≫Steins;Gate
A visual novel published in 2009 for the Xbox 360. It was later ported to other systems and turned into an anime and a stage play as well.
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≫UDX
A high-rise building in front of Akihabara station. Twenty-two floors. The first six floors contain meeting rooms, event spaces, mini theaters, etc. The seventh floor and higher are offices.
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≫Cagliostro’s Castle
The name of the castle in the anime film Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro.
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≫Backstage Pass
Official name: “AKIHABARA Backstage Pass.” An idol-training entertainment café in Akihabara. The concept is that it’s a fictional idol talent agency, and the over one hundred female staff are called the “Idol Cast,” who sing and dance on the stage in the café every day. Customers are producers who can “produce” (vote) for the girls of their choice, and rankings are published monthly. Some members of the cast go on to put out CDs or appear on TV programs.
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≫Q.E.D.
Latin for “Quod Erat Demonstrandum,” which means “Thus it has been demonstrated.” Put at the completion of mathematical or philosophical proofs. It is almost never used today.
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≫Black Thunder
A chocolate candy that was first sold in Japan in 1994. Its catchphrase is “Popular with young girls!” Also exists as ice cream, with many limited-time versions.
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≫Matryoshka Doll
A traditional Russian craft. A hollow doll with a smaller doll inside, which then contains a smaller doll. Sometimes, there can be five or six dolls inside the first one.
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≫Kisaragi Station
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≫Faris-tan
The name of a character in Steins;Gate. A cat-eared maid who works in an Akihabara maid café. AKA Faris NyanNyan.
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≫FM-KCZ
A local mini-FM radio station run by Yuta’s father. It hasn’t been active since his death seven years ago. A mini-FM radio station is even smaller in scale than a community-FM radio station and is sometimes called Micro-FM. It’s not considered a broadcasting station under the law, so doesn’t require a license.
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≫This is Snake
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≫El Psy Kongroo
A phrase of unknown meaning spoken by Rintaro Okabe, the protagonist of Steins;Gate. According to him, it’s a goodbye, but the origin is unknown.
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≫Rockefeller
One of America’s richest families. The Oil King John D. Rockefeller brought them vast wealth, and eventually they came to have enormous influence. The Rockefellers, Morgans, and Mellons are said to be America’s three most powerful families.
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≫Dr. Duncan MacDougall
An American doctor. 1866-1920. He did experiments to determine the weight of a soul, and it was from him that the theory that a soul weighs 21 grams spread. However, this theory is not recognized scientifically.
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≫FBI
The acronym for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an American law enforcement organization. It is a part of the Department of Justice, with approximately 30,000 employees. It investigates violations of federal law and cases that cross state borders.
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≫Psychometry
A psychic power that enables one to “read” the memories attached to an object by touching it. The word “memories” here refers to events involving the object’s owner or the places where the object was found. People with this power are called psychometers.
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≫Yuzawaya
A major arts, crafts, and hobbies store. Primarily found in Kanto. The chain is 62 years old.
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≫Kodoku
A type of shamanistic magic derived from ancient Chinese sorcery. A hundred animals and insects are placed into a large pot and forced to eat each other to survive. The last survivor is said to be the strongest, and is used to curse someone. Animals and insects may range in size from as big as snakes to as small as lice.