The story of how it was that NFts, cryptocurrency, and Japanese juvenile delinquents inspired the creation of the multimedia project B & B Bad Sisters If you were following the news in the first part of 2021 you no doubt remember that NFTs were making headlines. Short for non-fungible token, NFTs are essentially digital certificates of ownership that are linked …

“It’s like they wanted Eurobeat on kazoos.” Resetera.com member hwarang caused a stir when they shared what they described as “quite possibly one of the worst jrpg battle themes ever.” Hwarang’s ear-splitting discovery quickly rose to the most popular spot on the gaming forum, where it still enjoyed front page prominence at the time of writing. The video clip shared …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony has a chat with the owner of a voice that anyone who has ever ridden the Shinkansen (bullet train) will have heard numerous times: voice actor and singer Donna Burke. About Donna Burke Donna Burke is an Australian singer and voice actor based in Japan. Her voice can be heard in …

Today’s Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is a tsuchinoko? Topics Discussed What a tsuchinoko is How you say “cryptid” in Japanese Tsuchinoko’s status as a U.M.A. (Unidentified Mysterious Animal) What a tsuchinoko looks like Some of the abilities tsuchinoko are said to have The areas in Japan where tsuchinoko tend to live The sounds tsuchinoko …

On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re exploring beliefs and traditions surrounding pregnancy in Japan, as well as how ideas about marriage have evolved in Japan since the Edo period. We also take a detour into the world of NES era game localization. About Dr. Amanda C. Seaman Dr. Amanda C. Seaman …

On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, localizer and author Matt Alt stops by to discuss the influence Japanese pop culture has had on the world. About Matt Alt Matt Alt is a localizer of Japanese games and manga. Together with Hiroko Yoda he founded the localization company AltJapan and has authored multiple …

 On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we’re talking about manga and what it’s like trying to break into the Japanese manga industry with manga creator Minami Sakai. About Minami Sakai Originally from the U.S., Minami Sakai is a manga creator living in Tokyo. After studying abroad at Doshisha University in Kyoto …

 On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we take a look at the fascinating intersection between Japanese culture, society, and video games. About Dr. Rachael Hutchinson Dr. Rachael Hutchinson is an associate professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Delaware. She has taught classes on Japanese language, film, anime, manga, and …

Perfect for those who want to game after they sightsee… or just game instead of sightsee. Preparing for a trip overseas can be stressful. Just finding lodging that is both convenient and won’t break the bank can be a long and frustrating process. This task gets even more challenging when you’re picky about certain amenities. For example, if you want …

Who knew you could play Mario with drums? The soundtracks from the 8-bit Super Mario Bros. games contain within them some of the most iconic and instantly-recognizable video game songs ever. As such, countless people have produced all kinds of covers of these songs, so of course, it takes quite a bit to produce a cover that manages to stand out from …

Which one are you looking forward to the most? Japan is about to get even more fun with several new theme parks planned to open over the next four years. Already a playground for kids and kids-at-heart, things are about to get even better with expansions planned for two of the country’s most popular theme parks and an entirely new …

You’ll want to save a Phoenix Down for when the divorce comes. Due to its status as one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, fans of the Final Fantasy series have been treated to all kinds of tie in merchandise and events over the years. However, it looks like in 2019 fans are going to get …