New Prints: The Evolutionary Beauty of UKIYO-E, featuring pieces from the Chiba City Museum of Art, will be held at Takashimaya Osaka from September 15-27, 2021. 

Ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints, were exceptionally popular as a Japanese art style from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Now, a new exhibition coming to Osaka is highlighting the ‘Shin-hanga’ movement, which took place during the early 20th century and focused largely on the creation of pieces to sell to foreign markets. The man behind this movement was Shozaburo Watanabe, who commissioned artists to design prints blending traditional Japanese techniques with unique elements of Western paintings at the time, such as shadowing and different perspectives. 

The exhibition will contain 120 works selected from the Chiba City Museum of Art’s Shin-hanga collection, ranging from early masterpieces such as Goyo Hashiguchi’s ‘Woman at her Bath,’ Ito Shinsui’s ‘Before the Mirror,’ as well as rich depictions of Japanese landscapes by Hasui Kawase and international landscapes by Hiroshi Yoshida. 

Selection of Featured Works

Twelve Months of Tokyo: Evening Glow at Yanaka – Hasui Kawase. 1921. 

The Twelve Months in Tokyo series consists of twelve paintings based on sketches made by Kawase between December 1920 and October 1921. While twelve pieces were planned, only four circular pieces and one square piece were completed. Evening Glow at Yanaka depicts a five-story pagoda glowing faintly in the light of the setting sun. Kawase has stated that as he finished sketching the piece, he heard the sound of a bell, and for some reason, he had the uncanny feeling that he needed to straighten his collar. 

Sailing Boats in the Morning: Inland Sea – Hiroshi Yoshida. 1926.

Yoshida began work on the Sailing Ship trilogy in 1921 under Shozaburo Watanabe, but all of his woodblocks and most of his works were lost in the Great Kanto Earthquake. Five years later, Yoshida decided to tackle the project again, this time deciding on six pieces. In contrast to the originals under Watanabe, these pieces tackled more nuanced periods of time and give a stronger sense of tranquility. Pay attention to the slight variations in color and light. 

Before the Mirror. Ito Shinsui. 1916. 

This is the first Shin-hanga work by Ito Shinsui. The piece only uses three colors: red, black, and white, and utilizes serrated carving to give the impression of shadows. Using layers of rare high-quality red paint, this work has been deemed a masterpiece by fans of the movement, conveying Shinsui’s subtlety when depicting the feminine figure. 

Fashions of the Modern World: Tipsy – Kiyoshi Kobayakawa. 1930.

This portrait of a modern lady is one of six in the Fashions of the Modern World series by Kobayakawa, and is regarded by many as the best in the bunch. Produced between 1930 and 1931, the artist portrayed the unique personalities of women, rather than sticking to tradition. The woman in this portrait isn’t demure or quiet, but instead shows off her short hair, a cigarette, rings, and a cocktail in her hand, showing a different side to the Japanese women of the period. 

Combing the Hair. Goyo Hashiguchi. 1920. 

With her overflowing black hair and elegant appearance, the subject of Combing the Hair makes it clear why this is Hashiguchi’s most representative work. The woman’s name is Tomi Kodaira, and she modeled for many of the artist’s works, being discovered by him as she was modeling at a nearby art school. The pose is said to be inspired by Rossetti’s Lady Lilith, but her expression is unique to Hashiguchi and the typical style of ukiyo-e. 

Sebastian Masuda is a powerhouse of all things cute. From starting the popular Harajuku-based brand 6%DOKIDOKI in 1995 to creating the now-legendary music video for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s PONPONPON, Masuda is now celebrating 30 years in the industry. An exhibition of the artist’s works will be shown in an upcoming exhibition in both Tokyo and Osaka from Fall 2021 until 2022. Prior to that, a Sebastian Masuda pop-up shop is coming to Roppongi Hills and Shibuya PARCO starting this month!

From September 23 until October 17, the art goods brand Sebastian Masuda ART will hold a pop-up shop within the Mori Art Museum Shop on the third floor of Roppongi Hills West Walk. In addition to the latest art goods, including the brand-new ‘Inner Voyage’ series, a number of Masuda’s colorful art pieces will be on display, with some being for sale. 

When visiting Roppongi Hills, don’t forget to head up to the 52nd floor for the 60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition: The Beginning of Kawaii, running from September 17 until January 10, 2022. Sebastian Masuda’s work ‘Unforgettable Tower’ will be on display when entering the event, while the Tokyo City View store will be selling some of the artist’s products! Basically, both the 3rd and 52nd floors will be nothing but kawaii. 

Mori Art Museum Shop

Stickers: ¥550 – ¥2,860 (Tax Included)

 Inner Voyage T-Shirt: ¥7,480 (Tax Included)

Microcosmos -Tattoo Pink & Me-   

Sebastian Masuda & 6%DOKIDOKI 1995→2021

Mesh Top:  ¥10,450 (Tax Included)

Long Sleeve T-Shirt: ¥8,250 (Tax Included)

DOKI DOKI Earrings: ¥4,290 (Tax Included) / Logo Plate Necklace: ¥7,590 (Tax Included) / 6% Logo Pochette: ¥6,050 (Tax Included)

Charm Pouch – Kawaii Company: ¥2,860 (Tax Included) / Sebastian Masuda STUDIO COLOR PALETTE: ¥4,400 – ¥2,860 (Tax Included) Felissimo

The Sebastian Masuda & 6%DOKIDOKI 1995→2021 event will be held from September 17 to October 3 at Hobonichi CultureN, located inside Shibuya PARCO. Guests will be able to look back at the 26-year history of the 6%DOKIDOKI brand. 

2021, much like 2020, has lost a lot of it’s brightness due to the ongoing pandemic. Why not surround yourself with some kawaii goods to raise your spirits? 

A celebration of light, sound, and food, the biennial Noseden Artline 2021 Festival will take place from October 30 until November 23, 2021. Set in one city and three towns along the Nose Electric Railway, the regional art event began in 2013 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rail line, and brings local artists and residents together. 

The festival will be in Kawanishi and Inagawa in Hyogo Prefecture, as well as in Toyono and Nose in Osaka Prefecture, with Mt. Myoken marking the center point. Each part of the event will connect the history, industry, and tradition of the area with new and engaging creations. 

The theme of the 2021 Noseden Artline Festival is ‘Enlarged Mentality.’ By taking things that are subjective, like an artist’s thoughts and senses, and applying them to the objective world that can be shared, it creates a one-of-a-kind way to connect fully with others. The event will feature local cuisine and music, as well as art focused on light, inspired by the North Star. After a year of solitude due to the pandemic, the festival hopes to remind people to cultivate, nourish, and preserve local relationships. 

Art can make life more enjoyable, so why not come and see what the area has to offer?

 (C)Kousei Ikeda(SPEKTRA)

A new collaborative exhibition is coming to WHAT CAFE in Tokyo! The WHAT CAFE x DELTA EXHIBITION -EXPANSION- will run from September 25 until October 24, and will give guests some incredible pieces to ponder while sipping some warm coffee. 

WHAT CAFE is an art and culture facility opened with the goal of supporting artists with promising futures in the industry. Guests can wander the gallery while enjoying a meal or beverage, with some art being available for purchase.

Flash FINCH – Ji-hae Park

Combination-cut in 2 – Saki Matsumura

Galloping on a Free-floating Planet – Yui Suzuki

real screen – Takuro Sugiyama

This exhibition was inspired by WHAT CAFE’s interest in the activities of DELTA, an art project that helps plan and organize art fairs and exhibitions around Japan. It’s mission is to create a new place connecting galleries, artists, and collectors, while also breaking the norm and making a space that is more accessible. The WHAT CAFE x DELTA EXHIBITION -EXPANSION- will feature 60 works by 17 cutting-edge artists carefully selected from seven different galleries based in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. The showing will ask visitors to expand their minds and become more flexible when pondering the meaning behind each of the pieces on display.

Does this art-gallery-meets-cafe sound like your kind of place? 

AniCook, a project using anime to make cooking more fun, is already holding it’s 9th collaboration with a popular series. This time, characters from the popular anime series Bungo Stray Dogs are coming to cook up some fall treats at Shinsaibashi PARCO in Osaka from October 1 until October 26! 

Menu

Sticker gifted to guests who purchase a meal or dessert (8 varieties) / Postcard gifted to guests ordering a drink (8 varieties) 

Original Merchandise

Acrylic Stands (8 varieties) / 8-pack set

Pins (8 varieties) / 8-pack set

Acrylic Keychain (8 varieties) / 8-pack set

Acrylic Muddler (8 varieties) / 8-pack set

100 Limited-Edition pouches (2 varieties) available by lottery: Those spending over ¥5,000 at the cafe will be entered.

CookpadTV is behind the cafe, and continues to lead the way in quality collaboration cafes across Japan. This time, popular characters from Bungo Stray Dogs are serving up their favorite autumn-themed foods, inspiring visitors to enjoy cooking just a little more. Themed meals and sweets will be available, while the beverages are each themed on the character’s abilities. Be sure to grab some of the limited-edition merchandise only available during the event! These can now be pre-ordered on the cookpadLive cafe Online Store. 

Which character would you like to see in the kitchen? 

TOKYO 23, a shop promoting basketball culture, is set to reopen as a large-scale shop in Harajuku on September 18, 2021. 

TOKYO 23 x JUN INOUE TEE (Black/White): ¥5,500 each (Tax Included)

Guests will enter the space to find a basketball court at the center, both keeping with the theme of the shop and maintaining a minimalist vibe. The location is bold, using a balance of different upcycled materials and gray-tone colors reminiscent of the Tokyo streets. 

JUN INOUE was in charge of designing the lanterns throughout the store, giving a more traditional Japanese feel to the modern storefront. The store is dotted with artworks by Inoue as well as Reina Koyano, both located in Los Angeles. 

The coffee shop “LATTEST” will also be a permanent fixture in the store, and is the perfect place for visitors to relax and take in the art and feeling of the TOKYO 23 store. To commemorate the opening of this massive space, special collaborative JUN INOUE x TOKYO 23 T-shirts will be on sale for a limited time. 

The globally-beloved Pokemon franchise is celebrating 25 years throughout 2021. Throughout the year, the POKEMON COLORS exhibition has opened in cities throughout Japan, bringing a barrage of bright colors, fantastic art, and Pokemon-themed activities to fans nationwide. As guests move throughout the event space, various projections and images around them change, with popular Pokemon characters popping up and flooding the world around them in color. Now, the POKEMON COLORS exhibition is set to open in Osaka beginning September 30. 

Exhibition Preview

Concept Video

COLORS ROAD

COLORS LAKE

COLORS FOREST

COLORS CITY

COLORS CIRCLE

Inspired by the more than 800 Pokemon species in the franchise, the POKEMON COLORS project uses sensors placed throughout the event space to track visitors movements, altering the images, music, and lighting accordingly. Meant to be a combination of pop culture and minimalist digital art, it’s an experience like no other. 

160 unique goods will be available at the exhibition, from apparel and art pieces to cell phone cases and office supplies. Be sure to check it out if you’re in Osaka this fall!

©2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.

Osaka’s Rihga Royal Hotel is collaborating with book direction brand YOURS BOOK STORE to produce a one-room one-day accommodation plan titled “Once in a Lifetime ~ Professionals Choose Your Book~.” The limited-time plan will be available between September 15 and November 30, 2021.

The lounge on the executive floor, known as The Presidential Towers, was reformed in March 2020 to include a library of 1,000 books, with themes including Osaka, refreshing, relaxing, and children’s books. It was then that the room plan collaboration with YOURS BOOK STORE, who was involved in the initial book selection, was proposed.

In the “Once in a Lifetime ~ Professionals Choose Your Book~” accommodation plan, a professional will discuss with the guest to learn more about their taste, with the book director offering 3 personalized book choices per person. The guest can also take full advantage of the hotel library.

Following your trip, a book chosen especially for guests will be sent to your home, with a message card describing how your books were selected. This unique accommodation plan allows you to bask in the afterglow of your trip while waiting to see what kind of book you receive.

Why not check out this unique plan where you can receive your own personalized book recommendation?

Opening in March 2021, Japan’s first luxury lifestyle Hotel W Osaka works with PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS to produce the ‘MIXup’ Art & Pastry Bar, which has unveiled a new Halloween themed dessert course and  à la carte cake, available from September 15.

Pumpkin & Choux Cream / Ghost Montblanc / Frankenstein Cheesecake

Rock’n’Roll

Osaka is said to be the birthplace of Japanese cuisine, and in a similar vein,  this unique  ‘MIXup’ dessert course serves ‘CHEEKY’ sweets which are finished one-by-one in front of the customer. The counter-style serving has proven popular since it began in May of this year, known for the playful presentation and customer participation.

This Autumn, the menu has been transformed into the ‘TRICKY CHEEKY HALLOWEEN’ course, with eight playful new desserts available to try. The desserts feature well-known Halloween monsters, and incorporate the taste of Autumn with pumpkin, chestnut, and pear, among other seasonal flavors.

The take-out Halloween sweets lineup includes a matcha and red bean Frankenstein Cheesecake, a spooky Ghost Montblanc, jack-o-lantern shaped Pumpkin Choux Creams, and more. A limited Halloween variation of the bar’s iconic rose and raspberry Rock’n’Roll cake is also available! The recipe and baking techniques are based on the methods of PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS, with arrangements by The W Osaka.

Try out some scarily tasty sweets this Halloween with The W Osaka and PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS!

Cafe BIVOUAC, located in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, will reopen Bath Cafe Hareniwa no Yu on September 18, 21, after a full rebranding.

The space aims to be ‘a garden that clears a guest’s body and mind.’ Visitors can enjoy a full bath and sauna, freshly-picked vegetables at the Haruniwa Dining Room, and a lush green lounge in which to relax and unwind.

The Haruniwa Dining Room, run by The Farm, a resort in Chiba Prefecture, offers healthy dishes filled with fresh local vegetables from Kumagaya with carefully-selected main ingredients.

In addition, a collaboration with fashion brand ‘niko and…’ will also begin upon reopening, offering the perfect comfy clothes to wear while enjoying the property.  The lineup  includes an original bath bag and sauna hat, each sold exclusively at Hareniwa no Yu.

Household goods shop LOFT is teaming up with beverage company Chichiyasu for the Chichiyasu Chi-bou Fair 2021 at four locations nationwide. The event will run from September 16 until September 29 at Shibuya LOFT, and from October 20 until November 3 at Nagoya LOFT, Umeda LOFT, and Tenjin LOFT. Chi-bou is the name of the adorable character on the Chichiyasu logo.

Chi-bou Drawstring Bag (Set of 2): ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

Chi-bou Gauze Handkerchief: ¥770 each (Tax Included)

Chi-bou T-shirt: ¥2,200 each (Tax Included) *Only available at Shibuya LOFT and Umeda LOFT.

Chi-bou Pouch: ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

Chi-bou Rubber Keychain (Set of 2): ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

Chi-bou A5-size Notebook: ¥385 each (Tax Included)

Chi-bou Mug: ¥1,650 each (Tax Included)

Chi-bou Eco Bag (with Pouch): ¥2,200 (Tax Included)

Chi-bou Masking Tape (Chichiyasu Milk/Boxed Milk): ¥495 each (Tax Included)

The Chichiyasu Chi-bou Fair was a popular event held at Shibuya LOFT in 2018 and at Yokohama and Umeda LOFT locations in 2019.

How would you like to buy some of this adorable merchandise?

A selection of healing monotone panda sweets will be available at the Gelato Pique Café between September 6 and September 25. The collection is titled “everyday PANDA! ~Sweets Time with Pandas~.”

Menu

Panda Crepe

Panda Gelato

Panda Float

Goods

Gelato Pique Café Original Panda Glass/Mug
Available from September 6

Gelato Pique Panda Motif Eco Bag / Panda Motif Hand Towel
Online reservations open September 2, available instore from September 8

In 2021, the Gelato Pique Café announced two rounds of animal themed sweets, proving hugely popular on social media. For Easter they released “Bunny Sweets” with rabbit ears motifs, while a series of “Polar Bear Sweets” was released during the Summer. Now, a selection of “Panda Sweets” is the latest to join the animal collection. 

The chocolate and banana Panda Crepe is filled with a healing ganache and banana,  while the Panda Gelato has cocoa biscuits studded around the pandas neck, along with rounded eyes and ears. The “healing monotone” Panda Float combines the Gelato Pique Café’s original Guatemalan coffee blend with Royal Blue Bourbon.

Along with this “everyday PANDA!” Fair, we have a large lineup of panda goods that will make you happy just by having them.  Goods that are perfect for presents, souvenirs, and rewards for yourself can be purchased at each gelato pique cafe store and EC site, so please look forward to that too!

There is a huge lineup of panda goods that will brighten your day releasing alongside the “everyday PANDA” fair, which make perfect gifts for friends – or yourself! You can view the goods lineup in store and on the Gelato Pique website.