Itasha, the painfully nerdy, anime-decal-plastered cars you can spot running around Japan, generally arrive in that state due to an individual fan’s passion and vision (or obsession). The owner buys a regular car from the dealer, then once he’s slapped enough stickers on his ride, presto! He’s got his very own itasha.

Last year, though, Toyota took the uncommon step of not only creating its own itahsa, but selling it as well. The car has finally found a buyer, who had to go through a number of challenges to sit behind the wheel of his one-of-a-kid sports coupe.

Among driving enthusiasts, Toyota’s GT86 is already a pretty desirable ride. Its lightweight chassis and adequately powerful engine make it the sole standard-bearer of affordable, four-seat, rear-wheel drive performance since the untimely deaths of the Mazda RX-8 and Nissan Silvia.

▼ “I’m so lonely…”

Last September Toyota announced it would be adding a bit of anime appeal by creating an official one-off GT86 itasha. Chosen for the project was the TV series Love Live!, which focuses on a group of teen idols who are every bit as perky as that exclamation point at the end of their show’s title would suggest.

The car itself was finished in November and exhibited at Toyota’s flagship Mega Web showroom in Tokyo’s Odaiba. But fans weren’t just excited to see the idol-covered coupe in person, as Toyota piled on the excitement by declaring that it would be selling its GT86 itasha to one lucky buyer.

▼ The itasha at Mega Web

A number of interested parties voiced their interest in purchasing the Love Live! car, and Toyota began making selections for who it would negotiate with for the right to own it. In the end, the keys ended up in the hands of a man who goes by Donguri Papa online.

Mr. Papa took delivery of his new car this month at the Tokyo Toyopet dealer in Akishima in western Tokyo. “By the time Toyota contacted me, it was already late January, so I thought I’d missed my chance to buy it,” he said.

▼ Clearly the face (and pose) of a man who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat

So what took Toyota so long to get in touch with the eventual buyer? Well, it turns out Donguri Papa wasn’t the first person they spoke with. Before contacting him, the automaker actually entered into negotiations with two other potential buyers, both of which fell through.

So what was the sticking point? The car’s ludicrous lack of backseat foot space? The roughly 1,500,000 yen (US$14,500) mark-up compared to the starting price for a GT86?

According to Toyota, the problem was something far more obvious. The would-be buyers’ families simply couldn’t accept their decision to buy such a vehicle.

This doesn’t mean that Donguri Papa’s household is any more understanding, though. “When I first spoke to my parents and wife about wanting to buy the car, they we’re immediately like, ‘Nope, not gonna happen,’” he recalls. “But that just made me all the more determined to go through with it.”

So great is his dedication to Love Live! that he even picked out a personalized license plate related to the show. Donguri Papa says his favorite character from the show is Maki Nishikino.

▲ Yes, you, Ms. Nishikino.

She’s also known to fans by the abbreviated nickname Nikomaki. Since Japanese license plates are made up only of numerals, Donguri Papa chose 2525 for his, since this can be read as “Niko Niko.”

Were she alive, we’re sure the teen idol would think it’s a sweet gesture. Whether Donguri Papa’s wife feels the same way, or if she has any willingness to ride in the passenger seat of her husband’s new car, remains to be seen.

Source: Hachima Kiko
Top image: Hachima Kiko
Insert images: Toyota, Wikia, Hachima Kiko (1, 2), Fanpop

• Japan’s rarest cars, from exotic sports coupes to Toyota’s answer to the Hummer
• Toyota’s new concept is more high-tech horse than car
• Gundam-themed Toyota doesn’t come with beam saber, is awesome anyway
• Toyota to Unveil Driverless Car at Consumer Electronics Show
• The Mirror Harrier: Objects in car are closer than they appear

Origin: Toyota’s official anime itasha car finds a home
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Japan was hit by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in the early hours of Friday morning which injured 14 people and caused a brief power outage in some areas. The quake, which struck off the coast of the southern island of Kyushu at 2:07am local time, caused only minor damage, but the third anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake this week served as an important reminder of the devastation that can be caused by major earthquakes and tsunami.

Japan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, and as such its people tend to be extremely well-versed in what to do in the event of a natural disaster. Take cover, turn off the gas, open the door to secure an escape route. These collectors of anime figures, however, had a different idea about what to do in the moments after this morning’s quake – check up on their action figures, and immediately catalogue the damage on Twitter.

These photos, which were posted to Twitter just minutes after the earthquake hit at 2:07am, show forlorn characters toppled from their shelves or smashed on the floor.

▼ “Is there no way to save Gundam from earthquakes?!” asks this distressed fan.

▼ “I can cope with earthquakes, but please, please, don’t let my figures get broken,” writes this Twitter user, whose characters have been toppled from their stands inside a protective case.

▼ “Breaking news! Atobe and Shiraishi [characters from anime series Prince of Tennis] have been seriously injured in an earthquake.” 

▼ “The aftermath of last night’s earthquake. A terrible thing has happened to my husband’s figure collection.” 

▼ “After the quake,” writes this Twitter user  - although we’d like to see a “before” picture of this messy room to compare it with…

Many people’s immediate response to an earthquake is to check social networking sites. If you’re looking for more detail than twenty friends all posting “earthquake!!!” however, you’d be better off checking the Japan Meteorological Agency website for up-to-date information. We’re just glad no-one was seriously injured, and hope these anime fans were taking care of their own safety as well as thinking about their collections.

Source: Hachimakiko
Top image: @sasori_No, via Twitter
Other images:  @sick_roha, @kabocyamaturi, @ryoko0222, @kyosuke1203121, via Twitter

• Pattern of quakes from New Zealand to Japan stokes fears of another major disaster
• Russian Scientist Predicts “Massive Earthquake” to Hit Japan by End of 2014
• Can Earthquakes be Predicted? Forecasts Based on Atmospheric Ions prove Correct in Awaji Island Quake
• How to survive an earthquake (or zombie outbreak): Expert advice and items to prepare
• University of Tokyo Estimates 70% Chance 7.0 Earthquake To Hit Tokyo Within 4 Years

Origin: M6.3 earthquake hits Japan, anime fans rush to tweet photos of damage to figure collections
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

They’re here!!! Details about the new Sailor Moon anime, Sailor Moon Crystal, are finally here! Toei Animation has just released the first key image for the new series, revealing that the animation will look completely different than the first anime that has captivated millions of fans around the world. Staying true to the style of the Sailor Moon manga created by Naoko Takeuchi, Sailor Moon Crystal promises to be visually stunning. Click on for more information!

• Costume design closer to the original

As you know, the costumes in the first installment of the Sailor Moon anime were a little different than the original manga. But in this new anime, Sailor Moon’s brooch, choker, and the feather accessories in her hair are all similar to the manga version Sailor Moon.

• The characteristic transparent quality of Naoko Takeuchi’s illustrations to make an appearance!

In addition, all aspects, from Usagi Tsukino’s lighter than air hair to the rippling pleats in her skirt, are just like Naoko Takeuchi’s original illustrations. An irresistibly awesome aspect for any Sailor Moon fan.

That’s not to say that the previous anime character design wasn’t cute, but the characters as well as the story development seemed to be aimed at young children. However, judging from the newly released images for Sailor Moon Crystal, the guardians seems more adult-like. It’s almost as if they’ve been reborn.

In addition, the Sailor Moon video games and Nakayoshi publications were all produced by turning Naoko Takeuchi’s original work into cel animation. However, this time the visual atmosphere is completely different and the animators have managed to preserve Takeuchi’s signature transparent, flowing illustrations. We can’t wait to see what the Sailor Moon Crystal figurines and goods will look like!

• Will Tuxedo Mask stay a college student? 

The new 2014 version was rumored to be released, not as a remake, but a complete redo of the Sailor Moon series. Judging by the key image, they’ve gone above and beyond to meet that expectation.

Does that mean that Sailor Mars will be a cool and collected guardian? Instead of a college student as depicted in the earlier anime, will Tuxedo Mask be a high school student just like in the original manga? We always thought it was a little weird that junior high second year, Usako Tsukino, was going out with a college student…

Sailor Moon Crystal will be released in July of this year on streaming site, NicoNico Douga. We’re excited to tune in and see if our high expectations are met!

▼ Yep, we can’t wait for this one!

• New live-action Sailor Moon stage musical cast revealed
• A comprehensive gallery of transformation toys from Sailor Moon! 【Photos】
• Sailor Moon fan art: Often baffling, sometimes terrifying, and occasionally both
• New staff information officially released for upcoming Sailor Moon anime
• Feel the charm of Moon Prism Power — while putting food in your mouth!

Origin: New Sailor Moon Crystal anime will take a stylistic cue from the original manga
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

A few years back, Dragon Ball Kai was broadcast as a remastered version of the Dragon Ball Z series from the Raditz story arc to the Cell events when production stopped due to the Tohoku Earthquake of 2011. This series boasted more vivid colors, updated music and new voice actors to appeal to a new generation of viewers.

Such changes could be seen as improvement, but surely upset some hardcore fans of the original series with the thinking “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, recently even more casual fans are calling the new series a “corruption” of the original after learning that moves were also made to tone down some of Dragon Ball Z’s violence.

Read on to see which classic scene got “cleaned up.”

Much of the attention has centered around the classic final moments of the battle against Raditz. Young Gohan had heroically put a dent in Raditz’s armor which Piccolo could exploit for a deadly makankosappo blast. However, to get a clear shot Goku holds his brother Raditz from behind. Although everyone knew this would mean the death of Goku as well, Piccolo had no choice but to take the shot.

As can see in the following still frames, the makankosappo leaves both Raditz and Goku with gaping bloody holes in their torsos. Gritty as it is, it teaches children a valuable lessons about channeling their life forces into powerful beams of energy.

At least, that’s how things used to be back when Dragon Ball Z first aired. In Dragon Ball Kai we can see that while they were cleaning up the image quality, they also went ahead and wiped off most of the blood. In addition, Goku’s gaping wound was replaced with little more than a scuff mark.

Only this little cut with Raditz’s bleeding mouth was left in. I guess we can assume he bit his tongue during the blast.

Sure, it was only a few seconds, but that kind of tinkering can really dull down the emotional impact for future viewers. It remains to be seen whether the Dragon Ball Kai Majin Bu story arc which airs on Fuji TV from this April will have any kind of censoring, but rest assured cynical eyes will be watching for it. If there’s one thing aging fans like myself like to do, it’s complain about stuff changing.

Source: Gadget Tsushin (Japanese)
Videos: Niconico Douga – EP91, Beddob

▼ This video shows both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Kai scenes after about 18 minutes of video game footage.

▼ And this one shows only the Kai scene in several different languages.

• Fan’s Dragon Ball Z Flipbooks Go Super-Saiyan and Rival the Official Anime’s Technique
• Colonel Sanders Cosplays as Goku! KFC Japan to Offer Dragon Ball Z Merchandise for a Limited Time
• The surprisingly effective language of Dragon Ball — One Twitter user’s creative way of rating gaming hardware
• Achieve a super saiyan style with Dragon Ball Z hair wax
• Fan-Made “Dragon Ball Z: Saiyan Saga” Trailer is Finally Out! Take Notes, Hollywood

Origin: Dragon Ball Kai: Beautifully remastered but woefully censored for a new generation
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Although the designs of smash hit anime Evangelion’s titular titanic robots are ingrained on the psyches of animation and science fiction fans the world over, early on it had a bit of an uphill battle. Compared to the lines of other mecha franchises like Gundam, the Evas were downright gangly. Evangleion’s war machines resembled slouchy adolescents, right down to their feet where instead of the knightly armored boots of their predecessors, the Eva’s appeared to be wearing ordinary shoes.

Now fans can bring things full-circle with a line of Evangelion loafers.

The anime-inspired footwear comes courtesy of a collaboration between Eva fashion retailer Radio Eva and shoemaker Marqui. One of the secrets to Evangelion’s success is the franchise’s large collection of memorable characters and machinery, and the newly crafted, confusingly named Eva Toy Shoes (which are fully-functional shoes for adults) are no less colorful than the source material from which they draw.

This bright red pair brings to mind both the fiery personality of Eva pilot Asuka Shikinami, as well as her similarly-colored Evangelion Unit-02. Like the giant robots themselves, the Eva shoes can be outfitted with various bits of optional equipment as the situation warrants. Outfitting your kick with pressure-resistant armor or a giant sniper rifle wouldn’t win you any fashion points, though, so instead each pair in the Eva Toy Shoes line comes with attachments such as ribbons, tassels, and coin-displaying straps.

Of course, you can’t make a batch of Eva merchandise without including the main character’s robot mount, as we see with this pair that features the iconic purple and green hues of main character Shinji’s Unit-01.

Coloring choices get a little more suspect with some of the line’s other offerings, however. Ask most fans what color they think is most evocative of unnervingly reserved Eva pilot Rei Ayanami, and most would say the sky blue of her hair, or maybe her crimson eyes. The only nod to either in the shoes named for her is in their stitching.

Ironically, the shoes that make the most extensive use of Rei’s hair color are instead named for series protagonist Shinji, despite the fact that he’s never prominently shown in clothing or a mecha of such a shade.

The Shinji model is the only pair that Radio Eva specifies as being for women only, as the other three sets are all classified as unisex. Each pair retails for 14,800 yen (US$144) plus tax, and can be purchased through the Radio Eva online shop.

Coloring quibbles aside, there’s no denying that the Eva Toy Shoes are extremely eye-catching. One of Eva’s central themes is whether or not connecting to other individuals makes humanity happier. For those that think the benefits outweigh the positives, you’d be hard-pressed to find footwear more likely to leave you in someone else’s thoughts and memories than these.

Source: IT Media, Radio Eva
Images: Radio Eva

• You Can (Not) Lose with Sega’s Newest Evangelion Promotion
• We can (not) believe it. Did this theater just leak the release date for the final Evangelion movie?
• Evangelion? Cool. Katana? Cool. Evangelion and katana? Very cool!
• Evangelion Store Tokyo-01 Now Open In Harajuku, Eva-inspired Fashion Appealing Even To Non-Fans
• Nine-Patty Evangelion Cheeseburger has a 0.00001% Chance of Failing to Fill You Up (3D Photos)

Origin: Evangelion loafers – Never worry about tying your shoes or failing to make an impression
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

It’s hard to think of something with less potential for terror than cake. It tastes great. It’s soft enough that it can be chewed with no problems, meaning that like diapers and long afternoon naps, it’s something that both the extremely young and extremely old can equally appreciate.

You can even make cake more appealing by shaping it like loveable cartoon characters, like Pokémon’s eternal mascot Pikachu. Surely there’s no way that could result in a terrifying abomination, right?

Wrong.

Aside from social media, Twitter user Kira Hime Teitoku counts monster breeding video games and baking among her hobbies, and recently decided to combine all three by whipping up some pound cake in her special Pokémon-themed silicon baking pan.

Aww, can’t you just feel the sweetness radiating from those special Pikachu-shaped molds? The box even had a photo showing a glimpse of what Kira Hime Teitoku had to look forward to!

Inspired by the promised edible cuteness, she assembled her ingredients, opting to go along with the recent Japanese boom of green tea flavored sweets by picking out a maccha pound cake mix. Granted, this would mean a green hue for Pikachu, but since the Pokémon franchise is all about helping the little pocket monsters evolve to the next phase on their evolutionary path, we’ll forgive her temerity in playing Poké-God.

Kira Hime Teitoku got to mixing everything together, and although her batter ended up on the thick side, she poured it into the molds, figuring that everything would sort itself out in the over.

However, intense heat and time aren’t the solution to every problem (this is why IT professionals caution that no matter how upset you are with your slow laptop, popping it in the microwave will not improve its performance). When the time came to pull the goodies out of the oven, due to the dryness and cracking of her cake mix, the sight that greeted Kira Hime Teikoku wasn’t quite as adorable as she’d hoped.

Some may say they look like zombies. Others may argue that they look like they lost a fight with a grittier, more merciless strain of pokémon that petrifies its foes. But regardless of what their exact condition may be, what is certain is that instead of a team of rosy-cheeked electrified rodents, staring back at Kira Hime Teikoku were the hollow-eyed faces of the damned.

Evidently the chef was able to recover from her shock long enough to wrap each traumatizing little head in plastic. We’re not sure if she did this to seal in their freshness or their inherent evil, but either way, we applaud the wise decision.

Sources: IT Media, Twitter
Images: Twitter

• Kaguya Hime no Monogatari: The other side of Studio Ghibli 【Review】
• Eggshell in Your Cake Got You Down? Try Baking the Entire Cake in an Eggshell Instead!
• Just when you thought fried panda cakes couldn’t get any cuter: Strawberry milk fried panda cakes
• Why is Studio Ghibli’s latest movie struggling at the box office?
• Cat paws strike again and captivate Japanese netizens, this time in pancake form!

Origin: Attempt at cute Pokémon cakes fail to win our hearts, may have taken our souls
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

So there seems to be just a teeny bit of political turmoil in Eastern Europe these days, what with almost every voter in formerly-Soviet Crimea saying they’re happy to cut ties with Ukraine and have the region annexed by Russia. It’s a thorny opening act for the newly-appointed Crimean attorney general, but Natalia Poklonskaya can at least count on the moral support of thousands of Japanese men. Not because they necessarily agree with her political views, though, but because the 33-year-old Poklonskaya looks more like she came from Central Casting than the judicial branch of government.

Of course, where there’s love-struck Japanese men pondering the ideal forms of female beauty, anime artwork can’t be far behind, and there’s a growing batch of Poklonskaya fan art making the rounds on the Internet.

As a reminder, here’s how Poklonskaya looked in her steamy breakout video, titled New Attorney General of Crimea is beautiful. Not only was her performance so apparently sensuous that it caused its Japanese poster to suddenly drop capitalization conventions mid-title, it’s already attracted over 240,000 views in the short time it’s been online. This is in spite of the fact that literally 40 percent of its runtime is nothing more than a shot of Poklonskaya blinking as a reporter asks a question that’s inaudible in the video, plus the complete lack of any translation of her response.

▼ Our Ukranian is a little rusty, but we’re pretty sure she’s saying, “Boy, those guys at RocketNews24 are just doing a bang-up job, aren’t they?”

Still, good looks are the international language, and it seems amateur artists in Japan, South Korea, and China all decided that whatever the definitions of the words coming out of Poklonskaya’s mouth were, what she was really saying was “Draw me!” They answered the call, then took to artwork sharing site Pixiv to show off their takes on the young stateswoman.

▼ Super-deformed Poklonskaya asserting, “I….I’m the attorney general!”

▼ A somewhat more sedate rendition

This one shows a bit of an Attack on Titan influence, especially along the lower edge of the eyes.

▼ Some very impressive line work here, with a bit of a ‘90s manga retro vibe

Of course, some artists couldn’t resist the urge to pump up the subject’s bust size.

Typical anime fan, right? I mean, what’s next? Cat girl Poklonskaya?

▼ Well, yeah.

Here’s hoping a resolution can be found to the crisis in the Ukraine that makes everyone happy, and the situation has a storybook ending. After all, we’ve already got the illustrations.

Sources: Pixiv via Kotaku USA
Top image: Pixiv
Insert images: YouTube, Pixiv

• Japanese netizens put reality on hold for a moment, fall in love with new attorney general of Crimea
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• Fan-made figure of Attack on Titan’s Sasha is full of potato awesomeness

Origin: Admirers express their love for Crimean attorney general in the purest way they can: cute fan art
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Commercials in Japan often portray Japanese products as being far and away the best in the world, and are so overly earnest in doing so they frequently make no sense. Anime is packed with cute characters who, again, make no sense. And a lot of J-pop songs are hyperactive melodies with lyrics that, you guessed it, make no sense.

So how is it combining all three makes for just about the perfect ad for Japanese meat?

Need a little pick-me-up? Then listen to this jingle.

You can thank the Japan National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (often abbreviated as JA or “Japan Agriculture”) for getting that song stuck in your head. As the name implies, JA is an organization that exists to promote Japanese foodstuffs. Whether it’s rice, strawberries, or tomatoes, JA would rather people buy domestically, and engages in a variety of promotional events and advertising campaigns championing the superior quality of food produced in Japan.

Meat also falls under the JA jurisdiction, and one of the group’s highest-profile efforts so far this year has been the animated Oniku Daisuki! Zeushi-kun series. Each 90-second spot is actually an advertisement, with a new installment having been shown each Monday during one of the commercial breaks for Fuji TV’s popular variety show Tengoku Generation.

▼ Oniku Daisuki! Zeushi-kun Episode 1

The Zeushi-kun series is centered around main character Zeushi-kun, whose name is a mash-up of Greek deity Zeus and ushi, the Japanese word for cow. In keeping with the mythological theme, Zeushi-kun a visiting prince from a place called Niki Niku (Meat Meat) Land, not to mention some kind of half man, half cow hybrid.

Zeushi-kun is accompanied by his companion/living stuffed animal Minota, whose name is a sort of Japan-ified version of “minoutaur.”

Minota and Zeushi-kun both profess to love meat, despite eating in general being unnecessary for Minota and eating beef in particular to be borderline cannibalism for Zeushi-kun.

While visiting earth, the pair meet the Miito family (get it?). Not only are the Miitos kind enough to let the two visitors stay with them, the family is also generous enough to regularly serve them heaping portions of delicious, domestic meat.

But what really makes Oniku Daisuki! Zeushi-kun worth watching isn’t the surrealism of the story or mouth-watering recipe ideas, it’s the ridiculously upbeat theme song. Let’s give it another listen.

Singing the infectiously catchy theme is popular voice actress Kana Hanazawa, who has provided character voices and vocal performances for anime including Angel Beats!, Black Rock Shooter, Durarara!!, Haganai, Space Dandu, and Strike Witches.

If you’re anything like us, we’re sure you’ll be humming the song to yourself for the rest of the day, so here’s a handy translation of the lyrics.

Domestic meat, domestic meat
Meat, meat
Japonesuku
Today, why do you act so spiteful
And look so gloomy?
Ah, could it be?
You don’t have enough protein in your diet, do you?
Me and you, juicy meat
You and me, happy meat
We love it!
Domestic meat, domestic meat
Meat, meat
Japonesuku

▼ <Sigh>…If only we were hungry enough to eat all these animals.

And for those of you who’d like to sing along, below are the lyrics in Japanese, which are filled with puns like nikunikushii (spitefull)/niku (meat) and mii to (me and)/meat.

Kokusan no oniku, kokusan no oniku
Nikku niku
Japonesuku
Nikunikushii anata ha
Naze kyou ha fusagigao
Kitto are kashira
Tanpakushitsu ga tarinai no ne
Mii to yuu to no juushii na oniku
Yuu to mii to happii na oniku
Daisuki!
Kokusan no oniku, kokusan no oniku
Nikku niku
Japonesuku

Sadly, with the winter television season winding down, the last installment of Oniku Daisuki! Zeushi-kun is set to air on March 24. Fans are understandably heartbroken, lamenting “What will we have to look forward to on Mondays from now on?” and “Please give us Zeushi-kun Season 2!”

Thankfully, you can watch the whole series on JA’s official YouTube channel right here. And no, even after repeated listenings of the theme, we’ve still got no idea what “Japonesuku” means, although hearing it half a dozen times has got us seriously craving a steak.

Source: YouTube via IT Media 
Images: Videos: YouTube

• Business is booming for yakiniku restaurants, but are customers chemically dependent on meat?
• It’s the year of the horse, so let’s… eat a horse!?
• Food Fight: We Compare Yoshinoya and Sukiya’s Pricey New Dishes
• How to Butcher a Wild Boar in Your Kitchen- Chiharu’s Firsthand Experience Reveals All!
• Arabic opening song for popular Japanese anime confuses Japanese netizens 【Video】

Origin: Ad has triple helping of Japanese commercial, anime, and music stereotypes, is still awesome
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Thanks to the patient translation efforts of AltJapan Co., Ltd. co-founder Matt Alt, readers can now read, in English,most of the 90-page study on robot anime made available by the Japanese government. Titled “Nihon Animation Guide: Robot Anime-hen,” the original document was written by anime critic Ryusuke Hikawa, Sunrise head of cultural promotion Koichi Inoue, and writer Daisuke Sawaki, and compiled by Mori Building Co., which has previously also compiled reports on Japanese live-action special effects shows, movies, and other pop culture topics. In addition to these reports, the company also promotes media arts information, hosts symposiums, conducts surveys, and works on archive projects.

The first chapter focuses on the cultural history of robot anime and documents the rise of genre in the early 1960s and its ebb in the mid-1980s. The second chapter discusses the relationship between anime studios and toy makers, while the fourth chapter features descriptions of all of the cited robot anime shows and movies in chronological order, starting with the 1963 anime TV series Tetsujin 28-go.

The translated document, as well as the original Japanese version, is available to download from Media Arts Current Contents as a PDF.

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Featured image: Rakuten

• Admirers express their love for Crimean attorney general in the purest way they can: cute fan art
• We heart anime — Five Hollywood movies with a taste of Japanimation
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• Evangelion? Cool. Katana? Cool. Evangelion and katana? Very cool!
• Kiki’s Delivery Service side story being written by original author – online now and free!

Origin: Japanese government study on robot anime now available in English
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

The aesthetic quality of a character cake can be judged by the degree of reluctance felt before cutting into it. Some cakes are so well-crafted that taking a knife to them would be nothing other than desecration of art. Conversely, some cakes are so insultingly terrible that basic survival instincts would compel most people to take knife in hand and stab them out of their misery.

A series of images recently shared on Chinese Facebook ripoff social networking site Renren suggests character cakes in China fall into the latter camp.

This is your Throwback Thursday article of the week, your peek into the archives of RocketNews24 featuring articles from back when we were just getting started. We’d hate for you to miss any of the quality quirky news from Asia and Japan just because you recently stumbled upon our site. And if you’re a devout RN24 reader, thanks for sticking around! Enjoy this blast from the past! 

(Originally posted on October 16, 2012)

The images below were shared by a RinRin member who writes that she ordered a panda cake for her friend’s birthday, even providing the maker with a photo of what she wanted the cake to look like.

However, the product that came back to her wasn’t quite up to par:

Worried that her friend might be put off by a cake that looks like it’s silently judging you, the poster took it back to the shop to have them scrape off the frosting and give it another go. This was the result:

While frustrated, the poster feared that asking the shop to fix it a third time might result in retaliation, and she settled on the second cake.

The images that follow suggest that this poster isn’t the only one in China who has had to deal with butchered birthday cakes. But while the quality may be rock bottom, the laughs are top-notch.

▼ Doraemon (?) strikes an erotic pose

▼ Doraemon on a sacrificial altar of fruit. Notice the claws.

▼ In China, asking the cake shop to recreate this…

▼ Yields this…

▼ Hello Kitty should be simple enough to draw in frosting, right?

▼ Goodbye, Kitty

▼ This might be setting the bar a bit too high…

▼ Not too bad! But why the candle? Why?

▼ The characters of Chinese animated TV series Pleasant Goat and Big Bad Wolf are always a popular request…

▼ And result in various culinary interpretations

▼ The Pink Panther…?

▼ And a few generic animal cakes

Source: Renren

• Doing it Wrong: 20 Laughably Bad Chinese Character Cakes
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Origin: 【TBT】Doing it wrong: 20 laughably bad Chinese character cakes
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There’s a three-day weekend coming up in Japan, which ordinarily is enough to put people in a good mood. Animation fans, though, have something extra-special to look forward to, as the Anime Japan 2014 expo is being held at Tokyo Big Sight this Saturday and Sunday.

The event is sure to attract a large crowd of both enthusiasts and industry professionals, who won’t even have to wait until they get inside the venue for a taste of the most popular franchises, as the nearest train station to Tokyo Big Sight is already decked out with decorations featuring some of anime’s hottest series.

Almost everyone in Tokyo is thankful when a convention is held at Big Sight, as the other major exhibition facility in the region, Chiba’s Makuhari Messe, home to the Tokyo Game Show, is an hour outside the capital, plus a lengthy walk from the closest station. Big Sight, on the other hand, is centrally located, and nearby Kokusai-Tenjijo Station spits you out a much shorter stroll to the entrance.

With most guests likely to arrive for Anime Japan by train, the event’s organizers felt they should provide an appropriate greeting, as these photos show.

In particular. the magical girls of Puella Magi Madoka Magica are out in force, no doubt to mark the April release of the franchise’s third feature film, which opened in Japanese theatres last October.

Given the low height some of the posters are hung at, we’re wondering how long until someone, we figure it’s only a matter of time until fans start using their hands to cover up a certain character’s head while snapping pictures, in an effort to recreate the brutally violent anime’s infamous decapitation scene.

Fans of both Madoka and supernatural action series Tokyo Ravens can save time with this angle that lets them photograph both casts in one shot, thereby allowing them to arrive at the convention that much sooner.

Samurai heartthrob franchise Hakuoki is also represented, continuing its march towards total public transportation domination that began earlier this month on the Kyoto subway.

Finally, the larger-than-life feats of super hero team Kotetsu and Barnaby require a similarly grandiose banner to commemorate their exploits in the recent Tiger and Bunny: The Rising theatrical release.

Just remember, on the days of Anime Japan, the last train from Kokusai-Tenjijo to Tokyo Station departs at 11:58 p.m., so unless you feel like walking home, make sure you get all your pictures taken before then.

Event Information
Anime Japan 2014
Site: Tokyo Big Sight, East Exhibition Halls 1-6
Tokyo-to, Koto-ku, Ariake 3-11-1
東京ビッグサイト 東展示棟 東1〜6ホール
東京都江東区有明3-11-1
March 22-23
9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Related: Anime Japan
Source: Jin
Top image: Blogimg
Insert images: Jin, Blogimg (2, 3, 4), Jin

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Origin: Train station gives convention arrivals what they came to see: tons of anime characters
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We’ve officially found the world’s coolest dad…and he lives in Brazil! Animator Robson Menezes dos Santos began working on a special animation video last August for his son Rasdael’s 9th birthday on February 9. And let’s just say that the results will blow you away faster than if you got hit by a Kamehameha. He even got the official Brazilian voice actors to dub a special birthday message for Rasdeal! Be sure to watch this awesome birthday present yourself- it’s over 9,000 one million levels of coolness!!

Robson Menezes dos Santos truly went all out over the several months it took him to create this fanmade production during his spare time. You will immediately be struck by the quality of the animation as he depicts Rasdeal and himself dressed in the clothes of various characters from the Dragon Ball universe and recreates famous scenes from the original series. He drew all of the characters in the style of Dragon Ball’s original creator, Akira Toriyama.

Major villains Frieza, Cell, and Buu all make cameos during the introductory sequence, set to the Portuguese language version of the Dragon Ball Kai theme song (“Dragon Soul”). Next come two special birthday messages, spoken in Brazilian Portuguese by the real-life voice actors of Goku (Wendell Bezerra) and Bulma (Tânia Gaidarji)! It’s very impressive he was able to arrange that. The video concludes with a slideshow of photos of Rasdael growing up, including some adorable shots of the boy cosplaying as popular anime characters.

Here are some screenshots to get  you pumped up!

▼Father and son in animated form

▼Who wouldn’t flip for a personalized message from these guys?!

▼The birthday boy himself taking part in the Cell Games!

Finally, here’s the video (approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds). Doesn’t it make you wish you had an animator in the family?

Source: YouTube
Original article by Hidenori Sato

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Origin: Super (Saiyan) dad creates homemade Dragon Ball animation for his son’s birthday
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Even though everyone daydreams from time to time, in general it’s considered something that kids indulge in more than grown-ups. Many would say that learning to focus on the here and now, and not get sidetracked by flights of fancy, is one of the key skills one needs to learn in becoming an adult.

This emotional and mental development is a major theme of anime and novel series Chunibyo demo Koi ga Shitai, known internationally as Love, Chunibyo, and Other Delusions. So perhaps its just a little ironic that a franchise that deals with the importance of keeping your fantasies from seeping into your perception of reality has its own anime train.

The series, known to fans simply as Chunibyuo, is centered on 15-year-old Yuta Togashi. It seems Yuta’s overactive imagination made it hard for him to form healthy interpersonal relationships with others during junior high, and he’s determined to make a new start of things as he enrolls in a high school that none of his junior high classmates chose to attend.

▼ Yuta, just trying to act normal

His plans hit a snag when he discovers a number of his classmates have similar delusional tendencies. In typical anime fashion, many of these individuals who feel the need to escape from reality are cute girls.

▼ Yuta’s classmates, making no attempts to act normal whatsoever

This month sees a Blu-ray release for the series’ newest anime adaptation, and in celebration the show’s producers decided to deck out an entire train car with images of the cast, such as student council rep Shinka and pint-sized Sanae, as seen here.

Sharp-eyed Internet users deduced the train to be running on the Ishiyama Sakamoto Line in Biwa Prefecture, and had the following reactions.

“Even though I have delusions, I want to ride it.”
“I don’t.”
“Reality, burst!”
“Train geeks are gonna be all over this on the weekend.”
“Let’s all hop on and sing some military anthems!”
“People of the world, this is Cool Japan!”
“I don’t know about that, but at least it’s better than an AKB 48 train.”

The most delusional comments of all, though, were the several that echoed this gentleman’s sentiment.

“Hey, if you poked your head out the center window, wouldn’t you be able to peek up their skirts?”

Remember, anime fans, make-believe is all fine and good until you go sticking body parts out of a moving train. If you don’t want to end up in the real-world hospital, save your fictional panty hunting from when you’re sitting safely at home in front of your TV.

Source: Hamster Sokuho, Twitter
Top image: Twitter
Insert images: WordPress, Anime Characters Database, Blogspot

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Origin: Train decorated with images from anime about delusions inspires some deranged comments
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

It’s not every day you get to see an enormous robot being lifted up to tower above you. That’s why fans of science-fiction series Mobile Police Patlabor were excited to see an 8-metre high humanoid robot from the series being put up in the Toyosu area of Tokyo’s waterfront.

The robot in question is the AV-98 Ingram, which appears in the latest movie addition to the franchise, a live action series called The Next Generation Patlabor. Fans gathered to watch the robot, which is built “actual size” at just over 8m high, being raised into place on March 17th.

For the uninitiated, Mobile Police Patlabor is a long-running anime and manga franchise which has been around since the 1980s. It’s set in a near-future world in which robots called Patrol Labors (shortened to “Patlabor”) are used by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police to fight crime and terrorism.

The newest addition to the Patlabor franchise is The Next Generation Patlabor, a series of live action films consisting of thirteen episodes and a final feature film. The first episode is scheduled for release on April 5th.

▼ The robot was brought in on the back of this huge truck.

▼ After a bit of preamble and a lot of bowing, the AV-98 Ingram starts to be levered up…

▼ …and up…

▼ Mano Erina and Toshio Kakei, who star in the live-action movie, were there to see the AV-98 Ingram go up, as was director Mamoru Oshii.

Source: Oricon News

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Origin: Check out this 8m robot that appeared on Tokyo’s waterfront【Video】
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Projection mapping is a big hit in Japan. Used at festivals and big events, the colourful and creative light shows project moving images onto buildings and objects, bringing them to life with accompanying music and drawing in adoring crowds.

The latest object getting the laser treatment in Japan is a life-size Gundam figure in Odaiba, Tokyo. While the figure has travelled around and been subject to projection mapping over the past few years, a new tie-in promotional product that has crowds going crazy. It’s a simple little box that, when used in conjunction with your smartphone or PSP, fills up with lasers, sparks and music in an amazing 3-D light show you’ll have to see to believe.

The actual event in Odaiba ran from March 21 to 23 and was stunning in itself, complete with a live DJ on an elevated platform which enhanced the huge scale of the figure.

And now let’s take a look at some of the images from the portable, take-home version. The same lines and colours are used to recreate the display in miniature form.

Seeing the unbelievable light show come to life in a simple little box that costs just 500 yen (US$4.88) has us wondering how on earth this magic spectacle is possible.

The visuals are so stunning you’d think the technology involved would be extraordinarily advanced. However, all that’s needed is a connection to a special site via your smartphone and a small, plain Gundam-shaped figure in a box.

The instructions show exactly how it’s done. First, tear the top off the little cardboard box, then take out the contents – a piece of plastic with a moulded figure of Gundam and another piece of clear, flat film. Place the moulded plastic at the back of the box, then fit the clear piece in front of it, at a 45 degree angle. Using the QR code on the side of the box, access the special site with your smartphone and then place the phone on top of the box. The visuals from the screen reflect off the plastic film, creating a holographic, 3-D effect.

While this particular version was a limited sale item created especially for the event in Odaiba, fans will be happy to hear that another two versions will be available at the same price point from April 16.

The contents in the new set includes that all-important piece of gum.

There are two characters to choose from: Gundam and Zaku II.

We can’t wait to see these two in action when they’re released. If toy maker Bandai keeps pushing the envelope like this and incorporating mobile technology into their products, who knows what lies in store for us in the future!

Source: Netorabu
Images: Amazon Japan Bandai Japan   

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Origin: Prepare to be blown away by Gundam projection mapping in the palm of your hand
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Right now there’s no anime series with a wider fan base than Attack on Titan, and while that mainstream appeal has translated into merchandising such as fashion accessories and giant hamburgers, the truest testimony to the fans’ love for an animated series is cosplay of its prominent characters.

Japan’s pet owners can be just as passionate as its anime fans, though, and are just as enthusiastic about dressing their pooches up in eye-catching outfits. So perhaps it was only a matter of time until we saw Pomeranian Attack on Titan cosplay.

This inevitable crossover comes to us courtesy of Twitter user Miomio3030, who we’ll call Mio for short. In addition to the white Pomeranian seen here, the canine-crazed Mio also has a Labrador retriever and a collie.

So far, though, only the Pomeranian, named Mofureruto, has gotten a set of Attack on Titan duds in the form of the series’ distinctive green cape worn by the heroic Scout Corps, festooned with the group’s insignia, the Wings of Freedom.

Not only is the cape handmade by Mio herself, the talented owner also put together the 3-D maneuver gear strapped to the pooch’s haunches.

Mio recently tweeted that she’d taken her gallant canine companion on a recon mission outside the protective walls they usually reside in. Although the pair were unable to capture any Titans, Mofureruto’s resolve to defeat the menacing giants remains unshaken, as we can see in this photo of him parroting Attack on Titan protagonist Eren’s vow to kill every last one of them.

▼ Ah, he’s gonna look so cute doing it, too.

Source: Togech
Images: Twitter
Video: YouTube

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Origin: Attack on Pomeranian! Owner creates awesomely cute canine cosplay set 【Video】
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Last weekend the Tokyo Big Site convention center hosted the inaugural Japan Anime animation exposition, which combines the previously separately held Tokyo International Anime Fair and Anime Contents Expo.

We were drawn to the show by the promise of being able to see the giant Ingram robot being used in the upcoming live-action Patlabor motion picture with our own eyes, so we headed for Big Site and dove headfirst into the crowd of fans and exhibitors, where aside from giant robots we found amazing cosplayers and anime-themed edibles, not to mention hordes of ravenous anime song idol fans.

Our journey to anime land started with a ride out to Odaiba, an island in Tokyo Bay. After our train passed through the submarine tunnel from the mainland, we got off at Kokusaitenjijo Station, which was decked out with anime decorations in honor of the event, just as we’d heard.

We stepped out of the gates and were almost immediately bombarded by anime merchandise, as the local Lawson convenience store had set up tables outside hawking posters and files featuring animated characters wearing the chain’s distinctive blue and white striped uniforms.

Resisting the temptation to blow all our cash before we even had our tickets, we kept walking until we saw the distinctively-shaped main hall of Big Site.

▼ Between lavender-haired Creamy Mami up front and smirking Nobunaga in the back row, that’s over three decades of anime leads in one group shot.

With so much to see before the event closed, we made a visit to Patlabor’s AV-98 Ingram our first priority. Thankfully, it wasn’t too hard to find, as even stretched out on its back, you really can’t miss an eight-meter (26-foot, 3-inch) robot.

As if the mechanized giant wasn’t eye catching enough, its patrol car-style shoulder flashers were throwing out swaths of red light. The Ingram is, after all, owned and piloted by the police, so it has to follow proper motor vehicle protocol.

Also present was the Ingram’s armored support car, bearing the marking of the branch of the police Patlabor focuses on, Special Vehicles Division 2.

Visitors wanting a closer look were led up the scaffolding by male ushers wearing the white jumpsuits of the Ingram’s maintenance crew.

Pamphlets, meanwhile, were handed out by women in hot pants, which are not part of any police uniforms we recall being used in real life or anywhere in the Patlabor franchise.

From above, the Ingram cuts an even more stalwart figure.

Again, as a vehicle ostensibly licensed for use on public roads, the Ingram needs a license plate.

▼ The handle the Ingram grips to maintain stability when the trailer it rides on tilts the robot vertically for deployment

Prop designers had to enlarge and reshape the feet of the real-life model from the anime original, in order to give it enough balance to stand on its own.

Whether a natural result of filming outdoors or purposefully added, there’s plenty of grit and grime on the Ingram’s head.

With our mecha fix taken care of, it was time to take in the other sights of Anime Japan. As we wandered around the convention space, we passed by at least a half dozen stages with anime idols performing popular theme songs, all of which were surrounded by frenzied fans with glow sticks, often amassed in bunches a dozen people deep.

Realizing we couldn’t compete with their enthusiasm, we gave them a wide berth and scoped out the other exhibitor booths, where we found plenty of anime-themed statuary from perennial favorites like One Piece and Ghost in the Shell, as well as newcomer Nobunaga the Fool.

Production and licensing company Aniplex, infamous for their high prices for international releases, almost seemed to be flaunting their wealth with a red carpet booth and formally-attired cutouts.

Of course, one of the best things about events like this is the opportunity to see flesh and blood fans and models dressed up as some of anime’s most iconic figures, and Anime Japan did not disappoint on that front. Holding on to its crown as hottest anime of the last several years, there were no shortage of humans or giants from Attack on Titan

▼ Come on, Scout Corps! You’re supposed to be fighting the Titan, not taking his picture!

▼ That’s more like it.

The most popular series even had dedicated cosplay sections with special backdrops, such as this trippy scene from Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

▼ We’re sure nothing bad will come of Madoka’s partnership with Kyubey.

Despite the series having only started last October, the costume and weapon of Kill la Kill’s Ryuko are instantly recognizable.

For those who just want to dip their toes into the cosplay world, Anime Japan had a collection of outfits from some of anime’s biggest hits that visitors could rent by the hour.

There was even a cosplay parade, where we spotted feline alien Meow and robotic QT from breakout hit Space Dandy.

QT proved to be one of the most generous performers in anime, always willing to take time out of his (her? its?) busy schedule to shake hands with a fan.

There were also a few anime itasha parked around the convention hall, such as this Lamborghini advertising the upcoming anime adaptation of Korean PC game Blade and Soul

Of course, who needs a car when you’ve got multiple sets of wings on your back?

There was also plenty of unique merchandise on offer, including curtains, just in case your bed sheets, pillowcases, and bath towels featuring scantily clad anime babes don’t already make having guests over awkward enough.

Vendors were on hand to help the most hardcore fans with the first half of eating and sleeping anime, with Madoka cakes and Attack on Titan bite-sized mochi rice cakes.

Surprisingly, you can also now get your buzz while still proclaiming your love of anime, as multiple booths were selling anime-themed booze, such as these bottles of sake with labels featuring characters from Space Brothers and The Eccentric Family.

Unfortunately, the spirit we were most intrigued by, yuzu citrus liqueur inspired by transforming mecha saga Macross, didn’t have its batch produced in time for the show, and wasn’t on sale. Sad as we were to go home completely sober, this at least gives us something to look forward to at Anime Japan 2015.

Photos: RocketNews24

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Origin: We check out Patlabor’s giant robot, plus cosplayers and anime booze galore, at Anime Japan
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It’s no secret that some of the most obsessive anime fans develop, oh, let’s call them “intense feelings” for certain animated characters. Peer deep enough into their psyches, and you’ll find a (dirty) laundry list of things they’d like to do to, or have done to them by, their favorite anime heroes and heroines.

Usually, these desires are kept private, but when a special even at the recently held anime convention Anime Japan offered an opportunity to make one of these fantasies come true, some fans couldn’t resist the chance to be stepped on by frilly-costumed anime girls.

The anime in question is Phantom Thief Twin Angel, which began as a series of video clips for pachinko machines which spawned a 2008 direct-to-video series and a 2011 TV follow-up, which was Internet streamed in English-speaking countries as Twin Angel: Twinkle Paradise. The story was initially centered on Catholic school girls Haruka and Aoi, who transform into magical girls when duty calls and go treasure hunting to find enchanted artifacts before they’re snatched up by the forces of evil.

Haruka and Aoi’s team would eventually be joined by a third member, Kurumi, but whether because reprinting their official stationary would be too much of a name or because the English word “triple” isn’t as well known in Japan as “twin,” the franchise has retained the title Twin Angel.

▼ Fun fact: Phantom Thief Twin Angel has nothing to do with the similarly named 1994 anime Lascivious Beast Holy War Twin Angel, despite the newer franchise being able to inspire plenty of lasciviousness itself.

Phantom Thief Twin Angel’s producers had a booth at Anime Japan, with a special participatory treat for fans in the form of a rock-paper-scissors tournament. So what was the prize for the lucky winner of each round? A poster? An autograph from one of the voice actresses?

No, silly! He got to be stepped on by a performer wearing a costume of one of Twin Angel’s magical girls, of course!

Let us repeat that, this was the reward for the winner, not the punishment for the loser.

▼ Apparently pictured: The thrill of victory

There are a couple of strange things about this situation (also, grass is green and water is wet). We understand sometimes there’s no accounting for fetishes, so we’re not going to try to delve into just what pleasure these guys derive from being stepped on, and instead are going to move onto two other puzzling points.

First, this may just be a dark reflection of the lack of trustworthiness that lies in our own hearts, but we’ve always figured that with these anime-head costumes, there’s the possibility that there’s actually a dude in there.

▼ Could these masks be concealing a mustache, goatee, and full beard?

Also, while your desire to be stomped on by anime girls is between you and whatever god you worship/embarrass, how powerful does your passion for pastel boots have to be that you don’t mind that other people are openly photographing the event, and Twin Angel’s producers are actively sharing them through their official Twitter account?

▼ “Say cheese!”

One man couldn’t even say no to the chance to face up at his candy-colored dominatrix, although his excitement at least left him the mental capacity to realize that using a mask and flyer to obscure his face was a good idea when he noticed all the cameras about.

Honestly, we’ve just got one question. If this was the prize for the winners at the event, what happened to the losers?

Source: Hachima Kiko
Top image: Kaito Tenshi Twin Angel Official Twitter Account
Insert images: Ikilote, Empty Blue, Kaito Tenshi Twin Angel Official Twitter Account

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Origin: “Please, tread on me!” beg anime fans
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While in the last month we’ve seen an especially intense burst of promotional tie-ups between public transportation and anime, these kinds of collaborations actually go back a few years. In 2011, for example, Keihan Railways partnered up with the producers of hit slice-of-life/high school rock band anime K-On!, in celebration of the franchise’s then-new theatrical feature.

Despite the anime’s low-key atmosphere, though, some K-On! fans can get surprisingly, even disturbingly, passionate about their favorite members of the cast, to a point that these photos are causing a stir in China even years after they were taken.

While the exact date the photos were taken is unclear, there’s no mistaking the K-On! train shown in them. Officially named after the band K-On! is centered on, the Ho-Kago Tea Time Train was wrapped with graphics of the anime’s five principal characters, their instruments, and the band’s logo.

However, the promotion ended in December of 2012, at which point the decorations were removed from the carriages and their appearance was restored to that of regular train cars, which makes these snapshots of a young man infatuated with Ho-Kago Tea Time bassist Mio Akiyama at least 15 months old.

Earlier this month, when we talked about the similar decorations placed on a train in Biwa Prefecture, one fan mused about his dimension-breaking daydream of trying to peek up the 2-D anime girls’ skirts. Not only did this K-On! fan share that dream, but shockingly, he seems to have succeeded.

Let’s take another look at the picture above. Just what is it that he’s holding in his hand?

▼ Oh, striped panties. Of course it was panties.

As if that’s not creepy enough, here’s the follow up, where he stretches what are ostensibly the anime bass player’s undies over his head and begins fondling her.

▼ We didn’t intentionally set out to quash this dude’s fantasy, but given her size on the side of the train, those panties are way too small to be Mio’s, so now he’s just got some random chick’s lingerie on his cranium.

But while in the two years since then anime fandom in Japan has moved on to newer, shinier fetishes, this man’s particular brand of participatory enthusiasm recently attracted attention in China as these two photos have resurfaced on Internet sites there.

As expected, many of the comments are less than complimentary, such as “Pitiful.” While we can easily surmise how one could come to that conclusion, we’re confused by the commentator who condemned this as “Typical island country mentality.” Do non-island countries, with their wider tracts of arable land, save their transportation-based carnal urges for tractors?

▼ “Oh damn that’s hot.”

There were a few that stood up for Mio’s biggest/perviest fan, though, saying his trick photography was an example of how “Japanese people are so creative.”

We’re sure that had the man in these pictures known he’d one day be an international representative of his country, he’d have preferred to be remembered for his innovations in science or the classical arts, but still, a compliment is a compliment.

Source: Byokan Sunday
Top image: Byokan Sunday
Insert images: Byokan Sunday, Trucks Wallpaper

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Origin: Anime fan’s antics show the international shelf life of otaku perviness is measured in years
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Recently, we came two stories of trains decorated with pictures of anime girls, and also hardcore fans who fantasize about peeking at their panties. Really, this is pretty disturbing. I mean, these are 2-D pieces of promotional art we’re talking about here. Are there no anime fans out there who would rather peer into the pleated folds of a real girl’s skirt?

Actually, yes, there are many.

Last week was the 10th annual Nippombashi Street Festa pop culture celebration. Held in downtown Tokyo, festivities included parades, martial arts demonstrations, craft activities, and a maid café waitress beauty pageant.

There was even a cosplay contest, attracting a number of talented costumers and models. With so much talent on display, it’s natural that some models would draw a crowd of amateur photographers, like the ones we see in this photo gathered and waiting for one cosplayer’s arrival.

Ah, here she comes, decked out in a classic sailor suit. What kind of color combination did she go with? How’s the stitching on her costume holding up as the days goes on?

Or, to more accurately transcribe the thoughts of these cameramen, what’s the best angle to photograph her underwear at?

Yes, it seems some of the event’s attendees weren’t so interested in the intricate craftsmanship of the contestants’ costumes as what was underneath them. However, we can’t immediately jump to the conclusion that all of these shutterbugs are lonely men who took their camera and its display screen under the covers later that night. As pointed out by Mayurudon, the person who took the photos seen above, for some of these panty hunters this was strictly business.

As the cosplay trend continues to grow, rumors say a cottage industry has sprung up in which enterprising photographers will shoot away at a low angle, since if they come away with a photo showing some lingerie, they can sell it at a premium to others to do with as they will. According to Mayurudon, it’s greed, not lust, that these guys got down on their knees for.

▼ “Just another day at the old nine-to-five.”

But seeing such a large crowd kneeling around the girl, it’s impossible to believe that she didn’t realize what was going on. Similarly, since she happily stood there as the men shot their loads of film or memory, it’s hard to think she wasn’t complicit, something Mayurudon says is becoming par for the course.

With cosplay attracting more and more media and commercial attention, some see modeling anime and video game-inspired fashions to be their ticket to fame. To that end, Mayurudon says many of them show up for events like Nippombashi Street Festa with purposefully skimpy costumes that show off the contours of their bodies, and in the most extreme cases, with no underwear on.

“This has nothing to do with cosplay, you know,” he asserts. “It’s just stripping.”

▼ Linguistically neither putting on a revealing costume or not bothering to wear panties in the first place qualifies as stripping (i.e. removing clothing), but we see what he’s getting at.

“I can understand the thinking and ambitions of these cosplayers, but there are some line you just don’t cross,” Mayurudon continues. The troubled fan even sees a potential crisis if the tide of sexiness isn’t stemmed, and that it could spell the end of cosplay events, and even the hobby itself.

“If this keeps escalating, it’ll be like when discos disappeared 20 years ago,” he warns.

We’re a little confused as to whether he’s referring to the type of music or the dance clubs that specialized in it. Either way, though, for the time being, if you’re strutting around in a cosplay miniskirt, keep an eye out for photographers lining up a shot that puts your panties in the foreground and the blue sky behind them.

Sources: Hamster Sokuho, Yaplog
Top image: Yapog
Insert images: Yaplog, Hopper 2

• Offstage: Take a peek into the real lives of cosplayers! 【Photos】
• Cosplayers pose, perform, and get a suntan at Singapore’s cosplay festival 【Photos】
• Cosplay Undressed: Japan’s Newest Cosplay Trend Shows How Heroes Take Off Their Clothes
• Cosplayers let loose behind the scenes before the World Cosplay Summit championships
• The Lowdown on Japan’s Cosplay Industry

Origin: Cosplay panties bring photographers to their knees, but maybe not why you’d expect
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