Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Anime News Network (Page 16)
In 2011, Bardock, the father of Dragon Ball lead protagonist Goku, became the star of his own manga, Episode of Bardock, which expanded on his backstory. Now manga creator Akira Toriyama has revealed that he will draw a manga about Goku’s mother as well.
Undoubtedly, if given the chance, the heroes of Super Smash Bros. could easily take on the titans in Attack on Titan. Perhaps that’s what helps make this fan mash-up so great. The video was created by AmazingArtistYellow, and took six months to create, including original hand- and mouse-drawn animation.
The PlayStation Japan channel began streaming a new trailer for Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami‘s The Evil Within (PsychoBreak) survival horror game on Thursday. The video reveals the game’s characters and monsters.
Goro Miyazaki (Tales from Earthsea, From Up On Poppy Hill) will direct a television anime adaptation of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren’s Ronia the Robber’s Daughter children’s fantasy book. The series, titled Sanzoku no Musume Ronia in Japan, will air on NHK and BS Premium this fall. POLYGON PICTURES (Knights of Sidonia, The Sky Crawlers) is animating the 3D CG series in collaboration with Studio Ghibli. The show will mark the first time that Miyazaki is directing a television anime series.
Mainichi Shimbun’s Mantan Web began streaming the second full trailer on Monday for the live-action film of Eiko Kadono‘s fantasy novel series Kiki’s Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyūbin). The trailer previews Mai Kuraki‘s theme song “Wake Me Up,” and also shows the first footage of Kiki’s black cat Jiji (played by K-ON!‘s Minako Kotobuki).
Ichirô Nagai, the voice actor of Sazae-san‘s Namihei and Ranma ½‘s Happōsai, was discovered after he had collapsed in a Hiroshima City hotel on Monday morning. He was taken to a hospital, but he passed away. He was 82.
Japanese mobile game publisher Mobage began streaming a promotional video for its Shingeki no Kyojin ~Jiyū e no Hōkō~ (Attack on Titan: Howl Toward Freedom) game for smart phones on Wednesday. The promotional video tells players that they must fight against enemies outside of the Wall Rose using forbidden weapons.
Namco Bandai Games began streaming the fourth promotional video for its J-Stars Victory Vs.”team battle action” video game on Tuesday. The 158-second video features the new theme song “Fighting Stars.”
Some diligent animators took Banpresto‘s “One Piece Cry heart ~Fuyujima ni Furu Sakura~) (One Piece Cry heart ~The Cherry Blossoms That Fall on Winter Island~) line of crane game prize figures and created a five-minute stop-motion short last month. The “One Piece: Cry heart~” short recreates the famous “Hiluluk’s Cherry Blossoms” scene from Eiichiro Oda‘s manga and anime:
Looking for some style inspiration? How about Barnaby Brooks Jr. and Kotetsu Kaburagi from Tiger & Bunny? Premium Bandai’s Bandai Fashion Net has started selling clothing inspired directly by the characters’ duds from the upcoming Tiger & Bunny The Movie -The Rising- film (check out all the new character wardobes and designs at the official website).
Website Crank In!! posted six new images from the live-action film of Eiko Kadono‘s fantasy novel series Kiki’s Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyūbin) on January 4. The images feature Kiki (Fūka Koshiba) and various other characters, including Tombo (Ryōhei Hirota, above) and Osono (Machiko Ono, below).
Cuteness sells, even if what you’re selling is recruitment for the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and the National Defense Academy (NDA). Since last July, the JSDF’s Okayama Provincial Cooperation Office has been using three adorable mascot girls to raise awareness for the JSDF. The girls represent each military branch of the forces, sporting the uniforms for each. Momoe Kibi represents the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Mizuho Seto represents the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), while Airi Bizen represents the Japan Air Self Defense Force (Air Force). If the design aesthetic looks familiar, it’s because the girls were created by Humikane Shimada, the original character designer behind such military-inspired moe series like Strike Witches and Girls und Panzer.
Real estate brokerage Movoto generally focuses their interests on, you know, real estate, but every now and again, they’ll also post their estimates on fictional properties. Most recently, they turned their interests to Naruto Uzumaki’s apartment in Hidden Leaf Village. Factoring in location, furnishings, size, and market, they came up with $100,000.
Here’s the listing they whipped up:
Japan’s Kanji of the Year announced, shows the bright and dark spots of 2024【Video】
American tourists give us their opinion on the new Icee slushie drinks in Japan
Stunning ukiyo-e art experience floats over to Tokyo for its latest exhibition
Studio Ghibli tea blends contain ingredients inspired by My Neighbour Totoro
Japan’s tap-to-pay Suica train card system aims to go tapless with walk-through gates, location data scans
Japanese city paints well-known prostitution street bright yellow, adds fish art【Video】
Japan’s top 10 food travel destination prefectures【Survey】
Studio Ghibli releases new Totoro and Jiji hourglass timers in Japan
Haunted hospital near Mt Fuji re-opens after renovation at Fuji-Q Highland, and it’s terrifying
Studio Ghibli hair accessories keep your style tidy with help from Kiki, Moro, Calcifer, and more
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Studio Ghibli coasters keep your drinks hot and your heart warm this winterJapan’s top 10 food travel destination prefectures【Survey】
Daiso has giant new branch in middle of Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood (and another beneath it)
Tough times for Japanese pubs as izakaya bankruptcies come at highest rate in more than a decade
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a wholeStudio Ghibli releases new Totoro and Jiji hourglass timers in Japan
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Studio Ghibli releases new range of cardigans for anime fansJapan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local touristsStarbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper strawsFurikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengersPossessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Japanese city paints well-known prostitution street bright yellow, adds fish art【Video】
Japan’s top 10 food travel destination prefectures【Survey】
Studio Ghibli releases new Totoro and Jiji hourglass timers in Japan
Haunted hospital near Mt Fuji re-opens after renovation at Fuji-Q Highland, and it’s terrifying
Studio Ghibli hair accessories keep your style tidy with help from Kiki, Moro, Calcifer, and more
These are the hidden-gem catspotting neighborhoods of Nagasaki【Photos】
Starbucks teams up with 165-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Snake decorations【Photos】
The new Pikachu and Psyduck donuts are here! Taste-testing the Mister Donut Pokémon sweets【Photos】
Eat at a kotatsu while enjoying the view from Osaka’s Harukas 300 Observatory this winter
The 5 best Japanese bento to buy at Kyoto Station
We tried all seven of Muji’s new “Bento of the Day” boxed lunch sets
