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An Interview with Danny Choo

Date: 2017 July 26 15:27 | Posted By: Lee

One of the great things about writing for Otaku News is that you get to meet interesting people. At Hyper Japan we caught up with Danny Choo a professional otaku, entrepreneur, Japanese Cultural ambassador and inventor of the Smart Doll Fashion Doll.

Danny was born and raised in the UK and has been living in Tokyo since 1999. We managed to get an exclusive with interview him at his Smart Doll Booth and he revealed some interesting up products. Read on to find out more.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Hatsune Miku by iDoll x Nendoroid at Wonder Festival

Date: 2016 February 09 16:50 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Technology

Fans of collectable anime figures will already be aware of winter Wonder Festival 2016. It's always interesting to see what figures have been launched and how stressful it will be on your wallet. The good folks from Yukai Engineering Inc have sent us details of their latest concept project. A collaboration with figure firm Good Smile The iDoll x Nendoroid combines the Yukai Engineering iDoll with Good Smile's popular Nendoroid figure. They've created a singing dancing Hatsune Miku figure that interacts with a smart phone app.

Yukai Engineering Inc are not new to making otaku products they were also involved in the necomimi, those brainwave reading cat ears.

Hyper Japan Event Reminder - July 2014

Date: 2014 July 24 17:04 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Fans of Japan looking for something to do this weekend will want to head over to Earl's Court for Hyper Japan. The Japanese Culture event is set to run in London from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July 2014. As we've mentioned before, there's lots to see and do this weekend.

Souce: Hyper Japan

Transformers x Evangelion - Optimus Prime with Eva Unit 01 Colours

Date: 2014 June 09 14:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

Fans of giant robots will be pleased to hear the news from the Big Bad Toy Store. Takara Tomy Toys the folks behind Transformers in Japan have teamed up with Gainax to produce an Evangelion Unit-01 coloured Optimus Prime. This forms part of the Transformers x Evangelion project.
Optimus' trailer comes with NERV branding too. Optimus himself sports the distinct purple and green colour scheme. While the Autobot Matrix of Leadership has been made to look like an S2 Engine.

Only 1,000 will be sold in Japan.

Fans of transformers merchandise will know that this is essentially a repaint of the MP-10 Masterpiece Optimus Prime figure. Big Bad Toy Store are taking pre-orders at $314.99 (USD).

London Shopping Guide Updated

Date: 2013 September 02 16:01 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

We've just updated our London Anime and Manga Shopping Guide. Japanese department store Mitsukoshi has now closed, so it's been removed from our listing. We've heard rumours that they might open elsewhere in one form or another. All is not lost though as the bookshop in Mitsukoshi's basement JP Books now has it's own dedicated shop on Denman Street, just North of Piccadilly Circus.

We've also had to remove the much loved retro gaming shop Gaming Focus, along with the Muji on Oxford Street. There are still other Muji shops around London.

Also, we like to remind people when shopping for anime goods anywhere to watch out for pirate goods. We suggest you stay informed and read The Pirate Anime FAQ. There are still plenty of places out there that do stock pirate goods.

Souce: Otaku News - London Anime and Manga Shopping Guide

Pirate Anime FAQ Updated - November 2012

Date: 2012 November 03 16:21 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Websites

We've just updated The Pirate Anime FAQ with some more details. We've added details of bootleg bags, bootleg wallets / bill folds and finally included bootleg CD company Miya Records to the Audio CD section.

We've been running the Pirate Anime FAQ for over 12 years now, helping anime fans become aware of bootlegs. Many fans first discover that they've bought bootlegs by reading the FAQ.

As always we appreciate any feedback, so please feel free to get in touch.

We'd like to thank you for all your support over the last 12 years and look forward to the next 12 years! ^_^

Souce: Otaku News

Tachikoma Revoltech Figure - Out December 2012

Date: 2012 October 18 15:22 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

At the moment we don't really cover figures much on Otaku News, but every now and again there's something you just have to shout about, we know that our review of the Perfect Piece Tachikoma proved popular, so we know a lot of our readers will be interested in the pre-orders for the Revoltech No.126 Tachikoma. The figure comes with all the articulation you'd expect from Revoltech, along with with interchangeable hands, and fun accessories like organic oil. It also includes some wheel mounts so you can speed it along re-enacting Section 9's adventures. The thing that makes this model stand apart (or stand-alone sorry, we couldn't resist the pun) is that it's magnetic! So you can also relive those wall climbing moments.

Souce: J-List

Hyper Japan 2010 Report

Date: 2010 October 31 17:04 | Posted By: Priss

Category > Events

For Japanese culture fans, October began with a bang at Hyper Japan, a new and highly anticipated event on the UK otaku calendar for 2010. Hosted by Eat-Japan (the number one site for Japanese food, sushi and sake), the show was a sensational success, drawing in excess of 15,000 visitors over the 3 days, a remarkable feat for what was the debut of this cultural festival. The event was located in the heart of London's Shoreditch at Brick Lane, an area well known for its offbeat character and for the eclectic, hip and chic. Standing in the line with the eager attendees, the atmosphere was alive with the building excitement as cosplayers, anime fans and the culturally curious all assembled to enjoy a different class of convention. The preshow campaign, organised and delivered by a Japanese enterprise was loaded with ample incentive for any fan of Japan to take a look at what the exhibitors had to offer. I, in my cosplay guise as Queen's Blade's spectral maid Airi, lined up with the happy crowds all eager to meet and greet, eat and shop! After conquering the queue and ascending the staircase in my heels, a veritable treasure trove was to be found, serving the many delights of Japanese culture and cuisine.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Hyper Japan - London October 2010

Date: 2010 July 29 14:30 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

October is shaping up to be the month for otaku in London. With the London MCM Expo at the end of the month. While at the beginning of the month a new event called Hyper Japan is set to run from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd October 2010.

The event has a lot to offer with an Otaku Village set to cater to all your retail needs.

Cosplayers will be well represented too (they'll even get a chance to win a trip to Japan). There's also a cosplay talent search, competitions and other fun to be had if you like dressing up.

Japanese fashion magazine KERA will be there with fashion shows and style tutorials (the event is looking for models to take part).

Fans of angel fighting giant robots won't be disappointed either as they have a special Evangelion Store which will be selling some exclusive and hard to find merchandise.

Figure collectors might want to note that Good Smile will be there too! ^__^

As the people behind EAT-JAPAN are organising the event you can be certain that Japanese cuisine will be well represented too. with the EAT-JAPAN food court.

They'll also have lots of culture on stage too. You can book early to get a discount from the standard £8 entry fee. Children under 5 go free. As always we advise to book early to avoid disappointment.

Tokyo Bento Shopping Guide

Date: 2010 May 02 14:59 | Posted By: Helephant

Category > Retail

Bento, beautiful and healthy lunchboxes, is an otaku passion that keeps niggling at the edges of mainstream consciousness. The New York Times ran an article on it recently, some of the most amazing photos made the Flickr blog last week and there has been an explosion of books (US, UK) about the topic.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Too pretty to be Gundam, but it is!

Date: 2009 June 24 21:06 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Freaky Things

Now we might have all heard of the life-size Gundam that was recently placed up in Odaiba. But how about an all pink, gender-questioning Gundam?

It's that same model everyone has seen before, only coaxed into believing it should be a strawberry cheesecake...

Souce: Gizmondo

Evangelion Merchandise Selection

Date: 2009 March 08 14:58 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

Anime and merchandise naturally go hand in hand, with some titles just a thin excuse to create merchandise. Generally the more popular the series, wider and crazier the variety of merchandise available. With Neon Genesis Evangelion, regarded one of the most popular titles of all time, I thought it would be worth looking into the more unusual merchandise available from the franchise. When researching this article I expected to find some oddities, after all you can even get an Eva Unit-01 mountain bike. However I was really surprised by what's out there!

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Domo goes pink for Valentine's Day

Date: 2009 January 25 13:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

Looking for the perfect gift for the significant otaku other? Amazon.com are stocking a Valentine's Day Pink Plush Domo Kun Doll. Everyone's favourite little brown monster appears in pink for valentines day. His little tag even has a heart on.

Note to readers - it's is hard writing about this without mentioning little pink monsters, the possibility for double entendres in an article like this is endless.

Souce: Amazon.com

USB Lunch Box Keeps your food nice and hot

Date: 2009 January 19 18:09 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

We love USB powered gadgets and so do many Japanese gadget manufacturers. Tokyo Mango have discovered another great bit of gear by Thanko. The USB Hot Lunchbag. It keeps your meal at a constant 60 degrees Celsius until it's lunch time.

Souce: Tokyo Mango

Tokyo City Promotion 2009 in London

Date: 2009 January 16 09:10 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London anime fans are a in for a real treat on Saturday 31st January 2009, where a special Tokyo Day will be running. Organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Day is set to be packed with tons for otaku to see and do.

The event will be held at Lawrence Hall at the Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre.

Admission is free. It's set to run from 10am to 8pm.

Chickpea Japanese Chopsticks Practice Game

Date: 2009 January 14 18:09 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

Every otaku loves gadgets and great toys, but every so often we find something fun that also has a practical use. ThinkGeek are stocking Japanese Chopsticks Practice Game.

The game itself is simple - using Japanese chopsticks you pick tiny chickpeas out of a bowl. They're literally little chicks that look like peas. They're in different sizes for skill levels and are even divided by gender (boy chicks have orange beaks, while girl chicks have pink beaks and longer eyelashes). We suspect this is to make the game a bit more challenging, allowing you to play picking out only girls, or only boys.

The Otaku News Crew have seen this toy before and played it. It's a great way of teaching your friends finer control of chopsticks. We just wish more retailers stocked it, we also wish that they'd make a ramen eating version for Spike. ^_^

Souce: ThinkGeek

Perfect Piece Tachikoma Review

Date: 2007 December 31 10:08 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

With the holiday season coming to a close, some of you may have some extra cash to spend, this article might tempt some of that money away from you.

Anime fandom like most kinds of fandom is always susceptible to merchandising, and lets face it there is a lot of plastic tat out there, if you can print onto it, engrave it, or mould it, it's had some sort of anime merchandising. However every now and again something good comes along, so we thought it would be nice to do a product review to gauge our readers reactions and see if it's the sort of thing Otaku News readers want.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Pure platinum Gundam figure to be unveiled in Japan

Date: 2007 May 13 15:15 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

The Mainichi Daily News is reporting that a pure platinum Gundam figure is to be unveiled in Japan. It was officially unveiled at a jewellery show in Switzerland last month. The pure platinum figure is 12.5cm high and weighs 1.4kg. The "camera eye" in the robot's head is built with a 0.15 carat diamond.

It's called a Gundam Fix Platinum, and we highly doubt they'll be using any Gundam marker pens on it. It costs 30 million yen (just under $250,000 USD or just over £125,000), consists of 89 separate parts. The figure took 2 years to build and is not for sale. It will be unveiled to the general public in Japan at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba on August 18th and 19th. Afterwards, it will go on display at various Tanaka Kikinzoku stores and other locations overseas.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

We all want a Perfect Piece Tachikoma

Date: 2007 March 09 17:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex fans will be pleased to hear about the new toy from MegaHouse, it's a 1/20 scale Tachikoma model, with lots of articulation and even an opening pod that can fit the included Makoto figure inside! Known as the Perfect Piece Tachikoma the set is about 13cm tall, comes with a book, a wrench and other fun accessories. As expected the main eye can move around even it's oil intake tray opens for you to put in a can of oil to keep everyone's favourite jumping spider like robot well fed. Complete with both gatling gun and grenade launcher front gun, it's a real must have for the hardcore fan.

Afro Samurai Figures From DC in 2007

Date: 2007 February 14 22:42 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Toys

Waiting for merchandise related to the hit recent anime series Afro Samurai? Well, you won't have to wait for much longer as DC Unlimited, DC Comics' new 3D brand which licenses pop culture products from outside the DC comic book universe and distributes them to all channels, has acquired the license to produce action figures, busts and statues related to Gonzo-produced series starring Samuel L. Jackson that aired on Spike TV last January. These will be the first line of collectibles based on the series outside of Japan, where a limited number of action figures based on the lead character were produced by toy company Cube back when series' creator Takashi "Bob" Okazaki first produced his original self-published manga.

The first series of collectibles were unveiled last weekend at the New York International Toy Fair. These include fully articulated action figures of two sizes, a regular 6.75 and a deluxe 14 , that spotlight the characters from the anime. The first wave of figures will include main character Afro Samurai, his sidekick Ninja Ninja, and deadly adversaries Kuma and Justice. A possible second wave of figures will no doubt include the Empty Seven, a group of monks determined to get the headbands worn by Afro and Justice, as well as possibly a young Afro. Busts and statues will also be available, though no details as to who they will be of, outside of Afro of course, have been given. The first series of collectibles will be shipped to retailers in the fall of 2007.

Souce: ICv2

A Big Gundam of Your Very Own

Date: 2006 August 04 12:38 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Freaky Things

Fans in the past have built massive Gundam models now you can own an official one of your own for a mere 350,000 yen. It's 1.5m and weighs 35kg, and if you're very interested is based on a HY2M RX-78-2 Gundam.

Souce: Insert Credit

Japan's Toys for the Elderly

Date: 2006 May 02 18:23 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

In a rather interesting story, following on from their earlier story about declining birth rates in Japan, BBC News have posted an interesting story about Japan's toys for the elderly. It covers Tomy's new product, a doll for the over sixties designed to be similar to a small child, the doll will welcome the owner back home and even weights the same as a small infant.

The article states that due to the falling birthrate Japans population could decrease by as much as 28 million people by 2050. As a result Tomy is keen on developing toys not just for children.

'"We go for teenagers, we go for people in their twenties and thirties, we go for housewives, families and for older people too. It's a strange culture but we are very lucky," Mr Tomiyama says'

The article goes to mention Nintendo's success with it's Brain Training Game. It ends with a the suggestion that games for adults are nothing new in Japan highlighting pachinko as an example, although it doesn't mention that games for adults are played in other countries too, such as pool, snooker, darts, lawn bowls etc..., it just seems odd that they highlight the Japanese adults love of games when almost every country in the world has games enjoyed by grown-ups. ^_^

Souce: BBC News

Mattel To Produce "Zatch Bell!" Toys

Date: 2005 November 14 09:57 | Posted By: Jeremy

Category > Anime

VIZ Media, LLC announced that they have made a deal with toymaker Mattel to produce toys based on hit anime series "Zatch Bell!".

Most Realistic Rei Ayanami Model Released

Date: 2005 August 28 18:59 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Anime

Following Japan's largest hobby event, the recent Wonder Festival, I came across possibly the most realistic model of Rei Ayanami ever, or doll to be more precise. With the high detail and that infamous lucid expression, I reckon this Rei could rival any Barbie or Bratz doll, hands down!

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

Anime Action Figures to be Launched

Date: 2005 June 26 10:23 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to ICv2 FUNimation has given the rights to Southern Island LLC. of Phoenix Arizona to create action figures for Case-Closed, Full-Metal Alchemist, Blue Gender and Fruits Basket.

The four-year licenses will allow Southern Island to develop highly articulated 6" to 8" action figures for all four popular anime series as well as deluxe 10" to 12" action figures, plus busts and statues for Fruits Basket and Blue Gender. Action figures from all four properties should be available in 2006, with prototypes exhibited as early as the American International Fall Toy Show in October.

Souce: ICv2

B-Daman For The UK

Date: 2005 May 17 12:36 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Anime > TV

Cartoon Network UK is now running "coming soon" trailers for B-Daman. Looking around on TV listing guides it seems it is set to start on the 6th of June at 7pm.

B-Daman comes to us from the makers of Beyblade, and is set in a world where spherical objects have power. Kids use special marble shooters in order to do battle. In case you couldn't see where this was going it's worth pointing out Hasbro already has the webpage for the toys up.

Souce: Cartoon Network UK

Princess Ai Collectible Dolls out in Summer

Date: 2005 May 12 08:32 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Anime

According to ICv2 12" and 7" collectible Dolls of the famous series Princess Ai will be available for sale this summer. Bleeding Edge and LA Based Collectible Manufacturer will be manufacturing the line of collectible dolls.

NASA Educate Using Pokemon Cards

Date: 2005 March 04 17:58 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

The keen eyes over at BritAnime have found out that NASA have teamed up with the Pokemon Trading Card Game to develop an in-school education tool! The new Deoxys cards are designed to explore viruses, metorites, DNA and the ozone layer.

Dinkybox Cool Japanese Toys

Date: 2005 January 24 15:42 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

Wil Overton who many of our readers will know was the artist for popular Super Nintendo Magazine SuperPlay published many moons ago (and also influenced a large amount of UK fan artists with his style), has sent us details of his latest enterprise.

Dinkybox is a shop selling you the very best in cool toys and goodies from around the world, it mainly focuses on the new wave of smaller designer group/artist toys. Why are Otaku News plugging it I hear you cry? Well Dinkybox stock anime related stuff like Dr Slump Kubrick figures, the parody show Panda-Z and also some nice Deleter Manga supplies like pads, pens and ink and also screentone.

We don't normally shamelessly plug companies here, but Wil's a nice guy and agreed to an interview when my first website Anime Digital was getting off the ground, so we owe him a favour or two. ^_-

Souce: Dinkybox

Yamato Announces Late Spring Releases

Date: 2004 December 01 18:29 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

ICv2 have the details for the late spring 2005 releases from Yamato USA. They'll be releasing a Mizuho in Space Suit Resin Statue from Please Teacher. For Capcom fans there's Morrigan & Lilith Collectible Miniature from DarkStalkers.

Love Hina fans can expect Naru, Mutsumi, Motoko, and Shinobu PVC statues from the Love Hina Again OVA. They'll also be be releasing figures from Guilty Gear, Read Or Die (aka ROD) TV, Iron Leaguer, and Cyber Formula.

Souce: ICv2

Kinnikuman Gets Trashman in Trouble

Date: 2004 November 25 17:47 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

The Mainichi Daily News is currently running a story about Kinnikuman (better known as Ultimate Muscle In the USA), which has landed a 48 year old trashman in trouble. He took about 120 action figures from a waste disposal site where they were dumped after failing to sell in stores. Since the action figures were thrown away, they became property of the disposal company and as a result the trashman has been charge with theft. Strange, but true.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Hello Kitty Statuette Sold For $100,000

Date: 2004 November 25 17:16 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

The BBC are reporting that a Hello Kitty statuette made of platinum and studded with diamonds has been sold for 10.5 million Yen (that's about $102,450 USD)! The 4cm (2 inch) figure was made to celebrate Hello Kitty's 30th Birthday and has been on sale since August.

The Osaka branch of department store Mitsukoshi says that a local customer has purchased it. Otaku News have no idea who the buyer is, but we believe that they must be a pretty serious Hello Kitty fan! ^_-

Souce: BBC News

ADV Cosplay Caps

Date: 2004 October 06 17:55 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Toys

We've just got news from ADV about some really cool headgear! Their toy deparment it seems have had some great fun producing "Cosplay Caps" based on the animal characters from their popular titles. These hats are a bit similar to the ones worn by the Digi-Charat gang. They've got Menchi and a Puchuu from Excel Saga, Saizo the pig from Peacemaker and Kaleido Star's baby seal Jonathan.

These hats are made exclusively for ADV Toys and aren't Japanese import items, they're made from a fleece type fabric. At the moment we haven't got a set release date for them, but we do know that they'll retail for $14.99

ADV Lets The Cat Out Of The Bag With Hello Kitty and Friends Holiday fun!

Date: 2004 September 23 15:13 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

ADV USA are releasing a DVD set for Hello Kitty fans. The DVD has over 5 hours of the famous Kitty and her friends. True otaku will note that Hello Kitty is voiced by Monica Rial, who we interviewed last month.

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