Culture Apr 16, 2022
Magic: The Gathering taps into Japanese pop culture
by Dan Orlowitz
The cyberpunk-themed Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty expansion set enchants its dedicated fan base with world-renowned artists.
Digital | ON: GAMES Feb 5, 2022
Japanese game developers embrace NFTs, but at what cost?
by Brian Ashcraft
The market for digital investment assets looks primed to expand in 2022 and yet the industry isn’t quite sure of the best way to handle them.
Lifestyle Dec 29, 2021
The case of the missing Japanese role players
by Donican Lam
Chinese youth living in Tokyo are spending weekends solving whodunits. Did the pandemic stop murder mystery games from taking off with the Japanese?
Culture Oct 24, 2021
Gawky teen star wins new fans for shogi, Japan's 'game of generals'
by Andrew McKirdy
Sota Fujii's incredible success and quirky charm have made him a household name in Japan.
Culture Feb 9, 2021
Amid a global chess boom, shogi eyes its own winning moves
by Joel Tansey
The game has seen a surge in interest during the pandemic, with children and adults alike dusting off their boards or joining online communities.
Art Jul 23, 2019
The art of play: Japan's history of fun
by Jeff Michael Hammond
"Styles of Play: The History of Merrymaking in Art" at the Suntory Museum of Art delves into various amusements,with over 100 exhibits, ranging from the Muromachi Period (1392-1573) to the Edo Period (1603-1868).
Business / Corporate Jul 3, 2019
Pokemon Go developer releases new Harry Potter mobile game in Japan
One of the developers of the smash-hit mobile game Pokemon Go jointly released Tuesday a new Harry Potter game for smartphones in Japan, featuring augmented reality technology that blends "wizarding" with the real world. The Japanese version of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was released by ...
Business / Corporate Jun 7, 2019
by Masumi Koizumi
A Japanese startup is betting that its "touchable" 3D technology will have a vast array of applications, potentially allowing smartphone shoppers to evaluate the fabric of clothes they want to buy online and gamers to feel virtual objects. Founded in 2014 as a technology transfer ...
Business / Corporate Jun 3, 2019
New Dragon Quest smartphone game, inspired by Pokemon Go, to be released this year
Square Enix Co. said Monday it will release a new smartphone game title in its popular role-playing Dragon Quest series this year, enabling players to locate and battle monsters in real-world locations. Dragon Quest Walk, to be available in Japanese on Apple's iOS or Google's ...
National Feb 14, 2019
Japan to make unauthorized downloads of all copyrighted work illegal
Steps will be taken to make it illegal to download without the permission of copyright holders all works including manga, computer games, books and other writings after a government panel adopted the policy Wednesday. In a report to the Cultural Affairs Agency, the panel called ...
Business / Tech Dec 15, 2018
'Pokemon Go' maker Niantic is seeking a $3.9 billion valuation: source
Niantic Inc., the company behind the popular mobile game "Pokemon Go," is looking to catch a $3.9 billion valuation, according to a person familiar with the matter. The San Francisco-based company is planning to raise at least $200 million in a round led by venture ...
Asia Pacific / Offbeat Nov 13, 2018
Taiwan grandpa catches 'em all playing 'Pokemon Go' on 15 phones
Chen San-yuan turns heads as he cycles through a suburb of Taipei, Taiwan's capital. The reason why? Attached to the front of his bicycle are 15 mobile phones which Chen, 70, uses to simultaneously play the augmented-reality game "Pokemon Go." The smartphone-based game requires players to "catch" ...