Tokyo Game Life

Type designer and YouTuber Kaihatsu returns as we chat about Ainu in video games! We discuss how northern Japan’s indigenous people have been portrayed in games like Ghost of Yotei, Samurai Shodown, Pokemon Legends Arceus, and how their culture may have influenced countless games. Plus I give some final thoughts on Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Monster Hunter Stories 3! And I dig deep into a lot of Nintendo news including the newest Star Fox game and analyze the financial report!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Kaihatsu
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kaihat.su
Twitter: https://x.com/KaihatsuYT
(0:00) - Intro
Feature
(0:55) - Ainu in Video Games w/ Kaihatsu
Games
(52:34) - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream final thoughts
(1:02:30) - Monster Hunter Stories 3 final thoughts
News
(1:09:47) - Star Fox, Nintendo FY26 analysis, Tokyo events
Social media:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife
Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/
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Indie developer Chris from KaniPro Games returns to chat about his newest title: Hong Kong 2097, the sequel to one of Japan’s worst doujin games. We get into how he secured rights to the sequel, how to make a follow-up to an infamously bad game, and the rocky road to actually getting it released! In the feature, I highlight all the exciting collabs and the movie going experience of watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in Japan!
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KaniPro Games: https://x.com/KaniProGames
Hong Kong 2097: https://kanipro.itch.io/hong-kong-2097
(0:00) - Intro
Games
(0:55) - Hong Kong 2097 w/ KaniPro Games
Feature
(21:26) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in Japan
News
(35:46) - New merch, pop ups, and Splatoon Raiders
Social media:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife
Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/
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Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Media historian Rex from Beyond Electric Sheep is here to chat about Evangelion video games! From visual novels to fighting games to mahjong, we (magma) dive into how one of Japan’s most important anime is also emblematic of a special time in Japanese gaming history. Plus, I look at the wacky Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and the deathly serious Pokemon Champions.
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Website: https://www.beyondelectricsheep.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BEYONDELECTRICSHEEP
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rnaboursiii.bsky.social
And check out this week’s special ad: Kirby Conversations Podcast!
https://www.soundstone.network/kirby-conversations
(0:00) - Intro
Feature
(0:55) - Evangelion Video Games w/ Beyond Electric Sheep
Games
(37:44) - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
(47:14) - Pokemon Champions
News
(56:22) - Rhythm Heaven Groove, new Nintendo merch
Social media:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife
Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/
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Author John Szczepaniak is here to chat about his anthology of dev interviews: The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers! We chat about the lesser known corners of Japan’s gaming scene, the people who built it, and general sake consumption. In the games section, I look at some short and sweet games like Balloon Kid and Öoo!
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Untold-History-Japanese-Game-Developers-ebook/dp/B00Q93N29I
(0:00) - Intro
Feature
(0:52) - The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers w/ John Szczepaniak
Games
(44:35) - Balloon Kid
(50:29) - Öoo
News
(56:53) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie news, Tokyo updates
Social media:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife
Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/
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YouTuber Oceaniz flies into the podcast to chat about Monster Hunter Stories 3! We examine all the ambitious additions to this underrated spinoff JRPG series and nail down which franchise rep will be in Smash Bros. Plus I gush even more about Pokemon Pokopia, and pop inside the newly opened Capcom Store Ikebukuro!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Oceaniz
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/oceaniz.bsky.social
(0:00) - Intro
Games
(0:57) - Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection w/ Oceaniz
(35:17) - More Pokemon Pokopia
Feature
(45:00) - Capcom Store Ikebukuro
News
(54:23) - Pokopia sales, Mario Day
Social media:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife
Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/
Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!