Long time no link! I haven’t been posting Otaku Links lately, but I’ve been stockpiling them anyway. Here are a few of the best from the last few weeks:

• Why Is It Unusual For Japanese People To Use Computers? It’s hard to believe that the country we associate with fancy toilets and friendly robots isn’t all that computer-savvy. HT Greg.

• Anime themed birthday cakes you wish you had. These cake designers have TALENT.

• Karice translated an interview with anime screenwriter Mari Okada. I especially love the parts where she reflects on Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans.

• I had so many Kit Kats in Japan. The sake one tasted more like yogurt to me—creamy with a tang. But if you’ve ever wondered why Japan has so many flavors, the New York Times is on it. HT Zoe.

• “Rennies” is a short documentary about the fascinating world of people who live and work at Renaissance Fairs.

• The Final Fantasist—a rare and insightful interview with Final Fantasy concept artist Yoshitaka Amano. I was surprised to see his enormous creative range beyond video game art.

• Japanese fans name the 2016 spring anime they’re still watching into May. I’m so glad I finally started Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress.

• Collectible card game Magic: The Gathering is for “ages 12 and up” but that didn’t stop Dana: “Dana had a natural affinity for Magic, but she faced a major challenge… she was only three years old and didn’t know how to read yet.”

• Like I told the kids on Sunday, it’s hard to make a living writing about anime and nothing else. One of the ways I pay the bills is by writing about tuning up your WordPress blog for Dreamhost.

• Twitter friend Lynette Cantos attended Miami’s first LGBT anime convention and returned with a moving and human glimpse of one of its attendees.

Photo by Ellen M. on Flickr