Tag Archives: oozora subaru

I Ate Nissin Curry Meshi Thanks to hololive

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Truly “instant” curry rice is something I’ve always wanted, but the idea of a truly shelf stable with absolutely minimal prep time seemed a bit farfetched. That’s why I was surprised a few years ago to see Minato Aqua, Oozora Subaru, and Usada Pekora from hololive promoting a new product called Nissin Curry Meshi, i.e. Japanese curry rice in a cup.

When I traveled to Japan last year, I used the opportunity to get some for myself. What I didn’t know is that there were multiple versions at this point: the original; the “perfect meal” version; extra spicy; and hayashi, which is technically not curry but often gets lumped in with it. Yotsuba famously called hayashi “fake curry.”

As stated in the hololive video above, preparing these instant curries involves adding water to the cup, waiting a few minutes, and then stirring continuously to get the roux to melt and mix with the rice. It’s a little more involved than Cup Noodles, but not by much.

Every flavor tastes close enough to what they claim to be. They hit the right notes, and wouldn’t be mistaken for anything else. I do think the perfect meal version kicks the whole product into the realm of the mildly inconvenient with its extra separate curry powder, but it ends up tasting all right overall. 

Regular

The rice is decent but does not taste 100% authentic. It’s unlikely anyone would confuse this for fresh (or even day old) rice if it was served in a blind taste test. It sort of reminds me of a rice-based breakfast cereal in that it feels like dehydrated rice that has been reconstituted, but not necessarily like it’s cooked rice that has dried out. It’s like the curry isn’t quite all there, nor is the rice, but together, they make for a decent facsimile.

Some of the containers suggest adding a raw egg after pouring the water, but depending on how comfortable you are with eating very undercooked eggs (or how where you live treats its eggs), it might not be the best idea. 

Hayashi (left) and Keema (right)

In recent years, Nissin has been selling its seafood and curry Cup Noodles in the US, and these products are closer to the more high-quality versions found in Japan. I hope that they find a way to bring Curry Meshi here. It’s not the best thing in the world, but I could see it doing well with those who want something quick and easy but are getting tired of instant noodles. 

(It does make me wonder if Nissin branches would come up with flavors to cater to local tastes. Maybe instead of Curry Meshi, we’d get instant rice and beans.)

Hololive 3D Concerts and Bringing Different Fans Together

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Laplus Darknesss and Amane Kanata from Hololive singing and dancing on stage

I’ve watched the recent anniversary streams of holoX, and in light of the announcement of the Hololive 4th Fes, I’ve been thinking about how holding 3D concerts can carry different types of significance depending on the individual member and what their fans are looking for. Hololive seems to celebrate their stars in a manner inclusive to every Hololive member’s diverse fanbase, and I’m all for it.

It’s no secret that Hololive members can vary tremendously in terms of where their talents lie. Some clearly establish themselves as great performers as soon as they have the chance, like Hoshimachi Suisei. Others don’t necessarily have the background but have worked hard and come into their own, such as Oozora Subaru. And then there are those who don’t reach the level of their fellow VTubers in terms of singing and dancing, but they might have engaging personalities that just make for a special experience.

However, when there are 3D concerts or other major events that bring Hololive members together, they potentially become places where all respective fans can come together and appreciate their favorites for their own particular reasons. Take the Hololive 3rd Fes concert, which was the 3D debut of Hololive English’s first generation. Gawr Gura showcased the singing talent that brought so many fans to her, along with a cute dance. Takanashi Kiara brought a more polished idol flair. Ina came with a soothing voice in a subdued performance. Amelia Watson is definitely not a strong singer, but her choice of music (a weird fictitious anime opening from the show Welcome to the NHK!) put her personality on full display. And Calliope Mori put her well-established rap skills (that have since led to a contract with Universal Music Group) to good use. Hololive Indonesia’s first generation also made their 3D concert appearances, with Moona’s diva-like poise, Iofi’s adorableness, and Risu’s ridiculous vocal range all on full display.

With holoX, there is a similar range of strengths and quirks on display in their anniversary concerts. La+ Darknesss (see above) is a ridiculous total package whose impressive vocals and unmatched dance skills both support and defy her “bratty alien demon lord” concept. Takane Lui doesn’t fit the typical image of an idol, but she’s very good at singing while also staying “in-character,” and her choice of songs conveys a sense of maturity. Hakui Koyori is a jack of all trades who also leans into her character the most by adding in puzzles and brain teasers to her concert. Sakamata Chloe is arguably the best singer in the group, with a voice that can seem unreal; she was also the only one to do exclusively solo performances, as if to prove a point. Kazama Iroha’s cuteness shines through in her energetic performances, and it’s clear that she put in a lot of effort to improve her dancing.

It all reminds me of an essay I once read about the differences in presentation between Japanese idols and Korean pop stars: part of the appeal of J-idols is seeing them grow into the role, whereas K-pop stars appear before fans already fully formed. In the context of Hololive, it’s like there’s a purposeful and perhaps even inevitable contrast. While you might have your “J-idol fan” types who want to see their favorites grow and your “K-pop fan” types who love to see perfection in action, a single banner like Hololive allows these groups (and many more) to all thrive in the same general space. 

The power that comes from the variety Hololive has to offer is the way it encourages respect for diversity of talent. People can be fans of different members for different reasons. There are certainly talents whose appeal lies in their sheer skill, and the fans want to see their favorites put their abilities and/or progress on full display. However, there are also Hololive members who aren’t necessarily the greatest performers in one way or another, but their presence on stage makes for a kind of “we made it” moment for their fans. No matter the reason, it emphasizes the idea that there’s no one “right” way for a performance to be, and it encourages the different fanbases to coexist.