Asian Pop Culture

Neko Atsume: From Your Phone To The Big Screen In 2017

Neko Atsume: From Your Phone To The Big Screen In 2017

Neko Atsume became the phone casual gaming flavor of the month in Japan in 2014. A year later, Neko Atsume was localized for English-language audiences, and the obsession spread globally. The beauty of the game is that it doesn't require a great deal of attention. Unlike similar but more demanding games from another time like Tamagotchi and Digimon, you don't have to press buttons to keep the cats alive. You don't even need to clean their kitty litter boxes, or groom them, or play with them. You just leave food and toys for them and check the yard for who shows up. You would hardly think that a game like that would lend itself to a cinematic treatment, but  AMG Entertainment has announced that a Neko Atsume movie is now in production, for release in 2017.

Give a little Halloween for Christmas!

Give a little Halloween for Christmas!

Nightmare was not just an American hit, it was a Japanese hit too. And as typical for Japan, the tie-in manga was inevitable. It was released in 2004 in Japan. The art followed the original designs by Tim Burton, and was faithful to the film. The mangaka was Jun Asuka. There was a release of the manga once in the US by Disney, but it's never looked as good in English as it will in a matter of weeks.

Silence Is Golden: A Silent Voice, Discussed By Someone Who Lived It.

Silence Is Golden: A Silent Voice, Discussed By Someone Who Lived It.

Buzzfeed Japan asked Ms. Saito to review the anime feature A Silent Voice, which features a deaf girl who suffered ijime in elementary school, and the young man who wishes to contact the girl after feeling guilty about his part in the bullying. She was happy to oblige, and went to one of the handful of screenings of the film that included open captioning for the hearing impaired.

Godzilla-Mania Still Rocking Japan, Getting Ready to Roll Over USA!

Godzilla-Mania Still Rocking Japan, Getting Ready to Roll Over USA!

The movie Shin Godzilla, aka Godzilla Resurgence in some Southeast Asian countries and parts of Europe, seems to have made quite an impression everywhere it goes.  Funimation will be distributing the motion picture in a limited release, similar to what they did with Anno's Rebuild of Evangelion anime movies. The film will be showing in US theaters October 11th-18th.

The Kitty Cat Delivery Service Turns 40 in Style!

The Kitty Cat Delivery Service Turns 40 in Style!

Yamato Transport has been as much a Japanese institution as UPS is to the US. The company has been in business since 1919, and survived World War II. However, their most popular "Takkyoubin" (Home Delivery Mail) service is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and they are celebrating with a wild commercial featuring dancing black cats and a traditional melody given a funky danceable twist. 

Neko Atsume at The Next Level: Take a Kitty-Eye Tour of Hiroshima!

Neko Atsume at The Next Level: Take a Kitty-Eye Tour of Hiroshima!

How about taking a tour of two of Hiroshima Prefecture's most charming towns, Onomichi and Takehara? And how about taking it from a kitty's eye view?  Yes you can! And basically both of these tours are like a game of Neko Atsume or a game of Pokemon GO.

Sweet on Disney: the Magical, Petite Pastries of Cozy Corner

Sweet on Disney: the Magical, Petite Pastries of Cozy Corner

In 1948, a pastry shop called Cozy Corner opened up in the Ginza district of Tokyo. Ever since, Cozy Corner has been providing artistically gorgeous cakes, pastries and other confections at popular prices. And lately, Cozy Corner has been making confections under license from Disney that are nothing short of spectacular.

Comiket: The Biggest Assembly of Manga Fans In The World

Comiket: The Biggest Assembly of Manga Fans In The World

It's so big, it's held two times a year rather than just annually. It is held at the biggest convention facility in Japan, Tokyo Big Sight. And it is basically one big Artist's Alley, where people sell their self-published manga and art. What is it? Comic Market, or what most people call Comiket. And it is the biggest manga fan event in the world. 2016's Summer Comiket, the 90th, took place August 12-14. Comiket 91 will take place December 29-31, 2017.

Yokohama Event Guarantees a Pikachu Catch!

Yokohama Event Guarantees a Pikachu Catch!

Japanese summers are notorious for being hot and sticky. What better way to keep things cool than to organize an event where water and ice factor into almost everything? The Pokemon Company held their annual Pikachu Outbreak, featuring the most popular Pokemon character of all, and gave it a specifically nautical theme.