Chocolate.
I promised to share them! These are the Japanese history videos I put together for Anime Central 2020 Online, now bundled into one convenient playlist.
There are 9 videos in all, ranging from 8th century history to modern cultural fun. Here’s the list:
StoryTime from Japanese History: The 47 Ronin
StoryTime from Japanese History: Smallpox and the Great Buddha
StoryTime from Japanese History: The Akabeko
StoryTime from Japanese History: The Ainu
StoryTime from Japanese History: The Archery Challenge at Yashima
StoryTime from Japanese History: Dan No Ura
StoryTime from Japanese History: Nakano Takeko
StoryTime from Japanese History: The Byakkotai
StoryTime from Japanese History: Number Puns
(Note: Not all of history is kid-friendly. While these accounts are PG at strongest, there is some heavy subject matter, so use caution if playing near small children.)
Don’t forget you can also download “A Red Banner To Fly.”
Kuro-Tamago
In other news, I’m finishing the last of my black egg candies from Hakone. These are designed to mimic the eggs which, when hard-boiled in the volcanic steam or hot springs, turn black.
They turn black only in this particular volcanic spot, Ōwakudani — and no one can explain exactly why. The local legend is that each black egg consumed adds seven years to your life. Watch for a post coming soon on the kuro-tamago, but in the meantime, here’s a shot of an homage candy. (It’s not a particularly good chocolate, but that’s not the point of it, either.)