July 2025 Bento Plus
Itadakimasu
Konnichiwa, AnimeFanatiks! In our July 2025 Bento Plus we have our monthly anime and manga challenges, we talk about delicious Japanese food, have great AMVs and a variety of yummy content for you to sink your teeth in. We are your monthly source of anime and Japanese news. Itadakimasu!!
July in Japan marks the true arrival of summer. As the rainy season begins to fade, the country transforms with lush greenery, hot days, and vibrant energy. School holidays begin, beaches and mountains come alive with visitors, and seasonal foods like chilled noodles and shaved ice offer refreshing relief from the heat. It’s a time of movement, celebration, and enjoying the simple pleasures of summer.
Nippon Events and Festivals
Here’s a list of notable events and festivals (matsuri) that take place in Japan during July. July in Japan is hot, humid, and lively. The rainy season ends early in the month, giving way to sweltering heat. It’s a time of vibrant festivals like Gion Matsuri, fireworks displays, and buzzing cicadas. Many people escape to the mountains or beaches to cool down and enjoy summer.
July 1–31
Festival : Gion Matsuri
Location : Kyoto
Highlights : Gion Matsuri, held in Kyoto throughout July, is one of Japan’s most famous and historic festivals, dating back over a thousand years. Its highlight is the grand Yamaboko Junko parade, where towering, beautifully decorated floats are pulled through the streets, accompanied by traditional music and festive crowds.
July 7th
Tanabata
Location : Across Japan
Highlights : Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese celebration held on July 7th that commemorates the legendary meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair. People celebrate by writing wishes on colourful strips of paper and hanging them on bamboo branches, often alongside vibrant decorations.
July 21 (3rd Monday of July)
Marine Day (Umi no Hi)
Location : Nation-wide
Highlights : Umi no Hi, or Marine Day, is a Japanese national holiday celebrated on the third Monday of July to give thanks for the ocean’s bounty and to acknowledge its importance to Japan as an island nation. Many people mark the day with trips to the beach, ocean-themed events, and maritime festivals.
Around July 24–25
Festival : Tenjin Matsuri
Location : Osaka
Highlights : Tenjin Matsuri, held in Osaka each July, is one of Japan’s top three festivals, celebrating the deity of scholarship, Sugawara no Michizane. The festival features a lively land procession with dancers and mikoshi (portable shrines), followed by a spectacular river parade with illuminated boats and fireworks lighting up the night sky.
Last Saturday of July (July 26, 2025)
Festival : The Sumida River Fireworks Festival
Location : Tokyo
Highlights : The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is one of Tokyo’s oldest and most famous summer events, drawing huge crowds to see spectacular fireworks light up the night sky over the Sumida River. Held annually in late July, it celebrates both tradition and artistry with elaborate pyrotechnic displays from competing teams.
SA Events
THE SHIBUYA INCIDENT: TREASURE HUNT
Date: 5 July
Venue:
Midrand Conference Centre
Date: 19th of July
Venue:
Kokoro Fourways
AnimeFanatika Events
Anime Day
20 July - Discord
Starts: 09:00– Ends 18:00
Theme: Summer Season Openers
Join the WhatsApp Group to receive link
Anime Meetup
26 July @ Dragon Town
Starts: 14:00– Ends 18:00
Theme: Summer Season Openers
Game of the month
Juufuutei Raden™'s Guide for Pixel Museum – Retro Charm with Modern Mischief
Introduction
Juufuutei Raden™’s Guide for Pixel Museum is a quirky, retro-inspired pixel art adventure game that feels like it crawled straight out of a forgotten Famicom cartridge, if that cartridge had a mischievous sense of humour and a flair for the absurd.
Developed as part of a niche indie effort to preserve gaming’s pixelated past, it combines surreal humour, meta commentary, and nostalgic mechanics with a cheeky guide character, Juufuutei Raden, a mysterious performer whose narration walks the line between helpful and hilariously unhinged.
Overview
Pros:
Authentic Pixel Aesthetic: The game’s visuals perfectly replicate the 8-bit era, with lovingly crafted sprites and intentionally limited colour palettes.
Unique Guide Mechanic: Juufuutei Raden acts as both narrator and trickster, often misleading players with tongue-in-cheek advice, creating a fresh layer of interactivity.
Clever Museum Concept: The Pixel Museum setting is full of hidden exhibits, gaming Easter eggs, and references that hardcore retro fans will adore.
Meta Humour & Breaking the Fourth Wall: Raden occasionally addresses the player directly, poking fun at gaming tropes and your decisions.
Cons:
Deliberate Obscurity: Some of Raden’s clues are purposefully misleading, which can be frustrating for players who prefer more straightforward progression.
Pacing Issues: Certain sections of the museum feel like filler, with extended walking or slow interactions that disrupt the momentum.
Niche Appeal: Players unfamiliar with older gaming tropes might miss many of the game’s clever references.
Conclusion:
Juufuutei Raden™’s Guide for Pixel Museum isn’t your typical retro game homage. It’s part parody, part tribute, and part fever dream. With an unreliable narrator and puzzles that challenge your expectations, it offers a layered experience best enjoyed by players who appreciate eccentric game design and a good laugh at their own expense.
Itadakimasu Eats
Hiyashi Chūka: Japan’s Chilled Summer Noodle Delight
Hiyashi Chūka (冷やし中華), meaning “chilled Chinese-style noodles,” is a beloved Japanese summer dish that offers both refreshment and satisfaction during the sweltering heat. Despite its name, the dish is entirely Japanese, inspired by Chinese cuisine but adapted with local ingredients and seasonal sensibilities.
At its core, Hiyashi Chūka features cold ramen noodles served with a colourful array of toppings. These typically include sliced cucumbers, ham, egg crepes (kinshi tamago), tomatoes, and sometimes crab sticks or shrimp, all carefully arranged in a rainbow-like display. The dish is completed with a tangy, savoury-sweet sauce, usually based on soy sauce and rice vinegar, or alternatively, sesame dressing for a richer taste.
What makes Hiyashi Chūka special is its refreshing balance, chewy noodles contrasted by crisp vegetables and a cool, zesty dressing that awakens the palate. It’s light yet nourishing, and commonly found in both restaurants and households from June through August.
Invented in the 1930s by a ramen shop in Sendai, Hiyashi Chūka was a clever way to keep ramen relevant through the summer months. Since then, it’s become a seasonal staple across Japan. For many locals, it’s not summer without a plate of Hiyashi Chūka, a chilled bowl of edible sunshine perfect for cooling down.
New AMV's & Wotagei
Every month, the AnimeFanatika team dives headfirst into the YouTube universe, hunting for the hottest, most rocking AMVs to blow your mind, as well as Wotagei videos.
Wotagei is a unique Japanese performance art where enthusiastic fans use rhythmic, synchronised movements, often with glow sticks, to cheer for idols at concerts. It blends dance, chants, and acrobatics, creating a visually dynamic experience. Originating in otaku culture, wotagei fosters energetic fan engagement and a strong communal spirit.
Takeshi’s first choice is Fall Out Boy – The Phoenix with scenes from Record Of Ragnarök. His second choice is MASKED – Rise From The Ashes with scenes from the anime Blood: The Last Vampire.
Ookami’s first choice is Warriyo – Mortals (TOKYO MACHINE & Boom Kitty Remix) with scenes from Boku no Hero Academia: Final Season. His second choice is NEFFEX – Ruthless with scenes from Hunter x Hunter.
Shiro’s first AMV choice is Paris Paloma – LABOUR (the cacophony) with scenes from The Apothecary Diaries. His second choice is NEFFEX – Comeback with scenes from From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman.
Retara, 0ur correspondence from Japan shares with us two impressive Wotagei videos.
Please support the original music artists by looking them up on YouTube, Spotify and other media and give them your appreciation and support!
Takeshi's Tunes
Ookami's Tunes
Shiro Tunes
Retara's Tunes
Birthday of the Month
Cross Marian - D.Gray-man
Cross Marian, celebrating his birthday on July 31, is one of the most mysterious and powerful characters in D.Gray-man, serving as a General in the Black Order and the mentor of protagonist Allen Walker. Known for his flamboyant appearance, red hair, and ever-present mask, Cross commands both awe and frustration from those around him. His eccentric personality, love for wine, women, and gambling, and tendency to disappear without warning make him unpredictable, but undeniably brilliant.
What sets Cross apart is his unique ability to wield two types of Innocence: Grave of Maria, which allows him to control corpses like puppets, and Judgment, a powerful revolver that never misses. He’s also one of the few characters capable of modifying an Akuma, a feat that even the Earl considers dangerous.
Though he treated Allen harshly during their years together, Cross’s tough mentorship helped shape Allen into a strong Exorcist. Despite his often questionable behaviour, Cross is deeply involved in the larger mysteries of the series, including the secrets of the Fourteenth Noah.
Cross’s fate remains one of the series’ biggest enigmas, as he vanishes under suspicious circumstances, leaving behind only clues and questions. His presence looms large, even in absence, making him one of D.Gray-man’s most compelling characters.
He shares his birth month with:
Nami (July 3) One Piece
Kurosaki Ichigo (July 15) Bleach
Sasha Blouse (July 26) Attack on Titan
Anime Challenge July 2025
Call of the Night
Call of the Night (Yofukashi no Uta) is a stylish, atmospheric anime that blends supernatural intrigue with adolescent longing. Based on the manga by Kotoyama, the story follows 14-year-old Ko Yamori, a disenchanted teen who wanders the streets at night, unable to find fulfilment in his mundane daytime life. One evening, he encounters the enigmatic vampire Nazuna Nanakusa, who introduces him to the freedom and allure of the nocturnal world.
Ko becomes captivated by Nazuna and learns that to become a vampire, he must fall in love with her, a task easier said than done. Their nightly escapades become a surreal journey through Tokyo’s glowing cityscape, where they explore human desires, loneliness, and the blurred lines between freedom and escapism.
What sets Call of the Night apart is its dreamlike animation, synth-heavy soundtrack, and unorthodox approach to the vampire genre. Instead of horror, it leans into existential musings and emotional nuance, painting the night as both a refuge and a mirror for self-discovery.
With its unique blend of romance, comedy, and quiet introspection, Call of the Night is a hypnotic anime that captures the bittersweet beauty of being young, lost, and strangely alive under the moonlight.
Light novel of the Month
A Wild Last Boss Appeared!
A Wild Last Boss Appeared! (Yasei no Last Boss ga Arawareta!) is a Japanese light novel series written by Firehead and illustrated by YahaKo. It tells the story of Lufasu Mafahl, a powerful demon lord-like figure from a virtual MMORPG who suddenly finds herself awakened in the game’s world, but 200 years after her supposed defeat. What makes things more complicated is that Lufasu’s body is now being inhabited by a regular Japanese man who used to play her character.
As Lufasu tries to navigate this strange, post-apocalyptic world, she uncovers how history has twisted her story, turning her into a feared tyrant. With the twelve powerful Zodiac Generals once under her command now scattered and the world in turmoil, she sets out to restore balance, and piece together what really happened in her absence.
Blending high fantasy with isekai elements, A Wild Last Boss Appeared! explores themes of identity, power, and fate. Lufasu, though seemingly overpowered, faces political intrigue, ancient threats, and the burden of her past legacy. With sharp humour, engaging battles, and a charismatic cast of allies and enemies, the novel offers a fresh twist on the “trapped in a game” trope, especially with a protagonist who’s both feared and misunderstood.
All about Japan
All About Japan shows you interesting journeys, interviews or just trivia that teach us more about the Land of The Rising Sun and it’s people. Enjoy the videos as we take a deeper dive into what makes Japan such a beloved country for many from some of our favourite YouTubers.
VTuber Spotlight
Sylfania: Rising VTuber Stardom in Genshin Impact
Sylfania is an independent VTuber who has been steadily growing her presence through Genshin Impact streams and fan engagement. Though not affiliated with a major agency, she brings a personal and intimate vibe to her content.
On May 22, 2024, Sylfania hosted a Genshin Impact stream in Russian (with English subtitles), attracting an average of 13 viewers and peaking at 35 viewers over an 8-hour session. Her focused and engaging play style resonated with viewers, fostering a tight-knit community around her content. A prior stream on March 27, 2024 recorded similar engagement, with 7 average viewers and a 19-person peak.
Although early in her career with modest viewership, Sylfania demonstrates dedicated commitment—consistently streaming multiplayer-friendly Genshin content and interacting with fans in both Russian and English. Her average concurrent viewer count reveals a supportive base that eagerly tunes in. As her channel grows, she has the potential to expand reach among Genshin Impact and VTuber fans alike.
With a personable approach, multilingual streams, and longer-format gameplay, Sylfania stands out as a VTuber worth watching—especially if you’re into Genshin gameplay and community-driven streams. Keep an eye on her as she continues to evolve and build momentum in the VTuber world.
Cosplay
This month we look at the MCM London Comic Con 2025 and FanimeCon 2025. The cosplay costumes at both events were super sugoi!
Japanese Commercials
Japanese commercials are out of this world sometimes, strange and fun. We share with you a highly entertaining Japanese commercial video and we hope you enjoy it!
Japanese Art Forms
The Art of Origami: A Tradition Folded in Time
Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, transforms a simple sheet of paper into intricate designs without the use of cuts or glue. Rooted in centuries of history, origami is both a meditative practice and a cultural expression, often symbolising peace, beauty, and patience. From the iconic crane to complex geometric shapes, origami bridges creativity and precision.
Today, it thrives as both a beloved hobby and an educational tool used to teach geometry, symmetry, and focus. Whether for artistic expression or mindfulness, origami continues to fold timeless tradition into the modern world.
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