Otaku News

Japan Matsuri London October 2023 Reminder

Date: 2023 September 26 16:45 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London based fans of Japanese culture looking for something to do this Sunday 1st October 2023 will want to head over to Trafalgar Square for the Japan Matsuri.

The event opens at 10:00 and is set to run into the evening with the last event billed at 18:55. Along with Japanese culture events on the main stage, the area in Trafalgar Square is surrounded by various Japanese food stalls and stalls selling Japanese merchandise along with a few organisations promoting various aspects of Japanese culture.

This is the 13th run of the event. It returns for the first time in 4 years after having to take a break due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The event is free to attend, no tickets or advance booking is required.

Souce: Japan Matsuri London

Crunchyroll Autumn 2023 Streaming Line Up

Date: 2023 September 25 19:55 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from anime streaming giants Crunchyroll have sent us details of their upcoming Autumn 2023 anime season. Content wise they'll be bringing everyone over 50 new, returning, and continuing series.

We're most excited about Frieren: Beyond Journey's End which gets released on Friday 29th September 2023. It tells the story of an elf mage at the end of her adventure and has to come to terms with her human comrades settling down after their heroic quest, while she has a significantly longer lifespan. Along with more Dr. Stone. Other fan favourites including One Piece return, plus Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2.

One that might go under your radar is Under Ninja (based on the manga by the same name), in a world where ninja still exist in Japan.

City String Ensemble Anime Music Performance in London

Date: 2023 September 21 17:22 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The good folks from City String Ensemble have sent us details about an up coming performance. City String Ensemble: Best of Anime which is set to run at EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) in London on Sunday 3rd December 2023.

They promise an evening of iconic melodies from Studio Ghibli to the adrenaline-pumping beats of Attack on Titan. To get a feel for their performances take a look at their Eventbrite listing which includes links to their Spotify Anime EP along with some other samples on their YouTube Channel.

We've heard anime music played by live string quartets before and it is something special. If you're a fan of anime music or classical music, there's plenty to enjoy.

Sputnik Sweetheart Stage Play Details

Date: 2023 September 12 16:59 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

We've just received news from Arcola Theatre and the Japan Foundation who are presenting Sputnik Sweetheart. Based on Murakami's novel it tells the story of love and loneliness, with a detective story thrown in. Sputnik Sweetheart is about Sumire, a young Japanese writer who can't find the words to write, and her friend K's search for her when she goes missing on a Greek Island.

It's been adapted for the stage by Tony Award nominee Bryony Lavery and Tony and Olivier Award nominee Melly Still, running at Arcola Theatre in London from Thursday 26th October until Saturday 25th November 2023.

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2023 Details

Date: 2023 September 09 17:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival will return this autumn 2023. Wale's premier event for Japanese anime is set to run 30th September - 1 October 2023 Chapter Cardiff, 20th - 22nd October 2023 Aberystwyth Arts Centre and 10th - 16th November 2023 Pontio Bangor.

You can see the details for each venue on the programme page. Highlights this year are the truly fantastic The First Slam Dunk, the Liz and the Blue Bird, Miss Hokusai and many more.

It Takes Two Tomorrow, Too Manga Release Details

Date: 2023 September 09 12:39 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The good folks from One Peace Books have just sent us details for an up coming manga It Takes Two Tomorrow, Too. Created by Suzuyuki the slice of life manga is due out on October 17th 2023. It's being pitched as a as warm and crumbly as a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. After a year of dating office employees Yuya and Rio move in together. The manga chronicles their new life together.

The manga originally went viral on Twitter. It's being translated by Emily Balistrieri (Tatami Galaxy, I Belong to the Baddest Girl at School).

Manga Jiman 2023 Competition Details

Date: 2023 September 01 12:59 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The good folks at the Embassy of Japan in the UK have just revealed the details for the 17th Manga Jiman Competition. The annual competition is a chance for UK based artists to demonstrate their manga making skills. Not only that, but there's a great selection of prizes to be won from the competitions sponsors.

Here's a tip. If you do really want to win. Consider entering in the Yonkoma category (Yonoma Youth - 11, 12 or 13 or Yonkoma 14+). There are normally very few entrants for the often overlooked four panel manga section. Even the judges last year were strongly suggesting more people enter in yonkoma.

The First Slam Dunk Movie Review

Date: 2023 August 25 18:41 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The First Slam Dunk Movie is set to bounce into cinemas across the UK from Wednesday 30th August 2023. We were lucky enough to catch it at an advance press screening earlier. We're now able to publish what we think of the film. Is it worth watching? Is it worth watching if you've not encountered any Slam Dunk before? Well read on and out!

The Garden of Words Stage Play Review

Date: 2023 August 22 16:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Features

The stage play adaption of The Garden of Words is now hitting the theatre. Set to run from Thursday 10th August until Saturday 9th September 2023 at London's Park Theatre. We've been following the progress of this play since it was announced a few years ago, so were naturally keen to catch a performance on stage.

Daido Moriyama Photography Retrospective in London

Date: 2023 August 17 17:35 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

The good folks from The Photographers' Gallery in London have just revealed details of their Daido Moriyama Retrospective. Set to run from Friday 6th October 2023 until Sunday 11th February 2024. It's the first UK retrospective of one of the world's most innovative and influential artists and street photographers.

Daido Moriyama is famed for his dense grainy, blurry out of focus images. He sees the camera as a copy machine and captures things around him. The award winning photographer has had many photobooks published over the years (we even have a little collection of them). Recently he's had a range of t-shirts made by Uniqlo, and been the the subject of a documentary chronicling his working process. Tickets to the exhibition cost £6, with £4 for concessions and gallery members get in free (as do Friday Lates (5pm-8pm), under 18s, and disability helpers).

Digital Manga Subscription Service Azuki adds One Peace Books Titles to Service

Date: 2023 August 10 19:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The good folks from digital manga subscription service Azuki have sent news that they've partnered up with manga publishers One Peace Books to offer a range of their titles to Azuki subscribers.

Titles include Tenken, Breathe Deeply , Ms. Itsuya, King's Game, Suzuki Just Wants a Quiet Life and many more.
We reviewed Breathe Deeply when it was first published in English over 10 years ago, it's an interesting title as you don't often get semi-futuristic medical drama manga!

Azuki offers a free with advertisements service or premium and access the full catalogue for $4.99 (USD) a month.

Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon A Time UK Blu-ray, 4K UHD and DVD Release Details

Date: 2023 August 05 10:48 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

The good folks from anime publishers Anime Limited have just announced they'll be releasing Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon A Time on Blu-ray and 4K UHD this Autumn. It'll be available from Monday 30th October 2023. They'll be several editions:

Standard DVD currently on offer at £12.99

Blu-ray and DVD in Steel Bookcurrently on offer at £24.99 (SRP: £29.99)

Blu-ray + 4K UHD Deluxe Edition which includes a rigid slipcase along with the steelbook case, 28-page book, art cards, and a poster. This is currently on offer at £49.99 (SRP: £79.99)

The movie marks the conclusion of the rebuild of Evangelion reboot movie series. If you haven't seen it but are familiar with the groundbreaking Evangelion franchise you know what you're going to get, but if you haven't seen any Evangelion this might not be the best place to start as there are 3 other movies in the rebuild to watch before this one. The animation is stunning and story is as the press release puts it "emotionally resonant".

Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon A Time is available to pre-order now.

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero x Crunchyroll Competition

Date: 2023 July 23 15:30 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is available to watch now exclusively via streaming service Crunchyroll.

To celebrate the streaming launch we've teamed up with Crunchyroll to give away a free months subscriptions as well as a commemorative postcard to 5 lucky people.

To enter all you have to do, is e-mail us at dbzcomp@otakunews.com and answer the following question: Who is the original creator of Dragon Ball? The competition is open to those living in the UK and Ireland only. 5 lucky winners will be picked at random after the competition closes. Full terms and conditions are below.

Piano Concert featuring Anime and Games Music by Kikuchi Ryota in London and Birmingham

Date: 2023 July 17 19:43 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The good folks from the Japan Foundation London have sent us details of a piano concert by Kikuchi Ryota. The pianist is popular on YouTube and is set to perform iconic melodies from anime and game music.

Kikuchi will be playing at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham on Tuesday 8th August 2023 at 12:30. Then St James's Church, Piccadilly in London on Wednesday 9th August 2023 at 19:00 and finally at Yamaha Music London on Thursday 10th August at 16:00. All events are free to attend, with booking required for the London ones.

Yakuza Graveyard Now Streaming on Arrow

Date: 2023 July 16 13:55 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The good people from alternative streaming service Arrow have sent us details about a film just released this July. Yakuza Graveyard tells the story of detective Kuroiwa who falls for the beautiful wife of a jailed yakuza boss. It stars Meiko Kaji (Lady Snowblood) and featuring Nagisa Oshima the film is directed by Kinji Fukasaku.

Arrow also has some other interesting collections for fans of Japan including the Takashi Miike Collection and Third Window Films to name a few.

Subscriptions to Arrow cost £4.99 a month or £49.99 a year.

Edinburgh Film Festival to Host UK Premiere of new Slam Dunk Movie

Date: 2023 July 16 11:14 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from anime firm Anime Limited have just sent us some details about the upcoming Slam Dunk Movie. The UK Premier will be hosted by the Edinburgh Film Festival on Tuesday 22nd - Wednesday 23rd August 2023. The film will then go onto a wider release across the UK and Ireland from Wednesday 30th August 2023.

This basketball drama was directed and written by Takehiko Inoue the creator of the original Slam Dunk manga.

To date it's the 5th highest grossing anime film worldwide.

To find a screening near you visit slamdunkfilm.co.uk.

An Interview with Alexandra Rutter Director of the Stage Adaption of The Garden of Words

Date: 2023 July 10 18:59 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Features

Makoto Shinaki's anime The Garden of Words is the story of an out-of-step woman and an offbeat teenager meeting by chance in a Japanese garden. As the kindred spirits bond, the relationship they build could save them or equally ruin them. Melancholy and original the story has just been adapted into a stage play set to run at London's Park Theatre from Thursday 10th August until Saturday 9th September 2023. It's also set to to be staged in Tokyo too.

The play has been adapted by the Whole Hog Theatre who have previously also brought Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke to stage.

We caught up with Alexandra Rutter, who directed and co-adapted The Garden of Words from the material from the anime and novel. Having been aware of this project since before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were keen to find out more about the production and hear what Alexandra has to say.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Streaming Release Details

Date: 2023 July 02 17:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from anime streaming firm Crunchyroll have just sent us details about Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 which will be released on Thursday 6th July 2023.

The first part of Season 2 focuses on Gojo's and Geto's past in the Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc. It's animated by MAPPA, so expect high quality fast paced animation from the studio that brought you Chainsaw Man; Attack on Titan Final Season; Hell's Paradise.

It'll be available both subbed and dubbed in the release languages of each region, with each episode premiering every week after its broadcast in Japan.

One Piece Film: Red UK Collectors Edition Blu-ray Details

Date: 2023 June 27 19:40 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > DVD

The good folks from anime distributors Anime Limited have just sent us details of their latest Blu-ray pre-order for UK anime fans. One Piece Film: Red will be available as a 4K Collectors Edition. The package includes the movie on 4K Blu-ray and regular UHD Blu-ray. The set comes with all sorts of nice little things, including art cards, a vinyl sticker, a nice A3 replica theatrical poster, plus (we really like this detail) an individually numbered Uta concert ticket.

The UK Collectors edition will be available to pre-order from 5pm on Thursday 29th June 2023 and then released on Monday 7th August 2023.

If you're a fan of One Piece you've probably already seen the movie, but we're sure ypu'll want to watch it again! You can read our review of the film to find out what think about it.

Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes Wins Paul Grimault Award at the Annecy International Film Festival

Date: 2023 June 21 19:44 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from anime distributors Anime Limited have just sent us news that the movie Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes has just won the Paul Grimault Award at this years Annecy International Film Festival.

The film tells the tale of teenagers Kaoru and Anzu who stumble upon a mysterious tunnel. Angst and adventure follow.

The movie is due to hit the UK and Ireland next month from 14th July 2023. Tickets are on sale now take a look at http://tunneltosummerfilm.co.uk/ for more details.

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