Tag: Japan
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...
Review Akai Katana Shin - One Of CAVE’s Very Best Horizontal Bullet Hells
Live by the sword
CAVE Co. Ltd, the pioneering, god-tier arcade developer that reignited the shooting game genre in the '90s, has a portfolio to die for. After 17 years of cast-iron quality and unceasing invention, the sound of gunfire finally rang silent in 2012 with their swansong, Dodonpachi SaiDaiOuJou. Among Cave’s output, only a few entries...
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...
News Players Are Already Getting Their Hands On Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life In Japan
The game is out now on the Japanese eShop
Today, 25th January 2023, Marvelous announced the release date of Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life in the west — just as the game came out on the Japanese eShop at 12am on the 26th January in Japan. That means that some players have decided to whip up a Japanese eShop account (
News Edia Crowdfunding Telenet Shmup Collection For Nintendo Switch
Targeting a June 2023 release
Update [Tue 24th Jan, 2023 00:30 GMT]: Edia has now confirmed this collection will be arriving in Japan on 8th June 2023. It has also shared a new trailer: Original story [Tue 22nd Nov, 2022 04:45 GMT]: We've got some exciting news for fans of the shoot 'em up genre, with Edia announcing a themed collection for...
Random Luxury Animal Crossing Chocolate Sets Exist, And They're Super Cute
'A modest sum of 50,000 bells, hm?"
Have you ever wondered what the villagers of Animal Crossing taste like? Nah, can't say that we have, either. But, thanks to a collaboration between Nintendo and luxury chocolate brand Godiva, residents in Japan can now purhase boxes of chocolates featuring the adorable mugs of Tom Nook, Isabelle, Timmy and Tommy,...
Random Forget Something? New Pokémon Center Merch Is About Amnesia
Sorry, what was that?
Themed merchandise? We love it here at Nintendo Life. but Amnesia-themed merch has got to be one of the most amusing sets we've seen from the Pokémon Center Japan. Nintendo Soup shared the announcement (from the official Pokémon Japan website) and, as daft as the set is, it's actually utterly adorable. Featuring Psyduck,...
Random Official Pokémon TikTok Account Accidentally Posts Swear-Filled Video
Update: Original video has been taken down
Update [Fri 13th Jan, 2023 10:00 GMT] Well, that didn't last long! It appears the offending video has now been taken down, however you can still view the content via an alternative source below. Well folks, you really can't make this up. On the official Pokémon TikTok account, which currently boasts...
News New 'Kirby's Return To Dream Land Deluxe' Website Shows Off More Screenshots & Video
Move over Fire Emblem
We're now at the tail end of Fire Emblem Engage's marketing push - with the game arriving next week, and it seems Nintendo is already turning its attention towards the return of the pink puffball, Kirby. After the successful release of his first ever 3D platformer in March last year, Nintendo now has Kirby's Return to Dream...
News Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Is The Best-Selling Game In Japan In 2022
Switch is also the top-selling hardware
Famitsu has released its annual sales charts for 2022, and Pokémon Scarlet & Violet — unsurprisingly — has topped the year's sales, selling an incredible 4,338,931 units since its release in November (thanks, Nintendo Everything!). If you've been following the headlines and the weekly Japanese...
News Pokémon Cards Targeted In Series Of Trading Card Store Burglaries In Tokyo
Damages estimated at "tens of millions of yen"
A number of burglaries at trading card stores have been reported in Tokyo, Japan, as a result of the rising popularity and value of Pokémon cards. Since last summer, Japan Times reports that damages from these burglaries are estimated to be around tens of millions of yen. According to an investigative...
News PokéDoko Teases Special "World Premiere" Video To Celebrate 1,000+ Pokémon
Airing on the Japanese variety show later this week
The Pokémon series has come a long way and as of the ninth generation (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet), there are now more than 1,000 Pokémon. As part of this milestone, the Japanese variety show PokéDoko apparently has a special "world premiere" video scheduled to air during its upcoming episode...
News Story Of Seasons, Rune Factory Producer Developing Brand New Action RPG For Switch
'Rear Sekai' will launch 2023 in Japan
Publisher Bushiroad has revealed a brand new action RPG, coming to Switch in Japan in 2023, with Story of Seasons and Rune Factory producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto developing the game. Reported by Nintendo Everything (via Famitsu) the new game is titled Rear Sekai, and was teased at the Bushiroad New Year Grand...
PSA A New Limited-Time Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Tera Raid Battle Is Now Available
Update: Hydreigon and Dragapult available until 8th January
Update [Fri 6th Jan, 2023 11:45 GMT]: Get your best Pokémon ready, as the limited-time Hydreigon and Dragapult Tera Raid event has now begun. Pokémon Scarlet players will be able to encounter Hydreigon, while Violet players will have a higher chance of encountering Dragapult in four and...
News Fire Emblem Engage Gets A Nine Minute Overview Trailer
Take a look
Nintendo's marketing campaign for Fire Emblem Engage is now well and truly underway. Following previews going live, it's now released a brand new overview trailer that runs for close to nine minutes. One catch is it's only been uploaded to Nintendo's YouTube channels in Japan, so you'll have to watch the whole thing in Japanese. It...
PSA A Free Sonic Frontiers Demo Is Now Available On The eShop
Update: Available in America and Europe
Update #2 [Fri 6th Jan, 2023 01:25 GMT]: This same demo is now available on the Switch eShop in America and Europe. Sonic Frontiers is also currently on sale in select locations. Update [Sun 18th Dec, 2022 04:30 GMT]: Sonic Frontiers game director Morio Kishimoto has announced on social media this same demo...
Random New Super Mario Bros. Wii Arcade Game Music Has Been Uploaded Online
Let's-a dance!
If you cast your minds back to 2016, you might remember that we did a little piece looking at the rather mythical New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World arcade game, created via a special collaboration between Nintendo and Capcom and released in Japan in 2011. <related ids="63003"> Well, assets from the game were recently made...
News Xenoblade Chronicles Dev Monolith Soft Provides Employee Headcount Update
A numbers game
The Japanese developer Monolith Soft has been growing in size year after year. In a previous update - dating back to 2021, the company revealed its employee headcount had jumped from 261 (in December 2020) to 272. As highlighted by Twitter user and gaming enthusiast Stealth, the latest update for 2022 is slightly different - with new...
Gallery Monolith Soft Shows Off Stunning Artwork From Annual "In-House Illustration Contest"
Feast your eyes on these amazing creations
Monolith Soft has just had another successful year with the release of Xenoblade Chronicles 3. It also provided assistance with the development of Splatoon 3. To wrap up 2022, it's held its regular "in-house illustration contest" where graduates can let their creativity run wild. According to a rough...
News Taito Corporation Preparing For 70th Anniversary Celebrations In 2023
One of the oldest game companies still in operation
The famous video game developer Taito Corporation - known for legendary arcade hits like Space Invaders and Bubble Bobble - will celebrate its 70th anniversary on 24th August 2023. To prepare for this epic milestone, the company has already kicked things off by opening a commemorative website and a...
Feature Why Is Splatoon So Popular In Japan?
Nintendo is squids in
It happened almost overnight. One day in May 2015, Splatoon merch appeared everywhere in Japan. Baby inklings dangled from kids’ backpacks. Squid-girl stickers adorned pencil cases. Convenience stores advertised raffles for figurines, coffee cups, and Splatoon-branded bags. This explosion of Splat-swag was perhaps more of a...
News Square Enix Teases Plans For Dragon Quest X In 2023
How about a local release?
One game many Dragon Quest fans here in the west would love to see released on the Switch locally is Dragon Quest X. While there's been no mention about a possible localisation, there does seem to be an end-of-year update about the existing version, exclusive to Japan. During an interview with Famitsu (via Siliconera),...
