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Global (Page 15)

Maybe 13 percent of Japanese schoolgirls aren’t really selling their services as escorts

Casey Baseel
Nov 11, 2015
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The Japanese government has asked the UN to retract its recent statement that claims 13 percent of girls in Japan are involved in compensated dating.

Global, Japan
(crime • government • kids • schoolgirls • UN)

Farting sheep set plane’s alarm bells ringing during flight to Malaysia

Jamie Koide
Nov 10, 2015

We all have different ways of getting through long flights, like settling down for some inflight entertainment, reading a good book, or possibly trolling fellow passengers. But one thing everyone tries not to think about is what might happen if the plane were to suddenly experience an emergency while thousands of feet up in the air.

For one unlucky group of passengers last month, they experienced just that, and for what might be the strangest reason we’ve heard yet: some very gassy sheep.

Global
(animals • farting • funny • sheep • Singapore Airlines • travel • video • wtf)

Super Mario Maker update doubles down on creepy “Skinny Mario” with weird easter egg【Video】

Mike
Nov 9, 2015

Super Mario Maker, the toolkit/game for Wii U that allows Mario fans to build their very own levels using a vast array of items and characters from the games’ universe, is without a doubt a huge hit. Players had been craving the ability to DIY their own levels for the classic series pretty much since the original handful of games were released for the original NES.

One addition to the game that players never expected to see was the inclusion of the crazy “Weird Mushroom”—originally a glitch in the first Super Mario Bros.—which turns Mario into “Skinny Mario,” a creepy, distorted Mario whose lanky limbs wiggle about all over the place with each (giant) jump.

Skinny Mario was, to put it lightly, not well-received by the gaming community, and Nintendo had a golden opportunity to fix it when it released the first update to the game a few days ago. Except, instead of doing away with Skinny Mario, Nintendo actually decided to include even more, super creepy, Skinny Mario appearances.

Global, Internet, Japan
(creepy • Mario • Mario Maker • video games • weird)

10 things one Japanese expat is always sure to stock up on when returning to Japan

Mike
Nov 7, 2015

Any expat, exchange student, or anybody who has otherwise spent a long period of time abroad will tell you that, while the local food is exciting and fun and delicious for a while, eventually you’ll start to experience intense urges for the comfort foods and products of your native land. For some, these urges may be occasional, mild pangs, but for many, the urges are so strong they can’t resist stocking up on boxes and boxes full of their favorite items from home every time they head back.

Recently, a Japanese female expat who has been living in America for years introduced our sister site to the top 10 items that she likes to stock up on when she visits Japan:

Global, Japan
(comfort food • culture • expats • food • lifestyle • living abroad • travel)

Superdry: The “Japanese” fashion brand that most Japanese people have never even heard of

Master Blaster
Nov 3, 2015

Recently, our Japanese writer P.K. Sanjun was visiting Australia on official RocketNews24 business when he noticed something odd. Every now and then, he would spot a person with a T-shirt or bag with incomprehensible Japanese written on it.

Originally thinking this was just the work of some bootleggers working a local flea market, P.K. was shocked to later learn that Superdry was a fashion brand that sells all over the world…all over except for Japan, that is.

Australia, Global, Japan
(fashion • shopping • Superdry • U.K.)

May the Chill be with you — with the $10,000 moving, life-size R2-D2 refrigerator!

Kay
Oct 30, 2015

With the release of Star Wars Episode VII less than two months away, fans (and merchandise manufacturers) are naturally hyper-excited about the myriad Star Wars related gadgets, as well as foods and drinks, that are hitting the market around the world.

Now, it looks like we may have found the ultimate collector’s item for Star Wars fans. It’s cute, it beeps, it’s a limited edition made-to-order item and best of all, it can bring you a cold can of beer—it’s the life-size, moving R2-D2 refrigerator, and it can be yours for a cool US$9,000!

Global, Japan
(cool gadgets • fridge • life-size • R2-D2 • Refrigerator • remote control • Star Wars)

Yo-kai Watch’s Western debut is upon us, but have the Yokai already become lost in translation?

Evie Nyan
Oct 30, 2015

We’ve been telling our fine readers for literally years now about Yo-kai Watch, the Pokémon-esque game/manga/anime series that’s full of adorable yet mischievous collectible yokai monsters. And now that the series has been newly localised and adapted for the West, you’re finally going to see for yourselves what’s been driving Japanese kids to ritually torch bonfires of old Pokémon goods in favour of worshipping the new yokai overlords. Okay, we’re exaggerating, but only a little bit.

Of course, the success of any Japanese import into the Western market hinges on a heartfelt and thorough localisation process. It happened to Pokémon—Satoshi became Ash Ketchum, and many Pokémon were entirely renamed—and now it’s happening to Yo-kai Watch, too.

But is the very Japanese charm of the new franchise about to be seriously lost in translation?

Europe, Global, Internet, Japan, USA
(anime • nintendo • video games • yokai • Yokai Watch • Youkai Watch)

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto wanted everyone to kiss and make up at the end of GoldenEye

KK Miller
Oct 28, 2015

Nintendo’s last cartridge-based home console, the Nintendo 64, was home to a long list of games that no doubt played a big part in many of our lives, and none more so than GoldenEye 007. A first-person shooter that followed the storyline of the James Bond movie of the same name, GoldenEye’s all-guns-blazing split-screen multiplayer mode made and broke many a friendship over the years, and was considered the epitome of fun in back in 1997 when it launched.

But the game was an odd choice to appear exclusively on a console made by Nintendo—a company with a reputation for squeaky-clean fun and family-friendly software. And it turns out that the violent nature of GoldenEye was a matter of deep concern for Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s most influential director and producer and the creator of Super Mario. So much, in fact, that he suggested an alternate ending to the game: one where everyone shook hands and made up.

Global, Japan
(007 • James Bond • nintendo • Shigeru Miyamoto • video games • violence in video games)

Don’t be fooled by the rocks they got, the Final Fantasy team needs more from around the block

KK Miller
Oct 23, 2015

It’s hard to say which game is more highly anticipated, Final Fantasy XV or Kingdom Hearts 3, but with both of them tentatively scheduled for a 2016 release date, we just might find out. Or not…because a recent tweet about the latest Final Fantasy game is causing us to believe that a 2016 release date could be a pipe dream. Although there has been no delay announced, if the date is pushed back it might be in part due to the rocky situation they are in: they need more rocks!

Global, Japan
(beautiful • Final Fantasy • Final Fantasy XV • nature • pretty • rocks • Square Enix • video games)

“Yohjo Simulator” lets you wreak havoc as a little girl with a penchant for headbutting【Video】

Mike
Oct 20, 2015

Thanks to the runaway popularity of **wacky physics games with the word “simulator” in the title (yes, I’m looking at you, Surgeon, Goat and **Tabletop Simulator****s), it was only a matter of time before a Japanese developer decided to out-weird their Western counterparts with a distinctly Japanese “simulator” game.

That game is Yohjo Simulator, and of course it’s bizarre and unsettling.

Global, Internet
(simlators • Steam • Steam Greenlight • video games • weird • Yohjo Simulator)

Brighten your day with these 12 adorable photos of Shiba Inu being unintentionally cute 【Pics】

Cara Clegg
Oct 17, 2015

Shiba Inu are a breed of dog popular not just in their native country of Japan, but all over the world. Perhaps it’s due to the fame of the internet’s favourite doggie, Doge, or perhaps it’s just because they’re so darn smiley and adorable, but people just can’t get enough of them.

One Japanese site picked out their favourite photos of Shiba Inu living overseas, so join us after the break for a huge dose of Shibe cuteness.

Global, Internet, Japan
(cute animals • doge • dogs • Shiba Inu)

Hugh Jackman faces entrail stew, slimy sea grapes on Japanese gameshow, doesn’t bat an eye

Evie Nyan
Oct 16, 2015

It seems that these days, Hollywood celebrities can’t get enough of appearing on Japanese TV. Just last week, Keanu Reeves treated the Japanese public to some karate moves on a chat show sofa, and this week it’s the turn of actor Hugh Jackman, who cut a gentlemanly figure as he appeared on hugely popular culinary gameshow Kuwazugiraiou (Food Prejudice King).

As part of the show, everyone’s favourite Wolverine was faced with a gauntlet of entrail stew, fishy sea grapes, and fried quail eggs, amongst other delights, as he fought to win the title of… Food Prejudice King! So, how did he get on?

Australia, Global, Internet, Japan, USA
(celebrity • food • game show • Hugh Jackman • Japanese food • Japanese TV)

Giant collection of 16-bit Nintendo cover art is ultimate coffee table book for old school gamers

Casey Baseel
Oct 15, 2015

Thanks to modern Internet marketing, it’s unlikely that anyone buys a video game without first having seen multiple gameplay videos of it as various stages of production. Gamers didn’t used to have access to so much information, though. In the 16-bit era, the less developed video game journalism sector meant that only major releases would get spreads in print magazines, and for some niche titles the only available visual preview came on the box itself.

As a result, the cover artwork played a huge role in catching customers’ eyes and conveying the mood and style of the game. Like classic movie posters, the best examples are works of art, and many of them are now being assembled in the upcoming book Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection.

Europe, Global, Japan
(art • books • nintendo • Super Famicom • Super NES • video games)

Hold it! New Ace Attorney game will feature BOTH Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice… again

Evie Nyan
Oct 14, 2015

The Ace Attorney series, known in Japan as “Gyakuten Saiban” (turnabout trial) has established itself as a major player in the interactive visual novel market with five mainstream titles and a variety of cool side-stories and spin-offs like Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

The games, while undeniably Japanese in origin right down to the legal framework, have proved extremely popular in the west thanks to some inventive localisation work which has helped smooth down some of those cultural rough edges. Thus, instead of Ryuichi Naruhodo and Odoroki Hosuke, we’re more familiar with their westernised counterparts Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice. And now the upcoming sixth instalment in the main franchise is set to feature both of these protagonists together in a dual lead role!

Global, Internet, Japan
(Ace Attorney • apollo justice • nintendo • Phoenix Wright • video • video games)

Tiger & Bunny coming to Hollywood, fan matches each character with perfect actor

KK Miller
Oct 14, 2015

San Diego Comic Con is famous for getting all the big announcements and sneak peaks about new projects, but New York Comic Con is getting large enough that major news stories are being broken at the East Coast convention. Some of the biggest news over the weekend for anime fans was the announcement of a live-action Hollywood film adaptation of Tiger & Bunny. With such a mammoth announcement, it didn’t take much time for someone to come along and fan-cast the entire series. Judging by looks alone, we are pretty impressed with their choices and while we probably won’t see so many amazing actors come together for one movie, it’s always nice to dream.

Global, Japan, USA
(anime • Live action • movies • NYCC 2015 • Tiger & Bunny)

Amazing photos of Studio Ghibli cosplay bring all your favorite characters to life 【Pics】

Scott Wilson
Oct 14, 2015

Here at RocketNews24 we’re no stranger to covering Studio Ghibli fan-related news. From fan-made drawings to 8-bit mashups to officially-licensed replicas, we’ve seen a ton of love around the world for all things Ghibli.

And one essential part of the Studio Ghibli fandom is the fantastic cosplay. Studio Ghibli cosplayers from all over the globe love showing off the huge range of unforgettable Ghibli characters, and here we have a sampling of some of the best ones we’ve seen recently. Think you’re a real Ghibli fan? Then see if you can identify each one!

Global
(Anime Cosplay • cosplay • Kiki's Delivery Service • My Neighbor Totoro • photos • Princess Mononoke • Studio Ghibli)

Yo-Kai Watch debuts abroad: characters get name changes but songs retain their epic nature【Video】

KK Miller
Oct 14, 2015

Level-5, the game developer behind hits such as Ni no Kuni, Professor Layton and the mega-popular Yo-Kai Watch, are no strangers to success. They’ve even turned their mega-hit Yo-Kai Watch into an ongoing 90-episode anime series. Since then, the popularity of the show, the game and the characters has really risen, especially Jibanyan, who has surpassed Pikachu in popularity. It was only a matter of time before this huge hit would dip a toe into international waters, and on Disney XD it finally happened.

A TV show about spirits based on Japanese folklore would probably have needed a few adjustments when screened for a Western audience, so we were wondering, what did they decide to name their main character in the English version?

Global
(anime • goods • TV shows • video games • whisper • Yo-Kai Watch)

We ask Japanese people about their favorite aspects of eight different cultures

Audrey Akcasu
Oct 10, 2015

We often hear about foreigners’ favorite parts of Japanese culture, like trains running on time and unparalleled customer service, but it’s not every day that we hear from Japanese people about their favorite parts of foreign cultures.

With that in mind, one of RocketNews24’s Japanese-language writers decided to interview a few well-traveled Japanese people and hear some of their favorite aspects of the different cultures they’ve experienced and how they compare to their own.

Global, Japan
(culture • internationalism • opinion • travel)

New art book “Illustration 2016” gathers 150 of today’s best pro and amateur illustrators

Evie Nyan
Oct 9, 2015

If you love art and illustration, you’re probably aware of plenty of non-professional, up-and-coming artists who showcase their work on sites like Tumblr and Twitter. In fact, fan art can be of such a high quality as to surpass the original work, and now there’s a new art book on sale in Japan which aims to “capture” the entire illustration scene at the present moment, showcasing work both amateur and professional by some of today’s most influential artists.

Illustration 2016 features work by 150 artists of different backgrounds and is the perfect guide for those who are into fan art and illustration of all kinds.

Global, Internet, Japan
(anime • art • fan art • illustration • manga)

Disney plans to release augmented reality coloring book in the not-too-distant future

Jamie Koide
Oct 9, 2015

At some point in our childhoods, most of us probably owned a few coloring books to keep us entertained on rainy days or while traveling.

Although coloring is still a great way to boost a child’s imagination and improve motor skills, as digital technology continues to develop, fewer children are turning to coloring books to pass the time.

So in order to make coloring “cool” again, Disney decided to do a little research into what they could do to breathe some life back into this old pastime favorite.