AROMA SMOKE SHIROKANE is a new shisha bar set to open in Shirokane, Tokyo, this November, offering private booths to all customers.

Shisha is a flavoured tobacco made from a syrupy tobacco mix. The shisha experience is popular worldwide with groups coming together to enjoy the experience at shisha bars or hookah lounges and in recent years have grown in popularity in Japan, particularly amongst women and people who weren’t regular cigarette or roll-up smokers before.

Private rooms for a shisha get-together with friends

Shisha bars continue to open up in Tokyo, but AROMA SMOKE SHIROKANE boasts as the only place in Japan’s capital with completely private rooms for all customers. This is particularly favourable during the pandemic in order to greatly reduce the risk of coming into contact with other customers.

Enjoy shisha while having a meeting

Shisha is enjoyed by a lot of business-people in Japan, and recently there has been an increasing demand for more business meetings to be had over shisha. The private booth setting makes AROMA SMOKE SHIROKANE perfect for realising this request, so customers can discuss all their ideas over a smoke.

Try two different flavours on the same visit

Customers are able to change up their shisha flavour once during their two hour session, allowing them to try two completely different flavours on the same visit completely free of charge. Now that’s service.

With the professional interior design of AROMA SMOKE SHIROKANE one can’t help but feel like it’s otherworldly. Customers can spend their time in class and comfort and smoke without having to worry about others. If you visit Tokyo, and love shisha, then this is a place you can’t pass up.

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

Tokyo Midtown has announced that its winter event ‘MIDTOWN WINTER MOMENTS’ will run from November 19, 2020 to February 28, 2021.

“ANOTHER WORLD” is the concept for this year’s rendition of the annual event, which will see new winter illuminations, Christmas decorations, the opening of an ice rink, and plenty of other fun experiences for people to enjoy throughout the entire day, right into the evening.

MIDTOWN WINTER LIGHTS

A highlight of the event will be the “MIDTOWN WINTER LIGHTS,” warm illuminations to light fires in hearts during the cold winter season that will create a dazzling spectacle the likes of which cannot be missed.

Path of Light – An Illuminated World

The pedestrian walkway will welcome a strip of gorgeous golden lights affixed to towering trees to guide your way. More golden lights than ever before are being prepared this year to pull visitors into a romantic and dreamy world.

SNOW LIGHT GLOBE – A World of Snow

The SNOW LIGHT GLOBE is a giant 3-meter tall and 4.5-meter wide snow globe inside which glistens sparkling snow, crystals, and aurora. The lights are ever-changing throughout the day, presenting itself differently every time you look at it.

STEP LIGHT – A Colourful World

STEP LIGHT is a fun and interactive illumination display with lights that light up when you step on them, creating a colourful walkway.

Running: November 19, 2020 – February 28, 2021

Time: 17:00-23:00 (Until 24:00 around the plaza)

Location: Midtown Garden

MIDTOWN ICE RINK – A World of Ice

MIDTOWN ICE RINK is something people in Tokyo look forward to every winter. This year, the rink is opening in November. It’s one of the biggest ice rinks in Tokyo and provides real ice for people to skate on, welcoming everyone from children and beginners to pros. The rink will be open into the evening too when it will be lit up so people can enjoy a little night skating session.

Running: November 19, 2020 – February 28, 2021
Time: 11:00-21:00 (Last Entries 20:00)

*Opens at 17:00 on November 19 and is closed on January 1

*Opening hours subject to change depending on weather
Location: Tokyo Midtown
Prices:

General (High School Students and older) – Weekdays ¥2,000 / Weekends & Public Holidays ¥2,500

Children (Junior High School Students and younger) Weekdays ¥1,500 / Weekends & Public Holidays ¥2,000

Midtown Christmas Trees

Various Christmas trees will be set up in the Tokyo Midtown garden area, indoors, and elsewhere to set in the holiday season mood.

Running: November 19, 2020 – December 25, 2020

Present Christmas Tree – A World of Fantasy

The Tokyo Midtown garden will welcome a mysterious kind of Christmas tree for the first time every this year—one which sprouts presents. 25 presents will be grown, and in December one will be given out each day.

Time: 17:00-23:00
Location: Midtown Garden

Santa Tree – A Miniature World

Around 1,800 individual Santa Claus ornaments will make up the 4-meter tall Santa Tree inside the Tokyo Midtown Galleria

Time: 11:00-Midtown
Location: Galleria 1F Tree Shower

Choose! Choose! AR Tree – An Original World

Tokyo Midtown also has something for people to enjoy at home. They can use an app that makes use of AR tech so that a Christmas tree can appear when you go to take a photo which you can decorate with an assortment of ornaments. There’s over 1,000 possible combinations. More details about this will be posted on the event website in early November.

L’OCCITANE CAFE Shibuya is getting ready for Halloween with the reveal of its sweet potato and apple parfait which will be served from October 21 to 31. The Tokyo-based cafe is centred on the food culture and lifestyle of Provence in southern France.

Sweet Potato and Apple Parfait | ¥1,280 (Tax Included)

The seasonal treat is a mix of purple sweet potato and regular sweet potato, baked apples, apple sherbet, and vanilla ice, all topped off with whipped cream, roasted nuts, and almond tuile biscuits in the shape of ghosts and a pumpkin.

Bubble tea chain Pearl Lady, which is celebrating its 17th anniversary this year, is teaming up with Sanrio for the second time to release two new drinks themed on the popular characters My Melody and Kuromi on October 16, 2020. My Melody and Kuromi are also celebrating their 45th and 15th anniversaries respectively.

Black Lemonade | Strawberry Milk Tea (w/ Novelty) – ¥500 Each (Tax Included)

The two beverages are Sweet Strawberry Milk Tea, which is inspired by the cute My Melody, and Black Lemonade, which is based on her rival Kuromi.

When ordering either of the drinks at Pearl Lady, customers will also get one of 6 possible badges as pictured above. One of the designs is a secret, so you’ll need some luck if you want that one.

Major bookstores across Japan are rolling out the Rilakkuma Book Fair where fans can get their hands on short Rilakkuma fairy tails, exclusive merchandise, and more.

In line with the event, Fruits Parlor & Bakery Season & Co., a cafe in Umeda, Osaka, is serving up a special menu with the theme “Rilakkuma Book Cafe” from October 30 to November 30. This includes a afternoon teas which also celebrates the cafe’s 1st anniversary, more exclusive merchandise, and novelties for customers who order from the Rilakkuma menu.

Rilakkuma Zukin Afternoon Tea | ¥4,000 (Before Tax) *Reservation-only

A special afternoon tea featuring 13 different goodies from desserts to a sandwich, quiche, and more. It comes with a fruit iced tea welcome drink too.

Rilakkuma Yuki Hime Afternoon Tea | ¥4,000 (Before Tax) *Reservation-only

A different afternoon tea that serves up 12 items. This also comes with a fruit iced tea.

Rilakkuma’s Honey Apple Smoothie | ¥800 (Before Tax)

A honey apple smoothie topped with refreshing vanilla ice cream, smooth fresh cream, and a Rilakkuma jelly candy.

Rilakkuma’s Royal Chocolate Milk Tea | ¥1,200 (Before Tax)

Classic royal milk tea served with chocolate Rilakkumas. Eat on their own or dip into your tea!

The cafe is now taking reservations for the afternoon teas. Bookings must be made two days in advance by telephone or the official website.

Bandai Candy’s character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas collaborating with the popular TV anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba to release two confections themed on the show’s main characters Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado as well as a collection of tarts. The sweet treats will hit the chilled desserts corner of Lawson convenience stores in Japan on October 20, 2020.

Tabemas x Demon Slayer

Tabemas x Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Tanjiro Kamado/Nezuko Kamado) – ¥264 Each (Before Tax)

The tarts feature all the little details of the beloved characters, from the scar on Tanjiro’s forehead and his earrings to the bamboo pipe in his sister Nezuko’s mouth and her hair adornment. It also captures the designs of their clothes. Both are filled with Japanese red bean paste with Tanjiro being chocolate flavoured and Nezuko strawberry flavoured.

Demon Slayer Tarts

Demon Slayer Tarts | ¥231 (Before Tax)

An assortment of biscuit base tarts laced with caramel mousse. The tart designs feature a range of popular characters from the anime series including the Kamado siblings, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Shinobu, and Tomioka.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a manga series by Koyoharu Gotouge serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump. The popular series has over 100 million copies in circulation and spawned a hit anime series last year. The upcoming anime film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, which is being animated by ufotable, is set for release tomorrow on October 16, 2020 will serve as a direct sequel to the 2019 anime series.

©Koyoharu Gotouge/Shueisha・Aniplex・ufotable

Warehouse TERRADA opened up the new art cafe ‘WHAT CAFE’ in Tennozu, Tokyo, on October 15, 2020.

Left: Overlap of paint (dot3) by Soichi Yamaguchi | Right: Ichijiteki ni Inu, Ichijiteki ni Hito, Ichijiteki ni E by Dan Isomura

WHAT CAFE will serve as a hub to support artists in Japan’s art industry by functioning as both a gallery and cafe in a 800㎡ space. The gallery will change out the artwork from time to time to allow for more artists to showcase their works to visitors throughout the year. There will be hundreds of pieces shown in an entire year.

Left: Peel off the paint “No.125” by Haruna Shinagawa | void #35 by KIKUCHI Ryo

Tokyo’s Tennozu area is looking to become a major stop for art in Japan and is currently home to various art facilities like the pigment lab PIGMENT TOKYO and Japan’s biggest gallery complex TERRADA ART COMPLEX.

If you’re interested in contemporary art in Japan, and are visiting Tokyo, then you won’t want to miss a stop to Tennozu. Be sure to stop by WHAT CAFE.

To celebrate 25 years since the screen debut of the beloved clay animated Shaun the Sheep, a new shop and cafe called “Shaun the Sheep Farm Cafe Stand” is opening up in Kanagawa serving up themed food, drink, and desserts.

Shaun the Sheep Farm Cafe Stand

Shaun the Sheep Farm Cafe Stand will open on October 15, 2020 in Kamiooka, Kanagawa, as a takeout cafe stand inspired by Shaun the Sheep. Customers can look forward to a selection of coffees and desserts based on the adorable sheep himself. And to celebrate the cafe’s grand opening, a special free show will take place there from October 15-18, 2020.

Shaun Soft Cream | ¥500 (Before Tax)

Subtly sweet soft serve ice cream topped with a Shaun the Sheep cookie.

Shaun Cafe Latte | ¥700 (Before Tax)

A foamy latte with a cute Shaun marshmallow sat on top.

Shaun the Sheep Farm Cafe Stand

Location: mioka LIST (Floor 6F)

Access: Directly connected to Kamiōoka Station via the Tokyu Line and Yokohama City Blue Line
Opening Hours: 11:00-21:00 (Last Orders 20:45)

Shaun the Sheep Village Shop & Cafe

The Shaun the Sheep Village Shop & Cafe in Minami Machida Grandberry Park, which opened in November 2019, introduced a limited-time autumn menu last month which is still being served.

Shaun’s Special Meatball Spaghetti | ¥1,580 (Before Tax)

A hot meatball spaghetti served with a Shaun the Sheep waffle which can be enjoyed together with fresh cream, maple syrup, and the meat sauce.

Baby Shaun’s Forest Grape Trifle w/ Drink | ¥1,480 (Before Tax)

A towering trifle topped with seasonal grapes, vanilla ice cream, grape sherbet, custard, and grape jelly for a sweet and sour autumntime mix.

Fluffy Baby Shaun Custard or Caramel | ¥250 for one, ¥1,000 for five (Before Tax)

An adorable confection enjoyed by both child and grown-up customers. The cafe has now introduced a new caramel flavour.

Shaun the Sheep Village Shop & Cafe

Location: Grandberry Park Central Court Wonder Theatre (Floor 1F)

Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00 (Food Last Orders 21:00 / Drinks Last Orders 21:30)

Shaun the Sheep Farm Cafe: Halloween Menu

Shaun the Sheep Farm Cafe, a permanent cafe located inside Prime Tree Akaike Shopping Mall in Aichi, is serving up a special Halloween menu this year.

Shaun’s Happy Halloween Plate 2020 | ¥1,380 (Before Tax)

A bright-red tomato sauce hamburger served with pumpkin cream soup and salad.

Shaun’s Happy Halloween Dessert Assortment | ¥1,180 (Before Tax)

A sweet combo of pumpkin mont blanc and a pumpkin tart.

SHAUN THE SHEEP AND SHAUN’S IMAGE
ARE ™ AARDMAN ANIMATIONS LTD. 2020

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

The 7th run of the popular BT21 Cafe is set to open in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya starting from October 17, 2020.

BT21 are the LINE messenger app characters created by K-pop group BTS. The cafe has seen six runs in Japan until now, and has proven immensely popular amongst fans for the selection of original dishes and drinks as well as exclusive merchandise. The 6th run ran back in February and March with a spring theme.

The theme of the 7th edition is centred on having a pyjama party in the long autumn evenings. The cafe artwork as well as food and merchandise is all themed on the autumn season.

FOOD

The food menu is a choice of a main, such as pasta or paella, and a side like clam chowder which is served up a cute character mug of your choice.

Fish Ragu Fusilli Pasta Set Menu Example | ¥1,490

A fusilli pasta dish served with a seafood tomato sauce.

Eggplant & Zucchini Lasagne Set Menu Example | ¥1,490

A lasagne served with the summer vegetables eggplant and zucchini as the main ingredient.

Seafood Paella Set Menu Example | ¥1,490

A Spanish dish containing Paella made with a seafood stock and served with potato wedges covered in a bravas sauce.

Margherita Pizza Set Menu Example | ¥1,490

The staple takeout pizza topped with tomatoes, mushrooms, and basil.

DESSERT

A selection of cakes served in different mugs with BT21 character designs.

Shortcake / Chocolate Cake / Mont Blanc / Cheesecake  – ¥1,290 Each

DRINKS

Drinks are self-service and include carbonated water, milk, and other beverages all of which can be topped with a dollop of character ice cream. This is a new kind of drink to be introduced at BT21 Cafe.

Character Drinks: KOYA／RJ／SHOOKY／MANG／CHIMMY／TATA／COOKY  – ¥990 Each

Glass Drinks: KOYA／RJ／SHOOKY／MANG／CHIMMY／TATA／COOKY – ¥500 Each

TAKEOUT DRINK | 1,690

The takeout drink is a blueberry milk combination.

GOODS

Fans can get their hands on a selection of original and exclusive miscellaneous merchandise all with the stay-at-home pyjama party theme.

Heart Pins | ¥600 Each (Design Chosen Randomly)

Card File | ¥1,300

Bonus Items

Cafe Original Cards

Cafe Original Coasters

Customers who book a table in advance will receive a free cafe original card, and those who order a drink a free coaster.

©BT21

Cheese Dish Factory, a restaurant in Shibuya MODI in Tokyo, released a new seasonal dessert for the autumn season on Monday called the ‘Tart Parfait Mont Blanc.’ The tasty bite’s foundation is an almond tart which is filled and layered with ingredients like a parfait before being topped off with mont blanc cream.

The dessert comes in for delightful variations such as the ‘Chestnut & Tiramisu’ which tops tiramisu with the flavours of autumn like chestnut ice cream and chestnut cream, and the ‘Berry & Berry’ which is piled full of strawberry cream and topped off with a strawberry. Sweet-tooths will discover a labyrinth of flavours as they gradually make their way through whichever they decide to order.

Chestnut & Tiramisu (Mascarpone Cheese) | ¥880 (Before Tax)

The tiramisu is made with mascarpone and has on top of it Japanese chestnut and chestnut ice cream. The chestnut cream is arranged like a mont blanc. The inner tiramisu adds a unique touch to make this a mont blanc for the ages.

Berry & Berry (Cream Cheese) | ¥820 (Before Tax)

This tiramisu is made from cream cheese which is topped with strawberry sauce and vanilla ice cream. A parfait mont blanc for the strawberry lover who won’t be able to resist the strawberry cream and the crowning fresh strawberry.

Fromage & No-Bake Cheesecake (Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese) | ¥780 (Before Tax)

A no-bake cheese cake combined with cream cheese ice cream and cream cheese. Inside you’ll find fresh white peach. There’s also a crispy texture brought by the Parmigiano-Reggiano. A must-try for cheese fanatics.

Matcha & Brown Sugar Syrup Soy Flour (Ricotta Cheese) | ¥780 (Before Tax)

A mountain made from matcha warabimochi, adzuki red bean paste, brown sugar syrup soy flour, and vanilla ice cream. This one’s full of Japanese flavours, but also ricotta cheese, making it a Japan x Western fusion.