Lumine EST Shinjuku is set to hold a campaign from July 21 to August 31 this year as part of Walt Disney Japan’s “Positively Minnie” promotion.

Disney “Positively MINNIE”

Minnie Mouse is known as an independent, charming spirit as well as a fashion icon. Positively Minnie is a promotional campaign launched by Disney for the global market which has Minnie inspiring all with her positive personality. She intends to teach us to live our best lives how we want to.

No shortage of Kawaii merchandise

29 shops inside Lumine EST Shinjuku are participating in the event by stocking their own range of Minnie Mouse merchandise. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Minnie Mouse Ringer Telephone T-Shirts: ¥5,490 Each (Tax Included)

Shop: GYDA (Floor B1F) *Lumine EST exclusive, limited edition

Minnie Mouse Fleece Lined Tight Skirt: ¥8,800 (Tax Included)

Shop: Merry Jenny (Floor 2F)

Minnie Socks: ¥2,750 (Tax Included)

Shop: Tabio (Floor 3F) *Limited edition item

Minnie Mouse Mobile Cases: ¥4,180 Each (Tax Included)

Shop: Lycka (Floor 4F) *Lumine EST exclusive, limited-edition

Large Rollbahn Notebooks With Pocket: ¥850 Each (Tax Included)

Shop: Smith (Floor 6F) *Lumine EST exclusive

There will also be a pop-up shop by PONEYCOMB on the first floor of Lumine EST Shinjuku where you can get your hands on limited-edition merchandise with original art. It will be open from July 31 to August 13, and the items will also be available on Lumine’s online shop until August 31.

When customers buy select items from the pop-up shop, they’ll receive one of the three top stickers pictured above. When they order online, they’ll receive one of the bottom three.

Luminest EST Shinjuku will be decorated in all things Minnie Mouse for the event, so that fashionista Minnie can serve her positive vibes to all who visit this summer.

©DISNEY

The new limited-time character cafe POWDER ART CAFE HARAJUKU is set to open in Harajuku, Tokyo from July 15, 2020 to mid-January 2021.

From July 15 to mid-October, the cafe will be centred on the Top 10 characters of this year’s Sanrio Character Ranking, an annual event where fans around the world can vote for their favourite Sanrio characters. The cafe will subsequently celebrate the 45th anniversaries of both My Melody and Little Twin Stars until mid-January next year.

At POWDER ART CAFE HARAJUKU, where the customers can draw their own designs on their orders, like latte art, Sanrio fans can look forward to a super cute menu line-up inspired by the adorable character roster.

My Melody Sweet & Sour Strawberry Shaved Ice

Tuxedo Sam Seafood Coquille Plate

If you’re visiting Harajuku any time up to January next year, be sure to stop by POWDER ART CAFE HARAJUKU to make your own kawaii Sanrio character dishes.

Hirakata Park has announced the horror-themed event “Yamibiraki no Yoru” which will be held at the Osaka amusement park during the night from August 26 to September 13.

Two Japanese horror entertainment companies are coming together to set up spooky spots around the park for the event. For the event, visitors will need to clear a mission to reach the goal which will involve the use of a smartphone or tablet.

Yamibiraki no Yoru – Synopsis

“There is a rumour that once a year, Hirakata Park opens up during the middle of the night. And though it’s open in the middle of the night, the only staff that can be spotted around are those with vacant looks in their eyes. What’s more is that there aren’t any visitors around. At some point, this rumour came to be called Yamibiraki no Yoru, ‘Open in Darkness.’ And this summer, an event is being held, on the same day that rumour was named, and with the same name…”

Scary School Stories VR x Real Scary Experience

Hirakata Park is also holding a haunted house event during the daytime from July 17, 2020. Themed on Kokkuri-san, a Japanese supernatural game, the event will combine the use of VR technology and real interactive scares.

Japanese black tea brand Lipton is opening two pop-up tea stands this summer called “Lipton TEA STAND Fruits in Tea.” They will open in Daikanyama and Osaka from July 10 and Kichijoji from July 22.

Lipton opened its two permanent tea stands “Lipton TEA STAND” in Nagoya and Hakata in winter 2018 in an effort to make black tea more accessible to people. The drinks menus at these stands are diverse, ranging from simple black tea to their “Fruits in Tea” range which are teas filled with fresh fruits, royal milk tea, desserts, and more.

Iced Parfaits

Passion Fruits: ¥1,200 (Tax Included) (+¥150 for honey milk) / Strawberry: ¥1,200 (Tax Included) (+¥150 for condensed milk)

Lipton’s “Fruits in Tea” opened as a new way for people to enjoy black tea in summertime. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lipton has decided to whip up some refreshing “Happy!” new iced parfaits for beating the hot weather. Their popular custom menu lets you a variety of vitamin-packed fruits, herbs, and more to your iced tea.

Frozen tea is the base of the iced parfait and retains the original flavour of the black tea. Added to that is ice and fruits inside a tumbler, all of which is layered to look like a parfait with a shaved iced quality to it. The “Passion Fruits” flavour is topped with passion fruit syrup and frozen lemon, orange, and kiwi, while the sweet and sour “Strawberry” is a mix of strawberry syrup and frozen strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Both options are sure to keep you cool during the hot Japanese summer.

Original Iced Tea “Fruits in Tea”: Tumbler ¥1,000 (Tax Included) / Cup ¥600 (Tax Included)

Lipton’s popular custom menu lets you choose from four tea bases, like Earl Grey and green tea. You can then pick your base fruits, like pineapple or strawberry, topping fruits such  as kiwi and mango, and then a special flavour like mint. Finally, choose your syrup, such as lemon, and you’v got your own custom beverage for the summertime.

LEGS COMPANY has announced that it will open three cafes based on the popular Japanese character Hamtaro in Tokyo and Saitama on July 30 and Osaka on July 31.

Hamtaro is a manga and storybook series created and illustrated by Ritsuko Kawai. The series began serialisation in 1997 and an anime adaptation first broadcast back in 2000. More than 20 years later, Hamtaro continues to enjoy much popularity in Japan.

Hamtaro Cafe 2020 will be themed around sunflowers and the sea, and will serve up a fun experience perfect for the hot summer. The Ham-Hams have come out of their Clubhouse to pay a visit to the seaside and enjoy the sun. There will be sunflower and ocean themed food, drinks, and desserts for everyone to munch on.

Yakisoba On Beach Hut Sunflower Bread: ¥1,499

A plate of yakisoba and egg arranged to look like a sunflower, with Hamtaro sat right in the middle.

Cone Cappy Hide and Seek Ice Cream Parfait: ¥1,399

Cappy is wearing a cone on his head and is hiding amongst the ice cream, chocolate banana, and fresh mint.

Ham Ham Glass Drinks: Drink Only – ¥789 Each / With Glass – ¥1,789 Each

There are two drinks to choose from: the orange flavoured Hamtaro and the yogurt flavoured Bijou.

Vinyl Pouch: ¥1,300

Mascot Keyring Hamtaro: ¥1,550

The cafe will also sell a range of exclusive merchandise too, which is scheduled to be available for online purchase as well in Japan.

Ham-Ham Fans (14 Designs)

Original Coasters (15 Designs)

Those who dine at the cafe will receive a free Ham-Ham fan, and if you order a drink you’ll get a coaster too.

©Ritsuko Kawai / Shogakukan

For this summer only, a limited-time gourmet shaved ice shop called “VERMICULAR PREMIUM SHAVED ICE SALON” is opening up inside VERMICULAR VILLAGE in Nagoya from July 2 to September 13.

The exquisite shaved ice options are topped with fruit confitures which are made without any water involved, allowing for the original flavour of the fruits to come through, as well as adzuki beans cooked with Vermicular cookware, and more. The shaved ice is served inside Vermicular’s high quality mini pots, which have been kept cool, meaning the ice doesn’t melt when it’s put inside, meaning it stays nice and fluffy until the end.

There are three to pick from, and underneath each the shaved ice is a blancmange which goes hand in hand with the shaved ice flavours.

Strawberry, Pistachio, & Condensed Milk: ¥1,300 (Before Tax)

This ice pot is topped with a strawberry jam which was made using no water, and pistachios—which go really well with the fruity confiture. At the very bottom is a condensed milk blancmange, making it delicious down to the last spoonful.

Nishio Matcha, Adzuki Beans, Brown Cane Sugar Warabimochi, & Houjicha: ¥1,500 (Before Tax)

Next is a matcha flavoured shaved ice pot made with adzuki beans and matcha grown in Nishio, Aichi. Sat at the bottom of the pile is a houjicha tea blancmange and brown cane sugar warabimochi.

Mango, Passion Fruit, & Coconut: ¥1,300 (Before Tax)

Lastly is a mango and passion fruit sauce covered shaved ice with coconut milk and a topping of fresh mango. At the bottom is a coconut blancmange.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) reopened on June 19, 2020 after temporary closure as a result of COVID-19. The park is now running with strict measures in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, including practicing the 2m social distancing rule, making it mandatory to wear face masks, and so on. The park has posted a full video demonstration of the rules on their official website.

That means summertime is set to shine on USJ once again this year. The new ‘Universal Summer Parade: We are One’ event will begin on July 23 as the first parade held by the park since its reopening. Guests will be able to enjoy a fun and exciting summer at USJ with all the necessary precautions in place to ensure their safety.

Many familiar faces will gather at USJ to celebrate summer with guests, including the Minions, Elmo, Snoopy, Hello Kitty, and more. Each of them will board colourful floats for the parade during the parade, which will open with the fittingly-titled “Opening Float” followed by a flurry of unique floats like the flashy “Latin Float,” cute European-inspired “Europe Float,” the mysterious “Indian Float,” and the finale “America Float,” amongst many others. There will be music to entertain guests for laughs, smiles, and fun energy while characters and entertainers ride the floats and serve summertime vibes.

The peak moment of the parade will be when confetti rains down on guests in huge quantities. Flags can also be bought for the parade for the first time in this year. Performers and the park characters will be able to entertain guests at a distance while still connecting with them through the fun performances. A special “social distance” performance created in cooperation with the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education will also be part of the parade. This year’s parade plans to have guests dancing and smiling even more than previous years to lift some of that stress away and give them the fight and energy to continue into tomorrow.

Universal Summer Parade: We Are One

Put your hands into the air as the sun beats down and the floats arrive to a lively rhythm. ‘We are One’ is the catchphrase, so get your boogie on and explode with excitement together with the entertainers and park characters for a heated summer parade!

Running: July 23, 2020 – August 27, 2020

Location: Parade Route

Time: One per day from 11:00am (approx 40 mins) 

Buy yourself a parade flag for ¥500 and wave it around to the beat of the festival!

Cool yourself off with some summer merch

Get your hands on some merch for cooling off, including the must-have summer “Handy Fan,” a “UV Poncho” which keeps you cool in the heat of the sun, a classic “Sensu” folding fan, and more.

Feel the Japanese festivities with the Universal Market

The Universal Market will give that Japanese ‘matsuri’ festival vibe. Enjoy some cool desserts, spicy food, and more.

Left: Super Hot! Turkey Leg ¥1,000 / Centre: Peach Jelly Soda: ¥650 / Right: Frappe Sundae ~Strawberry & Blue Hawaii~ ¥750

Since guest safety is the number one priority this summer, the park will not be holding its famous splash performance where guests are soaked with water by water shooters.

Additionally, the parade will also not stop in any of the usual designated places and will instead keep on moving, meaning the parade can be enjoyed from anywhere along the parade route. Guests will be able to keep plenty of distance from others as they watch the parade.

The park also released a statement on its ‘enhanced sanitation in park operations’ on its official website so you can find out more about what USJ is doing to tackle the COVID-19 spread.

If you’re in Osaka this year, you can still enjoy summer at Universal Studios Japan with all the necessary precautions in place.

KADOKAWA is set to open a Hello Kitty themed cafe on the Narita Anime Deck—which is located on the Main Building second floor of Narita International Airport Terminal 2—for a limited time from July 3, 2020 to October 2, 2020.

The Narita Anime Deck

The Narita Anime Deck opened inside Narita International Airport Terminal 2 in November 2019. It’s an entertainment facility where travellers from around the world can experience and enjoy Japanese anime culture in various forms such as with character merchandise, food, events, and a variety of photo spots.

Hello Kitty Cafe

The facility has collaborated with numerous anime series to open up limited-time cafes since it opened. This time around it is joining paws with Hello Kitty, a face known to all across the globe. As well as themed food, drinks and merchandise, customers can take a Hello Kitty quiz, learn the history behind Hello Kitty, and more.

An Original Food Menu

Hello Kitty’s Lovely♡ Pink Curry: ¥1,500

Hello Kitty’s Gurakoro Burger: ¥1,500

Hello Kitty’s Strawberry Pancake: ¥1,400

Hello Kitty’s Strawberry Parfait: ¥1,200

An Original Drinks Menu

The incredible drinks menu is diverse, including lattes where you can get 46 different latte art designs of Hello Kitty from 1974-2019. It could be fun to pick your birth year, or a year where you have fond memories.

Hello Kitty’s Colourful Tapioca Drinks (Matcha Milk/Strawberry Milk/Milk Tea): ¥720 Each

 
Hello Kitty’s Marshmallow Coffee: ¥800

Hello Kitty’s Latte (46 Designs): ¥720 Each

Novelties

For every item you order from the collaboration menu, you can also receive one of 46 possible original coasters once again featuring a different design of Hello Kitty between the years 1974-2019.

1st Line-Up: July 3, 2020 – August 2, 2020

2nd Line-Up: August 3, 2020 – September 2, 2020

3rd Line-Up: September 3, 2020 – October 2, 2020

If you’re travelling through Narita Airport anytime this year up to October, then be sure to head on up to the Narita Anime Deck to dine at the Hello Kitty Cafe.

© 1976, 2020 SANRIO CO., LTD.　APPROVAL NO. L611439

LEGS COMPANY is opening three cafes in Tokyo (Ikebukuro), Osaka (Umeda), and Aichi (Nagoya) based on the popular mobile game Game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party for a limited time from July 31, 2020.

Game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party is a rhythm and adventure mobile game that was released in Japan in 2017. It is part of Bushiroad’s “BanG Dream!” music media franchise which is centred on all-female bands.

Since summer 2017, LEGS COMPANY has opened themed cafes based around the game every year. 2017 saw the cafes focus on the vocalists of the bands in the game. In 2018, it was the keyboardists and DJs, and last year the drummers. Each theme brought with it illustrations and decorations created specifically for the cafes, as well as a food menu inspired by the characters, original merchandise, and more.

This year marks the 4th run of the annual summer cafe which will hit Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. The theme this time around focuses on the seven main bands from the game. Seven characters from the bands, including one from a new band, will welcome fans in the form of kawaii-packed dishes, drinks, and desserts.

Yamabuki Bakery’s Mini Croissant Plate (Poppin’party): ¥1,590 (Before Tax)

Kitazawa Butcher’s Stamina Croquette Curry (Hello, happy world!): ¥1,490 (Before Tax)

All of the main dishes on the menu are colourful and vivid, plated with hearty portions of delicious and nutritional goodies.

Strawberry Rock Parfait (Afterglow): ¥1,290 (Before Tax)

Colourful Doughnut Sandwich (Pastel＊Palettes): ¥1,290 (Before Tax)

This gourmet dessert is topped with fruit, so gorgeous it seems a waste to eat.

Grape: ¥890

Ramune: ¥890

There are colourful drinks too with each colour representing a different band. Support your favourite band by getting a glass!

Pin Set 2020 ver. (7 Designs): ¥3,100

Canvas Art (7 Designs): ¥3,500 Each

Birthday Pins (4 Designs): ¥650 Each

Fans can get their hands on plenty of exclusive merchandise too, and there’s even birthday items and food available too.

Online Birthday Cake (4 Designs): ¥3,850 Each (+¥950 shipping fee)

Cushions (22 Designs): ¥3,800 Each

You can even order your own special birthday cake in Japan from the cafe, and they’re not short on exclusive merchandise.

©BanGDream! Project ©Craft Egg Inc. ©bushiroad All Rights Reserved.

Q-pot. and Q-pot CAFE. introduced a special cherry parfait to its menu on June 27 to help support cherry farmers whose work has been affected by COVID-19.

Due to less people travelling and sightseeing around Japan as a result of the lockdown and self-isolation practices, orders for cherries are being cancelled, and many festivals across Japan too are being cancelled, all of which is having a huge affect on the country’s cherry industry.

The current season is the best time to enjoy Japan’s juicy cherries, and so Q-pot CAFE. has teamed up with a cherry farm in Yamagata, a prefecture famous for its cherries.

Cherry Cherry Parfait (w/Drink): ¥1,850 (Tax Included)

The “Cherry Cherry Parfait” is topped with snow-white whipped cream, crunchy meringue, and cherries for a gorgeous contrast of red and white.

The cherries used are considered a high-grade type called “satonishiki” which has been dubbed the “King of Cherries.” They sit gracefully atop their kingdom of sweet ingredients including salt milk ice cream, chocolate, cherry jam, sponge cake, and panna cotta.

The cherry farmers are taking all the necessary safety precautions against COVID-19 while they continue to delivery delicious cherries to the people of Japan.

Royal Host, a family restaurant in Akihabara, is collaborating with the popular TV anime series Kaguya-sama: Love Is War to serve two different menu line-ups. The first is currently running right now until July 5, which we covered recently. This time we’ll be taking a look at the upcoming second menu which will be served from July 6.

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is a romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Aka Akasaka. A 12-episode anime adaptation premiered in January. The series’s collaboration with Royal Host last year was such a success that the restaurant chain decided to bring it back again.

2nd Collaboration Menu

Five items make up this second Kaguya-sama: Love Is War x Royal Host menu.

~I Wanna Feed Miyuki Shirogane~ Kaguya Shinomiya’s Handmade Pasta: ¥1,800 (Before Tax)

A tomato cream pasta topped with salted salmon roe and seafood, and served with a side of salad and garlic bread.

~Save the Student Council~ Student Council Member’s Bonding Curry: ¥1,800 (Before Tax)

Butter rice topped with curry, spinach, melted cheese, boiled egg, and spicy onion rings. Served with a side of salad and mango dessert.

~Kaguya Shinomiya is Happy~ Kawaii Strawberry Parfait: ¥800 (Before Tax)

Bright-red sweet and sour strawberry sorbet topped with fresh strawberries.

~I Wanna Befriend Kei Shirigane~ Blue Lychee: ¥500 (Before Tax)

Lychee-flavoured soda topped with whipped cream.

~I Wanna Make Ai Hayasaka Feel Better~ Lonely Person’s Cheesecake: ¥580 (Before Tax)

A slice of cheesecake drizzled in blueberry sauce.

When you order from this second collaboration menu you will receive a free and exclusive coaster.

Mug: ¥1,580 (Before Tax)

Before Tax: ¥3,500

There’s also a selection of exclusive merchandise for fans to get their hands on too, like a mug, cushion, or acrylic stand.

©Aka Akasaka / Shueisha・Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Production Committee

Q-pot CAFE. is celebrating Japan’s Tanabata festival with a limited-time menu which was introduced on June 27.

Romantic Star Plate w/Drink: ¥2,060 (Tax Included)

This starry delight is plated with a fromage blanc filled with ganache cream and peach jelly. There’s star-shaped meringue macarons filled with cream, creamy blueberry and blackcurrant panna cotta, star-shaped chocolate to represent the Tanabata deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, and a luxurious Q-pot CAFE. macaron.

さらに、レモンの皮を練り込み、サクッと焼き上げた星型クッキーには短冊のようにグラサージュショコラで願い事を込めて・・・クッキーを残さず口にすれば、願いもきっと叶うはず！

Romantic Peach & Elderflower Soda: ¥750 (Tax Included)

Refresh yourself with a summery glass of this peach and elderflower soda which is filled with blue, purple, and pink transparent jelly which twinkle like a kaleidoscope.

Bottled Drinks (Takeout Only): ¥1,296 Each (Tax Included) *Limited quantity available / *¥100 off if you take your own bottle

Enjoy a takeout bottle of “Aurora Lychee Tea Soda” with its romantic pink, purple, and blue gradation. This herb tea changes colour like magic, and contains marrow cheese plant, lychee puree, and Blue Curacao. The twinkling pearl powder makes it glow like an aurora.

There is also bottled Strawberry Tea Soda, Ginger Ice Milk Tea, and Honey Lemon Vinegar Soda.

If you’re in Tokyo this summer, head to Q-pot CAFE. to enjoy a round of pastel-coloured Tanabata confections and drinks.