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Sendai's Wake Up, Girls! Give JoJo a Stand-Worthy Shout Out
The girls of the upcoming, new Wake Up, Girls! television anime are coming out for the "JoJo Fest in S City Morioh Town" event on August 12. Well, they might not all be at the event itself but they are the subject of a special illustration mimicking the series' Stand-like poses. You can also spot the Joestar birthmark on the characters' necks. The three-dimensional Wake Up, Girls also posed for a ...
Asuna, Kirito, Sinon Computer Glasses Keep Enemies in Focus
Tokyo Otaku Mode's ongoing Sword Art Online exclusive merchandise campaign is adding weapon-themed computer glasses for fans worldwide. The glasses are designed after the most powerful weapons used by popular characters Kirito, Asuna, and Sinon in the series. Tokyo Otaku Mode is focusing on modern style frames featuring either Kirito's Elucidator and the Dark Repulser swords, Asuna's Lambent Ligh...
VR Light Novel Innocent Forest Debuts at Anime Expo
MyDearest is collaborating with the Oculus Store and Virtual Gate to release the virtual-reality light novel FullDive novel: Innocent Forest in mid-July. The VR novel will debut at the Anime Expo convention's "Nihon Chara VR Matsuri ~Japan Character VR~" event this week. MyDearest began streaming a trailer for the VR novel on Thursday. The VR novel is planned as the first in a series of "FullDive ...
Sailor Moon Returns to Promote Chocola BB Sparkling Energy Drink
Usagi Tsukino is back in a mixed animated and live-action commercial to promote her favorite energy drink brand. In the commercial, a rundown young woman gets "refreshed" after drinking Chocola BB Sparkling nutritional drink and transforms into Sailor Moon from Sailor Moon Crystal. 月野うさぎちゃんの誕生日にセーラームーンコラボの #チョコラBBスパークリング で乾杯!明日からチョコラBB65周年キャンペーン開始!https://t.co/ivMDC8RHwx#チョコラBBで生誕祭を #セーラームーン pic.t...
Vocaloid Yuzuki Yukari Gets New Life-Size Figure
Figure-X unveiled its latest life-size figure on Tuesday. The company created a new rendition of the Vocaloid Yuzuki Yukari, this time in a police uniform with a removable hat. Unlike previous 1/1-scale figures, Figure-X is not setting a production limitation. Enthusiastic collectors can purchase one for 1,280,000 yen (US$11,407). The company will ship the figures in the order they are received a...
Henkei Shōjo Transforming Girl Anime Shorts Will Air on TV
DLE's Henkei Shōjo anime shorts are "unique" to say the least. The project focuses on girls that transform into machines and thus far feature Rin (a jetplane) and Haru (a sports car). Each episode is only about a minute long, but has garnered plenty of attention on social media for its wacky premise. So much attention, in fact, that the shorts are going to air on TV and big outdoor screens. Tokyo ...
Live-Action Gintama Film Video Promotes Restaurant's Beef Bowls
The Yoshinoya restaurant chain is collaborating with the live-action film of Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga to promote its beef bowls (gyūdon). The chain is streaming a promotional video that features Masaki Suda, who plays Shinpachi Shimura in the film, and Jiro Sato, who plays Henpeita Takechi. Sato provides commentary in the video. In the video, Suda goes into a Yoshinoya and enthusiastically ...
Researchers Discover Safer Earth Re-Entry Thanks to Gundam
A new technology first utilized by Mobile Suits in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam could be the answer for safer travels for satellites re-entering Earth. Researchers tested out a real-life version of the series' "ballute" device on a microsatellite named EGG sent from the International Space Station. The hemispherical aeroshell device works like a heat-shielding parachute to ease EGG into the atmosphere....
The Devil is a Part-Timer! Novel Creator Explains Why Anime Has No 2nd Season
The Devil is a Part-Timer! light novel author Satoshi Wagahara took to Twitter on Sunday to discuss why there is no second season of the novels' television anime adaptation. He noted that people on Twitter and at signing events as well as friends in private often inquire. Wagahara said that, no matter the media, he is the biggest fan on the franchise. Although he would like a second season of the ...
Anime Expo VR Experiences Include Death Note, Shōnen Jump, Idols
This year's Anime Expo convention in California will host multiple virtual reality experiences, whether it's a Death Note escape game or 3D idols. The virtual reality attractions are part of the convention's larger Japan Character VR line-up coordinated with publisher Shueisha. The line-up includes a seven-minute Death Note escape game, a Shōnen Jump virtual art museum, interactive manga, and puzz...
Dead or Alive Xtreme Sense Invites Players to Sniff Characters
The Vaqso VR device was first announced in January and promised to offer a even further immersive virtual reality experience by adding smell to video games. Imagine the scent of warm grass while running through a field in The Legend of Zelda or the overwhelming smell of refuse while exploring in Silent Hill. There's a wide array of applications, but why focus on that when players can sniff pantyho...
Watch the Entire Final Fantasy XIV Bahamut Projection Mapping Display
Earlier this month, the Final Fantasy franchise's iconic dragon Bahamut appeared in a limited projection mapping display on the the Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel. Visitors could watch the 12-minute display five times per day, but the event has since ended. Other Final Fantasy events are still taking place in Yokohama, but anyone wanting to see the projection mapping in person is out of luc...
ANN Readers: Welcome to the Ballroom Is Most Anticipated Summer 2017 Anime
Japanese readers at Charapedia and Kadokawa's eb-i Xpress weighed in on which summer anime series they are looking forward to this year. Those websites' users chose the second season of NEW GAME! and Jigoku Shōjo: Yoi no Togi, but Anime News Network readers eschewed both in favor of Welcome to the Ballroom. The adaptation of Tomo Takeuchi's competitive dancing manga follows feckless high school st...
Send Your Letters Across the Mushroom Kingdom with Mario Stamps
Post offices throughout Japan will issue Super Mario themed postage stamps starting on Wednesday. Collectors will want to snap these up; the stamps feature exclusive artwork not seen anywhere else. The stamps are sold in sheets for 820 yen (US$7.30). Additionally, post offices will use a Super Mario-themed processing stamp on letters with the stamps on June 28. Japan Post's online shop is previous...
One Piece Lottery Could Be 100 Fans' Big Musical Break
The upcoming One Piece Episode of East Blue: Luffy to 4-nin no Nakama no Daibōken special could be the big break for 100 aspiring singers. The One Piece DVD website will take entries to perform the special's theme song alongside frequent One Piece singer Hiroshi Kitadani starting on June 28 until July 5. Staff will chooses 100 singers to perform "We Are! for the new world," the 20th anniversary re...
Attack on Titan Anime Offers Survey Corps Certification Test
Japan loves its certification exams. People in Japan can take tests with different levels to receive certification in subjects ranging from the game Go to abacus to English. The official website of the Attack on Titan television anime announced a new test for fans on Monday. Diehard fans will be able to take the "Shingeki no Kyojin Kentei ~Chōsa Heidan Nyūdan Test~" (Attack on Titan Certification:...
Yamakan Tweets Separation From New Wake Up, Girls! Anime
Anime director Yutaka Yamamoto (Wake Up, Girls!, Kannagi), also known as "Yamakan," is known for being vocal and critical. Fellow creators and even the anime industry itself have become targets of his criticism. In his characteristic style, Yamakan did not hesitate to voice disapproval after the "Wonderful Hobby Life for You!! 26" event announced on Friday the guests for a cast and staff announcem...
Yuri!!! on Ice Pillow Covers Range from PG to PG-13
A new set of Yuri!!! on Ice hugging pillow covers can adapt to the owner's preferences, namely, how much abs they want to ogle at any given time. The four-way covers include a back and front image for each of three main characters. One set of back and front images are more modest, while the other set is slightly more revealing. The images are printed on a main cover and separate cover and sold to...
Shonen Jump Celebrates 50th Anniversary by Reprinting Landmark Issues
Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is announcing all kinds of festivities to celebrate its 50th anniversary, including contests and a huge, three-part exhibition. Shueisha is adding an issue reprint campaign as well and the publisher will re-release some of the magazine's most iconic issues. These issues will be released in "packs" of two. The first pack is a reprint of the magazine's first ev...
Gintama Creator Draws Special Illustration for Magazine Bonus Booklet
This year's special oversized 15th issue of Shueisha's Margaret magazine will bundle the "Gintama x Margaret Combined Extra Issue Rare Book" on July 5. The cover of the 52-page booklet reveals that the theme involves characters partaking in festival revelry related to the upcoming film. Gintama manga creator Hideaki Sorachi is providing a special illustration of Yorozuya members in shōjo manga sty...
Asagaya Anime Street, An Alternative to Akihabara?
When it comes to anime hot spots in Tokyo, Akihabara and Ikebukuro would be at the top of most fans’ lists. But these meccas of anime fandom are not in the center of where anime is actually made and produced. The majority of anime studios in Tokyo are based west of Shinjuku in quieter suburban areas such as Nerima, Musashino, and Suginami. While these areas do get some anime-related tourism becaus...
Shonen Jump Celebrates 50th Anniversary, App Release With International Manga Contest
Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine announced on Thursday that it is holding the Jump's Universal Manga Contest. The contest celebrates both the 50th anniversary of the magazine and the launch of the Jump Paint manga-drawing app. The contest is open to anyone in the world. However, entrants must submit their manga in English, Spanish, French, Korean, Russian, Chinese (simplified), or Chinese (t...
Real-Life Yasaburō Rescued From The Eccentric Family Shrine Well
Tanuki are not just folkloric creatures but also the real raccoon dogs who roam the forests of Japan. (Although the official English version of Pom Poko and other sources refer to tanuki as "raccoons," they are a completely different from the North American mammal, which can also be found in Japan.) One wily little tanuki recently got a chance to show its true colors at a setting from The Eccentri...
Vegeta Brings the Family for This Year's Refrigerator Campaign
Toshiba's Vegeta refrigerator brand is teaming up again with one of Dragon Ball Z's toughest fighters for nutritious campaigns packed with vitamins. Starting on July 3, the company will launch its "Summer Vegetable Recipe Great Recruitment Campaign" and its "Retweet Campaign." Both include prizes sure to please vegetarian cooks. To enter, contestants must follow the official Twitter or Instagram a...
Rumiko Takahashi Celebrates Idol Group NGT48's 1st Anniversary
In 2015, the AKB48 sister idol group NGT48 launched in Niigata prefecture followed by stage performances in their own theater on January 10, 2016. The group celebrated the first anniversary of their stage performances with a special performance on January 10 and a concert on January 20. Manga juggernaut Rumiko Takahashi's Lum Invader is evidently a fan. Takahashi drew Lum for the cover of the Blu-...
Zoo Ends 1st Kemono Friends Campaign, but Grape-kun & Humboldt Are Forever
Kemono Friends' popular collaboration with Tobu Zoo has come to a close. The character panels put up throughout the park were removed on Sunday but one visitor noticed that the Humboldt penguin cut-out was still in the penguin enclosure. Readers invested in the saga of Grape-kun, the zoo's 20-year-old male Humboldt penguin, and his new found love for the Kemono Friends' Humboldt penguin counterpar...
Idol Ririka Sutō to Graduate NMB48 After Announcing Marriage Plans
The Sankei Sports newspaper reported on Thursday that NMB48 idol group member Ririka Sutō will graduate from the group after announcing on Saturday that she plans to marry. The 20-year-old announced in Tokyo on Wednesday that she will graduate from NMB48. A timeframe for her graduation is undecided. Sutō apologized for causing trouble for her fellow idols by announcing her marriage plans at the 9t...
Magic Knight Rayearth's Hikaru Inspires Cosmetics
CLAMP's Magic Knight Rayearth celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2014 and has had an ongoing merchandise campaign to celebrate, albeit smaller than its cousin Cardcaptor Sakura. Premium Bandai is rolling out the latest in that campaign with themed make-up, similar to its previous Sailor Moon cosmetics. The Magic Knight Rayearth Face Powder and Rouge takes design cues from protagonist Hikaru. The ...
Fujoshi Choose 'Top' Characters in Boys-Love Manga Quiz
Fujoshi have a new way to boast about their knowledge of boys-love manga. The digital book rental website Renta! launched a new "Boys-Love Test" on Tuesday. The project "of boys-love lovers by boys-love lovers for boys-love lovers" is a continuation of the website's series of boys-love tests. The new quiz shows takers two pictures of main characters from boys-love manga and asks "Which is the seme...
Kemono Friends Zoo Collab Adds Night Tours
The successful Kemono Friends and zoo collaborations are adding limited time night tours to give a visitors a new experience with nocturnal animals. The Misaki Park in Osaka will be the first location to offer night tours starting on July 6. During the collaboration period, 19 Kemono Friends character panels will be put up throughout the park and two original characters, the Bottle-nose Dolphin an...
Touken Ranbu Smartphone Game Reveals 2 More Characters in Kiwame State
The Touken Ranbu smartphone game revealed visuals for the upgraded Kiwame state of two more characters on Monday. Fudō Yukimitsu Shinano Tōshirō The game's official Twitter account previously teased silhouettes of the characters in the Kiwame state. The Touken Ranbu -Online- browser game announced last week that new characters and new Kiwame forms will debut in both the smartphone and browser vers...
Anime Voice Actors Play Rejuvenated Elders in Wi-Fi Router Promo Video
Seeking to reel in Japan's aging population as well as its youth, Premier Mobile is collaborating with anime voice actors Wataru Hatano (My Hero Academia's Hitoshi Shinso, Fairy Tail's Gajeel Redfox), Mayu Yoshioka (Wake Up, Girls!'s Mayu Shimada, Hundred's Sakura Kirishima), and Kōtarō Nishiyama (Sagrada Reset's Hitsuchi-kun, Haikyu!!'s Kazuhito Narita) for a promotional campaign. The company beg...
Create a Chain of Memories With Kingdom Hearts Jewelry
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the release of the original Kingdom Hearts video game. As part of the anniversary celebration, K. Uno's character jewelry and accessory brand U-Treasure is offering a line of Kingdom Hearts jewelry. The line features an engagement ring, wedding bands, and six necklaces. U-Treasure unveiled multiple versions of each item. Here is the line-up: Solitaire Ring ...
Tokyo Ghoul's Real-World Anteiku Cafe Offers Coffee, Sandwiches, No Human Flesh
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to eat at Tokyo Ghoul's Anteiku cafe? Fans of the series in Tokyo will be able to stop by a real-world version of the cafe on the grounds of JR Shibuya Station from July 1 to July 31. The cafe will promote the live-action Tokyo Ghoul film, which will premiere on July 3 at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, July 7 in Berlin, and July 10 at the Marunouchi Piccadi...
Kemono Friends Bus Tour Expands to a Caravan
The upcoming Kemono Friends bus tour has reached such high demand that Sankei Tours is adding an additional bus. The "Japari Bus Tour Gunma Chihō Yuki" tour on July 29 will take participants will visit Gunma Safari Park to explore, go on a nature walk, and attend a talk with cast members Yuka Ozaki (voice of Serval), Kana Motomiya (Fennec), Saki Ono (Common Raccoon), Ruka Nemoto (Emperor Penguin),...
Asuna, Kirito Beanie & Scarf Sets Will Fight Autumn Chills
The hit anime series Sword Art Online and the Tokyo Otaku Mode store launched a collaborative merchandise project on June 20. The first item in that line-up are beanie and scarf sets based on Kirito and Asuna's outfits from the Aincrad arc. The Kirito design draws inspiration from his shoulder plate and coat. The Asuna set is based on her Knights of the Blood guild outfit, with her signature red ...
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...
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