Happy Halloween everyone! In honor of the spookiest holiday of the year and the fortunate (or is it misfortunate) coincidence that my column would land on this date, I decided that it would be a good day to honor some particularly spooky Japanese video games.

All of the games below have never been released in the US, so hopefully you’ll learn about something scary and new that would delight while possibly frightening you. Then tonight, go out and trick or treat, party, watch a spooky movie or play a spooky game in honor of the holiday. I’m having two wisdom teeth removed today, so I know I’m in for a fright…

Title: Princess Maker 5 PortablePrice: $48.90System(s): PSPRelease Date: 9/23/08Publisher (Developer): CyberFront (CyberFront)ESRB Rating: N/A, Cero C (15+)Pros: New take on the series, micro-manage every hour of the daughter’s day, get to choose to be a father or mother and new classes, jobs and endings.Cons: Not import friendly, over-complicated and longtime fans may be disappointed by the change in atmosphere/setting.Overall Score: 7/10

The Princess Maker series may not have found a way overseas, but it is certainly thriving in Japan. One of the most recent releases was Princess Maker 5 Portable, a PSP port of the latest entry in the series. Princess Maker 5 Portable is a decidedly different look at child raising, and while it is an enjoyable simulation, some fans of the series may be turned off by the new direction. If you were a huge fan of Princess Maker 2 and 4, then you may want to steer clear of Princess Maker 5 Portable.

Let me say right now that if you have no knowledge of Japanese and don’t recognize hirigana, katakana and kanji, you should turn back and buy Princess Maker 4 Portable. Princess Maker 5 Portable is definitely not import-friendly, and those with little knowledge of the series or language will quickly find themselves floundering in this game. Guessing your way through isn’t an option…

Our favorite Japanese import site, J-List (J-Box), is already in the Halloween spirit. Check out the crazy adult sized Hello Kitty costume. Available for $28, this colorful kit will not only frighten your neighbors but make you a cultural icon to thousands of screaming Japanese girls. It’s a two-piece, single-size (or “free style” as the more »

Recently made available on the Japanese goodies site, You Buy Now, is one of the most glorious, beautiful trash cans I have ever seen. Yes, it is R2-D2 and yes, the lid flips back. The can is produced by gentle Giant, makers of some of pretty fun and realistic toys including many based on Star more »

Say, tell me if this has ever happened to you?

You’re hard at work in your office cubicle when suddenly you notice a thin layer of dust and debris covering your otherwise immaculate work surface.

What to do!?

Obviously you can’t interrupt your busy work schedule to lug the shop-vac up from maintenance – that would be overkill If only you had a stylish, handheld vacuum cleaner that took up minimal desk space and yet cleaned like the wind! Well friend, you’re in luck.

Your days of slaving away amidst layers of irritating, allergy-triggering office dirt are over! Say hello to the Hello Kitty Desktop Cleaner…

Our favorite Japanese import site, J-List (J-Box), recently listed a pretty cool set of headphones. Called “Frenzy & Rumble,” these Transformers-themed headphones will set you back $45 but, boy, do they look cool.

From the pictures on the site it appears the arms and legs fold in, creating solid white disks that will likely look more like ear muffs than headphones. not that’s a clever disguise… I think? Check out the video of this guy opening hand showing off his headphones…

Japanese DS gamers are about to get a true blast from the past in the form of updated classic Arkanoid DS. The new title will feature 140 levels of brick breaking action, and even an optional paddle controller that emulates the true arcade feel. The new controller plugs into the GBA game port on the bottom of the DS, though gamers can opt to use the touch screen and stylus.

The original game is simplicity defined: you control a small paddle on the bottom of the screen, moving horizontally as you…

Our favorite Japanese import site, J-List (J-Box), is offering another silly stuffed creation to adorn your bed: The Chocobo plush. This little yellow guy – or gal? – is approximately 7×7 in. and is being offered as a preorder for $20 on the site. In its hands is a book, as if it can read, more »