Japan

Japanese Christmas Cake

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Ingredients For sponge cake:

1/3 cup all purpose flour  1/3 cup sugar 1/4 tsp baking powder 3 eggs 1 1/2 tbsp butter For whipping cream: 2 cups heavy cream
4 tbsps sugar Garnish: 16 pieces whole strawberry

Directions
Spread some butter inside of an 8-inch round cake pan. Put eggs and sugar in a bowl and whisk very well.
Place the bowl over hot water in another large bowl and whisk further. When the egg mixture becomes white, shift flour and baking powder together and add to the bowl. Add melted butter in the bowl and mix gently.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Pour the batter in the pan and bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 min.

Remove the cake from the pan and cool it on a rack.

Cut the cake in half horizontally.

Mix heavy cream and sugar in a bowl.

Whip the cream well.

Slice 8 pieces of strawberries into thin pieces.

Take the half of the whipped cream and mix the sliced strawberries.

Place the cream on top of a round cake slice.

Place another cake slice on top of the cream.

Spread the rest of the whipped cream on top and around the cake.

Decorate the cake with 8 pieces of strawberries.

Usagi Yojimbo #141 Review

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By Chuck Suffel

Usagi Yojimbo #141 Created, Written & Illustrated by Stan Sakai

This issue is quite a milestone as it marks the two hundredth appearance of Usagi in his own comic illustrated by Stan Sakai. I’ve read this title once or twice in the past but until this issue I don’t think I ever gave it the chance it deserved. Sakai drafts a simple yet compelling story one we think we’ve read before, it feels so familiar, but in lending it his voice he changes it, makes it mean something different. It’s a very personal and symbolic issue and one I’m sure it felt wonderful to write.

For the un-indoctrinated Miyamoto Usagi is a Ronin (masterless samurai), traveling the “warriors pilgrimage” as yojimbo (bodyguard for hire). He is also an anthropomorphic rabbit. As I said the story is quite familiar, a town being terrorized by a
gang. A gang who takes what they want and kills whomever they wish. We all know how those stories play out, there’s a girl to save and her father. There were several interesting differences this time, the supporting character Masa a stone carver who has set himself to the task of carving 200 statues of Jizo (a deity who relieves suffering) in order to rid his village of this blight. And his daughter, Tomiko who despite being a beautiful damsel in distress does not become the hero’s love interest. Another interesting shift in the story away from the formula is how the bad guy gets his comeuppance. I won’t spoil it here but lets say it was more satisfying than a straight dual would have been. When you finish this issue you realize that this story has been a tribute by Sakai. To his fans to Usagi to the craft. Masa is asked if when he reaches his goal will he continue to carve his reply? “Of course– Until my hands can no longer hold the tools of my craft.” I hope that’s true Sakai because you are a master of the craft and I hope you continue it for many years to come.

Check out Stan Sakai on Facebook here  and his website here

Also a quick bio on Stan:

Name: Stan Sakai
Born: May 25th, 1953 – Kyoto, Japan. Age of two, family moved to Hawaii where he lived for the next 22 years.
Current Residence: Pasadena, California
Occupation: Cartoonist/Letterer
Training: University of Hawaii, B.F.A.; Art Center College of Design
Credits: Art/Story – Usagi Yojimbo, Nilson Groundthumper, Space Usagi, Ten Little Critters. Lettering – Groo The Wanderer, The Legend of Kamui, Spider-man Sunday Strips
Favorite Pen: Kohinoor Art Pen
Favorite Movie: Satomi Hakkenden
Major Influences: Steve Ditko, Sergio Aragones, Milo Manara, Moebius, Jack Kirby, Bill Stout, Walt Kelly, Carl Barks, and (of course) Akira Kurosawa.
Check out Chuck’s Twitter and tumblr

http://twitter.com/#!/Chuck_Suffel
http://chucksuffel.tumblr.com

NYCC 2011:Aniplex of America

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By Cass Pineda

Speakers: Hideo Katsumata, Koichiro Natsume

 

Renowned anime distribution and production company Aniplex had quite a number of exciting announcements to make at their panel on Friday, including some re-releases that will excite fans of old classics and streaming deals that will thrill fans of new shows.

Streaming anime online has become more common in recent years, and Aniplex announced that they several of their shows will be available on Hulu, Crackle, Crunchyroll, and Niconico. This includes their hit series Blue Exorcist, which just wrapped up this month, as well as Star Driver, Oreimo, and the much anticipated Type Moon prequel Fate Zero will begin simulcasting on Niconico.com with subtitles this month.

They also announced the DVD releases of several series, new and old. Action classic Rurouni Kenshin (known by some as Samurai X) is due out on Bluray, along with the movies and OVAs. Limited editions will be available, but you’ll want to reserve your copies online, since they’ll no doubt sell out quick. Blue Exorcist will be coming out on DVD, released in four parts. Magical girl favorite Madoka Magica will be released in three parts, beginning in February 2012. The limited edition box set will contain the Bluray, DVD, soundtrack, booklet, poster, and of course, a coveted collector’s box. Pre-orders begin on October 17th.