July 2026 Bento Plus
Itadakimasu
Konnichiwa, AnimeFanatiks! In our July 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. Use the menu on the right to easily jump between sections.
We are your monthly source of anime and Japanese news.
Just for you. Itadakimasu!
Upcoming events
Events in Nippon
July in Japan may be rainy, but it is also one of the country’s most beautiful cultural seasons, filled with flowers, traditional festivals, and centuries-old rituals
Monday, 20 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.
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 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.
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 25, 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
Maid Café Pop-Up (K-J Pop Con)
DATE: 25 July
Venue: Midrand Conference Centre
JPA Daru Fest Winter 2026
DATE: 10–12 July 2026
Venue: Urban Playground, Fourways Mall
Game of the month
Tales of Seikyu: A Charming Fantasy Life Sim Filled with Magic and Adventure
Introduction
Tales of Seikyu is a cosy fantasy farming and life simulation game that blends relaxing gameplay with Japanese folklore-inspired storytelling. Developed by ACE Entertainment, players are transported to the mystical island of Seikyu, where humans and yokai coexist in harmony. Combining farming, exploration, crafting, romance, and magical shapeshifting abilities, the game offers a refreshing take on the life-sim genre while embracing a vibrant world rooted in East Asian
Overview
Unlike traditional farming simulators, Tales of Seikyu allows players to transform into powerful yokai forms, unlocking unique abilities that aid exploration, resource gathering, and puzzle-solving. Alongside cultivating crops and raising animals, players can build relationships with the island’s colourful residents, decorate their home, complete quests, and uncover the secrets hidden throughout Seikyu.
Pros:
Beautiful anime-inspired visuals and charming character designs.
Unique yokai transformation mechanics that enhance exploration.
Relaxing blend of farming, crafting, fishing, and social interactions.
Rich fantasy setting inspired by Japanese folklore.
Engaging cast of characters with romance options and meaningful side stories.
Cons:
Some gameplay systems can feel familiar to veterans of the farming simulation genre.
Progression may feel slow during the early hours.
Certain features are still being refined as development continues.
Players seeking fast-paced action may find the relaxed gameplay too leisurely.
Conclusion:
Tales of Seikyu successfully combines cosy farming mechanics with magical adventure, creating a relaxing experience that stands out through its yokai-inspired gameplay and enchanting world. While it borrows familiar ideas from other life simulators, its imaginative setting, shapeshifting abilities, and charming characters give it a distinct identity. For players who enjoy games like Stardew Valley, Story of Seasons, or Rune Factory, Tales of Seikyu is shaping up to be a delightful fantasy adventure worth keeping an eye on, add on that it has a cosy anime vibe and it sounds like every anime gamers fanatiks widest dream…
Voidling Bound: A Dark Fantasy Adventure Blending Action and Mystery
Introduction
Voidling Bound is a dark fantasy action-adventure game that immerses players in a mysterious world corrupted by the supernatural. Combining fast-paced combat, atmospheric exploration, and an intriguing narrative, the game follows a lone protagonist who must confront terrifying creatures known as Voidlings while uncovering the secrets behind a spreading darkness.
With its striking visual style, challenging encounters, and immersive world-building, Voidling Bound aims to deliver an experience that appeals to fans of action RPGs and gothic fantasy adventures.
Throughout the journey, players explore eerie environments, battle formidable enemies, and gradually unlock new abilities that enhance both combat and exploration. Every encounter tests reflexes and strategy, while environmental storytelling encourages players to piece together the world’s hidden history.
Character progression and equipment upgrades provide additional depth, rewarding those who carefully explore every corner of the game’s haunting landscapes.
Conclusion:
Voidling Bound offers a compelling blend of dark fantasy storytelling, action-packed gameplay, and atmospheric exploration. Its haunting environments, challenging battles, and mysterious lore create an engaging experience for players who enjoy uncovering secrets while overcoming dangerous foes. Whether you’re drawn to immersive world-building or rewarding combat, Voidling Bound is shaping up to be an exciting title that deserves a place on the radar of fans looking for their next dark fantasy adventure.
Itadakimasu Eats
Guilty Pleasures. Japan's Junkfood!
Junkfood, guilty pleasures, some good for you, some bad for you, but always (wink wink) good for you. From the South African Boerewors Roll, Biltong or garage meat pies, to British pub oil-kissed Fish and Chips, name any country and there is a staple of junkfood that grabs your nostalgia and makes you salivate by the mere mention of these dishes. Japan, is no stranger to junkfood. Let’s look at a few!
Here are three of Japan’s most beloved junk foods:
1. Takoyaki
Takoyaki are crispy, golden batter balls filled with tender pieces of octopus, pickled ginger, and green onion. Originally from Osaka, they are cooked in special moulded pans and topped with takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and seaweed powder. They are a favourite street snack enjoyed fresh and piping hot.
2. Karaage
Karaage is Japanese-style fried chicken marinated in soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sake before being coated in potato starch and deep-fried until perfectly crisp. Juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, it is a popular comfort food found in convenience stores, restaurants, festivals, and lunch boxes throughout Japan.
3. Okonomiyaki
Often called a Japanese savoury pancake, okonomiyaki combines cabbage with a flour-based batter and ingredients such as pork, seafood, cheese, or vegetables. Cooked on a hot griddle, it is finished with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and aonori seaweed. The name means “grill what you like,” reflecting its highly customisable nature and widespread popularity.
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.
Takeshi's Tunes
First choice is YBM – Let it break with scenes from Berserk. His second choice is Lit Fuse Legend with scenes from Witch Hat Atelier and his third choice is Sabaton – Crossing the Rubicon in the Colossus with scenes from Saga of Tanya the Evil.
Ookami's Tunes
First choice is POWERWOLF – Sinners Of The Seven Seas with scenes from Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Ars Nova . His second choice is Unknown Brain x Rival – Control with scenes from Marriagetoxin and his third choice is Royal Tracks – The Last Dawn with scenes from Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken 4th Season.
Daisuke Tunes
First AMV choice is KING AMV’s 夢 – By Blood with scenes from Tsue to Tsurugi no Wistoria Season 2. His second choice is Cross the line – Tokyo AMV with scenes from Witch Hat Atelier. His last choice is “Story Of A Warrior” by John Michael Howell with scenes from various anime.
Kuroyuki Tunes
Her AMV choice is A NEFFEX – ASHES with scenes from Cornegra.
Retara's Tunes
Our correspondence from Japan shares with us this impressive Wotagei video.
Please support the original music artists by looking them up on YouTube, Spotify and other media and give them your appreciation and support!
Birthday of the Month
Meliodas: The Dragon Sin of Wrath in The Seven Deadly Sins
Meliodas, celebrating his birthday on the 25th, is the charismatic protagonist of The Seven Deadly Sins and captain of the legendary group known as the Seven Deadly Sins. Despite his youthful appearance and cheerful personality, Meliodas is an immensely powerful warrior with a mysterious past that spans thousands of years. As the Dragon Sin of Wrath, he possesses extraordinary strength, speed, and magical abilities that make him one of the strongest characters in the series.
Meliodas is the owner of the Boar Hat tavern and embarks on a journey alongside Princess Elizabeth to reunite the Seven Deadly Sins and protect the Kingdom of Liones. Beneath his carefree nature lies a tragic history tied to the Demon Clan and an ancient curse shared with Elizabeth, forcing the pair into a heartbreaking cycle of loss and reincarnation.
His signature abilities include Full Counter, which reflects magical attacks back at opponents with even greater force, and his fearsome Demon powers, inherited as the son of the Demon King. Throughout the story, Meliodas struggles between embracing his overwhelming darkness and protecting those he loves.
Combining humour, loyalty, and unmatched determination, Meliodas remains one of anime’s most memorable heroes, with his emotional journey adding depth to the action-packed fantasy adventure of The Seven Deadly Sins.
He share their birth month with:
July Anime Challenge
Saga of Tanya the Evil
Saga of Tanya the Evil tells the story of Tanya Degurechaff. She was once a ruthless Japanese salaryman. After death, she is reborn as a young orphan girl. Her new world looks like Europe in the early 1900s.
A mysterious god called Being X brings her back to life. Tanya keeps her old memories and sharp mind. She quickly rises through the ranks of the Empire’s army. Her strategic thinking and magical skill set her apart. She just wants a peaceful life. Instead, she gets pulled into one brutal battle after another.
As the war grows, Tanya leads elite mage units on dangerous missions. She earns both respect and fear from friend and foe alike. Her cold logic and battle skills make her one of the Empire’s best soldiers. But each win pulls her deeper into a war that tests her values and her humanity.
The series mixes military strategy, political scheming, fantasy magic, and psychological drama. It explores fate, free will, ambition, and faith. The action is explosive. The core question stays simple: can one person’s will beat the plans of an all-powerful god? That question makes this isekai anime stand out from the rest.
Light novel of the Month
Saga of Tanya the Evil - differences between the anime and light novel
The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime follows the same core story as Carlo Zen’s original light novels. But it makes some key changes. These changes help the pacing and the visuals.
The anime puts more focus on big battles and fast action. It also leans hard into Tanya’s scary reputation as the “Devil of the Rhine.” This gives the anime a darker, more intense feel than the books.
The light novels spend more time on military strategy and politics. They dig into the Empire’s economy and inner workings too. Readers get a closer look at Tanya’s mind. The books explain her tactics in detail. They also show the wider effects of the war. On top of that, the novels explore Being X’s beliefs more deeply. They spend more time on Tanya’s fight against fate.
Many side characters get more depth in the books. Extra scenes show their goals, personalities, and relationships. Some battles play out differently in the novels too. Others include extra strategic detail. The anime often cuts or shortens these parts to save time.
Visually, the anime makes Tanya look more intense. Her expressions are sharper. Her presence feels more frightening. The novels show her as younger and less sinister. Both versions tell the same big story. But the anime chases spectacle and momentum. The novels offer a deeper, richer look at the world, the politics, and Tanya herself.
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 its 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.
Cosplay
Yzzypop shares cosplay makeup tips that may just level you up! From lashes to eyeliners and more join us as we learn useful tricks!
Japanese Art Forms
Kiseru: The Traditional Japanese Smoking Pipe and Its Cultural Significance
The kiseru is a traditional Japanese smoking pipe that has been part of Japan’s cultural heritage for centuries. Recognisable by its long, slender bamboo shaft and small metal bowl, the kiseru was primarily used to smoke finely shredded tobacco known as kizami. Introduced during the 16th century, the pipe quickly became popular among people from all walks of life, including merchants, samurai, artisans, and travellers.
Unlike modern pipes, the kiseru holds only a tiny amount of tobacco, providing just a few satisfying puffs before needing to be refilled. This unique design encouraged smokers to savour the experience rather than smoke continuously. Over time, kiseru pipes evolved into works of art, with many featuring intricate engravings, lacquered finishes, and decorative metalwork that reflected the owner’s wealth, social status, or personal taste.
Beyond its practical use, the kiseru holds an important place in Japanese history and popular culture. It frequently appears in traditional ukiyo-e artwork, kabuki theatre, literature, and period dramas, symbolising elegance, contemplation, and everyday life during the Edo period. Today, authentic kiseru pipes remain prized by collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate Japanese craftsmanship and cultural history.
Whether admired as a historical artefact or a beautifully crafted collectible, the kiseru continues to represent the artistry, tradition, and enduring legacy of Japan’s rich cultural heritage.
Smoking Rules and Etiquette in Japan
Smoking in Japan is governed by strict rules designed to protect public health and maintain cleanliness. While cigarette smoking remains part of Japanese culture, it is generally prohibited on many streets, near train stations, and inside most restaurants, cafés, and public buildings. Instead, smokers are expected to use designated smoking areas, which are clearly marked and widely available in cities.
Littering cigarette butts is considered highly disrespectful, and smoking while walking is discouraged or banned in many municipalities. Observing these smoking rules and etiquette demonstrates respect for others and reflects Japan’s strong emphasis on public courtesy and social responsibility.
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!
Sugoi Shorts
We share fun YouTube shorts about anime, cosplay, music and everything inbetween!
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