A boxed original GameCube controller found tucked onto a shelf above eye level in BEEP @ Akihabara. With the recent release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch, original GameCube controllers have become hot commodities. Production of new controllers has stalled, and among the Smash community some consider these new controllers slightly inferior…

I’ve been living and working in Tokyo, Japan, for two months now and the question I’ve gotten the most from family and friends is, “how have you managed it?”. By this, they mean how did I just pack my stuff up, start traveling around Japan and not be totally lost. I’ve had people mention to…

Rugby World Cup host city Kumagaya is offering international rugby fans the chance to sample Japanese sake while riding on its scenic mountain train, the SL Paleo Express. The SL Paleo Express is a steam locomotive that runs through Chichibu between Kumagaya City and Chichibu City in Saitama Prefecture. From September 1 through October 14,…

The last week of July marked the official end of the rainy season. This year, the rainy season that usually takes place in June, came in late. As a result, rainy days extended to most of July, with the heat and humidity associated with Japanese summers just looming around the corner. As soon as the…

At this point it shouldn’t be a surprise to know that the number of tourists visiting Japan has been increasing. In fact, each year has seen a new record, and 2019 is no different. The number during the first half of the year: 16.63 million. That’s a 4.6 percent increase from 2018. Additionally, the Japan…

Bulletin board posts mentioning that Kyoto Animation had dropped poster’s manuscript have been linked to Shinji Aoba, the main suspect behind the deadly arson. Police have stated that due to the information contained in the bulletin boards and their language, they think there is a possibility that Aoba was the person who wrote them. The…

Despite never having met Brad, there was almost an expected sense of familiarity before meeting. I knew we shared some kind of common background hailing from the same alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin; his firm Texan handshake and relaxed demeanor only served to confirm my expectations. He suggested a Japanese restaurant within…

Binge watching anime as if there’s no tomorrow? Many of us do, loving the distinctive aesthetics and storytelling of Japanese anime. But have you ever wondered how much work goes into a single minute of video material? And who is behind your favourite anime? We have seen many documentaries and behind the scenes footage of…

On Thursday, July 18, a fire broke out at Kyoto Animation’s first studio, killing at least 33 people. This makes it the deadliest attack in the country since the end of World War II, and the deadliest fire since the Myojo 56 building fire. What Happened? この投稿をInstagramで見る 😨🥺 No way, my favourite anime studio😭 #kyoto…

Want to drink and see a brewery for free? You can do just that at the Kirin Brewery Factory! This past weekend I visited the Yokohama Kirin brewery location for a tour of the factory. It was easy to set up, just go online to the website and sign up for a tour about a…