MMN Festival 2018: Report by Scarlet, a Japan-loving Brit

20.April.2018 | FEATURES / FES / SPOT

This year was a new challenge for the MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL- the first time the event was held over four different locations around the Shibuya and Harajuku area! The stylish La Foret department store, the famous music hotspot Tower Records, the bustling shopping square Shibuya Cast and finally the traditional tranquillity of Onden Shrine. All the best of Japanese pop-culture – held within just a short distance of each other! Here were some of the highlights.

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 ラフォーレ原宿

FASHION

Fashion at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 set the bar high! The Harajuku Kawaii Market area in particular brought together a wide variety of styles in two days of the latest Kawaii trends. Bright, colourful fashion as well as toned down, natural fashion was displayed at booths and on stage by famous models.

 

「MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA」ラフォーレミュージアム原宿レポート1日目

Tobidase! Picture Book Show Storytime With Natsume Mito

Bulldog Tanei to Kieta Hoshi (BUNKEIDO Co., LTD.) is a really famous picture book in Japan, loved by children and adults alike for its moving story. It has a very distinct art style and colour scheme – the perfect ingredients for a fashion show! Singer and presenter Natsume Mito produced the show herself – everything from the concept to shopping for the clothes in vintage shops.

ラフォーレ 三戸なつめ 絵本 ファッションショー

When asked on stage why she chose this book in particular she answered – “The drawings are cute so easy to match fashion to. But I also thought it would be nice to use a moving story to make people smile by watching this fashion show”. Everyone who attended could write their wishes on star shaped paper and stick it on the night sky wall outside the event – just like in the picture book.

 

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My Navi Baito Fashion Awards

Gas station workers and barmaids are not necessarily the jobs that come to mind when you think of Kawaii fashion – but the My Navi Baito Challenge Awards are here to change that stereotype! The competition showcased at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL was for fashion students with the challenge of creating cute “baito” outfits – “baito” means part time work in Japanese.

 

Popular models showed off the outfits on stage. Model Yano Anna commented that her moving van worker outfit was really cute with lots of lace but also very practical with big pockets, and that if the outfit was this cute, she would definitely like to do this part time work! The students, who only had one month to complete the project, were also interviewed on the key points of the outfits and any difficulties they faced. The winner was decided by audience vote over the two days.

 

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A Lecture on Being Photogenic

In recent times social media presence is really important for models, for building their fan base and giving fans a look into their everyday lives. Many came to get tips from top models giving this panel on creating “Instagrammable” photos – which covered every topic from fashion to cosmetics to photos of food.

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Rikako Ōya from popular idol group Babyraids Japan explained that she takes some of her photos on a film camera to bring out the bright colours of her clothes. She also likes taking artistic photos, such as where she used the light of Tokyo Tower reflected on her face for a very expressive, serious photo. Ellie likes to capture the beauty of nature and tradition in her outfit photos by posing at lakes and shrines. Ema on the other hand focuses on capturing the charm of cafes around Japan. She does this by framing the table to look stylish and simple but with something surprising, such as a beer or a brightly coloured blue soda. Her key tip was to always use natural light rather than filters.

人気モデルに学ぶ!フォトジェニックレッスン2

Yuna’s aim is to show dog owners in Tokyo cute and fun places to go through her Instagram. There were a lot of “awws” from the audience in reaction to her photos of her dog swimming! Yuri’s photos focused more on cosmetics and beauty. One of Yuri’s most popular photos is of her nails in a Jacuzzi, where the bubbles really bring out the colours. Another signature photo she takes is a zoomed in part of her face, such as her eyes and nose, which she then posts on Instagram. It was a fun and educational panel!

 

盆踊り もしもしにっぽん 穏田神社3

TRADITIONAL

One of the four locations was Onden Shrine – tucked away behind the streets between Harajuku and Shibuya. The Bon Odori was a stunning masterpiece that was not to be missed.

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 隠田神社

A procession of beautiful colours, striking makeup and the highest shoes I’ve ever seen! The wave of contrasting kimono down the path to the shrine to graceful traditional music, was combined with fast pop beats to give the show a modern twist.

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Even DJ character Shimockey was happily dancing along to the music and getting everyone involved! When the performance was over the audience could even learn a special Bon Odori taught by the performers, a mash up between traditional flowing dance moves and energetic j-pop.

 

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 占い

Fortune Telling

Fortune Telling is a tradition in Japan that dates back to the Edo period, and recently has become trendy and modern. For example, fortune teller celebrity Chamereon Takeda has over 50,000 followers on her official LINE account, and fortunes regularly appears on television and in magazines. I have always been fascinated to try tarot cards so I had my fortune told by Yuushi Kusunagi, who is also a voice actor and MC! While tarot cards are a very traditional method, he also used computer software to input my answers for part of the fortune telling. It was a really interesting experience!

 

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 夢のや

YUMENOYA Kimono Salon

In a traditional x kawaii mashup, YUMENOYA Kimono Salon had a booth at SHIBUYA CAST, a market area with food, robots and even a foot spa! The kimonos are all distinctly very beautiful in kawaii colours – this is because the kimono most suited to Harajuku fashion are handpicked from rooting through hundreds at markets. You can even see some are adjusted with added colours and lace. If you think the background looks familiar, the colourful shoji (sliding paper) door is actually designed by Sebastian Masuda, the genius behind the designs of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s music videos! If you’re interested in trying this out, YUMENOYA has a permanent store on the 1st floor of MOSHI MOSHI BOX in Harajuku!

 

CY8ER

Tower Records Stage – CY8ER

The hugely famous music location for locals and tourists alike, Tower Records hosted three stages and many different acts across the weekend. I decided to check out the performance of idol group CY8ER, who have gained huge traction abroad for their bass heavy tunes and energetic performances. Many members were also already influential figures in the idol world before joining the group, and member Rinahamu is actually also the producer! Their musical genre is commonly described as Future Bass, a subgenre of EDM. It was definitely a performance to dance and chant along to, and I had a lot of fun alongside the other fans.

 

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Harajuku Kawaii Market Stage – AmaDan and MAGiC BOYS

The Harajuku Kawaii Market stage hosted two very cool boy groups over the weekend. Sugary sweet Amato Danshi are themed completely around sweets, with some of their famous tunes being “Choux Cream” and “Chocolate”. During the bridge in one of their songs, they even gave out sweets to everyone in the audience before rushing back on stage! You could even buy sweets they recommend at a booth in SHIBUYA CAST.

 

L_25日MAGIC BOYZ

MAGiC BOYS are possibly the youngest hip hop rapping group I have ever seen, the youngest member being only 13 years old and a DJ! “Ore no Kami ha Kuro” is a song that revolves around the stereotype that dying your hair in Japan gives you a rebellious image, but they think the hair you were born with is more cool. Their performance was not only energetic but also theatrical, they really put on a show!

 

After all of that, how will MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL top it next year? We will have to wait and see! Thanks for reading!

 

RECOMMENDED ENTRIES

  • MMN Festival 2018: Review of Airbnb Tours Held by Popular Japanese Models

    11.April.2018 | FASHION / FEATURES / FES / SPOT

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA was held across the weekend of March 24 and 25 and promoted Japanese culture to the world from Shibuya. The event ended with huge success.

     

    One of the popular aspects of the event were the original tours held in collaboration with Airbnb. Three models who performed on stage at the festival’s Harajuku Kawaii Market, presented by Mynavi Baito, became guides and took attendees on their own original tours.

     

    Let’s review each of the tours so you can get a feel for walking the streets of Harajuku and participating in workshops with the models!

     

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    Guide: Yuri Suganuma – Getting Involved in a Workshop with Yuri Suganuma

    Yuri ‘Yurippa’ Suganuma worked as a guide at the Swag Workshop. She learned how to make a ‘swag’ from Asami Char Tanabe, a popular type of wall decoration similar to a wreath.

     

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    What colours shall we go with?” “Aah, that’s cute!” Yurippa and those who got involved in the workshop were back and forth with each other having fun.

    At the end of the workshop, everyone held their swag for a photo. It was a special workshop for those involved, who also posted their photos on social media.

     

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    Guide: Saki Shibata – Shibatabi

    Saki ‘Shibasaki’ Shibata held a tour on both days of the festival called ‘Shibatabi,’ a play on her nickname where ‘tabi’ means a ‘trip’ or to travel.

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    On the 24th, Shibasaki took part in the CHACO workshop, something she had always been interested in. Everyone made matching piercings and earrings together before eating some lunch later on.

     

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    Originally, the group were scheduled to go to Cat Street for some shopping, but the weather was too good, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. So, they had a change of plan and instead made a trip to Yoyogi Park. They spent hanami strolling through the park.

     

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    To wrap up, they walked back to their starting point of SHIBUYA CAST, ending the first day of Shibatabi.

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    On the 25th, Shibatabi began with dressing up in kimono! Each person in the group had their kimono fitted in succession, and when everyone had theirs on they departed for Onden Shrine. There, they admired the booths such as the target practice game and glimpsed the performances on stage. To commemorate the day, they received a goushuin, before heading to their next destination SHANTi. This is Shibasaki’s favourite curry soup restaurant. Everyone enjoyed eating curry together before heading back to SHIBUYA CAST and scattering

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    Shibatabi was like hanging out as friends with Shibasaki. She plans to hold it again every now and then, so be sure to keep up to date with her social media or check the MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON website and our social media too.

     

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    Guide: Ayumi Seto – Aymmy in the batty girls Tour

    Model and designer Ayumi Seto gave a tour of ‘Aymmy in the batty girls.’ The first half of the tour centered around a workshop. Everyone created their own original mugs using Aymmy designs.

     

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     The tickets for this tour were like golden tickets as there were only 5 available. Those lucky few who obtained one were a little nervous in front of Ayumi.

     

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    Following the workshop was a trip to the Aymmy in the batty girls store, where everyone was given tips and trucks for co-ords and styling with this year’s spring and summer items.

     

    If you were one of the people who was able to spend a wonderful day on one of these exclusive tours: how did you find it?

     

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON will be teaming up with Airbnb again to hold future tours the way we know how. If you want the chance to get involved with one, then be sure to stay up to date via our website and social media.

     

     

    ■Information

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA – Summary

    URL:http://fes18.moshimoshi-nippon.jp

    MMN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msmsnippon/

    MMN Twitter: https://twitter.com/MOSHI2_NIPPON

  • MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA was held across the weekend of March 24 and 25 and promoted Japanese culture to the world from Shibuya. The event ended with huge success.

    One of the many things attendees enjoyed were the ‘experienced-based booths.’ From traditional Japan to the country’s culture of kawaii, let’s take a look at the line-up of booths that were packed with Japanese charm.

     

     

    Harajuku Kawaii Market presented by Mynavi baito: Kawaii Culture at Laforet Museum

    Japan’s culture of kawaii gathered together at Laforet Museum for MMN Festival 2018. Many of the booths were popular including the accessory booths, DIY booths, and photo spots where people could go for a simple image change by putting on a wig.

     

    マイナビバイトブース_preview

    Mynavi Baito

    Mynavi Baito held a questionnaire for attendees regarding part time jobs. They asked questions like “Do you think your part-time work outfit is cute?” and other kinds of questions you’d only hear at MMN Festival. Those who answered were gifted an original memo pad. Mynavi also presented their Challenge Award onstage in relation to the questionnaire where fashion students were made to develop their own cute part-time work outfits. The students who made the outfits as well as the popular models put on an exciting performance.

     

    もしフェス DIY:ハーバリウム&スワッグもしフェス DIY:ハーバリウム&スワッグ2

    DIY: Herbarium & Swag

    Asami “Char” Tnabe was invited to host a workshop on how to make “herbariums” with colourful dried flowers and a bottle, and “swags” which are wall decorations made from plants and flowers. It cost just ¥1,500.

     

    DIY CHACOあじさいアクセもしフェス あじさい

    DIY: CHACO Hydrangea Accessories

    Popular flower accessory shop CHACO held their own workshop. For ¥1,000 people made their own earrings and piercings from hydrangeas, perfect for spring and summer.

     

    もしフェス DIY マグカップワークショップ 瀬戸あゆみワークショップ_preview

    DIY: Mug Workshop

    Apparel brand “Aymmy in the batty girls” led a ¥1,500 workshop where people got involved in making a kawaii mug with the brand logo and designs with spring and summer items. Aymmy designer Ayumi Seto also joined in the workshop where she showed how to make a cute mug while talking with fans.

     

    もしフェス 占い 

    Fortune Telling

    Six fortune-tellers active in the media took shifts in fours. Just ¥500 got people an expert 10-minute reading. Lots of people turned up to this booth.

     

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    Big Harajuku Debut

    Popular hair dye brand FRESHLIGHT hosted their popular campaign for people to make their big Harajuku debut (#原宿デビュー大作戦). They changed up their image with colourful wigs and took photos in the kawaii pink photo booth. Prizes will be sent at a later date to those who joined in the hashtag campaign by posting on social media. The models who performed on stage also stopped by this booth where they were posting plenty of ‘kawaii’ online.

     

    もしフェス kawaii Darts

    Kawaii Darts

    This game challenged people to throw darts onto a map of Japan. Local specialties unique to specific regions were given out depending on which parts of Japan were hit, such as kakeru miso from Nagano and cabbage cider from Gunma.

     

    もしフェス Kawaii Basket

     Kawaii Basket

    To win, people had to shoot a ball into a kawaii goal that looked just like a floral headband. Kawaii products from around Japan like accessories and cosmetics were given out depending on how many goals were scored.

     

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    OH!江戸ポップ -oh,EDO POP!!-(DODYCO)

    People handmade marshmallow fondants, a photogenic dessert that originates from the US. They decorated it with flowers they cut themselves and other bits and bobs to make a castle and street, giving the Edo Period a taste of contemporary Harajuku. Timeless pop Edo desserts were brought to life at the festival.

     

    もしフェス クラレンスリーデザイン

    Clarence Lee Design ~111-HAWAII PROJECT~

    Japan’s first collaborative project between a Hawaiian design company that combines Japanese ukiyo-e with Hawaiian motifs and a Japanese enterprise. Thanks to the success of crowdfunding, this project will bring about an array of apparel items fusing Japan and Hawaii, such as aloha shirts with traditional ukiyo-e prints.

     

    もしフェス Hawaiianjewelry Aquabelle

    Hawaiianjewelry -Aquabelle-

    Hawaiian jewellery brand Aquabelle prepared a photobooth inspired by Hawaii’s sandy beaches where people could feel like they were in Hawaii from Harajuku, with white sand and hibiscus in the frame!

     

    もしフェス ひかりカエサル

    Hikari TV Dream

    At the promotional booth for crowdfunding service Hikari TV Dream, people enjoyed making their own wooden keyholder with the same wood used in the creation of Okawa Kumiko, a brand of furniture from Okawa in Fukuoka that has been designated as ‘an art form to leave behind for the future.’ Hikari TV’s main character Hikari Kaesaru also made an appearance to excite everyone.

     

    もしフェス NOTO HI BAKARA ジェンガゲーム

    NOTO HI BAKARA

    Those who rolled up to this booth enjoyed a game of jenga made up of hinoki building blocks. Hinoki building blocks don’t generate bacteria even if a child licks them. The wood acts as an antibacterial and pesticide. The prize included NOTO HI BAKARA ‘essential water’ made with hinoki extract.

     

    もしフェス 可愛いたぬきも楽じゃない

    Cute Tanuki Don’t Have It Easy Either

    Ponkichi is the tanuki who came down from the mountain and just wants to kill, kill, kill humans from the manga series Kawaii Tanuki mo Raku Janai (Hakusensha). The popular foul-mouthed tanuki had his own photo spots where people took photos while hearing abuse from Ponkichi. They also made their own bad-mouth pin badges for free from 12 varieties.

     

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    Yuzawaya

    Yuzawaya held a workshop to make popular herbarium piercings as well as resin piercings and earrings. The herbariums combined flowers and oil. Each class lasted 30 minutes and was a hit with people every time. Many people enjoyed making this original accessory.

     

     

    もしフェス Tokyo Flea Market

    Tokyo Flea Market

    A flea market was held which sold personal items of the stage performers including Natsume Mito, Ayumi Seto, Rinko Murata, Yuru Suganuma, and more. The line-up included items the performers had worn in magazines and on their social media.

     

    もしフェス ドンキホーテ

    Don Quijote Perfume Cosmetics

    The Don Quijote booth sold around 30 different brands of perfume. The staff working there were scent experts and offered advice on recommended perfumes like it was a perfume bar. Normally when you buy their perfume you have to pay a fee to get your name inscribed on the bottle, but they offered the service for free at the festival. “D Ting Eau de Toilette” by Akemi Darenogare also made its first Japan appearance.

     

     

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON Market: Experiencing Japan’s Unique Culture for Free

    Various aspects of Japanese culture were presented at SHIBUYA CAST. From food to art, sightseeing and moe, everything was enjoyed by Japanese people and foreigners alike.

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    Delivering Satoyama Spring #tamura

    A promoter of local specialities from and sightseeing in Tamura in Fukushima Prefecture. They sell Youchuu Gumi, (¥400) or larva gummies, named after the popular sightseeing spot Kabutomushi Shizen Kansatsu-en. They are shaped like the real thing – the body is Calpis flavoured while the centre is filled with purple blueberry sauce, creating a strange taste. They also sold strawberries, a noted product from Tamura.

     

    もしフェス ドンキホーテ

    Don Quijote – Souvenir Candy

    Don Quijote is a super souvenir shop, and at the festival they stocked lots and lots of confections that screamed ‘Tokyo,’ including some of the most popular snacks and common snacks, chocolates, as well as the Tokyo strawberry chocolate daifuku, a defining souvenir of the city.

     

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    Katsukonmi

    This booth managed by Keihan Sangyo handled Katsukonmi, a flavourful powdered dashi made bountifully with carefully selected ingredients such as katsuo tuna, mackerel and konbu. People were able to taste test dash stocks that used Katsukonmi. They also have a future line-up planned of new products with plenty of dietary fibres perfect for dieting.

     

     もしフェス 京ばあむ

    Kyo Baum

    Kyo Baum has stores in Gion, Shimizu and elsewhere and specialises in Uji matcha and soy milk flavoured Baumkuchen. Lotteries were held 3 times each day to win tickets for Kyo Baum, which are the perfect eating-and-walking snack, original masu boxes, and more. There was a huge line for the lottery before it began. The matcha and sugar fondant offers a crunchy texture at room temperature, and a completely different delicious experience when melted.

     

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    MOSHI MOSHI Kimono Salon

    People had the opportunity to try on kimono with a Harajuku-style spin – lots of colours, eye-catching designs, studs and more. It was free to put on yourself and take a selfie, or ¥1,000 for the staff to help you put it on and take a picture. It cost ¥4,000 to rent the kimono for as long as the booth was open. There were lots of girls enjoying the MMN Festival experience by strolling around Onden Shrine dressed in kimono!

     

    もしフェス Airbnb

    HARAJUKU EXPERIENCE

    Official Harajuku sightseeing tours were held for foreign travellers by Airbnb. “Hidden Fashion Street Tour” enabled people to enjoy Harajuku fashion, “History Tour” detailed the history of Harajuku, “KAWAII×Food Tour” combined kawaii culture with cuisine, and the “Official Tour” took people around the various MMN Festival areas. The tours were mostly aimed at foreign travellers, but lots of fans turned up at the same time as the tours to see Saki Shibata and the other models working as tour guides.

     

    もしフェス MIOCHIN

    PERFORMANCE SPACE

    Creator MIOCHIN held a live painting session called Mio’s World where she illustrated from her colourful pop perspective. This was her first ever live painting. She completed the piece across two days using permanent markers and POSCA markers while interacting with fans.

     

    渋谷キャスト草津ブース_previewもしフェス 足湯

    Maebashi “Kusatsu” Support Booth

    A booth promoting the city of Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture, people had the opportunity to enjoy a footbath experience in the image of Kusatsu Onsen – a famous Japanese hot spring resort in Kusatsu – right in the middle of Shibuya. People lined up one by one to rest their tired feet. It became the resting place of the festival. There was also an introduction to professional football club Thespakusatsu Gunma supported by Maebashi city, as well as fliers handed out for Susono.

     

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    SHIBUYA FASHION FESTIVAL

    SHIBUYA FASHION FESTIVAL.13 was held on March 24th. A lottery was held to win special benefits that could be used at participating stores.

     

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    Amato Café

    Amato Danshi, the six-member idol unit centred around sweets, worked at their very own café. One of their recommended chocolates was the DEL’IMMO Bon Bons which came with a kabedon (¥1,800). The kabedon is a popular way of expressing love in Japanese media, such as anime, where one person hits (don) the wall (kabe) with one hand and pins someone against it. After receiving a kabedon from the group’s members, customers were fed chocolate. What a heart-throbbing menu!

     

    もしフェス めいどりーみん

    Maidreamin

    The number one maid café group Maidreamin set up shop at the festival. For the special “SAKURA Float” (¥1,100 w/ omajinai), the main maids gave cute instructions to power up the item. It was quintessentially ‘moe’ and ‘kawaii’ made with cherry blossom syrup and cherry blossom ice cream. Customers also dressed up in maid outfits and original merchandise was sold. It was a sight to behold seeing customers experiencing maid culture for the first time and really getting into the fun of it, from girls to entire families.

     

    もしフェス MUSIO 渋谷キャストMusioブース様子_preview

    MUSIO, Your Curious New Friend

    Musio is your robot friend who came from the future. Equipped with state-of-the-art AI, Musio is able to do things like have natural conversations and express emotions. Everyone chatted with him and had their fortunes told.

     

     

    The festival took place in 5 areas, and because there was plenty to be enjoyed for free, we saw many people having fun stopping by each location throughout the day.

     

    5 areas, 5 themes. That was MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA. This year was a huge change from last year. How did you find it? Did you have fun?

     

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON will continue to promote Japan’s multilayered culture to the world through our website, at events and elsewhere. We post the latest information about events on our website, so don’t forget to stay up to date!

     

    ■Information

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA – Summary

    URL:http://fes18.moshimoshi-nippon.jp

    MMN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msmsnippon/

    MMN Twitter: https://twitter.com/MOSHI2_NIPPON

     

  • MMN Festival 2018 Report: Idol Stage at Tower Records Shibuya Rooftop SKY GARDEN

    04.April.2018 | FEATURES / FES / MUSIC

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA delivered Japanese culture to the world from Shibuya. The event saw 16,000 people attend across the two-day period to experience a new kind of Japanese festival.

     

    This report will cover the Featuring Japanese new music “MOSHI MOSHI MUSIC FESTIVAL” event that took place at SKY GARDEN on the rooftop of Tower Records Shibuya, a place which which has built a history of music in Shibuya.

     

    Idols are one aspect of Japanese culture that Japan can boast to the world. The event showcased a line-up of idols groups that MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON (MMN) want to introduce to the world. Let’s take a look at the idol stage which was packed full of Japanese ‘kawaii’!

    c-style

    Kicking off the performances on Day One was two-member idol unit C-Style from the city of Kisarazu. They left a strong impact on the crowd dressed in red and blue sailor outfits and donning sunglasses.

    Kus Kus

    Next was another two-member unit, Kus Kus. Their perfectly coordinated choreography captivated the audience as they danced to the tune of easy-listening electro pop.

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    Wyenra were the third act. If you were to divide shadows and sunshine they are a group who certainly bring the ‘shadow,’ wrapping the crowd with the dark side of springtime weather.

    QUEENS

    The fourth group were dancing rock idols QUEENS. Wyenra debuted this year on February 10th while QUEENS debuted on January 31st. You would never know these groups had formed so recently with their magnificent performances.

    24日Jewel☆Neige_preview

    As the sun started setting on SKY GARDEN, Jewel☆Neige stepped onto stage wearing dazzlingly beautiful white and silver outfits. The audience made a huge display of their excitement with the group’s unshakable performance.

    CY8ER

    Act number six was 5-member group CY8ER. There was a sense of mutual elation with everyone gathered in the crowd with the group’s Japanese-esque-incorporated future bass songs with easy choreography that even first-timers seeing the group could copy.

    なんキニ!

    The seventh group on stage was Nankini! Unfortunately, one member was unable to make it, but the remaining two put on a thrilling performance with everything they had. If you wanted to see them three of them together then be sure to check out another one of their events.

    Yamakatsu

    The final idol group of Day One was Yamakatsu whose fired up performance also had the people in the crowd psyched and singing as they wrapped up the day with the right amount of exhilaration.

    C-Style

    The top batters for Day Two were C-Style once again. For the second day the members wore special green happi coats which had the Japanese character ‘mo’ (も) on the back.

    25日NEO JAPONISM_preview

    Following them was NEO JAPONISM who made their debut in December 2017. Their ‘neo’ sound had the crowd pumped. Their outfits had a mode taste to them and incorporated a traditional Japanese style which looked pretty even on an outdoor stage.

    Yamakatsu

    Act three was Yamakatsu who also performed on Day One. They put on a galvanizing performance to even more people this time. And although they didn’t perform it on this day, people are looking forward to their new single distopia set to hit shelves on April 17th.

    フィロソフィーのダンス

    Next was The Dance for Philosophy for which over 400 people turned up to the roof. The group wowed the packed venue with their funk numbers and outstanding vocal abilities.

    PPP!PiXiON

    PPP!PiXiON were next to grace the stage. Despite one member graduating from the group leaving them with four members, there was some serious support from the fans as each of them put on an energetic performance.

    さきどり発進局

    Sakidori Hasshinkyoku who went on stage as the sixth act began their performance with their song Karimen Destiny which was released in February. They wrapped up their setlist with their staple track Gimirepa and brought much excitement to the floor.

    天晴れ!原宿

    Following them was APPARE! Harajuku who are tied to the same studio as Sakidori Hasshinkyoku. Their setlist also inevitably livened the atmosphere, and their final song Harajuku Sunny Day had the crowd so pumped as if the building was going to fall down.

    25日sora tob sakana_preview

    As night turned and the rooftop turned to black, the progressive sound and singing abilities of the four members from sora tob sakana established their style as unique – even in the idol world.

    愛乙女☆DOLL

    Pulling the curtains shut on Day Two was idol group Lovely Doll. The performance from the seven members was the kind of performance you’d expect from such a seasoned group. They finished up Day Two with Calendar Girl which was voted as the number one most popular song amongst fans.

     

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL in SHIBUYA 2018

     

     

  • MMN Festival 2018 Report: Onden Shrine – Bon Odori and an Array of Ennichi Food

    30.March.2018 | FEATURES / FES / SPOT

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA promoted Japanese culture to the world from Shibuya. Over the course of two days, MMN delivered a new kind of Japanese festival to 16,000 people.

    穏田神社 桜 もしもしにっぽん1MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 もしもし縁日参道
    In this article, we report on Onden Shrine – one of the four areas of the festival – where the gods of Harajuku are enshrined. Let’s take a look at the line-up of performances for the stage area as well as the variety of booths!

     

    Stage

    大山実音2
    Mio Ooyama was in charge of presenting the on-stage performances and, with her bilingual skills, introduced each performer to the audience.

    薩摩川内踊り太鼓創作舞踏集団 寶船

    Satsumasendai Odoridaiko opened the stage with a team made up entirely of women who struck their drums like thunder. Dressed in traditional outfits, the traditional sound of their drums rippled through across the event.

    O_24日めいどりーみん

    The members of maid café group Maidreamin put on a full-force idol performance, captivating the crowd with their catchy music and kawaii dance moves!

    O_24日けん玉パフォーマー イージー

    Next on stage was kendama performer EASY, who is also active overseas too. His skilful performance with his kendama – a toy enjoyed by both children and adults – garnered him huge rounds of applause.

    O_24日キャラクターDJしもっきー 穏田神社 ころとん もしもしにっぽん

    Then it was character DJ time, which all the kids had been waiting for! Shimockey of Shimo-Kitazawa and Coroton of Gunma Prefecture were there to entertain. They both sang and danced together with the children! Shimockey and Coroton were also very popular outside DJ time too.

    盆踊り1盆踊り もしもしにっぽん 穏田神社3

    Last on stage was Ukon Takafuji of YUMENOYA for the Japanese dance show. At the end, all the performers, attendees and venue staff joined in with Bon Odori dancing! Everyone got involved from children to adults, overseas tourists and the character DJs.

     

    Ennichi Area

    雑感6
    The Ennichi area was filled with food and games, as well as MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON style workshop booths. There was a diverse line-up of booths enjoyed by kids, grown-ups and foreigners too.

     

    Harajuku Rainbow Cotton Candy

    TOTTI CANDY FACTORY もしもしにっぽん TOTTI CANDY FACTORY2
    The colourful cotton candy store from Takeshita Street in Harajuku TOTTI CANDY FACTORY served up a special event-only menu. They sold a numer of things, including TOTTI Rainbow (¥800) which was a combination of 5 flavours: plain (white), strawberry (red), carbonated (blue), and lemon (yellow). Cotton candy is a common treat sold at shrine food stalls, but TOTTI give a Harajuku spin to it. People carrying cotton candy around Onden Shrine really decorated the area.

     

    Amezaiku

    飴細工 もしもしにっぽん 穏田神社 飴細工ワークショップ もしもしにっぽん 穏田神社
    The amezaiku booth was very well received last year too. Not only could to purchase some amezaiku candy, you could also make your own amezaiku rabbit, bear and more together with the teacher.

     

    Mizuhiki

    水引 穏田神社 もしもしにっぽん もしもしにっぽん 水引ワークショップ 穏田神社
    Mizuhiki artist Kaori Funaki was invited to hold a workshop for people to create ‘mizuhiki’ which are special cords that tie envelopes used for monetary gifts. There was also individual mizuhiki related merchandise on sale, such as chopstick rests.

     

    Kendama

    けん玉 もしもしにっぽん 穏田神社 大山実音
    Global Kendamas Network was established to help spread the use of kendama, a popular sport originating from Japan that has given rise to pros around the world. Kendama performer EASY performed on stage, kendama for pros were sold, and people tried out kendama themselves.

     

    Onden Shrine Omamori

    美守 穏田神社 もしもしにっぽん
    Omamori and other items are sold at Onden Shrine. The god of beauty is enshrined at Onden Shrine, so the small, round omamori charm for “Beauty” (¥500) was very popular amongst girls. With foreign tourists, the omamori for “Victory” was popular.

     

    Learn Shrine Etiquette

    O_神社の作法を教える様子
    As part of the Harajuku tours by Airbnb which began and finished at SHIBUYA CAST, people were taught the proper manners and etiquette to praying at Japanese shrines, including about torii gates, temizuya, hishaku, and the main shrine building. Foreign tourists with an interest in Japanese culture were happy to get involved.

    昇殿参拝
    People were also able to participate in a formal sanpai and learned about ‘tamagushi houten’ – humbly presenting a tamagushi, a type of Shinto offering.

     

    Frisbee Strike Out

    ストラックアウト

    At this booth, people had to throw a frisbee 6 times. When they got 1 line of bingo they picked one item they liked, and when they got 2 lines they picked two. Even if people didn’t get bingo, awards were still handed out to participants. The line-up included regional Japanese specialties such as “Soy Sauce Mochi” from Oita Prefecture and staple souvenir from Fukushima Prefecture “Brown Sugar Manju”.

    Target Practice Game

    射的
    The target practice game is common at Ennichi, but this was a special MMN Festival version. People had 5 shots per turn, and depending on how many targets they shot down, the number of prizes would change. Those who couldn’t land a shot weren’t left out however and were gifted low calorie chocolate. Prizes included tins of oden, tom yum flavoured okaki, and more.

     

    穏田神社 もしもしにっぽん 雑感_2

    Did you enjoy the events at Onden Shrine? We took elements from traditional Japanese matsuri festivals and put a MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON spin on them. During the Onden Shrine events, we were able to receive cooperation from local people and those associated with the shrine prior to the festival until the end of the festival.

     

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON would like to continue holding even more events in the future where locals and those visiting Shibuya and Harajuku can have fun together.

     

     

    ■Information

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL in SHIBUYA 2018

    URL:http://fes18.moshimoshi-nippon.jp

    MMN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msmsnippon/

    MMN Twitter: https://twitter.com/MOSHI2_NIPPON

  • MMN Festival 2018 Report: Natsume Mito Helps Children Paint Day Care Center for Happy Wall Project

    30.March.2018 | FEATURES / FES / SPOT

    On March 24th for MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA, Japanese paint company ROOMBLOOM held the Happy Wall Project which they have been doing since 2014, an activity that contributes to society.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加4

     

    The Happy Wall Project is a volunteer project based on the idea of enrichening one’s life even more through painting. The first run was held at Hiratsuka Children’s Center and has since made its way to 21 educational facilities and welfare institutions across Japan.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加13

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加10

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加15

     

    With backing from Shibuya City and the Shibuya Tourism Association, ASOBISYSTEM, who produce the MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL, held the Happy Wall Project as a workshop for children at Mirai∞LABO KIDS, a daycare facility located on Cat Street in Ura-Harajuku, to promote the growth and prosperity of Shibuya and Harajuku.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加11

     

    On the day, enrolled students and graduates of Mirai∞LABO KIDS worked with children with Down’s syndrome and autism who are members of the painting group atelier A as well as people associated with Nippon Paint Holdings to create a picture book amongst other arty things. Natsume Mito also received approval to get involved.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加11

     

    The project they worked on was painting 3 of the walls at Mirai∞LABO KIDS. They didn’t use monochromatic colours for the biggest wall – they painted a circus tent. This is the symbol of the institution. Circus members have an unbroken fighting spirit. They challenge themselves to things other people don’t. These are all indispensable elements children must possess. There’s a hope in the center to one day give birth to someone who will go on to work in the circus after leaving.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加14

     

    Natsume Mito spoke with the children to decide on what paints to use for the colour scheme of the circus tent. Instead of strong, darker colours, they decided to go with lighter pastel colours so that the children can feel calm. It was quite a challenge however as there were 189 paints to choose from. For the circus tent they chose “Birthday Present” pink, “ALOHA!” light blue, and “Grass Hopper” green. For the sides of the wall they used “Little Kiss” cherry blossom colour. The colour names were all unique and exciting.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加16

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加17

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加18

     

    The smaller children began painting first. There were children who had fun using their hands instead of paint brushes to put hand prints on the wall. Smaller details and parts of the painting that were higher up were left to the older children. People of all ages worked together and helped each other out, and after about an hour, the paint project was completed.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加19

     

    When it came to snack time to wait for the paint to dry, Natsume Mito played hide and seek with the kids. A sense of connectedness through working together rang through the room. It was a warm atmosphere, and the laughing never stopped.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加10

     

    After tearing off the masking tape the painting was complete. The adult guardians who watched over the work applauded everyone for their admirable efforts.

     

    【もしフェス2018/HAPPY WALL PROJECT】裏原宿の託児所をかわいくペイント!三戸なつめと子供たちがワークショップに参加15

     

    The daycare center was now bright thanks to the paint job. And a picture of a new circus tent was now in the room. The children will likely never forget about the place they helped decorate.

     

    ▼Check out this video which captures footage from the day.

     

     

    ■Information

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA

    Locations: SHIBUYA CAST. / Tower Records Shibuya / Laforet Museum Harajuku / Onden Shrine

    Dates: Saturday 24 March – Sunday 25 March

    Time: 11:00-21:00 *Times differ at each area

    Official Event Website:https://fes18.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/

  • MMN Festival 2018 in Shibuya: Laforet Museum Harakuku – Day 2 Report

    29.March.2018 | FASHION / FEATURES / FES / MUSIC / SPOT

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL 2018 in SHIBUYA was held across two days where Japanese culture was delivered to the world from Shibuya.

    MC 丸山礼 菅沼ゆり もしフェス

    As the gentle spring air embraced us, the Harajuku Kawaii Market saw at Laforet Museum Harajuku its second run on day two of the festival, with more appearances from hugely popular models and artists.

    L_25日人気モデルに学ぶ!フォトジェニックレッスンKicking off the stage events for Day 2 was Rikako Ōya (Babyraids Japan), Ellie, Yuri Suganuma, Ema Tanioku, and Yuna Yabe who held their talk session A Lesson on Being Photogenic. The six photo experts looked pictures from their articles on the MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON website while giving tips and tricks on how to make yourself more Instagrammable.

    L_25日占い師キャメレオン竹田による星座別「4月の総合ランキング」占い 柴田ひかり もしフェス 
    Chamereon Takeda returned once more to the stage for day to with her Zodiac Sign Rankings. Hikari Shibata had her fortune told with western astrology and tarot cards. Hikari herself loves fortune telling. According to her tarot reading, “If you’re crazy about something you won’t be able to escape, but if you think before you act, you will have good fortune.”

    25日占いランキング キャメレオン竹田

    At the end of the talk session, the horoscopes for April were announced. 1st place went to Cancer. Everyone in the audience, too, was happy to hear the ranking list.

    L_25日「古関れん、柴田ひかり、菅沼ゆり、瀬戸あゆみ、MIZUKI(KORD)によるファッション_ヘアカラートークショー」presented by FRESHLIGHT
    Next on stage was the Fashion & Hair Dye Talk Session with Hikari Shibata, Yuri Suganuma & MIZUKI (KORD) presented by FRESHLIGHT. Popular models Hikari Shibata, Yuri Suganuma and MIZUKI (KORD) welcomed guest Michelle, who’s influential in China. The four of them chatted about their experiences with hair dyeing as well as their recommended hair colours for spring.

    フレッシュライト 25日
    Michelle was asked about the hair dyeing scene in China. She said that light colours are popular over there during spring. It’s common to see a lot of people with pink hair, the same as in Japan. On the FRESHLIGHT website there’s a video of MIZUKI skilfully demonstrating how to dye your hair, so be sure to check it out.

    L_25日甘党男子
    Amato Danshi were last on the list for the first slot. There was a real sense of oneness with the audience as if the hype from day one still lingered! During their high-tempo song Chocolate, the guys surprised everyone by throwing actual wrapped chocolate into the crowd. Everyone went crazy!

    L_25日佐野ノア_古関れんんの「春のオススメコスメ」25日佐藤ノア もしフェス

    After a short break, Noah Satou and Ren Koseki opened the stage for the second slot. Their talk session centred around their Recommended Spring Cosmetics, where they introduced a variety of cosmetics from high brand to low price. It seems like the two of them are into coral this spring. They said that it can be used for a much more toned down look compared to pink.

     

    菅沼ゆり もしフェス やのあんな もしフェス長澤メイ

    Mynavi Baito presented their Challenge Award again on stage. Three teams of fashion students were challenged to create cute part-time work outfits which were worn on stage by Yuri Suganuma, Mei Nagasawa and Anna Yano. Team 95 created an izakaya outfit, Team Hikari produced a gas station uniform, and Team Twinkle served up moving-company couture.

    L_25日マイナビバイト presents チャレンジアワード
    The audience made their vote and Team Hikari came out on top as winners this time! One big point about their outfits was how it echoed not only the kawaii of Harajuku, but of Japan. The three of them, all born in 1995, have gotten along and been on the same wavelength since they started designing the outfit. Their victory smiles left a big impression.

     

    L_25日MAGIC BOYZMAGiC BOYZ
    A huge cheer welcomed MAGiC BOYZ onto the stage, a hip-hop group formed of three high school DJs Toma, Ryuto and Mahiro, and elementary school DJ Joe. To begin the set, the audience did some call and response with Joe, shouting “Majibo!” (short for MAGiC BOYZ) and “Kawaii!” Their passionate Japanese rap cemented their performance as the most enthusiastic, high frenzy of the day.

    L_25日ゆうたろうがあなたの質問に答えます!

    Yutaro stepped onto stage next to answer people’s questions in his Q&A segment.  He answered everyone’s questions honestly, such as “Where did you plan your first trip to?”, “If your boyfriend’s fashion style is uncool, how should you get him to fix it?” and “What type of girl do you like, and what hairstyle?” Everyone was absorbed in his answers.

    L_25日しばさきと倫子に学ぶ♡春のトレンドスタイル

    The final event to wrap up the stage was Learn Japanese Spring Trend Styles with Shibasaki & Rinko. Saki Shibata and Rinko Murata introduced co-ords using their own personal items and offered suggestions and tips.

     

    A flea market was also held on stage where people could enter a lottery to purchase personal items from models that attended the festival. People that bought Saki and Rinko’s items were overjoyed after hearing them tell the story behind each one! Harajuku Kawaii Market took place on March 24th and 25th. It promoted Japan’s kawaii culture from Harajuku and proved a roaring success.

     

    ■Information

    MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON FESTIVAL in SHIBUYA 2018

    URL:http://fes18.moshimoshi-nippon.jp

    MMN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msmsnippon/

    MMN Twitter: https://twitter.com/MOSHI2_NIPPON

RELATED ENTRIES

  • Harajuku-based Brand KAWAII MONSTER CAFE Opens a Traveling Shop, Halloween Pop-Up Shop Opens in Harajuku

    19.October.2023 | FASHION / FOOD / SPOT

    The Harajuku-based brand KAWAII MONSTER CAFE has announced a traveling store, KAWAII MONSTER SHOP. As the project’s first event, a Halloween pop-up shop named ‘KAWAII MONSTER SHOP – Colorful Halloween’ will open for 10 days starting October 19 in the birthplace of the brand, Harajuku.

     

    KAWAII MONSTER CAFE is an entertainment restaurant that embodies the vibe of Harajuku in Tokyo, a town that swallows fashion and culture from places around the world and reimagines them into unrestrained originality. Originally opened in 2015 and produced by artist Sebastian Masuda, the colorful and crazy space offered photogenic food and drinks, and guests were served by the iconic Monster Girls clad in future Harajuku fashion. It became a ‘new Tokyo landmark,’ attracting over 700,000 visitors from both Japan and abroad. Even after the restaurant closed in January 2021, its one-of-a-kind concept has lived on in pop-up shops, events, and collaborations with various brands and creators.

     

    The pop-up shop, open in Harajuku for a limited time starting October 19, offers food and drinks, merchandise, special experiences, and photo spots themed around the spooky Halloween season. Additionally, a collaboration with the popular Harajuku accessory store 6%DOKIDOKI will be held from October 19-22. Colorful hair accessories will be on sale, and shop girls with Monster Girls makeup experience will be giving seasonal makeovers to visitors.

     

    ■FOOD & DRINK

    During the first half of the event, the pop-up shop will be serving food made in collaboration with the hot dog specialty restaurant HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO. The limited-edition menu includes the crazy Monster Dog, consisting of a monster holding a sausage in its mouth, and the monstrous Philly Cheesesteak, made with juicy tenderloin and tons of cheese.

     

    The second half of the event will feature the Colorful Pop Burger Blue Monster (Teriyaki Chicken) from KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s popular menu, along with French Fries with Monster Dip served with five different colorful sauces. Visitors are welcome to get into the Halloween spirit by enjoying the Monster Float during the pop-up event.

    <10/19~10/22 Exclusive Menu>
    Monster Dog: ¥880 (Tax Included) *In collaboration with HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO
    Philly Cheesesteak: ¥1,350 (Tax Included) *In collaboration with HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO

     

    <10/26~10/31 Exclusive Menu>
    Colorful Pop Burger Blue Monster (Teriyaki Chicken): ¥1,200 (Tax Included)
    French Fries with Monster Dip: ¥700 (Tax Included)

    Monster Float: ¥800 [Rose/Passionfruit/Kyoho Grape]

     

    ■GOODS

    New KAWAII MONSTER CAFE goods will make their first appearance at this pop-up shop! Guests can visit the Sweets Factory to create their own candy assortment by filling their favorite containers with chocolates, gummies, and other goodies. Harajuku Icing Cookies will also be available in collaboration with SHONPY, a popular cake shop. Be sure to grab some incredible souvenirs!

     

    In addition, popular KAWAII MONSTER CAFE collaboration items from years past will be available, along with adorable plushies from the globally beloved brand Ty. Visitors can also snag some unique zipit pouches and flexible PLUS PLUS blocks starting October 26.

     

    ■EXPERIENCE

    During the event, KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s iconic Monster Girls and the character Choppy will greet guests and take photos, as well as shoot cute Halloween-inspired videos together. Visitors wishing to be transformed into Monster Girls themselves can speak to the store girls, clad in Decora fashion and rocking accessories from 6%DOKIDOKI. These ladies will provide POP Harajuku Monster makeovers featuring original tattoo stickers and unique hair accessories to get you ready for Halloween.

    ■PHOTO SPOT

    At the event, guests will find the 3-meter tall Sweets Cake Balloon inspired by the Sweets-Go-Round Cake, the symbol of KAWAII MONSTER CAFE. Surrounded by colorful decorations and captivating monsters, visitors are sure to leave with plenty of special memories.

    Guests of all ages are invited to spend the Halloween season surrounded by the unique wonders of Harajuku!

  • HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE, a Collaboration Between Hot Topic & Studio Ghibli, Gets Pop-Up Store at Shinsaibashi PARCO

    09.March.2023 | FASHION / SPOT

    Last year, the HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE collaboration appeared at AF Gallery in Harajuku from August 10 until August 28, garnering massive acclaim from fans. The collection is now being sold at Shinsaibashi PARCO until March 12, 2023.

     

    HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE is a Studio Ghibli-inspired apparel collection by the popular American counterculture chain Hot Topic. Bringing more Japanese culture to the ongoing Studio Ghibli collaboration launched in 2014, Hot Topic stores began selling original items produced by nine Japanese creators and brands, as well as some original American items produced by Hot Topic’s executive designers.

     

    The lineup of Japan-original items includes T-shirts, tote bags, and other items featuring exclusive artwork by up-and-coming creators. These items depict beloved characters from Studio Ghibli’s works, as well as logos created for the collaboration. Fans won’t want to miss grabbing these unique items!

     

     

    Details on the Previous HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE Pop-Up Store: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/ja/625747

  • FRUITS ZIPPER Valentine Pop-Up Shop to Open at Laforet Harajuku

    28.January.2023 | FASHION / SPOT

    Laforet Harajuku will host a pop-up shop inspired by the up-and-coming idol group FRUITS ZIPPER from February 1 until February 14! The FRUITS ZIPPER Valentine Pop-Up Shop will be found on the 5th floor MAKE THE STAGE area.

     

    FRUITS ZIPPER debuted in April 2022 and embodies a simple concept: “From Harajuku to the World.” The group’s second single Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro exploded in popularity on TikTok, pulling in over 600 million views. In February, the girls will embark on their first solo concert tour in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. This is the first FRUITS ZIPPER-inspired limited-time shop, and during the event, visuals of the group’s members will be displayed in the show windows found on the first floor of Laforet Harajuku.

     

    ◆About the FRUITS ZIPPER Valentine Pop-Up Shop

    When entering the venue, fans will be greeted by a 5-meter-wide board where visitors can write and attach their messages to the FRUITS ZIPPER members on heart-shaped cards. Costumes that the members have worn on stage will also be on display, allowing fans to see each stitch up close.

     

    Exclusive items featuring new photos of the members will be on sale at the pop-up shop. Fans can enjoy seeing the girls in their own personal style, and these items will only be available during the event! Starting February 4, tour merch for the group’s upcoming solo concert series will also be available for purchase.

    ◆Collaboration with Fruit Sandwich Specialty Store ‘Fruits Box Daikanyama’

    Last year’s popular collaboration with Fruit Box Daikanyama, a well-known fruit sandwich shop, is happening again in 2023! Fans can find the Collaboration Gift Box for sale, including seven baked meringue goods each featuring one of the member’s colors. The box also comes with snapshots of the members, and for a few lucky fans, these snaps might be signed! The idol group and sandwich shop have also teamed up to create the Collaborative Lucky Grab Bag Lottery, including popular FRUITS ZIPPER goods and original items from Fruits Box Daikanyama. The lucky first-prize winner will receive a special set of all available February tour merchandise in all sizes.

    ◆Member Appearance Planned on Valentine’s Day

    On February 14, the final day of the pop-up shop, the members of FRUITS ZIPPER will make an appearance! Guests will be able to participate in the first-ever hands-on event with the members, so keep an eye out for more details!

     

    Stay up to date with the latest FRUITS ZIPPER news at the official Twitter page (@FRUITS_ZIPPER).

     

    FRUITS ZIPPER Pop-Up Shop Exclusive Goods


    Random Photo – Valentine pop-up ver. (21 varieties): ¥330 (Tax Included)


    Random Pin – Valentine pop-up ver. (7 varieties): ¥500 (Tax Included)


    Random Purikura Stickers – Valentine pop-up ver. (14 varieties): ¥600 (Tax Included)

  • Zipper Magazine’s 2022-2023 Winter Issue on Sale Now

    14.January.2023 | FASHION

    The Winter 2022-2023 issue of the revived fashion creator magazine Zipper went on sale on December 23.

     

    This issue focuses on this winter’s must-know trends and is packed with coordination tips, outfit plans through spring, snapshots, hair and makeup tips, and much more.

     

    Zipper ended its 24-year history in December 2017. In March 2022, ASOBISYSTEM teamed up with DONUTS Inc. to revive the magazine as a quarterly release. The fashion magazine, popular with Gen Z, is known for sharing details aspects of Harajuku culture and will continue to share more from the creative center of Tokyo for years to come.

    Standard Edition (Cover: Nagisa Saito)

    Another Edition (Cover: FRUITS ZIPPER)
  • Popular Illustrator and Character Designer Mika Pikazo Holds Solo Exhibition in Shibuya

    04.November.2022 | FASHION / SPOT

    Mika Pikazo is an illustrator and character designer. The artist has designed characters for many popular titles including Fire Emblem Engage, the latest in Nintendo’s Fire Emblem series, as well as book covers and CD jackets.

     

    Starting December 10, the artist will hold his second solo exhibition in three years at the Hz event space in Shibuya.

     

    According to a press release, the exhibition is being held to show a number of creations Pikazo has made recently, and aims to show off new animation and past illustrations to merge his past and future selves. The creator hopes to challenge himself more going forward.

     

    The first main visual, REVENGE, can be seen on the exhibition’s official website. A total of three visuals have been newly drawn for the event and will be released sequentially. In addition, a number of collaborative works with other creators will be on display, so art fans won’t want to miss out.

    Limited-edition merchandise featuring new illustrations will be on sale at the venue, and autograph sessions are planned to be held. For more details, check the official Twitter page!

     

    Be sure to come to see Mika Pikazo’s colorful pieces in person!

  • Popular EC Brand SHEIN Opens First Permanent Brick and Mortar Store in Harajuku

    02.November.2022 | FASHION / SPOT

    The global online fashion brand SHEIN has become wildly popular, shipping goods to over 150 countries. The world’s first permanent brick-and-mortar SHEIN store will open in Harajuku, Tokyo on November 13, 2022, displaying popular styles and items perfect for the Japanese market. All items on display will be available for purchase on the official SHEIN app simply by scanning the QR code on the tag. While items won’t be available to purchase in-store, the location will be a place where curious customers can try things on and explore new trends. The store has two floors and carries women’s and men’s wear, as well as kids’ wear, pet goods, and accessories. In addition to standard fitting rooms, there will also be a photo booth and SHEIN gacha machine!

     

    This summer, the brand held its first pop-up event in Japan, traveling to five cities over two days. In October 2022, the three-month-long SHEIN POPUP OSAKA event invited customers could try on clothes and discover new styles.

     

     “SHEIN TOKYO is planning to hold a number of events to make the SHEIN brand more familiar to new customers. Please visit us and enjoy perusing our reasonably priced but high-quality items,” an official comment reads. 

  • 13th BT21 Cafe to Open in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Sapporo

    29.October.2022 | FASHION / FOOD / SPOT

    The 13th iteration of the BT21 Cafe will open at six venues in five cities around Japan. Fans in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Sapporo will want to visit this exclusive event titled ~MAGICAL TIME~. The first cafe opens in Shibuya on November 3. In celebration of BT21’s 5th anniversary, this special cafe is filled with joy and excitement and aims to give fans the best possible experience.

     

    Cafe Menu

    Magical Tea Time Set

    Food Plate

    Food Plate (7 varieties)

    Dessert Plate

    Dessert Plate (7 varieties)

     

    Drinks

    Magical Milk Tea

    Black Tea

    Iced Coffee / Hot Coffee

     

    Original Goods

    Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties, Random)

    Acrylic Clip (7 varieties, Random)

    Satin Sticker (7 varieties)

    Clear Folder (2 varieties)

    Handkerchief (7 varieties)

    Tote Bag

    Mug

    Masking Tape / Balloon on a Stick

    Dolomite Coaster (2 varieties) / Mirror (2 varieties)

    [Online Store Exclusive] Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties, Random)

     

    The cafe’s new menu includes afternoon tea, perfect for warming the body and soul during the cold winter months. The colorful food items and desserts are sure to be a hit on social media, and fans will enjoy the Magical Milk Tea and other dishes inspired by the popular BT21 characters.

     

    In addition to new merchandise and bonuses featuring newly-drawn art, a photo spot will welcome guests to the cafe and invite them to celebrate this five-year milestone. 


    Why not take a break from everyday life to enjoy a magical time with these cute characters?

     

    ©BT21

  • Popular Character Coji-Coji Inspires First Baby Brand COJI-COJI BABY

    18.October.2022 | ANIME&GAME / FASHION

    Momoko Sakura’s popular series Chibi Maruko-chan is filled with beloved characters, and Coji-Coji has remained a fan favorite for decades. Starting in October 2022, fans will be able to grab goods from the new COJI-COJI BABY brand. 

    The made-for-babies merchandise line will feature new artwork. The first theme is ‘outer space,’ and little ones will love the pastel colors and playful illustrations. A promo video has also been posted to the official Coji-Coji YouTube channel.

     

    About COJI-COJI BABY

    “A snooze on the moon…

    From childhood to the faraway future, 

    Coji-Coji is always cozy-cozy.

    Such a valuable life.

    Grow together with your baby.

    Snuggle up with your family. 

    Be there to relax with those you love. 

    Spend irreplaceable time together.

    After all of these desires and thoughts came together,

    COJI-COJI BABY was born.”

     

    Product Release Information

    Sales of COJI-COJI BABY products began on October 12, 2022 on the official Eightex Japan online store.

    Coji-Coji Costume Romper: ¥9,900

     

    COJI-COJI BABY Fair Now Open!

    Starting on October 15, the COJI-COJI BABY Fair is being held at Kiddy Land Harajuku and Kiddy Land Osaka Umeda.

     

    During the event period, those who purchase over ¥4,000 (including tax) on COJI-COJI BABY products will receive an original mini shikishi. This is a perfect frame for your baby’s handprint or footprint!

  • ANNA’S by Landtmann in Shibuya Scramble Square Now Offering Halloween Sweets

    11.October.2022 | FOOD

    ANNA’S by Landtmann, a cafe located inside +Q Beauty on the 6th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, has begun selling two Halloween cakes! These spooky sweets will be available until October 31, 2022.

     

    Halloween Mont Blanc

     

    Halloween Poison Apple

    Guests will be able to snag the Halloween Mont Blanc and Halloween Poison Apple cakes, available for ¥580 each including tax. The Mont Blanc is filled with pumpkin custard and Chantilly cream. The Poison Apple is a sweet and sour cake featuring a blend of chocolate mousse covered in red glaze and applesauce with apple pulp.

     

    Which of these two adorable cakes would you like to enjoy this autumn?

  • Home Cooking Themed Yowamushi Pedal LIMIT BREAK Collaboration Cafe to Open in Shibuya

    12.September.2022 | ANIME&GAME / FOOD / SPOT

    Fans of Yowamushi Pedal won’t want to miss this special collaboration! Chugai Grace Cafe, located on the seventh floor of Shibuya MODI, will be running the Yowamushi Pedal LIMIT BREAK cafe from September 22 until October 17, 2022.

     

    Collaboration Menu

    Sakamichi Onoda and Sangaku Manami’s Udon & Onigiri Plate 

     


    Yasutomo Arikita and Kuroda Yukinari’s Hamburger & Salad Plate

     

    Hayato Shinkai’s Chocolate & Banana Mini Parfait

    Sohoku High School Mango Whipped Cream & Calpis Drink

    Hakone Academy Mint Whipped Cream & Calpis Drink

     

     

     

    Goods

    Pin (Random Holographic included, 9 varieties)

    Acrylic Figure Stand (9 varieties)

    Pin, Mini Character Ver. (Random Holographic included, 16 varieties)

    Acrylic Stand (16 varieties)

    Table Plate (9 varieties)

    Shoulder Bag

     

     

    Menu Order Bonus / Online Preorder Bonus

    Coaster (1st Half): September 22 – October 4, 2022

    Coaster (2nd Half): October 5 – October 17, 2022

     

    The collaboration cafe focuses on dishes you may find at home, such as udon, onigiri, and even a chocolate banana mini parfait as a dessert. New original goods with exclusive illustrations will also be available for purchase!

     

    ©渡辺航(週刊少年チャンピオン)/弱虫ペダル05製作委員会

  • Old-School Burger Shop Jennifer Seven Opens Location in Harajuku, Tokyo

    07.September.2022 | FOOD / SPOT

    LDFS Co. Ltd., which operates six cafes and brands in Tokyo, has opened a new location! The company currently operates THE GREAT BURGER, a gourmet burger shop in Harajuku, The Little BAKERY Tokyo, and GOOD TOWN DONUTS. Now, they’ve brought the old-school burger store Jennifer Seven to Harajuku!


    Jennifer Seven is a combination general store and burger store that sells apparel, kitchen items, and groceries. While it may seem like a general store with a coffee stand at first glance, the back door opens to reveal a secret burger shop! The innovative location will serve simple burgers, not the hearty and massive gourmet burgers available next door at THE GREAT BURGER.

     

     

    General stores are found in rural America and carry a wide range of daily necessities, much like a yorozu-ya in Japan. Jennifer Seven sells original apparel, sundries, and goods with a vintage flare, as well as tableware and other items from the U.S. In addition, guests can find unique food items like handmade jellies and jams, fresh fruits and local veggies, natural wines, small gifts, and plenty more.

     

    The drive-thru coffee stand attached to the store sells GOOD TOWN COFFEE, and Chinese-American steamed buns are also available at the Harajuku location!

     

    Each classic burger will come with simple and tasty ingredients, including the beef patty, ketchup, mustard, original burger sauce, pickles, and onions. The restaurant’s simple interior features white and vintage wood with blue-grayish green accents and was designed by the owner himself, inspired by diners and school cafeterias in rural America.

     

    Come enjoy a classic burger at this secret burger joint!

     

  • Kuroko’s Basketball Cafe to Open at Chugai Grace Cafe in Shibuya

    17.August.2022 | ANIME&GAME / FASHION / FOOD

    From August 26 until September 18, Chugai Grace Cafe at Shibuya MODI will hold a special collaboration cafe with the popular series Kuroko’s Basketball!

    Menu at a Glance

    Ryota Kise’s French Onion-style Carbonara

    Daiki Aomine’s Teriyaki Burger over Rice

    Shintaro Midorima’s Lucky Monaka

    Tetsuya Kuroko’s Vanilla Shake

    Atsushi Murasakibara’s Violet Blueberry Water

     

    Goods

     

    Pin (Cafe ver.)

    Type A (7 varieties)

    Type B (7 varieties)

     

    Mini Acrylic Stand (Cafe ver.)

    Type A (7 varieties)

    Type B (7 varieties)

     

    Nametags (Cafe ver.)

    Type A (7 varieties)

    Type B (7 varieties)

    Mini Bromide (Cafe ver.)

    Type A (7 varieties)

    Type B (7 varieties)

    Holographic Sticker (Cafe ver., 14 varieties)

    Clear Case (Cafe ver.)

    Menu Order Bonus: 1 Coaster (28 varieties, random)

    Web Order Bonus: 1 Coaster 

    Fans of the series will be able to sample a number of unique dishes inspired by characters from Kuroko’s Basketball. Original goods featuring newly-drawn cafe-inspired illustrations will also be available, and guests will be able to enter a drawing to win a one-of-a-kind tapestry.

    © 藤巻忠俊/集英社・黒子のバスケ製作委員会
    ©「黒子のバスケ」アニメ10周年プロジェクト

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