Hachi’s vanilla butter cake

🍰 The Bittersweet Taste of NANA: Anime, Friendship & Butter Cake

By Jasmine B. | Otaku-nom-nom

There’s something about NANA that lingers—like the scent of vanilla in a warm apartment, or the ache you feel when an old song plays.

Two women, both named Nana. One, rebellious and raw, chasing music and independence. The other, gentle and starry-eyed, chasing love and belonging. Somehow, they meet. And together, they create a kind of emotional alchemy that defines what it means to grow up while still searching for who you really are.

As I watched their story unfold (again, because one viewing is never enough), I found myself reaching for something comforting. Something simple, nostalgic—and sweet.

I baked butter cake.

🍰 Hachi’s Vanilla Butter Cake: Sweet Like Komatsu

Nana Komatsu—affectionately called Hachi—has always reminded me of softness. Of making mistakes and still choosing to love. Her character isn’t perfect, and that’s what makes her so relatable.

She wears her heart on her sleeve. She gets hurt. She cries often. But through it all, she offers warmth to everyone she meets.

This vanilla butter cake is my tribute to her. Light, golden, and a little old-fashioned—just like the memories she clings to. It’s the kind of dessert you’d serve with tea on a rainy Tokyo afternoon, maybe while writing letters to a long-lost friend.

🌹 Bittersweet Like Life

What I love about NANA isn’t just the aesthetics (though the punk rock fashion and vintage café vibes definitely check all my boxes). It’s the emotional rawness. The loneliness. The love.

It’s about the people you hold onto and the versions of yourself you have to let go.

In a way, anime food helps us process that. I started Otaku-nom-nom to celebrate the flavors of the stories I love—and NANA? It's full of flavor. It may not be a food-heavy series, but the emotions are rich enough to eat.

✨ Try This at Home

Next time you rewatch NANA, bake this vanilla butter cake. Let it cool while “Wish” by Olivia Lufkin plays in the background. Cut a slice and think about the people in your life who’ve helped you grow. The ones who left. The ones who stayed. And the version of you you’re becoming.

you can download both here!

https://www.otaku-nom-nom.com/s/Hachi-vanilla-butter-cake.png

Recipe: https://www.otaku-nom-nom.com/s/Hachis_Vanilla_Butter_Cake_Recipe_OtakuNomNom_.pdf

Want to bake Hachi’s vanilla butter cake yourself? I posted the full how-to and video on TikTok + Lemon8. Let’s bake and cry together. 💛