• Here’s an interactive map of Kyoto that lets you toggle between now and the 9th century. Now I was sort of hoping for a Google Street View and this is not that, but it’s stunning to see what’s changed, and even more surprising to see what’s stayed the same.

• Friend and fellow otaku journalist Colette Bennett joined the Daily Dot! I’ve been loving her articles about geek topics, like this one about a Japanese artist making giant wearable cat heads.

• The flower language of the Kiznaiver women: Emily did an amazing interpretation of the meaning behind the bouquets the girls hold in the ending theme.

• Sick of moe blobs? Here’s a dating sim about courting… ahem, mature men (think Ristorante Paradiso). Of course it’s on Steam, even games about dating pigeons are on Steam. Still not as weird as the game John imported from Japan about shooting amorous girls with a love gun…?

• I wrote a couple things for Anime News Network this week: my favorite anime mascot character, plus a review of Gundam Evolve, a compilation of short bonus films.

• Also, I redesigned Gunpla 101 and put up five new posts. There’s also a newsletter now! What do you think of the new look?

Photo by me. Am I just going to keep using Japan photos as the background for Otaku Links posts until I run out? You better believe it.