Kazuma Hashimoto
@kazuma.bsky.social
critic / consultant / ??? @ ??? x2 ・ award nominated ・ ハーフ ・ queer, he/him, FTM 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ ・ bylines: IGN, Polygon, GamesRadar+, MMORPG, Them, Inverse, Rolling Stone ・ CONTACT: kazuma.h.de@gmail.com ・ posts don't reflect employer, etc. etc.
Pinned
Kazuma Hashimoto
@kazuma.bsky.social
· Oct 21
hello! my name is kazuma hashimoto and i'm a critic and features writer. my work can be found on polygon, ign, and siliconera, usually entailing some kind of deep dive into japanese media. i also work as a narrative design consultant and a narrative designer on cool stuff i can't talk about yet.
oh yeah, my intro post. so a lot has changed in the past year. i still work as a critic and features writer. i'm now a part-time editor too. still do narrative design and consultation, but do market analysis to help identify trends and create marketing strategies. 👍 i'm also always open for work
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
jc denton at the supermarket:
jc: 'the hottest hot sauce ever'.
jc: incredible.
jc, turning his head to another bottle of hot sauce:
jc: 'there's never been a sauce as hot as this one'.
jc:
jc, stern: well one of you is lying.
jc: 'the hottest hot sauce ever'.
jc: incredible.
jc, turning his head to another bottle of hot sauce:
jc: 'there's never been a sauce as hot as this one'.
jc:
jc, stern: well one of you is lying.
February 5, 2026 at 10:54 PM
jc denton at the supermarket:
jc: 'the hottest hot sauce ever'.
jc: incredible.
jc, turning his head to another bottle of hot sauce:
jc: 'there's never been a sauce as hot as this one'.
jc:
jc, stern: well one of you is lying.
jc: 'the hottest hot sauce ever'.
jc: incredible.
jc, turning his head to another bottle of hot sauce:
jc: 'there's never been a sauce as hot as this one'.
jc:
jc, stern: well one of you is lying.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Capcom is hiring a Communications Intern! We're looking for someone to join our PR & Social Media team for Summer 2026 in San Francisco. Please apply or share with students pursuing a career in games! jobs.jobvite.com/capcomusa/jo...
February 5, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Capcom is hiring a Communications Intern! We're looking for someone to join our PR & Social Media team for Summer 2026 in San Francisco. Please apply or share with students pursuing a career in games! jobs.jobvite.com/capcomusa/jo...
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
GOG did an AMA and they all but confirmed that they will continue using Gen AI.
"AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward".
I mean, no way they could pay an artist like before, right?
"AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward".
I mean, no way they could pay an artist like before, right?
February 5, 2026 at 7:09 PM
GOG did an AMA and they all but confirmed that they will continue using Gen AI.
"AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward".
I mean, no way they could pay an artist like before, right?
"AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward".
I mean, no way they could pay an artist like before, right?
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
it's always crazy when you realize someone has been quietly fuming and building you up in their head as their sworn, eternal nemesis for months when you have no idea who they are
February 5, 2026 at 5:46 PM
it's always crazy when you realize someone has been quietly fuming and building you up in their head as their sworn, eternal nemesis for months when you have no idea who they are
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
“You’re playing with people who assume safety. But safety is not universal.” - from Ebenezer Mowete's first byline for Mothership
www.mothership.blog/queer-nigeri...
www.mothership.blog/queer-nigeri...
We spoke to queer Nigerian gamers about the identities they hide online
Voice chat can mean teamwork, coordination, and banter, but for many of the queer Nigerian gamers we spoke to, the mic is a risk assessment tool.
www.mothership.blog
February 5, 2026 at 7:04 PM
“You’re playing with people who assume safety. But safety is not universal.” - from Ebenezer Mowete's first byline for Mothership
www.mothership.blog/queer-nigeri...
www.mothership.blog/queer-nigeri...
i think a salaryman would be inspired tbh the people love a despondent office worker i'm just spitballing here
overwatch isn't my rodeo but I can't believe another new hero from Japan is some flavor of ninja.
February 5, 2026 at 6:58 PM
i think a salaryman would be inspired tbh the people love a despondent office worker i'm just spitballing here
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
i forgive you bro. i know that arthas' menethil's journey is similar to your own
February 5, 2026 at 6:18 PM
i forgive you bro. i know that arthas' menethil's journey is similar to your own
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
This week in The Bathysphere I have a piece on "Moogles as a Designable Surface," in which I consider the Moogle Paint feature in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles as an example of a cosy ritual and mechanic:
buttondown.com/Bathysphere/...
buttondown.com/Bathysphere/...
February 5, 2026 at 1:19 PM
This week in The Bathysphere I have a piece on "Moogles as a Designable Surface," in which I consider the Moogle Paint feature in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles as an example of a cosy ritual and mechanic:
buttondown.com/Bathysphere/...
buttondown.com/Bathysphere/...
it's kind of astounding how much better people treat you or the amount of free things people will give you if you dress well or look rich. brought to you by this outfit.
February 5, 2026 at 5:31 PM
it's kind of astounding how much better people treat you or the amount of free things people will give you if you dress well or look rich. brought to you by this outfit.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
It was bad enough when they were staying utterly silent about the audience reaction, but joking about it like this is a new low.
RGG Studio not only cast Kagawa despite his actions, they are specifically taking advantage of his image as a creep to sell the role.
Guess that’s that. #REMOVEKAGAWA
Guess that’s that. #REMOVEKAGAWA
![A shot of Teruyuki Kagawa as Goh Hamazaki in Yakuza Kiwami 3 with his face mosaic blurred out, accompanied by an excerpt from a GAME Watch interview with Ryosuke Horii on 2026-02-05:
Horii: “Rikiya and Hamazaki are both key characters to the story, so it would certainly be safer not to recast them and avoid online criticism (laughs). But we felt there was no use being afraid. We based our decision on what excited us and made us think, ‘This is who we want to perform,’ or ‘What if we cast this person?’ […] Hamazaki is a sleazy, persistent, and militant yakuza, right? Since he isn’t an explosive character like Kanda, when we tried to think of someone who makes you go, ‘This guy’s a creep,’ naturally it was Kagawa-san. The biggest thing was just had to see that. Kagawa-san’s acting is fun to watch. Even when he’s chopping a pig’s feet off with a chef’s knife, it has a slimy feel.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:miwrulrgrudgnchcqgcpxgth/bafkreianho4oe2hx4rmjbrd65x22prtp53ol6fm5ljlqdnjmxkjx2bnpme@jpeg)
February 5, 2026 at 4:44 PM
It was bad enough when they were staying utterly silent about the audience reaction, but joking about it like this is a new low.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Apologies for the FB link, but critical context. Got so mad when I read this... www.facebook.com/takuji.yamad...
Basically: who besides tourists and short stayers doesn't have residential status? Asylum seekers in immigration hell, children of these people (some even born in Japan)... T_T
Basically: who besides tourists and short stayers doesn't have residential status? Asylum seekers in immigration hell, children of these people (some even born in Japan)... T_T
February 5, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Apologies for the FB link, but critical context. Got so mad when I read this... www.facebook.com/takuji.yamad...
Basically: who besides tourists and short stayers doesn't have residential status? Asylum seekers in immigration hell, children of these people (some even born in Japan)... T_T
Basically: who besides tourists and short stayers doesn't have residential status? Asylum seekers in immigration hell, children of these people (some even born in Japan)... T_T
overwatch isn't my rodeo but I can't believe another new hero from Japan is some flavor of ninja.
February 5, 2026 at 3:56 PM
overwatch isn't my rodeo but I can't believe another new hero from Japan is some flavor of ninja.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
currently looking for a concert photographer for an event in March in LA. must have experience. please link your portfolio below if you're interested in the opportunity or feel free to rec.
February 4, 2026 at 8:40 PM
currently looking for a concert photographer for an event in March in LA. must have experience. please link your portfolio below if you're interested in the opportunity or feel free to rec.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Nearly 1,500 people have already used this tool in under 24 hours.
Please share with your friends, neighbors, community, etc.: StopICEToday.com
Please share with your friends, neighbors, community, etc.: StopICEToday.com
I gathered a few resources you can use & take action with to protect your communities from ICE:
stopicetoday.com
stopicetoday.com
STOP ICE TODAY
Take action to protect your community from ICE.
stopicetoday.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Nearly 1,500 people have already used this tool in under 24 hours.
Please share with your friends, neighbors, community, etc.: StopICEToday.com
Please share with your friends, neighbors, community, etc.: StopICEToday.com
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
I know everyone means well with their 'scoop this reporter up immediately' endorsement posts but christ — who's doing the scooping? What's left?
Thinking about our industry this way, like this is a momentary setback and there are ample open roles, obscures the truth about the rot at its core.
Thinking about our industry this way, like this is a momentary setback and there are ample open roles, obscures the truth about the rot at its core.
February 4, 2026 at 9:41 PM
I know everyone means well with their 'scoop this reporter up immediately' endorsement posts but christ — who's doing the scooping? What's left?
Thinking about our industry this way, like this is a momentary setback and there are ample open roles, obscures the truth about the rot at its core.
Thinking about our industry this way, like this is a momentary setback and there are ample open roles, obscures the truth about the rot at its core.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
I think I might be too old to deal with such a competitive high skill game floor game where you have to be a nasa researcher just to understand anything happening.
I prefer casual and relaxed games where I can chill. And that’s why I’m dropping uma musume for deadlock.
I prefer casual and relaxed games where I can chill. And that’s why I’m dropping uma musume for deadlock.
February 4, 2026 at 10:42 PM
I think I might be too old to deal with such a competitive high skill game floor game where you have to be a nasa researcher just to understand anything happening.
I prefer casual and relaxed games where I can chill. And that’s why I’m dropping uma musume for deadlock.
I prefer casual and relaxed games where I can chill. And that’s why I’m dropping uma musume for deadlock.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Someone asked me why aren't folks getting laid off in the anime journalism community after seeing so many headlines about the game journalism.
I reminded them that majority (not everything) is free/low/volunteer labor unless you work for the handful of major publications like ANN & CR.
I reminded them that majority (not everything) is free/low/volunteer labor unless you work for the handful of major publications like ANN & CR.
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Someone asked me why aren't folks getting laid off in the anime journalism community after seeing so many headlines about the game journalism.
I reminded them that majority (not everything) is free/low/volunteer labor unless you work for the handful of major publications like ANN & CR.
I reminded them that majority (not everything) is free/low/volunteer labor unless you work for the handful of major publications like ANN & CR.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
I know it’s annoying that I constantly ask people to sub, but subbing makes a huge difference. @aftermath.site has around 5,000 paying subs right now; most of us still work other jobs on the side. we have over 90k bluesky followers. if a fraction subscribed, it would literally change our lives
How do you fix journalism?
Fucking pay for it.
Stop complaining about paywalls and subscribe.
The rise of right-wing media is because the rich funded it. The fall of legacy media is because the rich funded it and then decided not to.
Fucking pay for it.
Stop complaining about paywalls and subscribe.
The rise of right-wing media is because the rich funded it. The fall of legacy media is because the rich funded it and then decided not to.
February 4, 2026 at 9:21 PM
I know it’s annoying that I constantly ask people to sub, but subbing makes a huge difference. @aftermath.site has around 5,000 paying subs right now; most of us still work other jobs on the side. we have over 90k bluesky followers. if a fraction subscribed, it would literally change our lives
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Having internships without having jobs for them to enter when they complete the internship should be illegal.
Staffing your gutted dev teams with interns will not work out dudes.
Staffing your gutted dev teams with interns will not work out dudes.
February 4, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Having internships without having jobs for them to enter when they complete the internship should be illegal.
Staffing your gutted dev teams with interns will not work out dudes.
Staffing your gutted dev teams with interns will not work out dudes.
currently looking for a concert photographer for an event in March in LA. must have experience. please link your portfolio below if you're interested in the opportunity or feel free to rec.
February 4, 2026 at 8:40 PM
currently looking for a concert photographer for an event in March in LA. must have experience. please link your portfolio below if you're interested in the opportunity or feel free to rec.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
What can be said about the Post that hasn't already been said about the death of independent media? Journalism used to be a beautiful, self-sustaining industry that covered everything from national news to fly fishing.
February 4, 2026 at 6:08 PM
What can be said about the Post that hasn't already been said about the death of independent media? Journalism used to be a beautiful, self-sustaining industry that covered everything from national news to fly fishing.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
We used to be able to have magazines about rock collecting on shelves nationwide. Now we can't even keep a sports desk at the fucking Washington Post.
February 4, 2026 at 6:13 PM
We used to be able to have magazines about rock collecting on shelves nationwide. Now we can't even keep a sports desk at the fucking Washington Post.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Today is a great day to unsubscribe from WaPo if you've been holding out thus far
February 4, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Today is a great day to unsubscribe from WaPo if you've been holding out thus far
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
this is also the biggest challenge on the indie publisher side. it's why i've repeatedly emphasized to people that the most expensive part of mothership.blog is paying lawyers as well as for legal liability insurance to protect our future reporting
i really don't think people understand that it is nearly impossible to be a freelance journalist given the money, tools, and manpower reporting the news requires. Freelance critic/writer/op-ed person? Sure. Journalist? There are very, VERY few out there.
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 4:40 PM
this is also the biggest challenge on the indie publisher side. it's why i've repeatedly emphasized to people that the most expensive part of mothership.blog is paying lawyers as well as for legal liability insurance to protect our future reporting
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Our fully online OPEN SCHOOL event is this Sunday, February 8th! If you've always thought about getting into J-E media translation and want to learn more, don't miss it!
You'll get to hear about the industry and take a J-E subtitling trial lesson✍️
Sign up here: www.jvtacademy.com/nyugaku-tran...
You'll get to hear about the industry and take a J-E subtitling trial lesson✍️
Sign up here: www.jvtacademy.com/nyugaku-tran...
February 4, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Our fully online OPEN SCHOOL event is this Sunday, February 8th! If you've always thought about getting into J-E media translation and want to learn more, don't miss it!
You'll get to hear about the industry and take a J-E subtitling trial lesson✍️
Sign up here: www.jvtacademy.com/nyugaku-tran...
You'll get to hear about the industry and take a J-E subtitling trial lesson✍️
Sign up here: www.jvtacademy.com/nyugaku-tran...