Tokyo’s internationally-acclaimed, located in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, is set to open a new ticket centre sometime this month.

The ticket centre will be located in the very middle of Kabukicho facing the Shinjuku Toho Building. Since it will be close to a range of luxury hotels, it means both foreign tourists and locals can easily get to it. It means to be a facility that can be used easily by anyone and everyone.

The ticket centre will also sell a range of tickets for various activities. It will also provide sightseeing and tourist services where they can recommend local restaurants, tourist sites, and more.

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.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of EAT PARADISEーthe restaurant floor located on the 7th floor of Isetan Shinjuku in Tokyoーthe entire area, as well as restaurants and cafes throughout Isetan Shinjuku, are going pink from March 4 to 31. 

Chocolate Printanière – ¥2,860 (+Separate 10% Service Charge) @ Le Salon Jacques Borie / *5 served per day

Watch this animated chocolate dessert melt as you pour over the hot sauce and tuck in. The centre is filled with a fluffy berry cream.

Vacherin With Japanese Strawberries – ¥1,320 @ Cafe Rejiig

Located on the 8th floor of the men’s building, Cafe Rejiig is serving up a pink-coloured French dessert made up of a tower of meringue, ice cream, and various other delicious delights.

Strawberry & Cranberry Cream Mont Blanc Parfait – ¥1,211 @ latte chano-mama

latte chano-mama is a cafe popular with mothers who go there with their children. The cafe’s new mont blanc parfait is made with strawberries and sponge which has cranberry sauce hidden inside.

Left: Pink Non-Alcoholic Cocktail – ¥981 / Right: Pink Champagne Cocktail – ¥1,201 @ The Stand

These two cocktails are cherry blossom-inspired. As well as all of these cute pink delights, EAT PARADISE is celebrating with a range of other dishes other than desserts and drinks too, like soba and risotto.

There’s plenty of visually-striking items to tuck into at EAT PARADISE for their 30th anniversary, so be sure to pay a visit if you’re visiting Tokyo this spring.

As part of the second SCRAP x SNOOPY Puzzle Game Project taking place at TOKYO MYSTERY CIRCUSーthe world’s first puzzle-themed theme parkーthe Shinjuku-based theme indoor theme park has released ten pieces of original and exclusive merchandise.

What is the SCRAP x SNOOPY Puzzle Game Project?

Visitors are joining Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang for a whole bunch of puzzle-solving fun. The project begin in November 2019, and will run through three periods. The first edition has seen over 10,000 people play this first puzzle game, which is titled “Snoopy and the Clue Solving Circus” and has players helping Snoopy to retrieve his Circus Leader badge back. The second game, “Snoopy and the Secret Recipe,” will begin on February 26. In the meantime, a selection of 10 pieces of merchandise have dropped.

Mugs (2 Designs) – ¥1,400 Each

Paper Napkins (Set of 10) – ¥600

Art Card Set w/ Puzzle (Set of 5) – ¥1,000

The two mugs see Snoopy wearing his chef’s hat and ready to cook up some delicious pastries for the new game. There’s also a paper napkin set, items that come with their own unique puzzles, and more. Available at the TOKYO MYSTERY CIRCUS shop, these items can all be purchased by non-participants of the game too.

Sanrio has announced that it is opening an official My Melody store to commemorate the popular character’s 45th anniversary this year. It will open for a limited time on the first floor of Takashimaya Shinjuku in Tokyo from February 12 to 25.

The store is a must-visit for fans of Sanrio’s kawaii white rabbit where they can get their hands on a huge assortment of merchandise, including exclusives, so adorable you’ll want to add everything to your collection.

The line-up looks back at My Melody’s 45 years in the business. The first 4,000 people to visit the store will be given a limited-edition shopping back, and the first 1,000 people who spend over ¥2,000 (tax included) will receive a free card.
*One card per person, per transaction

The store will also feature interactive projection mapping showcasing My Melody’s 45-year history which when touched reacts. On February 15, the designer for the store will be drawing illustrations as well as doing signings for people.

As well as Takashimaya Shinjuku, the shop is set to hit Nagoya’s Takashimaya Gate Tower Mall Nagoya and Osaka Takashiyama. Check the dates below, and help My Melody commemorate her 45th anniversary!

©’76, ’20 SANRIO 著作(株)サンリオ

A huge exhibition of Chocomoo’s artwork is set to adorn WITH HARAJUKU HALL from August 20 to September 28 this year for “Chocomoo EXHIBITION -OUR SECRET PARTY- Supported by WITH HARAJUKU.”

Chocomoo is a Japanese artist born and bred in Kyoto. Her work is known for its originality and pop style which she draws in black and white. Her work has been used for clothing and apparel brands, for music artists, and for many other special collaborations with other companies. She is active internationally and draws huge popularity with Japanese women between the ages of 10-20. We have translated an interview with her which was just released.

Chocomoo Interview

“I’ve loved drawing ever since I was a kid. I’d draw in notebooks, sketchbooks. When I went to New York for the first time, too, I kept a sketch diary and would draw in the park. I was later asked by a guy who managed a gallery if I’d put my work on at his site.”

It was there at that gallery exhibiting several of her works that the first buyer came by.

“I sold my first piece of art. A piece of art drawn by an ‘ordinary person,’ not someone who was an active artist. It was about 30 dollars, if I recall, but I was super happy.”

New York helped pave the way for Chocomoo to begin her first steps towards becoming an illustrator.

She would post her art on her blog and social media, which was seen by singers and songwriters who got in touch with her. She penned artwork for their tour merchandise, album covers, and more. Recently, she collaborated with Italian car brand FIAT. They released 100 limited edition cars with her art on it. Japanese convenience store FamilyMart even sold umbrellas with Chocomoo’s illustrations on them. The reach of her work has no limits.

“When I create a piece, I incorporate a lot of positive words into it in the hopes that it lifts people up.”

One distinct aspect of Chocomoo’s art is the black and white monotone colouring. When asked why she draws in this way, she said: “I did calligraphy from elementary school to high school and was captivated by how we would write in black. When using black ink, it has a matte look to it, and when using black paint, it’s got a glossiness. I think that’s part of the reason why I do it.”

This will be Chocomoo’s biggest exhibition. She is currently working on new material and looking into the details of the exhibition. Speaking about it, she said: “I want to try evolving in a way that’s me. I’m aiming to stimulate the people who come to see my work in a different kind of way.”

She also commented on the ‘OUR SECRET PARTY’ part of the exhibition title. “It’s an exhibition of my work, but I want everyone to enjoy it like they would a party. There’s also new things to be discovered which you won’t no about unless you visit, so I put ‘secret’ in there.”

Chocomoo was asked to give a comment on her future plans and goals. She said, with a smile: “I want to steadily keep doing what I’m best at without changing what I already have, but I also want my work to reach lots of children too. I’d be happy for them to colour in my work, and I want to challenge myself to making some kind of video format aimed at kids. After that, since I’ve already painted a car, I want to go bigger and paint an aeroplane!”

Interview/Original Text: Naho Sotome (五月女菜穂)

Photos: 大黒屋 Ryan 尚保

English Translation: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

As Chocomoo looks to expand her portfolio and reach, we look forward to seeing what she has in store for her exhibition in Harajuku.

©2020 Chocomoo

On December 18, yakiniku restaurant LAMB ONE, which specialises in succulent matured lamb, opened in Kabukicho, Shinjuku. The restaurant provides the perfect opportunity for guests to grill their own light and healthy meal with friends and family. The high-quality meat is low in calories and high in protein. Each seat is at a counter and there are even single grill seats for the perfect dinner treat alone. 

The restaurant offers Japanese-style set meals which include meat, fried vegetables, rice, soup and kimchi . Some of the more basic set meals include the shio koji marinated lamb shoulder roast and the sesame miso lamb shoulder roast. For customers who are really looking for a luxury treat, there is a set that includes three different kinds of matured lamb and a set that includes Spring Lamb Chop Steak where you can enjoy both the shio koji and sesame miso marinades. You can swap your fried vegetables for caesar salad or your white rice for mixed grain rice. Just seeing this beautiful and balanced meal before your eyes will leave you feeling satisfied. After your meal, enjoy the small warabimochi dessert. 

When most people think of a yakiniku restaurant, the general impression is a large number of friends gathering together, merrily tucking in to meat and sides while the table fills with empty beer glasses. LAMB ONE, however, is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious Japanese-style meal in your own way without being disturbed by others. If you’re travelling around Tokyo, this would be the perfect hearty dinner to finish your day. 

GEMSTONE is an audition project created by TOHO CO., LTD. and ALPHABOAT which seeks to find the best creators. The 4th GEMSTONE project was announced in August and sought submissions of short animations themed on Shinjuku.

The judge line-up for the contest included anime film and television director Kobun Shizuno, who worked on the Detective Conan film series from 2011-17 as well as the Godzilla CG kaiju film series from 2017-18. It also included animator Yasuhiro Kimura who worked on Three Leaves, Three Colors and the Golden Wind arc of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. After several months of submissions and judging, the winners and their prizes have finally been announced.

“GEMSTONE” refers to the talent selected by TOHO and ALPHABOAT for the audition project, which ranges from animators to illustrators, composers, singers, actors, and so on. The two companies will help open doors to winners’ career paths.

The first competition was themed on Godzilla, and asked for video or illustration submissions. The theme of the second was “With Japan!” and requested submissions for an original character, and the third asked for video submissions to promote Nisio Isin’s 100th story Veiled Man Kasetsu.

Let’s take a look at the winners of Gemstone Creators Audution Vol. 4.

First Place Prize – 1 Million Yen

Title: kaijushojo / Creator: Yosuke Tani

Story: A spirit resides in Shinjuku. A girl in the city challenges herself to battle with the spirit.

Judge Comments

Kobun Shizuno said: “It’s visually stunning. For someone like me, who was raised in Shinjuku, I felt I wanted the theme in the much more at points, but when I considered that this had to be made in such a short time frame, it’s incredible. If he’s making these by himself, he’s got a bright future ahead of him. I think all the praise from everyone comes from the overwhelming quality of the visuals.”

Yasuhiro Kimura said: “It has the highest level of quality out of all the submissions. I chose this one for both that and how interesting it was to watch. It was so much fun watching the characters’ animation. I felt it was a work with a high level of completion and of satisfaction.”

Runner-Up Prize – 700,000 Yen

Title: Dramatic / Creator: 作田綾乃

Story: A lone street musician singing in Shinjuku whose voice reaches somebody.

Judge Comments

Kobun Shizuno said: “This wasn’t made by just one person, but the overall package is woven together incredibly skilfully. I personally feel this work surpasses all the rest. In terms of the visual quality, there’s a lot that could be cleaned up and there are many points still to be learned, but the drama is on point with music as the core focus. The development is solid throughout, and I admire how well put together everything us right to the end.”

Yasuhiro Kimura said: “I have to give credit to them having created an animation centred around an original song at just 19 years-old. Amongst all the other many works which all used Shinjuku as the location, it feels like a realistic piece of drama which covers musicians visiting Tokyo. And even though it’s 5-minutes long, it by no means felt long; it was a seamless watch.”

Runner-Up Prize – 300,000 Yen

Title: tellphone / Creator: 亀井樹

Story: Where’s my lost smartphone? “The ending of a story is a beginning.”

Judge Comments

Kobun Shizuno said: “I was impressed by the amazing quality of the visuals, but the structure of the story lost me. We see the characters line up, and you think something interesting is about to unfold, but the older brother’s cheeks turn red and that’s the end. It was a weak conclusion. If they did away with the part in the middle and made the ending stronger, I think it would have been an incredible piece of work worthy of being higher up in the list.”

Yasuhiro Kimura said: “I liked the concept of this one the most. The joke about finding a lost smartphone with location information was amusing. It was very relevant of the current times. But the disappointing part was when we meet the shopkeeper at the end, and then it just ends. I wanted to see what unfolded after we met them too. Since they went ahead and included something that can track something’s location, it would have been even more interesting if they’d tied in locations in Shinjuku and developed the story more.”

Judges’ Overall Comments On The Competition

Kobun Shizuno said:

“I was so surprised at the level of quality in the submissions, as people had such a short amount of time to create their works when the submissions opened.”

Yasuhiro Kimura said: “It was really refreshing and a lot of fun to get to see the works of such a young generation.”

Kazutaka Yamanaka, producer at TOHO, praised the line-up of works as wonderful considering the short time they were given. He felt however that the dramatic elements of most works could have been enrichened had they added a little more references to Shinjuku in them, like including people of different races walking the streets, or the low-lying parts of Shinjuku.

The winning submissions and worthy mentions can all be watched over on the official GEMSTONE YouTube channel here.

© TOHO CO., LTD.

To celebrate the December 13th release of the upcoming anime film Seven Days War, a themed cafe will open at EJ Anime Theater in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The cafe will collaborate with popular creator Pantovisco who has over 680,000 followers across his social media.

The collaboration was born from Pantovisco’s being able to relate to the theme of Seven Days War which focuses on the heart of today’s youth.

The cute menu line-up features Seven Days War-inspired food and desserts with Perochi and his friends joining in with the fun.

There’s also a drinks menu with a line-up of colourful beverages and lattes which you can get various latte art drawings on.

And for every food item ordered on the collaboration menu, you’ll receive an original sticker selected randomly from several designs.

And if you order a drink, you’ll get a special card introducing various characters from both Seven Days War and the world of Pantovisco.

©2019 Osamu Souda・KADOKAWA / Seven Days War Production Committee

©Pantovisco

Otona no Jump Sakaba (“Grown-Up’s Jump Bar”) is an izakaya-style eatery which opened in the Kabukicho area of Shinjuku to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beloved manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump.

Every week, kids and adults alike anticipate the release of their favourite manga series in the serialised magazine. The adults who grew up with the classic series get to eat like a hero at the bar, with meals and decorations inspired by various series including Dragon Ball, Kinnikuman, Fist of the North Star, Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, Sakigake!! Otokojuku, Rokudenashi Blues, City Hunter, and more.

The bar has now announced its plans for an end-of-year party, with tickets going on sale on December 2, 2019 for the first 1,000 people who sign up.

The New Year party plan comes with a choice of two different small pot meals.

Fans can also get their hands on a 2020 schedule book featuring designs of the series characters for different celebratory days throughout next year. This is the only chance to get this exclusive item.

©Yude Tamago/Shueisha　©Akira Miyashita/Shueisha　©Tsukasa Hojo/NSP 1985　©Masami Kurumada/Shueisha　©Bird Studio／Shueisha　©Buronson・Tetsuo Hara/NSP 1983　©Masanori Morita/Shueisha　©Ryūji Tsugihara/NSP 1982　©Koichi Endo/Shueisha　©Masaya Tokuhiro/Shueisha

Inside the bar you’ll find wall posters, giant figurines, treasured items of manga artists, and more. You can even read actual Jump manga from the 80s.

©Bird Studio/Shueisha　©Buronson・Tetsuo Hara/NSP 1983

As well as the above-mentioned New Year meals, there are lots of dishes inspired by various Jump series too. Those who purchase one of these Jump meals will receive a free exclusive sticker.

An exhibition centred around Andy Warhol, the American artist who was at the forefront of the pop art movement, is set to roll up to the Kyocera Museum of Art in Kyoto from September 19, 2020. Around 200 pieces of art will be showcasedーover 100 of which have never been displayed in Japan beforeーas well as 15 video art pieces.

Three Marilyns (1962), Andy Warhol. The Andy Warhol Museum. *First showcasing in Japan

All of the pieces to be shown at the exhibition are the property of The Andy Warhol Museum, which is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the US, where Warhol was born.

The Last Supper (1986), Andy Warhol. *First showcasing in Japan

Tunafish Disaster (1963), Andy Warhol. *First showcasing in Japan

Peacock (1957), Andy Warhol. *First showcasing in Japan

The line-up displays Warhol’s diverse works, including his highly treasured Three Marilyns, as well as Tunafish Disaster from his Death and Disaster series, the enormous The Last Supper piece, Peacock which makes use of the Japanese style of gold leaf art, and more.

Kyoto (Kiyomizu-dera) (1956), Andy Warhol.

The exhibition will also turn its attention to Warhol’s connections to Kyoto which haven’t been discussed before. It will feature Warhol’s sketch of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto which he drew during his trip around the world.

*All pieces are property of The Andy Warhol Museum

© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York