Latest news with #Inuyasha
SoraNews24
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Can Japan's favorite cheap chocolate also be a good craft beer? Taste-testing Black Thunder Stout
Black Thunder chocolate goes into every can, but does that mean this brew comes out tasty? No matter how old you are, visiting a chocolate factory will make you feel like a kid again. That was something our ace reporter Mr. Sato experienced first hand on his recent trip to the Black Thunder factory in the town of Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, where they make Japan's favorite brand of incredibly cheap, but also incredibly delicious, chocolate. ▼ Black Thunder, the chocolate that delights taste buds even if it sometimes breaks hearts But while Mr. Sato's inner child was squealing with glee as he participated in the factory's souvenir shop activity that lets you stuff as many chocolate bars as you can inside a bag in three minutes, his inner adult couldn't help feeling drawn to… …the Black Thunder chocolate beer?!? Yes, they do sell beer at the Black Thunder factory, and yes, it's really made from Black Thunder. Specifically, it's made using the leftover pieces of chocolate that are broken off when the bars are formed, so as you crack open a can of Black Thunder Stout you can pat yourself on the back for doing your part to reduce food waste. Though Black Thunder is famous for its low price, Black Thunder Stout is just a tad on the expensive side at 755 yen (US$5.20) a can. That's still an affordable luxury, though, and not a shocking price for a craft beer in today's marketplace. The beer is produced by Kagawa Prefecture-based brewer Setouchi Beer for Toyohashi craft beer company THC Craft, with the blessing of Black Thunder maker Yuraku Confectionary Company, and uses barley malt imported from the U.K. and Germany. ▼ The label, with an illustrated redhead in a tiger-stripe outfit, is clearly taking some design cues from manga artist Rumiko Takahashi, creator of Inuyasha , Ranma 1/2 , and Urusei Yatsura , whose female lead is fond of tiger-print attire herself. But with Black Thunder being a chocolate with a pronounced sweetness, Mr. Sato wondered, and also sort of worried, that Black Thunder Stout would be a sugary-tasting beer. He felt a little better after asking the store staff about its flavor and a clerk told him that the beer, which has a five-percent alcohol content, isn't particularly sweet, and instead has an enjoyable bitterness to it. Convinced, Mr. Sato bought a can and took it home for taste-testing. As soon as he started pouring, Mr. Sato noticed the fine fizziness of the head, and since he likes his stouts to have this kind of creamy top, his expectations immediately rose like the foam in his glass. Mr. Sato wasn't just pouring the can into a glass for the visual inspection, though. During the brewing process, the sugars in the chocolate pieces play a role in the fermentation process, and the resulting beer retains some of that sweet aroma. It's most noticeable with a wide-brimmed drinking vessel, and the brewers recommend a wine glass, but since Mr. Sato doesn't have one he instead used the widest-opening cup he could find in his kitchen. Sure enough, he could detect a gentle, enticing sweetness as he took a sniff before he took a sip. And when he did take that sip? It was excellent. Gently pushing through the top layer of soft, creamy foam, he found a robust bitterness that gives the beer a sense of psychological weight. But the bitter notes weren't alone in the rich flavor profile, as they were accompanied by sensations of coffee. Surprisingly, there was no candy-like sweetness, but the flavor ends with a faint lingering chocolatey impression that tickles the nose and entices you into another sip. Flavorful but mellow, Mr. Sato likens the Black Thunder Stout to a glass of fine wine or whiskey, something to take your time with and thoroughly enjoy. Sadly, while Black Thunder is available in pretty much every convenience store in Japan, Black Thunder Stout is harder to find, though it's sometimes available for online order through local products e-shop Toyohashi Tsushin here. However, even Black Thunder chocolate wasn't an overnight success story, and at one point early in its history was even temporarily taken off the market because of low sales before word of mouth made it the phenomenal hit it is today, so maybe we'll see Black Thunder follow a similar path. Related: Black Thunder factory official website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ranma ½: The hilarious shonen classic that time forgot
Ranma ½: The hilarious shonen classic that time forgot credit- IMDb Long before Inuyasha captured a generation of fledgling anime nerds in the early 2000s, another insane, zany anime from the same creator took Japanese television by storm — and it's one that deserves significantly more love. That classic is Ranma ½ , a martial arts romantic comedy loaded with gender-bending shenanigans, whiplash-inducing physical comedy, and a surprisingly rich arc of character development. Premiering in 1989, the same year Dragon Ball Z first premiered, Ranma ½ received an anime adaptation that stretched 161 episodes, 12 OVAs, and 3 movies. Even with such a long-lasting run, the anime was never able to fully complete the adaptation of the original manga. The animation studio went bankrupt. Nevertheless, this underrated gem is well worth checking out — and even following through the manga if you're looking for the complete tale. Here's a look at what makes Ranma ½ one of the funniest and most unique anime ever made that so many fans today have unfortunately left behind. A gender-swapping martial arts comedy like no other Ranma ½ centers on teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome, who is cursed while on an ill-fated training excursion to China. Now, each time he gets doused with cold water, he magically switches genders. Warm water is his kryptonite, as it completely turns him back. It's hilarious, it's slapstick, it's zany, it sets up all of these great cringe-worthy moments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Ranma is now declared engaged to Akane Tendo, a rude, loud-mouthed, knife-throwing little hot-head who loathes men and runs away from home. They're not given a choice but to end up living together, being trained together — and trying not to kill each other. This arrangement sets up a perpetual cycle of miscommunications, arguments and sexual tension. Imagine Inuyasha's Kagome and Inuyasha — but with more fights and crazier turnarounds. Why Ranma and Akane's relationship is so fun to watch Forget love at first sight. Ranma and Akane remain one of anime's most beloved 'enemies-to-lovers' couples. Initially, they are repulsed by one another. Ranma is arrogant and infuriating, Akane is hot-headed and headstrong. That's what makes their relationship authentic. As their immature fighting grows into something more intense. It's their mutual encouragement to improve, awareness of what they need to work on as individuals, and warmth toward each other that leads them to fall in love though they never vocalize it. It's a coming-of-age comedy, a little bit of a slow burn, loaded with laugh-out-loud brawls, touching moments, and genuine character development. If you enjoyed the will-they-won't-they dynamic of Inuyasha and Kagome, you'll be even more entertained by the far messier (and more hilarious) iteration found in Ranma ½. The perfect anime to watch while you relax In contrast to most contemporary anime that are so loaded with angst and heavy plots and just constant melodrama, Ranma ½ was a lot more disrespectful. With most episodes standalone or loosely connected, it makes for a fun show to binge in a more laid-back way. You can dive in, watch a couple episodes, and not be concerned that you're lost on basic plot points. It's ideal to view while preparing dinner, tidying up, or simply unwinding at the end of a long day. With more than 150 episodes, there's no end of nerdy delight. Characters that actually grow and change In most cases of long-running anime, characters never grow up or change. That's not true with Ranma ½ — both Ranma and Akane undergo significant character arcs as the series progresses. Ranma's original mission in life was to prove he was the strongest fighter in the whole world. Yet as the series continues, Gumball starts to wonder why he has the compulsion to constantly be the greatest and gradually starts to embrace himself, profanity and all. Akane is introduced as a hot-headed girl who's the first to throw down with anyone that gets on her nerves. As the series progresses, she does become more open-minded, more self-assured, and ultimately less emotionally volatile due in no small part to her tumultuous association with Ranma. Even the side characters—the rivals, the family members—are given lovely stories. Everybody's weird in the best way, and the cast is unexpectedly one of the most fun elements that the series packs. Why this forgotten anime deserves a comeback While Ranma ½ was a big hit in Japan and helped introduce anime to Western audiences in the '90s and early 2000s, it's been mostly forgotten today. That's a shame, because it still holds up as a fun, unique, and heartfelt anime. The animation may be old-school, but the comedy, romance, and action are timeless. And with the rise of streaming and digital manga, there's never been a better time to revisit (or discover) this classic. Where to watch and read Ranma ½ You can stream Ranma ½ on services like Hulu (US) or buy the full series digitally on Amazon. For the complete story, you can read the manga by Rumiko Takahashi (also the creator of Inuyasha) through Viz Media — available in print and digitally. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
