Shiseido Parlour began its annual “Midsummer Parfait Fair” at its Ginza, Tokyo branch on Wednesday which will run until August 30 and be divided into two different slots serving different parfaits. The cafe is serving up a selection of parfaits made from ice cream and local seasonal fruits under the trust that the chefs and farmers have built over the years.

2020 Midsummer Parfait Fair: Slot ① July 1, 2020 – July 31, 2020

Furano, Hokkaido – Furano Melon Parfait: ¥2,100 (Tax Included)

This parfait is made using Furamon melon which is grown in Hokkaido’s city of Furano between the mountains where there is a major temperature difference. The melon is ripened after being harvested and so make it nice and soft, giving a sweet and juicy flavour and fragrance.

Sakai Nouen, Wakayama – Arakawa Peach Parfait: ¥2,300 (Tax Included)

The “Arakawa” peach is a brand of peach grown in Wakayama Precture. The peaches are grown until their nearly completely ripe while in the tree, giving them a soft texture. Inside the sweet flavour is a sour kick, both of which explode with the juiciness of the peach in the parfait.

Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa – Apple Mango Parfait: ¥2,700 (Tax Included)

The “apple mango” is a type of mango grown in the hot climate of Okinawa. The mango has a super soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture and a sour tinge which elevates its rich sweetness.

Hatake Kobo, Nagano Prefecture – Koihime Strawberry Parfait: ¥2,000 (Tax Included)

The “koihime” is a type of summer strawberry grown in-house by Shiseido Parlour. The strawberries get plenty of water, air, and sunlight so they grow into red jewels packed full of sweetness.

The second slot of the 2020 Midsummer Parfait Fair will run from August 1 to August 30.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Swiss claymation children’s television series Pingu. Japan is celebrating the milestone with the “Pingu Exhibition” which will take place on the 8th floor of Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo from August 12 to 24.

Original material for Pingu by the show’s creator Otmar Gutmann will be exhibited, as well as the actual clay figures, dioramas, storyboards, and more that were used during the filming in Switzerland. Many of the 400 or so items on display have never been shown in Japan before.

There will also be a recorded interview with Seishi Kattou, the only Japanese animator that was working in the Pingu studio at the time. But the fun doesn’t end there, as there will even be an AR attraction made using CG and original animations from the Pingu in the City 3D CG film.

A peek into the exhibition

The secret story behind Pingu’s creation

Visitors will be able to learn about the author Otmar Gutmann as well as see production materials, storyboards, and other treasured items that give insight into how the creator and studio gave rise to Pingu.

Exhibits: Notes from Otmar Gutmaan, storyboards, clay figures, dioramas, pilot episode screening, and more

The Clay Room

Pingu’s iconic exaggerated elastic movements are made possible through the use of clay. These movements play an important part in conveying characters’ emotions and are one element of the show’s storytelling. These movements will be exhibited in the event’s Clay Room where you’ll get to see different models morphing into different shapes. These clay figures are all handmade by the Pingu studio staff themselves.

Exhibits: Clay figures, tools, Pingu studio videos, and more

3DCG Animation and Pingu in the future

Pingu in the City is a Japanese 3D CG animated series which used the same style of the original series but instead opted for computer animation, adding a different layer of charm to the internationally adored series. Visitors will be able to enjoy this digital Pingu in a variety of ways.

Exhibits: Digital videos, AR, and more.

There will also be exclusive Pingu exhibition merchandise on sale, as well as pre-sales of Pingu merchandise yet to go on sale.

Shin Sobue (Pingu Exhibition Art Director) | Comment

“This will be the first all-out exhibition for Pingu, a series which has transcended borders from Switzerland and the UK to Japan. This will be a happy exhibition that neatly divides everything for people to enjoy, from its mysterious language to its comical movements, story, and laid-back humour.” (Translated from Japanese by MMN)

©2020 JOKER

SKY FIGHT CAFE Ginza is a cafe with quite the unique experience. It opened in Tokyo’s Marronnier Gate Ginza on June 5, 2020, and offers the usual cafe experience but throws drones into the mix. As well as drinks and meals, SKY FIGHT CAFE Ginza has a drone school where customers can learn how to operate drones, as well as its own store you can get your hands on drones and merchandise.

The cafe comes as the first of its kind where drone races are also held. Anyone and everyone is invited to join, whether they be a complete beginner of a professional drone pilot.

In addition to coffee and soft drinks, SKY FIGHT CAFE Ginza also serves alcoholic beverages like beer too. For every drink or food item purchased, you get one entry into a drone race.

Enjoy sipping on your drink and flying drones at SKY FIGHT CAFE Ginza.

UNIQLO is set to open its new global flagship store named UNIQLO TOKYO at MARRONNIER GATE GINZA 2 on June 19, 2020.

The new branch comes as the third to open this year, following UNIQLO PARK Yokohama Bayside in April and UNIQLO Harajuku last week on June 5.

© Herzog & de Meuron

UNIQLO TOKYO will be the embodiment of UNIQLO’s “LifeWear,” clothing that the company has created to “improve everyone’s life.” The company prides itself on weaving high-quality and high-function clothing for all people at an affordable price. Their products a multifarious, and the brand continues to evolve. To bring LifeWear to life at UNIQLO TOKYO, the brand has brought creative art director Kashiwa Sato on board, as well as award-winning Swiss architecture firm Herzog and de Meuron.

The central part of the 1st floor is called LifeWear Square, an area that fully captures UNIQLO’s “LifeWear” concept for customers. The first floor will be a collection of everything from trending products to collaborative products and more. There will even be an area where you can buy flowers near the entrance which is located along MARRONNIER.

The 2nd floor is a full line-up of women’s clothes. From trending attire to basic UNIQLO threads, women will be able to pick from a diverse line-up of items, including clothes that will go on pre-sale at UNIQLO TOKYO, and even homewear and office wear.

Up on the 3rd floor is the men’s section which is stocked with everything from casual clothes to high quality outfits. They can even make made-to-order suits and jackets where you can choose the lengths of sleeves, the body, and so on.

The 4th floor is the children’s and baby section, and it even has a library for kids to play in, so kids can have fun while you shop. The 4th floor is also home to a UT archive space which showcases all the different t-shirts that have been released as part of the UT graphic T-shirt series.

The rooftop and outside of the building will don digital signs made by interactive designer and engineer Yugo Nakamura.

UNIQLO TOKYO is set to offer a completely new UNIQLO experience to people from both inside and outside Japan when it opens on June 19, 2020.

Beauty Connection Ginza and its second floor fruit course cafe Fruits Salon have been closed since April 8, 2020 as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. But that hasn’t stopped Fruits Corner wanting to deliver its tasty treats to customers as it reveals its new mango themed menu which is set to run for the whole month of June. It will be taking online orders.

Following the pear, citrus fruits, and strawberry line-ups, the new mango course is made up of four different vitamin-packed and refreshing accompaniments, all made with fresh mangoes from Miyazaki Prefecture.

Mango Full Course: ¥4,400 (Tax Included)

1st. plate “Terrine”

2nd. plate “Airy Tart”

Each of the four plates, packed full of rich and sweet mangoes, offers refreshing taste to give you that early summertime vibe.

3rd. plate “Parfait”

4th. plate “Dried Fruits/Mignardises/After-Meal Drink)

The third plate is a gorgeous, eye-catching parfait centred on mango gelato and made up of delicious ingredients that all come together harmoniously. Mix everything together to create new flavours. The full course is 90 minutes, and beckons you to use all five of your senses to enjoy it.

Since the launch of the manga back in 1970, Doraemon has brought smiles on people’s faces in the form of books, anime, live-action films, collaborations with artists, and more, for the past 50 years.

To celebrate the franchise’s 50th anniversary, TSUTAYA Ginza has opened an online fair on its website. TSUTAYA Ginza is a place where people of all ages and nationalities come from around the world, and the number one book the store can recommend as part of Japan’s culture continues to be the first volume of Doraemon. For the entirety of 2019—that’s January to December—the first volume of Doraemon was the number one best selling book at TSUTAYA Ginza.

Doraemon 50th Anniversary Fair

Doraemon Volume 1 (Tentoumushi Comics)

Doraemon has come to be a symbol of Japan and has been passed down generations, but there probably a lot of people who don’t know how the story started. To find out, pick up a copy of volume one at TSUTAYA Ginza.

Doraemon Volume 0 (Tentoumushi Comics)

As part of the anniversary celebrations, a special volume 0 has been published. This full-colour book features 6 versions of the first Doraemon story as well as comments  by the author and more.

Doraemon Mizuhiki Accessories (Pins, Earrings, Piercings)

Mizuhiki are decorative Japanese cords which are used for important ceremonial occasions such as weddings, births, and funerals. These special Doraemon mizuhiki have been turned into beautiful accessories featuring Doraemon and Dorami’s iconic blue and yellow colours respectively. They can be used for decorating clothes with and more.

This is just a peek at some of the celebratory merchandise on offer for the online fair. For the full list, check out the website below.

The DIOR FROM PARIS TO JAPAN exhibition at HANKYU Umeda Store in Osaka began on March 1 where it is set to run until March 22.

The collection features a complete line-up inspired by Japan’s rich culture, from dresses serving haute couture to exquisite Lady Dior bags re-interpreted by various artists. This exhibition is a coming-together of DIOR and Japan and expresses savoir faire the way a maison should.

The exhibition is also home to a gift shop selling a range of different items. It also has an audio guide presented by Japanese actress and fashion model Yuko Araki and actor and model Ryusei Yokohama, both of whom were selected as Japan Fashion Ambassadors for this exhibition.

See the worlds of DIOR and Japan collide at DIOR FROM PARIS TO JAPAN.

A photo exhibition will be held at the HMV Museum in Shibuya from March 6, 2020 for a limited time in promotion of the release of Studio Ghibli Museum’s first official photo book, Ghibli Bijutsukan Monogatari (“The Story of the Ghibli Museum”).

“Ghibli Bijutsukan Monogatari” Photo Book – ¥3,800 (Exhibition Pre-Sale: March 6, 2020 / General Release: March 20, 2020)

Photography is strictly forbidden at the Studio Ghibli Museum, but this exhibition gives a rare look inside without having to go inside. There will be panels of photos of both inside and outside the museum, a display of miniature figures of characters like the Robot from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, writings from Studio Ghibli film producer Toshio Suzuki, and more. The museum’s popular photo spots will also make an appearance at the exhibition for taking a photo next to.

Exclusive Desk Calendar (*Limited to 500 people per day, first-come first-served)

Desk calendars will also be available, featuring the photos used at the exhibition.

Exclusive Exhibition Merchandise

Tote Bag – ¥2,000 / T-Shirt – ¥2,800 / Hanging Scroll – ¥30,000 / Photos (3 Designs) – ¥8,000 Each

Visitors will be able to get their hands on the photo book early at the exhibition, and those who buy it at HMV&BOOKS SHIBUYA will be invited to a signing and talk session on March 7, 2020 on a first-come, first-served basis. The signing will be attended by Kanyada and Toshio Suzuki, who will also be present at the talk event in addition to film director Ryutaro Nakagawa.

Exclusive merchandise will be sold at the exhibition. The exhibition itself encourages people to feel like a lost child, and its layout will reflect that without any set paths or routes.

Dive into the wonderful world of Studio Ghibli at the Ghibli Bijutsukan Monogatari Photo Exhibition.

*Please note that the number of people allowed to enter the exhibition will be restricted due to the ongoing situation surrounding the new coronavirus. This will widen the space between visitors and allow them to enjoy the exhibition in an uncrowded space. More details can be found on the official HMV Museum website.

The Ginza branch of TSUTAYA BOOKS has revealed that it will sell an exclusive shooting star design of the QLOCKTWO CLASSIC CREATOR’S EDITION.

The design was conceived in collaboration with GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS, fusing together Japanese culture and art. The entire clock face is specially made using Japanese urushi lacquer and makes use of the maki-e Japanese lacquering technique where the lacquer is sprinkled with gold or silver powder for decoration. Only 12 of these models will be sold worldwide, making them a very limited-edition and exclusive item.

GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS’s Exclusive “Ryusei” Shooting Star Model

Two strong golden strokes shoot across the jet black design, both of which are made using a combination of 24k gold and a special 22.7k gold that’s mixed with silver. This not only makes the thick lines powerful, but adds a touch of delicateness too. However, the focus of this design is the background lacquering. The two-coloured golden straight lines enhance the darkness of the lacquer to give the background a jet-black appearance. Emerging majestically from the gold and black contrastーwhich was created by the artisans of the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibitionーare letters which form the time in word format. This combination of modern European art and Japanese craftsmanship is the culmination of beauty.

The standout characteristic of the QLOCKTWO CREATOR’S EDITION series is the craftsmanship. Yamada Heiando is a lacquerware shop founded in 1919 that purveys its products to the Japanese Imperial Household. The artisans of this shop tackled the difficult challenge of performing lacquering on large surfaces. The design of the new QLOCKTWO shooting star model is a traditional one even within the lacquerware of Yamada Heiando. The model realises that very challenge, producing wonderful craftsmanship on a large surface.

QLOCKTWO makes use of a ground-breaking time display system that originates in Germany which makes use of words in lieu of clock hands or numbers. As shown in the picture, the display is shown in typography, reading “IT IS HALF PAST SEVEN.”

QLOCKTWO has received high praise amongst clock and watch enthusiasts in Europe, winning over 20 international design awards including the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Product Design Award, and the ADC Europe Gold Award. The product adds an elegant and modern touch to one’s lifestyle. They are displayed around the world: one was set up at Paris’s famous boutique Colette, which closed recently, as well as the world’s oldest department store Bon Marche, and is part of the Parisan “elegant and modern lifestyle.”

The rooftop terrace space of the CHANEL Ginza building is set welcome LE JARDIN DE TWEED this March which is collaborating with champagne producer Perrier-Jouët.

LE JARDIN DE TWEED will open for a limited time this March where it will run until late October. As the name of the chic café suggests, the space takes on a tweed design with trimmed plants housed throughout. They will serve finger food from BEIGE ALAIN DUCASSE TOKYO as well as afternoon tea and more.

For drinks, there is of course exquisite Perrier-Jouët champagne, as well as a selection of special original cocktails. Their detox non-alcoholic cocktails are special recommendations for refreshing the mind and body.

©PierreMonetta

Afternoon Tea – ¥4,800 (With Tea or Coffee) / With Perrier-Jouët – ¥6,000 (1 glass serving)　Serving: 14:00-16:00

The items adoring the afternoon tea set will change with each passing season. Enjoy with a glass of Perrier-Jouët, tea, coffee, or one of the available soft drinks.

What could be more indulging than sitting atop CHANEL in Tokyo’s high-end Ginza district while tucking into a tasty afternoon tea with a glass of champagne?

SHARI and SHARI THE TOKYO SUSHI BAR in Ginza, as well as CRAFT in Ariake, are releasing the perfect accompaniment to your hanami flower-viewing experience in Japan this spring: the “Hanami Roll Sushi Bento” lunch box, which consists of 36 bite-size sushi pieces made up of 12 different kinds of sushi. It will be available February 18 to April 30.

Hanami Roll Sushi Bento (36 Pieces/Serves 3-4): ¥4,500 (Tax Included)

As soon as your take the lid off this colourful assortment of rolled sushi, you’ll find yourself reaching for your camera to snap a photo for Instagram. Each piece is 3cm in diameter and so is deliciously bite-sized. The line-up includes four new kinds of sushi rolls conceived for this release which use seasonal spring ingredients, like sakuradai cherry blossom sea bream, sakura ebi, rape blossoms, fuki giant butterbur, green beans, and moreーas well as eight other types of sushi that are popular classics at each of the three restaurants.

Shrimp Roll

From the four new rolls, we have the sakura ebi shrimp roll, which is served with a gorgeous cherry blossom colour. It’s made with shibazuke pickles and vinegared rice, which gives it its colour, and contains, rape blossoms, okra, Chinese yam, and egg. The rape blossoms add a springtime bitterness to the sweetness of the sakura ebi, creating a wonderful combination of flavours.

Beef Butterbur Miso Roll

Then there’s the sakuradai roll is wrapped with vinegared tobiko flying fish roe, okra, and cucumber, which is topped with sashimi-style sakuradai cherry blossom seam bream and salty cherry blossom leaves. The spring vegetable and tempura roll has shrimp and green bean tempura mixed with yuzu kosho paste; and finally, the beef butterbur miso roll, which contains beef rib seasoned in a sukiyaki style, finished with sesame seeds, and seasoned with butterbur miso.

The eight popular classics include the wagyu roll sushi seasoned with luxurious truffle oil, Italian roll, duck roll, salmon roll, spider roll (soft shell crab), and more. All of these varied picks go great with wine or champagne.

Hanami Roll Sushi Bento (9 Pieces): ¥1,200 (Tax Included)

The “Hanami Roll Sushi Bento” comes in various sizes. As well as the 36 pieces of 12 sushi types, there’s also 18 pieces of 9 types (serves 1-2), and the 9 pieces of 9 types (serves 1).

Reservations are available until 15:00 the previous day. Order yours for your Hanami cherry blossom flower-viewing this year in Japan.

GINZA SIXーthe largest shopping complex in Ginzaーhas unveiled some of the incredible desserts arriving for this spring only.

Ginza is famous for its host of restaurants which serve up gorgeously gourmet food throughout the four seasons, and so you can expect GINZA SIX’s line-up to be something special. Let’s take a look.

Strawberry Sweet Afternoon Tea – ¥4,200 (Before Tax) @ THE GRAND GINZA

“Shun’un” pecial Make Maruto Parfait – ¥2,300 (Before Tax) @ Nakamura Tokichi Honten Ginza

Strawberry Mix Candy – ¥593 (Before Tax) @ Candy Art Museum by PAPABUBBLE

The line-up of delectable treats at GINZA SIX won’t just satisfy your sweet tooth, but your eyes too due to their delightful appearanceーlike the strawberry and roses littered afternoon tea, or the strawberry candy which is made using only the best available strawberries. The shops and restaurants at GINZA SIX have ensured to prepare sweets that will bring spring to mind Japanese springtime and the pink cherry blossoms.

Matcha Ganache – ¥1,800 (Before Tax) @ Tsujiri

Matcha & Tamba Azuki Bean Cake – ¥2,600 (Before Tax) @ Marlowe

Kurozu Vinegar Raw Chocolate – ¥1,500 (Before Tax) @ Shoubunsu Vinegar Brewery

Other tantalising treats include more Japanese-tasting selections, like cookies injected with a rich matcha ganache, raw chocolate doused with kurozu vinegar, gluten-free pound cake made with freshly-made Uji matcha, and more.

Of course, since this is a spring line-up, there are flowery fusions to find too, like candy topped with edible flowers and rose flavoured frozen fruit bars.

Rose & Raspberry – ¥520 (Before Tax) @ PALETAS

Spring Edible Flower Lollipops – ¥555 (Before Tax) @ Candy Art Museum by PAPABUBBLE

Aya Farm Saku Mango Selection – ¥3,800 (Before Tax) @ Aya Farm

If you’re in Tokyo for spring, the cherry blossoms and hanami, then be sure to stop by GINZA SIX to indulge yourself this season.