A Japanese release date for the PlayStation 3 version of LocoRoco emerged earlier today, with Famitsu revealing that the sugary, cute-as-all-hell blob-me-do would be available on 21 September, just three short weeks away.

Oiedeyo LocoRoco!! Boo Boo Cocoreccho! is the title of the game over there, and although that may be a bit of a mouthful, it makes perfect sense. How so? Well, players play the role of a Cocoreccho, a butterfly-like insect who goes around waking up the sleeping LocoRoco with the words "Boo Boo". Once awakened, the happy blobs follow you around - "Oiedeyo" being the word for "follow" in Japan. See? Perfect sense. In a LocoRoco kinda way. There’s probably a bit of subliminal racism in there as well.

This LocoRoco is designed to be used exclusively with the Sixaxis’ motion-sensing capabilities, and will be downloadable only. Alas, a price has remained out of reach for now, even for Famitsu and its super list of ultra-exclusive contacts.

A western release date shouldn’t be too far away though, and a September launch in Japan gives us hope that we’ll be seeing this in 2007. Alternatively, you could set up a Japanese account on your PlayStation 3; just don’t tell Sony we told you that, or they’ll come round and shout at us.