Bento Plus October 2024
Itadakimasu
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 October 2024
October 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 October.
October 7-9
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival: Held at Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki, this 400-year-old festival includes traditional dances and vibrant performances, like the famous dragon dance.
October 9-10
Takayama Autumn Festival: A beautiful celebration in Gifu Prefecture where lantern-lit floats make for a magical night procession.
October 11-13
Sawara Autumn Festival: This UNESCO-listed festival in Chiba features stunning floats paraded through the Edo-period town of Sawara, offering a glimpse of Japan’s rich traditions.
October 22
Jidai Matsuri: Held in Kyoto, this “Festival of the Ages” is one of the city’s most famous events. Thousands of participants dressed in costumes from different eras of Japanese history parade through the city, celebrating Kyoto’s rich heritage.
October 22
Kurama Fire Festival: Taking place in the village of Kurama, near Kyoto, this dramatic festival involves participants carrying large, flaming torches through the streets, creating an unforgettable fiery spectacle.
South African Events
Anime Meetup
19 October @ Dragon Town
Starts: 14:30– Ends 20:00
Theme: Fall Season 2024 Releasse
Game of the month
Tales of Berseria
Tales of Berseria is a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) released by Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2016. It stands out within the Tales series for its darker tone and morally complex storyline. Players take control of Velvet Crowe, a young woman driven by revenge, who battles against a world controlled by an oppressive order. The game combines a compelling narrative with fast-paced combat and deep character development.
Pros:
Engaging Storyline: Tales of Berseria boasts a strong narrative that deals with themes of vengeance, morality, and personal growth. Velvet’s quest for revenge makes her one of the more morally ambiguous protagonists in the Tales series, offering a refreshing change from the typical “hero’s journey” narrative.
Character Depth: The game features a memorable cast of characters, each with distinct personalities and backstories. Velvet’s journey is complemented by the emotional growth of her companions, providing players with a well-rounded and diverse group to care about.
Combat System: The real-time combat in Tales of Berseria is one of its highlights. The “Linear Motion Battle System” offers fluid and dynamic action, allowing players to perform chain combos and special attacks seamlessly. The ability to swap characters in battle adds strategic depth.
Visuals and World Design: Though not groundbreaking, the game’s art style and design maintain the colorful and anime-inspired aesthetic that the Tales series is known for. The variety of environments and enemy designs are visually pleasing.
Cons:
Repetitive Gameplay: Despite the exciting combat system, some players find the gameplay repetitive over time, especially when it comes to dungeon exploration. The dungeons are somewhat linear, and the quests often follow a similar pattern, which can detract from the overall experience.
Outdated Graphics: While the art style is beautiful, the graphical quality is not cutting-edge. Compared to other JRPGs released in the same period, Tales of Berseria lacks the visual polish expected from modern games, which might disappoint players looking for high-end graphics.
Slow Start: The game’s plot takes a while to fully unfold, and some players may find the first few hours slower in pace. While the story picks up later, the beginning might not immediately hook everyone.
Conclusion:
Overall, Tales of Berseria is praised for its storytelling and characters, but the repetitive gameplay and somewhat dated visuals might affect its appeal for some. However, for JRPG fans who appreciate rich narratives and emotional depth, it remains a standout entry in the Tales franchise.
Itadakimasu Eats
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes, or satsumaimo, hold a special place in Japanese cuisine during fall. This starchy, nutrient-rich root vegetable is harvested in autumn and is often enjoyed in simple, comforting ways. Roasted sweet potatoes, called yaki-imo, are a nostalgic street food, enjoyed warm and sweet straight from open fires or special trucks.
Sweet potatoes are also incorporated into desserts, soups, and seasonal bento meals. Rich in fiber and vitamins, they are celebrated not only for their taste but also for their cultural connection to the autumn harvest, symbolizing warmth and comfort as temperatures cool down in Japan.
Find out more with these sugoi videos.
New AMV's
We bring you bangin’ AMVs this month starting off with Shiro. He chose the song Phantomime by Mori Calliope with scenes from Suicide Squad: ISEKAI, followed by the song Heavy Is The Crown by Linkin Park with scenes from League of Legends.
Next up are Ookami’s choices. First choice is Life by NEFFEX with scenes from Hitoribocchi no Isekai Kouryaku, followed by CLOWN’s song Believer featuring scenes from Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2.
Last but not least we have Takeshi’s choices, starting off with Rush by NEFFEX with scenes from How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?. Takeshi’s last choice is RIELL’s song Villain with scenes from the anime Gangsta.
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
Sebastian Michaelis (Black Butler)
Sebastian Michaelis, from Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) celebrates his birthday on October 31. He is the demon butler of the Phantomhive household, serving Ciel Phantomhive with unwavering loyalty. Polished, articulate, and incredibly skilled in nearly every task, Sebastian epitomizes perfection in his role as a servant. However, beneath his refined demeanor lies a ruthless demon who is bound to Ciel through a Faustian contract. Sebastian’s ultimate goal is to devour Ciel’s soul after helping him achieve his revenge.
Sebastian’s cat obsession adds a quirky layer to his otherwise cold persona, contrasting his sinister nature. His famous catchphrase, “I am simply one hell of a butler,” encapsulates his pride in his demonic abilities, as he excels in everything, from combat to domestic work. Voiced by Daisuke Ono, Sebastian has become one of anime’s iconic characters, embodying charm, danger, and complexity.
Sebastian shares his birth month, October, with other notable anime characters. These include:
Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia) – October 10
Kakashi Hatake (Naruto) – October 31
Rintarou Okabe (Steins;Gate) – October 14
Anime Challenge October 2024
Gakkou Gurashi! (School-Live!)
Our challenge anime for October is Gakkou Gurashi! (School-Live!) a unique anime blending the slice-of-life and horror genres. It follows a group of high school girls—Yuki, Kurumi, Yuri, and Miki—who are part of the “School Life Club.” While Yuki believes she’s living a normal school life, the truth is that the girls are surviving a zombie apocalypse. Yuki’s delusions serve as a coping mechanism for the traumatic reality surrounding them.
As the story unfolds, the contrast between her cheerful perspective and the grim truth creates an emotional rollercoaster, exploring themes of friendship, mental resilience, and survival amidst tragedy.
Light novel of the Month
Her Majesty’s Swarm
Her Majesty’s Swarm is a light novel series about a college student and avid strategy game player who suddenly finds herself transported into the game world. Reborn as the leader of the Arachnea, a terrifying swarm of spider-like creatures, she uses her tactical prowess to survive and conquer.
Known as the “Queen,” she faces tough decisions, engaging in political maneuvering, alliances, and war, as she aims to lead her swarm to dominance. The novel blends fantasy, strategy, and dark themes, exploring the ethical dilemmas of power and leadership. It appeals to fans of Isekai and game-based stories.
All about Japan
A “Zombie Shinkansen” event will transform a Nozomi bullet train into a mobile haunted house in October. For the first time, a haunted house will be held aboard a moving train, with zombies performing on car 16 of the “Nozomi 435” between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. The ride, lasting 2 hours and 20 minutes, will feature over 20 zombies dressed as crew members. They’ll entertain passengers with various acts, including dancing and magic. Regular seats cost 33,000 yen, while premium seats go for 50,000 yen. Reservations are required by October 4. Event planner Ayaka Imaide promises a thrilling, inescapable experience.
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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