Kits to make battle tops out of pure candy coming soon in Japan

If you’re going to play with your food, make it competitive.

Spinning tops have been around for a very long time, and even the concept of having battles where opponents try to knock each other’s tops out of commission isn’t new. I have to think it was the name “Beyblade” that really helped to propel tops to the upper echelon of popular toys in recent years.

Though simple in concept, the game has elements of engineering and physics that arguably make the parts educational toys. Perhaps that’s why the makers of educational candy at Kracie took an interest in it. You may not know Kracie by name, but you’ve likely seen some of their products that often involve turning packets of powder into snacks that are surprisingly authentic in looks and taste.

Their latest creation, set to go on sale in stores nationwide on 6 July, is Custom Koma King, where “koma” is the Japanese word for “top,” and I suspect there is an intentionally sneaky pun of “making” in there too. Much like Kracie’s hit candy brand Nerunerunerune, you’re given various packets of powder and plastic trays to mix them with water and create candy. Different powders have different colors and flavors, which can then be modified further by mixing powders together.

In Custom Koma King, you’ll get cola, lemon, and soda flavored powders, which can be combined into flavors such as Super Cola, Super Soda, and Lemon Cola. The primary colors of each can be blended into new colors or made into a rainbow design if done carefully enough. Grape-flavored candy sticks are also included for the spinners, resulting in a top that is entirely edible when you’re done spinning it around.

The kit also comes with three types of molds, so you can make tops of different shapes that give them different attributes. Flower-shaped Bloom tops are able to spin the longest if left to their own devices and can often triumph in low-impact matches. Wing tops have a slight feathered shape that helps them to withstand impacts better than other designs. Finally, the Edge mold creates tops with jagged sides that give more aggressive players an attacking advantage.

These are just the molds that come with Custom Koma King, however, and no one can stop you from creating a completely original top as well. The kits also come with a small tray to spin single tops on for testing, but for full on battles, you should use something like a large dinner plate or a wok. Just keep in mind that you’re probably going to eat the tops afterward, so it should be something clean.

Also, Beyblade parts are carefully made with an inherent balance to them for the best performance, but these candies are completely handmade from powder, which means there’s an added element of how well you can forge your own top with the correct symmetry to outlast opponents. And even if you fail, you can just eat it and start again. When tasting defeat comes with the pleasant tanginess of soda and grape, it’s always a win-win situation.

Source, image: PR Times
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“Phantom Egg Shop” opens in Japan, with a dozen rare Japanese varieties

In-house expert Mr. TKG gives us his top three egg recommendations.

When people in Japan with niche interests hone in and get serious about something, they get really serious. Case in point is a new store that recently opened in Komagome in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward, which specialises in Japanese eggs. These aren’t just any eggs, but rare varieties you won’t find in regular supermarkets, and the hard-to-encounter nature of them is reflected in the store name: Gen no Tamagoya San, which translates as “Phantom Egg Shop”.

Our reporter Mr Sato stumbled upon the store by chance on 13 June, which happened to be the day it opened, and when he stepped inside, staff told him he was their very first customer. Feeling a sense of joy at this unexpected achievement, Mr Sato decided right then and there that he would seek to find an egg that would elevate his love of tamago kake gohan, a popular raw-egg-cracked-over-rice dish that goes by the colloquial name of “TKG”.

Luckily for him, the place is run by a man known as “Mr TKG”, and he was on hand to answer all of Mr Sato’s burning egg questions.

▼ Mr TKG, or Mr Ueno, is also the representative director of the Japan TKG Research Institute.

Mr Sato first asked if this was Mr TKG’s first permanent retail store, to which he answered: “Yes. We’ve been involved with shops as a wholesaler, but this is our first directly operated permanent store.”

Mr Sato: Why did you decide to open a directly operated permanent store?

Mr TKG: “These eggs aren’t widely available so online sales have been our main focus, but this store also acts as a base for our online shop. Of course, customers can also come in and purchase items in person.”

Mr Sato: After taking a quick look around, I noticed that all the eggs on display are varieties I’ve never seen before. You wouldn’t even find them in a department store food hall, let alone a supermarket.

Mr TKG: “Farmers are generally focused on production, and tend to sell locally. For example, they might supply ryokans or high-end restaurants in their region. Brand eggs are often distributed within this type of closed system.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of ryokans and similar businesses had to close so sales rapidly declined, and we started hearing cries of concern from farmers all over the country. That’s when we thought we should try to help bring high-quality eggs to a wider audience, and that’s how the ‘Phantom Egg Shop’ began. At present, around 130 different brand eggs are registered, with between 70 and 100 available at any one time.”

Mr Sato: Wow, that’s a lot! Is there a screening process involved?

Mr TKG: “Yes. We do turn applications down quite often, and we’re quite strict about the screening process. The eggs that make it into our store lineup are all carefully chosen.”

Mr Sato definitely got the impression that all the eggs here weren’t just rare varieties, but top-quality ones too. When he visited, there were 12 different types of eggs to choose from, with many being brand eggs that are usually hard to come across.

▼ There were a lot of eggs to see here, including one from Okinawa, which had a bluish tinge to its shell.

▼ The store also has a selection of merchandise, making it a must-visit for egg lovers.

▼ Mr Sato received a pamphlet to help him make his choices, and although the store didn’t stock all these eggs at one time, he couldn’t believe how many special brand eggs exist in Japan.

When Mr Sato asked Mr TKG for recommendations, he said that the most expensive egg currently available is Tamango, a premium egg from Kumamoto where the chickens are fed mango and coconut. Priced at 880 yen (US$5.46) per egg, this was even more expensive than the silkie chicken egg Mr Sato tried recently, which he thought was expensive at 756 yen per egg.

▼ Tamango on the left.

Mr TKG also recommended the “ultimate white egg”, Akita’s Kimi no Yoin, which is said to have been presented to the Imperial Household.

Mr TKG’s third recommendation was Yumeou, an egg that won the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th iterations of the “Japan TKG Festival”, earning it a place in the Hall of Fame. There were also plenty of others deserving of praise, such as Kochi’s Yuzutama, said to be popular among women for its citrusy yuzu aroma, and Kochi’s Tosa Jiro, highly praised by foodies as being perfect for TKG.

▼ Yuzutama in the middle basket.

While these eggs would normally go for a high price per piece, the store has a fantastic deal that lets you purchase a carton of six of your favourites for just 1,000 yen.

▼ Simply fill out the ones you like on a card, then put them in the pack according to that order so you don’t mix them up at home, and then pay at the register.

▼ Mr Sato went home with (clockwise from top left): Tamango, Hougyokuran (from Saitama), Yumeou, Hakkou (from Okinawa), Kimi no Yoin, and Jurokudai Makka Tamago (“16th Generation Deep Red Egg” from Aomori).

This was a fantastic deal for just 1,000 yen, and as soon as he got home Mr Sato cracked into Mr TKG’s top three recommendations to see just how good they were.

▼ Tamango, the mango-coconut egg

▼ Kimi no Yoin, with links to the Imperial Family

▼ Yumeou, the award-winning Hall of Fame recipient.

Tasting them side by side revealed some surprises, with the main difference being the texture after they had been mixed. The Tamango was rich and slightly thick, while Kimi no Yoin and Yumeou were much lighter and more fluid.

This difference also came through in the tamago kake gohan, affecting the overall mouthfeel. As someone who particularly loves the rich, mellow flavour of egg yolk, Mr Sato found the Kimi no Yoin to be especially delicious, with its pronounced depth of richness.

What surprised him most, however, was the consistency in quality. Though personal preferences may differ, for Mr Sato all these eggs were eclipsing a state of perfection, if such a thing exists, and he says you can’t go wrong with any of Mr TKG’s top three recommendations. While you can have your eggs any way you like, Mr Sato does recommend trying them raw over rice, and if you need tips on how to make the best TKG, then this guide will help you out.

Store information
Gen no Tamagoya Honkomagome Main Store / 幻の卵屋さん 本駒込本店
Address: Tokyo-to, Bunkyo-ku, Honkomagome 5-72-1
東京都文京区本駒込5-72-1
Open 2:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

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Japanese merry-go-round has heartwarming backstory, is one of the best rides in Japan

The amusement park may have been demolished, but this ride lives on.

“This might be the most enjoyable merry-go-round I’ve ever ridden.”

That was the honest reaction from our reporter Natsuno Futon after she stepped off a carousel recently, and there were a couple of major reasons that made her feel this way. First was the fact that she could ride it as many times as she liked for free, and secondly, and most importantly, was the unique nature of it, as it kept the history of a long-forgotten theme park alive in a unique and heartwarming way.

Located in Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture, the merry-go-round has pride of place in Oyama Yuen Harvest Walk, a shopping centre built on the site of the former Oyama Amusement Park (known as “Oyama Yuenchi” in Japanese). The amusement park was beloved by generations of visitors throughout its 55 years of operation, from 1960 until its closure in 2005, and while it was eventually razed to create the sprawling new shopping complex, one thing remained: the merry-go-round.

▼ In honour of the fact that it now lives on in a section called “Merry Go-Round Town”, we’ll refer to the carousel as a “merry-go-round” from here on out.

▼ Standing proud in one corner of the complex, the merry-go-round serves as a touching reminder of the former amusement park.

The fact that this original ride from the park is still running more than 20 years after the closure is a testament to its makers, and when Natsuno first laid eyes on it, she gasped at its beauty as it looked like no other merry-go-round she’d ever seen in person.

▼ It was much larger than she’d imagined, and much more beautiful as well.

It was also an astonishingly good deal, because this carousel is completely free to ride as many times as you like on weekdays. It operates four times an hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an hour’s break from 12 p.m. for scheduled maintenance.

If you visit on weekends and public holidays, the price is still surprisingly reasonable, as rides cost just 300 yen (US$2) for adults 200 yen for children aged three and over.

As Natsuno was here on a weekday, the ride would cost her absolutely nothing, and with her two children in tow, they were all excited to give it a try. First call of order, though, was choosing a seat, and unlike a lot of regular merry-go-rounds, which consist mostly of horses, this one had many more creative options.

▼ The first two seats to catch her eye were the lion…

▼ …and the donkey.

▼ The donkey was especially cute, as its head jiggled back and forth, making it look like it could be alive.

▼ There was also a carriage that gently rocked back and forth.

▼ For Natsuno and her two children, though, it was the teacup-shaped seat that was the winner.

Stepping into the teacup, Natsuno was impressed to find that although the merry-go-round looked old, the seats looked surprisingly new. It quickly became clear to her that the people running the show must have a strong affection for the ride and were doing a great job of looking after it.

As the ride began to whir into action there was another surprise – the teacup they were in actually spins.

Within moments, retro theme park-esque music began to play and the merry-go-round slowly began to turn. At first, Natsuno felt slightly self-conscious with shoppers walking by, but as the ride picked up she soon found herself throwing these concerns to the wind as a giddy sense of childlike glee took over and a wide grin began to form on her face.

It was fun, thrilling, and joyous, but before she knew it, the ride slowly came to a standstill, and Natsuno felt it just wasn’t enough. So she moved over to a classic horse for another go on the merry-go-round.

Once again, the music began to play, the ride began to turn, and Natsuno’s grin quickly returned. From the high vantage point of the horse she was able to enjoy a different view of her surroundings, and with her hands clasped around the pole, she felt more a part of the experience.

As she rode her steed, she made sure to look up and enjoy the decorative artwork above her, which was breathtakingly beautiful in its details.

▼ There was even a bucolic scene featuring a donkey.

▼ Peering even closer, she spotted a dragonfly charm hanging from the roof.

With every go on the ride, Natsuno seemed to discover new details that totally endeared her to the merry-go-round.

▼ On her third ride, she found herself appreciating the beauty of the horses’ tails, which had a real sense of history about them.

▼ Then, on her fourth and final round, she found herself admiring the details of the fairytale-like carriage.

After four rides, and an hour spent on the merry-go-round, Natsuno resisted the urge to spend the rest of the day there, and bid a fond farewell to its permanent residents.

▼ As she stepped off the ride, she made a mental note to revisit, so she could explore the second storey as well.

The two-storey merry-go-round was such a treat to ride on, and Natsuno couldn’t help but thnk how lucky she and her children were to have it all to themselves. If a ride like this existed in a big city like Tokyo, she imagines there would be long wait times and crowds that would totally detract from the true joy of the experience. So although it might be a bit of a trek to get to, we’re glad the merry-go-round is where it is.

▼ Plus, at night, the carousel is lit up, transforming into a magical, dreamlike sight.

We’re also glad that the new site has paid homage to the memory of the amusement park in such a fitting way. As the star of Merry Go-Round Town, this ride deserves to live on for future generations, so that children, and adults like Natsuno, can enjoy all the wonder it brings.

Site information
Oyama Yuen Harvest Walk Merry-Go-Round / おやまゆうえんハーヴェストウォーク メリーゴーランド
Address: Tochigi-ken, Oyama-shi, Kizawa 1475
栃木県小山市喜沢1475
Open: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m./ 1:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (weekdays); 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (weekends & public holidays)
Website

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