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Man Jailed for Robbing Homes While Cosplaying Evangelion's Shinji
A man has received a three-year penal labor sentence for robbing homes, TV Asahi reported on Monday. In February, the man broke into a home in Munakata, Fukuoka, while dressed in Neon Genesis Evangelion cosplay. He stole approximately 17,000 yen (US$155) in cash. Tetsuya Fujisawa is a 37-year-old unemployed man. He has previously been known to break into homes while dressed in a bunny girl outfit....
Bunshun: Kalafina Members Want to Get Back Together
Singing unit's breakup was reportedly due to management issues.
― The female singing unit Kalafina officially disbanded in March, but according to reports by Weekly Bunshun Digital, this was due to issues at the management level and the members themselves want to get back together. Weekly Bunshun Digital interviewed an anonymous industry insider, who said that Kalafina broke up due to the whims of th...
Geodude Becomes Iwate Prefecture's Pokémon Tourism Ambassador
Iwate prefecture has been in recovery mode since the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster struck the area in 2011. Various companies have collaborated with the local government to help with tourism effort, including The Pokémon Company. In the last eight years, efforts have included a themed tourism train and Pokémon Go events. The in-game Lapras event brought over 10,000 visitors to northeastern ...
Controversial Mascot Chiitan Finds Itself in Social Media Limbo
The wacky character mascot Chiitan might have to put its beef with John Oliver on hold; at least until it gets out of Twitter jail. The popular mascot's official Twitter accounts are currently suspended on the social media platform and, according to Chiitan's account management team, they have no idea why. Only the "0-year-old fairy baby" otter's English Twitter account is unaffected. "From what w...
The Pokémon Company: 'We Don't Know' What Mr. Mime Is
There are nearly 100 Pokémon scattered about the scenes of the live-action Pokémon: Detective Pikachu film, including Bulbasaur, Jigglypuff, Morelull and the formidable Mewtwo. One creature serves as an informant for Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) and Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds): the mum Mr. Mime. When the film's visual effects supervisor Erik Nordby and creature art director Ravi Bansal asked The Pokémo...
Shibuya Officials Hope to Alleviate Halloween Crime with Alcohol Ordinance
Shibuya has become party central for ghost, ghouls, and costumed revelry on Halloween. The celebration has become enormous over the last few years and with it an increase in vandalism and littering. Last year things got so wild that multiple individuals were arrested for overturning a truck. Authorities are hoping to deter drunken antics this year by implementing an area-wide drinking ban on the s...
Shueisha and Kodansha's Biggest Manga Stars Appear in 30-Meter Mural in Shibuya Station
Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump and Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine recently collaborated on a 30-meter mural showing off iconic characters from both magazines. This mural was displayed in Shibuya station from May 6 to 12. The collaboration is part of the "Shōnen Jumaga Gakuen" project, and the image shows all the characters interacting in one giant academy. This is what parts of the mural looked ...
Cowboy Bebop, Carole & Tuesday's Shinichiro Watanabe Directs Flying Lotus Music Video
Carole & Tuesday and Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe and his team of animators worked together to create the music video for Flying Lotus' track "More" featuring Anderson Paak. Flying Lotus is one of several musical talents lending their chops to Watanabe and BONES' Carole and Tuesday anime series. The director and musician pair also worked together on the Blade Runner: Black Out 2022 an...
Current Ghibli President Kiyofumi Nakajima Shares Recollections of Princess Mononoke's Production
Film was a risky investment and could have put Ghibli in debt.
― The Edo Culture Complex's (Edocco) exhibit highlighting the work of Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki ran from April 20 to May 12. During the exhibit's run, pamphlets featuring current Ghibli presidents Kiyofumi Nakajima's reflections were distributed to visitors. Nakajima wrote about his memories of Suzuki and described extensively ...
Naruto Creator Masashi Kishimoto Comments on His Next Manga Samurai 8
Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto held a press conference at Shueisha in March to share information about the upcoming Samurai 8: Hachimaruden manga, which will be written by Kishimoto and drawn by Akira Ōkubo. Kishimoto began by talking about Naruto, which he launched in 1999 and completed in 2014. After completing the Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring side story manga in 2015, Kis...
Discover Akihabara with We Never Learn: BOKUBEN Tourism Guide
There's plenty to see in the bright, nerdy Tokyo district of Akihabara but if you're finding it hard to know where to start, you could try the We Never Learn: BOKUBEN self-tour. Starting on May 10, visitors can pick up a sightseeing map focused on maid cafes and other interesting locales. A total of nine locations are participating and intrepid otaku explorers will receive a unique BOKUBEN postcar...
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Tops goo Poll of Best Heisei Yuri Anime
Revolutionary Girl Utena ranks 2nd, Maria Watches Over Us ranks 3rd
― goo Ranking released the results of its "Best yuri anime from the Heisei era" poll on April 27. 2,222 votes were submitted between February 9-23. The top-ranked anime was Puella Magi Madoka Magica, which received 231 votes. Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a 2011 television anime series. It tells the story of a middle school girl named...
GALS! Artist Mihona Fujii Draws Grown-up Versions of Characters for Shibuya 109 Collaboration
To celebrate the Shibuya 109 building's 40th anniversary, GALS! creator Mihona Fujii drew a four-page manga showing aged up versions of the characters reacting to Shibuya 109's changed appearance over the years. Fujii posted the manga on Twitter on April 28, the same day Shibuya 109 installed its new logo design. 🎊SIBUYA109 40周年記念‼️🎊109 & GALS!コラボ企画💗GALS! 描き下ろし4ページ漫画💗『GALS! in SIBUYA109 2002↔︎2019...
The Magnificent Kotobuki Voice Actors Look Back on Anime's Best Moments
The Magnificent Kotobuki held a screening event for the final two episodes of the anime on March 30. Voice actors Sayumi Suzushiro (who plays Kylie), Eri Yukimura (Emma), Sayaka Nakaya (Kate), Asami Seto (Reona), Hibiku Yamamura (Zara), and Miyu Tomita (Chika) greeted the audience, along with surprise guest ZAQ, who sings the OP theme song "Sora no ne". The voice actors first appeared after episod...
High-End Proplica Brand Creates Chibi Moon's Transformation Compact
Sailor Chibi Moon's transformation compact is getting the high-end Proplica treatment from Bandai. Fans of the pint-sized Guardian can practice their "Moon Crisis, Make-up!" with accompanying transformation music. The compact is 1/1-scale and is currently up for pre-order for 8,800 yen (US$80). Orders are expected to ship in December. The compact includes recordings by Chibi Usa's voice actress Ka...
Rilakkuma and Kaoru Anime's Train Ads Get Meta
White ads ask 'isn't there too much to do in the world?'
― Mass transit ads usually focus on eye-catching graphics. If a company is going to slap an ad on the side of a bus or the wall of a subway station, they want to get as many eyeballs as they can. Creative ads include Captain Tsubasa's stained glass window in Saitama and the interactive Dragon Quest Builders wall in Shinjuku Station. Netflix's R...
Art Shops to Stop Carrying Manga Artist-Favored Ink
Artists in Japan are scrambling with the announcement that a favorite watercolor ink brand will cease domestic distribution in Japan at the end of the year. The Toyama art shop Gazai Tanpopo shared on May 7 that U.S.-based company Dr. Ph Martin's watercolor ink will not be readily available after December 31. The shop followed up on May 9 with a statement that read that the product's cancellation ...
Space Attendant Aoi Music Video Shows Retro CG Feel
The musical group Earphones released an animated music video for their new single "Churatachuraha" on Friday. The trio includes voice actresses Rie Takahashi, Marika Kōno, and Yuki Nagaku. The voice actresses serve as the main cast for the Keica and Griot Groove's Anime Tamago entry Space Attendant Aoi (Tatakae! Space Attendant Aoi). Space Attendant Aoi is listed as a CG title but the anime music ...
Hello Kitty Leads in Sanrio's Character Grand Prix 2019
This year's Sanrio Character Grand Prix contest is utilizing not only web votes; participants can submit their favorites via store locations and even the TikTok app. The result is a huge turnout. Over 7 million mascot fans have cast their vote since the poll opened last month. Sanrio announced the interim results on May 6 and despite only coming in fourth last year, Hello Kitty is currently leadin...
Goku Voice Actress Masako Nozawa Ushers in Talent Office's Social Media Account
Talent studio Aoni Production is home to some major voice acting celebrities. The company represents Ryotaro Okiayu (How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord, Fullmetal Alchemist), Miyuki Sawashiro (Psycho-Pass, ReLIFE), and Ryoko Shiraishi (Wagnaria, Hayate the Combat Butler). Aoni Production has accumulated an impressive roster in the last 50 years, but the office is just now joining the world of Twitter....
Monkey Punch 'Produced' Collaboration Image for Shazam!
Lupin III creator Monkey Punch was working on a collaboration with DC Comics before he passed away last month. An illustration that Monkey Punch is credited as having "produced" of the DC superhero Shazam was released on Thursday. Monkey Punch loved American comics and cartoons, and cited DC comics as one of his influences. Images of Batman, Supergirl, and Aquaman are also planned to be released a...
Dragon Ball FighterZ Game's Video Celebrates Goku Day, New DLC Character Debut
Dragon Ball fans in Japan know May 9 as "Goku Day." That's because the numbers five and nine pronounced together in Japanese can sound the same as the name of our favorite Saiyan. To celebrate, Bandai Namco Entertainment released the DLC character Goku from the Dragon Ball GT anime in the Dragon Ball FighterZ game on Thursday. The company and its subsidiaries also began streaming a Goku Day traile...
New England Patriots' Anime Club Toured Anime Boston
Pro athletes Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler get their Naruto on
― Anime clubs aren't just for your local college. New England Patriots defensive tackle Lawrence Guy started his own anime club right in the football locker room. Guy, along with fellow defensive tackle Adam Butler and the rest of Patriots otaku crew headed to Anime Boston last month to mingle with guests and check out the Dealer's Hall. [email protected]
Sign All Your Checks Like a Gangstar with Sexy Bruno Bucciarati Ink Pen
You'll want to keep your fingers stuck on this one
― Bruno Bucciarati's bod is the main appeal of this pricey ballpoint pen. The Stand user is casually removing his jacket while standing atop a broken Roman pillar while his stand Sticky Fingers can be seen below. The pen is intricate enough that it passes for a figure on its own. Throw it in your bag and the next time you have to sign a receipt you'l...
Comedy Duo Become Shinigami, Bankai in Bleach x Monster Strike Campaign Ads
Monster Strike has gone above and beyond for its collaboration campaign commercials, including hiring live-action actors to appear as characters. Last year the game gathered a variety of celebrities to star as the Sailor Guardians to promote the in-game campaign and a message of freedom of expression. The mobile game's newest collaboration is with Tite Kubo's Bleach manga and staff brought in the ...
Sword Art Online Singer LiSA Puts a Spin on Kirin Lemon Theme
Swort Art Online theme singer LiSA is tapping into that nostalgic summer feeling in music video for "Kirin Lemon no Uta." The Kirin Lemon soft drink has been available in Japan since the 1920s and its ubiquitous theme song has been covered multiple times. Bands and singers like BiSH, Frederic, and Inori Minase have covered the song in the past. LiSA's version is set to a high school story of a gro...
GRANRODEO Makes Cameo as Animal Rockers in Kami-Usagi Rope TV Anime
The television anime series Kami-Usagi Rope airs on Fuji TV's Mezamashi TV program each morning. The anime stars a high school rabbit named Rope and his quick-tempered squirrel friend Akira. The animal friends live in a working class neighborhood and over the years have encountered animal versions of celebrities like like director Tim Burton to cartoon characters from Assassination Classroom, Bor...
Elect Your Favorite Goku for 'Goku Day' 2019
This year's Goku Day is putting the power in fans' hands with a poll to decide which version of Goku will take center stage on May 9. The special site lets fans choose between Goku's different variations from Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and the Dragon Ball Super: Broly film. The campaign will award 59 random voters with a prize. Voting opens on May 9 and will run until May 31. T...
Original English Pokémon Theme Singer Releases Unofficial Detective Pikachu Theme Song
Jason Paige, the singer of the original English Pokémon theme song for the English-dubbed version of the television anime, released his own unofficial theme song for Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros.' live-action Pokémon: Detective Pikachu film on his YouTube channel on April 18. Paige's song is titled "It'll Always Be Me & You." "This unofficial Detective Pikachu theme echoes the inspirati...
Stanford Researchers Identify Brain Region Activated by Pokémon Images
Adults who played Pokémon extensively as children have a brain region that responds preferentially to images of Pokémon
― Adults who played Pokémon extensively as children have a brain region that responds preferentially to images of Pokémon, according to research findings by Stanford psychologists. The findings were published online in the journal Nature Human Behavior. Jesse Gomez, who is the study...
Sailor Pluto Makes Surprise Appearance at the Met Gala—Sorta
Vintage Chanel dress previously appeared in Takeuchi's artwork
― The Met Gala's camp-themed pink carpet saw Lady Gaga strip down through four costume changes and Zendaya re-enact Cinderella's fairy godmother moment. Monday was full of fantastical fanfare, but one star's get-up had Sailor Moon fans turning heads. Model and actress Lily-Rose Depp appeared on the carpet in a vintage black Chanel haute c...
Sonic Co-Creators Express Gratitude to Fans, But Live-Action Film Team Could Be in Tough Spot
It's been a rough week for Sega's blue hedgehog. Paramount Pictures stood firm against fan concerns regarding Sonic the Hedgehog's design as far back as December, but the film company finally faced the music after the film's full trailer was ridiculed across the internet. An early leak of the design "shocked" Sonic Team head and game programmer Yuji Naka and he expressed concern that it could even...
Manga Critic Speaks Out Against Artistic Restrictions After Web Manga Removes Star of David Depiction
Yuribara manga on Jump Rookie site was temporarily removed last year to implement change
― In December 2018, the web manga site Jump Rookie temporarily removed Aono Haru's Yuribara: TS Yuri wa Bara na no ka?! (Yuribara: Is gender-bending yuri bara?!) manga in order to alter a depiction of a magic circle, which had previously shown the six-pointed Star of David. The star is comprised of two equilatera...
Gundam Creator Yoshiyuki Tomino Expresses Thoughts on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Film
Describes Spider-Verse as "really weird anime," tells aspiring creators "that's what I want you to outdo"
― Mobile Suit Gundam director Yoshiyuki Tomino held a special lecture at Takarazuka University's Tokyo campus on Sunday for students studying media and the arts. One of the subjects that came up during the lecture was the 2018 CG animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which Tomino descr...
Man Cosplays as ufotable President Hikaru Kondo at Machi Asobi Event
Cosplayer takes photos with wads of fake cash in reference to ufotable's alleged tax evasion
― Machi Asobi is a bi-annual anime event organized by the animation studio ufotable. One cosplayer at the event decided to take this opportunity to cosplay as the company's president Hikaru Kondo, with a cheeky reference on the side to the recent allegations of tax evasion. The cosplayer, who goes by the name...
Voice Actor Azumi Asakura Expects 1st Child, Black Butler Live-Action Actor Hiro Mizushima Expects 2nd Child
― Several industry professionals have recently announced that they are expecting children. Voice actor Azumi Asakura (Asia from High School DxD, Yukiho from The [email protected]) announced on her blog on Friday that she is pregnant with her first child, while actor Hiro Mizushima (Sebastian from the live-action Black Butler film, Souji from Kamen Rider Kabuto) announced on Instagram on April 26 that he is...
Statistician Midori Makita Calculates Percentage of Consensual Sex in Erotic Manga
Also revealed: No. of maids in erotic manga over time, who initiates sex
― Although Japanese pornography is frequently stereotyped overseas as a scene dominated with hardcore fetishes, the stats tell a different story, according to self-proclaimed "erotic manga statistician" Midori Makita. Makita has been researching doujinshi for 12 years, with a focus on male-targeted erotic manga. He regularly pos...
NHK Macross Mega-Poll Crowns Macross F, Sheryl Nome
Poll revealed winners in anime, character, mecha, and song categories
― Television broadcaster NHK announced the final result of its giant Macross mega-poll on Saturday. The popularity poll let franchise fans select the best series, character, mecha, and song. The voting tally found Macross Frontier (Macross F) and the most popular anime and its star Sheryl Nome won the most popular character categor...
Final Fantasy's Yoshitaka Amano Draws Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Suave Samurai
Artist also discusses relationship between art, politics
― Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D artist Yoshitaka Amano has been expanding his artistic horizons lately with the beginning of the new Japanese era. For the website of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, he drew an illustration of seven samurai, the leader of whom is Amano's impression of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The website also had an inte...
Zombie Land Saga's Lily Becomes Example in U.K Parliament Talks on Twitter Abuse
Why did a Scottish MP hold up a picture of a cute Zombie Land Saga character in Parliament and say "Shut the f*** up c***"?
― The collision of cute anime characters and toxic furious arguments may be old news to anime fans, but on Wednesday it reached Britain's Parliament. It culminated in the extraordinary sight of a Scottish MP flourishing a picture of the character Lily Hoshikawa from Zombie Land ...
Sakuga Blog: 25 Anime Production Assistants Share Their Troubles in Anonymous Survey
76% reported working unpaid overtime, receiving psychological/physical abuse
― Fan-run animation production information blog Sakuga Blog posted the results on Tuesday of an anonymous survey it conducted with 25 anime production assistants. Overtime Work According to the survey, 96% of respondents worked overtime. 72% said they did it "always." Only 20% said they don't work on weekends or public holid...
Gunpla Total Shipments Exceed 500 Million Units
If you lined up packaging of all Gunpla that have ever shipped, they would circle the globe 4 times
― Gundam plastic models (otherwise known as Gunpla) shipments have exceeded 500 million units, as of April this year. The first Gunpla shipped in July 1980, and there are now over 2,000 types. According to Bandai Spirits, if you were to line up the packaging of all the Gunpla that it has shipped, they ...
Rose of Versailles Creator Riyoko Ikeda Draws Penélope Cruz to Promote Everybody Knows Film
Rose of Versailles manga creator Riyoko Ikeda provided an illustration to promote the 2018 Spanish-language psychological thriller film Everybody Knows. Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi wrote and directed the film that stars Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story) and Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Before Night Falls). The film wi...
Live-Action Sailor Moon TV Series Cast Reunites for Last Heisei-Era Photo
The actresses for the 2003 live-action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon TV series got together for a group photo to celebrate the final day of the Heisei era, April 30. Sailor Venus actress Ayaka Komatsu posted the photo on her Instagram account. View this post on Instagram 昨日は久しぶりに戦士5人が揃いました♡ 平成最後の肉の日(29日)に大好きなお肉をいただきました♡ ちょこちょこ個々で会ったりは してたけど5人揃ったのは久しぶり♪ やっぱりなんともいえない安心感。 私たち、人生の半分以上一緒にいるね...
Couple Cuts Wedding Cake With Fate/stay night's Excalibur
A dedicated Fate fan has been posting wedding photos and videos on his Twitter account. One shot shows himself and his bride poised to cut the wedding cake with a model of Excalibur. The fan, who goes by the name "Shining Amano" on Twitter, even posted a video of the moment the couple cut the cake. 私事ながら本日式を挙げてきました!夢だったエクスカリバー入刀ができて良かった✌ウェルカムボードも気合い入れて頑張った✌✌ロビーにはアストルフォきゅん全員集合させた✌✌✌悔いなし✌✌✌✌ pic.twi...
BookWalker's Global Store Holds 'How Not To Summon a Demon Lord's' Best Girl Contest
Voting on both Japanese, global stores lasts from April 25 to May 31
― It's time to settle the matter of who's the best girl from Yukiya Murasaki's How Not to Summon a Demon Lord light novel series once and for all. The Japanese and global storefronts of Kadokawa's e-book service BookWalker are holding a joint contest for users to vote for their favorite girl. The winning girl will get a bonus short ...
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse's Japanese Animators Share Their Experiences
Discuss cultural differences between American & Japanese productions, Spider-Verse's anime inspirations, more
― Four Japanese animators who worked on the 2018 CG animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse shared their experiences on the production with the Japanese magazine CG World. The animators discussed the cultural differences between American and Japanese animation productions, the anime i...
Kizuna AI Is in Newsweek Japan's List of Globally Respected Japanese People
Sailor Moon, Detective Conan creator Gosho Aoyama, One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, Goku voice actress Masako Nozawa also make list
― The virtual YouTuber Kizuna Ai has made Newsweek Japan's list of "100 globally respected Japanese people." In the magazine, she is described as follows: "Virtual Youtuber. Has been active since 2016. She first became a sensation among viewers outside Japan, such as in K...
Hello Kitty to Appear in Crayon Shin-chan's 1st Episode of Reiwa Era
Episode will air on May 10
― Long-running children's television anime Crayon Shin-chan's first episode of the Reiwa era will air on May 10. The episode will feature the popular Sanrio character Hello Kitty. The episode will be titled "Kitty-chan vs Burii-chan da zo!" In the episode, Hello Kitty will encounter an impersonator named Burii-chan. The episode will be set in Puroland, the Sanrio-themed ind...
Universal Studios Japan Unveils 1st Anime Video For 'Attack on Titan the Real' Summer Attraction
This year's 'Cool Japan' summer attractions are Attack on Titan, Godzilla, Evangelion, Sailor Moon
― Universal Studios Japan unveiled its first animated video on Sunday for its "Attack on Titan the Real" summer attraction, which will be available from May 31 to August 25 this year. The video shows Eren and his fellow corps members venturing through a forest toward Wall Maria. On the way, Eren exclaim...
Crayon Shin-chan's Dad Gets Fetching Figure
Figure recreates pose from 2019 Crayon Shin-chan film
― Bandai Spirits announced a new Crayon Shin-chan figure on April 19, not of the titular Shin-chan but of his father Hiroshi. Hiroshi has the smelliest feet among all the salarymen in Japan, to the extent that it can be used as a weapon. Here he is making quite a unique pose. The pose is a recreation of a shot from the Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Shinko...
Hana to Yume Magazine Celebrates 45th Anniversary With Playing Cards
Cards feature art from Fruits Basket, Please Save My Earth, Angel Sanctuary, Yona of the Dawn, more
― A deck of playing cards is bundled with the latest issue of the Hana to Yume magazine, the publisher of the iconic shojo series Fruits Basket, Yona of the Dawn, and others. The cards celebrate Hana to Yume's 45th anniversary, and feature art from dozens of series, including classics like Please Save ...
Dragon Zakura Manga Character Teaches Elementary School Class
In the popular Dragon Zakura manga series, lawyer and ex-motorcycle gang member Kenji Sakuragi sets up a special class to help high school students pass the Tokyo University entrance exam. Now, in real life, he's helping out elementary school students as a Virtual YouTuber of sorts. According to the Kobe Shinbun, the Nigawa Academy Elementary School in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo held a special class on Mo...
KAT-TUN's Kazuya Kamenashi Named His Dog After Detective Conan Character Ran
He's also a big shipper of Shinichi and Ran.
― KAT-TUN boy band member Kazuya Kamenashi revealed in an interview with Detective Conan manga artist Gosho Aoyama that he is such a big fan of Detective Conan that he named his dog after the character Ran. Ran is the daughter of Kogoro Mouri and the childhood friend of Shinichi Kudo (Conan). Kamenashi said, "I always want my dog to be bright and healthy (...
Pokémon Learn How to Smile the Wobbuffet Way
Merchandise line gives Pikachu, Eevee, Ditto, more new grin
― Ditto has gotten a lot of love over the years. The Pokemon has its own expanding line of merchandise of its transformations; namely other Pokemon but with Ditto's flat expression. Its charm is in its simplicity. Meanwhile, another Pokemon with a recognizable face has been ignored. It's finally Wobbuffet's time to shine. Pokemon Centers thr...
Beat Your Period with Little Miss P Manga Plush
Menstruating sucks. For many, the usually monthly visit includes bloating, cramps that range from uncomfortable to debilitating, and the inevitability of dealing with blood for (roughly) a whole week. It certainly isn't a highlight of of owning a uterus and while there are various medications and forms of birth control that can lessen the symptoms or eliminate the menstruation cycle, it'd be nice ...
Precure Voice Actor Youko Honna Congratulates Two Mega Fans on Their Engagement
Two Precure mega fans announced their engagement on Twitter on April 20. Twitter user Yui Asai (@yui_a) wrote that is now engaged to Q&B (@qandb507). They met through their shared Precure fandom, and their engagement present is the series' 15th anniversary watch. "I want to build a family with him that is strong and never stops smiling, just like the Precures," she wrote. 【ご報告】本日、交際中のQ&Bくん(@qandb5...
Fans Can Choose Favorite Character in A Certain...Popularity Poll
Winner will be added to cite>A Certain Magical Index: Imaginary Fest mobile game
― After Mikoto Misaka and Tōma Kamijō topped the 2019 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! character poll, they'll have to see how they fare against the rest of the A Certain... franchise. Square Enix opened an official site on Wednesday for the A Certain... franchise's character popularity poll. The pol...
Voice Actors Try to Work Out What Director Ikuhara Was Thinking at Sarazanmai Episodes 1-3 Advance Screening
It's best not to overthink it.
― An advance screening for the first three episodes of Sarazanmai was held on March 31. It was attended by director Kunihiko Ikuhara and voice actors Ayumu Murase (who plays the protagonist Kazuki Yasaka), Kouki Uchiyama (Toi Kuji), Junichi Suwabe (Keppi), Mamoru Miyano (Reo Niiboshi), and Yoshimasa Hosoya (Mabu Akutsu). Actor and tarento Ryo Kato (who plays the zombie)...
ComicFesta Contest Looking for Next Adult Manga Hit, Promises Anime Adaptation
Over the last few years ComicFesta's Anime Zone has streamed adult anime based on Suiseisha's Clair TL Comics imprint. Censored versions air on television while the full versions are available online. The line-up has included Sweet Punishment, Skirt no Naka wa Kedamono Deshita, Papa Datte, Shitai, Shūdengo, Capsule Hotel de, Jōshi ni Binetsu Tsutawaru Yoru., Omiai Aite wa Oshiego, Tsuyoki na, Mond...
TV Program Tracks Comedians on JoJo: Stardust Crusaders Pilgrimage
A biweekly television program will follow two comedians as they set out to follow Jotaro Kujo and company's footsteps from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders. Kendo Kobayashi and Kunihiro "Cookie" Kawashima (of the comedy duo Yaseibakudan) will walk the same path to Egypt in Kendo Kobayashi & Yaseibakudan Cookie's JoJo Journey. The first episode will air on Hikari TV channel+ on April 27...
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas Tops BookLive Best Romance Novels List
your name., Socrates in Love, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, more recommended
― The e-book publisher BookLive! held a questionnaire for its readers to find the best of the best of its romance novel offerings. The company published a list of 50 novels of bittersweet, heart-pounding, and nostalgic love stories based on the results. You can check out the full list in the link above, but here's the top...
Director Yamakan's Official LINE Blog Goes Offline
Director posts phone call recording of himself interrogating customer service staff
― Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens and Wake Up, Girls! director Yutaka Yamamoto (otherwise known as 'Yamakan') has been running a personal blog since 2016. He has used it to share sensitive information about the production of Wake Up, Girls!, victim blame an idol for getting stabbed by a crazed fan, and pontificate about...
Maho Yamaguchi Posts Heartfelt Message to Fans After Graduating NGT48
Even after assault controversy, she is glad that she joined NGT48.
― NGT48 idol Maho Yamaguchi announced after the group's "Team G" sub-unit's final performance on Monday that she and two fellow members of the sub-unit, Riko Sugahara and Rena Hasegawa, will be graduating from NGT48. The performance was the first time in 101 days that Yamaguchi performed with the group, since her comments in January o...
Sarazanmai Anime's Pitch Did Not Mention Butts
Director Ikuhara waited until after the pitch had been approved before writing this key element into the plot.
― Butts are a very important part of Sarazanmai. You might even call them an essential part of the package. It's hard to imagine what the anime would be like without those raucous musical segments every episode. In the anime's official guidebook, an interviewer asked director Kunihiko Ikuhar...
Pokémon Psyduck and Snubbull to Launch at Build-A-Bear
Two of the key characters from Detective Pikachu are coming to Build-A-Bear Workshop as online exclusives on Friday. The company will add snugly versions of Psyduck and Snubble to the BuildABear.com and BuildABear.co.uk sites. The Psyduck Bundle includes a 13-inch tall Psyduck plush, a raincoat, a matching hat, a Luxury Ball hoodie, a 6-1 sound chip, and an exclusive trading card. The Psyduck bund...
Sword Art Online Goes to the Dogs in 2 Game Ads
Cats get a lot of the attention as the official mascot of the internet, but their barky brothers aren't short on charm. The marketing staff of The Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization game decided to have a little fun with the game's title and bring in some pups to promote the Nintendo Switch version's release in Japan on April 25, and in the West on May 24. The two ads "Sword Art Wanline" plays c...
The 'Wackey 7' Are the Stinkiest Anthro Characters You'll Ever Meet
Deodorant brand introduces seven male odors as characters
― Deodorant is a staple of of a good hygiene, especially with temperatures amping up into spring and summer. The Japanese men's cosmetic brand Gatsby is introducing a new line of men's deodorants and hopes to make the product memorable with a unique advertising campaign. You might be thinking, "what exactly did I just watch?" The answer is sim...
Watch Splatoon 2's Pearl and Marina Go 'Off the Hook' at Tokaigi 2019
Fans of Splatoon 2 idols Pearl and Marina got to experience a one-of-a-kind undersea concert at Tokaigi 2019 (Game Party 2019) in Japan. The two-day gaming megashow was held in January. Fans of the duo who weren't able to cross oceans to see them can now enjoy the idols "Off the Hook" concert from home thanks to Nintendo UK. The company uploaded the 36-minute show on YouTube on Thursday. Pearl and...
Sarazanmai Anime's Pitch Did Not Mention Butts
Director Ikuhara waited until after the pitch had been approved before writing this key element into the plot.
― Butts are a very important part of Sarazanmai. You might even call them an essential part of the package. It's hard to imagine what the anime would be like without those raucous musical segments every episode. In the anime's official guidebook, an interviewer asked director Kunihiko Ikuhar...
Fighting the Monotony of Homelessness with Granblue Fantasy
Toby is 25 and without secure shelter—but his mobile gaming life is rich
― The world of mobile games (mobage) is vast. There's an estimated 2.2 billion mobile gamers logging in on their smartphones to pass the time in dungeon puzzlers, questing in a fantasy world, or hoping to pull that rare Servant card. The average user spends just 23 minutes a day playing their game of choice but that hasn't stopp...
Gundam Creator Yoshiyuki Tomino Holds Press Conference For Upcoming Exhibit
Mobile Suit Gundam director Yoshiyuki Tomino held a press conference on Tuesday for the upcoming "World of Yoshiyuki Tomino" exhibit. Shōzō Yabu, one of the organizers for the exhibit and leader of the arts division at the Kobe Shibun, said, "We made this happen because of the passion Tomino puts into animation and film, and because of the zeal of the curators at each of the museums. Mobile Suit G...
Rilakkuma and Kaoru Stop-Motion Animator Shigeru Okada Seeks Crowdfunding for Horror Project
Stop-motion animator Shigeru Okada earned recognition in 2009 when he was nominated for the YouTube Video Awards Japan. His short "Kamisumou" was recognized for its blend of live-action and special effects work. Okada's YouTube channel is filled with behind-the-scenes videos and cute stop-motion shorts. Beyond social media, he's worked in the stop-motion art form for 15 years and was an animator o...
TMS Entertainment Opens Anniversary YouTube Channel with Over 100 Classic Anime Episodes
Anime production studio TMS Entertainment Animation opened an official YouTube channel to celebrate its 55th anniversary. The channel is offering over 100 episodes for free from the studio's classic series until January 2020. Some of the series are region-locked while others are available in the U.S. The channel is currently offering the first three or more episodes from Lupin III, The Rose of Ver...
Fighting the Monotony of Homelessness with Granblue Fantasy
Toby is 25 and without secure shelter—but his mobile gaming life is rich
― The world of mobile games (mobage) is vast. There's an estimated 2.2 billion mobile gamers logging in on their smartphones to pass the time in dungeon puzzlers, questing in a fantasy world, or hoping to pull that rare Servant card. The average user spends just 23 minutes a day playing their game of choice but that hasn't stopp...
Charapedia Poll Reveals Most Popular Anime Voice Actors
Yūma Uchida and Yuko Sanpei won this year's Annual Seiyū Awards for best performance but which voice actors were fans' top choices? The website Charapedia calculated votes from its readers to find which actors and actresses are the current fan favorites. Topping the women's list is the versatile Aoi Yūki. Yūki has a broad range of voices from the determined Tanya Degurechaff (Saga of Tanya the Evi...
Hanshin Tigers, Toyo Carp Prepare for Gundam Baseball Battle on May 17
Amuro Ray backs Hanshin Tigers, Char Aznable sides with Toyo Carp
― It's the Hiroshima Toyo Carp versus the Hanshin Tigers in an all out Gundam-sized baseball sortie! Both professional teams have enlisted Mobile Suits and their pilots to represent them in collaboration merchandise as part of the Mobile Suit Gundam 40th Anniversary Project. The project now spans new anime, a face-off against Hello Kit...
Gag Manga Artist Man-gatarō Redesigns Library Mascot
Adorable tree transforms into something...else
― Manga creator Man-gatarō's (Gatarō Man) has a uniquely graphic art style. His terrifying character Babā (Old Woman) being one recent example (link NSFW). While comedic in its grotesqueness, it's not exactly the type of art you'd expect to find on, say, your library card. That didn't deter the Saga Prefectural Library. The library has its own cute masco...
Gintama's Lewd Snow Sculpture Immortalized as Flower Vase
When it comes to Gintama merchandise, you never know what you're going to get. It could be weird doodles masquerading as fashion or an Elizabeth incense holder that looks like its smoking. Sometimes the items are particularly lewd like a fork that's literally shoved up Gintoki's butt. This latest bit of merchandise falls in the latter category. The comedy action series is currently collaborating w...
John Oliver's Last Week Tonight Talks Chiitan
The unofficial mascot responded with a challenge for the talk show host
― John Oliver's late-night talk show Last Week Tonight revisited Japan's world of mascots last night to discuss the controversial Chiitan. The segment opens with the bloody death of a Jigglypuff before getting to the mascot's introduction. Chiitan's nearly one million social media followers are already familiar with its antics bu...
Famitsu Readers Vote Chrono Trigger as Top Video Game From Heisei Era
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, NieR: Automata place 2nd and 3rd respectively.
― Famitsu released the top three results of its "Top Video Game From the Heisei Era" poll on its website on Monday. 7,158 votes were submitted on Famitsu's website between April 3-8. The top-ranked game was Chrono Trigger (1995) developed by Square Enix (then Square), which received 230 votes. The classic 1995 SNE...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Character Designer Expresses Disappointment in Anime Industry
In the midst of news that animation studio Madhouse worked a production assistant to collapse, members of the anime industry are discussing their thoughts and feelings on social media. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable and Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya character designer Terumi Nishii shared her thoughts in English on Twitter on Monday, going so far as to dissuade anyone hoping...
Shonen Jump, Shonen Magazine Fuse Into Single 2,264-page, 13cm-wide Issue
I'm not sure this is what they meant when they said Shonen Jump and Shonen Magazine carry some of the biggest manga titles. Publishers Shueisha and Kodansha have merged their magazines for one truly gigantic issue as part of the joint "Shōnen Jumaga Gakuen" project. The commemorative issue includes 2,264 total pages with a 13-cm wide spine. Inside are opening chapters for 44 individual manga serie...
Voice Actors Jill Harris, Dallas Reid Announce Engagement
The real-life Asta and Noelle are getting hitched! English dub voice actors Jill Harris and Dallas Reid announced their engagement on social media on April 20. The pair went to a renaissance fair that day before sharing the good news. Went to the Renn Faire with my fiancé today. Did I mention that @FortWorthReid and I are engaged? 'Cause we are. pic.twitter.com/ljjPBRQmIy— Jill Harris (@jillybeann...
Little-Known Monkey Punch Manga From 1975 Reveals Lupin III, Fujiko's Son
After Monkey Punch's passing, fans recall a little-known fact about Lupin III and Fujiko's relationship.
― Monkey Punch's passing last week has prompted fans to celebrate the acclaimed manga artist's life as well as his most famous work: Lupin III. One little-known piece of trivia is that Lupin and Fujiko get married and have a child in a spinoff manga called Lupin Kozō (Lupin the Brat), which Monkey...
Madhouse Production Assistant Says He Worked 393 Hours in One Month
After being hospitalized due to overwork, assistant joined Black Company trade union.
― On April 5, a Madhouse production assistant joined a trade union and commenced the process of collective bargaining. The anonymous assistant is seeking compensation for unpaid overtime, as well as an apology for the various forms of power harassment he received. Bungei Shunju Online published an interview with the...
WIT Studio Animates Eve Music Video 'This World to You'
Japanese singer Eve posted the music video of his single "This World to You" (Kimi ni Sekai) on Saturday. The single is from his latest album Otogi that went on sale in Japan on February 6. The video is available with closed caption subtitles in multiple languages including English. Wit Studio is credited for the production of the music video. Nobutaka Yoda (your name.,, Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no T...
Experience Real-Life Treasure Hunt In Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Exhibit
Exhibit, treasure hunt experience in Tokyo Anime Center runs from April 18 to May 12.
― In the world of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (Danmachi for short), adventurers explore the Dungeon in search of treasure. Fans can now experience the treasure hunting lifestyle for themselves at a Danmachi exhibit at the Tokyo Anime Center. As you admire the artwork and materials on display at...
Japanese Animation Producers Practice Their Pitching Skills In English
Studio Durian pitched a film as Flip Flappers director Kiyotaka Oshiyama's next project
― Five Japanese animation producers held an English-language pitching session in front of international producers and industry professionals during AnimeJapan 2019. The Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO) organized the session with support from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The VIPO...
Yowamushi Pedal Teams Up With NHK For Para-Cycling Anime Short
7th short highlighting athletes in the Paralympic Games is scheduled to air in late June.
― Japan's national broadcaster NHK revealed on Friday that the seventh part in its "Anime x Para: Who is Your Hero?" animated project will be a collaboration with Wataru Watanabe's cycling-themed manga series Yowamushi Pedal. The theme of the short will be para-cycling. The NHK opened a website for the collabora...
Legendary Comics, Sunrise Producers Discuss How Live-Action Gundam Film Was Greenlit
Unicorn Gundam cameo in Pacific Rim: Uprising helped pave the way for live-action adaptation talks.
― Legendary Comics Senior Vice President Robert Napton and Sunrise Executive Expert for film production Ken Iyadomi discussed the circumstances in which the live-action Gundam film was greenlit at a talk at a Project Anime industry presentation in Tokyo on March 22. The discussion was mediated by Matt ...
Filo, Melty Narrate The Rising of the Shield Hero Ad Celebrating 6.2 Million Copies in Print
Light novel and manga series printed 2.2 million copies between February and April this year.
― The Rising of the Shield Hero light novel and manga series is celebrating 6.2 million copies in print with an ad narrated by Filo (voiced by Rina Hidaka) and Melty (voiced by Maaya Uchida). The ad was posted on the KADOKAWAanime YouTube channel on April 10 and promotes the 13th volume of the manga, which w...
Another Racehorse That Inspired Uma Musume Pretty Derby Character Passes Away
The horse girls of Uma Musume Pretty Derby are said to possess the spirits of (and share names with) famed racehorses. Unfortunately, many of those racehorses are advanced in age or have suffered injuries leading to their deaths. Since the anime's premiere last year, Special Week, King Halo, and Vodka have past. This week, another horse was laid to rest. The three-time Japanese champion horse Hish...
Rita Ora Dances in Ryme City in Detective Pikachu Music Video
Singer and actress Rita Ora (Fifty Shades Freed) is not only appearing in the live-action film adaptation of Detective Pikachu but she's also performing the film's theme "Carry On." The music video for the theme song dropped on Thursday and shows Ora in the Ryme City Police offices interspersed with scenes of Tim and Pikachu from the film. Other Pokemon heavyhitters also make appearances in the mu...
The Helpful Fox Senko-san Gets Its Own Cup Udon Campaign
The helpful fox girl Senko-san is being rewarded with her own instant udon cups to celebrate the premiere of The Helpful Fox Senko-san television anime. The staff are holding a Twitter contest and will give away Maruchan Red Kitsune Udon (Azuma) cups and Senko-san chopsticks to lucky participants. In order to win, participants must follow the official Senko-san Twitter account, agree to the terms ...
Manga Artist Daisuke Igarashi Shares Inspirations Behind Children of the Sea
Children of the Sea manga artist Daisuke Igarashi attended a talk show at Ueno's National Museum of Nature and Science on Wednesday along with film adaptation director Ayumu Watanabe and marine mammal researcher Yūko Tajima. At the talk, Igarashi shared some of his inspirations behind drawing Children of the Sea. Igarashi said that he initially came up with the title for Children of the Sea becaus...
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