In 1972 a prominently-chinned grappler named Antonio Inoki—a.k.a Kanji Inoki a.k.a Muhammad Hussain Inoki (it’s complicated)—unveiled his brawny brainchild at the Ota Ward Gymnasium. Its name: New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Bearing the slogan “King of Sports,” they slammed onto the scene with a bold mission statement: …Read more »
Readers of this site are no strangers to anime-themed eyewear. We’ve previously seen frames based on series like Sword Art Online and K-On! (and even some Free! contact lenses). The latest addition to the trend is a pair of specs based on fan favorite Gintama …Read more »
As we’ve noted recently, the Pokemon franchise is now 20 years old, meaning those who grew up with Pikachu and pals on the schoolyard are now of hunk-loving , lingerie-wearing age. Japanese lingerie maker Peach John (the Victoria’s Secret of Japan, basically) is attempting to …Read more »
The 2015 Naruto stage play was a hit, it seems, because the crew is back for more headbanded ninja action this summer. The 2016 version of Live Spectacle Naruto , which stars largely the same cast as last year, will add character Rock Lee, who …Read more »
As someone who reports on anime-related stuff from Tokyo, I often have to downplay the idea of Japan-as-otaku-paradise. No, no, I explain sagely, Japan is no more geeky than America. Then, inevitably, a news story like this comes along and smashes that theory. Yahoo.jp reports …Read more »
Rock Musical Bleach, a rock musical based on the manga and anime Bleach (as if you couldn’t figure that out based on the title) is back and headed to stages throughout Japan this summer. The 2016 Rock Musical is the longest in a line of …Read more »
Production I.G, the studio behind anime like Ghost in the Shell , Psycho-Pass and Blood: The Last Vampire , will open a store based around their properties in hip Tokyo neighborhood Shibuya, reports Anime Anime. As if you didn’t have enough reasons to visit. The …Read more »
Today new promotional videos for the upcoming anime adaptation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable hit screens across Japan. Three screens, that is. The videos debuted on large screens outside major train stations across the country, causing impromptu meetups for JoJo’s fans wanting to …Read more »
Chichibu, Saitama, has seen otaku flow in since being used in anohana . If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we’re kind of obsessed with the idea of the otaku pilgrimage, where anime fans go to the real-life settings of their favorite …Read more »
Japan: a place that’s cooked up some pretty wild inventions, including canned coffee, electronic toilet seats and a smartphone app that measures your bra size . Now Tokyo-based creative lab PARTY has created one of the weirdest inventions we’ve seen in a while: the Song …Read more »
The Tokyo Marathon was held February 28, and over 36,000 racers joined in, running the 26.2 miles through the nation’s capital. Coming in tenth place with a 2:11:34 finish and placing second among Japanese runners was 19-year-old Yuta Shimoda. The secret of his success? Apparently, …Read more »
This is part 2 of a feature originally run in the April 2009 issue of Otaku USA Magazine , showcasing a variety of (sometimes contrary) opinions on moe from our international contributors. The issue has been out of print and out of stock for years, …Read more »
Have you ever wondered what Harry Potter would look like as an anime? Wonder no longer, because Warner Bros. Japan has recently licensed out the Harry Potter characters to a stationery maker who’s put Daniel Radcliffe and friends through the animeizer. In total, 13 characters …Read more »
You’ve heard, no doubt, of otaku pilgrimages, where dedicated fans of a manga or anime series seek out locations as a setting in that work. One of the most popular locations these days is Chichibu, the setting for anohana and Anthem of the Heart . …Read more »
If the success of Shirobako proved anything, it’s that at least some anime fans are at least as interested in what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite series as in what shows up on screen. With that in mind, let’s take a look …Read more »
Wes Black
Matt Schley
Otaku USA Contributors
