Sanrio’s beloved character pair Kiki & Lala, also known as the Little Twin Stars, are hosting a special winter event titled “TWINKLE COLOR CHRISTMAS” at Shinjuku Southern Terrace from December 1 to 25, illuminating the area with beautiful Christmas lights, as part of their 45th anniversary.

Kiki & Lala’s twinkling Christmas tree magical in the daytime and night time

The towering 4-meter tall Christmas Tree is decorated in countless mirror balls which reflect beautifully both during the day from the sun and at night with Kiki & Lala’s illuminations. A special light show is also taking place from 16:30 each day with Christmas songs.

Decorated around the tree are Kiki & Lala neon signs and pastel-coloured adornments.

Those unable to visit Shinjuku this Christmas can access the “TWINKLE COLOR CHRISTMAS AR TREE” digitally This will have Kiki & Lala’s Christmas tree appear on your phone when taking photos. You can access it here.

Kiki & Lala treats at the Sanrio Cafe Wagon

Limited time menu

45th Anniversary Items

On weekends, as well as from December 19 up to Christmas Day, a food wagon will make an appearance at the event serving Kiki & Lala food and drink like the pink and fruity Ruby Chocolate Latte and fruit-filled Twinkle Crepe.

©’76,’20 SANRIO 著作(株)サンリオ

IKEA Japan has announced that its third branch will open in Shinjuku in Spring 2021, following the opening of IKEA Harajuku in June and IKEA Shibuya which is opening on November 30.

IKEA Shinjuku will be conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station. It will feature a line-up of products to get people living more sustainably at an affordable price. It will also serve authentic Swedish food.

Helen Von Rice (IKEA CEO, Chief Sustainability Officer) | Comment

“We are so excited to continue our city-expansion journey with our third city shop meeting many more of the Tokyoites in the bustling Shinjuku district. We hope to inspire and solve home-furnishing needs at a time when the home has never been more important. Our Shinjuku shop will also continue to offer great plant-based food as well as sustainable products to reach our goal of being climate-neutral by 2030.”

Isetan Shinjuku has announced a special event dedicated to promoting the beautiful taste of Tokyo. Set to begin on December 2, the event will see both traditional and newer restaurants from Kyoto come together to serve up Kyoto-style cuisine to the people of Tokyo from oldies like sushi to dango to more modern dishes like okonomiyaki and katsu sandwiches. Visitors will also be able to watch real chefs from Kyoto at work.

Hi-Lite Shokudo’s “Hi-Lite Katsu Sandwich” | ¥850

Since first opening in 1960, Hi-Lite Shokudo has continued to treasure the taste of home cooking and has continued to evolve that taste over the years to cater to each generation. Its famous katsu sandwich is made with a secret sauce that has kept it unbeaten against other popular eateries in Kyoto, and they’ve upped the taste for this event.

Kotoka’s “Mitarashi-dango” | ¥864 (6 Sticks) 

These dango are made fresh in front of customers and are doused in a rich secret sauce. Their chewy texture is irresistible.

Izuu’s Mackerel and Tilefish Assortment | ¥4,455 (3 of each per person)

Izuu is an iconic sushi restaurant in Kyoto that was first established in 1781. This assortment is made with chub mackerel from coastal waters, esumai rice from Shiga Prefecture, and kombu from Hokkaido.。

Yumeya’s Fuwafuwa Okonomiyaki | ¥801 (1 portion)

Many people living outside of Kyoto search for the okonomiyaki flavour served by Yumeya. It’s made fresh, fluffy, and is topped with lots of ingredients.

Daitokuji Saiki-ya’s “Dashimaki Tamago” | ¥648 (1 portion)

Daitokuji Saiki-ya is a specialty store in Kyoto catered food in business for 1933 years. It serves Kyoto-style dashimaki tamago as well as lots of other delicious food that captures the taste of Kyoto.

The BUSTERCALL Project is holding a One Piece themed exhibition called BUSTERCALL = ONE PIECE Exhibition at Yokohama ASOBUILD from November 20 to December 27 at Yokohama ASOBUILD. BUSTERCALL is a project formed of 200 artists and creators around the world to deliver events and exhibitions centred on the popular manga and anime series One Piece.

At BUSTERCALL = ONE PIECE Exhibition, fans can pick up a range of merchandise as well as make their own original T-shirts at the workshop.

Original Emblem: ¥1,000 (Tax Included) *27 designs

Original T-Shirt: ¥3,500 (Tax Included)  WHITE/BLACK SIZES: S/M/L/XL

 Fans can make their own original emblems which can be attached to one of 27 different T-shirts.

One Piece fans can also get their hands on a selection of apparel, figures, and other pieces of merchandise, some of which will also be available to buy online in Japan. Some creators are also selling special items in limited quantities.

Original Sticker

All fans who visit the art exhibition will get a free original sticker too.

Tom and Jerry is an animated franchise created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Adored worldwide for its titular rival characters, the hit series has won Academy Awards for Animated Short Film.

The series is now getting its first ever exhibition, and it will take place in Japan, celebrating 80 years of the beloved franchise. Fans can look forward to seeing 250 original illustrations, animation cels from the debut animation short in the series Puss Gets the Boot, rough sketches, storyboards, and more. There will also be exhibits of the Hanna-Barbera cartoons loved by Japanese children.

The Exhibition Break-Down
Chapter One: The Birth of the Legendary Duo

Chapter One of the exhibition will look at the history behind the birth of Tom and Jerry in 1940, and visitors will be able to watch the episodes that received Academy Awards.

Chapter Two: The Charm of the Tom and Jerry Series

The episodes, layout, secondary characters, title backgrounds, and more will be explored in detail. There will also be 3D recreations of Tom being out-done by Jerry.

Chapter Three: Passing Onto Future Generations

This chapter will explore Tom and Jerry from 1986 onwards. Visitors will also be able to see a recreation of the desk of American animator Spike Brandt who worked on numerous Tom and Jerry films.

Chapter Four: Onto Television

Chapter Four will explore the limits of what Hanna-Barbera were able to do in the early days on a low budget. Episodes and sounds nostalgic to Japanese people who grew up with their animations will also be played.

Chapter Five: Tom and Jerry’s Eternal Chase

Exhibits of the Tom and Jerry Show, as well as an exclusive animation made for this exhibition, will be showcased. Visitors can also get their hands on a selection of 200 pieces of exclusive merchandise and pre-sales on original items.

TOM AND JERRY and related characters and elements ⓒ ＆ ™ Tuｒner Entertainment Co. (s20)

Sanrio’s beloved character pair Kiki & Lala, also known as the Little Twin Stars, will feature as part of a special winter event titled “TWINKLE COLOR CHRISTMAS” in collaboration with Odakyu Electric Railway. It will take place at Shinjuku Southern Terrace from December 1 to 25, illuminating the area with beautiful Christmas lights.

Kiki & Lala’s Twinkling Christmas Tree

Shinjuku Southern Terrace will dazzle visitors with its pink and blue illuminations as will its towering 4-meter tall Christmas Tree which was made in collaboration with the installation art group MIRRORBOWLER. It will be decorated in countless mirror balls which will reflect beautifully both during the day from the sun and at night with Kiki & Lala’s illuminations. The tree will also be adorned with numerous Christmas decorations like clouds, moons, and stars—all very reminiscent of Sanrio’s pastel-coloured pair.

Kiki & Lala Food & Drink

Kiki & Lala Ruby Chocolate Latte ¥400 (Tax Included) | Kiki & lala Twinkle Crepe ¥600 (Tax Included)

On weekends, as well as from December 19 up to Christmas Day, a food wagon will make an appearance at the event serving Kiki & Lala food and drink like the pink and fruity Ruby Chocolate Latte and fruit-filled Twinkle Crepe.

Limited-Edition Design Clip

Customers who spend over ¥2,000 (tax included) at the wagon will get themselves a free limited-edition design clip.

Cafe Wagon Schedule
Running: December 5th-6th, 12th-13th, 19th-25th, 2020
Opening Hours: 10:00-19:00

AR Kiki & Lala Tree

Those unable to visit Shinjuku this Christmas can access the “TWINKLE COLOR CHRISTMAS AR TREE” digitally This will have Kiki & Lala’s Christmas tree appear on your phone when taking photos. You can access it here.

©‘76,’20 SANRIO　 著作(株)サンリオ

Shinjuku and Ikebukuro’s popular cheese cafes CheeseTable released added a new hot version of their drinkable cheesecake to the menu on Tuesday (November 10), the perfect way to warm up as the season gets colder.

The cheesecake-in-a-mug is a popular menu item at CheeseTable and has continued to be changed and adapted to the seasons over the years. Until now it has only been available to drink cold, but for the first time they’ve introduced a hot option.

Strawberry Cream Drinkable Hot Cheesecake | ¥780 (Before Tax)

Chocolate Espresso Drinkable Hot Cheesecake | ¥780 (Before Tax)

There are two flavours to pick from, both of which offer the sensation that you’re eating a real cheesecake. There’s the creamy strawberry jam “Strawberry Cream” which is best enjoyed after stirring and the “Chocolate Espresso” which is a rich and sweet mix.

Honey Mascarpone Drinkable Cheesecake | ¥600 (Before Tax)

Brown Sugar Syrup & Soy Flour Drinkable Cheesecake | ¥600 (Before Tax)

The signature iced Honey Mascarpone and Brown Sugar Syrup & Soy Flour flavours are also must-tries. Honey Mascarpone has been popular since it was first release for its subtly sweet taste. The Brown Sugar Syrup & Soy Flour dessert drink is topped with soy flour warabimochi and rice flour dumplings. This latter flavour is very Japanese, combining the sweetness of the syrup with cream cheese.

If you’re in Tokyo this winter then stay warm with a cup of cheesecake!

Sanrio is once again collaborating with the EGG & SPUMA cafe located on the 8th floor of Shinjuku Lumine EST to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Ichigo Shimbun, a monthly magazine published by Sanrio which includes information about the latest character merchandise, the Sanrio Character Awards, and more. The limited-time cafe will run from November 1, 2020 to late January 2021.

Sanrio fans can expect a very special menu line-up of food, drinks, and desserts based on their favourite characters from the Sanrio roster.

There will in fact be two different menus served on separate occasions. The first menu will welcome a soufflé omelette topped with a potato salad Pochacco while the second will see an adorably pink My Melody cream stew.

There will also be an incredibly cute two-tiered afternoon tea set with desserts and savoury items.

For drinks, there is a Hello Kitty strawberry milk, Cinnamoroll milk, and milk caramel pudding Pompompurin.

© 2020 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. L613344

And everyone who orders from the collaborative menu will receive one of eight possible coasters as thanks for visiting.

The Asahi Shimbun and Nippon TV are set to host an exhibition centred on Mickey Mouse at the MORI ARTS CENTER GALLERY in Roppongi, Tokyo, from October 30, 2020 to January 11, 2021, in celebration of 90 years since Mickey Mouse’s screen debut. The exhibition will showcase works shown at the Mickey: The True Original Exhibition held in New York in 2018-2019.

Before the exhibition opens, five participating Japanese artists have each revealed their never-before-seen artworks which will be on display.

The Tokyo exhibition will be a travel back through time, looking at Mickey Mouse from the past to the present. It will be split into three zones: “The Origin,” “The True Original,” and “Beyond.” The five artists showcasing their work early will be featured in the “Beyond” zone and include Tomoko Oshima, Kosuke Kawamura, Nana Soeda, Calligrapher MAMI, and WAKU. Below are their featured pieces along with their comments.

Tomoko Oshima | Comment

“What’s fascinating about Mickey Mouse is, for reasons I can’t begin to work out, how he became a part of each person’s life. I was raised in a household that banned cartoon characters, so it always felt like something unobtainable. Mickey Mouse is like a hero to all of us. He’s dazzling and radiant, a kind of being I can’t look directly in the face of. When working on my Mickey Mouse art [for the exhibition], my concept was to create a Mickey that’s special only to me, so I challenged myself to turning that Mickey Mouse that everyone feels happy looking at and loves into my usual art style.”

Oheya (Bedroom), Tomoko Oshima

Kosuke Kawamura | Comment

“What I find fascinating about Mickey Mouse is that no matter how old I get, he always transports me away from the real world to a world of dreams. He’s an idol of mine. I even have my own collection of merchandise I’ve been collecting over the years. For the exhibition, I needed to creating something for the Beyond [zone], so I tried shaping Mickey Mouse from how I see him in my head. I’ve always made sure to balance my artwork in such a way that it can be seen in two ways. When you stand close, you can see the detailed composition, but when you step away, it looks different. This time around I gave myself a little challenge and made the silhouette of his face and hands using flowers. If you get close to it you’ll see that it’s made up of lots of flowers, but stand from afar and you’ll be able to see the facial expressions and his pointing figure. I’d like people to give both a go, so when you’ve looked at it up close then take a step back.”

Untitled, Kosuke Kawamura

Nana Soeda | Comment

“I feel Mickey Mouse’s appeal from his long history and how he has changed overtime, so I tried to express these aspects in the piece I made. The theme for it is centred on Mickey Mouse in the future, so when I was thinking about what he might look like in the future, I looked to past [designs] and tried fixing them up. So in my piece there’s a trace of looking back at past Mickey Mouse while giving him an update. Creating those ‘futures’ made me feel like I was walking through my own past and processes. You can’t know exactly what’s to come in the future even for someone as internationally popular as Mickey Mouse. But by learning from past memories and mistakes, you can draw on those to create a future, don’t you think? That’s something I wanted to convey in this piece, and I did so by creating something that’s close to the Mickey Mouse of the past with both 2D and 3D surfaces. The Mickey Mouse I drew is the one of ages past that looks completely different to his appearance today. But those look at it might feel something newer about it than older. That, or they might feel uncomfortable seeing him in a way they’re not used to. I want people to take their time looking at both and feeling whatever they feel when they do.”

LOVE, Nana Soeda

Calligrapher MAMI | Comment

“I’ve captured Mickey Mouse’s silhouette as its own kanji by using calligraphy. His appearance is iconic worldwide, and by making him recognisable through this common language, I’ve tried to create a new kanji, effectively breaking the language barrier of calligraphy, something which is difficult in itself to overcome for people. Another thing with calligraphy is that you can write the same piece hundreds of times which means it can be fine tuned over and over. I believe that overlaps with Mickey Mouse’s design as he has too has evolved for a hundred years. But by no means have his designs he just spring out of existence immediately. He has undergone trial and error through the times, and always shines bright. It’s because of everyone who will see my piece as this exhibition that I’ve been able to create something I can feel from the heart.”

ZEN Mickey, Calligrapher MAMI

WAKU | Comment

“I think the appeal of Mickey Mouse lies in the fact that people around the world all remember him from their childhoods. We form memories during our childhoods, and ever I’ve been able to recognise those memories inside of me, Mickey Mouse was something that was always close to me. When I see three circles together, Mickey Mouse’s face comes into my mind. He might be the first internationally recognisable symbol. I felt that the affinity between symbolism and neon signs is very high. So for my piece, I incorporated the techniques used for traditional Japanese neon signboards, something which I see less of these days. I took that and created the three Mickey Mouse circles using light.”

Untitled (Still Being Worked On), WAKU

YM House is set to open the new YOKU MOKU MUSEUM in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, on October 25, 2020. The museum began taking bookings on October 2. It will limit the number of people allowed in the museum at once as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 so that visitors can enjoy the works on display without worry. Tickets are available directly at the museum on the day, but since there’s a capacity limit, it’s recommended that visitors book online.

About YOKU MOKU MUSEUM

YOKU MOKU is a Japanese confectionery company best known for their Cigare cookies which are shaped to look like cigars. The company was founded by Noriichi Fujinawa, who maintained that “confections are creations.” Toshiyasu Fujinawa, the Chairman of YOKU MOKU Holdings, will act as the Museum Director at YOKU MOKU MUSEUM where a wide selection of artworks from YOKU MOKU’s collection will be displayed, including the Picasso ceramics the company has collected for over 30 years.

About the YOKU MOKU Collection

YOKU MOKU’s collection boasts a comprehensive line-up of Picasso’s ceramics that the artist himself made at the Madoura workshop in Vallauris. That makes the works in the collection even more prized as the ceramics themselves were shaped by Picasso’s skilled hands.

The artist’s passion for ceramics developed in 1947 and he worked on them at the Madoura workshop until his death in 1973. He forged everything from bowls to plates, jugs, and more.

A special exhibition centred on the popular manga series The Promised Neverland will take place at Roppongi Hills Tokyo City View in Tokyo from December 12, 2020.

The Promised Neverland is a manga series written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu. The series was published in Weekly Shonen Jump and concluded with its final volume on June 15, 2020.

The exhibition will explore and celebrate the world of The Promised Neverland in detail, with displays, illustrations, early conceptions, and much more. A special manga episode will also be shown.

Entrance Exhibition

A towering display of every manga book cover will be on show, spanning 6 meters tall and 17 meters across. A photo spot for fans to take pictures with their favourite characters will be placed at the entrance area. Tokyo’s night sky will also provide a beautiful backdrop.

Tickets

Tickets to the exhibition will go on sale via LINE Tickets on October 5, 2020. Limited edition tickets will also be sold which comes with a special booklet. And to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, visitors must book a time and date in advance when purchasing their tickets. Full details are available here in Japanese.

Merchandise & Themed Food

Fans can also get their hands on a selection of exclusive and rare merchandise. The exhibition will also open CAFE GRACE FIELD, a collaborative cafe serving up food themed on the series.

©Kaiu Shirai・Posuka Demizu / Shueisha 

LEGS COMPANY is set to open a Winnie the Pooh themed cafe called “HUNNY’S CAFE in STRANGE DREAMS” in Shinjuku, Tokyo, on October 14, 2020. This date is particularly special because October 14, 1926 is the date in which the first volume of stories about the titular character, Winnie-the-Pooh, was released.

The cafe is being produced by OH MY CAFE and is themed on sending customers into a strange world of dreams, perfect for the long autumn nights.

The Grand Menu

The menu line-up features a whole range of cute drinks, dishes, and desserts inspired by the adorable bear, such as the dream Pooh has of Heffalump and Woozle in Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, food with his face on, and much more.

Pooh’s Strange Dream Chicken Burger | ¥1,890, with plate ¥3,480

A healthy steamed chicken burger with a Pooh burger bun and served with a side of edamame potage.

Pooh’s Strange Dream Curry Rice | ¥1,590

The secret ingredient of this curry rice is, of course, Pooh’s favourite honey. An authentic curry packed full of spices.

Heffalump & Woozle Honey (?) Cream Pasta | ¥1,590, with bowl ¥2,990

A cream pasta made to look like honey that contains vegetables and cream. A dish definitely out of the mind of Pooh bear.

The dishes we have shown so far are available for a limited time from November 20 to December 27 as part of the cafe’s “Hunny Fair.”

Piglet’s Rolling Salad | ¥990

The tiny, cute, and beloved piglet has been turned into a tomato and beetroot salad served in a glass.

Tigger’s Hopping Salad | ¥890

The energetic hop, skimp, and jumper Tigger too has his own salad made from pumpkin and carrot.

Eeyore’s Grape Yoghurt Drink | ¥890, with coaster ¥1,490

A grape yoghurt drink inspired by Eeyore’s colours.

HUNNY’S CAFE Honey au Lait ¥790, with mug ¥2,290

A hot honey beverage to send you into the land of nod and dreams.

Original Merchandise

Pooh fans can get their hands on a selection of different merchandise series, like the cafe logo series, Strange Dreams series, and honey series.

Cafe Logo Series: A4 Folder ¥350 / Sticker Set ¥1,000

Strange Dreams Series: Tote Bags ¥2,200 Each / T-Shirts ¥2,500 Each

Honey Series: Acrylic Key Ring ¥480 / Plush Toy ¥3,600 (Available from November 20)

Bonus Items

Original Lunch Mat (4 Designs)

Customers who book a table in advance and order something from the menu will receive one of four possible lunch mats. And if they spend over ¥2,500 (before tax) on cafe and cafe logo series merchandise, they’ll receive one of two possible small mamezara plates too.

© Disney. Based on the “Winnie the Pooh” works by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard.