Idoru

In Real Life

Is This Girl Real Or Virtual?

4:00PM June 14, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

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. More »

In Real Life

The Queen Of Pokémon

4:00PM June 3, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

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. More »

In Real Life

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

4:00PM May 27, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

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? More »

In Real Life

The Young Girl Who Loves Old Games

4:00PM May 24, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

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. More »

In Real Life

These Guys Will Freak You Out, Then Amaze You

6:00PM May 17, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

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. More »

In Real Life

Dead Wii Is Funny. Dead Model Is Not.

4:00PM May 13, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

In Japan, pin-up model Aki Higashihara’s blog is notorious. It’s called the “Death Blog”, after manga Death Note. In the popular comic, writing people’s names in the “Death Note” notebook leads to their demise. On the Japanese internet, the same is said about Higashihara’s blog. More »

In Real Life

Sleep With This Voice Actress (Again)

9:30PM May 9, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

When voice actress Rie Tanaka isn’t capturing the hearts of otaku, she’s snuggling up next to them vicariously through her hug pillow. One Rie Tanaka hug pillow has been available for purchase. Until now. More »

In Real Life

A Man In A Dress Fights A Woman In A Dress

10:30PM February 24, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

When Yuichiro “Jienotsu” Nagashima isn’t dressing up as girls from bullet hell shooters, he’s kicking people’s arses. He’s a professional K-1 kick boxer. But is he any good at fighting games? More »

In Real Life

Revenge Of The Akibahara Flasher

6:00PM February 24, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

Back in 2008, before the stabbings, Akihabara was a carefree place. Otaku (“geeks”) roamed from shop to shop, maids passed out fliers and cosplayers posed up a storm. The Akihabara Massacre changed all that, but things are normalizing. Want proof? The area’s most famous flasher is ready to hit the streets of Akiba once again. More »

In Real Life

Can Somebody Please Help This Lady Find Her Monsters?

7:00PM February 9, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

This past weekend, collectible figurine event Wonder Festival was held in Chiba, Japan. Collectors and cosplayers gathered for the festivities. Voice actress Haruna Ikezawa was in attendance, and she ended up having a rotten time. More »