Bento Plus March 2025
Itadakimasu
Konnichiwa Minna. In our March Bento Plus 2025 our theme is Anime Game Worlds. Places where we escape to when we game.
All gamers have a game world where we go to when we want to escape reality. Some escape to the cosy world of farming simulators like Stardew Valley, or face a zombie apocalypse like The Infected, or explore a post-apocalyptic frozen world like in The Long Dark. We immerse ourselves in alternate MMORPG worlds like GuildWars 2 or World of Warcarft.
That type of escapism can be healthy, exploring those worlds can be a vacation for a few hours. Many can be a time sync, how many of us stopped playing to find that we have been playing for fourteen hours or two days, non-stop.
This month our Anime and Manga challenges will feature such game worlds and our light novel will tell the tale of a gamer and her escape into an MMORPG. Also check out our Game Of The Month. Whichever game world you escape to, have fun and remember to game responsibly. Have fun reading our March edition of Bento Plus!
Nippon Events and Festivals March 2025
March in Japan marks the transition from winter to spring, bringing a mix of cultural, historical, and seasonal festivals. Here’s a list of notable events and festivals happening throughout the month
March 3
Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival)
A festival celebrating the health and happiness of girls. Families display ornamental dolls dressed in Heian-era attire.
March 14
White Day
The counterpart to Valentine’s Day, where men return gifts to women who gave them chocolates on February 14.
Early March
Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF)
Held in Ikebukuro, this event celebrates excellence in anime with awards, screenings, and industry discussions.
Mid-March
Sumo Spring Basho (Haru Basho)
One of Japan’s six annual Grand Sumo Tournaments, held in Osaka. A must-watch for sumo enthusiasts.
March 1–14
Omizutori (Water-Drawing Festival)
A 1,200-year-old Buddhist ritual at Todaiji Temple in Nara, where giant torches are lit at Nigatsudo Hall for purification.
South African Events
Anime Meetup
22 March@ Dragon Town
Starts: 14:00– Ends 18:00
Theme: Anime Game Worlds
Game of the month
Sonic X Shadow Generations – A Nostalgic Revival with a Dark Twist
Sonic X Shadow Generations remasters the beloved Sonic Generations while introducing a brand-new campaign featuring Shadow the Hedgehog. With enhanced visuals, smoother performance, and refined controls, the game delivers a fresh take on classic 2D and 3D Sonic gameplay.
Pros:
Enhanced visuals – Improved graphics and performance breathe new life into a fan-favourite.
Shadow’s campaign – Offers new levels, powers, and a darker storyline.
Classic Sonic gameplay – A faithful remaster of a beloved title.
Cons:
Shadow’s campaign is short – Less depth compared to Sonic’s stages.
Limited innovation – Mostly sticks to the Generations formula.
Conclusion:
While the remaster shines, some fans may find Shadow’s campaign lacking in length and complexity. Still, for those craving a mix of nostalgia and fresh content, Sonic X Shadow Generations is a solid entry in the franchise.
Itadakimasu Eats
The Art of Japanese Ramen: A Bowl of Perfection
Ramen is more than just a dish in Japan—it’s a cultural icon. This beloved noodle soup comes in countless regional variations, each with a unique broth, noodle type, and toppings. The four primary broth styles—shoyu (soy sauce), miso, shio (salt), and tonkotsu (pork bone)—each offer distinct flavours, from light and delicate to rich and creamy.
Ramen noodles also vary, with some being thick and chewy while others are thin and firm, often paired to complement the broth. Common toppings include chashu (braised pork), menma (bamboo shoots), nori (seaweed), ajitama (soft-boiled eggs), and negi (green onions).
Japan boasts famous regional ramen styles, such as Hakata tonkotsu ramen, known for its creamy pork bone broth, and Sapporo miso ramen, a hearty, umami-packed dish perfect for cold winters. Meanwhile, Tokyo-style ramen features a soy-based broth with a balanced, savoury taste.
More than just street food, ramen has become a culinary art form, with chefs spending years perfecting their recipes. Whether enjoyed in a tiny ramen-ya or a high-end establishment, each bowl represents a harmony of flavour and tradition, making it a must-try dish for any food lover.
Here is an exciting food video from Japan about sweet potatoes!
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! This month we introduce you to Wotagei.
Wotagei is a unique Japanese performance art where enthusiastic fans use rhythmic, synchronized 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 Get Loud For Me with scenes from Fire Force: Season 3 and sung by GIZZLE. His second choice is All Good Things – Push Me Down with scenes from ONE PIECE x NBA LOS ANGELES LAKERS .
Ookami’s first choice is VOILÀ – All Sales Are Final Ft. Lauren Sanderson with scenes from SAKAMOTO DAYS. His second choice is Clarx & Shiah Maisel – Numb The Pain with scenes from Ore dake Level Up na Ken Season 2: Arise from the Shadow.
Shiro starts with Boney M – Rasputin with scenes from Arcane, followed by VOILÀ – After Hours with scenes from Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka V: Houjou no Megami-hen.
Our correspondence from Japan, Retara shares with us to two impressive Wotagei videos.
Please do 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's Tunes
Retara's Tunes
Birthday of the Month
Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist/ FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
Roy Mustang, the charismatic and formidable Flame Alchemist from Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, celebrates his birthday on March 25th! A high-ranking officer in the Amestrian military, Mustang is known for his precise flame alchemy, sharp intellect, and unwavering determination to reform the corrupt government from within.
Despite his cool and confident exterior, Mustang deeply values his comrades, especially his loyal lieutenant, Riza Hawkeye. His journey, from avenging Maes Hughes to fighting for a brighter future, makes him one of anime’s most compelling characters. On his special day, fans honor his legacy—Happy Birthday, Roy Mustang!
Here are four anime characters who celebrate their birthdays in March:
Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto) – March 23rd
Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan) – March 30th
Misaki Ayuzawa (Maid Sama!) – March 29th
Karma Akabane (Assassination Classroom) – March 25th
Anime Challenge March 2025
Sonic X
Sonic X is an anime adaptation of Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, airing from 2003 to 2006. The series follows Sonic and his friends as they are transported to Earth, where they befriend a boy named Chris Thorndyke. Together, they battle Dr. Eggman while searching for the Chaos Emeralds. The anime blends action, comedy, and heartfelt moments, featuring high-speed chases and interdimensional conflicts.
While Sonic X gained a dedicated fanbase, its human-focused storyline divided viewers. Despite mixed reception, it remains a nostalgic entry in the Sonic universe, remembered for its energetic theme song and memorable character moments.
Light novel of the Month
Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess
Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess is a light novel by Akisuzu Nenohi, blending VRMMO adventure with slice-of-life charm. The story follows Tsukishiro Kotone, who starts playing Free Life Fantasy Online as a zombie girl named Anastasia. Rather than focusing on combat, she embraces a laid-back playstyle, crafting potions and exploring the world at her own pace. However, her unique undead status and overpowered abilities attract attention.
Filled with humor, cozy gaming moments, and an unconventional protagonist, the novel offers a fresh take on the VRMMO genre. Fans of Bofuri and Relaxed Fantasy adventures will enjoy this charming read.
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.
From exploring the Japanese elderly’s opinions on foreigners to how Japan hides it’s poverty problem, All about Japan explore all.
V-tuber Spotlight: Dokibird
Dokibird, also known as Maple, is a Hong Kong-Canadian VTuber and artist who debuted in May 2020. She is known for her energetic, trickster-like personality, delighting in making others laugh. Her content includes art, singing, and gaming streams, particularly excelling in first-person shooters like Apex Legends and Overwatch. In May 2021, she announced her retirement, but made a triumphant return in February 2024, resuming her activities on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. Her fans, affectionately called “bark knights,” appreciate her engaging and lively presence in the VTuber community.
Cosplay
Our first video – Katsucon, a three-day anime and cosplay convention at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, brought together an incredible crowd once again. Despite the rain, wind, and overwhelming attendance, the event remained a vibrant showcase of stunning cosplays from fans across the globe.
our next video, we dive into Anime Magic, a convention in Rosemont, Illinois, while also exploring anime convention photography and the styles, also sharing insights on both, including techniques picked up over years of attending and photographing pop culture and anime events.
Anime Magic 2024 was a fun, growing convention that still holds onto that nostalgic 2000s convention feel, something larger events like Anime Central have lost over time. If you’re into anime or photography, conventions like this are definitely worth experiencing!
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!
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