Japan

In Real Life

Idol’s Mother Arrested For ‘Obscene Acts’ With Student

11:40PM February 8, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

The 44-year-old mother of singer Minami Takahashi was arrested for obscene acts with a 15-year-old boy. Takahashi, 20, is a member of AKB48, the country’s most popular female pop group and, CNET reported, a US$200 business. More »


Nintendo

Final Fantasy Bringing Pricey DLC To 3DS

9:30PM February 8, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

While Nintendo’s said it would help ensure that DLC pricing isn’t unreasonable, Square Enix shows us the future. One downloadable song for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is ¥150 ($1.95); all eight tracks are ¥1200 ($15) Not cheap! [忍之閻魔帳]


In Real Life

Virtual Idol’s Snow Sculpture Injured Elderly Lady For Real

11:40PM February 7, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

Every winter, the Sapporo Snow Festival amazes visitors with snow sculptures. This year, a “Snow Miku” of virtual idol Hatsune Miku was erected. Today, it was destroyed after injuring a senior citizen. More »


In Real Life

Hello Kitty And… Hooters?

11:00PM February 7, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

When you think “Hooters”, you might think of orange hot pants, buffalo wings, or, if you are a Philadelphia Phillies fan, retired catcher Darren Daulton (who married a Hooters icon). The one thing you do not think of is Hello Kitty — until now. More »


In Real Life

It’s Cold. Time For Hot Panties.

10:00PM February 7, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

February is always so cold in Japan. This winter has seen record snowfall across the country. Akihabara, Tokyo’s geek mecca, has a way to warm up: hot underpants. More »


In Real Life

Darth Vader Invades South Osaka (Noooooooooo!)

8:00PM February 7, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

When I first moved to Osaka, I lived near Shinsekai — a rough part of town in the south. My apartment was clean and spacious, but the area was populated with drunks, prostitutes, and gangsters. More »


In Real Life

Can You Handle The Bullets? The Beauty? The Madness?

11:30PM February 6, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

Cave’s newest shooter DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou recently got its first arcade location at Japanese game centre Taito Hey! in Tokyo’s Akihabara. More »


News

Let The King Of Fighters Bring You To Climax

11:20PM February 6, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

Oh my! The King of Fighters XIII is getting a new version, The King of Fighters XIII: Climax. It apparently brings characters from KOFXIII‘s home console versions, such as Nests Style Kyo, to arcades. More »


In Real Life

Glittery Crotch Is Not Already Dead. Somebody Purchased It.

9:45PM February 6, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

Fist of the North Star‘s Kenshiro got a life-size statue last year. It was covered in 500,000 Swarovski crystals, apparently worth ¥10,000,000 or $130,000. More »


In Real Life

An Examination Of Japanese Characters’ ‘Whiteness’

9:30PM February 6, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

Japanese anime, manga and game characters sometimes have blonde hair. Sometimes they have blue eyes. But that’s merely cosmetic, no? There must be some sort of analysis that cuts closer to the bone. Literally. More »