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Let’s start off with a tangentially related fact: Netflix has managed to cultivate an aggressively comprehensive anime library over the last few units of time. As far as Winter 2024 anime, they gave us the simuldubs of Dandandan, and Ranma ½, as well as one of the most thrilling historical fiction animes I’ve seen in a minute, Orb: On the Movement of the Earth. Over the last year, I watched Hajime No Ippo: The Fighting and Captain Tsubasa, to say nothing of how they started 2024 with Dungeon Meshi (which you may know as Delicious in Dungeon). It’s impressive that I watch more of anime on Netflix than on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and HiDive (that said, Crunchyroll is where I still get my One Piece fix as well as Solo Leveling and things like, and I’m not quite as familiar with HiDive’s library like my friend Carrie, and Hulu’s Medalist is making a really strong play but that’s a different article).

Based on the pilot, Sakamoto Days is going to continue that trend because it is so much fun and is going to be a perfect weekend watch harkening back to good old Saturday morning cartoons in the best way possible.

The basic premise of Sakamoto Days is that a legendary hitman, Taro Sakamoto, fell in love and gave up being a hitman to be a convenience shop owner and loving husband. However, when you’re that good, you’re not exactly able to leave, so Sakamoto still occasionally has to deal with hitmen. For example, Shin, a hitman with inexplicable ESP, who is the main instigator in the pilot episode.

Right from the introduction and the OP, one of the first things that jumps out is that Sakamoto Days feels like it has more in common with anime from two to three decades ago than its contemporaries. While it’s premise and sensibilities are in line with series like Spy x Family (another series with inexplicable ESP and an assassin living a normal life, except with a spy) and The Way of the House Husband (Yakuza turned doting husband), its aesthetic feels different. While watching, my immediate benchmarks were Black Lagoon for the clean gun animation and Full Metal Alchemist, mostly because Shin reminds of Edward Elric (it’s the blonde hair, the kneeling poses, and exaggerated facial expressions).

Hell, in a slightly different timeline, The Legend of Taro Sakamoto would have been a beloved early 2000s action anime that could have kickstarted a whole genre, not unlike John Wick. But instead, we live in the one where Sakamoto Days is about a guy who really loves his wife who has impressed onto him that he needs to help which he is also insisting upon impressing upon anyone willing to listen.

Watching Shin, the telepathic assassin, try to eliminate Sakamoto and ensuing shenanigans is just straight up joyful. It’s this wonderful tale about how sometimes you meet your heroes and have your life changed for the better. It’s about the fact that a simple boring life is worth protecting. It’s embracing the very 2020 trend of built in Anime Music Video energy. The dub cast was phenomenal between Kirk Thornton’s narration, Matthew Mercer’s Sakamoto, and Dallas Liu’s Shin, and honestly a good dub is a very good sign. It shows investment and belief in a series.

If it’s not clear, I like this series a lot and I think Netflix has another hit on their hands. I had picked up the manga last year and fell off quickly due to the nature of life, but after watching the pilot, I immediately hopped on the Shonen Jump app to pick up where I left off because I was so invested in the life of a man who just wants to exist and also happens to be skilled in several kinds of combat. We got ten more episodes in part 1, and we’ll get part 2 in July. It’s gonna be a really fun time y’all.

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The post 2020s Sensibilities with Early 2000s Aesthetics: ‘Sakamoto Days’ Pilot Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

Justin Timberlake is continuing his “Forget Tomorrow World Tour” in 2025, kicking it off on Monday, January 13. While the singer only has 16 shows left in North America before he jets off to Argentina for Lollapalooza, it’s not too late to get your hands on some tickets.

Throughout Timberlake’s tour, there have been some hiccups along the way where Timberlake was forced to reschedule a few shows due to health issues. The “Mirrors” singer took to his Instagram to share that he had to reschedule six shows, writing:

By Kimberly Wilson ·Updated January 10, 2025

“You don’t seem like a Jo Malone type of girl.”

I remember when my girl Felice said that to me when I was raving about a fragrance I’d fallen in love with from the brand. After I quizzed her exactly on what she meant (I needed to understand if I should be offended), I learned that she and others, often associated this as a beloved brand of our parents generation, and not one of the trendier brands you’d often see as you scroll on #FragranceTok.

And while that may have been a theme once upon a time, I’m here to say, not anymore. Or at least, not in my eyes.

For those unfamiliar, Jo Malone London has been around since the early 90s, and yes, they have become synonymous with their coveted scents and luxurious products for bath, body, and home (and also yes, your parents probably love them). Their most loved scents include Wood Sage & Sea Salt, English Pear & Freesia, and Lime Basil & Mandarin.

But those weren’t even any of the ones that caught my eye (or nose). I came to find out I’m a Mimosa & Cardamom kind of girl, and I’ve been obsessed ever since I first got my nose on it. This isn’t just another pretty perfume – it’s a masterpiece that reveals new dimensions throughout the day, and it’s safe to say the brand has converted me, an elder millennial, to its fold.

But let me break it down for you, so you can fully understand the Jo Malone journey I went through with this scent. This fragrance opens with fresh cardamom, its spicy-sweet warmth immediately drawing you in. Don’t expect the typical heavy spice note found in other fragrances, though. Here, it’s delicate and precisely balanced, reminiscent of that perfect morning chai.

The heart of the fragrance showcases the true star – mimosa. For those unfamiliar with mimosa in perfumery (and many aren’t), picture delicate yellow flowers with a powdery, honeyed sweetness that feels both ethereal and grounding. This isn’t the mimosa from your brunch cocktail – this is the mimosa flower, a sophisticated bloom that brings a subtle almond-like quality to the composition. When these powdery floral notes merge with the cardamom, creating a warm, skin-like scent.

The dry down reveals creamy tonka bean and sandalwood base notes, grounding the composition with a soft, cashmere-like warmth that lingers beautifully. There’s also a whisper of damask rose weaving throughout, adding an elegant touch without overwhelming the composition.

Everything about this fragrance sounds like something I would love. So dare I say it — I am in fact “a Jo Malone type of girl” after all?

Why I love it: What makes this fragrance exceptional is its evolution throughout the day. In the morning, the cardamom note feels invigorating and fresh. By afternoon, the mimosa creates a sophisticated aura that’s both professional and uniquely personal. As evening approaches, the base notes develop into a cozy, intimate scent that feels like luxury in fragrance form.

Now here’s one thing to note — Jo Malone fragrances are formulated as colognes (making them lighter and airier than traditional eau de parfums), meaning although I love the scent I did need to reapply throughout the day to get this to last on my skin.So consider this your opportunity to revisit that magical first spritz or experiment with different layering combinations. And speaking of layering…

Perfect pairings: What makes this fragrance even more versatile is how beautifully it plays with others – both within and outside the Jo Malone collection. Layer it with Byredo’s Gypsy Water to amplify its woody undertones, or pair it with Le Labo’s Vanille 44 for a cozy, sweet embrace that feels perfect for winter evenings. For an unexpected twist, I’ve found it works beautifully with D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What – the combination creates an ethereal, hard-to-pin-down scent that garners constant compliments. And on days when I want to lean into the spicier side, a spritz of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 transforms Mimosa & Cardamom into something utterly magnetic.

The British fragrance and lifestyle brand has earned its reputation for their unique portfolio of scents, from beloved classics to innovative new releases. They consistently reimagine the rules of perfumery by mixing unexpected combinations of ingredients and creating elegant yet playful concepts. Mimosa & Cardamom stands as evidence that Jo Malone London isn’t resting on tradition – they’re creating contemporary classics that resonate with a new generation of fragrance enthusiasts.

This scent has become my signature for good reason: it’s sophisticated without pretense, unique without being polarizing, and comfortable without fading into the background. So for those who’ve also dismissed Jo Malone as “not their type,” I encourage you to give Mimosa & Cardamom a chance. You might discover, as I did, that sometimes the most unexpected choices become the most perfect fits. After all, isn’t that what personal style is truly about?

The post ESScent Of The Week: This Unexpected Jo Malone Scent Became My Signature — And Here’s Why appeared first on Essence.

Logically you don’t really need that many sets of dice. Sure, it’s nice to have some extra collections on hand for friends who forgot to bring theirs to a D&D session. Thing is even then you can just use a dice app or random number generator. But who wants to be logical when it comes to dice sets? Do you have any idea how many fantastic ones you can buy? That includes one of the best we’ve ever seen, a delectable—though not edible—cheese dice set.

You might have seen it before, too. It’s so good it’s often used in online scams.

Kyra of Dutchy Dice is a self-proclaimed “part-time dicemaker, full-time dice enthusiast from the Netherlands” who makes custom sets. Her social media accounts are full of her incredible handmade designs. From bunnies and kimonos, to glow-in-the-dark and Powderpuff Girls, her dice come in countless colors, shapes, and themes.

While we love all of her sets, we’re especially partial to her cheese dice, one of the first she ever made. They look like real hunks of delicious yellow cheese with numbers in them. You can’t actually eat them, though, which is important to keep saying since it’s easy to forget when you look at them.

There’s obviously a real taste for her cheese pieces, something some bad people have noticed. Scammers have repeatedly used her photos to lure people like mice into a trap. It’s such a problem she even has videos alerting would-be customers and fans about these scams. Don’t fall for them. If you want anything from Dutchy Dice you have to contact her directly. In that Reddit thread about her cheese dice she wrote she makes “a few sets” once in awhile and then posts a “24 hour countdown” online. It’s then “first come first serve.” 

Logical or not, we want to order all the great dice sets on Kyra’s menu. We just don’t want to see any other places putting her cheese dice on their pretend ones.

The post These Incredible Custom Cheese Dice Aren’t Edible But They Sure Are Delectable appeared first on Nerdist.