What is an otaku, anyway? Chances are you may be one, reading Otaku USA Magazine and all. But really, what’s an otaku? The word—conveyed as slang in the katakana オタクor the hiragana おたく—comes from a formal Japanese word for another person’s house or as a …Read more »
Japan’s Cup Noodle commercials continue to be cooler than they have any right to be. Nissin’s latest series of ads have featured crazy stunts, anime-style magical girls, and Dragon Ball Z ’s Vegeta. The latest is a video game battle that pits Japan’s best tennis …Read more »
November 11 is known as Pocky Day in Japan, because the date, 11/11, looks like a bunch of sticks of the delicious Japanese treat all lined up in a row. In celebration of the day, professional and fan manga and anime artists took to Twitter …Read more »
Yaoi fans probably never thought they’d see the day their favorite genre was openly discussed and lovingly spoofed on American television, but last night’s new South Park proved them wrong. South Park has previously tapped into otaku interests (everything from a spoof on Pokémon to …Read more »
There’s a new type of contact lens for sale over here in Japan: “Anime Contact.” Just like it says on the box, these contacts are designed to make the wearer look as if they belong in anime. The secret is in the patterns printed on …Read more »
If you’re in Tokyo anytime from October 22 to January 11 and are a fan of Tokyo Ghoul , you might consider making your way over to amusement park Joypolis. Joypolis is going Ghoul crazy, adding a Tokyo Ghoul-themed escape game, plus other attractions including …Read more »
What a combo. Neon Genesis Evangelion , the Gainax-produced anime series that would go on to become a legend (and spawn a legendary amount of merchandise) went on air 20 years ago, and everyone’s celebrating in their own special way. Japanese lingerie maker Peach John, …Read more »
A few months ago, an exhibition celebrating the legacy of Hello Kitty opened in Los Angeles, and now that exhibition is moving north. “Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty” will open at Seattle’s EMP Museum this November. The exhibition features 600 pieces of …Read more »
There are more than a few admirers out there of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon’ s Hestia, and those fans of the buxom blue-stringed babe are in luck. There’s a new figure out from Good Smile Company that …Read more »
The anime industry increased profits about 10% in 2014 over the previous year, according to a new report published by the Association of Japanese Animations due out Sept 18. The industry as a whole pulled in 1.63 trillion yen (about $13.5 billion). To what does …Read more »
We thought Gendo Ikari shaving off his distinctive and highly-rated beard was the pinnacle of anime-shaver collaboration, but that was oh-so-naive. Razor manufacturer Kai has one-upped Schick with its new campaign that incorporates the original Gundam series to sell its new line of Xfit razors. …Read more »
The Scarlett Johansson-starring live-action Ghost in the Shell film is still a few years off, but in the meantime, Japanese actors will be suiting up and hitting the stage in a play based on the Arise series. The play, which opens in Tokyo in November, …Read more »
Legendary sniper Duke Togo, aka Golgo 13 has done it all: traveled the world, assassinated world leaders, slept with beautiful women, but now he’s really taken the cake. Starting next week, fans of Golgo in Japan can buy a miniaturized Duke to hang from the …Read more »
“My fond feelings for the characters turned into jealousy.” That was the reason given by 22-year old college student Ikuya Otaki, who threatened to bomb an opening-day screening of the latest Pretty Cure film on Twitter. The student was arrested in Tokyo August 5. Otaki …Read more »
You might remember this story from about a year ago: Mt. Gox, one of the world’s largest depositories of the digital currency Bitcoin based in Tokyo, was allegedly hacked, losing $450 million worth of the currency in the process. Now after more than a year …Read more »
Tyler Waldman
Matt Schley
Danica Davidson
