The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage, made by Cygames and Bandai Namco Studios for the Mobage mobile social network platform, is a free-to-play simulation game for smart phones where you manage the career of a producer interacting with and training Japanese pop idols on their road to success. The game’s latest function takes interaction a step further by allowing players to use AR to insert their favorite idol character into the real world. デレステARで夢が叶いました。方々の皆様、本当にすみません。#デレステ #デレステAR #橘ありす pic.twitter.com/iBAKyYhnLW — こうや (@ky_gtr) 2018年9月7日 The characters are customizable with a variety of different costumes and impressive 3D modeling (after setting a waypoint in you local vicinity for the idol to appear, you can…

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of strolling through the Japanese countryside, you’ve likely been treated to a smorgasbord of sights, sounds, and even scents that can sometimes make it seem as if you’ve been spirited away by nature. Some of the most rewarding finds, however, aren’t in plain sight. Collector, photographer, and nature enthusiast sakanakudo helps shine a light on those hidden wonders by taking pictures of the tiny ecosystems inside Japanese drainage pipes: miniature gardens and animal homes! Source: @sakanakudo Source: @sakanakudo Sloping walls and structures such as these are found everywhere in hilly areas of Japan, and are meant to retain soil and mud from overflowing into…

As seen with the stunning animal skull bonsai series from Tokyo Bonsai Lifestyle, sometimes the most fascinating art finds a way to combine the macabre and the gorgeous into a striking aesthetic. Jewlery designer Shinji Nakaba is an artist definitely accomplishing that. Perhaps best known for his pearl skulls, Nakaba’s creations feature intricate carvings, ranging from pearls to even disregarded items such as pieces of trash. View this post on Instagram Repost from @milla_maroc_01　Shinji Nakaba is a master of carving carefully into miniature objects, creating skulls and other anatomical forms from pearls no larger than the end of a finger tip. Nakaba considers these works “wearable sculptures,” as each pearl…

Japanese burger joints are no stranger to black buns. In the past we’ve seen the release of pitch black burgers modeled after the Makkuro Kurosuke soot sprites of Studio Ghibli films, as well as some truly haunted Ghostbusters burgers. Now to celebrate the release of Venom in Japan, Department Store Parco is offering a collaborative menu that shows off the symbiotic menace’s iconic maw and especially long tongue. The Ikebukuro location features a “Venom Long Black Burger” with purple cabbage, cheese, and a particularly long slab of bacon to mimic Venom’s tongue. There’s also a Venom Waffle and a “Berry Dark Smoothie” that infuses a sour berry sauce into a…

If you enjoy traditional Japanese music, you may be a fan of NHK World Blends, a fascinating program that helps introduce classical Japanese instruments and musical performers by playing popular modern songs on traditional Japanese instruments. One of the show’s appeals is rediscovering an appreciation for songs by hearing gorgeous renditions of them accented by the gentle touch of shakuhachi (traditional Japanese bamboo flute), koto, and shamisen. One such standout is a cover of “Back in Black” by rock giants AC/DC on traditional Japanese instruments, featuring the returning Yoshimi Tsujimoto, a talented veteran player of the shakuhachi. A notable addition to this performance is the shime-daiko, a taiko drum used…

In the past, we’ve seen talented artists take to Twitter to show off impressive papercraft artwork, including the beautiful and intricate traditional Japanese art of kirie. Japanese university student and papercraft art enthusiast @02ESyRaez4VhR2l (Haruki), however, may be setting the standard for creativity when it comes to inspirational sources. Haruki reconstructed an empty can of Pringles into a lively figure of the Pringles mascot! プリングルズの空箱で工作しました！#papercraft#packingart pic.twitter.com/l8Wx38MXt0 — 晴季 (@02ESyRaez4VhR2l) 2018年10月16日 If you’re not aware, the Pringles mascot is actually named Julius Pringles, and while we really don’t know much about his character, Haruki seems to have captured him as quite the classy potato chips gentleman. 側面から pic.twitter.com/Y9QYCbC04g — 晴季 (@02ESyRaez4VhR2l)…

In an effort to solve problems related to storage costs and delivery inefficiency, Japanese casual wear designer and retailer UNIQLO has implemented an overhaul resulting in increased automation of its Ariake warehouse. As Quartz reports, 90% of the Tokyo-based warehouse’s workforce has been replaced by robots, and a look inside it both inspiring and somewhat unnerving. As Spoon & Tamago observes, the only human interaction that can be seen comes toward the end of the automated process, with a worker placing the product into its package. The heavy focus on automation is part of a partnership with Daifuku that may result in the full automation of UNIQULO warehouses in the…

Cosplay is a hard enough process in itself, but the impossible dimensions and physiques of many popular anime and video game characters make pulling off the right look even more of a pain. Australian cosplayer A.K. Wirru was definitely up for the challenge of tackling Mai Shiranui of King of Fighters fame, however, throwing in some extra construction work to build what might be one of the most creative takes on the popular video game character. Taking on the thicc proportions of Shiranui meant he needed to turn to some plaster work. Which resulted in a bust worthy of most fighting video games and seamlessly fit his skin tone. The…

Fan-made anime trailers putting a spin on classic titles, such as re-imagining My Neighbor Totoro as a gruesome horror film, aren’t exactly a new phenomenon, but Freelance artist Dmitry Grozov (also known as Ahriman) may have just set the bar with a new take on Star Wars. As both fan artists and professional Japanese warrior portrait artists have shown, the Star Wars universe and Japanese samurai have a natural aesthetic synergy, but Grozov’s vision for the galaxy adventure gives the franchise a nostalgic old-school anime feel! As we’ve had the pleasure of introducing before, Grozov has a talent for giving classic film scenes retro anime makeovers, but this time he…

Japanese Twitter user and handmade clay figure designer Pobotto (@CocoGfj) has a knack for making figures that we’re not quite sure you should pet or eat. That’s because @CocoGfj combines snacks–many of the traditional Japanese variety–and animals into adorable hybrids that have confused more than one person on Twitter. While they can’t actually be eaten, they look every bit as delicious as a real sweet treat and even cuter. Here are just a handful of their excellently crafted figures that are cute enough to double as a pet. Be sure to follow on Twitter for even more! Flap Jack Octopus Sweet Potato Source: @CocoGfj Source: @CocoGfj Source: @CocoGfj Source: @CocoGfj…

Avogado6 (アボガド6) is a talented Japanese artist doesn’t offer much information about himself other than their fondness for chemistry and creating video works, but there is a ton of conversation to be had about their dark and though-provoking artwork. Avogado6’s illustrations, which we’ve had the pleasure of introducing before, often use powerful imagery and symbolism to reflect on societal problems, but also personal depression and trauma. All of Avogado6’s work can be seen on their official website and Twitter account, but below are some recent standout pieces that will leave you thinking! Hollow Avogado6 Responsibility Source: Avogado6 Affirmation Source: Avogado6 Disassociation Source: Avogado6 Powder Avogado6 Path of Humanity Avogado6 Changing…

Creative members of the Minecraft community have been building intricately designed worlds for years, even going so far as to recreate the entire world of Studio Ghibli’s beloved My Neighbor Totoro. One of the most recent Minecraft wonders isn’t inspired by a world of fantasy however. In fact, it’s the spitting image of a thriving Japanese metropolis, and many were surprised to find that it doesn’t actually exist. ※マインクラフトの画像です#Minecraft #minecraft都市開発部 #佐山市 pic.twitter.com/ncgTINFLpe — 佐山県(公式)@ワールド配布中 (@Sayama_City) 2018年8月26日 50 Minecraft players have come together to create Sayama City–a fictional Japanese city that while nowhere near close to completion, has all the landmarks and details of major Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Osaka,…

If you have enough years of gaming under your belt, you may remember the days before the mountain of information available on the internet and even the days before official guidebooks, when dedicated gamers would jot down their trial and error solutions to puzzles and yet uncharted stages. Whether Japanese Twitter user, animator, and avid video game fan @ishikoro18 remembers those days or not, she as least has an impressive collection of notes from her father to look at. @ishikoro18 recently posted her father’s collection of gameplay notes on his video game journeys through Silent Hill 3, Kingdom Hearts Final Fantasy X-2, Siren, Ico and other classic titles. The tome…

Although often associated with the nostalgic tastes of childhood in Japan, sweets and snacks maker Morinaga has never been afraid to shake up their lineup, going so far as to offer maple syrup pancake hot springs. Recently they released a conveniently packaged set of pudding and ice cream bars with the flavor of perhaps their most well-known product, their popular pancake mix. Morinaga’s latest release, a new squeezable pancake mix in a bag is turning heads on Japanese Twitter with pancake fans excited to revolutionize the breakfast game and cut back on dish-washing at the same time. 人類の歴史が変わるレベルの革新的ホットケーキミックスが発売されたので買ってみた。あの面倒な洗い物がなくなるなんて！家で食べるだけじゃなくてキャンプにも持って行くつもり https://t.co/1ln4Birkmq pic.twitter.com/KHhfrGn8wW — 佐藤健太郎 (@kentarow) 2018年8月29日 The “Momi Momi Hot Cake Mix”…

Energy drink fans are familiar with the iconic “slash marks” that adorn the label of Monster Energy cans and help illustrate the brand’s “unleash the beast” slogan, but Japanese original figure maker @nendoseizin1987 couldn’t help but imagine just what creature was causing those marks. The freelance artist mused in a Tweet, “After drinking a Monster Energy, I imagined just who was behind these claw marks, so I tried making it.” The result is a cycloptic taloned creature with a a psychedelic aesthetic fitting of the energy drink brand, made from sculpey polymer clay. Source: @nendoseizin1987 Source: @nendoseizin1987 Source: @nendoseizin1987 モンスターエナジーを飲んだ後、この爪痕の主はどんなのだろーと妄想してたので作ってみました。#モンスターエナジー pic.twitter.com/ToOXeDhUvK — RYO@ねんど星人 (@nendoseizin1987) 2018年8月28日 @nendoseizin1987’s talented works and garage…