#Japanese Chestnut Cake

[metropolitant]

INDULGE IN CHÂTERAISÉ'S EXQUISITE CHRISTMAS 2023 CAKES IN SINGAPORE

[cruella-devegan]

onwa / Nara, Japan

Mont blanc cake 🌰

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Reference: Food History

B.C.

10,000 - almonds, cherries, bread, flour, soup

8,000 - wheat ⚜ 7,000 - wine, beer, pistachios, pig, goat, sheep, lard

6,500 - cattle domestication, apples ⚜ 6,000 - tortilla, dates, maize

5,000 - honey, ginger, quinoa, avocados, potatoes, milk, yogurt

4,000 - focaccia, watermelons, grapes, pomegranates

3,200 - chicken domestication ⚜ 3,000 - butter, onion, garlic, apricots

2,737 - tea ⚜ 2,500 - olive oil, seaweed, duck ⚜ 2,300 - saffron

2,000 - peaches, liquorice, marshmallow, pasta, ham, sesame seeds

1,500 - chocolate, vanilla ⚜ 1,200 - sugar ⚜ 1,000 - mangoes, oats, pickles

900 - pears, tomatoes ⚜ 700 - cinnamon ⚜ 600 - bananas, poppy seeds

500 - artichokes ⚜ 400 - pastries, appetizers, vinegar

300 - parsley ⚜ 200 - turkeys, asparagus, rhubarb ⚜ 65 - quince

1st—13th Century

1st Century - chestnuts, lobster, crab, shrimp, truffles, blueberries, raspberries, capers, kale, blood (as food), fried chicken, foie gras, French toast, omelettes, rice pudding, flan, cheesecake, pears in syrup

3rd Century - lemons ⚜ 5th - pretzels ⚜ 6th - eggplant

7th Century - spinach, kimchi ⚜ 9th - coffee, nutmeg

10th Century - flower waters, Peking duck, shark's fin soup

11th Century - baklava, corned beef, cider, lychees, seitan

12th Century - breadfruit, artichokes, gooseberries

13th Century - ravioli, lasagne, mozzarella, pancakes, waffles, couscous

14th—19th Century

14th Century - kebabs, moon cakes, guacamole, pie, apple pie, crumpets, gingerbread

15th Century - coconuts, Japanese sushi and sashimi, pineapples, marmalade, risotto, marzipan, doughnuts, hot dogs

16th Century - pecans, cashews (in India), Japanese tempura, vanilla (in Europe), fruit leather, skim milk, sweetbreads, salsa, quiche, teriyaki chicken, English trifle, potato salad

17th Century - treacle, pralines, coffee cake, modern ice cream, maple sugar, rum, French onion soup, cream puffs, bagels, pumpkin pie, lemonade, croissants, lemon meringue pie

18th Century - root beer, tapioca, French fries, ketchup, casseroles, mayonnaise, eggnog, soda water, lollipops, sangria, muffins, crackers, chowder, croquettes, cupcakes, sandwiches, apple butter, souffle, deviled eggs

19th Century - toffee, butterscotch, cocoa, Turkish delight, iodized salt, vanilla extract, modern marshmallows, potato chips, fish and chips, breakfast cereal, Tabasco sauce, Kobe beef, margarine, unsalted butter, Graham crackers, fondant, passionfruit, saltwater taffy, milkshakes, pizza, peanut butter, tea bags, cotton candy, jelly beans, candy corn, elbow macaroni, fondue, wedding cake, canapes, gumbo, ginger ale, carrot cake, bouillabaisse, cobbler, peanut brittle, pesto, baked Alaska, iced tea, fruit salad, fudge, eggs Benedict, Waldorf salad

20th Century

1901 - peanut butter and jelly ⚜ 1904 - banana splits ⚜ 1905 - NY pizza

1906 - brownies, onion rings ⚜ 1907 - aioli

1908 - Steak Diane, buttercream frosting ⚜ 1909 - shrimp cocktail

1910 - Jell-O (America's most famous dessert)

1910s - orange juice ⚜ 1912 - Oreos, maraschino cherries, fortune cookies

1912 - Chicken a la King, Thousand Island dressing

1914 - Fettuccine Alfredo ⚜ 1915 - hush puppies

1917 - marshmallow fluff ⚜ 1921 - Wonder Bread, zucchini

1919 - chocolate truffles ⚜ 1922 - Vegemite, Girl Scout cookies

1923 - popsicles ⚜ 1924 - frozen foods, pineapple upside-down cake, Caesar salad, chocolate-covered potato chips

1927 - Kool-Aid, s'mores, mayonnaise cake ⚜ 1929 - Twizzlers

1930s - Pavlova cakes, Philly cheese steak, Pigs in blankets, margaritas, banana bread, Cajun fried turkey ⚜ 1931 - souffle, refrigerator pie

1933 - chocolate covered pretzels ⚜ 1936 - no-bake cookies

1937 - Reubens, chicken Kiev, SPAM, Krispy Kreme

1938 - chicken and waffles ⚜ 1939 - seedless watermelon

1941 - Rice Krispies treats, Monte Cristo sandwiches ⚜ 1943 - nachos

1946 - chicken burgers, tuna melts, Nutella ⚜ 1947- chiffon cake

1950s - chicken parm, Irish coffee, cappuccino, smoothies, frozen pizza, diet soda, TV Dinners, ranch dressing ⚜ 1951 - bananas foster

1953 - coronation chicken ⚜ 1956 - German chocolate cake, panini

1957 - Quebec Poutine ⚜ 1958 - Instant ramen noodles, crab rangoon, lemon bars ⚜ 1960s - beef Wellington, green eggs and ham, red velvet cake

1963 - black forest cake ⚜ 1964 - Belgian waffles, Pop Tarts, Buffalo wings, ants on a log, pita bread ⚜ 1965 - Gatorade, Slurpees

1966 - chocolate fondue ⚜ 1967 - high fructose corn syrup

1970s - California rolls, pasta primavera, tiramisu ⚜ 1971 - fajitas

1975 - hicken tikka masala ⚜ 1980 - turducken

1980s - Panko, portobello mushrooms, bubble tea, chicken nuggets, Sriracha, Red Bull energy drink, everything bagels

1990s - artisan breads, Jamaican jerk ⚜ 1991 - turkey bacon, chocolate molten lava cake, earthquake cake ⚜ 1993 - broccolini

1995 - Tofurkey ⚜ 1997 - grape tomatoes

21st Century

2002 - flat iron steak, tear-free onions ⚜ 2007 - Kool-Aid pickles, cake pops

2008 - Mexican funnel cake ⚜ 2013 - cronuts, test tube burgers

Source

[p5x-theories]

Yaoling's Confidant

(last updated 9/17/24!)

This post documents the fully filled-in information on Yaoling Li gained through progressing her Confidant! It contains things that could be considered spoilers for her Confidant, as part of the information is a summary of its story.

Yaoling is available in the evenings most days, when it isn’t rainy. Her Confidant is tied to the Knowledge social stat, and level 17 Knowledge is required to fully complete it.

Favorite Presents

(An asterisk (*) marks the special presents added with (and unlocked through) Miyu Sahara’s Confidant, which are liked by all Confidants currently in the game.)

Limited Card Set A rare collection of cards with debut photos of and dream declarations from members of idol groups.

Supernatural Video There's no telling what might actually happen in this supernatural-themed video...?

Mysterious Glasses Black-framed glasses that are said to allow the wearer to see invisible things.

Special Nut Mix A nut gift pack that can quickly replenish energy and help balance nutrition.

Adult Smart Ring This metal ring puzzle suitable for adults can effectively exercise finger flexibility and is also helpful for exercising brain power.

Latest Digital Camera The latest digital cameras not only have a higher resolution, but are also easy to operate.

Traditional Dim Sum Combination A dim sum gift box with traditional shapes and fillings, allowing one to taste the most authentic Japanese flavor.

Kendama A very popular traditional toy that requires some practice to master.

High-Performance Electric Toothbrush A popular model of electric toothbrush from a well-known brand that can effectively clean your mouth.

Limited-Edition Keychain* This keychain has a unique shape, and is well-made, but there weren’t many of it produced. It has a certain collector’s value.

Bulk Snacks Value Pack* A combo pack containing a variety of traditional snacks that will remind people of the taste of childhood.

Advanced Essential Oil Combination* A value-for-money set of essential oils, with multiple functions to help you relax your mind and body.

Chestnut Cake* Fragrant chestnut cake with mild sweetness to suit most people’s tastes.

Musical Snow Globe* A snow globe that plays music, and can be shaken gently to make snow fall inside.

Desktop Incense Machine* A household incense machine that is small in size, so it can be placed anywhere.

Jasmine Tea Elegant and pure flowers are baked in the hands of a tea craftsman to make tea. The charming aroma is also one of the most popular features of this tea.

Personal Information

Birthday: May 20 Zodiac Sign: Taurus Age: 19 years old Profession: Undergrad Height: 164 cm Weight: 51 kg Blood Type: ?? Interests: Tea, desserts, movies Features: Chinese food

Story

Character Details An international student from Sichuan, China, living in an apartment in Yongen-Jaya. It seems that her Japanese is not very good... she will misunderstand the meaning of words, and sometimes use some strange Japanese.

Personal Data 1 Yaoling Li is an international student from China whom I met by chance in the supermarket in Yongen-Jaya. Because she is new here, she is not very familiar with Japan and the Japanese language. She hopes that I can help...

Personal Data 2 According to Yaoling's introduction, she seems to have chosen to study abroad at the request of her parents. After arriving in Japan, she felt that her life was dull and she lacked motivation. She hopes that I can help her understand Japan and figure out the purpose of studying abroad.

Personal Data 3 As our first stop exploring Japan, Yaoling and I went to the used bookstore street in Jinbocho. After experiencing the cultural differences between China and Japan, the change in scenery seemed to make Yaoling very motivated.

Personal Data 4 For our second stop exploring Japan, we went to Harajuku, where young people gather. This place seemed to remind Yaoling of some of the scenery in her hometown, and she even began to investigate "spicy crepes"...

Personal Data 5 While discussing with Yaoling the next stop on our Japan exploration trip, we met Yaoling’s neighbor, Yukimi Fujikawa. After seeing Yukimi be severely disciplined by her mother, the enthusiastic Yaoling felt that she could not just sit back and ignore it, so she decided to ask Yukimi to go with us on our next trip...

Personal Data 6 At Yaoling's invitation, Yukimi went to Asakusa with us. Contrary to the lively Yaoling, Yukimi pays attention to following the rules. Even if her ideas are different from her mother's, she will act according to her mother's plan. Yaoling seems to be very worried about this...

Personal Data 7 Yaoling hoped that Yukimi could be brave enough to be herself, and the difference in their ideas eventually turned into a conflict at the tea ceremony... After the fight with Yukimi, Yaoling seems to have begun to reflect on whether she was qualified to criticize other people's beliefs.

Personal Data 8 In order to express her apology to Yukimi, Yaoling hopes to organize a tea ceremony for Yukimi together with me. After experiencing various twists and turns together, the relationship between Yaoling and I gradually changed.

Personal Data 9 At the second tea ceremony, Yaoling shared the culture related to Chinese tea and cuisine, and her thoughts on her travels, with Yukimi. She also solemnly apologized to Yukimi. At the same time, Yaoling's frankness and sincerity also moved Yukimi.

Personal Data 10 Yukimi mustered up the courage to tell her mother her true thoughts. At the same time, Yaoling seemed to understand her parents' good intentions. Although the matter has come to an end, it seems that Yaoling's life in Japan will continue. The journey will require her to continue working hard.

Voice Lines

Japanese VA: Ru Thing | Chinese VA: XiaoLianSha

(As I can only add up to ten audio files per post, I’ll only include the Japanese lines below! Feel free to ask for the Chinese ones, though.)

I am Yaoling Li from Sichuan, China. I'm happy to meet you.

I still don't understand Japanese very well... there may be some mistakes. I hope you aren't angry! Thank you!

(Note: the "Thank you!" is spoken in Chinese, not Japanese!)

Obviously it would be fine to continue studying in my own country. Why would my parents want me to study abroad? Maybe when I find the meaning of studying abroad, I can understand what my parents were thinking.

It's just a stereotype to say that Sichuan people love spicy food! But... it would indeed be tastier if Japanese food could be spicier...

Sensei not only served as my guide in Tokyo, but also helped me find the meaning of studying abroad... He's not just a guide to Tokyo, but a guide to life!

Yukimi-san follows the rules and works very hard to control her thoughts... In comparison, I do whatever I want... No, would you say I'm "opinionated"?

Is Sensei also interested in Chinese tea? I can explain it to you any time, if you have the chance! Hehe, this time it's my turn to be Sensei's sensei!

Confidant-Specific Bonuses

Rank 1 Ingenuity: Unlocks some infiltration tools for crafting.

Rank 5 Chinese Cuisine Recipes: Unlocks some Chinese dishes for cooking.

Rank 9 Reward for Hard Work: Unlocks more infiltration tools for crafting.

Rank 13 Skilled Skills: Gives a chance for some materials to be returned after crafting infiltration tools.

Rank 17 The Charm of Chinese Cuisine: Unlocks more Chinese dishes for cooking.

[aishiteru-kenshin]

Japanese New Year Tradition: Osechi Ryōri

In Japan, starting off the New Year is more about spending time with family than it is about partying. It's a time of year when people go back to their home towns, pay their first visit to the local shrine, and sit down to some traditional food. And food doesn't get more traditional than osechi ryōri. The tradition behind osechi ryōri (お節料理) goes back centuries, to the Heian period (794-1185). Ritual offerings of food used to be presented to the gods on sechinichi, or days that marked the changing of the seasons according to traditional Chinese almanacs that were used during this time. The most important sechinichi, of course, was the day that marked the beginning of the New Year. On this day, special dishes were offered to various deities, and also eaten by members of courtly society. Over the centuries, these traditions made their way to the rest of society, and by the Edo period (1603-1868), they were being practiced commonly around Japan. They combined with other beliefs, notably that on the first days of the New Year, any kind of work — including cooking — was to be avoided. There are two competing theories as to why this was the case. One was that the gods shouldn’t be disturbed by the sounds of cooking on the first days of the year, and the other is simply that the beginning of the year was meant to be a time of rest, when everyone — particularly the women of the household, who did most of the work around the home in those days — could enjoy a well-deserved break. In the beginning, osechi was quite simple food — vegetables boiled in soy sauce and vinegar — but over the centuries, more and more types of food were added to the osechi ryōri lineup, turning it into a much more elaborate affair. Almost all of these dishes have a special meaning, related either to the name of the food in Japanese or to its appearance or other special characteristics. These are some of the most commonly eaten dishes, and their associated meanings: Kuromame (黒豆)     Black beans are meant to be a symbol of health, with the associated idea that the person who eats them will be able work hard in the year to come. Kazunoko (数の子)     This dish is herring roe, but the symbolism is connected both to the large number of tiny eggs, and to the meaning of the Japanese words. Kazu means “number” in Japanese, and “ko” means “children.” The wish behind this item is that the next year will bring many children. For an extra layer of meaning, look to the name of the fish in Japanese: the word for herring is nishin, and if it’s written with an alternate set of kanji (二親), it means “two parents.” Tazukuri (田作り)     This dish is sardines boiled in soy sauce. Historically, sardines were used to fertilise rice fields, and this word means “rice field maker” in Japanese. Symbolically, this food is eaten in the hopes that the coming year’s harvest will be plentiful. Kohaku Kamaboko (紅白かまぼこ)     Kamaboko is a kind of fish cake, and kohaku means red and white. The colours represent Japan (most easily found on the country’s flag), and are generally considered to be good luck. According to some, the red colour is meant to prevent evil spirits, while white represents purity. Incidentally, Kohaku Uta Gassen is one of the most popular TV shows that Japanese people watch on New Year’s Eve, and it’s a singing competition between two teams comprising of the most popular singers in Japan — the white (male singers) and the red (female singers). Datemaki (伊達巻)      This is an omelette mixed with mashed shrimp or hanpen (fish paste). It tastes a little bit different from the tamagoyaki that you might be used to, but it’s rolled into a similar shape, which happens to look like a scroll from the side. That’s why this particular food is associated with learning and scholarship. Kurikinton (栗きんとん)     These are sweet dumplings that are made from chestnuts. Because they’re yellow in colour, they’re associated with gold, and eating them is meant to bring financial prosperity in the year to come. Kobu (昆布)     This is a type of seaweed, and this word is closely connected to the word yorokobu, or happiness, which is what this food is meant to bring in the New Year. Tai (鯛)     Sea bream; the symbolic meaning here is something of a play on words. Tai is part of the Japanese word medetai, meaning happy or joyous. This fish is often eaten on special occasions, and it’s one of the dishes that is served as okuizome, the traditional food that a baby is fed about 100 days after he or she is born. In osechi, it’s meant to bring joy and happiness in the new year. Shrimp (海老)     The kanji for shrimp mean “old man of the sea,” playing on the sea creature’s bent back and antenna that look like whiskers. This food is meant to bring longevity. Satoimo (里芋)     Also known as taro root, this dish is eaten in the hopes that the family will be blessed with many children — just like many small taro tubers grow off of the main tuber. Renkon (蓮根)     Known as lotus root in English, this vegetable has very distinctive holes when it is cut in cross sections. Because you can see clearly when you look through these holes, this food is eaten in the hopes of having a future with no obstacles — or at the very least, obstacles that you can see clearly. Just as it goes with any tradition, not every dish is eaten at every household, and some dishes fall out of favour over time – sometimes because younger people don’t particularly enjoy eating them, or because tastes change. (One newish item that you’ll find in osechi ryōri spreads, although it doesn’t have any special meaning yet, is roast beef.) The osechi dishes are, for the most part, served in elegant lacquer boxes known as jubako. Some families prepare the osechi themselves, while others choose to order theirs from department stores or convenience stores. For those who wish to purchase a beautifully crafted osechi for their New Year’s celebrations, department stores like Takashimaya and Keio stores offer fantastic options — though they certainly don’t come cheap!

[my-plastic-life]

Happy mid-autumn festival! Kiku is participating in the Japanese custom of celebrating a good autumn harvest, as well as tsukimi. Literally called "moon viewing," this Japanese custom dates back to the Heian period (794-1185). Autumn moon viewing has long been a popular pastime in Japan. Traditionally it was a way of expressing gratitude for a good harvest and hopes for similar bounty in the future.

Tsukimi is not only about admiring the moon, but originally a way to pray for good harvest, as the moon’s round shape symbolizes fertility. The full moon is auspicious for a large and successful harvest.

For tsukimi, Japanese people display Japanese pampas grass (susuki) as good luck charms because they look like rice plants. Seasonal products are also offered to the moon. For tonight, Kiku is offering chestnuts and green soybeans. It's also common to display some vegetables like cucumbers and eggplants using bamboo sticks to make them look like animals. Kiku has also done that!

She's also offering the most popular item - the tsukimi dango, or rice flour dumplings. These are offered because each dumpling looks similar to a full moon. They're also arranged a certain way for this occasion. After offering them to the moon, the tsukimi dango are eaten in order to obtain good health and happiness.

Here in the U.S. and Western cultures, we see a "man in the moon." For Japan, it's the "rabbit in the moon." Instead of a man's face, you see a rabbit making mochi (rice cakes). There's an old legend about the origination of the "moon rabbit," including the belief that rabbits originally came from the moon. Oh look, here's one now!

(Sorry, I don't have any Calico Critters or other bunnies that would work, so Easter Kelly will have to suffice lol)

Kiku is embracing her inner "moon rabbit" with her adorable outfit for viewing the moon.

There are several dishes considered to be good luck to eat during tsukimi, and Kiku is making sure to take part! First up is her tsukimi udon noodles topped with a raw egg (the egg symbolizes the full moon).

There is also rabbit-shaped mochi and moon cakes, which are customary to be eaten with family and friends. Kiku's best friend, Miwa, has arrived, and the two will continue to gaze at the moon together while enjoying their treats. Kiku is holding the rabbit mochi, while Miwa has taken a bite out of her moon cake.

[zeus-japonicus]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEMO!!!!!!! do you have a favourite kind of cake

thank you friend! my favourite cake is the Japanese Mont blanc (chestnut cream cake), though i can't really eat much of it because I've never found a dairy free one... they're also really rare in the UK though so i usually opt for something with fruit or floral tastes!

[alexeiadrae]

Mega Brand Q&A with Hajime Kanzaka 2/2020 to 6/2020, translated

06/2020   

Q: Is the art of borrowing power from the demon a burden on the "lender", even if it is a very small amount? To take it to the extreme, if all mankind learned Gaav Flare and fired a series of flares at the same time, even in the sky, would Gaav get a little sick or something?

KANZAKA: "Of course, if that were done, the power would diminish slightly. But basically, that situation would never happen. Above all, demons don't have the mentality of 'Everyone is asking me to lend my strength, so I'm going to work until I collapse.” So even if all of humanity were to use Gaav Flares at once, some might be strangely puny or just colorful."

Q: Lina's name is well known, but how do rumors and bad publicity spread? Are there newspapers or other information magazines, or are there people or institutions that specialize in the transmission of information?

KANZAKA: "There is no such person as a kawaraban-ya (early modern newsheets) in Japan, but peddlers who value information sometimes spread the word. Survivors of bandit gangs that have been beaten up sometimes complain here and there. The rest is just a game of telephone..."

Q: I went to Slayers Kafu Ryuukodan-tei! All of the dishes were phenomenally reproduced and delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed them! George's cake had a great presence of eye-catching chestnuts. My question is, when the chestnuts are on the tree, are they still in the eyeball-ringing state? Or is it wrapped in a moth?

KANZAKA: "The chestnuts are wrapped in igas*. As for the menu for the animate café, thanks to Araizumi-san for his appropriate advice, and to. My thanks to everyone at Animate Cafe for their efforts."

* I got several different translations of this but in the end I didn’t care enough about it to track it down because I don’t have much interest in this question. The original Japanese is in the link if you care to give it a try.

05/2020  

Q: Compared to the time of  the "Specials" and the first volume of the book, has Lina grown physically (not only in terms of her breasts and height, but also in terms of her general development, including her facial features)? Or do you feel that her growth has already stopped at a rather early stage?

KANZAKA: "It is changing properly. Specifically, the length of her hair."

Q: Did Zelgadis change internally before and after the synthesis? For example, they are now able to distinguish the sex of blow demons, which is normally difficult to do so, or his tastes have changed.

KANZAKA: "No, I mean, how could there not be? In the first place, the purpose is to strengthen the magical capacity and physical body. If the result is to look like that, then there must be a lot of things that come with it mentally. However, he did not inherit the weak characteristic of blow demons or golems.

Q: Xellos has been entrusted by Zellas-sama to dispose of the Claire Bible manuscripts, but how does he obtain information on their whereabouts? Is it through Xellos’ memory, or is he following them through human history like Lina and the others?

KANZAKA: "No clue. He is doing his very best....... Well, the manuscripts that are not used at all are just paper, so he’s using the method of tracing them through a group of people who is behaving strangely."

04/2020           

Q: I would like to ask you about status. It seems that each person has an affinity for earth, water, fire, and wind of spirit magic. Is there any special way to determine this other than "whether or not the effect is increased by casting a spell"? For example, is there a way to find out the status of someone like Gourry who basically does not use magic?

KANZAKA: "There is a technique to check such things. However, it is quite complicated and time-consuming, so there are not many people and places where it can be used. Therefore, when most people say that the status of a particular person is strong, it is often a fluffy, subjective statement.

Q: What will happen to the sealed pieces of the Demon King if the human race becomes extinct? Will they be inhabited by humans in other worlds, or will they disappear, or will they all be collected by the Demon Lord of the North (the awesome one)?

KANZAKA: "The seal on the Demon King's soul fragment is only a reincarnation as a 'human', so if all of humanity in that world is destroyed, the condition of the seal will no longer be met, and it will be released. In other words, the Demon King will be revived in a weakened state.

“Furthermore, if not only mankind but also dragons, elves, and dwarves had been destroyed, the goal of 'destruction' would be considered to have been achieved, and the demon tribe would also be destroyed in the form of self-destruction."

Q: In the afterword to Vol. 17, you mentioned that you have "handbills of passage" but that you use them or don't use them. It seems that it is not a very strict item, since there seems to be no problem in breaking in with a levitation, but where is it issued? I was wondering if Bronco of Maricida wrote it this time, or what do you think?

KANZAKA: "In the setting, it was written by Mr. Bronco of Maricida, as it should be. However, it is only a transit permit and cannot be used like a strictly personal identification card."

03/2020   

Q: There seems to be a subtle difference between animals inside and outside the boundaries, but what about pets and livestock? It would be fun to see flying chickens or a giant cat.

KANZAKA: "Even in our world, it is normal to have different kinds of pets in different areas. Of course it is normal for there to be differences in livestock and pets based on regional differences rather than inside and outside the boundaries."

Q: When demons are created, is it the "main body" that exists in the spiritual world plane, and the temporary form is decided by the creator, who says, "Let's do it this way. Also, is the main body of the demon decided by the one who created it, saying, "I'll make my subordinate like this"?

KANZAKA: "Basically, demons are created on the astral side. At that time, their appearance in this world is not determined. The created demons determine their own temporary appearance as they go about their activities."

Q: The existence created by the sub-god Voim in the novel "Slayers vs. Orphen," a collaboration with Orphen, was an existence with invincible power that nothing can hurt, but will it work with Lina's Ragna Blade or the full version of the Giga Slave?

Or would "Ceifeed", "Ruby Eyed Shabranigdu", a being beyond human beings, a high ranking demon tribe, "Knight of Ceifeed", Lina's big sister, "Golden Demon King", Lady L, be able to destroy the invincible existence created by Voim's ability?

KANZAKA: "No. It's a festival project. You can't be serious about it. But since we are talking about that world, even a serious Ragna Blade class might not even cause a scratch. If you do it in a groove or in the flow, you might be able to crush even tofu."

02/2020

Q: Zelgadis has been made into a chimera with a rock golem, but I have the impression that he often uses earth-based spells of spirit magic. Is there a causal relationship such as, "Because he had earth status, it was easy to make him a chimera with a rock golem," or "Because he was made a chimera with a rock golem, the power of earth-based spells increased"? Or is it just a coincidence and irrelevant?

KANZAKA: "After the synthesis with the rock golem, he is clearly more compatible with earth-based spells. Of course, as for the power-up of the magical power itself, it is largely due to the synthesis with the blow demon."

Q: The demon king is in Rezo and a man named Luke. The Gods are the Eternal Queen and a woman named Luna. I know each of them are sealed and in different situations, but do you think it is easier for demons to be male and for gods to be female, or is it easier for them to fit in?　

KANZAKA: "There is no such thing in particular. We are currently at the gender difference as you pointed out, but that's just by chance."

Q: I would like to know how to use the memory orb that appeared in volume 2, which memorized the research data. Voice, speaking directly to the mind, projected like a magic mirror...in what form can it actually be recorded and reproduced?

KANZAKA: "Basically, it is recorded as text data. However, the style of development varies from mage to mage, with some types of text appearing on the surface of the orb, while others appear on the walls and floor around the orb."

[travel-journal-from-shirokane]

La Maison Shirokane, Sweet Shop(Tokyo, Japan) ラ•メゾン白金★★

On the way home from visiting travel agencies in Ginza to plan a trip, I bought cakes at La Maison Shirokane near my home(^o^)

Japanese strawberry shortcake and Mont Blanc cake（chestnut cake）were delicious(^o^)

旅行の計画を立てようと銀座で旅行代理店めぐりをした帰り、近所のラ•メゾン白金でケーキを買って帰りました。

苺のショート•ケーキとモンブラン、美味しかったです(^o^)

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Reluctant Reader Wednesday: Kawaii Doodles: Supercute Drawings in Four Easy Steps! by Yuu 

FYI, I reserved this book because the title included the words kawaii, supercute, and FOUR EASY STEPS. Oh, and I also reserved it because my drawing skills are terrible. Would this book make an artist out of me? READ ON TO FIND OUT!!!

Kawaii Doodles is divided into various sections, including characters, items, and foods. Each drawing is broken down into several easy steps, so that if you're a great artist or … uhm … NOT … you should still be able to follow along and create a similar drawing yourself. There are over 1250 illustrations, although many of them are variations on the same image. For example, there are several pages of examples of a girl’s face with different expressions like: in love (hearts for eyes), sleepy (circles over the head), so busy (coil shapes for eyes), and anxious (vertical lines beside the eyes and wavy lines around the head). In addition to drawings of people, there are plenty of examples of other creatures and objects, including: pandas, elephants, sheep, butterflies, snails, goldfish, squids, ice cream cones, umbrellas, tiaras, cakes, and donuts. 

Did you know that you could even draw cute onions? And cute broccoli? And cute chestnuts? You get the idea.

At the end of the book, there are suggestions of how to “Give the Gift of Kawaii” and take these drawings to another level. These include Mother’s Day cards, triangular boxes for Valentine’s chocolates, and name tags.

Give this book to people of all ages who love drawing, everything kawaii, and everything Japanese. 

Oh, and if you’re wondering if this book could even work for librarians with little to no artistic skills, the answer is YES!!!

[crystal-in-nagasaki]

christmastime in japan

Me, posting Christmas content in the middle of May? My posts are pretty backlogged at this point, so I apologize! But I'm trying to share my experiences in chronological order, so please bear with me. <3

As those of us in the states know, Christmas is a very festive time of the year when families get together to exchange presents, eat delicious food, and for those that are religious, celebrate the birth of Jesus. In contrast, Japan has a rich and unique traditional culture cultivated as a result of isolating themselves from other countries for more than two centuries during the Edo period. Finally after opening themselves up to trade and cultural influence from other countries around the world, they adopted some cultural traditions from Western countries, such as Christmas.

But since Japan has never been a staunchly religious country and has always operated in a way fundamentally different to Western countries, of course the version of Christmas that became established in Japan over the years is a bit different than the one we celebrate in the US and other Western countries.

Therefore I'd like to share a little bit about Japan's version of Christmas, as well as how I spend my Christmas in a way that feels comfortable to my culture and values while still enjoying the traditions that are unique to Japan.

One of the biggest differences between Japan and Western Christmas is that while Christmas at home in the US for me and many others has always centered around family, Christmas in Japan is almost exclusively a couples' holiday, so much so that some single Japanese people hate the festive time of year for the same reason single Americans might be in a sour mood on Valentine's Day. Illuminations are very popular in Japan, and many couples make it a priority to visit one together each year to get in the romantic mood of Christmas. This year I searched for illuminations to visit with my partner, and apart from Huis Ten Bosch's huge and beautiful illumination which is up year-round, I could only find a few small displays. Nevertheless, I was not deterred and visited a small illumination in the neighboring town of Isahaya with my girlfriend Frankie on a cold December evening.

Additionally, while many families in the US enjoy home cooked meals like ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, roasted chestnuts, and fruitcake on Christmas, the Japanese Christmas culinary tradition is Kentucky Fried Chicken and Christmas cake. Yup, Kentucky Fried Chicken, the American fast food chain selling fried chicken by the bucket.

There seems to be a myth circulating around the Japanese public that Americans also eat KFC on Christmas, which made them decide to do it as well to coincide with "real" American practices. Most people guess that this started because some foreigners living in Japan ordered KFC on Christmas (maybe to get a taste of home since they were away from their families and home cooked Western meals) and some Japanese people saw this and thought it was an authentic American tradition. KFC also saw this and realized that perpetuating it would make them a ton of money each Christmas. And so each year, KFC puts out advertisements encouraging people to send in their orders for buckets of chicken for Christmas day, and many Japanese people and even foreigners do it!

Many people in Japan also order Christmas cake for the holiday. Grocery stores, bakeries, and even convenience stores put out advertisements for Christmas cakes every year, which you must specially order through a form and pick up (or have delivered) on Christmas day. Many Japanese people are surprised to hear from me that we don't really eat cake on Christmas day, and it's not really a tradition in the US.

I haven't spent Christmas in Japan for the last two years, so I don't really partake in the KFC or Christmas cake tradition, but I do think it's cute and it's nice that Japan has created its own culture around Christmastime in their own unique way.

Although Japanese people don't primarily consider Christmas to be a family holiday, they do spend time with family for the winter season because arguably the most important family holiday of the year is New Year's. For several days, most shops close down and many Japanese people travel across the country to visit their loved ones. They pray at shrines for good fortune in the new year and give their children presents or envelopes of money. Since they have their own family-oriented traditions rooted in their culture and history occurring around the same time as Christmas, it makes sense that they wouldn't fully adopt the Western Christmas values and instead just adopt the fun kitschy Hallmark version of Christmas, perhaps similar to the way some Americans eat tacos and drink margaritas on Cinco de Mayo. Maybe it could be seen as insensitive, but it's just an example of the ways that cultures make contact and influence each other and how this contact changes and evolves.

Anyway, I'm glad to be able to participate in some new Japanese Christmas traditions, while also finding ways to celebrate my own cultural traditions with other foreigners by having Christmas parties, cooking Christmas dinner together, decorating a Christmas tree, baking Christmas cookies, and watching cheesy Christmas movies. Being away from home during the most important family season is difficult, but I'm glad to have a support network here of my friends, coworkers, and partner to help me feel closer to home. I really miss being with my family for the holidays, and I'm happy to finally be able to return home this year and spend the holidays with them again.

Thanks for reading <3

[heavenlyhoundoom]

More info about the next Medow Valley generation.

1.Sato Bushida

Gender: Female.

Species: Red panda.

Date of birth: 2/13/2025.

Mom: Mizuki Bushida.

Dad: Hudson Creek.

Siblings: Lucas Creek.(Little brother)

Fur color: Brown and White.

Eye color: Yellow.

Favorite color: Pink.

Favorite food: Icecream cake.

Favorite drink: Strawberry milk.

Best friend: Cosette Beaufort(Papillon dog).

Future career: Taking over Mizuki's japanese restaurant.

Future Spouse: Lincoln Echo.

Future children: Harper Echo, Fuyuko Bushida, and Luna Echo.

2.Lucas Creek

Gender: Male.

Species: River otter.

Date of birth: 6/21/2027.

Mom: Mizuki Bushida.

Dad: Hudson Creek.

Siblings: Sato Bushida.(Big sister)

Fur color: Red.

Eye color: Light blue.

Favorite color: Yellow.

Favorite food: Mashed potatoes.

Favorite drink: Lemonade.

Best friend: Emmett Bilby.

Future career: Marine biologist.

Future spouse: Becky Gobbler.

Future children: Tucker Gobbler and Finn Creek.

3.Henry Hares

Gender: Male.

Species: Rabbit

Date of birth: 9/3/2028.

Mom: Daisy Hares.(Maiden name is Carrot)

Dad: Caleb Hares.

Siblings: Bella Hares.(Little sister)

Fur color: Medium gray.

Eye color: Light blue.

Favorite color: Blue.

Favorite food: Chocolate chip pancakes.

Favorite drink: Chocolate milk.

Best friend: Liam Cricket.

Future career: Comedian.

Future spouse: Olivia Vulpine.

Future child: Scarlett Hares.(fox/rabbit hybrid)

4.Bella Hares

Gender: Female

Species: Rabbit

Date of birth: 10/12/2030

Mom: Daisy Hares.(Maiden name is Carrot)

Dad: Caleb Hares.

Siblings: Henry Hares.(Big brother)

Fur color: White.

Eye color: Brown.

Favorite color: Orange.

Favorite food: Grilled Cheese.

Favorite drink: Apple juice.

Best friend: Mavis Lemur.

Future career: Florist.

Future spouse: Gwen McSloth.

Future child: Dominic Hares (I.V.F baby.)

5.Aiden Fowl.

Gender: Male

Species: Peacock/Fennec fox hybrid.

Date of birth: 5/9/2025

Mom: Roxy Fennec.

Dad: Felix Fowl.

Siblings: None.

Fur color: Sandy tan.

Feather color: Blue.

Eye color: Purple.

Favorite color: Green.

Favorite food: Alpahbet soup.

Favorite drink: Grape juice.

Best friend: Samson Salamander.

Future career: Pilot.

Future spouse: Maxine Pride.

Future Children: Darcy Pride(fennec fox/lion hybrid) and Jude Fowl.(peacock lion hybrid)

6.Millie Chestnut

Gender: Female

Species: Squirrel

Date of birth: 4/18/2026

Mom: Violet Modo.

Dad: Collin Chestnut.

Siblings: Jasper Modo(First little brother/sibling), Delilah Modo(Little Sister), and Samuel Chestnut.(Second little brother/youngest sibling)

Fur color: Chestnut.

Eye color: Purple.

Favorite color: Yellow.

Favorite food: PB&J

Favorite drink: Milk.

Best friend: Emma Curl.

Future career: Therapist.

Future spouse: Bradley Harlow.

Future Child: Preston Harlow.

7.Jasper Modo.

Gender: Male.

Species: Komodo dragon.

Date of birth: 7/6/2028

Mom: Violet Modo.

Dad: Collin Chestnut.

Siblings: Millie Chestnut(Big sister), Delilah Modo(Little sister), and Samuel Chestnut.(Little brother)

Scale color: Green.

Eye color: Purple.

Favorite color: Red.

Favorite food: Veggie burgers.

Favorite drink: Orange juice.

Best friend: Lydia Color.

Future career: Optician.

Future spouse: Eva Modo.(Maiden name is Lizard)

Future child: Hailey Modo.

8.Deliah Modo

Gender: Female.

Species: Komodo dragon.

Date of birth: 8/12/2029

Mom: Violet Modo.

Dad: Collin Chestnut.

Siblings: Millie Chestnut(Big sister), Jasper Modo(Big brother), and Samuel Chestnut.(Little brother)

Scale color: Green.

Eye color: Light blue.

Favorite color: Purple.

Favorite food: Sugar cookies.

Favorite drink: Apple juice.

Best friend: Gabby Vine.

Future Career: Baker.

Future spouse: Victor Goat.

Future children: Sylvia Goat and Elise Modo.

9.Samuel Chestnut

Gender: Male.

Species: Squirrel.

Date of birth: 10/24/2031

Mom: Violet Modo.

Dad: Collin Chestnut.

Siblings: Millie Chestnut(First big sister), Jasper Modo(Big brother), and Delilah Modo.(Second big sister)

Fur color: Brown.

Eye color: Light blue.

Favorite color: Green.

Favorite food: Soft pretzels.

Favorite drink: Hot cocoa.

Best friend: Mike Rilla.

Future career: Film actor.

Future spouse: None.

Future children: None.

10.Cleo Whiskers

Gender: Female.

Species: House cat.

Date of birth: 3/27/2026

Biological mom: Unknown.

Biological dad: Unknown.

Adopted moms: Flora Mantis and Lucy Fluff.

Biological siblings: None.

Adopted siblings: None.

Fur color: Orange.

Eye color: Light blue:

Favorite color: Red.

Favorite food: Baked potatoes.

Favorite drink: Cherry juice.

Best friend: Aurora Tigerton.

Future career: App developer.

Future spouse: Jack Klaws.

Future Children: Anna Klaws, Katie Klaws, and Nathan Klaws.

11.Jonathan Feral

Gender: Male.

Species: Fox/Deer hybrid.

Date of birth: 8/3/2027

Mom: Georgia Meadow.

Dad: Marshall Feral.

Fur color: Light brown.

Eye color: Green.

Favorite color: Blue.

Favorite food: Veggie dogs.

Favorite drink: Cranberry juice.

Best friend: Tyson Hawk.

Future career: Mechanic.

Future spouse: Tina Bunny.

Future children: Eliana Bunny, Quinn Feral, and Kyle Meadow.

12.Aurora Tigerton

Gender: Female.

Species: Tiger/Axolotl hybrid.

Date of birth: 5/11/2026

Mom: Diane Tigerton.

Dad: Oliver McGill

Siblings: None.

Fur color: Peach pink.

Eye color: Brown.

Favorite color: Purple.

Favorite food: Cinnamon buns.

Favorite drink: Hot cocoa.

Best friend: Cleo Whiskers.

Future career: Dentist.

Future spouse: Eddie Barkson.

Future children: Nola Barkson(labrador/axolotl hybrid) and Ryder Tigerton.(labrador/tiger hybrid)

13.Yuka Bushida

Gender: Female.

Species: Red Panda.

Date of birth: 1/28/2027

Mom: Addison Hares.

Dad: Evan Vine.

Siblings: Gabby Vine(Little sister) and Milo Hares(Little brother).

Fur color: Red and White.

Eye color: Blue.

Favorite color: Green.

Favorite food: French toast.

Favorite drink: Chocolate milk.

Best friend: Timmy Beaverton.

Future career: Rock star.

Future spouse: Iris Puffin.

Future children: None.

14.Gabby Vine

Gender: Female.

Species: Toucan.

Date of birth: 6/5/2029

Mom: Addison Hares.

Dad: Evan Vine.

Siblings: Yuka Bushida(Big sister) and Milo Hares.(Little brother)

Feather color: Black and White.

Eye color: Green.

Favorite color: Pink.

Favorite Food: Fish sticks.

Favorite Drink: P.O.G

Best friend: Delilah Modo.

Future Career: Mayor of Medow Valley.

Future spouse: Cameron Beak.

Future Child: Lana Beak.

15.Milo Hares

Gender: Male.

Species: Rabbit.

Date of birth: 7/20/2031

Mom: Addison Hares.

Dad: Evan Vine.

Siblings: Yuka Bushida(First big sister), and Gabby Vine.(Second big sister)

Fur color: White.

Eye color: Green.

Favorite color: Red.

Favorite food: Nachos.

Favorite drink: Grape juice.

Best friend: Asher Hoot.

Future Career: Lifeguard.

Future spouse: Jayden Hopper.

Future child: Sadie Hares.

If you're wondering what P.O.G is, it's a drink containing passion fruit juice, orange juice, and guava nectar.

[cookwithcheffrancis]

CHESTNUT CAKE|CHESNUT CAKE RECIPE|NEW YEAR CAKE|CAKE|CAKE DECORATION|NEW...

[paleparearchive]

My Story Begins Here

Rembrandt's New Year 4★ story (2/3) ( 1 - 2 - 3 )

Location: kitchen (night) ; museum exterior (New Year) | Characters: Rembrandt, Renoir, Hokusai, Velazquez, Van Dyck, Millet, Aoi/MC

Rembrandt: Mmmh! These kurikinton³ are so sweet and delicious. This black one over here is…

Hokusai: They're black beans. They're sweet and tasty too.

Rembrandt: … Mmmh, delicious!

Van Dyck: I've never seen osechi¹ before, but it's so beautiful…!

Millet: I heard that the appearance of the osechi¹ is also important, so I tried various ways to make it look beautiful. I'm glad you were pleased with it.

Velazquez: …

Renoir: Velazquez, what's wrong? You've been staring at Rembrandt for a while now.

Velazquez: No... I was afraid he could choke on this rice cake. With this much elasticity, it would be a big deal, just in case.

Renoir: Aaah… I guess I can't say that it's not a Rembrandt thing… Is it?

Aoi: Rembrandt-san, please be careful!

Rembrandt: I'll be fineee. Chew my food properly…

Wowoaah!? Sorry, I knocked over the zoni²!

Van Dyck: As expected from Rembrandt… It's a very unexpected happening.

Hokusai: Oooh oooooh! You're makin' me laugh from the start of the New Year!

Aoi: M-More importantly, we need to wipe the table!

Renoir: Fufu, it's so lively and fun.

—

Van Dyck: Aaah, we've come so far so fast since then. They're already packing up the stage and exhibits…

Millet: It's been a while since the event ended.

Velazquez: Besides, seasonal exhibits are not meant to be done for a long period of time. It would be out of season.

Van Dyck: I know without you telling me that! That's how much I liked it!

Renoir: My lady, we could start by cleaning up in front of the museum, right?

Aoi: Yes. After a quick cleanup, let's move on to the next stage.

Rembrandt: Got iiit. Then, let's get started… Wait, now that I think of it, where's Hokusai-san?

Millet: Since we're talking about Hokusai-san, he must be lost again, I think?

Van Dyck: More than that… He didn't go on a strike, did he? I mean, his room is always cleaned by you and the others, doesn't Hokusai seem to hate cleaning?

Aoi: Hmm, I told him about the cleaning, so I don't think he's on a strike, but…

I'm worried, so I'm going to look for him…

Hokusai: Hey hey, who you're lookin' for?

Millet: Ah, Hokusai-san… Wait, what's with that kimono!?

Hokusai: It's still like the event is on-going 'till the cleanup's over, right? We've come all this way, let's enjoy it to the end!

Renoir: I see, it's a very Hokusai thing. Well, then... Maybe I should go change my clothes too?

Van Dyck: It's the last time I get to wear that costume... I'll go get changed too!

Velazquez: Well... If everyone else is going to change, I'll go change too.

Millet: Ah, I'll go change too!

Aoi: O-Okay! What about you, Rembrandt-san?

Rembrandt: … I think I'll go change my clothes too! I'll take the chanceee.

Aoi: Fufu, right. I have other work to do now, so please take care of the rest.

Rembrandt: Yup, leave it to us!

¹: Osechi or osechi-ryōri are traditional Japanese New Year foods. Osechi are easily recognizable by their special boxes called jūbako (重箱), which resemble bentō boxes. Like bentō boxes, jūbako are often kept stacked before and after use. [From Wikipedia]

²: Zōni, often with the honorific "o-" as o-zōni, is a Japanese soup containing mochi rice cakes. The dish is strongly associated with the Japanese New Year and its tradition of osechi ceremonial foods. The preparation of zōni varies both by household and region. [From Wikipedia]

³: Kuri Kinton (Candied Chestnuts and Sweet Potatoes) is a special dish of Osechi Ryori, or traditional Japanese New Year foods. Made of mashed sweet potatoes and chestnuts in syrup, kuri kinton is an important dish to bring good luck and prosperity for the new year. [Source]

[japaneseschooltokyo]

Wagashi (和菓子) are traditional Japa...

[kijyowoodworks]

《Hegi_line/C-cake》

栃と欅をうねりラインで積層して作成した小箱です。ラインを揃えるのにかなり苦労しました。栃の節がワイルドです。対で作成した《プリン小箱(Pudding)》にならって《キャロットケーキ小箱(C-cake)》と名付けました。

[Size] 177*52.5*35

[Material] Japanese horse chestnut/ Japanese zelkova

[Coating material]   Prepolymer /oil(osumo)

[Date] 2019/7/20

[材] 栃／欅

[塗装] 木固めエース／オイル(オスモ)