For anime fans, it’s one of Tokyo’s must-sees: the 1:1 scale Gundam statue. Completed in 2009, the real-life RX-78 currently keeps watch over the Gundam Front theme park in Odaiba, Tokyo. It’s an impressive tribute to the continued popularity Gundam has had over the decades, …Read more »
The sheer dominating power of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece can't be stopped. Not content with ruling the manga and anime worlds, having its own special exhibitions, and more, One Piece is getting a theme park at Tokyo Tower. The 333-meter-tall tower—located in Minato-ku, Tokyo—will be …Read more »
AKB fans descend on a handshake event - Karl Baron AKB48’s “akushukai” – sessions where fans of the idol supergroup can meet and shake hands with their favorite members, have been on hold since an attack on two of AKB members at one such event …Read more »
Tokyo Station, the main hub for a whole mess of local trains, bullet trains in and out of the capital city, plus a vast underground shopping center, recently turned 100, and, naturally, an anime was released to mark the occasion. Because Japan. The short, which …Read more »
This month, one of the great anime films of all time and the theatrical directorial debut of one Hayao Miyazaki, 1979's The Castle of Cagliostro , had a limited rerelease in Japanese theaters. The film, set to be released in HD in Japan and America …Read more »
A follow up on our story about the manga controversy last week - and a fresh new controversy. As you may recall, a manga called Imoto Paradise 2 , which contained themes of incest, was designated as an adult title by the Tokyo government last …Read more »
All hail the Japanese convenience store. Far as could be from its grubby American counterpart, the average Tokyo conbini is spic-and-span, the staff greet you with a bow, and the food’s actually edible. That’s not even mentioning the frequent tie-ups with anime, manga and video …Read more »
Excellent news out this week for fans of Kuroko’s Basketball (or as it’s officially awkwardly translated, The Basketball Which Kuroko Plays ). Comic Market, the twice-yearly Tokyo doujinshi (fan comics) event will be holding a special extra event next year focused solely on Kuroko's . …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 »
The former Tokyo International Anime convention teamed up with Anime Contents Expo this year to put on what is arguably the world’s biggest anime exhibition, Anime Japan 2014. On Sunday, March 23rd, Tokyo Big Site in Odaiba hosted thousands of visitors, all eager to see …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 »
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 »
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 »
After a few years of radio silence, Shinichiro Watanabe is back on the scene and firing on all cylinders. The director of Macross Plus , Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo dusted off the old director’s chair and took it for a spin in 2012 with …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 »
Matt Schley
Joseph Luster
Amanda Taylor
