Asha Bardon
(They/Them)
As seen in:
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Medium,
Yahoo Entertainment,
ResearchGate,
Engadget,
Substack,
Eurogamer,
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and
Covers:
Anime, manga, computer games, sci fi and fantasy TV and film, theatre and tech. I consult on Japanese trends from food and stationery to media and culture.
Doesn't Cover:
Politics, social media/influencers UNLESS it's related to Japan, Korea and China.
Freelance anime/games journo and media consultant. Queer bipolar, AuDHDer, I have MAs in Japanese Studies and Classics. I run The Gaming Lorist Substack.
Articles by Asha Bardon
Journalistic Crushes and the Power of a Really Good (Non-fiction) Book
Despite being blind, I try to consume as many books as I can. 90% of these are, understandably, audiobooks and now that Spotify has audiobook access, it’s become my go-to for new releases which aren’t Audible exclusives. And yesterday, I got a ping saying my pre-save for Annie Jacobsen’s new book Biological Warfare: A Scenario had dropped so I was one very happy camper.
How the Bayeux Tapestry gave us Superman.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Hans Georg Roth via Getty Images / DC Comics In the latter half of the 2020s, there can be no doubt that comics are cool. No longer the sole province of nerds and picky readers, comics are in vogue, are art on bookshelves and walls, and inspiring everything from Netflix’s next big hit to summer blockbusters. But where did they come from and how did we get here?
Through the Eye of a Journalist
I’ve already talked about how much I adore this series, and alt.history in general, but now that Season Five is back on TV, it seemed like just the right time (especially with both Project Hail Mary and the Artemis II flyby) to dig into the first two episodes. Especially as the sixth and final season has just been confirmed for next year. So, it’s now 2012, and Happy Valley, the Martian site, has become a bustling city housing thousands.
PROJECT ZERO II CRIMSON BUTTERFLY
ULTIMATE GUIDE PROJECT ZERO II CRIMSON BUTTERFLY AS WE PREPARE TO RETURN TO THE TERRIFYING LOST VILLAGE OF MINAKAMI IN KOEI TECMO’S PROJECT ZERO II: CRIMSON BUTTERFLY REMAKE, WE TAKE A WALK BEYOND THE WOODS TO SEE WHAT MADE THE ORIGINAL PLAYSTATION 2 RELEASE SUCH A MEMORABLE HORROR GAME WORDS BY ASHA BARDON IN THE KNOW » PUBLISHER: TECMO (JP), UBISOFT (US/ UK) » DEVELOPER: TECMO » PLATFORM: PS2, XBOX » RELEASED: 2003 » GENRE: SURVIVAL HORROR Project Zero (named for the internal team that made...
'Crimson Butterfly Remake' Explained: The Kusabi and Kurosawa Sae
The Japanese official X/Twitter account for Crimson Butterfly Remakehas started re-posting after falling into silence over Oshōgatsu, or the Japanese New Year period… They’ve introduced many of the characters we’ll be meeting in Minakami Village, including two of the more important spirits , the Kusabi and Kurosawa Sae, the game’s de facto ‘villain’.
'Bloodborne: The Old Hunters' Explained: Insight and the Horror of Understanding
Bloodborne and The Old Huntersinvite gamers, playing as the Hunter, to explore the gothic city of Yharnam which, on the face of it, seems just like q creepy city of cobbled streets, ancient buildings and a grand cathedral at its heart. The truth is very different. The world of Yharnam is just a façade hidding something darker and more teriffying. Only those who have the eyes, and the insight, can see it. Hiding in plain sight… Do you see it yet?
So You Want to be a Journalist: The Catch 22 of Publication
Photo by Ashni on Unsplash The big hurdle is getting noticed, pitching a winning idea and having enough of a portfolio that will convince an editor to give you a punt. Pitching is, obviously, an important part of the process and something cub journalists must learn, so it seems only logical to include it in my on-going series on journalism. Honestly, journalism is a lot easier now, in the age of the terminally online.
The Gaming Lorist
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'Silent Hill f' Explained: In-game Shinto (and Buddhism and Folklore) for Beginners (Part IV)
So this is becoming a thing and every single run of Silent Hill fseems to reveal even more Shinto/Buddhist/folklore-related lore which means another entry in my primer series. As we go deeper into the game, there might be spoilers, so try and read this only if you’ve achieved a second or third playthrough. Or you don’t mind spoilers, go right ahead.
'Wicked: For Good' (2025): Review
For many, Wicked: For Good, has been the highlight of 2025, with fans counting down the days and all kinds of merchandise divided by whether it’s Ginda Pink or Elphaba Green. I managed to book a seat at an early morning showing that started at 11am at my local Odeon. I didn’t leave the cinema until nearly 2pm. I did the maths; the full Wicked x Wicked: For Good back-to-back showing is five hours long… Would I sit through it? If I could, yes, I would.
'The Guardian of the Camphor Tree' (クスノキの番人) Gets Release Date, Visual and Trailer
One of the highlights of 2026 for me, anime-wise, is The Guardian of the Camphor Tree(クスノキの番人; Kusunoki no Bannin), a movie adaptation of the beloved novel series by author Higashino Keigo. The first book in said series will also be finally releasing in English next year. I absolutely LOVE this novel; there’s no digital edition so I picked up physical copies of it, and the sequel The Goddess of the Camphor Tree (クスノキの女神; Kusunoki no Megami) from Amazon JP.
'Project Zero: Crimson Butterfly Remake' Explained: What is the Game About?
So you’ve seen the announcement and if you’re not my age, you might not have had the honour of playing Crimson Butterfly on any of the three formats it originally released for. So let’s do a quick Q and A on why this will be the best horror game you’ll get to play in 2026. What’s with all the names? Well, in Japan, the game series is simply called ‘Zero’, using the Kanji ‘霊’, or rei/zero. As a result, in Europe, it was called ‘Project Zero’.
Kanda Myōjin: The Go-to Shrine for Tech Geeks and Anime Fans
As this week. specifically Saturday November 15th, is Shichi-go-san (七五三), the traditional Shinto celebration for ‘children’ who are seven. five and three, @playstation_jp decided to celebrate the Playstation 5’s fifth birthday by visiting Kanda Myōjin in Tokyo.
Sailor Moon Café and the Completion of the 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon' All-Color Manga
Takeuchi Naoko’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン; Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn) was the first manga I ever read. This was back in the early 2000s when Mixxine was publishing them as American-style comics and as collected volumes with a terrible translation and flipped so much of the art didn’t make sense. Around that time, I discovered Oriental City and Asahiya Shoten, which allowed me to get my hands on the eighteen volume Japanese original edition.
'Last Samurai Standing' (2025): Season One (Review)
Note: Netflix were kind enough to give me early access to screeners for the series and also invited me to interview the series’ director, Fujii Michihito-kantōku and series lead and choreographer, Okada Junichi-san, who plays samurai Saga Shujiro. Death games are in, right now, and the latest hot series about to hit screens is Last Samurai Standing (or, in Japan, Ikusarigami; ‘God of War’).
'Project Zero: Crimson Butterfly Remake' Trailer, Director Interview and New Visual Released
Things are looking good for the other beloved Japan-set survival horror game series as Project Zero: Crimson Butterfly Remake gets an official release date of March 12th 2026! As part of last night’s State of Play (which included several big- announcements, like DLC for Elden Ring: Nightreign and a new Japan-set game called BrokenLore: Ascend, which caught my attention…) However the big draw was, of course, more info on my favourite franchise… The official site has more details on the game,...
On 'Exit 8' and the Hidden Buddhist Elements Hiding in Plain Sight
Note: This article contains spoilers for both the film and the game Exit 8. I’m still waiting to see and review Exit 8 but as I’ve played the game and read the novelisation, I wanted to take a second to talk about the Buddhist elements within the film and how it looks at purgatory.
The Eternal War' and the Rise of Indian Anime in 2026
Last week, I caught the trailer for Baahubali: The Eternal War, the first of a two-part animated epic based on the Indian film duology Baahubali (which was re-released earlier this year as The Epic, clocking in at 225 minutes), created by S. S. Rajamouli and starring Prahbas, best known for not just this franchise but also 2024’s mythological epic Kalki 2898A.D. (in which he plays Bhairva and Karna).
『ウィキッド ふたりの魔女 』('Wicked: The Two Witches', 2025): Review
With Wicked: For Good coming out next week, I wanted to review the film but, of course, I do love Japanese dubs and as Wicked: The Two Witches was streaming on Amazon Prime Japan (thanks to NordVPN and their affiliate link!), this seemed like the perfect time to do it. While Wicked was released in November 2024 in most of the world, because of the complexity of the dubbing, the release was pushed back in Japan to March 2025.
'Predator: Badlands' (2025): Review
Predator is one of those enduring franchises, like it’s sometimes sibling Alien, which remains beloved but has struggled to have a solid entry of late. 2022’s Prey was a success with its simple plot of a Yautja versus a young Comanche named Naru in 1712 America.
'Godzilla Minus Zero': The Future of Japan's Favourite Kaijū...
Godzilla is one of the most fascinating franchises to ever come out of Japan, both on a technical level but also culturally. Without the terrible bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there would be no Godzilla and no kaiju in general. I was in Tokyo in 2023 when Godzilla Minus One (ゴジラ-1.0) and I got to see it in the Toho Cinema building in Shinjuku, the iconic one where Godzilla’a head roars on the hour. Trust me when I say this is the optimum Godzilla-watching location.
So You Want to be a Journalist: Getting Started in the Games Industry and Turning Passion into Profit
Getting into journalism is one thing but getting into gaming is something else. A lot of it is who you know and how passionate you are about anything from a company, to a fandom, to a genre, to a console. For me, this is Japan-set games, usually multi-format or on PlayStation, but I’ll cover almost anything which excites me.
So You Want to be a Journalist: A Round-up of Advice After MCM Expo
Writing this, I’m currently on a train home after three days of chaos at MCM Expo and this con has been about travelling light, ironic as this was the first time I’ve brought actual luggage on a trip instead of a backpack. But I digress… As with other events, there’s always stuff to learn from an event so what did I learn from my first time back at MCM in almost a decade?
Kurukshetra
So I kind of fell into a Netflix India rabbit hole… Especially when I saw the trailer for an animated series which retells the Mahabharata.
'The Fall of the House of Usher' (2023): Review
Every Halloween, I have a Netflix tradition. I go through the back catalogue of my of my favourite directors: Mike Flanagan. I start with Usher and work my way back in time… I was in Japan when the series aired and I remember downloading the series onto my phone and listening to it as I moved around Kyoto, visiting Sanjůsangedo.
Sailor Moon Celebrates Winter 2025 in Style With Special New Creator Artwork Reveal
Published 6 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name. They graduated in 2024 with an MA degree in Interdisciplinary Japan Studies from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK, which allowed them to write an actual fifteen-thousand-word dissertation on Shinkai Makoto's recent filmography.
'Ghost of Yōtei': The Legacy of Sakai Jin
When I boughtGhost of Yōtei, one of the big things I wondered was if we’d find out what happened to Jin after the end of Ghost of Tsushima. Sucker Punch Productions did a great job with Atsu but there’s always a soft-spot for Jin, who became the first shinobi and legendary Ghost.
So You Want to Be a Journalist: When Things End...
Yesterday morning I found out my role at CBR.com had been eliminated in the latest round of restructuring. That’s fine, First in, first out. I was hired as a journalist and not as a content mill slave to Google and SEO. I wanted to write about stuff which excited me, interview people who interested me… and I got to do that for a whole month. I’m good. The point is, I wouldn’t be a journalist if I didn’t turn it into something useful.
Ghost of Yōtei (2025; PS5): Initial Thoughts
Note: I paid for Ghost of Yōtei with my own cold hard cash… But Sony kindly later offered me review code for the game (four days after launch…) and the pre-order extras. I’m grateful but obviously, I couldn’t redeem the game code. I did redeem the extras though, so full transparency.
How Japan & Anime Like Frieren Fell in Love With Western Fantasy
Custom image Frieren Beyond Journey's End Frieren Elf and Game of Thrones Daenerys TargaryenImage by Harley Whisenhunt Published 25 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
Sailor Moon Finally Gets First-Time Worldwide Release This November
Sailor Moon in front of the cast of Sailor Moon: The Super LiveImage by Surya Punjabi Published Oct 13, 2025 Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
From Totoro to Howl and Chihiro: How China Fell in Love with Studio Ghibli
Custom image Spirited Away Chihiro with No Face, Ponyo Sosuke with Ponyo, My Neighbor Totoro characters shoutingImage by Harley Whisenhunt Published 25 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
Makoto Shinkai's Your Name Poised for Renewed Streaming Success With Next Digital Release
Makoto Shinkai's Your Name with Taki and Mitsuha sitting back to backImage via CoMix Wave Films Published 16 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
The Sacred Frame: Theology in Film, TV and Gaming
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On My Prosthetic and the Diagnosis of a Cataract
Sometimes I think the universe likes to make my life interesting, here in an ‘oh fuck!’ kind of way. My stitch came out last week. I got to look at my pretty prosthetic, get all the compliments, and now I’m learning how to look after it and now to put the damn thing back in… Honestly, I forget it’s there nine times out of ten. Which is fine until my ‘eye’ waters and I knock it out.
'Project Zero: Crimson Butterfly Remake': TGS Details on Koei Tecmo's Return to Minakami Village
TGS (also known as the Tokyo Game Show) is in full swing, which means gaming news and a shift in focus to 2026. I was not expecting a Remake of Crimson Butterfly, the second game in the Zero/Fatal Frame series.
'Silent Hill f Explained: The Inari-Tsukumogami Faith and the Sacred Sword
As I play my second full run on New Game+, one of the items I wanted to get was the Sacred Sword. It’s a nice callback to earlier swords seen in new runs of Silent Hill (both the original game and the third instalment), but also because it’s the one weapon which will not break, unless you consciously find the Agura no Hotel-sama medicine bottle, complete the Crimson Water puzzle and purify the sword. The durability system is a new addition and a pretty controversial one, too.
October 17 Will Be a Great Day for U.S. Pokémon (& Pikachu) Fans
Published 4 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name. They graduated in 2024 with an MA degree in Interdisciplinary Japan Studies from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK, which allowed them to write an actual fifteen-thousand-word dissertation on Shinkai Makoto's recent filmography.
Microsoft Has Officially Removed a Beloved Game Pass Feature
A collage featuring the Halo's Master Chief in front of the Xbox Logo, an arrow going up and a pile of dollarsImage by Yéred García Published 3 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
Gavin Newsom Blames Trump Tariffs For Xbox Game Pass Price Hike
Image via Everett Collection Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name. They graduated in 2024 with an MA degree in Interdisciplinary Japan Studies from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK, which allowed them to write an actual fifteen-thousand-word dissertation on Shinkai Makoto's recent filmography.
Sailor Moon Returns to the '90s With New Retro Anime Release for Official Anniversary Reveal
The five Inner Guardians, including Sailor Moon, against a neon backdrop.Image via CBR Published 16 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
Every Silent Hill f Ending, Explained
Published Sep 27, 2025 Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name. They graduated in 2024 with an MA degree in Interdisciplinary Japan Studies from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK, which allowed them to write an actual fifteen-thousand-word dissertation on Shinkai Makoto's recent filmography.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 Confirms Anime Return Release Date
Frieren from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End looks intrigued by the glowing bule mushroom she is holding in Season 2.Image via Studio Madhouse Published 21 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
‘Alien: Earth’: Season One (2025): Addendum Review
I already talked about Alien: Earth as FX/Disney+ kindly gave me screener access and I loved the first six episodes: Episode 1: “Neverland” — Excellent start, I am SO here for this. Through the Eye of a Journalist is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Episode 2: “Mr. October” — Yep, fascinating… Bonus Xenomorph slaughter… Episode 3: “Metamorphosis” — Okay, still here… Lore… Synths… Nasty other aliens… T.
Alice in Borderland Season 3 Quietly Expands the Franchise’s Most Twisted Games
Arisu and his group of survivors about to take part in Zombie Hunt.© Netflix Published 25 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
Netflix's Alice in Borderland Season 3 Ending Explained
Yuzuha Usagi, played by Tao Tsuchiya, in Alice in Borderland Season Three© Netflix Published 19 minutes ago Asha Bardon cut their teeth writing about anime and gaming in the mid-2000s. They began adapting/localising manga in 2017 and have over a hundred volumes to their name.
'Silent Hill f' (2025): Review
Note: Konami were kind enough to give me a copy of the game on PS5 for review and to ramble about extensively on my lore substack. Thanks kindly to them! Silent Hill f has been one of the most anticipated titles for fans of survival horror and what I term it’s main sub-niche as ‘Japan-set’ which includes alumni like Project Zero/Fatal Frame and Siren.
'P.T.': The Game That Never Was...
I like to imagine, somewhere in the multiverse, there’s a dimension where Konami didn’t turn P.T. into vapour and Silent Hills exists… I would love to live in that reality, after all it’s gotta be better than this one. So, for your viewing pleasure, as this game no longer exists, here’s a full playthrough that doesn’t belong to me: The game is simple; a hallway which loops, sometimes there are nuggets of lore, other times weird stuff happens.
Flying High, Diving Low: A Personal Essay on Mental Illness and Living with Bipolar
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Yay! Fun! I’ve been on a steady dose of Seroquel ever since and, for the most part, it works. Except my trigger is stress and it has been a doozy of a month. Now I’m just tired and very done. I was supposed to have eye surgery, and it got cancelled. I’m now hoping to go in later this week and should know one way or another tomorrow. Then a friend died, suddenly, unexpectedly, and I miss them terribly.
Studio Ghibli Starts 2026 Off Right for Anime Fans With Massive New My Neighbor Totoro Calendar
Published 8 minutes ago Link copied to clipboard Sign in to your CBR account Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro with Totoro, Catbus and Satsuki. Image via Studio Ghibli For anime fans, September isn’t just back-to-school season -- in Japan, it’s the start of planner and calendar season, when big brands and franchises release their offerings for 2026 and allow fans to start planning out the next year ahead. The same is true of the iconic Studio Ghibli.
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