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Yokai Watch

Yo-kai Watch sales fall drastically in 2016, future does not look bright for fabled spirits

KK Miller
May 14, 2017
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Jibanyan is nyat so popular anymore.

Japan
(Bandai Namco Holdings • drop • earnings • popular • Yo-Kai Watch • Yokai Watch)

Cute PC character cushions from Japan protect your wrists, keep you company at the same time

Oona McGee
Feb 5, 2016

Who said wrist rests have to be boring?

Japan
(anime • capybara • characters • cute • Funassyi • Kapibara-san • Rilakkuma • yokai • Yokai Watch)

Despite getting Star Wars VII on launch day, Japan will get the eighth installment a month late

Preston Phro
Dec 24, 2015

Japan went nuts over The Force Awakens, but not enough. The next film is slated to be released a month late in Japan — and some are blaming Yokai Watch!

Japan
(anime • movies • Star Wars • Star Wars: The Force Awakens • Yokai Watch)

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)

Kids rejoice! Universal Studios Japan to get Yo-kai Watch attraction this summer

Evie Nyan
Apr 9, 2015

No trip to the Kansai region is complete without a visit to Universal Studios Japan. With a wide range of attractions featuring beloved franchises from Harry Potter to Resident Evil, it’s got something for everyone, and it’s definitely not just for kids!

Having said that, we’re betting that kid-favourite mega-series Yo-Kai Watch‘s attraction is going to be bringing in a lot of little ones and parents when it opens this summer! (Hey, it’ll free up the other attractions for the rest of us!)

Japan
(anime • attraction • manga • theme park • Universal Studios • video games • Yo-Kai Watch • Yokai Watch • Youkai Watch)

The 2015 Sapporo Snow Festival! 【Pics & Video】

KK Miller
Feb 8, 2015

Every February brings another amazing display of artful snow and ice carvings, and RocketNews24 loves to bring you the details for those who aren’t able to make the trip up to Hokkaido. While we weren’t able be there ourselves last year, we are pleased to bring you the firsthand account of the 66th annual Sapporo Snow Festival. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and join us for a photo tour!

Japan
(frozen • Hokkaido • ice sculptures • Sapporo Snow Festival 2015 • snow sculptures • Star Wars • video • Yokai Watch)

We try Youkai Watch Pretz “our milk flavored” snacks, now with 6% milk!

Master Blaster
Jan 5, 2015

Although they often live in the shadow of their cousin Pocky, Glico’s Pretz brand of cracker sticks are also usually quite tasty. They certainly have enough taste power to stand on their own, but now after joining forces with the children’s money magnet that is Youkai Watch they certainly are a snack force to be reckoned with. The result of this power coupling is Our Milk Flavored Youkai Watch Pretz.

The concept of youkai (traditional Japanese monsters) milk is kind of disgusting in the first place but fun for the kids so we’ll let that slide. However, one sharp-eyed Twitter user spotted in the fine print below: “milk solids 6 percent” leading many online to wonder if “our milk” might actually be something far more heinous. So, I grabbed a pack to take a gander at the actual ingredients and find out if Our Milk Flavored Youkai Watch Pretz actually taste like milk – youkai or otherwise – despite apparently hardly having any milk inside.