Otaku

In Real Life

The Waitress Uniform That Started It All

8:30PM January 31, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

For a generation, Anna Miller’s was more than a coffee shop. For a generation, it inspired video games, anime and countless cosplay. For a generation, it’s quickly becoming a memory. More »


In Real Life

Is This The Perfect Otaku Office?

1:00AM January 27, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

My office? Nope. While it’s a mess of stuff, my desk doesn’t exactly scream otaku (though, the signed Kurt Vonnegut print above it is pretty cool!). This guy’s office, however, is otaku chic. More »


In Real Life

Watch An Orderly Japanese Nerd Horde. It Will Blow Your Mind.

6:30AM January 5, 2012 | Brian Ashcraft

Have you ever wondered what thousands and thousands of Japanese otaku (geeks) look like when they swoop on a single spot? They look like this. More »


In Real Life

Belgian Lolitas Dancing. Belgians Wearing Funny Costumes. Belgians Kicking Ass

5:30PM November 17, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

The Japan Expo Belgium 2011 was held in Belgium, with folks dressing up like Japanese anime and game characters. And other people beating the crap out of each other. More »


In Real Life

The Equal Opportunity Perversion Of Kotaku

7:40AM November 15, 2011 | Joel Johnson

Last week, some folks paid Kotaku the kindness of noticing how… let’s call it “progressive”… we’ve begun to lean over the last few months since I came aboard as Editorial Director. (Dan Bruno, in particular; I had other discussions on Twitter.) More »


In Real Life

The Depressing World Of Unemployed Nerds

3:15AM November 3, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

You might have a job. You might be between jobs or you might be out of one entirely. Same goes for many in Japan. But what they spend their unemployment cheques on might differ from what their counterparts do elsewhere. More »


In Real Life

Dudes, Your Girly Desktops And Walls Are Driving The Ladies Away

6:00PM October 27, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

You might think those posters of big-eyed little anime girls are cute as a button. But according to FujiTV, nearly 80 per cent of Japanese women polled give a big no thanks to dudes who cover their room with stuff like that. More »


In Real Life

Eat Curry. With Your Plastic Girlfriend.

4:00PM July 18, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

Some people have flesh and blood girlfriends. Others have pillows. And some have plastic toys. One curry restaurant in Tokyo’s geek district is sensitive to this. More »


In Real Life

All The Fresh Nerd Heroin You Could Ever Want

9:30PM July 1, 2011 | Brian Ashcraft

On July 2, Animate is opening its latest super store in Shinjuku. If you’ve never been to an Animate, they’re like hypermarts. For otaku. More »


In Real Life

Furries And Lolitas Pave The Way For The Modern Journalist

5:20AM June 29, 2011 | Sam Winstrom

There’s a lot we can learn from furries. While animal costumes might not be your thing, Lauren Rae Orsini says that they have inspired her as a journalist. More »