AnimeFanatika – Home for South African Anime Fans

Konnichiwa, Fanatiks! Bento Plus is your one-stop entertainment hub! We bring you the coolest Japan-related events from both Japan and South Africa, mouthwatering Japanese food content, and fun monthly anime and manga challenges. Plus, we’ve got rocking AMVs, exciting contests, and so much more to keep your otaku heart happy. Dive into the world of anime with us and let’s geek out together!

Nippon Events and Festivals November 2024

November is a lively month in Japan, filled with various events and festivals that celebrate the end of spring. Here are some notable Japanese events and festivals that typically take place in November.

November 1-4

Komazawa, Tokyo: Tokyo Ramen Festa – This ramen festival showcases flavors from top ramen shops across Japan at Komazawa Olympic Park, featuring new variations each session​

November 1-10

Tokyo: Yakiimo Fest – Celebrating roasted sweet potatoes, the festival offers innovative yakiimo dishes at Nakano Shiki no Mori Park​

November 3

Tanzan Shrine, Nara: Autumn Kemari Festival – A rare event where participants play “kemari,” an ancient ball game traditionally performed for harvest blessings​

November 15

Nationwide: Shichi-Go-San Festival – Families celebrate children aged 3, 5, and 7 by visiting shrines to pray for health and happiness​

November 18-30

Tokyo: Takahata Momiji Tōrō –  Nearly 3,000 lanterns illuminate the approach to Takahata Fudoson Temple, creating a stunning autumn scene​

South African Events

Anime Meetup

TBA @ Dragon Town

Starts: 14:30– Ends 20:00
Theme: End of year Meetup

Game of the month

Rolling Hills: Make Sushi

Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is a relaxing, cozy simulation game that combines sushi-making with slice-of-life storytelling. Set in a vibrant, small town, players manage their sushi restaurant, prepare dishes, and connect with unique townsfolk. The game emphasizes calm, repetitive gameplay and offers a mix of food prep and social interactions, akin to games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley but with a culinary twist.

Pros:

Charming Aesthetic: The game’s warm, hand-drawn visuals and endearing characters give it a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

Simple Gameplay: Sushi-making is intuitive, making the game easy to pick up for players of all ages.

Story-Driven Socializing: Meeting new friends in town adds a heartwarming element, with each character bringing a distinct personality and storyline.

Relaxing Pace: There’s no intense pressure, making it a great game for unwinding.

Cons:

Limited Depth: The sushi-making mechanics, while enjoyable, may feel repetitive or too simplistic for players seeking complexity.

Slow Progression: Some players may find the gameplay loop too slow, especially if they’re accustomed to fast-paced sims.

Lack of Challenge: With its low-pressure vibe, players seeking strategic depth or variety in challenges might find it lacking.

Conclusion:

Overall, Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is ideal for fans of slow-paced, comforting games. It’s perfect for unwinding, but it may not satisfy those looking for deep gameplay mechanics.

Itadakimasu Eats​

Akebi, Wagashi and Dagashi

Akebi

The Akebi fruit, also called akebia or chocolate vine, is a unique fruit native to Japan and found in northern Asia.

It has a striking appearance with a purple, pod-like shell that naturally splits open when ripe to reveal a soft, translucent pulp and black seeds. The mildly sweet pulp is eaten raw, often enjoyed for its refreshing taste, though some describe it as subtle and slightly floral. The bitter outer rind is also edible and used in Japanese cooking, often stir-fried or tempura-fried. Akebi fruit is a seasonal delicacy in Japan, typically available in autumn. Our Japanese correspondent, Retana says it tastes like a bitter melon from the Kalahari, so if you are lucky enough to have tasted the Kalahari bitter melon, you can imagine the flavour profile of the Akebi fruit.

Wagashi and Dagashi

Wagashi and Dagashi are both traditional Japanese sweets but differ significantly in ingredients, cultural significance, and intended audience.

Wagashi

Definition: Refined, artisanal sweets often made from natural ingredients like sweetened azuki beans, rice flour, and fruits.
Purpose: Traditionally served with tea in Japanese ceremonies, especially alongside matcha to balance the tea’s bitterness.
Appearance and Craftsmanship: Known for their intricate, seasonal designs inspired by nature, wagashi are delicately crafted to celebrate Japanese aesthetics and seasonal beauty.

Examples: Mochi, Yokan, and Dorayaki.

Dagashi

Definition: Inexpensive, mass-produced candies and snacks commonly enjoyed by children, akin to American penny candy.
Purpose: Designed for fun and affordability rather than refinement, dagashi are sold widely in convenience stores and are often brightly packaged.
Variety: Includes an array of colorful candies, gum, savory snacks, and quirky treats like ramune-flavored sweets.
Examples: Umaibo, Puchitto Kudamono, and soda-flavored candies.

In summary, while wagashi is a traditional, sophisticated treat rooted in Japanese tea culture, dagashi is a playful, accessible snack for everyday enjoyment, particularly by kids.

New AMV's

We bring you bangin’ AMVs this month starting off with Shiro. He chose the song From The Top by Ariis with scenes from various anime, followed by the song Rush by NEFFEX with scenes from DanMachi Season 5.

Next up are Ookami’s choices. First choice is Over by Demxntia with scenes from various anime, followed by Saint Chaos’ song Kick featuring scenes from Dandadan.

Last but not least we have Takeshi’s choices, starting off with RIELL’s song Villain with scenes from the anime Gangsta and ending us off with Shatter Me By Lindsey Stirling Ft Lzzy Hale Nightcore Version showcasing various anime.

Please do support the original music artists by looking them up on YouTube, Spotify and other media and give them your appreciation and support!

Shiro's Tunes

Ookami's Tunes

Takeshi's Tunes

Birthday of the Month

Retsuko from Aggretsuko

Our anime birthday girl this month is Retsuko from Aggretsuko. Her birthday is November 6. Retsuko is the main character of Aggretsuko (short for Aggressive Retsuko), a Japanese animated series by Sanrio. Retsuko is a 25-year-old red panda working as an accountant in a high-stress Tokyo office. While she appears polite and soft-spoken, Retsuko has a secret coping mechanism for dealing with her frustrations: she lets loose by singing death metal karaoke!

Here’s a breakdown of her character and story:

Personality and Struggles
Retsuko is mild-mannered, hardworking, and eager to please, but her job and the pressures of office life lead to constant stress. Her passive personality often makes her a target for her demanding boss, Director Ton, and inconsiderate co-workers. Retsuko’s personality represents the challenges of corporate life in a way many people find relatable.

Death Metal Outlet
Retsuko’s way of coping with her emotions is one of the show’s unique twists. Her love for death metal karaoke lets her release her pent-up rage and frustration. She even takes on a metal voice persona to belt out her frustrations, something entirely different from her usual reserved self.

Themes and Growth
Over the seasons, Retsuko’s character explores themes like work-life balance, friendship, romantic relationships, and self-discovery. Her journey is relatable to anyone who has faced the pressures of adult life, finding a way to be true to oneself despite societal expectations.

Sanrio’s Unique Character Design
Sanrio designed Retsuko, making her character visually adorable while tackling darker themes. This contrast between her cute design and aggressive death metal persona adds to her charm and reflects the dual nature of dealing with modern stress.

Overall, Aggretsuko uses Retsuko’s character to provide social commentary on the struggles of young adults in the workforce, the desire for self-expression, and the importance of having an outlet to deal with everyday challenges. Her story is a blend of humor, relatable frustrations, and heartwarming moments, making Retsuko a standout character.

She shares her birth month with other notable anime characters. These include:

Kakashi Hatake (Naruto) – November 8 

Mitsuri Kanroji (Demon Slayer) – November 15 

Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach) – November 14 

Anime Challenge November 2024

Koufuku Graffiti

Our Challenge anime for November, Koufuku Graffiti, also known as Gourmet Girl Graffiti, is a heartwarming slice-of-life anime centered on food, friendship, and self-discovery. The story follows Ryo Machiko, a middle school girl who feels lonely and disconnected after her grandmother’s passing. Her life changes when her cousin Kirin comes to stay with her on weekends. Together, they bond over home-cooked meals, with each dish bringing them closer and sparking joy in Ryo’s life.

The anime combines beautiful food art with an emphasis on the emotional and healing power of cooking. It’s a cozy, uplifting series that celebrates friendship through delicious cuisine.

Light novel of the Month

Cooking with Wild Game (Isekai Ryouridou)

Cooking with Wild Game (Isekai Ryouridou) is a light novel by EDA, featuring Asuta, a young chef transported to a medieval fantasy world where food and cooking are basic, utilitarian aspects of daily life. Asuta finds himself in the remote forest village of the Morihen, a tribe that uses strong, gamey ingredients and rustic cooking techniques.

Despite the challenge of limited ingredients, Asuta introduces new cooking methods and flavors, transforming the local cuisine and improving the villagers’ appreciation for food. The novel highlights cross-cultural culinary exchange, with Asuta’s expertise offering both mouthwatering dishes and a bridge between his and the tribe’s way of life.

This series is known for its detailed food descriptions and realistic cooking sequences, making it a flavorful journey for food lovers and fantasy readers alike. Both our Japanese correspondent, Retana and our writer Ookami are obsessed with this novel series.

Manga Challenge November

Cooking with Wild Game (Isekai Ryouridou)

The manga adaptation of Cooking with Wild Game (Isekai Ryouridou) follows the same flavorful premise as the light novel, capturing the culinary journey of Asuta, a young Japanese chef transported to a rugged fantasy world. In this remote forest village, Asuta meets the Morihen tribe, whose traditional diet revolves around tough, gamey meats and basic preparation methods. Determined to bring out the best in these ingredients, Asuta introduces new cooking techniques and spices, creating dishes that surprise and delight the villagers.

The manga excels in visually detailed, mouthwatering depictions of food, with a strong emphasis on the cultural exchange between Asuta and the Morihen tribe. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy food-centric stories with adventure, community-building, and innovative cooking, where every meal is an opportunity to bridge worlds and bring people together.

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.

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!

All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the videos displayed on this page belong to their respective owners or channel. AnimeFanatika does not claim any right over them and please support the creators by subscribing and liking their content. Hero picture by Freepik (www.freepik.com).

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