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A Hololive VTuber Pulled ¥36 Million Into a Shizuoka Museum Town, Researchers Find
Hololive's Juufuutei Raden drove roughly 34% of visitors to a Shizuoka art exhibition — and about ¥36 million in local spending, half the show's total, per a new academic study.
IGN Japan Has an Archive Page for the Launch-Era Ocarina of Time Review as the Switch 2 Remake Nears
With the Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time due November 5, IGN Japan has an archive page for the review from when the Nintendo 64 version was new.
Culdcept Begins Rolls Onto Steam October 28, Bringing a Decade-Dormant Series Back to PC
Neos is bringing board-and-card hybrid Culdcept Begins to Steam on October 28 for ¥6,380, bundled with a free update that adds three maps and a raft of quality-of-life fixes.
Mystery Solved: The Uncredited Artist Behind 1997's Pokémon Carddass Finally Speaks
An illustrator known as utsubo56 says he drew all 151 Pokémon for Bandai's 1997 Carddass cards — art long credited to Ken Sugimori — and explained Charizard's famously missing horn.
Sony's New Flagship Walkman Costs ¥930,000 — And Japan Hasn't Even Gotten a Price Yet
Sony Electronics unveiled three high-end Walkman players in the US, topped by the $5,899.99 NW-WM1ZM3 with a 5.5-inch screen and Android 16. Japanese pricing remains unannounced.
A Viral 'Punch Through Walls' Game Was Cloned on Roblox in One Day — With AI Doing the Work
Indie dev Pandorio Games posted a teaser for 'Escape the Walls' on October 14. By the 15th, near-identical Roblox versions were live, and their makers credited AI for building them.
Voice Actors Kouji Yusa and Kyori Nemoto Announce Marriage: 'We'll Support Each Other'
Veteran seiyuu Kouji Yusa (Bleach, Jujutsu Kaisen) and Kyori Nemoto (Honey Lemon Soda, Ruri Rocks) have announced their marriage, pledging to 'support each other and devote ourselves further to our cr
Nintendo Posts an Ocarina of Time Overview Trailer — With a Switch 2 Store Page to Match
Nintendo Japan has published a full 'introduction video' for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2, alongside a dedicated game page and a paid store listing.
Tom Cruise Geeks Out Over *Jujutsu Kaisen* Key Frames at MAPPA's 15th Anniversary Expo
Tom Cruise and director Alejandro G. Iñárritu toured MAPPA's 15th anniversary exhibition in Tokyo, quizzing veteran animator Tadashi Hiramatsu on hand-drawn craft while promoting *DIGGER*.
Nintendo's New Switch 2 Japan Bundle Lets Buyers Pick Their Own Free Game
Nintendo's ¥63,980 'Pick-a-Game Set' ships November 12 with a download code good for Mario Kart World, Switch Sports Resort, or Tomodachi Life — buyer's choice.
350 Million Players Strong: China's Monster-Collecting Juggernaut 'Roco Kingdom' Lands in Japan
Tencent's 16-year-old monster-collecting franchise Roco Kingdom — 350 million registrations, 15 million on day one — reboots as an open-world RPG and begins a Japanese closed beta on October 27.
'Psikyo Memories' Brings 12 Arcade Shmups to PS5 and Switch 2 in February 2027
Edia has announced Psikyo Memories, a 12-game collection of the legendary shooter studio's arcade output — including Strikers 1945 and Gunbird — launching February 18, 2027.
A Nintendo 64 Game Was Fully Decompiled in Just 84 Days
Engineer Chris Lewis reverse-engineered the N64 cult classic Snowboard Kids back into readable C in 84 days — a job that once took communities years.
'Wash Your Hands, Not Your Feet': Komeo Shutters Kappo Komewo — But the Crab Ramen Lives On
After 160-plus people fell ill from his festival crab ramen, BreakingDown personality Komeo announced he is closing his kappo restaurant. Japanese commenters noticed the ramen shop is still open.
Japan Court Rules a Voice Can Be Owned — But Tsuda Kenjiro Still Loses His TikTok Case
The Tokyo District Court dismissed voice actor Tsuda Kenjiro's takedown suit against TikTok, yet ruled for the first time that a voice falls under Japan's publicity rights.
Nintendo Stock Slips 4.9% After Kirby Reveal — and the IP Trap Behind It
Nintendo shares fell 4.9% after the September 9 unveiling of a new Kirby title, exposing a widening gap between the long game of IP building and what shareholders want now.
Nintendo Wins $4.5 Million Judgment Against Reddit Piracy Moderator
A US federal court has ordered James Williams, longtime moderator of r/SwitchPirates, to pay Nintendo $4.5 million (about ¥710 million) after he never showed up to defend himself.
Mercari Banned Resales of a Pokémon Card Product, and Its Stock Fell Sharply
Mercari's stock dropped after it barred listings of a new Pokémon Card 30th-anniversary product. Japanese commenters say the drop shows why platforms are slow to act on scalping.
HORI's Modular Switch 2 Arcade Stick Lets You Swap In a Trackball, Paddles, or a Rotary Lever
HORI's ¥39,980 Arcade Classic Pro for Switch 2 and PC has swappable sticks, trackball, paddles and a rotary lever. Orders close October 2, and it ships in early spring 2027.
Did Death Stranding 2's Sales Push Sony to Drop Kojima's PHYSINT? A Tokyo Analyst Weighs In
Kojima Productions is taking its spy game PHYSINT to Xbox. A Tokyo analyst thinks Death Stranding 2's steep sales drop spooked Sony into letting Hideo Kojima go.
Chain-Smoking Slacker Cats: 'Yani Neko' Anime Airs a 'Squeaky-Clean' Special
The TV anime 'Yani Neko,' about broke, good-for-nothing cats living tar-stained lives, aired a one-off 'clean' special. It's been running on TOKYO MX, BS11 and AT-X since July 2026.
Kura Sushi Halts 'Chiikawa' Collab After Uncovering Employee Misconduct
Kura Sushi has suspended its wildly popular 'Chiikawa' campaign from September 6 after discovering staff engaged in fraudulent conduct, though the TV commercials will keep airing.
Japan's 'Tsukimi Burger Guy' Returns for Another Season—and This Year Brings a Giant Cushion
The internet's favorite autumn ritual is back: a devoted fan eating McDonald's Japan's Tsukimi Burger three meals a day, complete with a jumbo cushion and one very unhinged plea to shrink Japan's popu
'Culdcept Beginners': The Series' Creator and Guardian on the First New Entry in a Decade
Omiya Soft's Hideo Suzuki and designer Takayuki Jingu open up about crafting 'Culdcept Beginners,' the board-and-card series' first all-new title in ten years.
A Woman Who Once Doxxed a Cosplayer Explains the Psychology Behind Trolling Figure Skaters Riku & Ryuichi
A confessional anonymous diary post claiming firsthand experience with online harassment breaks down why some women pile on skating duo 'Riku-Ryu' — and Japan's internet can't look away.
Ramen YouTuber SUSURU's Two-Word Review of 7-Eleven's Chilled Pepper Soba Says It All
When Japan's most dedicated ramen reviewer described a new konbini noodle dish with just 'Ate it!' — and nothing else — fans knew exactly what that silence meant.
Yuuki Aoi on Voicing Madoka Again After 13 Years in 'Walpurgisnacht Rising'
Voice actress Yuuki Aoi reflects on how her approach to playing Madoka Kaname has shifted for the first new 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' film in 13 years.
Why Fans Say the New Chiikawa Movie Is Secretly a Great Kaiju Film
A viral blog review argues that 'Movie Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island' is far more than cute merch fodder — it's a genuinely thrilling monster movie in disguise.
SimCity's SNES Soundtrack Lands on Nintendo Music with All 21 Tracks
Nintendo has added the Super Famicom classic SimCity to its Nintendo Music streaming app, bundling all 21 tracks including 'Village,' 'Title,' and 'Capital.'
'Japanese Ramen Simulator' Lets You Run a Ramen Shop—Cooking, Service, Cleanup and All
A new multiplayer sim has developers actually making ramen and 3D-scanning the real thing. You cook, serve, clean, decorate your shop, and survive thieves and kitchen fires.
Why Does a Machine That Just Guesses the Next Word Seem to Think? A Viral Explainer
A Japanese essay unpacking why large language models 'feel' like they think—despite only predicting the next word—is buzzing on the Japanese internet, drawing 389 Hatena bookmarks.
'Kindergarten Wars' Gets TV Anime: Jump+'s Assassin Action Rom-Com Hits the Screen
Chiba Yuki's hit Shonen Jump+ series 'Kindergarten Wars' — where hitmen target the pampered kids of the world's most powerful people — is officially getting a TV anime.
Whatever Happened to the Anime 'Ondo'? A Nostalgic Plea for the Return of Cartoon Folk-Dance Songs
A Japanese anonymous blogger asks why modern anime no longer get their own 'ondo' folk-dance theme songs — and imagines a 'Demon Slayer Ondo' that overseas fans would love.
Mercari's War on Scalpers: Tighter Rules, Fewer Resellers—and Double-Digit Growth Anyway
Japan's Mercari cracked down on scalpers from Switch 2 to 'Chiikawa' goods—and still posted double-digit growth, defying the claim that resellers keep the economy moving.
Anime Adaptation of Manga 'Miichan and Yamada-san' Sparks Online Firestorm in Japan
The announced anime adaptation of Kodansha's Magapoke manga 'Miichan and Yamada-san' has ignited heated SNS debate—over an adaptation whose platform and staff remain unknown.
Cooking Star Ryuji's Raw Chicken Recipe Sparks Panic — His Reply: 'Please, Just Follow the Recipe'
YouTuber Ryuji shared a home method for 'chicken tataki,' rare-seared chicken with herbs. As worried viewers flooded in, he fired back: cook it exactly as instructed.
Buried DS Gem 'Metal Saga: Season of Steel' Gets a Remaster—Here's Why Now
Chinese studio Joystick is reviving Success's overlooked 2006 Nintendo DS RPG for PC, PS5, PS4, and Switch 2. At ChinaJoy 2026, the developers explained why this forgotten title deserved a second life
Nintendo Unveils 'Splatoon Raiders,' a New Adventure for Switch 2
Nintendo has dropped an introduction trailer for Splatoon Raiders, a fresh entry in the ink-splashing franchise built exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.
Japan's Patent Office Rejects Nintendo Filing—Citing Fan-Made Pokémon Games as Prior Art
The JPO refused a Nintendo patent, arguing the mechanic already appeared in fan-made Pokémon titles. The blunt back-and-forth between Nintendo and the examiner left Japanese readers stunned.
Yoshinoya's Dragon Quest Tie-In Sparks Debate After Man Ditches Beef Bowl Over Denied Prize Swap
A viral post claims a man in his 30s walked out of a Yoshinoya without paying after staff refused to swap his Dragon Quest collab freebie, igniting a debate over whether it counts as dine-and-dash.
Sony to End PlayStation Disc Production in 2028 — and One Editor's Reply Silenced a Grumbling Manga Artist
Sony will stop producing physical PlayStation discs in January 2028. A game-loving manga artist's complaints were quieted by a single, practical remark from his editor.
Nintendo to Pull Original Switch in Europe as EU Battery Rules Force Switch 2 Redesign
Facing EU rules mandating user-replaceable batteries, Nintendo will discontinue the original Switch in Europe and swap the Switch 2 for a serviceable-battery model with 1% less capacity and 10g more w
OpenAI Unveils GPT-5.6 in Three Flavors: Flagship 'Sol,' Balanced 'Terra,' and Speedy 'Luna'
OpenAI has announced GPT-5.6, rolling out first as a limited preview at the request of the US government before general availability, with three tiers tailored to power, balance, and cost.
'Detective Precure!' Stuns Fans with Surprise 'Madoka Magica' Crossover Photo (Official)
Toei Animation's current Precure series made a surprise appearance at a 'Madoka Magica' stage event in Osaka, with magical girls from both franchises posing together in an official photo.
MAPPA and Netflix Adapt 'Jimoto Saiko!' — The Cutesy Horror Manga That Trapped a Girl in Her Hometown
The SNS sensation 'Jimoto Saiko!,' where adorable art masks a story of pure dread, is becoming an anime from MAPPA (Jujutsu Kaisen) for exclusive worldwide release on Netflix.
MAPPA's 'Jimoto Saiko!' Anime Heads to Netflix — and That Cute Art Hides Something Dark
A new trailer reveals MAPPA is adapting the viral webcomic 'Jimoto Saiko!' as a Netflix worldwide exclusive, set to aiko's song 'milk.'
I Sped Through FF7 Rebirth on Boost Mode — Here's What It Costs the Story
A writer beat Square Enix's sprawling RPG FF7 Rebirth in under half the usual time using the new Boost Mode, now free on PS5 and PC. But does fast-forwarding gut the story's immersion?
'Too Much Freedom': Why Some Gamers Bounce Off Minecraft and Crave RPG Structure
A Japanese gamer's confession about being unable to get into Minecraft's open-ended sandbox sparked widespread agreement online, reigniting a debate about player-game compatibility.
Nintendo and Pokémon Company's Palworld Lawsuit Reportedly Narrowed to Older Versions of the Game
A new report says the patent suit brought by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company against Palworld now targets only older builds—likely because Pocketpair patched the game to sidestep the claims.
Cult PS1 Shmup 'Geppy-X' Returns: Remaster Demo Drops With All-Star Anime Voice Cast
Implicit Conversions' remaster of the legendary 1999 parody shmup '70's Robot Anime Geppy-X' now has a free demo across PC, PlayStation, Switch and Xbox, original star voice cast intact.
Vanillaware's Cult Classic Returns: 'Oboro Muramasa Kaikitan' Hits Switch 2, PS5, and PC in Early 2027
Marvelous announced a new entry in the gorgeous 2D action-RPG Muramasa series during Nintendo Direct, launching across Switch 2, Switch, PS5, and Steam in early 2027.
Veteran Actress Rie Shibata Cast as Assassin Mom in 'Cheat Skill' Anime, and Fans Couldn't Be Happier
Veteran actress Rie Shibata will voice the assassin mother in the anime adaptation of 'Banished Cheat Enhancer,' and Japanese fans are thrilled by the inspired casting choice.
Nintendo Direct Set for June 9, 2026: Switch 2 Lineup for Late-Year Takes Center Stage
Nintendo will stream a new Direct presentation at 11 PM JST on June 9, focusing on Switch 2 and Switch software arriving in the second half of 2026.
Persona 6 Officially Announced With Cryptic, Green-Tinged Teaser Trailer
Atlas has unveiled Persona 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a Game Pass launch planned. A moody teaser hints that green will be the new entry's signature color.
Persona 6 Revealed: Atlus Goes 'Super Dark' for First Numbered Entry in Nearly a Decade
Atlus has announced Persona 6, the first numbered Persona since 2016's Persona 5. The reveal teases a notably darker tone and confirms PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 releases.
Sega Officially Unveils 'Crazy Taxi: World Tour' for 2027 Across PC and Consoles
Sega has formally announced Crazy Taxi: World Tour, the first new entry in the cult arcade-racing series in years, slated for a 2027 launch on PC, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Voice Actress Hono Kuroki Marries Masaki Ando, Creator of the Anime She Starred In
Voice actress Hono Kuroki announced on June 7 that she has married manga artist Masaki Ando, creator of 'Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki' — the very series she lent her voice to.
Nintendo Music Goes Browser-Based: PCs, Tablets, and Cars Join the Party
Nintendo expanded its Switch Online music service beyond smartphones on June 2, launching a browser version for PCs and tablets plus in-car playback support.
Nintendo Music: The Official App That Finally Lets You Stream Mario, Zelda, and Famicom Classics
Nintendo's official music streaming service offers decades of game soundtracks—from 8-bit Famicom chiptunes to Nintendo Switch 2 scores—in one curated app.
Junji Ito on the Power of 'Abnormality' and the Genius of Chainsaw Man's Tatsuki Fujimoto
Horror manga master Junji Ito, now an Eisner Hall of Famer, reveals what drives his creations and why he sees rare talent in younger artists like Tatsuki Fujimoto.
'Yanineko' Anime Adaptation Lights Up July 2026 with TOKYO MX, BS11, and AT-X Broadcast
The cult web manga about chain-smoking deadbeat cats gets a TV anime, premiering July 2, 2026 across TOKYO MX, BS11, and AT-X.
Detective Conan Meets Star Detective Precure in Historic Anime Crossover
Edogawa Conan visits Precure on May 31, and Cure Answer drops into Detective Conan on June 6 — a weekend doubleheader celebrating Conan's 30th anniversary.
Detective Pretty Cure × Detective Conan: Toei Confirms Crossover Sending Conan to Makotomirai City
Toei Animation announced a TV anime crossover between 'Detective Pretty Cure!' and 'Detective Conan,' with each show's hero appearing in the other's hometown.
Voice Actor Faye Ruz Ai on Her 'Do It Now' Philosophy: 'Once Your Passion Cools, It Never Comes Back'
Faye Ruz Ai—the powerhouse voice behind Jolyne, Power, and Kikoru—opens up about the urgency-driven mindset that fuels her relentless career in anime.
Nintendo's 'Pictonico!' Turns Your Selfies Into Mini-Games, Launching May 28
Nintendo's new free smartphone app 'Pictonico!' lets you transform face photos into playable mini-games. Pre-registration opens May 19, full launch May 28 on iOS and Android.
Dragon Quest Walk Drives Basketball Fans to Nagoya Arena in Surprise Collab Win
A Dragon Quest Walk collaboration with Nagoya Diamond Dolphins delivered a measurable spike in basketball game attendance, showing the power of location-based gaming tie-ins.
Ghost in the Shell Returns: New TV Anime Premieres July 7, 2026 on Fuji TV
Masamune Shirow's cyberpunk landmark gets a new TV anime adaptation, airing Tuesdays at 11 PM on Kansai TV / Fuji TV's 'Hi-Anibaru!!' block from July 7, 2026.
Ghibli's Long Struggle to Find a Successor: Even Oshii and Katabuchi Were Once in the Frame
Studio Ghibli's recent admission that successor training has 'failed across the board' reveals a decades-long pattern—one that nearly gave us Ghibli films from Mamoru Oshii and Sunao Katabuchi.
Nintendo Switch Online Subscriptions Can Now Be Stacked Up to 1,095 Days — Beat the July Price Hike
Nintendo will raise Switch Online fees in Japan on July 1. A quietly extended stacking limit lets subscribers lock in up to three years at current prices.
Nintendo Hikes Switch 2 Prices in Japan, Citing Shifting Global Market Realities
Nintendo announced price increases for its Switch 2 hardware and select services in Japan, blaming changing market conditions and the need to maintain global business viability.
Voice Actress Satomi Akesaka Announces Marriage Using That Familiar Handwritten Format
Beloved voice actress Satomi Akesaka revealed her marriage with a handwritten letter echoing the iconic format Japanese seiyuu fans know all too well, sparking waves of congratulations.
Resident Evil Film Director Names the Game Scene So Scary He Had to Stop Playing
Director Zach Cregger, helming the 2026 Resident Evil reboot, told PlayStation Blog which series moment forced him to put the controller down mid-playthrough.
Resident Evil Movie Director Reveals the Game Scene So Terrifying He Had to Stop Playing
Zach Cregger, director of the upcoming 2026 Resident Evil film, told PlayStation Blog about the one Biohazard moment that forced him to put down the controller mid-playthrough.
Yomi no Tsugai Anime Reunites Bones Film With Hiromu Arakawa for a New Challenge
Hiromu Arakawa's latest manga Yomi no Tsugai begins TV broadcast this April, with Bones Film framing the production as a fresh challenge rather than a Fullmetal Alchemist encore.
Anonymous Essay Sparks Debate: 'Japanese Anime Culture Never Really Grew Up'
A viral Hatena post argues Japanese anime stagnated while Hollywood's animated films earn Oscar nods, igoring fierce online debate about industry maturity.
Can You Draw the Nintendo 64 Controller From Memory? Japan's Internet Tries
Japanese comedy site Omocoro challenged people to draw the iconic N64 controller from memory, with hilariously inaccurate results.
Pokémon GO Turns Real-World AED Locations Into PokéStops Starting May 1
Niantic partners with the Japan AED Foundation to map defibrillator locations as in-game PokéStops, featuring the healing Pokémon Pawmot.
Nintendo of America Hit With Class-Action Lawsuit Over Tariff-Driven Price Hikes
Consumers sue Nintendo of America, demanding refunds for price increases on Switch 2 accessories they say were driven by Trump-era tariffs.
'The Dangers in My Heart' Manga Drops Chapter 190: 'I Will Announce'
Hit romance manga 'Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu' releases its latest free chapter, continuing the beloved series that has sold over 5 million copies.
Crunchyroll's Anime Monopoly: Why Japan and the West See Different Shows
While Japan enjoys healthy competition among anime streamers, Crunchyroll now controls roughly 75% of Western anime licensing — and Japanese audiences never see the changes made.