Tokyo International News Agency

The term "DX Nichirin Sword" suddenly trended on SNS platform X (formerly Twitter) today, sparking a wave of laughter among many users. The "DX Nichirin Sword" is a series of role-play toys by Bandai, modeled after the Nichirin Swords from the immensely popular anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba . It's popular with both children and adults, as it allows users to enjoy lines and sound effects from the show. But why is the name of this toy trending now? The reason lies in intense fan speculation surrounding a new character (a Touken Danshi, or "Sword Boy") from the popular game Touken Ranbu ONLINE , and the humorous "oogiri" (improvised comedy) that ensued. According to multiple posts, many users pointed out that the actions and characteristics of the new Touken Ranbu character were as if the "DX Nichirin Sword" itself had been anthropomorphized into a "Tsukumogami" (an animate tool or artifact). Specifically, there were ...

After a professional baseball game, "Hartwig" suddenly emerged as a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter), sparking a significant backlash among baseball fans. In a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash between the Hanshin Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants, the controversy erupted when reliever pitcher Hartwig, despite Hanshin holding a lead, gave up a crucial game-tying home run to Giants pinch-hitter Reito Nakayama. Sports Hochi also reported with a flash headline, "[Giants] Reito Nakayama hits a game-tying pinch-hit homer in the 7th! Hartwig hit," highlighting the impact of the hit on the game's outcome. On social media, angry and disappointed Hanshin fans flooded the platforms with comments. Sharp remarks included: "Who is Hartwig?", "His first appearance wasn't good either, so why is he trusted so much?", "Seriously, take responsibility and go to the minors!", and "Hartwig, no way lol." There were also noticeable...