LINE Friends Japan has announced that it’s releasing “2021 BT21 Happy Bag” fukubukuro lucky bags on December 12, 2020. Fukubukuro is a Japanese New Year custom where customers can buy bags filled with unknown contents, usually at a discounted price.

The Japan-exclusive lucky bags feature a set of nine limited-edition items and are based on the seven BT21 characters KOYA, RJ, SHOOKY, MANG, CHIMMY, TATA, and COOKY.

The bags will be available to purchase on the LINE FRIENDS online store, LINE FRIENDS Harajuku store, and 34 branches of LOFT in Japan. The LINE FRIENDS line-up features the BT21 Baby Series while LOFT will be selling the BT21 Basic Series.

2021 BT21 Happy Bag Baby – LINE FRIENDS Store Designs

¥6,600 Each (Tax Included)

If buying the fukubukuro at the LINE FRIENDS online store or Harajuku branch, the bags come in pastel colours along with the BT21 Baby design.

2021 BT21 Happy Bag Basic – LOFT Store Designs

¥6,600 Each (Tax Included)

If buying at LOFT or LOFT’s online store, you get bags with the BT21 Basic design which features the seven characters wearing colourful berets.

Walt Disney Japan has announced the release of a new collection of merchandise to celebrate the New Year which will hit Disney Japan stores on December 1, 2020. Pre-sales items will also open at select stores and on ShopDisney on November 27.

The line-up includes a selection of traditional Japanese New Year decorations and more, all with Disney motifs, like daruma dolls, kadomatsu pine decorations, and more.

<Daruma Plush Toy Sets> Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse or Chip & Dale – ¥2,750 Each | <Mascot Figure> Donald Duck – ¥2,750 | Shimekazari – ¥2,860 | Kadomatsu – ¥1,980 (All Before Tax)

Welcome the year with good fortune with the red and white Mickey and Minnie or Chip & Dale daruma dolls. They are sure to brighten up any house entrance or room.

Winnie the Pooh Plush (Large) ¥3,300 | Roo or Piglet – ¥1,760 | Eeyore – ¥1,980 (All Before Tax)

The faces of the Hundred Acre Wood arrive dressed in cute cow outfits to represent the Year of the Ox in 2021. Each of them is holding a bottle of milk.

Tsum Tsum Plush Toys  – ¥990 Each (Before Tax)

Disney Japan is also releasing a collection of Tsum Tsum plush toys, each of which is also dressed in cow clothing.

nuiMOs Kimono Plush Toy Set – ¥2,530 Each | Year of the Ox Costumes – ¥1,980 Each | UniBEARsity Plush Toy Costume – ¥3,630 (Before Tax)

nuiMOs and UniBEARsity have created their own New Year’s plush toy outfits too in celebration of the Ox.

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

Shiraito Highland Way has announced that this year’s Karuizawa Shiraito Falls Midwinter Light Up will run from December 19, 2020 to February 14, 2021.

The illumination event will take place at Karuizawa Shiraito Falls, a 3-meter tall waterfall that spans 70-meters in length. The lights will add a warmth to the cool evening and glow under a starry night sky.

The event creates a different atmosphere from the summer light-up, allowing visitors to enjoy the enveloping nature in a way that they normally can’t and see beauty they may not have noticed in the area before. The waterfall is located in Jōshin’etsu-kōgen National Park, a protected area which means the lights will be set up in a way that’s considerate to the park.

If you’re in Japan this winter then don’t miss out on this year’s Karuizawa Shiraito Falls Midwinter Light Up which will be split into three sessions: the Christmas Session, New Year Session, and St. Valentine Session. More details below.

Japanese confectionery company Ginza Cozy Corner is teaming up with Disney once again to release a new Christmas collection of cupcakes on December 1.

Colourful Disney treats for the holiday season

This sweet seasonal collection is inspired by Mickey & Friends and contains nine unique cupcakes which depict the characters getting ready for their Christmas party.

Disney Christmas Collection (Contains 9) | ¥2,500 (Before Tax)

Cupcakes include a Santa-hat wearing, chocolate ganache-filled Mickey cream cheese cake, a strawberry jam-filled Minnie mousse cake, a lemon and mint cream-packed, Christmas decoration-adorned Donald tart, a banana and mint cream Pluto tart, an orange cream Goofy chocolate cake, and more.

The cakes are packed in a special Disney Christmas box which is sure to catch the attention of sweet tooths this holiday season, perfect for stay-at-home Christmas parties.

Bandai’s character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas has revealed that its next batch of sweet treats will be inspired by the Little Green Men and Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear from the popular Pixar movie franchise Toy Story. The confections will hit 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan on November 21, 2020.

Tabemas Toy Story | ¥258 Each (Before Tax)

The lovable Little Green Men and Toy Story 3‘s main antagonist Lots-o have been fully recreated, down to the finest details, into delicious confections. The details are well crafted you can almost hear the aliens chanting “OOOOOH” in unison! The sweets are also made with a dough called “nerikiri” which is used in making traditional Japanese wagashi sweets.

The Little Green Men are matcha flavoured while Lots-o is strawberry flavoured. Both contain Japanese bean paste, and neither use artificial colourings. Their colours comes from the original ingredients. Each sweet is also only 100kcal making is a perfect quick treat.

‘Tabemas’ is an abbreviation of the Japanese words taberareru masukotto, meaning ‘mascots that you can eat.’ It is a Japanese confectionery series that combines well-known characters and Japanese sweets made from ingredients like red bean paste, sugar and rice flour.

©Disney/Pixar

The “GO! WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE with Pixar” project has announced its second batch of original merchandise. Let’s take a look at a sample of the line-up.

About GO! WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE with PIXAR

JR Kyushu signed a promotional license agreement with Walt Disney Japan to launch the “GO! WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE with PIXAR” project, which began on September 12, 2020, and sees select shinkansen bullet trains decorated in characters from Pixar’s animated filmography.

Original Merchandise – Batch ②

Pixar Torimon | ¥1,512 (Tax Included)

The Hakata Tormin is a popular souvenir confection in Fukuoka Prefecture. This collection features exclusive Pixar packaging.

Pixar Stainless Steel Bottle | ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

Pixar Mobile Battery | ¥4,180 (Tax Included) *Available online only

Two items which are must-haves when travelling are a drink bottle and a mobile battery. The Pixar stainless steel bottle holds 130ml and is perfect for keeping hot drinks during the autumn and winter season.

minimaginationTOWN Toy Story Woody Set | ¥2,480 (Tax Included)

minimaginationTOWN Toy Story Ducky & Bunny Set | ¥3,278 (Tax Included)

Cute Pixar plush toys riding the Pixar bullet train. There’s also Buzz and Little Green Men designs!

Pixar Arita Ware Plate (Up design) | ¥3,080 (Tax Included) *Available online only

Little Green Men Hand Towel | ¥2,816 (Tax Included) *Available online only

Two traditional Japanese items with an Arita ware plate inspired by Up as well as hand towels which are available in navy and brown.

Original Merchandise – Batch ②

Release Date: November 13, 2020
Available: Kokura Souvenir Shop, Hakata Souvenir Shop at Hakata Station’s Hakata Entrance, Hakata Souvenir Shop Dates, Hakata Souvenir Shop at Hakata Station’s Shinkansen area, Oita Souvenir Shop, Kumamoto Souvenir Shop, Nagasaki Souvenir Shop, Kagoshima Souvenir Shop, Miyazaki Souvenir Shop, and elsewhere
Online Shop: https://jrk-kyushutabi.shop/html/page2.html
*Limited in stock so available while supplies last

Instagram campaign to win more original merch

©Disney/Pixar

Prize: Embroidered Pouch With Pin

The WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE Instagram Campaign will run from November 16, 2020 to January 16, 2021 for a chance for 20 people to enter to win an embroidered pouch with a pin. All they need to do is follow the official Instagram page @wakuwakuadventure and post a photo related to the project with the Japanese hashtag #わくわくアドベンチャーキャンペーン.

©Disney/Pixar

Japanese brand Maison de FLEUR launched a new collection of merchandise on Saturday (October 31) themed on Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear from Toy Story 3 as part of their Disney Collection.

LOTSO Frilly Handle Tote Bag | ¥4,590 (Before Tax)

LOTSO Round Pouch | ¥3,990 (Before Tax)

LOTSO Blanket | ¥4,990 (Before Tax)

The line-up includes a fluffy tote bag, pouch, and blanket each of which bears Lotso’s cute face. The items are made from boa fabric which is so soft you’ll just want to hug your Lotso. Perfect for the autumn and winter season.

LOTSO Square Tote Bag | ¥4,290 (Before Tax)

There’s also a square canvas tote bag which can is suitable for any season. Lotso’s embroidered face is looking very cheeky. The insides of all the bags and the pouch also have prints of the characters from Toy Story so you can take them with you wherever you go.

This collection is a must-have for fans of Lotso and Toy Story.

GRAPESTONE is releasing a new sweets collection at Disney SWEETS COLLECTION by Tokyo Banana, which is located in Tokyo Station, in collaboration with the Disney classic Fantasia. The confections will be released in limited quantities from October 30, 2020.

© Disney　Disney SWEETS COLLECTION by Tokyo Banana JR Tokyo Station

Disney SWEETS COLLECTION by Tokyo Banana opened on the JR Line side of Tokyo Station in November of last year. The shop is a joint-collaboration with Tokyo Banana—the official souvenir sweet of Tokyo—and Disney. The shop sold over 100,000 products in the first week of its opening, and caught the attention of Disney fans on social media who described the shop and the packaging of their sweets as cute.

Disney Fantasia Chocolate Sandwich (Contains 28) | ¥3,024 (Tax Included)

The cute packaging features Mickey Mouse as The Sorcerer’s Apprentice in the 1940 animated film Fantasia. The light and crunchy cat tongue cookies at filled with chocolate banana milk shake flavoured cream

The confections serve as the perfect gift or souvenir from Japan to yourself or any fan of Disney.

© Disney

LEGS, INC. has announced that it will open three cafes themed on the mobile game Disney: Twisted-Wonderland at OH MY CAFE branches in Tokyo and Osaka on November 20 and in Nagoya on November 27.

Disney: Twisted-Wonderland is a Japanese mobile game that was released on March 18, 2020. The concept, character designs, and scenario for the adventure rhythm game were conceived by Yana Toboso, the creator of the popular Black Butler manga series. The game is centred on the villains of Disney.

The cafe’s theme places customers in the food hall of Night Raven College, the magic training school where the game is set. It will be adorned in decorations inspired by the game’s food hall, and coupled with that, the cafe will serve up food and drink that actually appear in the game. There’s also exclusive merchandise for players to get their hands on.

The Menu

There are four different lunches to pick from, all of which are low in salt content and so are a healthy option for wizards and witches flying into the cafe.

Food

<Lunch Option A>

Deluxe Menchi Katsu Sandwich | ¥1,990, with plate ¥4,290 (Before Tax)

The most popular item on the food hall’s menu is the non-fried menchi-katsu meat cutlet sandwich.

<Lunch Option B>

Salmon Cream Stew | ¥1,990, with plate ¥4,290 (Before Tax)

A cream stew packed with salmon and vegetables and served with slices of baguette for dipping.

<Lunch Option C>

Tomato Base Squid Ink Pasta | | ¥1,990, with plate ¥4,290 (Before Tax)

A colourful tomato-based veggie pasta in squid ink and served with fruity yoghurt.

<Lunch Option D>

Four Mushroom Risotto | ¥1,990, with plate ¥4,290 (Before Tax)

A creamy, mild-flavoured risotto served with four different kinds of mushrooms.

Drinks

Character Drinks (7 Flavours) – Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw, Octavinelle, Scarabia, Pomefiore, Ignihyde, Diasomnia | ¥890 with coaster ¥1,790 (Before Tax)

A selection of colourful tinted waters inspired by seven different characters seen in the game.

Merchandise

Superdeformed Series Art Example

Pattern Series Art Example

Magic-wielding players can get their hands on a selection of merchandise both at the cafes, and from November 20, via the OH MY CAFE STORE website. There are two different designs for the merch line-up as pictured above.

Bonus Items

Customers who book a table in advance (¥650 before tax per person) at the cafe will receive one of 22 possible lunch mats, and if they order a drink, one of 22 coasters.

©Disney

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

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.

Tokyo Disneyland® is set to open its all-new Beauty and the Beast area of the park tomorrow on September 28, 2020. It’s opening in line with the new Big Hero 6 attraction, Minnie Mouse area where guests can meet Minnie, and the park’s new popcorn shop.

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON was granted early access to the news areas, so here’s our review!

Check out our review of the new Beauty and the Beast area too here: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/362152

The Happy Ride with Baymax: The world’s first Big Hero 6 attraction

The Happy Ride with Baymax ride has guests joining one of the personal healthcare companion robots on an exciting cart ride.

The park is limiting the number of people allowed on the attraction at once due to the pandemic. To board the attraction, guests need to download the app after entering the park.

Big Pop: Tokyo Disneyland’s first popcorn shop

Tokyo Disneyland’s first permanent popcorn shop opens in Tomorrowland.

This space-themed shop serves up a whole range of flavours like cookie cream, caramel and cheese, and strawberry milk. There’s also four different popcorn baskets to choose form, including Big Hero 6 and Beauty and the Beast designs.

Minnie’s Style Studio: Meet Minnie Mouse

This studio imagines Minnie Mouse as an international fashion designer who designs outfits, shoots photos, and more. Guests can meet Minnie Mouse at her studio if they book in advance.

©Disney