To celebrate 40 years of Yuji Kaida’s illustration artwork for the Gundam series, an exhibition entitled Yuji Kaida Gundam Gallery will take place on the fifth floor LOFT Forum of Umeda LOFT in Osaka from August 23 to September 8.

Yuji Kaida is known for his longtime work on box art for Gunpla model kits. The exhibition will feature a gorgeous collection of his iconic Gundam artwork, covering traditional art from Mobile Suit Gundam to Mobile Suit Gundam Wing to digital art in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans.

Over 70 pieces illustrated by Kaida will be displayed, each categorised into one of four themes. Many of these will include artworks being shown to the public for the first time such as the Gwazine-class battleship.

There will also be enormous towers of piled-up Gunpla boxes, a showcasing titled “Maiking of Hi-νGUNDAM” the process of digital art, and more.

The exhibition is an absolute must-visit for all fans of the Gundam franchise.

©Sotsu Co., Ltd.・Sunrise Inc.

Lovers of Sanrio and all things Hello Kitty won’t want to miss the 45th Anniversary Hello Kitty Collection Exhibition currently being held at Sogo Chiba until August 15.

The event look backs at the kawaii history of Hello Kitty with a huge range of old and new merchandise. There’s also photo spots for taking cute photos, a wall of Hello Kitty plush toys, touch interactive digital videos, and much more.

If you’re looking to stock up on your collection of Hello Kitty merch then you have around 850 items to choose from including goodies exclusive to the event, pre-sales of items to be released at a later date, and more. There’s even a pottery workshop as well as a chance to take your photo with the real Hello Kitty.

Kawaii Chronicles: Hello Kitty Design Museum

Get ready to witness a wide selection of Hello Kitty goods from across generations, including rare and vintage items no longer manufactured. Witness the history of Hello Kitty’s kawaii world and how things changed through the years to fit each generation.

Digital Content & Plush Toy Wall

Get interactive with Hello Kitty with the wall mapping – touch the wall and see the visuals change. There’s also another wall completely full of Hello Kitty toys which makes for a really cute photo opportunity.

Photo With Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty will be present on August 12 in a beautiful kimono ready to have her picture taken with you! Tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before each session. Spaces are limited so make sure you’re on time!

Date: August 12, 2019 at 11:00/13:00/15:00

Location: Floor 6F Event Hall

No. of People: 20 per shoot

Workshop

Paint your very own ceramic Hello Kitty ornament. You colouring it means that yours will be unique and the only one in the world♡

Running: August 7, 2019 – August 15, 2019

Time: 11:00-16:00

No. of People: 30 per day

Price: ¥1,296

Hello Kitty Kawaii Market
Get your hands one one of 850 pieces of Hello Kitty merchandise from plush toys to stationery, interior items and more. Many of these items are exclusive to the exhibition.

Mascot Holder – ¥1,728 (400 Available – 1 Per Person) / Acrylic Key Ring – ¥648 / Mug – ¥1,080 / Hand Towel – ¥756

Replica Classical doll – ¥17,280 / Mini Mascot Brooch (20 Designs) – ¥1,080 Each (1 Per Person) / A4 Folders (Includes 2) – ¥486

Enter the adorable world of Hello Kitty this summer and help her celebrate her 45th anniversary.

The Toei Kyoto Studio Park―a theme park in Kyoto modelled after the Edo period of Japan―is set to hold an exhibition from next month titled “A Bizarrely Great Adventure Through the Body” in which you can travel through a giant model of a body to learn all about faeces.

The event is themed on the best-selling children’s book series Grossology by Sylvia Branzei which gives humorous but straightforward descriptions of bodily functions and various medical conditions.

Stinky Poop (Unchi Kusai), the ninja mascot of the event, will join visitors on their adventure as they experience the gross potential of the human body: burps, farts, bodily odours, and more.

A total of fifteen attractions will make up the event where kids and adults can discover the “secrets” of the human body.

Sneeze Shutter

At the Sneeze Shutter you will learn why we sneeze by firing balls―the “foreign substance” entering the nose―into the giant nostrils which will cause it to become itchy. If you can get five balls into the nose it will let out a sneeze and blown out the balls.

The Kidney Game

At the Kidney Game you will help deliver urea, sugar, and other materials necessary for the kidney to the blood vessels to understand how the kidney functions.

Poop Fortune Telling

Sit on a real toilet and a poo character will appear on the monitor to tell you your fortune that day.

Poo Exhibition

Learn all about poo at the display board which features lots of interesting information.

Burp Kid

Why do we burp when we drink fizzy beverages? Burp Kid will explain it to you.

Take a photo with the giant poo

At the end of your trip to the event, take a commemorative photo next to the giant poo pile and butthole.

This is just a snippet of what there is to see at Kyoto’s bizarre poo exhibition. Visit to learn all about something we all do but don’t talk about!

28 artist groups and individuals have created artistic pieces to represent Japan’s favourite animated character Doraemon. From July 12 to September 23, 2019, you can see these magnificent creations at the Doraemon Exhibition Osaka 2019 which will take place at Osaka Culturarium at Tempozan.

The Doraemon Exhibition Osaka 2019 features a range of artists who exhibit their works in Japan and even in foreign countries. This is a fantastic chance to meet a range of new Doraemon that the world has never seen. This event covers a range of genres through modern art that is overflowing with creativity and dedication for the anime character that has grasped the nation. 

On July 11, the day before the opening of the exhibition, there was a special opening ceremony and private viewing event held exclusively for staff and the press, which was a massive success. 

Press releases of the event reveal that artists Yasumasa Morimura and Sebastian Masuda were present at the ceremony for photos and greetings. 

Yasumasa Morimura commented with deep emotion: “I am so happy to have finally taken part in the Doraemon Exhibition. For this creation, I used lots of paper to make the costumes. I collaborated with Junko Koike, collecting lots of Doraemon manga as raw materials for the dress. As Doraemon has the power to manipulate time and space, and has the ability to create a door that leads to anywhere he desires, I thought a grey dress would be appropriate. In fact, the entire exhibition venue is just like the inside of Doraemon’s pocket ー it is packed with the work of 28 solo artists and groups. What a fun experience it is. I hope that many people in the Kansai region come see this,” he explained.

Sebastian Masuda commented: “I’m actually the same age as Doraemon and I share the same birthday as Noby; the main character from the series. I was born with a love for Doraemon.”

He then commented on his art piece: “I actually wanted to make it as big as the Budha statue at Todaiji Temple in Nara, but we wouldn’t be able to fit it in the venue so I made it two metres tall instead”, he laughed. “I collected materials from markets from all around the world, so the final piece is literally made up of the colours of the world,” he continued. 

His message to the people of Osaka is: “I would love it if lots of children came to see this. It would really make my day to hear reactions from them like “whoa, it’s huge” or “that’s so cool!””

Please come stop by to visit your favourite Doraemon!

Did you catch Toy Story 4 at the cinema yet? If you’re in Japan this summer then you won’t want to miss the official Toy Story 4-themed cafes opening in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya on July 20 and in Hokkaido on July 21 for a limited time.

The film was released just last month but is only set to hit Japanese theatres on July 12. It serves as the fourth and final film in the Toy Story series, wrapping up the story that first warmed the hearts of the public when the first movie dropped back in 1995.

The cafe will be a toy box of fun for all fans of the films, featuring a Toy Story inspired menu and decorations laced with trivia.

It costs ¥500 (before tax) per person to book a seat at the cafe. Customers who order from the menu will receive one of 13 possible stickers pictured above in the style of theatre tickets.

Everyone who enters the cafe will also receive one of these 13 possible entry bands.

<Woody & Bo Peep> Fateful Reunion Plate (¥1,890)

Fans of Woody and Bo Peep should look at ordering the Fateful Reunion Plate, a chicken sandwich and vichyssoise set based on both characters’ outfits. Find the sheep hidden amongst the dish!

<Duke Caboom> High in the Sky! Stunt Burger (¥1,890)

Duke Caboom’s chicken burger is served with mint sauce and a heap of assorted vegetables. Fly high in the sky with the dish’s delicious combination of flavours.

<Buzz, Ducky & Bunny> Night Carnival Pasta (¥1,790)

This meat pasta dish is topped with colourful vegetables. Keep the fun going at the moving carnival at night!

<Gabby Gabby & The Bensons> Afternoon Tea Set (¥1,790)

Paying tribute to Gabby Gabby and the dummies, the afternoon tea set comes with a tuna sandwich and a fruit and yogurt sandwich. To drink you can enjoy a decaff Earl Grey tea.

<Jessie> Pomegranate Water (¥890 or w/coaster ¥1,790)

Feel refreshed with Jessie’s satisfyingly sour pomegranate water.

<Slinky> Orange Yogurt Smoothie (¥890 or w/coaster ¥1,790)

Or order Slinky’s orange flavoured yogurt smoothie with kiwi sauce.

Ordering from the food menu will also get each person a specially-made paper apron.

There are lots of other items on the menu to look forward to as well. And don’t miss out on the range of exclusive merchandise they have either.

Acrylic Key Ring (13 Designs): ¥500 Each

A5 Folder (10 Designs): ¥350 Each

Mini Duralex Glass (5 Designs): ¥800 Each

The Toy Story hype doesn’t seem to show any signs of stopping just yet. Be sure to visit the official Toy Story 4 cafe in Japan.

©Disney/Pixar

© POOF-Slinky, LLC

*All prices include tax. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and so designs are subject to change.

Have you heard of Osamu Watanabe? You won’t forget his name by the end of this article. He is an installation and contemporary artist that draws his inspiration from the world of sweets and confections. He has drawn much attention not just in Japan but overseas too in countries like the US, Italy, Turkey, Indonesia and China with his various exhibitions.

Watanabe is set to take his “Museum of Sweets” exhibition to Shinjuku where it will open at the Odakyu Department Store on July 31.

The candy creations will be split throughout 9 different areas such as the titular room Museum of Sweets as well as the Forest of Sweets, Banquet of Sweets, Sweets Aquarium and more, all of which are sure to tickle the taste buds of sweet tooth visitors.

What’s more is that you are permitted to take photos, opening the door for countless photo opportunities for Instagram.

Osamu Watanabe will also be present to host a workshop on 4 separate days so you can craft your own cookie charm using materials Watanabe actually uses in his creations.

Enter a fantastic candy land cooked up by the one and only Osamu Watanabe.

The second run of the Toshio Suzuki & Studio Ghibli Exhibition is set to take place at Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki from July 13 to September 23. The event is focused on longtime Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki and centres on specific “words” he wishes to convey through this work.

The exhibition had its first run in Tokyo back in April this year. We covered that event in detail so be sure to give it a read.

The enormous 3-meter tall Yubaba & Zeniba centrepiece will return at the Nagasaki exhibition. Visitors can draw omikuji fortunes from the display which have Suzuki’s keywords written on them along with his explanation of them. You can take these home with you―a perfect addition for your Studio Ghibli collection!

An extremely special merchandise shop will also open at the site with exclusive items and products on sale and decor and decorations that will have you feeling you have stepped right into an enchanting world woven by Studio Ghibli.

Fan: ¥702 (Tax Included)

Get your hands on an official Spirited Away fan to cool yourself down at the event this summer. On one side is an illustration of Yubaba and on the other some powerful words from Suzuki.

Tote Bag: ¥1,620 (Tax Included)

Express your love for Studio Ghibli everyday with this tote bag featuring the same illustration of Yubaba―which is the main visual for the exhibition―on the side. It’s big enough to be worn on your shoulder making it a convenient day-to-day item.

Tea-Towel: ¥1,296 (Tax Included)

This beautiful tea towel is made in collaboration with dyed goods company Chikusen who have been around since the Edo period. It has a traditional indigo blue colour and is made from high quality material. A perfect gift and souvenir for any fan of Studio Ghibli.

We can’t forget the themed food menu either. You’ll find it on the first floor of Huis Ten Bosch at the Tea Salon.

Bath House Dessert: ¥850 (Tax Included)

A fitting dessert for any guest of the Spirited Away bath house, look forward to a bamboo charcoal-black chocolate-sprayed vanilla ice cream, colourful sugar candy and a cookie. It’s also served with iced corn tea.

Toast For Adventure Lovers: ¥650 (Tax Included)

Served with a glass of iced corn tea is a delicious egg-topped slice of toasted baked in the hotel bakery. Like you see in anime series, it makes you want to grab it, shove it between your teeth and run outside on an adventure.

Any fans of Studio Ghibli’s work aren’t going to want to miss out on this very special event. If you’re in Japan this summer be sure you get to go.

©️TS ©️Studio Ghibli

Hirakata Park in Osaka is set to host its scary nighttime horror event “Hide And Seek at Hiraka Park” again this year from August 26 to September 1. Tickets are now on sale via Lawson Tickets. The event is being held in collaboration with MBS, Yami and ICT of NTT West.

The park will take a turn for the worse as soon as evening settles and night envelops the sky, bringing a spooky shift to the usual mirthful atmosphere during the day. Something terrible will lurk in the dark after the park closes.

Participants of this event will need to use their electronic devices, such as a tablet or smartphone, to help them reach the goal within an hour while keeping hidden from any spirits that may be lying in wait in the shadows. We also recommend taking a spare pair of pants.

But that’s not all, as guests at the park can now get involved in another frightening experience using VR technology. This VR game, which is called “The Vengeful Sleep Paralysis Ghost’s Mansion,” was introduced to the park on July 6 and is available for a limited time only.

If you’re down for some hair-raising spooks but can’t wait until Halloween, then you know where you need to go this summer.

Since Kenshi Yonezu released his single Lemon in March last year, it has gone on to enjoy huge success, reaching numerous milestones.

The song was written as the main theme for the TBS drama Unnatural which aired in January 2018. Its music video was released the following month and garnered huge views in an instant, and after just 475 days it had reached over 400 million. It was also the first Japanese music video to gain 300 million. Lemon has also sold over 300 million copies. It is the first song to rank three times in a row on Billboard JAPAN Hot 100: for both halves of 2018 and the first half of 2019.

Photo by Tomokazu Yamada

Speaking of its continued success, Yonezu comments: “I am thankful. It exceeded my expectations a long time ago, but I’ve been very interested to see just how far it will go. I’m mostly unaware of my own songs. I’d like it to continue to be loved by people.”

As a show of gratitude to how much Lemon has resonated with people, the CD cover art will be displayed permanently at the Otsuka Museum of Art in Tokushima in the form of a ceramic tile from July 30.

Touban, or “ceramic tiles,” don’t lose their colour or deteriorate and so can keep their colour and shape for up to 2,000 years.

Manga Dororo by Osamu Tezuka was made into an anime 50 years ago. This continual sensation is getting an official soundtrack which will be released on August 14. The CD will be titled TV Anime Dororo Music Collection Tamashi no Kodou. Hiroyuki Asada, who creates the original character design drafts, designed the illustration for the CD jacket, which has just been unveiled to the public. 

First-Press Limited Edition Version

The whimsical illustration shows Dororo and Hyakkimaru snuggling together, alone in a vast barren desert. The first-press limited edition soundtrack version comes in a luxurious tall-size DigiPak sleeve and consists of three CDs. The regular edition contains a two-disk dual case. 

Regular Version

The booklet will contain statements by illustrator Hiroyuki Asada and Yoshihiro Ike, who was in charge of the music. As a bonus, the CD jacket illustration has been adopted for use on an A2 poster, which will be sold at Animate stores countrywide. The design will also feature on clear files which will be sold on Amazon. Please check them out.

You can also view this illustration in advance at the TV Anime Dororo Original Art Exhibition Tamashi no Kodou, which is currently taking place. Please stop by to admire the illustration with your very own eyes. 

Dororo © Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd.／TWIN ENGINE Inc.

An exhibition will be held at the Shibuya branch of shopping complex PARCO to celebrate the forthcoming second season of the popular anime adaptation of Teasing Master Takagi-san which will begin airing on July 7.

Teasing Master Takagi-san is an ongoing romantic comedy and slice of life manga series by Sōichirō Yamamoto serialised in Monthly Shōnen Sunday. The manga has sold over 7 million copies. The first season of the anime series aired from January to March last with an OVA in July.

The exhibition will plunge fans of the series into its world with original illustrations for the anime and manga and more on display. Fans can also get their hands on exclusive merchandise including capsule toys and canvas art.

A3 Poster – ¥1,000 (Tax Included)

Acrylic Key Rings (7 Designs) – ¥500 (Tax Included) *Capsule toy; design given is random

Folder Set: ¥1,200 (Tax Included)

Canvas Art: ¥2,500 (Tax Included)

Fans of Takagi and her antics with Nishikata won’t want to miss out on this special limited-run exhibition.

©2019 Sōichirō Yamamoto・Shogakukan/Teasing Master Takagi-san Season 2 Production Committee

Monthly shoujo manga Nakayoshi, which was first established in 1954, will be celebrating their 65th anniversary in January 2020. Nakayoshi is the longest-running manga magazine amongst all currently existing manga magazines. To celebrate, Nakayoshi is holding an original illustration exhibition.  

The exhibition is an opportunity to see the magical works of a large number of Nakayoshi’s popular manga. Just some of the exhibition illustrations include Princess Knight by Osamu Tezuka, Youkihi-den by Suzue Miuchi, Nanairo Magic by Yu Asagiri, the worldwide iconic manga Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi, Goldfish Warning! by Neko Nekobe, Magic Knight Rayearth and Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card by CLAMP, Sugar Sugar Rune by Moyoco Anno, and Shugo Chara! by PEACH-PIT. 

There will also be a special memorial corner set up in honour of Yu Asagiri​, who passed away last year. 

Get ready for even more nostalgia, as extras from Megumi Tachikawa’s Saint Tail and Tokyo Mew Mew (Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida) will feature alongside snippets from Pretty Cure by Izumi Todo and twin sisters Jitsuna Kamikita and Kizuna Kamikita, (Futago Kamikita).

The original illustrations featured at the exhibition will also be compiled in a special book which is planned to be released for sale in September 2019. 

Come witness these precious illustrations that have grasped the hearts of many since childhood. 

© Nami Akimoto ©Yū Asagiri ©Yuriko ABE © Moyoco Anno/ Cork  © Mia Ikumi, Reiko Yoshida © CLAMP, ShigatsuTsuitachi CO.,LTD. © Shizue Takanashi, Shun’ichi Yukimuro © Naoko Takeuchi © Megumi Tachikawa © Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd. © Neko Nekobe © PEACH-PIT