Video essayist IdolismJ joins to look at Buriki One, SNK’s under the radar attempt at making an MMA fighting game! We dig deep into this obscure fighter, the Hyper Neo Geo 64, orange hair, and how it’s a perfect time capsule for a moment in Japanese pop culture history. And in the feature segment, I take you inside Capcom Osaka, the company’s biggest merch store in Japan!

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IdolismJ

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/idolismj.yase.world

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(0:48) - Buriki One w/ IdolismJ

Feature

(39:57) - Capcom Store Osaka

News

(49:25) - New stores and events at Shibuya Parco

Social media:

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Pro Mario Kart player Vantox joins as we chat about the competitive scene and mastering Mario Kart! How can you go from 24th place all the way to the top? Plus I share more details on the Switch 2 launch games I’ve been playing, and share my demo impressions on Donkey Kong Bananza!

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Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/vantox_

Twitter: https://x.com/vnt__x

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:50) - Mastering Mario Kart w/ Vantox

Games

(21:45) - More Switch 2 launch games

News

(41:15) - Donkey Kong Bananza impressions, new events in Tokyo

Social media:

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YouTuber Dale Clayton is back as we delve into the Switch 2 launch in Japan! We chronicle our journey to getting one in Japan and chat about the hardware’s record-breaking launch in the country! Plus we look at Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, and a smattering of other games we’re playing on Nintendo’s newest console!

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dale_dpg

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/daledpg.bsky.social

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:50) - Switch 2 launch in Japan w/ Dale Clayton

Games

(29:08) - Mario Kart World

(57:45) - Welcome Tour

(1:14:32) - Other Switch 2 launch titles

News

(1:28:26) - Switch 2 sales, five upcoming games to care about

Social media:

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Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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Game preservationist Caitlyn Pascal joins to chat about electro-mechanical games, the machines that dominated Japanese arcades before video games! We explore the fascinating history on how some of the biggest arcade titans got their start making these one-of-a-kind devices that showcased amazing technology, and talk about Caitlyn’s effort to preserve this important chapter of gaming history! And I look at some classic titles in Capcom Fighting Collection 2!

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Early Arcades Japan: https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cpi.bsky.social

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:53) - Electro-mechanical games w/ Caitlyn Pascal

Games

(37:31) - Capcom Fighting Collection 2

News

(54:03) - NSO games, new Pokemon merch, Death Stranding 2 in Tokyo

Social media:

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Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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YouTuber Dale Clayton is back as we dive into a Nintendo Switch retrospective! We go year by year exploring the highs, lows, and weirds of Nintendo’s greatest console. In the feature section, I talk about one of Nintendo’s best merch partners, EDITMODE!

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dale_dpg

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/daledpg.bsky.social

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(0:50) - Switch Retrospective w/ Dale Clayton

Feature

(1:33:05) - EDITMODE: Nintendo Apparel

News

(1:39:57) - Switch 2 in Japan updates

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

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Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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YouTuber 4amLaundry joins as we chat about retro game shopping in Tokyo! We recommend our favorite shops, games, and analyze the state of retro game hunting in Japan! And I take a look at Kairosoft’s Heian City Story!

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@4amLaundry

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/4amlaundry

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:55) - Retro Game Shopping in Tokyo w/ 4amLaundry

Games

(39:34) - Heian City Story

News

(46:14) - Switch 2 preorder updates, new game merch

Social media:

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Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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What’s up with moai in video games? You’re gonna find out as game developer and creator of moai.games joins as we chat about moai in Japanese games! We explore Japan’s fascination with these mysterious statues, why Konami loves them so much, and reveal our favorite moai! Plus I take a look at Koei’s ambitious strategy game Uncharted Waters: New Horizons before closing out with some Japan-focused Switch 2 news!

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Website: https://www.gingerbeardman.com/

Moai website: https://moai.games/

Itch.io: https://gingerbeardman.itch.io/

YOYOZO: https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2023/11/21/yoyozo-how-i-made-a-playdate-game-in-39kb/

Emoji history: https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2024/05/10/emoji-history-the-missing-years/

(

0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:54) - Moai in Japanese games w/ Matt Sephton

Games

(30:50) - Uncharted Waters: New Horizons

News

(36:45) - Mario Kart World Direct, Switch 2 preorders in Japan

Social media:

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Japanese mascots, yakuza, kei trucks, and more can be found as you explore the Japanese countryside in Promise Mascot Agency from Kaizen Game Works! Game director Oli Clarke Smith joins to talk about how this unique amalgamation of ideas came together to make the game, working with legendary game dev Ikumi Nakamura, assembling an all-star voice cast, and more! Also I give all the details on my trip to Nintendo Osaka, and dive deep into the surprising Switch 2 Direct!

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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chopemon.bsky.social

Kaizen Game Works: https://bsky.app/profile/kaizengameworks.com

Promise Mascot Agency store links: https://kaizengameworks.com/portfolio-items/promise-mascot-agency/

eShop link: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/promise-mascot-agency-switch/

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(1:01) - Promise Mascot Agency w/ Oli Clarke Smith

Feature

(33:59) - Nintendo Osaka

News

(41:58) - Nintendo Switch 2 Direct

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife

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Tokyo resident and returning guest Genki is back as we explore Square Enix’s new store in Shibuya, Square Enix Garden! How many plushies are there? Which music box is the best? Should there be a Heartless statue? What’s up with the Square Enix Cafe? We answer all these questions and more! Plus I do a backflip and rave about Donkey Kong 94, now on NSO!

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Twitter: https://x.com/Genki_JPN

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GenkiGamer

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:53) - Square Enix Garden w/ Genki

Games

(26:03) - Donkey Kong 94

News

(35:31) - Playtest credit info, Pokemon Center Hiroshima moving

Social media:

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Suikoden is back, and author Aidan Moher is here to dig into Suikoden I & II HD Remaster from Konami! We explore Suikoden’s impact on the JRPG landscape, if this new version delivers, and reveal some shocking Super Bomberman R2 lore. And I give all the details on my latest trip to Donkey Kong Country in Universal Studios Japan!

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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aidanis.fun

Newsletter: https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/

Upcoming book about Suikoden: https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/suikoden-1-2-history-boss-fight-books-2026/

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(0:50) - Suikoden I & II HD Remaster w/ Aidan Moher

Feature

(46:20) - Return to Donkey Kong Country in Universal Studios Japan

News

(1:07:27) - Pokemon Presents 2025

Social media:

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Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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