Theme parks are awesome, and they just keep getting awesomer. Besides the thrill rides, you can also take part in immersive experiences based on your favorite shows and movies — especially if you’re into Disney properties. But if you’re an anime fan, you’ll have to …Read more »
After the way 2020’s gone, we’re about ready for our convenience store robot overlords. Japanese store chains Lawson and FamilyMart have announced that they will be introducing simple robots to some locations. At present, the robots will simply be available for demonstration, but there are …Read more »
Japan’s State of Emergency was previously extended to May 31, but those restrictions have officially been lifted earlier than planned. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press conference on May 25 to announce that the declaration of State of Emergency has now been lifted …Read more »
Now that’s dedication. A YouTuber in Japan with the username Tarue Totsugeki is praying for the return of Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga Hunter x Hunter in his own special way: by throwing 1,000 karate punches every day. On his channel, the user promises “one thousand thankful …Read more »
We’ve entered an age in which parties, meetups, meetings and dates have moved online to Zoom or other platforms. It’s great we have the technology to connect, but there are times when Zoom meetings can go on and on. But how to make a graceful …Read more »
Desperate times call for cute creative measures. Take this example from Japan, courtesy designer Eisuke Tachikawa. In the face of COVID-19, which can be passed from person to person via saliva droplets, Tachikawa has created a template for a face shield that can be cut …Read more »
Y’all know Doraemon, right? The blue robot cat from the future beloved by generations of Japanese kids? Softbank, one of Japan’s leading cell phone carriers, has recruited Doraemon as part of its 5G rollout—and they’ve thought pretty far outside the box in terms of casting. …Read more »
Hey, kids: game over. No, seriously. By law! Well, sort of. Kagawa Prefecture, Japan just passed an ordinance restricting video game play time for children. The ordinance, the first of its kind in Japan, was created to combat video game addiction. The ordinance sets playtime …Read more »
Looking for some unconventional post-Thanksgiving streaming material? Allow us to present Star Wars in kabuki form. Yeah, you heard right. This is the Star Wars kabuki play announced earlier this month starring Japan’s most famous kabuki actor, Ebizō XI, as Kylo Ren (or Kairen, as he’s called in the play). The …Read more »
Japanese fans of Mamoru Hosoda’s Summer Wars are getting ready to rock and roll this January. That’s when the film, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, will blast back into Japanese theaters with 4DX screenings. Yes, we’ll soon know what the online world of OZ smells like. The screenings …Read more »
A few days ago we posted about a billboard that went up in Akihabara and caught everyone’s attention for being particularly… busty. Some folks weren’t too happy about having a building-size monument to massive mammaries, and it looks like the local officials took their complaints to heart. …Read more »
Last year, the Japan Animation Creators Association (Janica) partnered with publisher Dai Nippon Printing to conduct a survey of working conditions in the anime industry, and a detailed report of the findings is just now coming out. Responses were collected from 383 people working as artists, animators, …Read more »
As if there weren’t enough reasons to visit otaku mecca Nakano Broadway. From November 21 to December 22, the mysterious and wonderful mall in Tokyo will become home to a pop-up store devoted to Serial Experiments Lain, the cyberpunk series from 1998 that we like very much. The …Read more »
Readers of Otaku USA know the anime industry can be tough for animators. Despite record-high revenues, animators in the trenches are faced with poor wages and labor standards. According to one NPO, the starting salary for over 80% of young animators is under 100,000 yen — …Read more »
Okay, this one’s going to take a bit of unpacking. First off: October 3 is the birthday of Madoka Kaname, the main character of 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Second: there’s a pachinko parlor in Akihabara called Island that’s known for its quantity of Puella …Read more »
Kara Dennison
Joseph Luster
Matt Schley
Julian Gnam
