The Japan National Rugby Union Team has collaborated with numerous characters to date including Snoopy, Doraemon, Rilakkuma, Kinnikuman and Astro Boy.
The Brave Blossoms have now announced that they are teaming up with Hello Kitty and GeGeGe no Kitaro.
Collaborative merchandise will be sold at respective licensee companies, select sports shops and the team’s official online shop. Their collaborations are set to expand in the near future.
Information
Japan National Rugby Union Team x Hello Kitty & GeGeGe no Kitaro
Release Date: May 2019 (*More info TBA on the online shop and other outlets)
Product Examples: Hello Kitty Plush Toy, Hello Kitty Stationery, Hello Kitty Misc. Items and more / Gegege no Kitaro Misc. Items, Gegege no Kitaro Food Products and more
Available: At licensee companies, select sports shops and the team’s official online shop
HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX, a theater and restaurant offering Hello Kitty-themed shows and meals on Awaji Island, and HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE, an apple-shaped observation theater based on the popular character’s home, are both currently holding the Apple Halloween 2022 event until October 31! Guests can enjoy a mystery-solving event and some adorable photo spots inspired by apples and the Halloween season. By solving certain riddles, visitors will be rewarded with candy!Come have fun this Halloween with Hello Kitty, friends, and family!
Started in October, the New Show 'HELLO KITTY THE PARTIES' Gets Rave Reviews
HELLO KITTY THE PARTIES, a new show at the theater and restaurant HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX, will run until December 30, 2022. The show features a new theme each month and currently features a jazz band.October’s theme is Happy Halloween Party, and visitors can listen to a number of famous songs while enjoying tasty and healthy dishes packed with autumn flavors. At the end of the performance, a meet and greet with Hello Kitty will be held. November’s theme will be Hello Kitty’s Birthday Party, while December will focus on a Christmas Party!
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Apple Halloween 2022
Running until October 31, 2022
Hours: 11:00-17:00
Venue: Awaji Hello Kitty Apple Land ( 177-5 Nojimahirabayashi, Awaji, Hyogo)
Fans of the comedy horror manga GeGeGe no Kitaro might be interested in some themed underpants. Popular brand HIPSHOP has announced a collaboration with Shigeru Mizuki’s legendary series to celebrate the creator's 100th birthday, and preorders open online starting September 9. Items will be available at HIPSHOP locations nationwide starting September 16, as well as online at the HIPSHOP store, Rakuten, ZOZOTOWN, and Amazon.The first season of GeGeGe no Kitaro began in 1968, while the most recent season aired in 2020. In total, six anime series have been aired over the years, with a number of films and video games also being produced.
Underpants
For this collection, Kitaro and his friends appear as they did in the third anime series, which aired in 1985. Fans can snag underpants featuring their favorite characters in bold colors.
Packaging
The original packaging features a Japanese-style color lineup. Note the comical yokai designs on the back!
Shopping Bag
When purchasing items from the collection in stores, customers will receive a limited-quantity shopping bag featuring an original design of popular characters from every anime iteration of GeGeGe no Kitaro. Why not grab a pair of these hilarious underpants while supplies last?(C)水木プロ・東映アニメーション (C)水木プロ・フジテレビ・東映アニメーション
Five popular characters from the popular horror fantasy series GeGeGe no Kitaro have been transformed into Daruma dolls! Two Daruma Land locations in Fukushima Prefecture have begun selling these curious items, with sales going live on August 26, 2022. Fans can choose from Kitaro, Neko Musume, Nezumi Otoko, Sunakake Babaa, or Konaki Jijii, and each Daruma doll features an entirely new image of each character’s face drawn by popular illustrator and creator Tsumupapa. The company producing the dolls, Shirakawa Daruma, has been creating Daruma for over 300 years, and each authentic Japanese piece is produced by a craftsman adhering to traditional techniques. The palm-sized Daruma is around 45mm, perfect for displaying on a desk or shelf. Each comes with a cushion made of Aizu cotton, a well-known craft in Fukushima. These cushions were made to resemble Kitaro’s sleeveless kimono jacket from the series!
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Hey, Kitaro Daruma
Varieties: Kitaro, Neko Musume, Nezumi Otoko, Sunakake Babaa, Konaki Jijii
Starting September 3, Keio Plaza Hotel Tama will offer a special dinner and dessert buffet inspired by the Sanrio characters Hello Kitty and Wish Me Mell. The adorable event will take place at the Jurin restaurant on the 4th floor, and guests will be able to enjoy some cute dishes and desserts inspired by the character’s gratitude. The event will run until October 30 and will only be held on weekends and holidays. The restaurant’s patissier has designed a collection of sweet dishes based on the two characters, from strawberry shortcakes inspired by Wish Me Mell’s outfit to pastel-colored cakes and rainbow jello. Cream-filled fruit sandwiches cut to look like Hello Kitty’s face are sure to offer guests the perfect photo op! For those wanting something savory, over 15 dishes will be available, including roast beef, pasta and cheese, curry, and more.Special seats including large stuffed animal versions of Hello Kitty and Wish Me Mell will be available, limited to two tables per day.Come enjoy a relaxing meal with these two adorable characters!
Information
Dinner & Dessert Buffet – From Hello Kitty and Wish Me Mell with Thanks Running: September 3 – October 30, 2022 (Available only on weekends & holidays) Venue: 4F Restaurant ‘Jurin’ Details: https://www.keioplaza.co.jp/tama/event/autumn-sweets/
Manga Artist Shigeru Mizuki’s 100th Birthday Exhibition to be Held at Tokyo City View
Tokyo City View, an incredible venue on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, will hold the first large-scale exhibition of GeGeGe no Kitaro creator Shigeru Mizuki’s works from July 8 to September 4, 2022. The event marks the creator's 100th birthday, though Mizuki himself passed away in November 2015 at 93 years old.During “The Yokai of Shigeru Mizuki: Nightly Procession of Monsters ~This is How the Monsters were Born~,” guests will be able to step into Mizuki’s world while also enjoying a breathtaking view of Tokyo. The exhibition will unravel how many of the manga creator’s monsters came to be, and a number of yokai-related books from Mizuki’s personal collection will be on display including The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons (Gazu Hyakki Yagyo) by Sekien Toriyama and A Discourse on Yokai (Yokai Dangi) by Kunio Yanagita. Over 100 of Mizuki’s yokai drawings will be on display. Items at a GlanceExclusive merchandise will be able to purchase on-site at the special shop ‘Nekoya.’ These items are only available during the exhibition!From mugs and keychains to T-shirts and sweets, fans of Mizuki’s works will find something to love!Visitors will be able to use the AR camera in the Street Museum XR sightseeing app to take photos with five yokai hidden within the venue. Using a smartphone, scanning certain key visuals will summon monsters, so don’t miss this neat addition to the event!At the entrance, visitors will be greeted by bronze statues inspired by the yokai statues that line Sakaiminato City in Tottori Prefecture, Mizuki's birthplace, as well as windows decorated with lanterns bearing the names of different yokai. Using the AR camera, a giant Gashadokuro will appear (basically a huge and terrifying skeleton). In the final area of the exhibition, guests can snap a picture with the yokai they found along the way!＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝How to Access the AR ‘Youkai Camera’After installing the Street Museum XR sightseeing app, select ‘The Yokai of Shigeru Mizuki: Nightly Procession of Monsters” on the map of Tokyo and activate the AR camera.*Guests must download the Street Museum app. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/machikadowomyujiamuni-sutoritomyujiamu/id1151091144Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.toppan.streetmuseum.android(C)水木プロダクション
Information
The Yokai of Shigeru Mizuki: Nightly Procession of Monsters ~This is How the Monsters were Born~
Running: July 8 – September 4, 2022 *Open daily.
Venue: Tokyo City View, Roppongi Hills Tower 52F (6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo) Hours: 10:00-22:00 (Last entry at 21:00)
Special Shop ‘Nekoya’
Open: July 8 – September 4, 2022 *Open daily. Hours: 11:00-22:00 (Last entry at 21:30)
Yoshikitty, a character formed in collaboration between Hello Kitty and rock legend YOSHIKI, is being featured in an adorable new collection! Items in the Moon Pastel collection are now available to preorder at the Asunaro Online Store and the yoshikitty Online Shop.Yoshikitty first debuted in 2009 as a collaboration between YOSHIKI of X JAPAN and Sanrio’s popular character Hello Kitty. These new plushies were inspired by YOSHIKI’s hairstyle when he first debuted and his classic purple eyeshadow. Since the character’s creation, over 10 different designs have been released. The Pastel Moon Series is a first, showing a different side to the usual grungy rock ‘n roll vibe. No one expected a fluffy unicorn yoshikitty with such soft colors!
Medium Plush : ¥5,800 (Tax Included) / Large Plushie: ¥8,800 (Tax Included)
Colorful Charm (Chain not included) : ¥1,100 (Tax Included)
The collection includes two plush toys, a mascot keychain, a colorful charm, and two reusable bags. Will you be snagging anything?ⓒ 2022 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. L630897 ⓒ 2022 Japan Music Agency Co., Ltd.