If you’re an animation geek (and if you aren’t, I’m not sure what you’re doing on this site, but welcome!), you’re no doubt familiar with Production I.G. The studio behind works like Ghost in the Shell , Eden of the East , and A Letter …Read more »
Here’s a followup on a story we reported earlier this year about a new rule set up in Akihabara, Tokyo’s capital for maid cafes. The new rule, set up by the local government of Chiyoda Ward, where Akihabara is located, forbids promoting “JK sanpo,” that …Read more »
Gundam fans, you may have a shoe purchase in your future. Reebok has announced two new designs of their Insta Pump Fury sneakers modeled after two of the most iconic mobile suits in Gundam history: Amuro’s RX-78-2 Gundam and Char’s signature red MS-06S Zaku II. …Read more »
As much as you love Japan, that’s how much j-fashion model Ayumi Seto loves the USA. Signed to the ASOBISYSTEM agency (home of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu), and master of the style coordinate known as “Kidz”, Seto recently launched her lifestyle brand “Aymmy in the Batty Girls”; a …Read more »
Spring is in the air. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and new anime is airing. In the spirit of the season (or it’s just a coincidence…), two of Japan’s convenience stores, or “conbini,” in the Japanese parlance, are simultaneously running anime promotions. How do …Read more »
The explosive popularity of Attack on Titan has led to a lot of clever, occasionally brilliant promotions and merchandise. Check this one out, for example. Attack on Titan Jenga . (I mean Balance Wall, sorry.) Alright, I get it! You got a wall, you got …Read more »
Not going to lie: living in Tokyo has its perks. One of those perks is the seemingly never-ending parade of limited-time exhibitions centered around anime and manga releases. Though realistically, these events are marketing pure and simple, they’re often either very cheap or free and …Read more »
Now that Kill La Kill ’s over, it feels like the internet’s busy drawing comparisons between it and previous Hiroyuki Imaishi/Kazuki Nakashima joint and perennial fan favorite Gurren Lagann . And hey, wouldn’t you know it, they’re turning good ol’ GL into a play! With …Read more »
The web has come a long way. Once upon a time, the only top-level domains around were .com, .net, .org and the like. But recently IANA, the authority that regulates these kind of things, has allowed a great proliferation of top-level domains, leading to stuff …Read more »
Spare us, if you will, a few moments for another anime-related explanation of the geography of Tokyo. On the city’s more historical, older east side, not far from the Emperor’s palace, we have Akihabara, the electronics town-turned-anime consumer paradise, full of maid cafes, memorabilia and …Read more »
We’ve already covered Tokyo’s well-known otaku hotspots like Akihabara and Nakano ad nauseum here at Otaku USA, but it’s always worth pointing out that there are plenty of other areas Japan’s capital city that ooze otaku cred. Ikebukuro, home of the third-busiest station in Tokyo, …Read more »
Like it, hate it, or don’t really get it, you’re probably aware of the concept of the “pop-up” store. Whether in restaurant, cafe or retail form, it’s a limited-time establishment for selling seasonal goods, testing out the waters before opening a permanent shop, or basically …Read more »
For fans of 90s anime in particular, the name Starchild is instantly recognizable. The anime arm of giant record label King Records, Starchild was involved with the financing and music production of a string of hits in the 90s, including Evangelion , Nadesico , and …Read more »
A new regulation created to prevent teenage “compensated dating” may inadvertently end up hurting legitimate maid cafes in Akihabara. The new rule, set to take effect April 1st, bars all establishments in Chiyoda Ward, where Akihabara is located, from touting, where cafe employees talk to …Read more »
Last week, AL, a gallery in the hip Daikanyama neighborhood of Tokyo, hosted an exhibition of posters illustrated by Katsuhiro Otomo, creator of Akira and Short Peace . Though best known for his manga and anime, Otomo has also done lots of work over the …Read more »
Matt Schley
Jason Moses
Patrick Macias
David Cabrera
Sean O'Mara
