idol
In Real Life

Don’t Believe The Lines, Don’t Believe The Hype

Whenever a new console launches in Japan, people line up. And whenever there are lines, there’s often press there taking photos. During the last several hardware launches, I was there, doing just that.

June 29, 2011
In Real Life

Let’s Be Sensitive About Height, M’kay?

When Sega held an event for Yakuza 4, it assembled the game’s producer Toshihiro Nagoshi and the title’s assorted cast. One of the game’s biggest stars, former Morning Musume singer Mari Yaguchi, was one of the smallest.

June 27, 2011
News

When Game Console Gifts Were Yanked Out Of Kids’ Hands

Following March 11′s earthquake and tsunami, kids left parentless and homeless piled into make-shift refuge shelters. As a much needed diversion, kids began asking for video games.

June 14, 2011
In Real Life

Is This Girl Real Or Virtual?

For years, gamers have developed feelings for characters that don’t exist in the traditionally tangible world. They might look real, but the characters are a composition of art and reality. They are virtual.

June 3, 2011
In Real Life

The Queen Of Pokémon

In the West, when someone says Pokémon, you think about your favourite Pocket Monster, the cartoons, or the games themselves. The same goes for Japan, but there’s something else that comes to mind. Make that, someone else.

May 27, 2011
News

An Arcade Cabinet For Small, Plastic Gamers

In 2005, Namco released a idol simulator in Japanese arcades called The Idolm@ster. The game ended up being a nerd smash hit, spawning Idolm@ster Xbox 360 and PSP games. It’s 2011, and now the arcade cabinet that spawned it all is getting memorialised – as a 1:12 scale model.

In Real Life

When You Have Too Much Money, Questionable Judgment, And Like Idols

There’s a good reason this gentleman is covering his face. If you just spent a hundred thousand books and girly pop music, would you show yours?

May 25, 2011
In Real Life

Gaming’s Most Beautiful Transgender Gamer Releasing Semi-Nude Photo Book

Kayo Satoh, aka “Kayo Police”, is one of Japan’s most talented Street Fighter players. She’s also a popular fashion model. But she wasn’t always a she.

May 24, 2011
In Real Life

The Young Girl Who Loves Old Games

After one of Japan’s most beloved gaming mascots Takahashi Meijin revealed that he was leaving Hudson Soft, 23-year-old pin-up model Haruna Anno took to Twitter and her blog. She knew that he was leaving beforehand and talked to Takahashi about his decision, revealing that the conversation made her weep. But there’s an upside.

May 17, 2011
In Real Life

These Guys Will Freak You Out, Then Amaze You

At the Taipei Game Show earlier this year, event areas had girls on stage dancing to pop tunes. But that’s not where the real action was.

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