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November 24, 2024
 

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Steven L. Kent
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Dec 3, 2022
To bestselling gaming franchises, what are voice actors worth?
When a voice actor took to Twitter to complain about low wages, it was only the beginning of a drawn-out controversy.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Oct 29, 2022
This Halloween, play dead with some made-in-Japan horror games
You don't have to trudge to the movie theater this Halloween to get your share of screen screams.
Reader Mail
Jul 13, 2008
LPG conversions cost too much
I would like to think I am an environmentalist. Japan is one of the leading countries in recycling and reducing emissions. I am proud to live here.
Reader Mail
Mar 28, 2007
One goose step closer
Another way to view the exercise of the censorial power that Debito Arudou boasts about in his March 20 article, "Demise of crime magazine historic," is as a goose step closer to thought control. The publication (Gaijin Hanzai) has a few racial slurs, some misinformation and specious logic, and lots...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Nov 23, 2005
For giant-slayers, getting there is half the battle
Let's talk about "Shadow of the Colossus" and "Punch-Out!!" -- two masterful games that are remarkably similar and yet have nothing in common.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
May 19, 2005
Big names, big games, big show
The real "Bond . . . James Bond" is coming to video games. Electronic Arts has signed Sean Connery to reprise his role as British agent 007 in the video game version of "From Russia with Love."
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Apr 21, 2005
Fast, furious -- and frustrating
In "Meteos," a new puzzle game for the Nintendo DS handheld, the denizens of the universe greet you with a plea (in earnest, broken English): "We want you, save our planet!"
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Mar 24, 2005
The spy who stayed in the dark
When mankind becomes an endangered species due to the actions of an Indonesian terrorist, super secret uber-spy Sam Fisher is called in to make things right. Fisher is not a spy after the suave James Bond manner, with pretty women and luxury cars at his beck and call; he's more of a ninja for the 21st...
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Mar 10, 2005
A tip of the hat to a venerable series
The kingdom of Hyrule is in trouble. But then, the kingdom of Hyrule is always in trouble, and so is its legendary princess -- Zelda.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Feb 24, 2005
A game darn near too scary
If you are looking for the biggest jolt video gaming has to offer, and you don't mind having nightmares, take a deep breath and try "Biohazard 4."
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Feb 10, 2005
A treasure for the Game Boy
"Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories," a new role-playing adventure from Square- Enix for the Game Boy Advance, is an astounding achievement by Game Boy standards.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jan 27, 2005
Wonderfully easy on the eyes
Sony launched its new PlayStation Portable in Japan in December. According to Sony, it is slated to launch in the United States by the end of March. Who knows about Europe.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jan 13, 2005
Adult fun and gore galore
Here's my dirty little secret: Despite my reputation as a hardcore moralist, truth be told I love the "Mortal Kombat" games. When it's late at night and the kids are in bed, I'll sometimes pull out whichever is the latest title in the series -- surely the bloodiest of the bloody fighting games -- and...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Dec 30, 2004
An FPS for the thinking man
"Metroid Prime 2: Echoes," a first-person shooter from Nintendo for the GameCube, is both fun and a pain at the same time. It keeps you on your toes, even when it makes you perform the same tasks over and over again.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Dec 2, 2004
The biggest game of the year
I look at "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," a new urban crime role-playing game for the PlayStation 2, about the same way I might view gorgeous graffiti painted on my front door.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Nov 18, 2004
Best game yet for the Xbox
How do you top a battle between marines and an alien religious cult fighting to the death on a giant corona in outer space?
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Nov 4, 2004
Nintendo DS: A wacky winner
Let's discuss the hard facts first.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Oct 21, 2004
Playing God, designing people
Playing "The Sims 2" the way I played it is like touring the major countries of Europe and only visiting the bowling alleys.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Oct 7, 2004
A prince in time saves nine
When a young prince steals a magic dagger, he inadvertently empowers an evil magician with dark powers. In "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," a three-dimensional adventure game from Ubi Soft finally making it into the Japanese market, the eponymous prince must find his way through his ruined palace...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Sep 23, 2004
High-octane crash and burn
What's the big complaint about video games these days? Lack of innovation.
U.S. aircraft carrier returns to Japan carrying navy’s ‘most capable fighter’
U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher speaks to reporters shortly after the arrival of aircraft carrier USS George Washington at Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Friday.
Tokyo police care for lost umbrellas, keys and flying squirrels
An employee at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Lost and Found Center in the Iidabashi area of central Tokyo bags, tags and organizes thousands of items.
After Shohei Ohtani bump, Iwate ironware maker sees brighter future
Kaito Kikuchi's decision to send superstar Shohei Ohtani one of his company's traditional ironware tea kettles has paid off with a surge of interest from general consumers.
Japan approves ¥21.9 trillion stimulus plan
The policy chiefs of the Democratic Party for the People, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito — Makoto Hamaguchi (left), Itsunori Onodera (center) and Mitsunari Okamoto — shake hands after reaching an agreement on an economic stimulus package on Wednesday.
Woman dies after train collides with car in Tochigi
A Moka Railway train car
133-year-old Kyushu railway station remains to be partially preserved
The remains of the original Moji Station in Kitakyushu
After Shohei Ohtani bump, Iwate ironware maker sees brighter future
Kaito Kikuchi's decision to send superstar Shohei Ohtani one of his company's traditional ironware tea kettles has paid off with a surge of interest from general consumers.
Shohei Ohtani wins National League MVP award
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Padres during the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.
The slow-burn success of ‘A Samurai in Time’
A 19th-century warrior gets struck by lightning and wakes to find himself in 21st-century Kyoto in Junichi Yasuda’s surprise hit “A Samurai in Time.”
Around a quarter of Japan married couples in their 20s met through dating apps
A survey released by an organization promoting “Good Couples Day” shows that 24% of couples in their 20s met their marriage partner through a dating app.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
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