The luxury hotel Grand Hyatt Tokyo will offer Easter sweets and baked goods at the on-site Fiorentina Pastry Boutique from April 1 until Easter, April 17, to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Easter Egg Macaroon

Easter Cookies with Icing

Easter Lollipop

Easter Bunny Brioche

This year, in addition to the new Easter Bunny and Easter egg macaroons, cookies with icing, lollipop chocolates, brioche in the shape of the Easter Bunny, and other sweets and bakery items will be available. Don’t miss it!

Nijigen no Mori Anime Park, located on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, brings anime, manga, and game worlds to life. Starting on November 6, a Dragon Quest-themed hotel room will be available to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the park’s Dragon Quest attraction! Reservations for the room are now open.

The room itself is called ‘The Slime’s Cocoon,’ and features plenty of decorations from the popular RPG series as well as in-room treasure chests, slime-shaped lights, and more! The walls and windows will be covered with characters and familiar items, so fans won’t want to miss this exclusive opportunity!

Guests staying in the room will receive an original yukata only available at Nijigen no Mori. A limited-edition picture frame can be earned by completing a mission asking guests to find a number of hidden medals in the room!

Does this look like the Dragon Quest experience of your dreams?

Taichi Mukai’s newest track Bravest is currently available on streaming platforms worldwide, and serves as the opening theme to the ongoing Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai anime series. Now, the official music video has been uploaded to YouTube! 

Fans of the series will take note of the meaningful lyrics, dotted with powerful words about friendship and long journeys. The song hopes to inspire listeners and to give people the strength to keep fighting during difficult times. 

Bravest (Official Music Video)

The video was directed by Tai Nakazawa, who has also worked on music videos for Shota Shimizu, aiko, [Alexandros], and others. He previously directed Mukai’s music videos for Get Loud and Celebrate! Keep an eye out while watching to catch a glimpse of the singer wearing pieces from costume designer TOMO KOIZUMI. 

©三条陸、稲田浩司／集英社・ダイの大冒険製作委員会・テレビ東京　©SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

Singer, songwriter, and model Taichi Mukai has been chosen to perform the new opening theme for Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, currently airing Saturdays on TV Tokyo. The announcement was made during an event on September 12 celebrating a successful first year of broadcasting. A new visual was also released as the anime series starts its second year of airing. 

The new song, Bravest, was written specifically for the show, and features lyrics reminiscent of the main character and his struggles. 

In regards to the track, Mukai commented: “The Adventure of Dai is a masterpiece, and the manga series has been going on since before I was born. I was completely absorbed and totally forgot to get my own work done while going back through the story again, reading it the whole way through! I was full of energy when I wrote this song, and I hope it will get fans pumped up!” 

The first episode marking the second year of the Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai anime series will air on October 2. 

Mukai will also be releasing a new EP titled DOORS, co-produced with Shin Sakiura, on September 22. The song Celebrate! from the EP is available to stream now, so be sure to check it out!

©三条陸、稲田浩司／集英社・ダイの大冒険製作委員会・テレビ東京　

©SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

Niwaka Senpei, a popular biscuit from Fukuoka, has teamed up with Dragon Quest to release a Slime version of their confection.

Slime Niwaka Senpei

Niwaka Senpei was first released 115 years ago. This collaboration with Square Enix’s Dragon Quest is the first time the confection’s shape has been changed.

Slime Niwaka Senpei Packaging

Each of these snacks are branded with the Slime’s iconic eyes, and each is packaged in a cute Slime box.

The Pasco Kumamoto Prefecture Project is a collaboration between the Japanese pastry company Pasco and Kumamoto Prefecture which has appointed Kumamon, the mascot of Kumamoto, as its head to promote local foods.

The project was started as a reconstruction and restoration effort to help support Kumamoto after the devastating earthquake that struck in 2016 and the 2018 Japan floods. For every select product sold, 0.5 yen is donated to the relief effort to aid victims of the disasters.

The Pasco Kumamoto Prefecture Project is set to run until end end of September this year. It released two items on April 1 as part of the project. It is now releasing two new products: the “Strawberry Jam & Milk Whipped Cream” pastry and “Pancake Omelette Custard & Milk Whipped Cream.” The milk, strawberries, and eggs used for these confections are all sourced from Kumamoto

The pastry recipe creates whipped cream from milk and layers it with a strawberry jam made from yuubeni, a popular brand of strawberry grown in Kumamoto, before baking. The pancake omelette is a combination of Jersey milk, eggs, and custard cream to create a fluffy dessert.

Pasco carefully selects ingredients as part of Kumamon’s promotional products

The ingredients used in the recipes for these food products are all carefully selected to go deliciously well with Pasco’s bread. This includes milk, eggs, and yuubeni strawberries. Pasco plans to used Kumamoto-grown rice for a new product in August.

Scan the code on the packaging and meet Kumamon!

A special Kumamon AR service has also been created as part of the project. If you scan the code on the packaging of these products using a smart device, you can take a photo together with Kumamon as pictured above. He has the same design as on the packets.

Fashion brand Samansa Mos2 joined paws with the cat-themed bread and pastry store Neko Neko Shokupan to release their first collection together at Samansa Mos2 stores and the online store CAN ONLINE SHOP on May 14.

The Line-Up

Half-Sleeve Photo Print T-Shirts
Colours: Off-White/Unbleached/Beige
Price: ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

Half-Sleeve Monogram Print T-Shirts
Colours: Off-White/Yellow/Brown
Price: ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

Half-Sleeve Back Print T-Shirts
Colours: Off-White/Yellow/Brown
Price: ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

Back print tee design

Shokupan Print Hoodie
Colours: Beige/Khaki
Price: ¥4,290 (Tax Included)

Kid’s Line

Photo Print T-Shirt
Colours: Off-White/Yellow
Price: ¥2,530 (Tax Included)

French Flare T-Shirts
Colours: Beige/Khaki
Price: ¥2,530 (Tax Included)

Miscellaneous

Embroidered Canvas Tote Bag
Colours: Unbleached/Beige
Price: ¥3,850 (Tax Included)

Handkerchief
Colours: Beige/Purple
Price: ¥660 (Tax Included)

Reversible Shoulder Pouch
Colours: Beige/Khaki
Price: ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

Bottle Holder
Colours: Beige/Khaki
Price: ¥2,750 (Tax Included)

Mobile Ring Holder
Colours: Beige/Grey
Price: ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

Neko Neko Shokupan are known for their rich and milky cat-shaped bread which uses milk and zero water. They’re a hugely popular bakery brand who often find themselves across social media pages including Instagram. This marks their first collaboration with Samansa Mos2 who celebrate their 35th anniversary this year.

The collection features key visuals taken from the Neko Neko Shokupan brand. Items include a variety of tees and hoodies as well as other miscellaneous must-grabs like tote bags, handkerchiefs, bottle holders, and more. There’s even a children’s line-up as part of Samansa Mos2’s kid brand Samansa Mos2 Lagom so parents and their children can coordinate cute matching outfits.

Look felinely-fashionable this summer with the Samana Mos2 x Neko Neko Shokupan collection.

Hitobito, the company behind Japan’s popular bakery cafe chain Bread, Espresso &, is set to open a new branch inside Makita General Hospital in Kamata on March 1. The cafe opened its doors for pre-openings earlier this month with shortened business hours.

Bread, Espresso & has 20 branches across Japan including the popular one located in Omotesando, Tokyo. Its frequented by people of all ages for its deliciously soft bread made from 100% Japanese wheat.

The cafe’s picture book-like interior design caters to children featuring bread-shaped tables and cute illustrations.

Customers are welcome to try out the free samples on display. Each sample has a little card detailing various information which customers can take to the register if they want to buy that item. Often in Japanese bakeries there are tongs and trays which customers are free to use, but this new style of service lessens contact with others for a safer trip during the pandemic.

The bakery serves Bread, Espresso & classics like French toast and their mu pastries, as well as alternatives like gluten-free breads, no-sugar treats, and more.

Japanese bakery Neko Neko Shokupan is promoting the release of the second in the two-part anime film series Sailor Moon Eternal by baking up a bread inspired by everyone’s favourite feline: Luna. The bread will be sold from February 11 to March 25.

Neko Neko Shokupan Luna Bread w/ Chocolate Pen | ¥1,200 (Before Tax)

The bread is made of pastry laced with black cocoa powder. Luna’s ears are strawberry flavoured and she  of course has her iconic crescent moon atop her forehead. She arrives safely packaged in a cube-shaped box decorated in night sky stars and the moon. This box is placed in an eye-catching bag with little Sailor Moon details that are sure to be familiar to any fan, including Luna herself as well as Artemis.

The bread is available in-store at Neko Neko Shokupan branches and via the online store All Hearts Mall in Japan

The first film in the Sailor Moon Eternal series was released on January 8, 2021, and the second on February 11, 2021.

©武内直子・PNP／劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンEternal」製作委員会

Neko Neko Shokupan is celebrating Japan’s annual Hinamatsuri festival, also known as Doll’s Day, by releasing a set of three limited-edition flavours of its popular cat-shaped bread. It is now available via their online store until March 3, 2021.

Strawberry / Plain / Matcha – ¥4,600 (Tax & Shipping Included)

Neko Neko Shokupan Hinamatsuri Strawberry

Neko Neko Shokupan Hinamatsuri Plain

Neko Neko Shokupan Hinamatsuri Matcha

Neko Neko House

The cute set includes pink-coloured strawberry, white-coloured plain, and green-coloured matcha breads which are available for delivery at addresses in Japan. They arrive in a cute house-shaped box.

The hugely popular Taiwan Melon Pan bread, which sells 10,000 units a month in Osaka, Kichijoji, and Nishiogikita, is now being served at Harajuku Food Factory until February 20.

Taiwan Melon Pan | ¥380 (Before Tax)

Taiwan Cheese Melon Pan | ¥450 (Before Tax)

The Taiwan Melon Pan bread is a combination of sweetness, rich butter, and salt for an irresistible flavour experience.

Glasses brand Zoff launched its Dragon Quest X themed eyewear collection last Friday (December 18). To promote the collection, the Harajuku branch of Zoff will decorate the shop window with Dragon Quest X Online advertising starting on January 2, 2021. On the same date and at the same store, they will also hold a special Twitter campaign for people to win some free Zoff x Dragon Quest X glasses inspired by the Slimes from the game.

Zoff+DRAGON QUEST X

Dragon Quest‘s Slime Family are known to both players and non-players of the game. The characters come in many different forms like the classic Slime as well as the Bubble Slime, Metal Slime, Slime Knight, and more. The armourers of Dragon Quest have come together to use these slimes to meld legendary new glasses for adventurers.

Slimes, slimes everywhere at Zoff Harajuku!

To promote the Zoff+DRAGON QUEST X collection, the Zoff Harajuku store will be decorated in all things Dragon Quest X Online starting on January 2, 2021. Adventurers are invited to take part in an omikuji lottery draw. Those who draw the highest rank will receive some exclusive Slime merchandise. There are but 10 of these draws to find for just 10 lucky adventurers.

Running: January 2, 2021 from 11:00am (JST) *Until all run out
Location: Zoff Harajuku (Co-Op Olympica Floor 1F, 6-35-3 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo)

Adventurer X & Hero Princess Anlucia life-size panels

In 11 Zoff stores, visitors will find life-size panels of Adventurer X and Hero Princess Anlucia wearing Slime glasses which they can take a photo next to.

Participating Stores
Zoff Ario Sapporo / Zoff Sendai LOFT / Zoff Harajuku / Zoff Seibu Shinjuku PePe / Zoff Nikke Colton Plaza / Zoff AEON MALL Zama / Zoff Marché Grand Tree Musashikosugi / Zoff Nagoya PARCO / Zoff Grand Front Osaka / Zoff AEON MALL Dainichi / Zoff Shinsaibashi PARCO / Zoff AEON MALL Fukutsu

Slime Glasses added in-game to Dragon Quest X Online

Those who buy eyewear from the Zoff+DRAGON QUEST X collection will be able to receive an in-game item code for Slime Glasses which their character can wear. If players buy multiple pairs, they will receive multiple codes which they can use on different characters.

Twitter campaign

To participate in the Twitter campaign to win Slime merch, all you need to do is retweet the tweet that will be sent out on Zoff’s official Twitter page @Zoff_INFO on January 2, 2021.

Slime Eyewear Lottery Twitter Campaign
Running: January 2, 2021 – January 11, 2021

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