ANDRES OLIVER – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Mon, 05 Aug 2024 07:01:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 ANDRES OLIVER – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 Tokyo chain puts french fries on soba noodles, proves dreams really can come true https://soranews24.com/2015/03/26/tokyo-chain-puts-french-fries-on-soba-noodles-proves-dreams-really-can-come-true/ https://soranews24.com/2015/03/26/tokyo-chain-puts-french-fries-on-soba-noodles-proves-dreams-really-can-come-true/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2015 02:00:24 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=228676

Ramen burgers. Bulgogi tacos. Cronuts. Sometimes the stars align and the gods see fit to bless the world with visionary new dishes–the kind that make people say, “Is that even possible?” Eventually, those same people end up wondering why no one came up with the concept sooner.

One of our Japanese writers was able to experience the joy of culinary experimentation firsthand during a recent trip to Tokyo’s Nadai Fuji Soba, which is now serving… wait for it… French fry soba! Though at first glance you might think someone spilled their Happy Meal over a plate of noodles, the tasty result is sure to make you a believer.

It really works!
The concept of French fry soba originated with Osaka’s Hankyu Soba Wakana. The dish later secretly made its debut in Tokyo through major soba chain Nadai Fuji Soba, which began offering the variation on traditional soba at limited locations. Curious as to whether fries and soba really could make a good pairing, our writer decided to try it for himself. The experience ultimately left him thinking French fry soba is going to become a staple among soba fans.

Available at three restaurants
As of now, Nadai Fuji Soba is offering the groundbreaking dish at the following three Tokyo locations: 1) Kanda 2) Shibuya Shimoda Building 3) Uguisu. Though there is as yet no official word regarding whether the chain will be rolling out its product in all its restaurants, the public’s enthusiastic reception seems to suggest such a move is likely.

More expensive than croquette soba
The dish costs 440 yen (US$3.68), which, somewhat surprisingly, sets it slightly higher than the fried chicken soba available for 410 yen ($3.43). It’s also more expensive than the 410-yen croquette soba, even though both dishes have a similar mouthfeel. Our writer couldn’t help wondering how the addition of french fries, a regular offering on fast food menus, could raise the price above the other options. Was the extra money worth it? Let’s see…

Won’t the fries be too salty?
Since the fries are prepared on the spot, it takes about four minutes for the food to come out. After waiting expectantly, our writer finally had a chance to dig in. Let’s get right to what we need to know: It works! It really works! Though he expected to receive seasoned fries on top of his soba, it turned out this was not the case; the fries had no extra salt. The reason? You dip the fries in the broth instead. A stroke of genius worthy of a Nobel.

Even tastier over time
Though the fries weren’t necessarily crunchy, they also weren’t soggy, allowing you to really savor the flavor of the potato. Nor did the fries taste out of place with the soba. It also helps that the shape of the fries themselves prevents them from getting in the way when you’re slurping up the noodles. As time passes, the fries gradually soak up the flavor of the broth, making them even tastier than before.

A surefire hit with soba lovers
Despite expecting the dish’s very different flavors to clash, our writer was pleasantly surprised at how well everything came together. In his opinion, this has all the makings of a staple, with guaranteed appeal for both soba newcomers and longtime aficionados.

And there you have it! Personally, we’re tempted to go buy some convenience store soba and dump a bag of fries on top. What could go wrong? On second thought, maybe we should make a trip to Nadai and try the real thing first.

Restaurant Details

Name: Nadai Fuji Soba, Shibuya Shimoda Building
Location: 35-6 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya, Tokyo–Shimoda Building
Hours: 24-hour service

Photos © RocketNews24

▼ French fry soba makes landfall in Tokyo!

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/03/26/tokyo-chain-puts-french-fries-on-soba-noodles-proves-dreams-really-can-come-true/feed/ 0 228676 potesoba3 potesoba12 potesoba22 potesoba42 potesoba1 potesoba2 potesoba31 potesoba4 potesoba5 potesoba6 Japanese voters pick the top manga, anime, and other works they wish to see introduced abroad https://soranews24.com/2015/03/15/japanese-voters-pick-the-top-manga-anime-and-other-works-they-wish-to-see-introduced-abroad/ https://soranews24.com/2015/03/15/japanese-voters-pick-the-top-manga-anime-and-other-works-they-wish-to-see-introduced-abroad/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2015 09:00:59 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=226153

With the ever-growing presence of Japanese media abroad, fans of various mediums might sometimes find themselves at a loss as to which series to begin next. Fortunately, a massive poll has now made the process much easier by picking out the cream of the crop as chosen by the Japanese public.

Sponsored by Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri Shinbun, Sugoi Japan recently held its first Grand Prix to determine which works in four categories–manga, anime, light novel, and entertaining novel–people deemed most worthy of being introduced abroad. Though the choice of Attack on Titan as the top manga will surprise few, given its explosive popularity, the winner of the anime category might catch some by surprise. 

The award was established last year to mark the 140th anniversary of the Yomiuri Shinbun. Among works released between January 1, 2005 and July 31, 2014 (hence, no Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dragon Ball, etc.), voters were asked to choose those which they would like to see gain greater recognition around the world or which they thought most likely to prove successful with foreign audiences.

The list of choices, which included both expert and general recommendations, comprised a total of 203 works. Participants could cast three votes in each category any time between October 1 and December 31, 2014.

Attack on Titan won over the agriculture-themed Silver Spoon and volleyball shōnen Haikyū! to take the top manga prize. Meanwhile, Magical Girl Madoka Magica, a dark take on the popular “magical girl” genre, emerged victorious in the anime category with a total of 77,631 votes.

Iwakami Atsuhiro, the Aniplex producer of Madoka, was present at the award ceremony to collect the prize. He commented:

“Anime as a genre has had a big impact these past ten years, even while undergoing many changes–for example, the birth of late-night anime and hit series. I think this award proves just how active the industry has been. I want to carry Japan’s creative works abroad, so I’d like to see them gain even greater recognition at home.”

Foreign publishers and filmmakers are certainly keeping a close eye on products from Japan. For example, one prominent contest endorsement comes from none other than Guillermo del Toro, the acclaimed director and self-proclaimed Japan fanatic whose film Pacific Rim (2013) notably paid homage to the mecha genre. In a statement on the Sugoi Japan website, he writes:

“The Sugoi Japan project will reveal amazing Japanese properties that will enrich the exchange of ideas, characters and stories that has connected both hemispheres of the globe for centuries now. I, for one, couldn’t be more eager to discover them and be stimulated by their great creativity and originality.”

Take a look below for the top ten in the four categories. Personally, we found our to-read list just doubled looking through these.

■ Manga Top 10

1. Attack on Titan

2. Silver Spoon

3. Haikyū!

4. March Comes in Like a Lion

5. Space Brothers

6. Everyday

7. One-Punch Man

8. A Bride’s Story

9. Saint Young Men

10. Assassination Classroom

■ Anime Top 10

1. Magical Girl Madoka Magica

2. Tiger and Bunny

3. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

4. Idolmaster

5. Love Live!

6. Mushishi

7. Attack on Titan

8. Natsume’s Book of Friends

9. Psycho-Pass

10. Steins;Gate

■ Light Novel Top 10

1. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

2. Sword Art Online

3. Spice and Wolf

4. No Game No Life

5. Humanity Has Declined

6. Fate/Zero

7. The Irregular at Magic High School

8. Baka and Test

9. Horned Owl and King of the Night

10. My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute

■ Entertainment Novels Top 10

1. Library War

2. From the New World

3. The Night is Short, Start Walking Young Maiden

4. Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer

5. Confession

6. Genocidal Organ

7. Another

8. Accuracy of Death

9. The Glorious Team Batista

10. It’s Me, It’s Me

Sources: [Yahoo! Japan News] via jin115, Sugoi Japan
Images: Wikipedia/Xfansd, Wikipedia/Wonchop, Wikipedia/KirtZJ, Wikipedia/Swind, Flickr/Maarten

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/03/15/japanese-voters-pick-the-top-manga-anime-and-other-works-they-wish-to-see-introduced-abroad/feed/ 0 226153 SONY DSC Shingeki_no_Kyojin_manga_volume_1 MadokaBD My_Teen_Romantic_Comedy_SNAFU_cover ToshokanSenso Twitter users display their unusual, enchanting family chopsticks https://soranews24.com/2015/03/11/twitter-users-display-their-unusual-enchanting-family-chopsticks/ https://soranews24.com/2015/03/11/twitter-users-display-their-unusual-enchanting-family-chopsticks/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:30:02 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=225230  

Whether it’s a ragged, lovingly stitched kitchen towel inherited from a grandparent, a banged-up knicknack collecting dust on a shelf, or a pair of old baby shoes, the seemingly mundane objects scattered around a house serve as a window into their owners’ hearts and minds. In the case of a family, any given eating utensil might go through the hands of children, siblings, parents, and even guests, collecting a little more history with every pass.

Japanese netizens recently charmed us all with a nostalgic glimpse of their family chopsticks, with designs ranging from Sailor Moon to Star Wars that positively ooze character. We take a look at the highlights below.

It’s common for family members in Japan to each have their own specific set of chopsticks. Some families may prefer pairs that match or share the same theme, but for those who are less concerned with having uniform eating utensils, individual sets of chopsticks mean being able to have a fun, unique pair that says something about the owner. Let’s take a look at some of the more unusual choices some people in Japan have made.

▼ There’s something unreal–not to mention fantastic–about the thought of digging in to dinner with katana chopsticks while drinking out of a Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head cup.

さこださん家で使う用のおはしとコップもろた(・ω・)ノ いえーい(・ω・)ノ pic.twitter.com/k73qPeykYq

— よしづみりょたろー (@yoshizumi_4423) December 15, 2014

 ▼ Neon Genesis Evangelion chopsticks; Ayanami Rei inside the entry plug

https://twitter.com/sendrecv/status/570944324730376192

 ▼ A Sailor Moon-themed pair

セーラームーンの箸可愛い pic.twitter.com/OhPRZSC8DB

— PINKBBA★ももこ (@mmk12pink) July 27, 2014

 ▼ Shi… ten… hoil… Shi… ten…holl?

私、家で四天の箸使ってんだ pic.twitter.com/00wqlrVBg4

— コスモ (@omuomuomunaito) November 24, 2014

This one requires a little explanation, especially for English speakers who might at first think this a case of mangled English (the glare over the last two letters adds to the confusion). The writing in question actually refers to Shitenhouji Junior High School, home of Rikkai Dai Fuzoku’s perennial rivals in the anime Prince of Tennis. The design on the chopsticks reflects the green and yellow outfits worn by the players from Shitenhouji. Now that’s dedication!

 ▼ “The first friend I made while watching a kabuki performance recommended these as a joke. But actually… I was intrigued and ended up buying them! Am I the only one who thinks these are pretty great???”

歌舞伎座初の友人が冗談で勧めてきた歌舞伎箸。本気で気に入って買っちゃいました！あれ？これかなりいいと思うの私だけ？？？ pic.twitter.com/3sqrOjkZ7A

— Kelly (@earthly_joys) September 12, 2013

Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. We love how the two chopsticks come together to form the makeup-sporting kabuki figure.

 ▼ “Here’s a picture of the Ishibakis’ chopsticks. Looks like Mom couldn’t get enough of these. It might be hard to make out on a phone, but the chopsticks have each of the four family members’ Chinese Zodiac signs! Cow, snake, horse, monkey lol. So cute!”

https://twitter.com/snpy_6913/status/553904298875027456

 ▼ Perry the Platypus (a.k.a. Agent P) from Phineas and Ferb

https://twitter.com/ukyan0110/status/564349577776467968

When this thoughtful poster’s parents both received bonuses at work, she decided to reward them with couples’ chopsticks. The note at the bottom reads, “Dad, Mom, thanks for everything.” These elegant chopsticks are made from urushi, a type of Japanese lacquer derived from Urushi trees.

https://twitter.com/bikyaku7180/status/549525796184788993

▼ Accompanying sound effects required

https://twitter.com/mobukasuo/status/570211284387364864

Source: [Twitter] via Naver Matome  

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/03/11/twitter-users-display-their-unusual-enchanting-family-chopsticks/feed/ 0 225230 Japanese government to recruit “white hat” hackers for landmark cybersecurity initiative https://soranews24.com/2015/03/10/japanese-government-to-recruit-white-hat-hackers-for-landmark-cybersecurity-initiative/ https://soranews24.com/2015/03/10/japanese-government-to-recruit-white-hat-hackers-for-landmark-cybersecurity-initiative/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2015 06:00:18 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=224895

The word “hacker” might bring to mind the motley crew of the 1995 film Hackers, or else a number of high-profile cyberattacks resulting in everything from compromised email addresses to a massive Sony data leak. Recently, however, cybersecurity measures are proving that not all hackers are created equal.

Starting in early 2015, the Japanese government will begin recruiting personnel for a fledgling team of “white hat” hackers. Unlike their counterparts on the other side of the law, these computer experts will bring their skills to bear in identifying and protecting against potential security threats.

January of this year marked the birth of the National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) under the directorship of Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Takamizawa Nobushige. The center will serve as the base of operations for the cybersecurity force, which began accepting applications from the private sector in the same month and is currently screening candidates. Recruits will eventually swell to around 10, with an additional staff of over 100. The former will serve as government employees for up to five years.

According to a report from Kyodo News, Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) logged 25.66 billion attempted cyberattacks against the Japanese government and other domestic institutions in 2014 (this includes attacks purposely carried out to assess system security).

The NICT noted that many of the attacks were attempts at gaining control of routers and security cameras. Furthermore, among traceable cyberattacks, 40 percent originated in China, with Russia, South Korea, and the United States also accounting for a large portion.

Given the growing emphasis on cybersecurity, the aforementioned white hat hackers will prove important than ever. Though the CBS show CSI: Cyber portrays one such hacker, the character Brody Nelson, as a reformed criminal turned good guy, such cases are probably the exception to the rule.

That being said, Japan does appear to understand the appeal of criminal activity for technology wizards, especially among the younger generation. Back in early February, Tokyo hosted a global cybersecurity competition named SECCON. The event drew 4,186 participants and was intended as a platform for Japanese hackers to test their skills against teams from other countries.

Regarding the purpose of the competition, the head of the organizing committee, Yoshinori Takesako, said, “There is a need for a forum where fledgling, young … hackers can grow and gain understanding of their families, schools and the outside world. This is important in order to keep them away from being pulled into the underground world.”

With the NISC only just beginning to take shape, these young hackers may well be joining its ranks somewhere in the not-too-distant future.

Sources: [Yahoo Japan] via Hachima Kikou, The Japan Times, Channel NewsAsia, Daily Sabah
Feature images: Flickr/Charis Tsevis

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/03/10/japanese-government-to-recruit-white-hat-hackers-for-landmark-cybersecurity-initiative/feed/ 0 224895 93150384_b74ff72bc6_z North Korean officials, Gaddafi and more get the heavy metal treatment from talented guitarist https://soranews24.com/2015/02/27/north-korean-officials-gaddafi-and-more-get-the-heavy-metal-treatment-from-talented-guitarist/ https://soranews24.com/2015/02/27/north-korean-officials-gaddafi-and-more-get-the-heavy-metal-treatment-from-talented-guitarist/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2015 04:00:41 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=222436

A while back, Japanese politician Ryutaro Nonomura captured the world’s attention after a surreal outburst at a press conference regarding his alleged misuse of taxpayers’ money. No doubt seeing fertile ground for comedy, one creative musician then made Nonomura the stuff of Internet legend by setting the man’s sobs to a guitar track.

Guitarist Felix Martin and his talented collaborators operate under a similar concept, setting guitar, drums, and bass to speeches from North Korean officials, Hugo Chavez, and others. This project isn’t for laughs, though. With an ear for the rhythm and pitch of the spoken word, not to mention masterful heavy metal stylings, Martin and company elevate the aptly named Human Transcription project to the realm of art. Politics and propaganda have never sounded so good.

Hailing from Venezuela, Felix Martin is known for playing self-designed 14-string electric guitars, which have enabled him to push the boundaries of the “tapping” style used by many recent guitarists. His website details his motivations for first embarking upon The Human Transcription almost three years ago.

“The main concept of The Human Transcription is to extract the music that comes from spoken words, in this case, speeches in different languages. In other words, to notate the natural human speaking voice into music notation, and then arrange it to the musical instruments.”

Contributing to the effort are bassist Kilian Duarte, drummer Phil Galatioto, and Martin himself. Clearly, the three have gone to great pains to capture the natural feel of several languages around the world, with famous speeches serving as a showcase for each. And so, without further ado, let’s take a look at some recent entries.

1. Korean

The video opens with a male North Korean official speaking to the camera. Though we can’t understand what he’s saying, the man’s tone and bearing suggest he’s expounding the virtues of some aspect of the regime. Martin and the band capture his speech perfectly, playing hard without overshadowing what Martin himself calls the “very tonal and rhythmic” Korean language.

As we meet the second speaker, a young female soldier, the music becomes lighter, almost bubbly. We see more of these variations as the video moves between male and female soldiers and officials. Just when you think you’ve gotten the gist, however, the music turns wild and fast as the camera pans over a mass rally in Kim Il-sung Square.

Things only get better later on as we see troops practicing martial arts and surveying field equipment. Maybe heavy metal is just what the regime needs to turn the propaganda machine up to 11.

2. Arabic 

In the project’s most recent upload, the three musicians give listeners a feel for Arabic’s fast tempo through none other than deceased Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Though much of the music plays at a frenetic pace, matching Gaddafi’s exhortations and gesticulations, we hear a moment of relative calm around 0:37, as well as another switch-up at 2:34.

3. Portuguese

Featuring possibly the most energetic track yet, this video adds music to a speech from Lula da Silva, in which the former president of Brazil expresses solidarity with Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. Portuguese is known for being an expressive, musical language even without the addition of instruments, making this track all the more fitting. Note the burst of notes around 0:36, at the moment when the audience breaks out in applause.

At this point, Martin has uploaded four of a planned eight installments of The Human Transcription. Which politician will get featured next? We can’t wait to find out. In the meantime, check out the rest of the videos, as well as some incredible live performances, on Martin’s YouTube channel.

Source: Kotaku Japan, Felix Martin homepage
Featured image/video: YouTube

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/02/27/north-korean-officials-gaddafi-and-more-get-the-heavy-metal-treatment-from-talented-guitarist/feed/ 0 222436 Screen Shot 2015-02-26 at 8.18.59 PM Stunning montage takes viewers through Japan’s own hidden wine country: Koshu, Yamanashi https://soranews24.com/2015/02/24/stunning-montage-takes-viewers-through-japans-own-hidden-wine-country-koshu-yamagata/ https://soranews24.com/2015/02/24/stunning-montage-takes-viewers-through-japans-own-hidden-wine-country-koshu-yamagata/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2015 03:00:31 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=220724

With the long Golden Week holiday only a couple of months away, many residents of Japan may well be wondering where best to use their precious vacation days. Tokyo? Kyoto? Perhaps a traditional Japanese hotel? How about Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture?

A new video introducing the relatively small city of Koshu might just make people reconsider their travel plans. With stunning views of Mount Fuji, world-famous vineyards, and a wealth of cultural events, Koshu is the perfect place for both escaping the bustle of big city life and getting a glimpse of traditional Japan.

None exemplify Koshu’s traditional roots better than do the video’s own creators. Crafts maker Inden-ya can trace its history back over 400 years to its founding in 1582. Specializing in the art of koshu inden, which makes use of deer skin for everything from samurai armor to bags and wallets, Inden-ya compiled the cultural and geographical highlights of its home city into one stunning montage.

We see iconic Mount Fuji, tofu preparation, a festival procession, and even a Noh performance as soft music plays in the background. Let’s take a look at some of the standout scenes from the video.

Situated almost directly north of Mount Fuji, about an hour and a half by train from Tokyo, Koshu offers spectacular views of the mountain. According to the Koshu tourism website, visitors can get a particularly good look at Mount Fuji, as well as the Southern Alps, from nearby Mount Daibosatsu. Furthermore, Koshu’s famous vineyards stretch along the foothills of Mount Fuji.

▼ Making tofu

▼ World-famous vineyards

Though people probably don’t immediately think of Japan as a major wine producer, Yamashi Prefecture’s signature Koshu wine has gained recognition in recent years after winning medals at international competitions. The wine was first produced in 1877 in the town of Katsunuma, which has since been incorporated into the city of Koshu. Katsunuma now accounts for a whopping 40 percent of Japan’s domestic wine production. A coalition of local wine makers known as Koshu of Japan is currently working to promote Koshu wine even further overseas.

▼ Matsuri procession

▼ Tough guys on the left, all smiles on the right

▼ Traditional Noh theater

▼ Gorgeous lacquer designs

Near the end of the video, we see an artisan at work on some of Inden-ya’s signature designs. Developed by Edo period patriarch Yusichi Uehara, koshu inden seems to have originated as a way of embellishing pieces of samurai armor. In later centuries, as the samurai began to die out, crafts of this school gained popularity as decorative items even among the common folk. Today, Inden-ya is headed by the 13th-generation Yushichi Uehara, who guards the time-honored secrets of the trade. That being said, the group has already begun expanding abroad, with wallets and handbags going on sale in New York under the name Inden New York.

With so much beauty and culture, check out the whole video and see if you don’t start searching for hotels in Yamanashi the moment you finish.

Source: CuRAZY, Yamanashi Prefecture tourism website, Koshu kankou, The Japan Times
Images:  Youtube

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/02/24/stunning-montage-takes-viewers-through-japans-own-hidden-wine-country-koshu-yamagata/feed/ 0 220724 Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.28.37 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.28.37 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.29.01 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.29.08 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.29.19 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.29.58 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.30.07 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.30.24 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.30.38 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.30.53 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.31.52 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.31.28 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 5.32.03 PM Pizza evolution! We try mochi-dough “stick pizza” from Roppongi’s EU Shokudou https://soranews24.com/2015/02/13/pizza-evolution-we-try-mochi-dough-stick-pizza-from-roppongis-eu-shokudou/ https://soranews24.com/2015/02/13/pizza-evolution-we-try-mochi-dough-stick-pizza-from-roppongis-eu-shokudou/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2015 23:30:58 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=218419

Most of the foods we enjoy today have gone through many stages of evolution, to the point where you almost begin to wonder whether they can ever be improved upon. Yet, so long as cooks maintain their curiosity and enterprising spirit, the foods we know will surely continue to change. We can see the truth of this in creations such as Mokubaza’s cheese keema curry, which we covered in a previous article.

But how can we possibly improve on the wünderfood that is pizza? Well one pizza cafe in Tokyo’s trendy Roppongi district seems to think so…

• Stick-shaped pizza?

Recently a new take on a common dish has come to the public’s attention after being featured on television. The updated dish in question is none other than stick pizza. True to its name, this particular type of pizza is made into a stick shape rather than into a circle. The surface is crunchy, the inside fluffy–something that’s difficult to achieve with normal batter. Yet stick pizza somehow does just that.

• June 2014 opening

In June 2014, EU Shokudou, a café specializing in stick pizza, opened its doors in the area of midtown Roppongi, Tokyo. When you say “stick pizza,” most Japanese don’t seem to be familiar with the term, but it’s something that has been around for a while in some western countries. You can think of stick pizza as something reminiscent of that shape.

• 15 Varieties

EU Shokudou have 15 different types of stick pizza on offer. Taking their queue from pasta sauce, six of these flavors range from carbonara to meat sauce. Adventurous customers can try some of the more unusual flavors, such as walleye pollack roe potato and shrimp squid ink. Rounding out the 15 are five dessert flavors, which include chocolate banana and cinnamon apple.

• A reasonable 300 yen

At around 20 centimeters (7.5 inches), each individual stick pizza is fairly long. Lower-priced varieties include the 180-yen (US$1.50) corn and bacon, with those on the other end including the 660-yen ($5.50) Wagyu beef ragu sauce. Seeing as most of the choices are priced at 300 yen, they won’t break the bank.

• Mochi dough makes for a crunchy exterior

Out of all these enticing options, our reporter chose the meat sauce, carbonara, and shrimp squid ink. These turned out to be longer than he had expected. That being said, they weren’t overstuffed on the inside, making for a quick meal. The texture is more crunchy than flaky, probably owing to the use of rice batter. Conjuring up memories of roasted mochi, the browned surface is truly a thing of beauty.

• No more runny interior

As for the filling itself, it was deliciously moist and springy, with some bits of soggy dough making for an added treat. Normally, when you bake pizza dough in a wrapping, the ingredients tend to get a little runny. However, the clever cooks at EU Shokudou seem to have developed a means of counteracting this effect. On the whole, the stick pizzas felt like more of a snack than a meal. There’s no doubt that stick pizza would be a hit if someone were to sell them like crepes on a busy Harajuku street corner. We’re looking forward to seeing how this trend develops!

Shop Details
Name: Stick Pizza & Cafe Bar EU Shokudou
Location: Tokyo, Minato Ward, Roppongi 7-3-13 Trusty Building 1F
Hours of Operation: 11:00~23:00

▼ Each order comes in a special wrapping. Fortunately, the flavors are written on the exterior.

▼ From front to back: shrimp squid ink, carbonara, meat sauce

▼ meat sauce

▼ shrimp squid ink

▼ carbonara

Photos © RocketNews24

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/02/13/pizza-evolution-we-try-mochi-dough-stick-pizza-from-roppongis-eu-shokudou/feed/ 1 218419 stickpizza1 stickpizza9 stickpizza42 stickpizza5 stickpizza2 stickpizza4 stickpizza6 stickpizza7 stickpizza8 stickpizza10 “In the name of the moon!” See the Sailor Senshi as ’90s video game sprites https://soranews24.com/2015/02/12/in-the-name-of-the-moon-see-the-sailor-senshi-as-90s-video-game-sprites/ https://soranews24.com/2015/02/12/in-the-name-of-the-moon-see-the-sailor-senshi-as-90s-video-game-sprites/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2015 06:00:58 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=217572

With over 30 million copies of the original manga sold, a popular anime adaptation (who can forget the lengthy, fabulous transformation sequences?), and even a lingerie brand, the Sailor Moon franchise has spread to every corner of the globe since its inception in 1991. The series is enjoying renewed popularity at the moment thanks to the reboot series Sailor Moon Crystal.

Given the prominence of the nineties anime Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon in the public consciousness, some might not be as familiar with a number of spin-off video games–understandably so, considering that most of them were never released outside of Japan. In the pictures below, see Sailor Moon and company in all their pixellated glory.

The nineties saw a number of Sailor Moon games released in Japan for the Game Boy, Sega Mega Drive, Super Famicom, and other systems. For example, in the Super Famicom title Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S–Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen, the Sailor Senshi square off against evil a la Street Fighter*.*** Another Super Famicom release, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kondo wa Puzzle de Oshiokiyo, has players clearing colored blocks in the style of Tetris or Bejeweled.

Each of these games features slightly different art styles, from one reminiscent of the anime to a more chibi approach. Let’s take a look at some of the iterations of the Sailor Senshi throughout these games.

From left to right:

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (Arcade, 1995)
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (Sega Mega Drive, 1994)
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kondo wa Puzzle de Oshiokiyo (Super Famicom, 1994) 
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS: Fuwa Fuwa Panic (Super Famicom, 1995)

▼ Sailor Moon

▼ Sailor Mercury

▼ Sailor Mars

 ▼ Sailor Jupiter

▼ Sailor Venus

Looking through these, we can’t help but feel a little disappointed that they weren’t a part of our childhood. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any indication of the games making the to jump to America, so fans of the franchise will have to settle for these tantalizing glimpses.

Source: Sprite Database via Kotaku US
Images: Sprite Database/Roket, Sprite Database/Jurae818

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