astro Boy continue to inspire new takes from this season's Atom The Beginning and the fresh Pluto anime announcement. Starting on July 1,...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Yoshikage Kira Real Escape Game Reveals Visuals
Scrap's Real Escape Game revealed a new visual for its JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable attraction on Thursday. The Real Escape Game, titled JoJo no Kimyō na Yūenchi kara no Dasshutsu (Escape From JoJo's Bizarre Amusement Park), will run at Tokyo Dome City Attractions from July 15 to September 24, at Hirakata Park in Osaka from July 21 to September 18, and at Greenland in Kumamoto ...
Granblue Fantasy's Muscle Men Show Off in Music Video
The muscular men of Cygame's Granblue Fantasy are starring in their own music video wearing little more than a fundoshi. The "Sanbagarasu Otoko Uta" (Male Trio Song) stars Soriz (Rikiya Koyama), Jin (Hiroki Yasumoto), and Eugen (Keiji Fujiwara). The song is from the character CD of the same name set for release on June 22. It includes the trio version and individual versions by each of the three c...
Utena, Anthy Inspire Lingerie, Fragrance, Accessories
Otaku mail order site Super Groupies isn't revolutionizing intimates, but its Utena-theme lingerie is still pretty to look at. The site is offering both Utena and Anthy color coordinated bra and panty sets. The Utena version takes inspiration from the character's school uniform and the Anthy version is similar in design with bonus frills. Even more enticing is the pre-order bonus which includes a...
Japanese Fans Pick the Most Anticipated Summer 2017 Anime in 2 Polls
Japanese readers at Charapedia and Kadokawa's eb-i Xpress weighed in on which summer anime series they are looking forward to this year. Both sites came up with different results; eb-i Xpress asked 18,664 readers and Charapedia asked 10,000 but each site's results share little in common. In fact, the top choice for eb-i Xpress was the last choice on Charapedia. Which best reflects your most antici...
Toyota's Transforming Robot Van Promotes Traffic Safety
Toyota is giving the Turkish Letrons project a run for its money in the field of transforming cars. Nagoya Toyopet (NTP) unveiled a mecha version of the versatile and popular Hiace van as its official character. Actually, there is no confirmation that NTP has made a real transforming car, but the company is utilizing Sliger Robo for marketing purposes. The robot teams up with Super Sentai-style he...
Gundam Director Shinji Takamatsu Responds to NHK's Anime Industry Special
Takamatsu predicts the anime studio business model has 5, maybe 10 years.
― Anime director Shinji Takamatsu (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Gintama, School Rumble, Kochikame) responded on Twitter on Sunday to the anime industry episode of NHK's Close-Up Gendai+ program, which premiered on June 7. The episode highlighted the dark side of Japan's anime industry with its financial problems and poor working co...
Gintama Incense Holder Repels Insects, Promotes Elizabeth Smoking
One of the downfalls of the summer months is the influx of blood-sucking mosquitoes waiting in the wings to ruin family barbecues and camping trips. Gintama's mysterious Elizabeth also hates mosquitoes, or likes smoking, whichever is up for debate. The Weekly Shonen Jump official store is selling an Elizabeth incense holder specifically to combat the bugs. Once the incense coil is lit, its smoke ...
One-Punch Man Anime Gets 4-Volume Character Drama, Song CD Series
Although Saitama and friends are already experts at using their muscles, the heroes will soon get a new chance to exercise their vocal chords. The One-Punch Man anime is inspiring a four-volume audio drama and character song CD series. Each CD will feature a story and junior high school "parallel story" for one character. Original manga creator ONE is providing the original concept and supervising...
Sui Ishida's Tokyo Ghoul Art Takes Over Shinjuku Station
Sui Ishida's best-selling manga Tokyo Ghoul:re's 11th volume will be released on Monday and the live-action Tokyo Ghoul film is heading to theaters on July 3. Staff decided a double-whammy celebration was in order in Shinjuku Station. Ishida's original artwork will take over the east exit gate's north passage for a week starting on June 19. The impromptu gallery features artwork Ishida has shared ...
Fukuyoka-san Manga Follows Plus-Size Woman in Japan
The July issue of Takeshobo's Monthly Manga Life Original launched a new serialization of Ei Imura's Fukuyoka-san (Miss Plump) manga on Monday. The four-panel manga centers on a young woman named Hanako Fukuoka, who at a height of 174 centimeters (about 5'9") and weight of 84 kilograms (about 185 pounds), has a body fat percentage of 35%. In the first installment, Hanako orders a work uniform. She...
Gamers! Novel Author Writes Daily Stories Before Anime's July Premiere
The television anime of Sekina Aoi and illustrator Saboten's Gamers! light novel series will premiere one month from now on July 13. As a countdown to the debut, the anime's official website announced on Tuesday that Aoi is writing "Daily Special Twitter Short Stories." Aoi is writing the short stories that the anime's Twitter account is posting daily until the anime's premiere. Instead of Saboten...
Touch Voice Actress Appears in Mix Manga Commercial
Voice actress Noriko Hidaka might be better known to modern fans as the voice of the Dominator in Psycho-Pass, Kikyo in Inuyasha, and Near in Death Note, but prior to those roles she starred as Minami Asakura in the anime adaptation of Mitsuru Adachi's Touch baseball manga. The character could well be considered her breakout role when she was cast in 1985 and one she would to reprise in specials a...
A3! Ikemen Game's Big Screen Ads Streamed
The "ikemen-raising" mobile game A3! aired ads on big screens outside of some of Japan's major train stations last month. The ads debuted on the Hit Vision screens outside Tokyo's Shibuya station and Osaka's Ebisubashi station on May 27-28. Mankai Company is streaming the ads for a limited time. In the Shibuya ad, super-deformed versions of Spring Troupe members Sakuya Sakuma as Romeo and Masumi U...
The Royal Tutor's Original Anime Ending Made Manga Creator Cry
The initial broadcast of the television anime of Higasa Akai's The Royal Tutor manga is coming to an end. The penultimate 11th episode, titled "Futari no Yakusoku" ("The Pair's Promise"), debuted this Wednesday at 2:05 a.m. The final episode will air next week. To mark the anime reaching its climax, the official website posted comments from Akai and voice actor Keisuke Ueda (voice of Heine) on Mon...
Kemono Friends Theme Tops Newly Released Karaoke Tracks for 2017
The popularity of the Kemono Friends soundtrack and character CDs aren't limited to just disc sales. Fans are also belting out the "Yōkoso Japari Park e" (Welcome to Japari Park) theme song at JOYSOUND karaoke establishments. The company released the top selected songs for this year's first half and "Yōkoso Japari Park e" took the top spot for newly released songs in the overall and anime categori...
Kemono Friends Breathes New Life into Japanese Zoos
Kemono Friends is bringing in new visitors to Tobu Zoo, but it's the animals themselves that are capturing their hearts.
― I'd never seen so many people around an otter enclosure before. The otter, which was darting around in the waters of its bite-sized enclosure, was already difficult to spot in the best of times, but when surrounded by the crowd, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. It...
Newcomers Struggle to Enter Japan's Voice-Acting Industry
Anime fans often glamorize the voice-acting industry in Japan. Young people imagine voicing anime characters as a dream job. However, the industry has a dark side, and Futabasha's Nikkan Taishū website posted an article on Sunday to expose the truth of the Japanese voice-acting world. A staff member at a certain anime production company told the website that "Now, female voice actors are only youn...
Fans Choose Top 10 Unreasonably Violent Female Characters
Who was the first female anime character to give a protagonist a sky-flying punch over a simple misunderstanding? Was it Naru Narusegawa or Akane Tendō? It's a gag that's long outlived its welcome, but so long as there are accidental bathroom peeping or unannounced room sharing, punches will be thrown. The website Goo Ranking asked its readers to choose the most unreasonably violent female anime c...
Pay Your Respects to Dearly Departed Re:CREATORS Character (SPOILERS)
A display for a series favorite took place at the 1st floor gallery space of the Akiba CO building in Akihabara.
― The first floor gallery space of the Akiba CO Building in Akihabara held an elaborate memorial after the fate of one Re:Creators character ended in tragedy. A "farewell party" was held on June 10 for Mamika Kirameki, also known as the magical girl Magical Slayer Mamika. The event include...
Lascivious Master Roshi Suspected Target in Latest BPO Published Complaint
Master Roshi's unwavering eye for the female form has landed him in hot water in a recent complaint published by watchdog group Japan's Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO). The complaint reads: In an animation program, there are scenes of an older man touching young girls' bodies and peeping at their underwear against their will. These scenes are almost irrelevant to the...
Prince of Tennis Voice Actor Masami Iwasaki Marries
Voice actor Masami Iwasaki announced on Twitter on Thursday that he has married. Iwasaki plays Wakashi Hiyoshi, Yoshirou Akazawa, and Harumi Saotome in various Prince of Tennis anime. He said, "I'm happy to become family with this precious, precious person, and at the same time I feel the responsibility of having a family." Iwasaki said he plans to discuss and share everything as he walks in life ...
Galaxy Express 999's Maetel Gets a Tan for Beauty Campaign
For her newest beauty partnership, Galaxy Express 999's Maetel is collaborating with Bioré's summer products in Japan. The character's alternate version "Damaetel" (No Good Maetel) debuted on collaboration product packaging on Monday. The campaign is offering three types of sweat-wiping body sheets to fight the heat. Two types of sunscreen also help keep skin as white as Maetel's. Galaxy Express 9...
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Discusses Zeon Zum Deikun as Gundam's Jesus
Manga creator Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, The Venus Wars, Jesus) recently appeared at a signing and talk event for his new autobiographical book Genten the Origin-Sensō wo Kaku, Ningen wo Kaku (Origin the Origin: Drawing War, Drawing Humans). Iwanami Shoten released the book on March 11, and Horindo book store held the publicity event at its Takadanobaba location in Tokyo o...
Manga's 1st "Documentary Boys-Love" Series Ends
Manga artist Kamome Hamada's Tatoeba Konna Koi no Hanashi (For Example, a Story of This Kind of Love) series is coming to a close after five months. The manga was notable for being described as the industry's first "authentic account of boys-love" by basing one of its lead characters on a real gay couple. The character Akira is based on a real man named Kento Yanagi who Hamada interviewed closely ...
Discover Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh During Real Escape Game
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! is reintroducing franchise fans to Ash and Pikachu's first fateful meeting when it opens in theaters in Japan on July 15. SCRAP, the company behind Attack on Titan, Resident Evil, Space Brothers, and Legend of Zelda Real Escape Games, is bringing the Pokémon Trainer experience to eight cities in Japan. "Escape the Trials of Ho-Oh" is a collaboration between Scrap's...
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra Holds Kemono Friends Concert
The top-selling music of Kemono Friends will get the classical treatment courtesy of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra will perform on July 30 at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. The orchestra will hold two performances led by conductor Taizo Takemoto. The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) announced that the Kemono Friends opening theme song "Yōkoso Japari Park e" (Wel...
Splatoon 2 Splashes Into Kyoto Aquarium This Summer
In honor of Splatoon 2's release for the Nintendo Switch on July 12, Kyoto Aquarium will hold the "Suizokukaan ~Ikasu Natsu Yasumi~" collaboration with the game from July 15 to August 31. A "water curtain" that is about 15 meters (about 49 feet) wide will run down from the aquarium's Dolphin Stadium. Visitors will be able to use real-world Splattershots to participate in the "Suizokukaan Splashtim...
Bahamut, Final Fantasy Descend on Yokohama
Final Fantasy's iconic dragon might be heading to the disco next weekend in Shibuya, but he's spending this weekend terrorizing Yokohama. Square Enix is putting on a projection mapping show to promote Final Fantasy XIV starring Bahamut himself. The event is also part of a larger 30th anniversary campaign for the game series. The projection runs for about 12 minutes and is projected against the Yok...
Take a Peek at Re:Zero VR App's Intimate Emilia Moments
Rem gets a lot of attention for being Re:Zero's fan-favorite character. The demon maid is the subject of tons of figures, some even life-size, and even the Oculus VR founder wants to put money down for more Rem. Fans seem to conveniently forget that Subaru has dedicated himself to the other girl in the series: Emilia. What am I, chopped liver? The "Life in an Alternate World With Rem in VR" smart...
Megumi Hayashibara, Bump of Chicken, Chocolat Manga Artist Create Nostalgic Cup Noodle Ad
Nissin Foods' Cup Noodles shared an elaborate collaboration with Final Fantasy XV earlier this year. The company is now heading in the complete opposite direction of its humor-based campaign for something nostalgic, youthful, and even romantic with "Hungry Days". Megumi Hayashibara (Evangelion's Rei Ayanami, Cowboy Bebop's as Faye Valentine) narrates the commercial with striking art by manga artis...
Metal Gear's Yoji Shinkawa Illustrates Wonder Woman Anthology Cover
Metal Gear alumni Yoji Shinkawa put his skills to use drawing one of DC's most iconic superheroes for the Japanese release of Wonder Woman Anthology. Originally issued last year, Wonder Woman Anthology is a retrospective on the Amazon Princess from her creation in the 1940s to her modernization by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang. Cover Illustration by Yoji Shinkawa TM & (C) 2017 DC Comics. All Ri...
Character Desinger Mel Kishida 'Ran Out of Ideas' After Working on 3 Atelier Games
Game developer Gust held the "Atelier Series 20th Anniversary Presentation" event in Tokyo on Wednesday to honor its Atelier video game series. Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland, Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland, and Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland character designer Mel Kishida reflected on his work for the series at the event. Kishida said he "was nervous at first" when he...
Uncovering the Animation of The Eccentric Family in Nakano Broadway
Kim Morrissy & Callum May check out the stunning artwork behind P.A. Works' sleeper hit before the exhibit's closing time.
― The Eccentric Family is perhaps the very definition of a sleeper hit. This quirky drama about a family of talking tanuki was inaugurated as a Kyoto Special Goodwill Ambassador earlier this year thanks to its faithful recreations of the real-life locations of Japan's former capi...
'Miracle Robot Force' Project Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for Theme Song, Anime Music Video
The "Miracle Robot Force" project announced on Thursday that it will launch a Campfire crowdfunding campaign to produce a theme song and anime music video. The project is producing the theme song in cooperation with Nippon Columbia. Nippon Animation began streaming a promotional video for the crowdfunding campaign on Thursday. The website also features "image art" from the anime staff. The crowdfu...
Henkei Shōjo's 2nd Transforming Girl Will Give Utena a Run for Her Money
Last month, DLE revealed its Henkei Shōjo project of transforming girls. Characters Haru and this week's Rin aren't the garden variety magical girls. No, Haru and Rin transform into vehicles. Haru stunned a girl in a white dress when she became a jet plane to retrieve her hat. The poor girl is shocked again when Rin runs up to a gas station and starts guzzling gasoline. It only gets weirder from t...
Voices of Eren, Conny Try Video App's Attack on Titan Stamps
Attack on Titan voice actors Yuuki Kaji (Eren Jaeger) and Hiro Shimono (Conny Springer) recently had some fun testing out video communication app SNOW's new stamps. The pair demonstrated the Attack on Titan stamps during a Line Live special program on Wednedsay, and the anime's official Twitter account posted some videos of their experiments. 【「SNOW」コラボスタンプ①】昨夜のLINE LIVE特番の番組中に撮影した動画をアップ!最初は、口を開ける...
Bahamut Disco Takes Over Shibuya With Burlesque Techno Concert
Final Fantasy summon Bahamut is giving up attacking foes in favor of a disco party at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Sasebo, Nagasaki on July 1 followed by its grand opening on July 15. But before he settles in, Square Enix is going to throw a disco party for the dragon and Shibuya on June 16 and 17. The disco party is a virtual reality experience that takes place in a "450-degree" video space, ...
Maho Girls Precure! Villain Gets Official Hugging Pillow
Toei Animation is reaching out to its older female fans for some up and coming merchandise. Namely, a hug pillow cover featuring the Maho Girls Precure! villain Orba. The studious retainer for Deusmast is depicted relaxing on one side of the pillow cover and shown topless in his final form on the other side of the pillow. If the item itself wasn't a hint, the 8,000 yen (US$73) price point will ke...
Unravel a Layton Mystery & Discover a Secret Cafe Location in L.A.
Level-5 is promoting the English release of Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy (Layton Mystery Journey: Katriel to Daifugō no Inbō) Nintendo 3DS game with an interactive mystery during this year's E3 Conference. Los Angeles residents can uncover hidden clues to discover the location of a secret Professor Layton cafe open on June 14 only. The mystery is currently a...
Universal Studios Japan's 'Super Nintendo World' Breaks Ground
Universal Studios Japan broke ground for its anticipated "Super Nintendo World" theme park addition on Thursday in Osaka. Fans came out to see Mario, Universal Studios Japan CEO Jean-Louis Bonnier, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, and Universal Creative president Mark Woodberry run, jump, and crush some Goombas on a special scrolling stage. The planned park in Japan will include rides, interactive are...
Fans Young & Old Come Out for Tokyo Toy Show 2017
Tokyo Big Sight is overrun with players of all kinds to check out the latest and greatest toys on the market. Yes, they have fidget spinners.
― Tokyo Big Sight, June 3, 2017. 9:00 am Japan Standard Time. The 2017 International Tokyo Toy Show had just begun, and the line of entry snaked all the way across the enormous venue. The children paced around and tugged at their parents’ sleeves, unable to con...
Attack on Titan Creator Laments His Poor Drawing Skills at Signing Event
Attack on Titan manga creator Hajime Isayama held a signing event at the Animate store in Utsunomiya, Tochigi around September 2, 2013. For the two-part event, he apparently signed about 100 autographs, talked to fans, and accepted gifts. Isayama's remarks about the event on his blog began recirculating online again this week. Isayama offered super-deformed character illustrations with his signatu...
NHK Program Discusses Anime Industry's Financial, Working-Condition Problems
Although many people in Japan see work in the anime industry as a dream job, those lucky enough to find employment in the field face disillusionment. The anime market is now a 2 trillion-yen (about US$18.2 billion) business, but animators and companies involved in making anime often see poor returns. Work in Japan's anime industry has become known as a kind of "black labor" due to low wages and ve...
Can Oculus Founder Palmer Luckey Bring Us More Re:Zero?
Oculus founder Palmer Luckey might be followed by controversy and questionable cosplay choices, but the man knows a good waifu when he sees one. Luckey, a man estimated to be worth US$700 million in 2015, directly asked Re:ZERO light novel author Tappei Nagatsuki who has to give money to in order to produce a Re:ZERO Rem IF film. Who am I supposed to talk to about funding an anime adaptation of th...
Skirt no Naka wa Kedamono Deshita Throws Cross-Dressing Contest
Fans prep for dual showing of risque anime that allows traditional monk drumming
― Next season's Skirt no Naka wa Kedamono Deshita tells the story of quiet college girl Shizuka who finds herself romantically entangled with Ryō Kirishima, an attractive cross-dresser. The staff are putting together a contest offering 50,000 yen cash (US$456) and the chance to appear in an episode end card for the most ...
Adventures in the Yuri!!! on Ice Café
Tokyo correspondent Kim Morrissy sits down for a bowl of katsudon in an intimate café setting with the Yuri!!! on Ice boys.
― Katsudon is a Japanese rice dish made with deep-fried pork cutlets, egg, and vegetables. If you prepare it with just the right blend and consistency, it's absolutely mouth-watering stuff. It's common enough that you'll find it served on just about every street corner in Tokyo,...
Mr. Osomatsu Unveils Sugarmatsu, Chickenmatsu, More Collaborations
In addition to revealing a new visual and the October premiere date for the new season of the Mr. Osomatsu anime, staff released a slew of collaboration and event announcements for the franchise on Tuesday. Character and anime merchandise maker Ensky is offering sugar figures of the Matsuno brothers for use on Christmas cakes and other confections. The full list of ingredients is as follows: sugar...
Tokimeki Tonight's Ranze & Shun Smooch on Wedding Application Form
Where can a half-vampire, half-werewolf girl find love? Koi Ikeno's long-running supernatural romantic comedy manga Tokimeki Tonight starred one such girl and her potential beau Shun Makabe. Ikeno has revisited the series multiple times with one-shots, retellings, and prequels to recapture Ranze and Shūn's romance. Fans of the series can now immortalize their own love with an official Tokimeki Ton...
Ayane Sakura Will Answer Your Appliance Questions as FAQ-Bot
Panasonic is introducing a new AI character to help users figuring out their new-fangled electric appliances. The animated, talking FAQ-Bot Yui was created in conjunction with BEDORE, Animate Lab, and NAZ Animation STUDIO and is voiced by Ayane Sakura, the voice actress behind My Hero Academia's Ochaco Uraraka. FAQ-Bot Yui is part of Panasonic's official "CLUB Panasonic" membership site and apps. ...
Retro Gamer to the Rescue After Mana Collection Released With No Manuals
Square Enix's Seiken Densetsu (Mana) role-playing game series has entertained gamers for over 25 years. North America, too, has fans of the action role-playing game series. While we haven't gotten the opportunity to play every entry, Secret of Mana and it sequels have sent players to battle Rabites and collect Elemental Spirits year after year. Veteran players are accustomed to the series' Ring Co...
Skin Clinic Accidentally Adopts Resident Evil's Umbrella Corp. Logo
In one of the most unfortunate cases of logo design, the Medcare Skin Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam found itself attraction attention across the Internet, and not for the clinic's promise of patient satisfaction. The clinic's logo is very familiar to anyone who picked up a copy of the Resident Evil (Biohazard) video game series in the last 20 years or sat down to watch one of the live-action...
Umaibō Corn Snack's Moe Character Gets Life-Size Statue
Yaokin's line of Umaibō puffed corn snacks have crossed over with anime including Sword Art Online, Madoka Magica, Attack on Titan, and Kan Colle. Now the snack's official character Umami-chan is getting a chance to stand on her own without the backing of an anime franchise. A life-size statue of the character debuted in the Loft store in Abeno, Osaka on Saturday. The figure is 153 centimeters (ab...
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