Japanese singer-songwriter Sayuri’s new song Koukai no Uta (‘Song of Voyage’) is currently being used as the ending theme for season 4 of the hit shōnen anime series My Hero Academia. It’s just been announced that the single will be released digitally worldwide from Milan Records, an umbrella label of a major label at Sony Music US titled Sony Masterworks.

Sony Masterworks is a notable name in the industry, with even Hikaru Utada’s hit single Face My Fearsーone of the main themes from Kingdom Hearts IIIーreleasing from it and making it to No. 98 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sayuri’s Koukai no Uta release makes her the first Japanese artist to have a release from Sony Music in America since Utada.

The song is currently available to download only in Japan, and there’s is also a short version of the music video on YouTube which has garnered a great deal of attention from anime fans worldwide. It will now be released internationally as a “World Edition EP” entitled Koukai no Uta/About a Voyage containing four songs on November 29, 2019 at midnight pacific time.

Koukai no Uta will be released on CD in Japan on November 27. Pre-orders are now open. The release will be followed with a string of promotional events.

JC Chamboredon, a representative of Milan Records, commented: “I and the rest of the team at Milan Records are particularly honored to be able to release ‘About A Voyage,’ the first official EP by acclaimed J-pop artist Sayuri outside of Japan. Not only it is a great opportunity to release her high energy end credit song to the latest season of My Hero Academia, but we are especially thrilled to share other beautiful original songs by Sayuri and to showcase her broad talent and unique edge with music fans around the world.”

Sayuri also commented on the release, saying: “I am so happy at getting to release my song worldwide from Milan Records, which is an umbrella label of Sony Masterworks at Sony Music America. There are many places I’ve never travelled to in the world, but I feel excited at getting to visit them in the form of music. I hope it reaches lots of different people.”

The My Hero Academia manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi is serialised in Weekly Shōnen Jump with over 24 million copies in print. Both the manga and anime have proved sensational both in Japan and overseas.

Sayuri is Japanese singer-songwriter who has performed around the world including in LA, Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan and elsewhere. Her song Koukai no Uta was written specifically for season four of the hit TV anime series My Hero Academia.

If you’re looking for a cool café experience in Tokyo then head to Nakameguro for a goldmine of craft beer taprooms, coffee roasters and restaurants. One café to consider adding to your list of must-go places is music café and wine bar epulor. The café has added a number of exquisite and unique items to its menu this November including a matcha drink, black bean paste and butter toast and craft cola.

Take a seat and admire the walls of old records which create a soothing artistic atmosphere while sipping your cup of the café’s specialty hand drip coffee or sommelier-selected wine as the music of old records fills the air. When you have finished, feel free to take a gander at the gallery corner to appreciate the cafés art. 

The November menu introduces a high-quality matcha by UK brand Matchæologist®, providing the opportunity to make and enjoy your own matcha drink. From the high-quality rich flavour to the contemporary design of the tea vessel, Matchæologist® lives up to its reputation as artisanal matcha green tea specialists.

Fans of epulor’s popular Red Bean Paste and Butter Toast are in for a treat as the café is now serving up the Black Bean Paste and Butter Toast. The bread is a charcoal bread from the bakery Lotus baguette, which uses only natural yeast, Japan-produced wheat and no additives. The binchotan charcoal used to prepare the bread is a traditional charcoal which has been used since the Edo period. The appearance is just as striking as its taste. 

The café has also started to sell Japan’s craft cola TOMO COLA. The cola is spiced with flavours from around the world including kola nut, nutmeg, Japanese herbs and Japanese citrus fruits. This natural cola contains no additives so you can indulge in the taste of nature and enjoy a unique flavourful experience of Japan. 

epulor is the perfect spot to enjoy a luxurious moment of relaxation during your busy day while immersing yourself in an artistic and cultural experience. 

Tokyo Otaku Mode Inc. is set to display and start taking orders for a new 1/6 scale figure by Figurama from Sui Ishida’s hit manga and anime series Tokyo Ghoul. Available in Japan only, it will be sold at the new Tokyo Otaku Mode TOKYO store from November 22 at 10:00am at the new Shibuya PARCO shopping complex.

Figurama is a Hong Kong-based figurine maker which has crafted many figures from popular titles such as Attack on Titan, Hellsing, Devilman, and Trigun, to name a few. The standout characteristic of their work is the size of their figures, the composition, and how detailed the figures are despite being so large.

The Tokyo Ghoul figure set to appear at Tokyo Otaku Mode TOKYO stands 63cm high, 44cm wide, and 35cm deep. It features series protagonist Ken Kaneki versus Yamori, who made Kaneki’s hair turn white.

Only 800 of these figures have been made, of which Tokyo Otaku Mode TOKYO will sell 40, making them an extremely rare and limited edition collectors items. Perfect for any fan of the hit series!

©Sui Ishida/Shueisha・Tokyo Ghoul Production Committee

In this edition of The Café That You Want to Visit to See Someone, I visited J-COOK in Gaiemmae, a place I visited one time while off work which ended up in me wanting to absolutely feature it in the series!

It’s just a 5-minute stroll from Gaiemmae Station.

The cafe enjoys lots of sunlight, which is brightened further by all the plants scattered through the shop. The cafes I have visited to date are often a little darker with only a little light seeping through the windows to create a certain atmosphere, and they are wonderful, but this was the first I have ever visited with so might light and so many plants. The air felt clear, adding to the level of comfort in the cafe, perhaps because there are so many plants adorning the interior.

The cafe also has a space with a slightly more darker light and atmosphere on the left side. I haven’t sat in that area yet, so I think I’ll try it out on my next visit.

When I come to J-COOK, my eyes always wander over to the marzipan creations (¥450).

These ones here were actually all individually handmade by the owner’s husband from the early morning.

If you look really closely, you’ll notice all the dog designs are different. When ordering, get to pick out which one you want, so try finding your perfect pup!

I had mine together with an iced coffee (¥450). The sweet marzipan is a delicious combination with the bitterness of the coffee.

I also got some potted cream (¥450). It’s kind of like a Japanese custard pudding with just a moderate amount of sweetness.

I had mine with a bit of brandy which had fragrant vanilla notes. They’ve had this brandy for 33 years since the store first opened.

The cream was sensational, and the gentle notes linger afterwards.

They have a lot of different homemade soups too which are perfect for the coming cold weather. I got the New Orleans-style gumbo soup. It’s spicy with clam and okra in it.

Relaxing jazz music plays in the cafe while you sit and enjoy your drink and meal.

J-COOK is a wonderful little cafe run by a husband and wife. When I first came, the wife came and talked to me. She’s super friendly, and although it was our first meeting, she made me feel really comfortable and welcome. She must be full of happiness, which in turn naturally gives people who visit the strength to be positive and work hard.

I reckon their smiles have saved a lot of people.

I can’t wait to visit again!

Writer/Model: Ema Tanioku

Photographer: Haruka Yamamoto

Design: Yuko Abe (ASOBISYSTEM)

Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

In May this year, US-based film production and distribution company The H Collective partnered with Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten to establish Rakuten H Collective Studio and the distribution company Rakuten Distribution. It has been announced that the first film they will release, together with Toho-Towa Distribution, will be Brightburn on November 15, 2019.

Brightburn is an American supervillain horror film directed by David Yarovesky and produced by James Gunn and Kenneth Huang. The movie is an amalgamation of genres including horror, sci-fi, suspense and drama. The global hit song bad guy by Billie Eilish serves as the movie’s credit roll theme.

The film tells the story of Tori Breyer (Elizabeth Banks) whose struggles with fertility are lifted and her dreams for motherhood come true when a mysterious baby boy appears to her. Things take a turn for the worse however as darkness begins to manifest itself in the child, Brandon Breyer (Jackson A. Dunn), and he begins to act out his deviant urges.

In promotion of the film, an army of 48 people dressed as Brightburn marched through the streets on Shibuya on Wednesday. They called themselves BBK48, a pun on the Japanese idol group AKB48, with “BBK” standing for Brightburn Kyoufu no Kakusancha (“Fear Spreading Collective”). They began on Koen Dori Street and made their way to Shibuya’s famous Scramble Crossing, weaving in and out of the crowd who reacted in fear and surprise at the red-cloaked band of baddies. Many photos were taken by passersby and posted onto social media.

They continued along Basketball Street (Center-gai Shopping Street), catching everyone off guard as they marched in unison.

Have you seen Brightburn yet? Let us know what you thought on Twitter or Facebook.

©The H Collective

2019 is the year of BABYMETAL, with their latest album METAL GALAXY having dropped in October and making them the highest Japanese group/artist to place on the Billboard Top 200 in the US in 56 years. As they continue knee-deep in their ongoing world tour, you might be wondering what else they have in the pipeline.

Well, we can confirm that for you right here and now: they have teamed up with internationally-lauded Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto on his revolutionary Ground Y collection which boasts a genderless and ageless style.

Pre-sales of the collection will take place at the new Shibuya PARCO which is set to open on November 22. This will be followed by sales at GINZA SIX, Laforet Harajuku, and the online store THE SHOP YOHJI YAMAMOTO.

The collection will bring together the unique world of BABYMETALーa band which has won love the world over and has featured as guest acts on many tours of international artistsーand Yohji Yamamoto, a rebel and innovator in the fashion industry whose DNA is woven into the Ground Y line. The inspiration for this jet black collaborative collection is “galaxy,” an homage to BABYMETAL’s latest record METAL GALAXY.

There are numerous items in the collection, including a jumbo cut and sewn embroidered with both the BMD FOX APPAREL logoーBABYMETAL’s official apparel brandーand the Ground Y logo. There’s also a big hoodie featuring a 360° print and BABYMETAL’s logo, a draped silk satin long shirt, and more.

MASATOSHI YAMASHIRO snapped the photos in this photoshoot, a Tokyo-based photographer who started his career in LA and New York and works with fashion magazines, advertisements, and more.

Meiji plastered up some new billboard advertisements for their Meiji Oishii Gyunyu milk and Meiji Milk Chocolate products at Shibuya Station on Monday.

Actors and singers Masaki Aiba and Jun Matsumoto were chosen to be part of the ad promos for the products respectively.

The advertisements will also feature back-to-back in the Saturday November 9 issue of Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun where they have both written columns about what they like about their chosen products.

The pictures in this photoshoot were also released as downloadable wallpapers on Tuesday. Links below!

The new Shibuya PARCO shopping complex is set to open on November 22, 2019. It will house the new PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO (floor 4) and GALLERY X (floor B1), both of which aim to promote art and culture to the people of Tokyo. Both venues are home to the AKIRA ART OF WALL Katsuhiro Otomo × Kosuke Kawamura AKIRA ART EXHIBITION.

The unmissable ART WALL is covered in illustrations from the legendary manga series AKIRA, which was written by manga author and film director Katsuhiro Otomo, who stands at the forefront of the manga scene in Japan. The ART WALL was reconstructed in collaboration with collage artist Kosuke Kawamura. Details on the merchandise and entry process have been announced. 

Exhibition Merchandise

T-Shirt: ¥4,000 (Before Tax)

Long-Sleeved T-Shirt: ¥6,000 (Before Tax)

iPhone X/XS Case: ¥3,500 (Before Tax)

There will be a large number of commemoration merchandise to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. Each person can purchase up to four items per entry. This includes the same item of different sizes. A ticket must be for the exhibition in order to purchase merchandise. 

Exhibition Commemoration Book Set

AKIRA ART OF WALL Set of 4 Accordion Fold Books (comes in a special box)

The first three books display the different areas the of the AKIRA collage during Shibuya PARCO’s renovation project. The fourth book contains the actual project itself with pictures by TAKAMURADAISUKE and includes both a discussion between and individual interviews with Katsuhiro Otomo and Kosuke Kawamura. Each book was specially designed by Katsuhiro Otomo and Kosuke Kawamura down to the covers. These books are filled with high quality and unparalleled designs. 

AKIRA ART OF WALL

Price: ¥10,000 (Before Tax)

Authors: Katsuhiro Otomo, Kosuke Kawamura

Book Set of 4 (3-Set Accordion fold book series on the making of the ART WALL + Interview Book) 

Comes with an A2 Poster

Collaboration Merchandise

AKIRA ART OF WALL × nana-nana

AKIRA ART OF WALL × nana-nana

AKIRA PVC A5: ¥9,500

AKIRA PVC A4: ¥10,500

AKIRA OPAQUE A5: ¥11,500

AKIRA OPAQUE A4: ¥12,500

AKIRA iPhone Case: ¥6,800

This is just a small selection of merchandise available at the exhibition. Fans will not be able to control themselves upon stumbling into the collaboration-limited merchandise goldmine.

Tickets for entry between November 22 and December 1 will be selling on a first-come, first-served basis on the ticket website E Plus. Depending on how many tickets are sold in advance, it may be possible to buy tickets on the door. This will be clarified nearer to the time.

©MASH・ROOM/KODANSHA ©Kosuke Kawamura ©︎AKIRA ART OF WALL EXHIBITION

The My Hero Academia manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi is serialised in Weekly Shōnen Jump with over 24 million copies in print. Both the manga and anime have proved sensational in Japan and overseas.

The series is set in a world where people have superpowers known as Quirks. It follows the story of Deku, who has already dreamt of having a Quirk, and his fellow classmate companions. The anime series has put three seasons out since 2016, and a film entitled My Hero Academia: Two Heroes was released in 2018 which was seen by over 1.3 million people in theatres.

A second film entitled My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising will be released on December 20, 2019. Season four of the anime series began airing in Japan on October 12. The new season will begin airing in English on November 9.

It has also been announced that season four will hit Hulu Japan. Episodes 1-3, which have already aired in Japan on TV, will make their way onto the streaming site on November 1. Subsequently, those in Japan will be able to catch up with episodes they have missed starting from November 9. Hulu also currently has seasons 1-3 in their back catalogue, making this a great opportunity for those who need to catch up before the new film drops.

©Kohei Horikoshi / Shueisha・My Hero Academia Production Committee

Japanese singer-songwriter Sayuri’s new song Koukai no Uta (‘Song of Voyage’) is currently being used as the ending theme for season 4 of the hit shōnen anime series My Hero Academia. The song was released digitally ahead of the CD release on Saturday (October 26), and the short version of the music video just hit YouTube.

The music video is fused with the world of My Hero Academia and is different from anything we’ve seen from Sayuri to date. It features an unnamed young male protagonist in a story about hope and preparation for the future, a theme which ties in with her debut single Mitazuki and her first album Mitazuki no Koukai.

Limited Pressing Edition CD Cover

The CD cover for Limited Pressing Edition copies was also unveiled, featuring an original illustration of the protagonist Deku and Eri, a key character in season four of the anime series.

The single will be released on CD on November 27. Pre-orders are now open at select stores in Japan.

The My Hero Academia manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi is serialised in Weekly Shōnen Jump with over 24 million copies in print. Both the manga and anime have proved sensational both in Japan and overseas.

Hi, MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON readers! Banako here again from the MOSHI MOSHI Friends group.

I have a question to ask you all. If you’ve been to Japan, did you ever dress up in a kimono or yukata to go sightseeing? It’s become common to see not only Japanese people, but foreign travellers and tourists clad in traditional Japanese ware snapping photos in the country’s historical locations. Dressing up in a kimono and walking the streets really immerses you in that Japanese spirit and transforms your experience entirely.

I visited kesatokyo in Asakusa which rents out kimono that are somewhat different from the norm, got myself a kimono, and took a trip to Denkiya Hall, a long-standing cafe in Asakusa.

Denkiya Hall is located along Senzoku-dori Shopping Street which is a 10-minute walk from the Tsukuba Express side of Asakusa Station. The street is quiet and peaceful since it’s away from the hustle and bustle of the station front.

The kimono at kesatokyo are renowned through the town as they give off cute retro-antique vibes with their combination of things like lace necks, head dresses and berets.

You can get some romantic co-ords which you won’t find with other kimono by matching with your friend in terms of design and accessories. I headed into the cafe excited with my kimono choice which matches the old-fashioned design of the cafe exterior.

A standout feature of this cafe is that some of the tables have arcade games attached to them. If there’s a free seat at one of them, pick your favourite-looking, slot in a coin and start playing! Be sure to ask the staff to switch it on for you beforehand.

While gazing through the nostalgic games, I ordered the cafe’s popular omumaki (¥700) and cream soda (¥650) while my friend got hot cakes.

Stuffed and wrapped inside the omelette is a hearty serving of fried noodles. The noodles themselves are on the thicker side and have a rich seasoning like that from the Showa period. You can also pick between different noodles.

The cream soda had deliciously sweet syrup and vanilla ice cream inside it.

Your kimono will match the atmosphere of the cafe really well, so you can take some really great pictures at any time.

Denkiya Hall opened over 100 years ago and incorporates styles from three different historical periods: Meiji, Taisho and Showa, giving it a nostalgic feeling.

Another one of Denkiya Hall’s specialities is their boiled adzuki, the perfect treat to warm yourself up as the weather gets colder.

It was fun strolling around Asakusa after our cafe visit, as well as searching for more modern towns like Ginza and Omotesando.

We returned our kimono to kesatokyo at 18:40, right before the final return time. The basic rental plan for one person is ¥6,050 and it even includes hair styling! You can make reservations either via DMs on the store’s official Instagram or by telephone. You’re certain to get a reply on Instagram so it’s recommended going that route. The shop has more details on their plans on their website.

Wearing a beautiful kimono and warming up inside a cafe during wintertime. How does that sound?

The new fully refurbished Shibuya PARCO shopping complex is set to reopen on November 22, 2019. When Shibuya PARCO closed for renovations in 2016, GALLERYX BYPARCO was moved to Spain-zaka in the centre of Shibuya. This November, GALLERY X will return to its home on the basement floor 1 of the shopping complex. 

The first opening exhibition of GALLERY X is titled “AKIRA ART OF WALL Katsuhiro Otomo × Kosuke Kawamura AKIRA ART EXHIBITION” which will see an entire wall decorated in a collage of art by manga author and film director Katsuhiro Otomo and his legendary series AKIRA until May 2020. 

The art wall is in fact a relocation of the AKIRA art wall that has existed at the infrastructure building site in Shibuya for almost two years. Parts of it was damaged over time, and so it will resurface at PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO on the 4th floor of the new Shibuya PARCO. That’s not all: there will also be valuable original works displayed as well as posters, 3D model recreations of things seen in AKIRA, the series soundtrack by Geinoh Yamashirogumi playing, 3D attractions where you can interact with a futuristic “Neo Tokyo” and much more. 

AUTO MOAI (December 2019)

Kazuki Iio (Zun) (December 2019)

Misaki Tanaka (February ー March 2020)

JUN INAGAWA (April 2020)

The first exhibition will be followed by a strong lineup of exhibitions. The exhibition areas will be filled with a wide range of attractions, making it appealing for a wide range of people with different tastes. 

* The above information and dates are subject to change at any moment without prior notification.

GALLERY X is full of originality and is a source of the latest entertainment culture so please check it out.