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November 22, 2024
 

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Brian Ashcraft

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Brian Ashcraft
Brian Ashcraft is a senior contributing editor at Kotaku and has been writing about video games for The Japan Times since 2007. He is also the author of two books, "Arcade Mania!" and "Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential." A graduate of Cornell University, Ashcraft has called Osaka home for over a decade.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jan 3, 2021
Plant a garden, solve puzzles and save the world in these video games
Three well-known gaming franchises — PixelJunk, Puyo Puyo Tetris and Earth Defense Force — get sequels.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Dec 6, 2020
Roleplaying takes center stage with these three games
The year closes with a flurry of new games including Cyberpunk 2077, Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend and Densha de Go!! Hashiro Yamanote Sen.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Nov 1, 2020
New consoles debut just in time for 2020’s holiday season
This month sees the release of the PlayStation5 and Xbox Series X and Series S, plus the new Kingdom Hearts game has a musical twist.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Oct 3, 2020
Three beloved video game franchises get spruced-up remakes
Crash Bandicoot, Pikmin and Shin Megami Tensei all have new releases coming out this month.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Sep 6, 2020
Landmark moments for video games in Japan
The Tokyo Game Show moves online; one of the best shoot 'em ups gets a physical version; and Japan now has a legal video game bar.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Aug 2, 2020
Ruins, crystals and robots: Classic games get remastered
La-Mulana whips you into shape; Crystal Chronicles gets even better; and Gundam fans get another chance to suit up.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jul 5, 2020
Two new styles of samurai showdowns
SNK drops an unreleased Samurai Shodown game; Ghost of Tsushima brings feudal Japan to life; and Marvel's Iron Man VR puts you right in the suit.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jun 7, 2020
A remastered game gives you 101 reasons to stay home
Revisiting a cannibalistic world, puzzle-filled nightmares and 101 superheroes
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
May 3, 2020
Bubble gum becomes a prized commodity in Ninjala and PlatinumGames celebrates two birthdays
Ninjala is sure to deliver Splatoon fans a new mess of fun and the rest of the world gets a peek at the buzz behind Mana.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Apr 6, 2020
Take that island vacation you've been waiting for with Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Escape self-isolation with Animal Crossing: New Horizons; get in touch with your softer side with the coral Switch Lite; and Evil is back for a new round.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Mar 2, 2020
Knockout games with a twist
Nioh 2 has really demonic players; One Punch Man is late to the game, but in a good way; and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon ditches the trainers.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Feb 3, 2020
It's never too late to add updates
The DualShock 4 gets extra buttons; Persona 5 faces a Dynasty Warriors makeover; while Street Fighter V remains a champ of fighting games.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jan 6, 2020
Welcoming back some video-game classics
Keita Takahashi delights gamers with Wattam; Musou Orochi gets the 'ultimate' treatment; and Brain Age has switched up a notch
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Dec 2, 2019
Releases to keep the fans happy
The crowdfunded Shenmue III is finally out; Pokemon Sword and Shield top the charts; and Capcom brings its best merch to Shibuya's Parco
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Nov 3, 2019
Hideo Kojima unleashes his latest
Hideo Kojima's much anticipated Death Stranding, the latest in the Persona series and a sneak preview of Nintendo's new Tokyo store
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Oct 6, 2019
Why mess with the originals?
Games so good that high-def re-releases are worth the wait.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Sep 1, 2019
Making gaming better looking
Final Fantasy VIII gets a makeover, Monster Hunter expands to icy realms and Nintendo launches a Switch Lite.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Aug 11, 2019
Welcome to the Summer Games
Join the Olympic fever with Sega's official Tokyo 2020 Olympics game; Judge Eyes finally gets its release; and Arc System Works turns the Kill la Kill anime into a fighting game.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jun 30, 2019
Summer sequels for game favorites
Build your own Super Mario empire, get back into Yo-Kai Watch and reminisce with Samurai Spirits
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jun 2, 2019
Swing into action with new releases
New in games this month: Long anticipated Metroidvania adventures and virtual reality golf
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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