SoraNews24 —Japan News—

We’ve seen Pikachu’s skeleton and Disney princesses as flirty pin-up girls but now it’s time to see all our favourite childhood characters take a walk on the wild side with this nightmarish trip down memory lane.

Internet
(art • Comics • Disney • illustrations • Kickstarter • Pokemon • Sesame Street)

“Unlimited Hand” controller aims to bring hand movement and physical feedback to your VR games

Preston Phro
Sep 25, 2015

As ridiculously excited as we are about virtual reality and gaming, there are still a few sticking points such as how we’ll navigate these non-physical worlds. Right now, the main methods are either controllers or walking around a room—both are great for general controls, but what about reaching out and actually touching someone? Well, we’re not quite there yet, but Japanese company H2L may have the solution we’re looking for.

Only two days after posting their US$20,000 Kickstarter campaign, they’ve already achieved over 150 percent of their funding goal (over $34,000 at the time of writing). And when you see why people are so excited about backing this product, there’s a good chance you’ll be next in line to pledge!

Internet, Japan
(controllers • Kickstarter • Unlimited Hand • UnlimitedHand • video games • virtual reality)

The Snack Poster: Illustrations to spread the love for authentic Japanese foods

Audrey Akcasu
Sep 24, 2015

For those unaccustomed to Japanese food, even the most common edibles may seem quite odd and, well, unappetizing, at first glance. The first time you saw monjayaki, did you not think it looked a little…weird? Of course, not all Japanese cuisine is unappealing to the eyes, but even the delicious-looking food is still not widely known throughout the Western world.

A California-based Japanese food blogger is trying to change that. Gaining momentum from the success of her Ramen Poster, artist Fanny has come up with another hand-drawn infographic displaying some of her favorite Japanese street foods and snacks: The Snack Poster.

Japan, USA
(art • design • food • Japanese food • Kickstarter • poster • snacks)

Give your Game Boy a new lease of life with upcoming HDTV adaptor “hdmyboy”

Philip Kendall
Dec 1, 2014

Nintendo’s Game Boy recently turned 25 years old and is fondly remembered by people of all ages the world over. With more than 118 million units sold worldwide, it’s fair to say that the monochrome portable was something of a hit, and there’s almost certainly a Game Boy or two lying around in a cupboard or attic near you at this very moment.

A pair of retro gaming enthusiasts are hoping to breathe new life into the Game Boy with a prototype product that allows gamers to hook their original 1989 portable up to their modern, high-definition TV sets with zero fuss. Dubbed the hdmyboy, the adaptor is still in development, but with the help of backing from Kickstarter users, the guys behind it are hoping to bring it to the world as early as next spring.

Global
(Game Boy • hdmyboy • Kickstarter • nintendo • video games)

Otaku TCG featuring kawaii androids reaches last days on Kickstarter

Cara Clegg
Sep 15, 2014

SHINKUKAN – The Kawaii Steampunk Android TCG is a venture by a Japanese company to spread otaku culture to the world through the power of cute robot girls in the form of an old-school trading card game you can play with your friends. The Kickstarter campaign is currently in the final stages, and they’re just a few thousand dollars off their goal. Read on for anime artwork and an overview of the project.

Disclaimer: RocketNews24 is not affiliated in any way with this Kickstarter campaign.

Japan
(anime • Kickstarter • otaku • TCG • trading card game)

Play video games, learn Japanese: Crowdfunded JRPG “Koe” reaches its goal with cash to spare

Philip Kendall
Mar 28, 2014

I’ve always maintained that, while the method may work for a very lucky few, drilling lists of words and kanji characters is like trying to commit blocks of random numbers to memory – that is to say painfully hard work, time-consuming, and not in the least bit natural or fun. Rather, a better way to approach language learning is to encounter words in context so as to easier form cognitive connections and assimilate them into that which we already know.

So when I stumbled upon Koe, an upcoming role-playing game designed to help people learn Japanese as they play, I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of excitement.

Global, Japan
(JRPG • Kickstarter • Koe • language • learning • video games)

3-D printing in the palm of your hand! The 3Doodler comes to Japan

Preston Phro
Feb 24, 2014

Of all the new technologies currently emerging, 3-D printing seems to be the one with the most potential. Though you still can’t download and print a car, the applications for a well-designed and properly calibrated three dimensional printer are seemingly endless!

We’ve previously told you about a Japanese company that will turn your child’s doodles into 3-D works of art, but there’s a new product on the market that lets you skip the initial doodling and go straight to literally drawing in the air. Cleverly named the 3Doodler, the “3D Printing Pen,” as described by its Kickstarter page, completed funding in March of last year and is coming soon to the shores of Japan!

Internet, Japan, USA
(3-D Printing • 3Doodler • art supplies • Kickstarter)

Shut up and take my money: “Kung Fury” brings martial arts, vikings and Hitler together at last

Preston Phro
Jan 6, 2014

For many, the ’80s was a decade of the best fashion, movies, and music known to humanity. For the rest of us, it was a painful embarrassment that we’re still trying to forget by drinking heavily.

Still, we’d be lying if we said there wasn’t something magical and stupidly fun about the cinema and games of that decadent decade. Which might explain the recent resurgence in ’80s-centric media like the critically acclaimed Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon and, now, the too-insane-to-actually-get-made-but-totally-will movie Kung Fury!

Internet
(awesome • crowdfunding • Kickstarter • Kung Fury • wtf)

Akihabara-based magazine blasts past Kickstarter goal, aims to bring otaku culture to the world

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Sep 28, 2013

The word “otaku” in the Japanese language is a general term for anyone who is passionate about a hobby. But in English, “otaku” has become a term that refers to people who are obsessed with Japanese culture, particularly anime and manga. But the world of the otaku is sometimes misunderstood. That’s where JH Lab, a group of “otaku of the highest caliber” comes in, hoping to demystify the world of anime and manga fans and bring the culture of Akihabara to people everywhere.

To do this, JH Lab has created Akiba Anime Art (AAA), “a brand new pop-culture magazine from Akihabara, featuring cool OTAKUs, advanced technologies, kawaii-cosplays, Dojins and much more!” They’ve started a Kickstarter campaign to make their dream a reality and have quickly surpassed their initial goal, raising over US$42,000. Supporters of the project will receive special edition illustrations from featured Japanese artist, John Hathway, and have a chance to be drawn into his amazing Akihabara picture jockey cityscape. Let’s take a closer look at this rapidly growing magazine’s “ultra otaku power.”