Pikachu, Porsches, and mouth-watering ramen: The amazing cakes of M Cakes Japan【Photos】

Hokkaido-based cake artist draws on a wide variety of inspirations for jaw-dropping edible art.

Cake decorator Megumi Suzuki refers to herself as a “natural-born fondantista,” and while the last part of that title may not be an actual word, it’s still hard to argue with the description. After first encountering the rolled fondant method of cake preparation in 2008, Suzuki began experimenting with the techniques on her own, eventually sharpening her skills enough to start her online cake business, M Cakes Japan, in 2011.

Fondant icing manages to keep its structural integrity while remaining malleable, allowing Suzuki to sculpt it into complex shapes with a soft sponge filling. With an imaginative mind and steady hands, Suzuki can make cakes shaped like just about anything. Fashion is a common theme in her designs, as she’s made cakes that look exactly like high-end handbags and high-top basketball shoes.

Suzuki is also perfectly capable of modeling her desserts after edible items, such as a nigiri sushi set or a bowl of tonkotsu pork stock ramen so delicious that even pigs can’t resist it.

▼ This gives a whole new meaning to “crab cake.”

It’s unclear whether a KFC cake has more or fewer calories than an actual bucket of fried chicken, but the cabbage cake is almost undoubtedly less nutritious than the actual vegetable.

Moving from super-realistic to super-cute, Pikachu has also been among M Cakes Japan’s culinary creations…

…as has his Nintendo corporate cousin Mario.

And if you prefer movies to games, there’s Baymax, star of Disney’s Big Hero 6…

…and a recreation of the bag of mystical creatures carried by Newt in Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Shifting gears, Suzuki’s automotive muses have included the Porsche 911 and Back to the Future’s DeLorean.

She’s also recreated several domestic sports models, such as the Nissan Z, Subaru Impreza, and gone-but-not-forgotten Honda Integra Type R.

▼ JDM cake has JDM headlights.

Ordinarily, cars and liquor are a dangerous combination, but M Cakes Japan’s offerings contain neither motors nor alcohol, leading to booze-lookalikes such as these.

Suzuki takes orders online here, and is capable of corresponding with customers in both English and Japanese. It boasts that its cakes are made with flour, eggs, and butter from Hokkaido, the northern island where M Cakes Japan is based. The major appeal, though, is no doubt the visuals, so before you start eating, you’ll want to grab an SLR and snap some commemorative photos.

Just don’t use that camera, because, you guessed it, it’s actually a cake too.

Related: M Cakes Japan website, Instagram
Source: M Cakes Japan via Jalopnik
Featured image: Instagram/mcakesjapan

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Cafe in Japan will hook diners up with a virtual girlfriend to keep them company while they eat

Virtual idol Hatsune Miku takes time out from her busy schedule to sit down for some sweets in augmented reality event.

Smartphones have made eating out by yourself a much less awkward situation that it used to be. Instead of twiddling your thumbs as you wait for your order to arrive, then single-mindedly wolfing it down once it does, you can whip out your phone and peruse the wonders of the Internet like any proper technologically savvy sophisticate of the 21st century.

Still, while there’s plenty of mentally stimulating and emotionally compelling stuff online, you might still find yourself feeling a little lonely. But once again, smartphone technology is ready to come to the rescue, as a cafe in Japan will be providing select customers with an augmented-reality virtual girlfriend to keep them company while they enjoy their food and drink.

Oh, and it’s not just any girl from the digital world that customers are getting hooked up with, but Vocaloid superstar Hatsune Miku herself.

On July 8, 9, 15, 16, and 17, Blue Leaf Cafe in the city of Sendai will be outfitted with a number of special smartphones loaded with a new iteration of the Miku Stroll augmented reality program. Only you won’t be doing any strolling in Miku Stroll Cafe Edition, but sitting down for some light fare with the world’s most successful virtual idol, as part of a promotion with telecommunications provider (and Blue Leaf Cafe operator) au/KDDI and Crypton Future Media.

While Miku herself will only be at the cafe for the five days listed above, the restaurant will be offering a number of Miku-themed items between July 8 and 31, some saluting the 10th anniversary of her debut.

▼ The 800-yen (US$7.20) roll cake doesn’t sound particularly pungent, but non-virtual diners ordering the 900-yen Miku Sandwich with Pastrami and Refreshing Pickled Green Onions will probably want to pop a breath mint afterwards.

▼ Miku Summer Tropical Soda (700 yen) and Miku Latte (650 yen)

And, as customers have come to expect at otaku-oriented dining events in Japan, character art coasters will be given out to patrons while supplies last.

As a virtual idol, Miku is technically capable of being anywhere at any time. But while time and space pose no problems for the Vocaloid herself, Blue Leaf Cafe only has so many smartphone setups to spare, and so those hoping to go on this date with the virtual idol will have to register for the AR experience here.

Restaurant information
Blue Leaf Café / ブルー・リーフ・カフェ
Address: Miyagi-ken, Sendai-shi, Aoba-ku, Ichibancho 3-8-8 Ichibancho stear
宮城県仙台市青葉区一番町3-8-8 一番町stear
Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Website

Source:, images KDDI

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Super-ultra-rare anime condoms to be handed out for free in Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood

First-come, first-served in promotion for upcoming anime TV series.

The late-night TV anime boom has been sort of a double-edged sword for studios and producers. On the plus side, more content is being produced than ever before, thanks to a distribution system that makes it easier for creators to get their work in front of audiences’ eyeballs than ever before. The drawback, though, has been with so much more content being produced than at any other time in the industry’s history, it’s increasingly difficult to make your series stand out.

So the marketing team for Love and Lies, the upcoming anime adaptation of the currently ongoing manga of the same name, have decided to go with a very outside-the-box plan: They’re handing out “super-ultra-rare” Love and Lies condoms in Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood to promote the show.

▼ The condoms’ wrappers feature one of three designs.

▼ Preview video for Love and Lies (no condoms shown)

Love and Lies is set in a near-future Japan in which the government forcibly assigns marriage partners to boys when they turn 16, somehow of the opinion that this will increase the country’s birthrate. When protagonist Yukari receives his notification, he’s heartbroken that it seemingly spells the end of his budding mutual romance with classmate Misaki, as he’s been designated to marry a different girl, named Ririna. However, with Ririna’s blessing, Yukari and Misaki continue their romance in secret, with the now-illegal consummation of their relationship an increasing likelihood.

So sex is, in fact, a critical part of the storyline. However, giving away condoms is still a pretty bizarre way to promote the show, and not because of any hoary “If anime fans actually had anyone to have sex with, they wouldn’t be anime fans in the first place!” notions.

The real issue is that, while it’s unclear if there’s anything special about the condoms themselves, the wrappers are decorated with illustrations of raven-tressed Misaki and blond-haired Ririna. As such, if the prophylactics are actually going to be used, the user will be looking at the anime girls right before strapping one on, which seems like it would make the atmosphere between him and his real-life physical partner a little awkward.

But, as with any limited-edition memorabilia, true fans will of course want to keep the condoms in their original packaging. This is an odd fit for a series whose premise hinges on a society-wide plan to cause pregnancies, the exact opposite of what condoms are designed to do. Maybe the appeal is in imagining yourself as having a secret tryst with the character on the condom, and needing to use protection to avoid getting her pregnant and the government finding out?

Fans who have sorted out why/how they could use Love and Lies condoms will be able to obtain them at three anime specialty stores in Akihabara on July 2, one day before the series’ broadcast premiere. Distribution will take place at Akihabara Gamers at 1 p.m., Melon Books Akihabara Branch 1 at 1:30, and Tora no Ana Akihabara Branch B at two o’clock.

Oh, and the condoms will be distributed randomly, just like spouses in the anime.

Related: Akihabara Gamers, Melon Books Akihabara, Tora no Ana Akihabara
Source: Otakomu
Top image: YouTube/amusesoftchannel
Insert images: Love and Lies official website, YouTube/amusesoftchannel

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7 Ways You Can Show Someone You Love Them Without Saying “I Love You”

7 New Dating Apps To Try Out If Your Love Life Is Feeling Bleak As Ever

Summer is notoriously known as “uncuffing” season. The weather gets hot, you wear less clothing, and couples, for some reason, feel the need to break up.

What is it with 90-degree weather and people deciding they're not in love anymore?

Hookup season is also at its highest around this time, but so is your competition on dating apps. It can be rough out there. Every time I go to a pool party expecting to meet my soulmate, I usually end up hanging out next to the snack table, while my crush plays chicken in the pool with hot girls in bikinis. Such is life.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the need for a summer romance or fling, I get it. Plus, every time you sign on Tinder or Bumble in the hopes of meeting someone through your phone, it's the same people over and over again.

Yep, we're all still single! Nice to see we're all still on here!

So this summer, if we're all going to be single and sweaty, it's time we give some new dating apps a try. Here are some you should download if your love life is feeling bleak as ever.

1. Dating AI

Always had a crush on Ron Weasley from Harry Potter? (Is that just a me thing?) Well, now, there's a dating app called Dating AI that will allow you to match with people who look like your favorite celebrity — whether that be, say, a red-headed wizard or someone more conventional like Liam Hemsworth.

First, you choose the celebrity you've always had a crush on from the built in database. There's also a second option, though: If you want to pay extra, you can upload a picture of an ex or unrequited love, and the app will only match you with people who look like him. Creeeeepy, but I like it.

Next, the app will pop up with your list of doppelgängers. You click on the person's face you're interested in, and you'll be redirected to the app that they're actually on.

So basically, Dating AI will help you find the most accurate matches on apps you might already have, like Tinder or Bumble.

(In my dream world, all my ex-boyfriends are uploading my face onto Dating AI because they aren't over me yet and want to date girls who look exactly like me in an attempt to recreate our relationship. Just saying!)

2. Bracket

Bracket dating app is trying to make dating fun again. Think: the fantasy football or March Madness of dating apps.

When you sign up for the app, you answer a few questions about your preferences — from age to favorite ice cream flavor. Then, each day, the app will automatically match you with 16 other users, which is great, because it takes all the swiping off your hands.

Then, throughout the day, those 16 users are put in a kind of love tournament, and when the winner is finally determined — a match who is truly perfect for you — you'll get to message one another.

Sounds super fun to me. It's time to shake up how we online date.

3. Tinder Gold

Yes, Tinder already exists, but it's rolling out a new service called Tinder Gold, with a super cool feature called “Likes You.” Unfortunately, it's members only. But, it might just be worth splurging on.

Essentially, Tinder Gold and the “Likes You” feature tells you who has swiped right on you before you make any choice about them. The people who've already swiped right on you will have a special heart on their profiles, so you can decide to automatically match with them, or do the normal swipe left or learn more.

So if you're shy about making the first move, or just want to see if your crush or ex swiped right on you, then investing in Tinder Gold might be a good move.

4. First

First is actually a really cool idea. Instead of matching people by photo and then requiring endless conversation before a first date may or may not occur (you know how some people just want pen pals on dating apps), it actually matches you by the date ideas.

Let me explain.

For example, I say that I want to see a 5 p.m. showing of a certain movie. Then, eligible men will submit to join that date. Finally, I get to choose which man I want to accompany me, and I will accept his submission.

With no pre-conversations or exchanging numbers, you both show up to the date, and go from there. If you enjoy your time together, then you can exchange digits, start chatting, texting, and messaging, and planning more dates from there.

It's a good way to cut the BS that's often associated with messaging, and cut straight to what we're all here for — the actual dating.

5. Tastebuds

Tastebuds is an app that matches you with perspective partners based on your taste in music.

The questions on the app are all pretty much music based, and when you match with someone, you can either message them the normal way, or you can even send them a song.

Pretty cool, especially for me, who is still hoping that, one day, her crush will make her a playlist full of emo love songs.

6. Happn

By now, you've most likely heard about Happn. The dating app is half intriguing, half scary.

It starts off like any other dating app. You add your pictures, make a profile, and say what kinds of dates you're interested in going on. Then, the interesting part happens.

Happn uses GPS to track your movements. When you get close to another potential partner who has the Happn app, it will alert you of the match. If you like what you see, you can allow them to message you, and you can make a plan to meet up.

This app is one step in between online dating and meeting in real life. If you want to see what happens when fate helps you meet people through your phone, then Happn is the right app for you.

7. Sweatt

Fitness junkie? Then, Sweatt is definitely the app for you. Currently only available in New York (sorry), this app will match you with other health nuts based on your workout routines.

This is perfect for if you want to date people with similar lifestyles, because you know there's no way in hell you're going to want to date a couch potato if you're always at the gym.

So, if you're looking for some new apps to try out to improve your love life, give one of these a try. If you have any more suggestions, let me know in the comments!

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7 New Dating Apps To Try Out If Your Love Life Is Feeling Bleak As Ever

Credit: Dating – Elite Daily