A Kickstarter campaign was launched to release a book of the original set of 176 emojis that came out in Japan in 1999. Those who help fund the campaign can get their hands on the book early at a discounted price as well as download a stamp app for free.
These emojis are the original 12 x 12 NTT DOCOMO set of 176 created under Shigetaka Kurita when he was just 25 which were released in 1999.
In October 2010, Apple and Google released 722 new emojis on iPhone and Android. This subsequently lead to more and more designs being created by different providers.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) recognised this achievement early on and they held an exhibition of emojis from December 2016 to March 2017. Emojis have taken the world by storm and become a ubiquitous method of communication.
Inside the book, simply titled Emoji, you will find research by Kurita and Docomo on the designs they have put out as pictured above. Side by side of each emoji is a sketch along with the digital artwork alongside data from Docomo.
There is also an introduction to Kurita as well as essay written by Paola Antonelli and Paul Galloway of MoMA. The front and back cover features all 176 of the original emojis.
Those who back the project will not only receive the book, but a free download of the emoji stamps for both iOS or Android.
■Information
Kickstarter – “Emoji” Campaign Project
Running: Until June 2, 2018 at 10:00
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Sebastian Masuda to open SUSHIDELIC, a new sushi restaurant in Soho, New York City. The location will open on June 28, 2023.
“King of Kawaii” Sebastian Masuda, creator of Harajuku’s “KAWAII MONSTER CAFE,” loved by celebrities around the world, has created a new restaurant concept in New York City
Sebastian Masuda is a multi-disciplinary artist whose unique sense of color transcends the boundaries of art, fashion, and entertainment. His restaurant “KAWAII MONSTER CAFE” opened in Harajuku in August 2015 and quickly became a popular spot in Tokyo, frequented by celebrities from around the world, including BLACK PINK’s Jenny, Katy Perry, and Ariana Grande. His next project will take place in New York City, where he is currently based. The restaurant will offer a completely new perspective on sushi, the most popular Japanese food in the U.S. and an integral part of the American lifestyle.Enjoy an Immersive Kawaii Experience
The new location is meant to be an “immersive Kawaii experience.” Once you step into the restaurant, you’ll find yourself in a psychedelic and one-of-a-kind space that will make you feel as if you’ve wandered into another world. Guest will be guided by employees clad in colorful custom-made costumes, and three rotating cats will be suspended by the ceiling, rotating to reveal a secret image. Guests sitting at the counter will enjoy a pink custom-made conveyor belt, a.k.a a sushi lane.The restaurant will offer artist Sebastian Masuda “Immersive Kawaii Experiences” that go beyond THE DINING EXPERIENCE.Featuring a Menu Developed by Japanese Chefs and Supported by AUTEC, Inc.
Chef Hiroki Abe and Sebastian Masuda collaborated to create an unforgettable menu, fully supported by AUTEC. After moving to the United States in 2001, Abe worked as an executive chef at EN Japanese Brasserie in NYC. He now works as a private chef at corporate events and parties around the U.S. On the technical side, AUTEC, which boasts the number one share of the automatic sushi machine market in North America, is backing up the venture. The sushi is sure to be as tasty as it is kawaii!Featuring Restaurant Music by RAM RIDER, the Music Producer Behind the Score at KMC
The in-store background music is essential when cultivating an immersive experience. Music producer RAM RIDER, who created the music for KAWAII MONSTER CAFE, has written an incredible 70-minute ambient track for SUSHIDELIC. Guests can look forward to losing themselves in the adorable ambiance.Tons of New Yorkers Visit During Pre-Opening, SUSHIDELIC Trends on Social Media
During SUSHIDELIC’s limited pre-opening, scores of New York-based celebrities and influencers visited the shop. The unparalleled ambiance, food presentation, and experience have quickly become a hot topic on social media!Opening in SoHo, the Trendiest Neighborhood in New York City
SUSHIDELIC is scheduled to open at 177 Lafayette St. in the heart of the SoHo area, where the latest fashions and trends are born and where many fashion brands have opened their flagship stores.We will keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available. Please look forward to the chemistry between “Sushi” and “Kawaii,” two of Japan’s proudest exports.
Sebastian Masuda
Information
Shop Overview
Name: SUSHIDELIC
Opening: June 28, 2023
Address: 177 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013Website: https://www.sushidelic.netInstagram: @sushidelic.nyc -
VISIONS 2023 ILLUSTRATORS BOOK, the newest edition of the popular art book edited by pixiv, was released on October 4, 2022. Art fans know the pixiv website as a place to share artwork, manga, and more. The VISIONS book series began publication in 2020, and the total number of copies sold worldwide has surpassed 150,000. The latest 2023 issue features works by 170 creators, allowing readers a glimpse into the current state of illustration today.
The cover art was drawn by Mika Pikazo, a character designer for many popular titles including Fire Emblem Engage, the latest in Nintendo's Fire Emblem series. Mika Pikazo has long been pursuing new forms of expression in digital art, including incorporating cubism. Digital art is often treated as something vastly different from traditional art such as paintings and sculptures, but the cover art of this book challenges this belief by blending digital and traditional art. Pikazo’s vivid colors and exquisite brushwork are a must-see. In addition to providing the cover art, a 7,000-word special interview with Mika Pikazo delving into his thoughts and vision can be found in the new book, providing a detailed view of what the digital art scene will look like in 2023. Information
VISIONS 2023 ILLUSTRATORS BOOK
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4046816376/
Book Details: https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322204000304/
Official Site: https://www.pixiv.net/special/visions2023/ -
Sebastian Masuda, known as the “father of kawaii,” moved to New York City in 2022 to be more active in the Big Apple while continuing his activities in Tokyo. His first event since moving to the city will be the COLORS FOR PEACE charity art exhibition, which will be held at the Mizuma & Kips gallery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side from July 29 until July 31. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of artwork and donations collected will be donated to the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, a human rights organization supporting those whose lives have been impacted by war. Masuda wanted people to think about peace, which is the theme for the COLORS FOR PEACE exhibition. The showing will feature artwork in four primary colors–blue, yellow, green, and pink. Along with original paintings and lithographs, the exhibition will also feature a bed installation where guests can freely relax. Visitors will be able to think about the people whose peaceful daily lives are threatened by the ongoing war, and will be able to support them through art. An opening reception for the event will be held on the evening of July 29, and reservations are open now. More information will be announced on Masuda’s social media accounts, including when the artist himself will appear.
Comment from Sebastian Masuda
“COLORS FOR PEACE is an event with a very straightforward theme, and that is for guests to think about peace. Close your eyes. Imagine it. Understand it. Understand how wonderful it is that you can sleep in your own bed at home tonight. We all know how comfortable it is to be able to sleep in our own bed, with our own sheets that have our own scent. Through my activities over the years, I’ve come to realize that the ‘kawaii’ movement is one of the best ways to inspire peace. It helps us to understand each other, and the bright and vibrant colors make people happy, both in Japan and around the world. I hope that the COLORS FOR PEACE venue will be filled with many smiling faces and that it will transcend race, religion, age, gender, and all other borders.”Information
COLORS FOR PEACE
Running: July 29 – July 31, 2022
Venue: Mizuma & Kips
Address: 324 Grand St, New York
Entry: Free
Hours
July 29: 12:00-18:00
July 30: 12:00-18:00
July 31: 12:00-17:00
Opening Reception:July 29, 18:00-20:00
Reservations: https://www.eventbrite.com/preview?eid=367935463877/
Official Site: https://sebastianmasuda.com/exhibition/colors-for-peace/
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In March 2022, Kawade Shodo Shinsha will release 'The Heike Story': The Anime we Created, an incredibly in-depth tome detailing the creation of the popular animated series The Heike Story. The series began airing in September 2021. Creating our own image of 'Heike,' one that no one has ever seen before... Directed by Naoko Yamada, ‘The Heike Story’ is based on Hideo Furukawa’s translation of the classic Japanese tale. This book highlights the thoughts and feelings behind the creation of the anime series and includes interviews, exclusive essays, storyboards, and newly-drawn illustrations by character designer Fumiko Takano.
Sneak Peak
Will you be ordering this incredible book in March? Information
‘The Heike Story’: The Anime we Created
To be Released in March 2022
https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309291871/ -
The Orai Tourism Association will be reopening the Orai Sun Beach in Araimachi, Ibaraki, which was closed due to Covid-19, between October 16 and October 31 to host the limited-time 'Sunahama Library.' The event was hugely popular when it was held in 2020.
In the Summer of 2020, beaches throughout Japan were closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Orai Tourism Business Strategy Team held multiple meetings, searching for a way to allow people to enjoy the Orai seaside despite the situation. They realized that people may not want to get burned, or be covered in sand, or even get wet, but still want to be able to feel the sea. The conclusion the team came to was to open a library on the sandy beach, where visitors could enjoy the Orai sea without worry. Get comfy with a good book while surrounded by the beautiful Orai beachfront at the 'Sunahama Library.' Information
Sunahama Library
Location: Orai Sun Beach
Duration: October 16 ~ October 31 2021
Opening Hours:
Weekdays: 11:00 ~ 15:00
Saturday, Sunday (Reservations get priority entry): 10:00 ~ 16:00
Entry Fee: ¥500
Reservations can be made via the official Sunahama Library webpage.
Official Site: https://www.oarai-info.jp/page/sunahamatoshokan.html
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Publisher Kawade Shobo Shinsha will release two coming-of-age novels on October 14! To promote both The Last Dance of the Time Keepers and Home on the Night of the Star Festival, an anime PV created by the staff of the 2016 anime series Pop in Q and directed by Naoki Miyahara (Digimon Adventure, Dragon Ball Z) has also been released! There are also some pretty famous voice actors featured, so see if you recognize any!
Senya Mihagi, the author of both full-length novels, is an up-and-coming talent, winning the Kadokawa’s Da Vinci Story of Books Award in 2014. The original character designs and cover illustrations for each novel were created by Kouhaku Kuroboshi, who has worked on a number of popular anime works, including Kino’s Journey, Fate/Grand Order, and Sword Art Online Alternative. The PV includes voice actors Asami Seto, Shiori Izawa, Atsumi Tanezaki, Ari Ozawa, and Tomoyo Kurosawa. The music was produced by Yuki Tsujimura, who has collaborated with a number of popular Japanese artists in the past. To commemorate the release of the novels, five original postcards featuring art of each main character will be available from Amazon, Kumazawa Books, TSUTAYA, and Miraiya Books. You’ll get a different character depending on where you buy, so double-check beforehand! Synopsis
The Last Dance of the Time KeepersIsumi Kominato, a high-school freshman, moves to Tokyo from Kochi Prefecture and forms a new dance unit with her classmates. Behind the scenes, however, strange things are happening--power outages, disappearances, amnesia? Isumi, Aoi, Konatsu, Asahi, and Saki must use the power of dance to help return the world to normal. Home on the Night of the Star FestivalSatoshi, known as a child prodigy from the time he was an infant and like a sibling to Iori, died suddenly at the age of twenty-one. Iori, unable to accept his death, runs away to attend college in Tokyo, but three years later, she begins to receive strange e-mails after Satoshi’s belongings, including a smartphone, are given to her. What was he researching before he died, and why was a global IT company involved? What is the truth behind his mysterious death?Information
Novel x Anime PV Project
Novel Release Date: October 14, 2021
Price: ¥1,320 (Tax Included)
The Last Dance of the Time Keepers: https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309029948/
Home on the Night of the Star Festival: https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309029955/
Specific Bookstore Purchase Bonuses
Isumi Kominato Version: Amazon
Aoi Hioka Version: Kumazawa Books
Konatsu Tomodate Version: TSUTAYA
Asahi Omichi Version: Miraiya Books
Saki Tsukui: TSUTAYA
Amazon Exclusive Bonus: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4309869947/
Participating TSUTAYA Locations: https://tsutaya.tsite.jp/storelist/feature/bonus/book/20210909/index
Miraiya Books Exclusive Bonus: https://www.miraiyashoten.co.jp/news/tokimori_lastdance/
*Limited-edition bonuses subject to availability.