Sega has launched the official website for Ryu ga Gotoku 5 (龍が如く5 夢、叶えし者), otherwise known as Yakuza 5. The game is built on a new engine, and is currently 70% completed and will be released in Dec 2012.

This time the game storyline will revolve around 4 men, 1 girl (Kazuma Kiryu, Taiga Saejima, Shun Akiyama, Haruka Sawamura and Tatsuo Shinada), and it will take place in five cities Osaka Soutenbori, Sapporo Tsukimino, Fukuoka Nagasugai, Nagoya Kineicho and Tokyo Kamurocho. The game certainly seems interesting since we can take control of Haruka (Kiryu’s adopted daughter), so I wonder how she would be fighting as a teenage girl.

Last year, popular singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu collaborated with the kawaii Mameshiba bean-dog franshise, and launched a series of interesting “Mameshipamyupamyu” characters that were specially designed by herself.

A new clip featuring the Mameshipamyupamyu characters has been uploaded onto her official youtube, and it features them having fun on roller skates. The featured song is “Minna no Uta (みんなのうた)” that can be found on her just released album “Pamyu Pamyu Revolution”.

Just when we thought China is really building an official One Piece theme park, Japanese publisher Shueisha has confirmed that it has not given any consent to the construction.

With the way the Chinese government operate, I doubt that there’s any repercussions and the theme park will still finish construction and operate simply as a pirate-themed amusement park, where everyone just go hush-hush and never brings up the word “One Piece”.

Source: Kotaku and ANN

Penguin Parade is back with another kawaii figure for their Petanko series, featuring the android Shinonome Nano from the comedy anime series Nichijou (日常).

She is scheduled for released in Sep 2012 and will be retailed for around 2,625 yen. Interested folks can place your preorders with HobbySearch, CDJapan, and HobbyLinkJapan.

Phat Company has commenced preorder for this lovely scaled figure of Hibari, one of the first year student and ninja from the Nintendo 3DS game Senran Kagura (閃乱カグラ).

She is scheduled for release in Oct 2012 and will be retailing for around 6,800 yen. Interested folks can place your preorders with CDJapan, Hobby Search and HobbyLink Japan.

For Today’s Japan Photo, we shall take a look at this interesting composite photo that captures the construction progress of the Tokyo Sky Tree from start till completion.

This is just such an amazing architecture that I would love to visit it when I visit Japan.

Image Credit: MSN Sankei

AKB48 is definitely the buzz word for the Japanese music industry having sold so many millions of singles. Today, they released their 26th single “Manatsu no Sounds Good! (真夏のSounds Good!)” and Sponichi reports that it has become another phenomenon hit with over 2 million copies being shipped on the first day of debut!! This impressive record has surpassed their first day million copies record set by their earlier singles “Kaze wa Fuiteiru” and “Flying Get“.

The reason why this single is so hot? The single contains voting tickets for the upcoming senbatsu elections and fans are chomping up as many copies as they can afford to vote for their favorite idol members.

Alter has opened preorder for this rather cute scaled figure of Manabe Nodoka (真鍋 和), Yui’s childhood friend and is a member of the student council, from the popular K-On! series.

She is scheduled for release in Oct 2011, and will be retailing for 7,140 yen. Interested folks can place your preorders with Hobby Search, Hobby Link Japan or CDJapan.

Dragon’s Dogma (ドラゴンズドグマ) is finally being released this week and Capcom has uploaded onto their youtube channel the final trailer.

While the entire globe of gamers are engrossed in playing Diablo III (including myself), how many of you are intending to get this game?

Yesterday was the official opening of the Tokyo Sky Tree to public. Hence for Today’s Japan Photo, we shall commemorate the event with this gorgeous black and white photo of this majestic new landmark of Japan.

I really liked composition of this photo that was shot by nipomen2 because it really captures the amazing height of the tower where you look at the accompany buildings on its right side.

Image Credit: nipomen2 flickr

Saitama Prefecture is home to the baseball club Seibu Lions and the popular anime/manga franchise Lucky☆Star (らき☆すた). To honor the anime series, Seibu Lions have dedicated 24 Jun as “Lucky☆Star Day” and have invited seiyuu Fukuhara Kaori (福原 香織), the voice behind Hiiragi Tsukasa, to throw the opening first pitch during the game against Orix Buffalo.

Source: 声優速報

Having successfully partnered Hello Kitty with popular anime franchises Evangelion and One Piece, Sanrio has announced today that their latest crossover of My Melody and Kuromi characters doing a crossover with the popular mahou shoujos from Puella Magi Madoka Magica (魔法少女まどか☆マギカ).

The first batch of goods features My Melody taking on the role of Madoka and Kuromi taking on Homura. Walker Plus has noted that other characters would be rolled out if the collabration merchandise proved popular amongst fans.

Source: Walker Plus via オタク.com｜オタコム