People are trying different ways to get through the COVID pandemic. In Japan, robots are increasingly being used. The Japan Times explained different ways robots are being utilized. There are now robot waiters: “Multi-sensor fusion technology, based on infrared, 3D mapping and machine vision, also …Read more »
Last summer, the Yu Yu Hakusho play got off to a successful start with its first performances. Now the second stage adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi’s hit manga is gearing up to return with performances on Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto this December. Ticket pre-sales will be …Read more »
How can you make learning a second language fun? Japanese public broadcaster NHK has an idea. They’ve published a 178-page isekai light novel called The Legendary Girl Who Was Reborn in an Alternate World that’s written in junior high level English. The thought is that …Read more »
Japan’s national pastime with karaoke has been suffering as a result of COVID-19, and that extends to the karoke joints themselves. Even though new, specially made karaoke masks have been created, they still only protect so much, and many people would rather just avoid big …Read more »
Halloween is the perfect time for an explosion of cosplay, but unfortunately this year’s Halloween Cosplay Fes in Ikebukuro was not meant to be. Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the October 31 – November 1 event has been canceled for 2020. The Ikebukuro Halloween …Read more »
Seika Kyomachi is a green-garbed town anime mascot for the Seika in the Kyoto Prefecture, whose catchphrase is the popular “I will erase the hometown tax deficit!” Besides being used to educate people on how they can lower their taxes, she’s a draw for tourism. …Read more »
Sanrio recently got a creepy makeover with cute toys you can disembowel, but the kawaii company isn’t done with its flair for gross/cute stuff. Sanrio’s theme park Harmonyland is getting all decked out for Halloween. According to the Japanese site grape, the Halloween theme rolled …Read more »
Japanamerica author Roland Kelts recently wrote a piece for The Japan Times about how COVID-19 is affecting anime conventions. Cons have been canceled all over this year, and one issue is that the conventions want to get cancelled for safety reasons, but they could lose …Read more »
This week starts with some sad news as we report the death of actress Sei Ashina, who was only 36 and two months short of her 37th birthday. She was discovered in her apartment by family. While an official cause of death has yet to …Read more »
The Sanrio website will let you know that their kawaii penguin character Tuxedosam always wears a tux, he owns 365 bow ties, and he speaks Penguinese. Apparently that bow and tux part got people thinking of weddings, because now there are Tuxedosam engagement and wedding …Read more »
There’s nothing better than having one central location for all your anime needs, and that’s one of the features that makes HIDIVE so indispensable. With everything from new anime simulcasts to anime classics in both subbed and dubbed form, you’ll never run out of stuff …Read more »
She can sing, she can entertain, and now she can help in the fight against the COVID spread. I’m talking about Hatsune Miku, who is now an official Coronavirus Countermeasure Supporter for the Japanese government’s Office for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control. According to SoraNews24, she’ll …Read more »
Tsukumo-tan, a popular moe mascot for the computer parts store Tsukumo, has an expired contract. And fans are sad to see her go. Her last day was August 31, and on September 8, Tsukumo made this announcement on Twitter:
You know Sanrio characters can supply the cuteness, but did you know they can also supply the grossness? Toy company Mega House is coming out with Sanrio toys where you can undress the adorable characters . . . down to their bones and innards. After …Read more »
Professional Japanese singer and crooner Yumi Matsutoya, who sang the theme song in Kiki’s Delivery Service, is thrilled to be doing the new theme song for the historical game franchise Touken Ranbu. In the game, you get Japanese swords (nihonto), which look like bishonen. Matsutoya …Read more »
Danica Davidson
Joseph Luster
Otaku USA Staff
