Browsing Articles

1. Category
2. Freaky Things

Pachinko Support Group To Save The Day

Date: 2006 February 26 07:51 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

According to the Mainichi Daily News, a Pachinko Support Group has been set up to help people cope with the addictive pinball like game. Addiction to pachinko, like many addictions can lead to problems in society such as debts, violence, juvenile delinquency and even neglect from addicted parents. What surprises us it that it's the first support group of it's kind, despite in it's hay-day in the mid nineties 44 million Japanese were playing the game.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Three Arrested in Tokyo Over Manga Postings

Date: 2006 February 19 12:33 | Posted By: Spike

Category > Manga

Three men have been arrested in Tokyo over apparent copywrite infringement due to the scanning and subsequent posting of manga on a cybercafe server.

Read More... | Souce: p2pnet.net

Happy Giri Choco Day!

Date: 2006 February 14 12:18 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

Romance is in the air! It's Valentines day! With most card shops selling all sorts of Valentines day cards, including ones from your cat, you can't help wondering if things have got a bit too commercial. Well it's the same in Japan according to BBC News, since Valentines day is a day where women traditionally give chocolate to their significant others, and also to their bosses, as obligation demands. This isn't an ancient tradition, Giri choco was only started 40 years ago by the Japanese confectionary companies (who would have guessed?). Unsurprisingly 70% of Japanese women want this tradition to end, while Japanese men are happy to keep things the same. The confectionary companies are fair though as White Day a month later is when Japanese men have to buy white sweets for their loved ones.

Souce: BBC News

PC Case For Real Otaku

Date: 2006 February 13 14:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Even here at Otaku News, every now and then we find something that just screams hardcore otaku. It's normally something odd that only an otaku would want, but not just a everyday otaku, someone who wants to scream out to the world that they are a more extreme breed of otaku. Shuttle PC cases are cool, but can you image one with an anime paint job on the case? The example here is based on the hentai game Gift (although you wouldn't guess it's hentai from looking at the case), retailer Fast Online have a few other models too.

Shuttle have a good reputation for producing barebone systems with a smaller form factor, and have excellent build quality. Looking at the photos the artwork looks really nice and we're actually tempted to buy one since they're 39,800 JPY (which works out at $340 USD or £195 GBP), but then again, we're not into hentai.

Souce: Fast Online

Stay Cool With Doraemon

Date: 2006 February 13 12:06 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Those enterprising folks at the 0123 have released a Doraemon portable fridge! Now you can get everyone's favourite atomic kitten to chill your orange juice, well at least that's what the advert seems to be about. It can also keep things warm. The only downside is this is a promotional item only available to people who use the 0123's services between a set period of time for a minimum amount of money. We hope this gets a mainstream release in Japan. ^_^ Check out the site for full spec and some cheesy adverts of the chiller in use!

Souce: The 0123

Weird Things at Tokyo Zoo

Date: 2006 January 24 18:42 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Many news outlets, including BBC News are covering a story about a rat snake that has befriended a hamster in Tokyo Zoo. Apparently Aochan the snake had refused to eat frozen mice, so the zoo keepers offered the snake a hamster as a tasty snake. Instead of eating the rodent Aochan made friends with the fuzzy little fellow. The hamster who has been named Gohan (the Japanese word for meal and also a good Dragonball reference), sometimes falls asleep sitting on top of the snake!

The zoo keepers have never seen anything like it. ^_^

Souce: BBC News

Death Sentence Upheld for Otaku Murderer

Date: 2006 January 23 10:34 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Current Affairs

Tokyo Supreme Court upholds death sentence for the Otaku Murderer.

Read More... | Souce: Anime News Network

Otaku Burns Down House After Mother Refuses to Buy Him Dolls

Date: 2006 January 20 17:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Here at Otaku News, we're used to covering the news on otaku, who are lets face it often lacking social skills, however this man takes it to the extreme. According to Mainichi Daily News, a jobless man (aged 27) set fire to a futon in his mothers house after she refused to buy him some dolls. After the house burnt down, he turned himself in to the police. We believe this is one of the more severe temper tantrums parents can experience for denying their children toys!

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Falsely Accused - Enzai The First Yaoi Game In The US?

Date: 2006 January 17 15:58 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Gaming > PC

We've just been sent the press release from JAST USA, about a rather novel PC game for a certain type of anime fan. Yep, we're talking Yaoi (or boys love). Appropriately for this kind of game, Enzai - Falsely Accused, the action takes place in a prison ^_- (our resident expert Spike's going to love this).

Read More... | Souce: JAST USA

Britain Goes Sodoku Mad

Date: 2006 January 10 15:09 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Amusingly Crisscross are currently running an article about Britain's current Sodoku Craze, it briefly covers the history of the numbers game and how The Times started the Sodoku wars in the national newspapers.

Souce: Crisscross

Get Your Nails Done at Manga Cafes

Date: 2006 January 03 15:55 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

The Statesman are currently running an article from the Yomiuri Shimbun, about the latest changes to anime cafes, which apparently now offer more services for the female anime and manga fan, including germanium baths, nail salons and even organic vegetable buffets! The article states that the number of young women is growing in manga cafes and keen to capitalise on this. The article also mentions that such cafes are popular places for people to crash out in as a cheap alternative to hotels.

Souce: The Statesman

Wandering Hands Lead to Osaka Train Death

Date: 2005 December 21 07:31 | Posted By: The Dave

Category > Freaky Things

According to BBC News, a 40-year old man died following an incident at a train station in Osaka. According to witnesses, the man was accused by a 20-year-old student of groping her, which led to the man fleeing when the train reached a station. The unnamed man was brought to the ground by four fellow passengers, one of which was an off-duty police officer, and he later died in hospital.

Police in Tokyo have reported that there are more than 2,000 groping incidents a year on public transport, despite the introduction of women-only carriages and penalties for would-be gropers.

This all seems to be a case of Train Man gone too far.

Souce: BBC News

USB Heated Goodies

Date: 2005 December 20 17:06 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

With the winter nights closing in and it getting colder (at least for our readers in the Northern Hemisphere), you'll probably want something to keep your feet warm. Well the Inventive people at Thanko have come up with just the thing - USB Powered heated slippers! As discovered by Crisscross (formally Japan Today), these slippers simply plug into a spare USB port to get that warm snugly feeling. Thanko also have a range of intriguing and bizarre USB products, such as the USB heated gloves, and the surefire hit a coffee warmer.

Souce: Crisscross

Ninja Tourist Tour

Date: 2005 December 18 15:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

The Mainichi Daily News are currently running a story about a ninja skills roadshow taking place in Taiwan next month. Experts are from Iga in Mie, an area famed for the ninja art. The event is planned by the Iga tourist association aims to give demonstrations at hotels and department stores with blowgun darts and ninja starts. Apparently the ninjas will then use their skills to infiltrate further afield including South Korea, America and Europe. We have yet to hear if these ninjas will be wailing on their guitars, as this would be totally cool and by that we mean totally sweet. ^_-

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Final Fantasy Drink: Potion

Date: 2005 December 11 11:46 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Retail

According to Akadot, Square Enix announced earlier this month the development of a new drink based on the PS2 game Final Fantasy XII. The drink called "POTION" will be produced by Suntory and will be on sale from March 2006.

Suntory commented that the idea for producing the item which in FFXII is used to restore character's health, came up because many of their workers are Final Fantasy Fans.

"The drink has tentatively been named FINAL FANTASY XII POTION. A FINAL FANTASY XII POTION PREMIUM BOX will also go on sale - this box includes original design POTION bottles and a card. The drink is still being developed, but will contain "divine" herbs, and is to have a refreshing taste."

Souce: Akadot

Christmas Cake Made In Honour Of Tezuka's Black Jack

Date: 2005 December 03 08:08 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Akadot a hotel located in Takarazuka the place where the popular manga-ka Ozamu Tezuka (Black Jack) was born and raised, has made a christmas cake dedicated to Black Jack.

It costs 3300 Yen per cake and the hotel hopes to make a profit out of the popularity of the anime series Black Jack. "The cake is 15cm in diameter with ¾ covered in whipped cream and the rest with chocolate. The stitches on Black Jack's face have been recreated by chocolate as well."

Souce: Akadot

Kireru - To Freak Out

Date: 2005 November 27 15:47 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

From the country that brought you words like Karoshi (which translates as death from overwork), the Japanese now have kireru which can be translated as to freak out or to lose one's cool. Japan Today are covering this current trend which seems to be hitting the middle-aged the most, who snap and vent their anger on those who can't strike back, like waiters and railway workers. The article suggests a solution of expanding social circles, so the frustrated people can meet more people than just people from the workplace and home.

Souce: Japan Today

Only on Japanese TV - Trade In Your Husband for a Young Hunk

Date: 2005 November 20 18:45 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Mainichi Daily News is currently running a story about Love Love Chen, a Japanese game show where disgruntled wives can trade in their husband for three days and two nights for a new man who "matches their idea of a perfect partner". The show has been a huge hit for TV Nagoya since it started broadcasting in May this year. What's unexpected is that the show is aired on TV Nagoya instead of some tacky late night adult channel.

The ratings for the show are promising and what's unsurprising is that women like the show more than men, which is mainly due to the way wives get the better of their slacker husbands on the show.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Sailor Moon & Crayon Shin-Chan Songwriter Arrested for Drug Possession

Date: 2005 November 14 06:31 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Freaky Things

According to Mainichi Daily News, Masaki Araki the man who was responsible for the monster-selling hit animation theme songs for "Sailor Moon" and "Crayon Shin-chan," has been arrested for possessing speed, police said Saturday.

Araki who is 39, has been arrested for breaking the Stimulants Control Law for allegedly being in possession of a minute quantity of amphetamines.

Araki admitted to the accusations and he was quoted as saying ""I had it for my own personal use".

He was found carrying the drug when he was walking around in Shibuya-ku on Saturday last week, according to the police.

Souce: Mainichi

USB Sake Bottle

Date: 2005 November 05 06:00 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Following on from our Sushi USB Pens, as discovered by Spike, the USB food range is to be expanded with a USB Sake Bottle! SolidAlliance seems to be keen to release a whole Japanese dinner set of USB Pens, with sushi and shrimp varieties!

Souce: SolidAlliance

Social Changes in Japan Create New Consumer Demands

Date: 2005 November 01 18:45 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

In one of those articles where the headline says it all, the Mainichi Daily News are reporting on the current Japanese Consumer trends. Apparently demographic changes and large amounts of deposable income in Japan are shifting the consumer markets and demand, as the Japanese desire for luxurious goods and lifestyles increases - "global luxury brands such as Baccarat, Gucci, Tiffany, Ritz Carlton and Coach Japan are taking advantage of Japan's challenging demographics". The article also mentions Silver aristocrats - Japanese over 65 years old (predominately female) many of whom are outliving their spouses by an average of 10 years.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Anime Sweets a Big Hit In Akihabara

Date: 2005 October 24 15:24 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

An enterprising confectionary company has discovered out how to make money from otaku! According to the Mainichi Daily News, Matsuya the 120 year sweet shop has had a huge hit selling traditional Japanese sweets sold in bags with anime characters printed on. Matsuya is based in Akihabara, the Japanese electronics district in Tokyo, a place frequented with otaku. This started 10 years ago when they first printed customers messages on the bags. At the end of last year they were approached by an Akihabara regular who wanted his own anime character printed on the candy bags, since then the sweets have proved popular with anime fans in the area!

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Photo Blogging For Otaku

Date: 2005 October 17 16:01 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

Blogging is all the rage at the moment, with everyone and their dog putting up content about this that and everything. Many blogs are just angst fests. However hunting around can be interesting and rewarding with many different takes on anime fandom and Japanese Culture in general. Photo Blog site Flickr offers a wealth of photos for otaku, featuring Gundam, some nice Catbus, the cast of Naruto and Evangelion! One enterprising otaku even has his own Calcifer to keep his car warm. There are tons of cool images for you too look at on Flickr, so why not add your own! ^_^

Souce: Flickr

NASA Approved Manga

Date: 2005 October 08 09:42 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Those clever people at NASA have teamed up with the Minneapolis College of Art and Design to produce manga that explains the NASA satellite mission to study the Earth's ionosphere. They're aiming this at "students between sixth ninth grade". The Otaku News Crew think this this a great way to teach kids about space and the science behind it.

The 24 page comic can be downloaded for free here.

Souce: Slashdot

Virtual Pet Craze Still Strong In Japan

Date: 2005 October 06 15:44 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Technology

Japan Today are running a story about the popularity of virtual pets in Japan. It covers the latest incarnation of the Tamagotchi, the Tamagotchi Plus, which has infrared communication system, which allows a Tamagotchi to talk to others. It briefly mentions Nintendogs which is set to be the smash hit Christmas, along with the Blog Pet which learns language from the blogger and continues to update it when the blogger forgets! We're wondering if AI learning systems can learn angst too! ^_-

Souce: Japan Today

Capsule Hotels with VIP Rooms

Date: 2005 September 29 17:00 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

The Mainichi Daily News have an interesting story about VIP Rooms in Capsule Hotels. Normally capsule hotels are famed for being cheap and cheerful, literally just the bed stacked up like a rack of lockers, with a TV built into the side of the bed. These VIP Capsules have 20 percent more space and are ideal for tall or fat people, they also have novelty luxuries like pressure relieving mattress and pillows, feather quilts and bathrobes along with designer toiletries. These VIP capsules are prices accordingly.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Maid Hair Salon in Akihabara

Date: 2005 September 15 06:49 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Freaky Things

Those Japanese folks keep surprising us with the opening of a new business venture that keeps expanding the Otaku Empire. In fact they are not satisfied with the usual Maid Café business and so they welcomed a new Maid Hair Salon in their community.

Read More... | Souce: Akadot

Sushi Pillows For Otaku

Date: 2005 September 10 11:47 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

Every now and again, we see something so merchandise that makes as laugh. Have you ever wondered what to get the hungry otaku that has everything? Well, why not get them a novelty sushi pillow? It's literally a pillow made to look like sushi (since sushi made to look like a pillow would be wrong). The range includes California rolls, Tuna Nigiri, and other delicious treats to lounge on. At the moment the makers are only shipping in the US, which is a shame since we know a few people they'd be ideal for! Perhaps even a few restaurants could use them too.

Souce: The Original Sushi Pillow

Popular Flash Anime Boosts Euro-pop Single Sales in Japan

Date: 2005 August 26 14:06 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Freaky Things

Anyone remember that catchy surprise hit "Dragostea Din Tei (Koi no Maiahi)" from O-Zone? It's currently the big hit in Japan, thanks to a fan using the song in a Flash anime. And of course, thanks to the song itself, with it's catchy lyrics and uplifting beat.

You can catch samples of the song, and the Flash held responsible at the official website.

Souce: Animaxis

Is KyuuCON a Scam?

Date: 2005 August 25 17:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

After posting the press release from KyuuCon yesterday, it's been brought to our attention by various members of UK anime fandom that there is something fishy about KyuuCON. Firstly it appears that the venue mentioned the Plymouth Pavillions has not heard of KyuuCON or the organisers in question. The second major alarm bell is where the payments are going, into a personal bank account and not a building society account/non-profit account in the conventions name.

What's also interesting is their sudden change of heart, and the way they've just moved everything back a year. Plus this thread brought to our attention at the AyaCon Forum. At this current moment in time, based on what we have heard, we believe that KyuuCON is either very poorly organised or a cash grabbing scam, either way, we suggest you avoid KyuuCON for now.

Read More... | Souce: Anime Fandom

Press Blow Oldest Anime Claims Out of Proportion

Date: 2005 August 23 17:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Following on from our report of the oldest anime in Japan, it appears that it is more press hype than solid fact.

Anime expert Jonathan Clements sent us an e-mail with his take on the situation and highlights that most of the reports are merely speculative. Apparently the press have over exaggerated Matsumoto's guess into facts, currently their is very little evidence to support the claim that the film dates to 1907

Read More... | Souce: Jonathan Clements

Japanese wins Hot Dog Contest

Date: 2005 August 15 07:22 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Freaky Things

According to Japan Today, Takeru Kobayashi of Japan took home the title of the World Hot Dog Champion for the 5th time. Kobayashi known as the world speed eating champion gulped down 100 barbecued-pork buns in the Hong Kong contest Sunday, some of them without even chewing, beating the first-runner up by a long, long swallow.

The first runner-up, Johnny Wu, managed to swallow only 47 of the steamed buns filled with barbecued pork which is a popular delicacy of Hong Kong.

Souce: Japan Today

World Cosplay Summit 2005 Winners Announced

Date: 2005 August 14 15:30 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Following on from our earlier story, according to the Mainichi Daily News, a fantastic costume of Sirene from Devilman has won the top individual prize, Italian Giorgia Vecchini's costume even had Sirene's wings on her head, making it a huge and elaborate competitor in the competition!

The Mainichi Daily News site also has some photos of the finalists for this years summit. The competition had regional play offs in Asia, Europe and the USA.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

The Tokyo Beach Scene

Date: 2005 August 10 18:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

With the summer heat kicking in everyone wants to hit the beach. So in Tokyo sunbathers can visits the sands of Shibuya, where an artificial beach has been made available to the public for 9 days. 1,000 tons of white sand was imported from China to make this beach which has even has a special volleyball area. Built at a cost of 500m yen, it will also feature a concert, films and a fashion show. This original concept was inspired by the artificial beach made in Paris last year, and is a publicity stunt for SKY PerfecTV! who are hoping to attract around 200,000 eager visitors.

Souce: BBC News

Strawberry Milk Sausages Sales Set For Success

Date: 2005 August 07 12:32 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

The popularity of fish-meat sausages is declining in Japan so seafood company Nissui, have been experimenting and according to the Mainichi Daily News Nissui have invented strawberry milk flavour fish-meat sausages. The strange taste combination was discovered after Nissui found that Japanese children's favourite fruit is strawberry. Apparently the after taste of strawberries remain. These strange fish sausages will be available in packs of 5 and from 1st September and will cost the same as regular fish-meat sausages.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Harajuku Styles Go International

Date: 2005 August 02 16:51 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Otaku News has watched the Gothic Lolita crazy gain popularity in western otaku fandom and it seems that Japan Today have discovered a group of international girls all based in Japan who love the "Harajuku styles". The article profiles the group and their interest in the fashion crazes. For those wondering purikura is basically photo stickers taken in special photo booths.

Souce: Japan Today

Otaku Could Revive Japanese Economy

Date: 2005 August 02 16:25 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

According to Mainichi Daily News, Densha Otoko (Train Man as reported previously on Otaku News), has sparked an interest in otaku in Japan and also increased sales of items related to the story. The article mainly focuses on how much the otaku market is worth and mentions "moe sangyo" - products people don't need to have (hobby merchandise), which is worth an estimated 88 billion yen!

Apparently one private think tank believe that Japan's otaku population is about 2.8 mullion. If half of them feel in love the effect on the Japanese economy would be great, dating could make 330 billion yen!

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Cosplay Parade at Nagoya

Date: 2005 August 01 10:40 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to Mainichi Daily News about 100 cosplayers including nine foreign women surprised shoppers at Nagoya when they appeared in a cosplay parade at an Arcade in advance of the World Cosplay Summit 2005 to be held Aug. 7 at the Aichi Expo.

The Cosplayers left shoppers at the Osu Shopping Arcade delighted who gave them a sight they would normally not see everyday.

Ilsa, a 28-year-old woman working at the Expo's Belgian Pavilion and one of the cosplayers who hit the arcade, spoke up loudly for the costume culture.

Ilsa said "cosplay is now a word commonly used throughout the world." She added, "in Europe, cosplaying is not regarded as an activity only for otaku geeks."

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Realistic Robot Revealed

Date: 2005 July 27 07:26 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Technology > Robotics

According to BBC News Professor Hiroshi Ishiguru of Osaka University has unveiled the most human looking robot yet devised. The android Repliee Q1 is female in appearance and can currently only sit in a fixed position. She has 31 actuators in her upper body, powered by a nearby air compressor which are programmed to allow her to move like a human. Q1 has a soft silicon skin instead of a hard plastic shell, she can turn and react in a human like manner. The article also mentions R1, a predecessor to Q1 also designed by Professor Ishiguru that has the appearance of a five year old Japanese girl.

Souce: BBC News

Gundam Museum Gets Revamped

Date: 2005 July 18 14:39 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Those clever people at TechJapan have discovered an article on the renewal of the Gundam Museum which is run by Bandai. The renewal includes a "V Operations Cockpit Reproduction", where visitors can take pictures of themselves inside a Gundam cockpit, otaku will also want to see the 2 story (that's 5.6 meters / 18 feet) 1/1 scale model of Gundam A-Parts! The Otaku News Crew wonder if Bandai will release a 1/1 Perfect Grade kit of this. ^_-

Souce: TechJapan

Popular Japanese Talent (or Tarento)

Date: 2005 July 17 13:35 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

The Japan Times have just published a story on "Talent," or tarento, which explains the current status of Japanese TV.

Souce: The Japan Times

More Otaku Test Details

Date: 2005 July 17 12:39 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Following up on our earlier story on the Otaku Test, The Japan Times Online are running a story on how big the response has been, apparently publisher Biblos expected only 1,000 people would apply, but it seems that the actual number will be much bigger. The article also has example questions for the test and a brief history of the origin of otaku.

Souce: The Japan Times Online

Noodle Shop Owner Kidnapped and Beaten For Making the Tastiest Noodles

Date: 2005 July 12 13:36 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Freaky Things

According to Mainichi Daily News a 57 year old Management Consultant was arrested after kidnapping and beating the owner of a Noodle Shop beacause he was offering Japan's tastiest noodles.

Read More... | Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Japan Fans Claim of Princess Diana's Ghost in British Film

Date: 2005 July 12 10:01 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Freaky Things

Yahoo News Japan recently stated rumours of Princess Diana's ghost seen in the British movie Creep (also known as 0-34 in Japan). This rumour has been circling around Japan for a few weeks, though fans in the West have yet to say anything (after some site searching). Out of curiousity, I think I'll have to watch the movie over again...

The particular scene, was apparently shot near the location of Princess Diana's funeral in September, 1997.

Souce: Yahoo! News Japan

National Unified Otaku Proficiency Exam

Date: 2005 July 11 16:43 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Who is the biggest otaku? Is your friend Steve a bigger otaku than you? If so why? Well publisher Biblos are going to solve this question finally by holding the first Japanese national unified otaku proficient exam in their August 5th Edition of Elfix Magazine.

They claim they want to nurture an "otaku elite to carry the otaku culture through the 21st century".

The Mainichi Daily News explain that the magazine will even grade their otaku awareness level if readers write their answers down on a postcard and send it to the Elfix staff. The best results will be printed in the October 5th edition of the magazine.

Read More... | Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Nippon Airways Dolls attract hundreds of fans

Date: 2005 July 05 08:51 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Retail

According to Mainichi Daily News, hundreds of fans gathered to buy dolls with baby faces and dressed in Nippon Airways female flight attendant's uniforms.

Read More... | Souce: Mainichi

Looking For a Japanese Girlfriend? Then Get The T-shirt!

Date: 2005 July 01 19:51 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

At any anime convention apart from cosplayers, you'll notice another popular fashion with otaku, t-shirts. The most common seem to be standard series specific t-shirts with large prints of characters on them, over the last couple of years at anime conventions the more fashionable anime fans has been wearing t-shirts a bit different.

One had kanji and hiragana characters and took me a second to figure out what it said "Looking for a Japanese Girlfriend", I wondered if the guy wearing it actually knew what it meant, since I've seen many Japanese people wearing Engrish t-shirts, it makes sense that gaijin would also make similar mistakes! But apparently he did know what it said, and I've even heard cases were the t-shirts in question work. ^_^

I first noticed these t-shirts a few years ago, when I saw them at a UK anime convention, since them I've seen them at US and even Japanese anime conventions too. Where ever there is fandom, these t-shirts appear. We've been able to track down the makers of these t-shirts - Japan and US based J-List. Not wanting to miss out on a chance to get more information about this current trend the Otaku News Crew too the opportunity to interview J-List's founder Peter Payne to discover what other t-shirts they sold and why!

Read More... | Souce: J-List

Bullet Train with Cat Ears

Date: 2005 June 28 14:51 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

It seems that having Cat Girls and a Cat Bus isn't enough for the Japanese, they've got to put cat ears on their Bullet Trains too! BBC News are reporting that the sleek new version of Japan's Bullet Train is being tested with air brakes for emergeny halts. The air brakes in question seem to resemble cat ears and are designed for rapid breaking in the event of earthquakes.

Souce: BBC News

Geeky Girl Otaku

Date: 2005 June 19 16:07 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Here at Otaku News, not only do we cover anime news, manga news and news for fans of Japan, but we also like to run stories on otaku! We have to, otherwise we would have to search for another name! ^_-

The Mainichi Daily News are currently running a story about Female Otaku in Japan and fandom from their perspective. It certainly makes an interesting read. You'll also learn that Ikebukuro is the otaku girls paradise, while Akihabara is the guys (but everyone probably already knows about Akihabara, the electronic district in Tokyo).

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Adult Videos To Appear on PSP

Date: 2005 June 19 15:28 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

The Mainichi Daily News are reporting Sony Computer Entertainment have been put in an awkward position due to a Tokyo adult video maker announcing that it intends to produce adult video discs in UMD format, which can be played on Sony's Playstation Portable.

"This is not desirable, but we don't have the right to stop sales (of the adult videos)," a Sony Computer Entertainment representative said.

On a seperate note last month Geneon announced they would release anime on the PSP.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Earliest Curfew in Osaka, Japan for teens

Date: 2005 June 10 15:18 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Freaky Things

According to Japan Today, the Osaka prefectural government is planning to revise an ordinance which will ban teens under 16 years of age from entering karaoke boxes, video arcades and other entertainment premises after 7 p.m.

Read More... | Souce: Japan Today

1. Category
2. Freaky Things