Tag: Japan - Page 5
Random Japanese Orchestra Performs Two-Hour Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Concert
With a little TOTK to finish
The Breath of the Wild soundtrack might have been something of a departure for the Zelda series with its grand themes and sweeping scores replaced by something a little more subtle, but there are still some top-notch tunes to be heard in there. Many of us have been listening to the soundtrack on repeat in the run-up to...
News Mario Movie Breaks Multiple Records In Japan's Opening Weekend
The movie has now crossed $1 billion at the global box office
The Mario Movie finally made its debut in Nintendo's homeland last week and it's got off to an incredibly strong start. According to a report by 4Gamer.net (via Nintendo Everything), the movie banked around $13.5 million in its opening weekend and had made around $16 million in total by...
Random Web Series 'Cube-Shaped Pokémon On Cubie Island' Gets Adorable Second Episode
Pi-cube-chu
If you are after a little smile today, then look no further than the adorable second episode of Pokémon's official web series Cube-Shaped Pokémon On Cubie Island. Episode one was released on the company's Japanese YouTube channel just a few weeks ago (you can check it out here) and with each lasting around 90 seconds, you don't have...
Japanese Charts Minecraft Legends Comes Out On Top After A Quiet Week
Cuphead also debuts in top ten
The latest Japanese charts are in from Famitsu (via Gematsu) and this week sees Mojang's latest foray into the world of strategy games taking the top spot as Minecraft Legends pulls in 13,490 sales from its debut (a very low number to be in first place, compared to what we have seen in recent months). Last week's...
News Alear Tops Fire Emblem Engage 'Popularity Poll' In Japan
Who is your favourite character?
Back when Fire Emblem Engage was released on the Switch at the start of the year, the Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream ran a poll, asking fans who their favourite character was in the latest release. Now, after two months, the final rankings are in! Thanks to a translation (via Serenes Forest), we've got the "top...
Round Up Every Game Announcement Exclusive To Japan's Indie World Showcase (April 2023)
See what the West missed out on
Nintendo held a surprise Indie World Showcase this week - sharing all sorts of announcements, but did you know there was also one in Japan? While they're often quite similar, this time around the Japanese one contained a lot of different announcements. If you were wondering what was revealed during Japan's broadcast,...
Random New Pokémon Anime Ad Takes Over Shibuya's Digital Billboards
A big screen event
The newest Pokémon anime series, Pokémon Horizons, has finally kicked off in Japan and The Pokémon Company is ensuring that everyone knows about it. Following the Japanese hour-long series premiere, a special promo was played across multiple digital billboards in Shibuya, showcasing a boatload of clips for the episodes to come...
News Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Switch Download Card Shows Off New Characters
Another official reveal
If you're eager to see more of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it seems we've got another official reveal. Download cards for the game are now appearing at stores in Japan, and they happen to feature some new screenshots. If you squint hard enough, you can see two new characters that haven't been properly...
News Nintendo Uploads Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom 'Main Theme' Song
Have a listen
Marketing for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is well and truly underway, and as part of this, Nintendo has now launched the Switch title's official website in Japan. Perhaps the highlight is the fact you can now listen to the main theme song in full. Many have already extracted the audio file: There are also a handful of...
Rumour The Internet Goes Wild Over Supposed Persona 3 Remake Gameplay
Jet Set Radio also spotted
If one Persona game is positively begging to be remade, then it's probably the 2006 entry Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3. A port of Persona 3 Portable made its way to the Switch earlier this year alongside Persona 4 Golden, but when you compare the third game to the later entries in the franchise, it's undoubtedly starting...
News Nintendo Offering Refunds On Wii U And 3DS eShop Credit In Japan
No plans to offer in the west so far
Nintendo is offering to reimburse players who don't wish to transfer their Wii U and/or 3DS eShop credit to Switch, following their closure at the end of March. This has only been announced for Japan so far. OatmealDome shared and translated the announcement from Nintendo's official Japanese Twitter account, and...
News SNK Announces The King Of Fighters XIII Global Match For Nintendo Switch
"The pinnacle of 2D sprite-based fighting is back"
At EVO Japan 2023 this weekend, SNK announced it would be releasing The King of Fighters XIII Global Match for the Switch. It's released a teaser trailer, which you can view above (warning: flashing lights). This new version will include overhauled rollback netcode and improved online...
News New Trailer Gives Us Our Best Look Yet At The Pokémon Horizons Anime Series
It's definitely more Pokémon
The Pokémon Company has revealed another trailer for its upcoming Pokémon anime, unveiling the project's name for the first time, too: Pokémon Horizons. Sounds neat, right? The new series ditches perpetual 10-year-old Ash Ketchum for newcomers Liko and Roy as they encounter characters like Friede, Captain Pikachu,...
News Project EGG Could Bring MSX, PC-98, And Neo Geo Titles To Switch
From Wii retro specialists D4 Enterprise
D4 Enterprise has revealed that it's bringing games from its online digital storefront, Project EGG (Engrossing Game Gallery), to Switch in the future. The retro games distribution service acts as a place to play officially emulated rereleases of older Japanese PC, arcade, and console games. Announcing the...
News Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon Double Pack Physical Switch Release Announced
Coming to Japan this July
Inti Creates has announced it will be releasing a double pack of the Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon games. It will contain the first game and Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 and is officially titled Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Chronicles. The catch at the moment is that it's only been confirmed for Japan - with...
News A New Pokémon Distribution Event Has Been Announced For Japan
Unlock a special Pikachu
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has been running Tera Raid Battle events and even some item distributions like no tomorrow, but unfortunately, there's not been quite as many gifts and Pokémon giveaways. If you happen to be located in Japan though, there'll soon be a "special Pikachu" at Pokémon Centers and Pokémon Stores...
Random This New Pokémon Model Lets You Create Your Own Slowpoke Circle
Nibbling away
If you've ever wanted a Slowpoke summoning circle or a Slowpoke crown, well then, we have the toy for you. Bandai has revealed it's releasing a plastic Pokémon model for Slowpoke, and it can latch onto other Slowpoke toys by biting their tails. Shared by PokéJungle on Twitter, the plastic model (from Bandai Spirits via the Bandai...
News Resident Evil's Most Popular Character Revealed In Famitsu Reader Survey
Leon is best
Capcom's survival horror series Resident Evil has been back in the headlines recently due to the upcoming release of Capcom's Resident Evil 4 Remake. In the lead-up to this launch, Japanese publication Famitsu has put out a call - asking readers to nominate their favourite Resident Evil characters of all time. They've now released the...
News Atelier Ryza's First Game Is Getting Its Very Own Anime Adaptation
Arriving in 2023
Ahead of the launch of Atelier Ryza 3 on Switch next week, game developer Gust has announced the first game Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout will be getting its very own anime adaptation. The Japanese animation studio Liden Films (Senyu, Goblin Slayer) will be taking on the responsibility of adapting the 2019...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Wins 'Best RPG' At Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2022
Splatoon and Pokémon also recognised
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has taken out the 'best RPG' category at the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2022. Multiple other first-party Nintendo titles were nominated with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet winning 'best scenario' and 'best character' and Splatoon 3 receiving best action game. Unsurprisingly, The Legend...
News Nintendo Reveals Limited Edition Golden Power-Up Band For Super Nintendo World
Coming to the Japan park later this week
As part of the Super Nintendo World experience, Nintendo has a special Power-Up Band that interacts with everything around the park. There's already a variety of different colours available and soon there'll be a "limited-edition" one joining the line-up at Universal Studios theme park in Japan. Yes, just...
News New Pokémon Anime Stars Are Getting Their Own Manga Series
The Torchic has truly been passed now
Japanese manga magazine CoroCoro Comic has given us the first look at a brand new Pokémon manga which will feature the stars of the new anime season, which kicks off on 14th April in Japan. Shared on Twitter by @MangaMoguraRE, the colour cover depicts the two new Pokémon trailers — Liko and Roy — along...
News Surprise! Fire Emblem Engage's 'Wave 3' Expansion Pass DLC Is Releasing Soon
Update: Here's a first look
Update #2: Nintendo's official Fire Emblem Twitter channel has shared some new footage of the Wave 3 DLC coming to Fire Emblem Engage later this week. Here's a look at Chrom and Robin in action: Update #1: Confirmed for other regions: Original story: Switch got off to a strong start
News Latest Pokémon Anime Trailer Gives A Closer Look At The Series' New Protagonists
Coming to Japan on 14th April
The Pokémon Company has today revealed a new trailer for the upcoming Pokémon animated series (above) which will see the recently-introduced Liko and Roy stepping into the lead role that was formally held by Ash for the past 25 years. As well as reconfirming the series' Japanese release date of 14th April, the latest...
News Yuji Naka Appears To Admit Guilt Over Insider Trading Case
Trial now in session at Tokyo District Court
Yuki Naka, the former head of Sonic Team, is now standing trial at the Tokyo District Court over charges of insider trading after an investigation at Square Enix. The creator had allegedly invested in development companies based on information gained prior to it being made publically available, thus...
News Atlus Cancels "Final" 3DS Game Sale Ahead Of eShop Closure
Sorry, Japan
The 3DS eShop is scheduled to shut down this month, and in response to this, publisher and developer Atlus (known for series like Persona and Shin Megami Tensei) was planning on hosting one "final" sale on the platform in Japan. Instead of going live today, yesterday the company announced it would no longer be happening. It apparently...
News Capcom Ending Resident Evil 7 Cloud Rental Service On Switch
The joys of the cloud
While in most cases you're required to buy a cloud game outright on the Nintendo Switch, over in Japan, there are certain cloud releases that can actually be rented. Resident Evil 7 (known as the Biohazard series in this region) happens to be one of them, but it seems this offer will soon be removed from the local Switch eShop...
News Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Nintendo Ad Teases New Master Sword Details
Link's legendary sword returns
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom release is fast approaching and while we won't be publishing any major spoilers or leaks here on Nintendo Life, we are still sharing officially released materials. The latest one comes in the form of a translated Nintendo ad in the latest issue of Japanese publication Famitsu...
Random Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Gummies Will Let You Eat Chuchus
Chuchu-y
What's a better promotional tie-in than sweets, hey? Bandai knows that, and it's releasing some The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom-themed gummies in May in Japan to celebrate the release of the highly anticipated game. But they're not rupee-shaped or even Triforce shaped, oh no. They look just like Chuchu (via Tokyo Game Life on...
News Miyamoto: "Other IPs" Like Splatoon Were Considered For Super Nintendo World
But it was "easier" to focus on Mario
Before Super Nintendo World decided on its Mario theme, there was apparently some discussion within the Japanese video game giant and Universal Studios about "other" Nintendo-themed IP being incorporated into the park. Speaking to Polygon, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto mentioned how Splatoon was one of the series...
Random Japanese Museum Wants To Reunite People With Their Lost Game Cartridges
Family-com reunions
Here's some balm for your soul on this Thursday morning: there's a museum in Japan that aims to reunite people with the Famicom games that they once owned (via Kotaku). Did you ever scribble your name down on an old game cartridge or box, only to sell it later on? You might just find it at the Named Cassette Museum in Tokyo...
News New Splatoon 3 Art Book Makes A Splash In Japan Next Month
Update: Pre-orders are now open
Update [Thu 16th Feb, 2023 09:45 GMT]: Pre-orders for both the artbook and the soundtrack are now live over on PlayAsia. If you're looking to grab one or both of these check out the links below, and read our original story for more info. <products id="22409"> <products id="22410"> Original article...
Random Cuphead Gets Limited Edition Art From Final Fantasy Artist Yoshitaka Amano
As part of the Japanese Deluxe Edition
Cuphead and Final Fantasy aren't two games we often put together, but today, that changes. StudioMDHR has shared some limited edition artwork that will be included in the Japanese Deluxe Edition (through SuperDeluxe Games) from none other than Yoshitaka Amano, the incredible lead artist on the first six Final...
News Arrest Made In Japan After Nintendo Executive Receives Death Threats
"Die Nintendo!"
Video game companies have to deal with a lot of things behind the scenes, and one story that's recently come to light isn't pleasant at all. According to a translation by Nintendo Everything, Japanese media outlet Kyoto Shimbun reports the arrest of a "36-year-old female permatemp on suspicion of intimidation" on 9th February 2023...
News Dragon Quest Series Producer Leaves Square Enix After 13 Years
Ryota Aomi moves onto a "new journey"
Dragon Quest series producer Ryota Aomi has announced that he has left Square Enix after working with the company for 13 years. Sharing the news on Twitter (via Gematsu), the long-time producer — who first worked on Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors while he was working at Genius
News Ash Ketchum Prepares To Pass Torch As New Pokémon Anime Series Gets Air Date
Debuts 14th April in Japan
The new protagonists of the Pokémon anime will be taking over when the new series debuts in Japan on 14th April 2023 in Japan. Serebii shared the news and the date on Twitter. Ash Ketchum and Pikachu will be hanging up their caps and passing the torch on to new protagonists Liko and Roy as the anime enters its Paldea...
News Nintendo Updates Its 'Switch Online + Expansion Pack' Trailer With New Footage
Game Boy has arrived & more N64 games are coming
Nintendo yesterday bolstered its Switch Online + Expansion Pack service with some new retro libraries. Now, following on from this, it appears to have updated its official "overview trailer" for the service in its homeland of Japan. Within it, you can see footage of the Game Boy Advance library. In...
News Switch Online's Game Boy Library Is Slightly Different In Japan
Mahjong, more Fire Emblem & future exclusives
Nintendo launched the long-rumoured Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance Switch Online libraries earlier this week. As usual, it seems Japan's offerings are slightly different. In the Japanese versions of these apps, the Game Boy application has swapped out Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare...
News Level-5 To Reveal Inazuma Eleven Game Details At Online Event This Month
Room for Fantasy Life and Professor Layton too?
Level-5 shocked us all with its surprise appearance at the February Nintendo Direct Showcase (where both Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam and DECAPOLICE were announced) and now the previously operation-reducing studio is back with more news as...
News Nintendo Is Raising Its Employee Pay By 10% In Japan
Furukawa: "It's important for our long-term growth"
Despite a downturn in sales and profits for Nintendo in its third quarter, it's reportedly raising the base salaries of its employees by 10% in its homeland. A report by Reuters reveals the Japanese video game giant is taking action to secure the "long-term growth" of its workforce. It follows...
News These Lovely EarthBound Plushies Are Getting A Re-Release On Valentine's Day
PK Love-ly
The Hobonichi MOTHER Project is bringing back those rather adorable EarthBound plushies next week in Japan! And no, the basket isn't included. The toy set will be restocked on Valentine's Day, 14th February, the company announced on Twitter. (Thanks, Nintendo Wire!) Originally launched in 2020 by series creator Shigesato Itoi, The MOTHER...
News New Pokémon Scarlet & Violet TCG Set Revealed, Along With Some Utterly Adorable Art
The starters shine
The Pokémon Company has revealed the next official Trading Card Game set for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, called Triple Beat. As you would expect from a name like this, the set focuses on Paldea's three starter Pokémon — Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly — along with their evolutions. The cards were revealed via a stream...
News Platinum Celebrates Metal Gear Rising's 10th Anniversary Later This Month
One to watch
One of the standout developers throughout the lifespan of the Nintendo Switch has been PlatinumGames. Not only has it delivered some amazing games like Bayonetta 3 and Astral Chain, but it's also released a number of past hits on the popular hybrid system including The Wonderful 101 and more recently NieR:Automata. If you're wondering...
Japanese Charts All Switch Models Outsold By PS5, Story Of Seasons Remake Is On Top
Top of the crops
It's a week of mixed fortunes for the Switch in this week's Famitsu charts (via Gematsu). The big story is that the PlayStation 5 has outsold all Switch models to be the best-selling hardware of the week of 23rd - 29th January. Sony's console sold an impressive 53,256 units this week, edging past the combined sales of the Switch...
Random Japan's 'Licca-chan' Doll Range Is Getting An Adorable Super Mario Model
It's-a me, Licca-chan!
Japanese toy mannufacturer Takara Tomy has revealed a new model in its popular 'Licca-chan' doll range based on Nintendo's Super Mario franchise (thanks, Automaton). The release marks an official collaboration between Takara and Nintendo and features the doll wearing Mario's iconic red and blue overalls and hat. Also included...
Reminder A Theatrhythm Final Bar Line Demo Is Out Today On Switch eShop
Download it from the Japan's eShop right now
Later this month, Square Enix will be releasing Theatrhythm Final Bar Line on the Nintendo Switch. If you're eager to see what the game is like ahead of release, later today you'll be able to download a free demo from the North American and European eShops. If you can't wait any longer, you can actually...
News Capcom Expects To Sell A Record 40 Million Game Units By End Of Fiscal Year
Driven by Monster Hunter and Resident Evil
Capcom has today released its latest financial report for the third quarter of fiscal year ending March 2023. In it, the publisher states that it expects to reach a record 40 million in unit sales by the end of the period, driven in large part by the Monster Hunter and Resident Evil franchises. The...
News Square Enix Survey Asks About Team Asano's Future Games
Would you like more remakes and remasters?
It seems Square Enix is once again calling on fans to have their say about what games they would like to see next. In a recent Japanese survey, the company known for the Final Fantasy series asked local residents of Japan what games and genres they would like to see from Team Asano in the future. Team...
Feature Best Japan-Exclusive 3DS Games - 13 Titles We Wish Had Come To The West
From strategy tributes to puzzle RPGs...
With the closure of the 3DS eShop fast approaching, it's got us feeling a little bit nostalgic here at Nintendo Life — particularly for games that we never got our hands on here in the West. It's a tale as old as time at this point. Many Japan-only games never get localised, and that's been the case for a...
News The First Patch Notes For Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life Are Already So Weird
Out now in Japan
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is out now in Japan, although English-speaking players will have to wait until 27th June to get on board as well. After its Japanese eShop launch, the first patch has also been released, which fixes a number of bugs in the game — bugs that are quite entertaining to read about. Here's a Google...